Zoe Conference

This weekend is the Zoe Worship Conference in Nashville. I've been the last two years, and I can't wait for this year. I'll get to see some special friends: Mike Cope, Charles and Mary Lee Mattis, Val Durrington, Jeff Nelson, the Maxwells, Judy Thomas, Brandon Thomas, Adam Looney, DJ Bulls...and others I'm sure. I'm going to be loving life!

The theme for the conference this year is "desperate." Some of you "faithfuls" may remember that this was a theme the Lord instilled upon me during my time of Sabbath. I'm very anxious to see how the Lord speaks to me this weekend.

I Give Up!

...and the bank put a hold on my first paycheck because they are suspicious. Ha!

You should all be jealous

Today I received my first paycheck. I'm thankful for a number of reasons. Today, the most prominent reason is that this is the best job ever. I get to lead worship every Sunday. I get to spend lots of time thinking and preparing for it. And I don't have homework!

Every Sunday, from the front I get to watch the Lord work on people's hearts. I can't explain it, but I can see it. It's the best seat in the house. What a blessing and honor!

And I get paid to do it?! This is crazy...

Siggie Sister

Ryan is happy for his sister. She received the bid she wanted from Sigma Theta Chi. Only problem is, there's agood chance I won't hear from her again until November. Ah, well. Pledging (at ACU) is fun times and I'm glad she gets to experience it. I have some good stories from my experience.

I should mention that there are several excellent women's clubs at ACU. My sister's choice represents her feelings and may or may not align with mine. But I wouldn't mind wearing a Siggie T-shirt if she wanted to get me one.

The New Most Favorite

My favorite worship songs changes about every four months. This spring it was "In Christ Alone." This summer it was "Worthy is the Lamb." We did it a lot at Leadership Camps. Today, the title has officially been passed on. Unfortunately, I can't put the recording on here, but I can put the words. It's on the new Zoe release--"Desperate."

For All You've Done
(by Clint Lagerberg)

Oh cleanser of the mess I've made
Upon the hill our places trade
Stretched on a cross Your body crushed
By human hands You formed from dust

How wonderful Your mercy is
How awesome are Your ways
I come, I come
To worship You
For all You've done

Oh cleanser of the mess I've made
Your boundless love for me portrayed
With patience for my learning curve
By holding ack what I deserve

(chorus)

Oh cleanser of the mess I've made
With everything at Your feet laid
I watch as all my cares erode
As from my soul these words explode

(chorus)

Thankful!

Praise the Lord for many answered prayers! Sunday morning was great here in Memphis. Chris Altrock spoke about following a God who is inivisible. For a change, the praise time wasn't boisterous (yes I had to look that up) and peppy. Chris brought a full trash bag, and told everyone he hoped they had brought their "garbage" with them. So often we use language like: "let's leave our cares and worries at the door and worship the Lord." Umm....nope! Praise Him that we are invited to Him JUST AS WE ARE. We sang songs that used language like "pouring out our souls," "crying out," and "laying things down at His feet." It was a good morning.

I had an interest meeting for the Worship Ministry and there were a number of people who came! The meeting went very well and I'm about to start reading through their sheets to see what their dreams are and how they hope to use their gifts to serve others--should be fun!

I found some awesome mountain bike trails Saturday. They are really close to my apartment and not crowded. My "seat" is a little sore--but it was a great ride. You're welcome.

got God? (part 2)

Upon the realization that I don't understand what it means to be desperate for God, I began praying. I began to pray that He would teach me what it means to be desperate for Him. Then I realized what I was doing. Then I realized what it could mean. Almost immediately, I began adding to the prayer: "...but don't touch my family! And don't let anything happen to this person! And don't let anything happen to this person! Please don't let any harm come to my friends!"

The idea of losing everyone we hold dear and everything we depend on is devastating. And we could have an entire debate over whether or not we would choose God if we actually lost everything. But I want to ask a different question: will you choose God even though you have everything?

"Every good and perfect gift is from above." (James 1:17) Every blessing we take for granted is for His glory--intended to point us to Him! I have much refining to do. Much refining.

