Kenya Trip

Here's a little video I showed my church Sunday, covering my trip to Kenya, Africa...enjoy.

Movie Monday XXX (30)

This is a post that you can participate in on every Monday. I'm a big fan of the cinema, so I decided to break up the Monday blues by talking about movies.

As you read this, I am currently in Kenya, Africa. So...

What's you're favorite African-American actor/actress?

Gotta go with Morgan Freeman. Simply brilliant and believable.


your turn...

Word Wednesday .::48

Word Wednesday is posted every Wednesday. Each week I post a scripture that I've read that week that has spoken to me in a fresh way. I believe that if we read God's Word every day, He will give us at least one scripture every week that will impact us. Sharing Scripture with each other is like iron sharpening iron. Leave a comment and share a scripture that has impacted you this week.

Here's the scripture that stuck this week:

Galatians 1:10 ESV

"For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ."

When I first started leading worship in my first church, I immediately was thrown into a big worship war. It was ugly. Looking back I don't have any major regrets in the big decisions made, but it certainly broke me into ministry real quick. A lot of staff pastors experience, what they call a honeymoon period, where people are really excited and nice about there new ministry...not I. I brought a new intensity to the worship service that was not immediately welcomed. During that time, I found myself constantly questioning the direction and decisions, because of all the premature opposition. As I stayed in my Word everyday, God gave me this scripture that will forever be in my heart. As I read this recently, I was reminded that God's pleasure is priority #1. No if's or but's about it. That doesn't give me the right to be a jerk to people and not care about them. It doesn't mean that I don't need wise counsel. It simply means that sometimes what pleases God doesn't always please people. It's easier said than done, but it's worth the fight.

What's your Word?

Movie Monday XXVIIII

This is a post that you can participate in on every Monday. I'm a big fan of the cinema, so I decided to break up the Monday blues by talking about movies.

As you read this, I am currently in London, waiting for my plane. So...

What's you're favorite British actor/actress?

Kate Winslet, no doubt. I coudn't stand Titanic, but she truly is an amazing actress. Very talented.



your turn...

Josh is a Kindergartner!

Here's his preschool program...pretty cool.

Songwriting::::MEMORABLE

These posts on songwriting are not written from a professional point of view. These are just my thoughts as I experience new aspects of the craft. The best part of these posts will be your input.

In 2003, I took a group of about 20 college students to Passion One Day in Sherman, Texas. I learned a lot of lessons on that trip. I learned that I shouldn't take a group that big to something that intense. It wasn't an easy, feel-good conference. It was a sleep in tents through Texas thunderstorm, worship for 24 hours in the Texas heat retreat. I should have just taken a few people that were really ready for something like that.

I also learned the power of a memorable worship song. That was the gathering where Chris Tomlin debuted "Holy is the Lord". A worship song that has swept through churches all over the world. I remember him playing that brand new song, that no one had ever heard and before you knew it, 30,000 people were screaming that chorus to our God. That night, our group went to a hotel room to talk, worship and pray together. As we started our worship, I could still hear "Holy is the Lord" in my head, and as I played that simple, three chord progression, we worshiped God in that hotel room with that chorus:

Holy is the Lord God Almighty
The earth is filled with His glory

When you think of all the great songs that we sing, I would dare say that all of them have that memorable melody line that hooks us from the first note. We walk around humming and singing it. We say things like, "That song is stuck in my head." or "Now, I'm gonna be singing that all day." That can be annoying, but it's always a sign of a well written melody.

I have a theory. I'm still testing it, and it's proving to be true for me. The theory is all about how memorable a song is. When I write a song, I usually record it real quick into my cell phone. I do that just in case I forget it. I do this because I don't totally trust my theory. My theory is that if a song is good, I'll remember it the next day. The songs that I end up keeping and liking are songs that I don't have to refer to my cell phone. There's been several times that I've scrapped a song idea, because I don't remember it. It didn't stick, so I decide it has no future. It wasn't memorable.

Still a theory, but it's been pretty consistent for me.

Word Wednesday .::47

Word Wednesday is posted every Wednesday. Each week I post a scripture that I've read that week that has spoken to me in a fresh way. I believe that if we read God's Word every day, He will give us at least one scripture every week that will impact us. Sharing Scripture with each other is like iron sharpening iron. Leave a comment and share a scripture that has impacted you this week.

Here's the scripture that stuck this week:

II Corinthians 13:8 ESV

"For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth."

I love this passage. Truth prevails...always. Maybe not in the timing we want, but eventually reveals itself. The truth can clear things up and most definitely set us free. Truth is truth.

What's your Word?

Belief in God and Firearms

Here's the story I read on yahoo

Here's their church site

"...we're not ashamed to say that there was a strong belief in God and firearms — without that this country wouldn't be here." - Pastor Ken Pagano

Well, I'm not a big gun fan, but I do believe you should have the rights that the Constitution lays out. So......I guess you could look at this a couple of ways. They're celebrating their freedoms, and that's fine. They're promoting gun safety, and that's good, but is it appropriate for a church? I don't know. I would never do anything like this, but that's me. I hate guns. I might do an archery thing, but that would be a stretch for me. I would be afraid some moron would try to bring a loaded gun, which would be easy to do. Kinda scary to me.

What do you think?

Movie Monday XXVIII

This is a post that you can participate in on every Monday. I'm a big fan of the cinema, so I decided to break up the Monday blues by talking about movies.

Summer's here, and that means blockbusters. There's been a lot of great, big budget, blockbuster movies, but there's also been those that were a total disappointment. So...

What's the biggest let-down blockbuster you've seen?

I really did not enjoy the movie "A.I." There was a lot of hype, and I really anticipated it to be a great one, especially with Spielberg directing it. It was one of those grueling movies that I couldn't wait for it to end. No lie...when it ended, a guy stood up during the credits and yelled, "There is a God!" Big let down for me.


your turn...

Worship Confessional 06.07.09

Set List w/Itunes links:
Filled With Your Glory - Starfield
Radiance - mine
King of Wonders - Compassionart (click here to see more about this album)

Also a part of Sunday Setlist.

Happy Birthday, Josh!

My son, Josh, is 5 years old today. It's hard to believe. Five years ago our lives changed. I'm so proud of my boy...he's a great kid, and I'm thankful to be his dad. Here's some random Josh videos for your enjoyment:

Word Wednesday .::46

Word Wednesday is posted every Wednesday. Each week I post a scripture that I've read that week that has spoken to me in a fresh way. I believe that if we read God's Word every day, He will give us at least one scripture every week that will impact us. Sharing Scripture with each other is like iron sharpening iron. Leave a comment and share a scripture that has impacted you this week.

Here's the scripture that stuck this week:

I Corinthians 8:1-3 ESV

1 Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up.

2 If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know.

3 But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.

It's a well-known belief that success is not about what you know, but about who you know. To know God is to understand that you are known by God. The closer we get to Him, the bigger He becomes to us. The closer we get to Him, the more we realize how small we are. Humility happens and, all of a sudden, we don't know as much as we thought. It's simple...love God.

What's your Word?

Movie Monday XXVII

This is a post that you can participate in on every Monday. I'm a big fan of the cinema, so I decided to break up the Monday blues by talking about movies.

My wife and I went on a date Saturday night and saw "Wolverine". We really liked it. Hugh Jackman's pretty cool, so...

What's your favorite Hugh Jackman flick?

I will go with "The Prestige". I love a good story and a twist is always great.


your turn...