Father, we beg You to shift our perspective. Give us an eternal perspective. May we look through the countless blessings You have given and find You. May we seek Your face more than anything else we could receive. Burden our spirits with a hunger and a thirst to spend time with You. Grant us undivided hearts, that we may fear Your name. Lord, teach us what it means to be desperate for You. In Christ, Amen.

got God?

"I've never really had it rough."

A friend of mine said this to me two weeks ago. Although she was speaking about her lifestyle in terms of money and possessions, her words really stuck out to me. In the days prior to her speaking them, I had been reflecting so much about my relationship with God. Guess what I realized? "I've never really had it rough." I don't understand what it means to be desperate for God. Though there have been difficult times, there's always been a plan "B." There's always been another option just in case the Lord didn't pull through. I've never been desperate.

One of the books I was reading at the time described a newly wedded couple's first several years together in ministry. Their situation was so hopeless. I found myself getting uncomfortable as I read it. "Why did they even choose to do that?" "I can't imagine trying to live and work in those conditions."

I think we all have a hard time with this. We live lifestyles that do not lean us towards absolute dependence on Him. And yet, the breath you just took was from Him.

(more later...)

First "Gig" on the Job

Well, today was my first official Sunday at Highland Street. The morning went quite well. Josh Patrick preached a great message. For our gathering this morning, we were focusing on the question, "How do I follow a God I cannot understand?" God hears every prayer simultaneously. He is everywhere at once. He allows evil in the world. He brings eternal life through an instrument of death (the cross). Uh...can anyone explain these things?

Josh spoke about having a relentless faith, and a commitment to knowing God through His Son, Jesus. After all, faith is walking when you have no idea where you're going. Sometimes, especially when we don't understand, we simply have to believe and take another step. That's all there is to it.

I'm getting really pumped up from reading Mike's blog the last view days (link to the right) and Josh's blog in response (link to the right). If you haven't read them--do it! I'm ready for our churches to be full of people who earnestly seek the Living Christ. I'm ready for churches to be full of people whose lives have been transformed by grace. I'm ready for churches to be full of people who make decisions that serve God and not their heritage or traditions. I'm ready for churches to be full of people who give themselves to worship like there's no tomorrow. I'm ready for churches to be full of people who aren't there to get their card punched, but who are there because they are desperate for a holy encounter, and to receive love, encouragement and prayers from the body.

A Life of Worship

"When a person, yielding to God and believing the truth of God, is filled with the Spirit of God, even his faintest whisper will be worship." --A. W. Tozer

Often, we blow decisions entirely out of proportion--striving (out of great intentions) to align ourselves perfectly with God's will. But remember, the goal of our seeking Him is to be refined into Christ (and therefore, to glorify God). And the more we become like Christ, the more our decisions--even simple daily decisions--are pleasing to Him.

Perhaps our prayers should be bent towards asking for refinement rather than dwelling amongst an endless number of decisions. And doesn't this idea relieve a little pressure, too?

"Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord.
Blessed are they who keep His statues and seek Him with all their heart.
They do nothing wrong; they walk in His ways." Psalm 119:1-3

Returning to the Surface

Last week, as I sat back comfortably on the edge of a lake, by-myself, with a beautiful sunset, and Reese's Pieces, I thought to myself: this worship ministry stuff isn't all that bad!! Ha!

Okay, well it actually doesn't start until Tuesday. The Lord has really blessed my time--and I'm grateful that it isn't over yet. Has anyone else read "A New Kind of Christian" by Brian McLaren? Wow. My world has been shaken, and is still shakin'.

Unfortunately, I arrived back at my apartment last night to discover there had been a leak upstairs (I wonder if Matt and Jenna moved in?). Though it isn't bad, there were some colorful and fun shaped-organisms in one of my closets. You're welcome. Last night, for the first time since Kami left, I was NOT the only living thing in my apartment. Eek.

Thanks for your prayers for my time of rest, everyone. I still have a few more days.