Halloween 2009

Here's Josh...he was a Jedi this year.

Here's Jade...she was Dorothy from Wizard of Oz.

Jennifer and I also dressed up. I'll have those pics posted this coming week....stay tuned.

Kevin Garnett is back!

If this man was healthy last year, they would've beat the Magic, Cavs, and Lakers for the championship. That's why I say there's an asterisk next to last year's season and the * means "No Kevin Garnet"....but he's back! I see banner #18 in our sites. Go Boston!

Frugal

Frugal: economical in use or expenditure; prudently saving or sparing; not wasteful.

We're trying to be a little more frugal in our house. We're not hurting financially, but we're a little tighter than we'd like to be, so it's time for change. Now, I will never consider myself poor, as long as I live in the States, because compared to many other places in the world, we're filthy rich. My perspective on that was forever cemented after my trip to Africa this year. It really does bother me when I hear people complain that they're poor, when they have more than most people in the world. ANYWAY, we're making some changes to better our situation, financially.

For one thing, we're eating out less and less. You can go through some serious cash every week by simply eating out too much. Thanks to my wife's frugality, we eat real cheap if we eat out. She's always got some free meal coupon from doing surveys, so that helps.

The other things we're cutting are cable and internet. We have the full deal digital cable with DVR and internet. Do we enjoy these luxuries? Yes. Do we need these luxuries? No. We've gone without them before, and we actually didn't die. This change, alone, will save us over a hundred dollars a month. This is actually a very positive change, because you end up watching way too much TV with the DVR. You start recording shows just for the heck of it and then you get hooked on them. It's a good change.

So, what are your frugal ideas that can be implemented in saving some cash for everyone? Help me out.

Word Wednesday .::66

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:

Numbers 16:8-11 The Message

^8-11 Moses continued with Korah, "Listen well now, sons of Levi. Isn't it enough for you that the God of Israel has selected you out of the congregation of Israel to bring you near him to serve in the ministries of The Dwelling of God, and to stand before the congregation to minister to them? He has brought you and all your brother Levites into his inner circle, and now you're grasping for the priesthood, too. It's God you've ganged up against, not us. What do you have against Aaron that you're bad-mouthing him?"

I love this perspective - "Isn't it enough for you that the God of Israel has selected you out of the congregation of Israel to bring you near him to serve in the ministries..." Korah was the son of Levi who came to a point in ministry where he started believing that he actually deserved his position (pride), which always leads to wanting more and more position and power. I've seen it first hand amongst staff members. It's an ugly scene and something Satan uses in many churches. Whenever I feel that twinge of pride creep up, I constantly remind myself that I do not deserve to be a worship pastor in a church. It's all God's doing. If I can keep that perspective, I will be way more useful to the church and the Kingdom.

What's your Word?

Happy Birthday, Pastor!

Just wanted to shout out a Happy Birthday to my pastor, Michael Branch. He's been my pastor, boss and friend for the last 7 1/2 years. I can honestly say he took a chance on me. I was young, stupid and inexperienced, yet he hired me. I've learned a lot from him and he's allowed me to be a teammate in ministry, rather than a subordinate & I really appreciate that. Happy Birthday, Pastor!

Movie Monday XLVI

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.

I've been really enjoying NFL on Sundays, lately. I'm not a huge fan, but it's growing on me. So...

What's your favorite football movie?

Gotta go with Remember the Titans. Denzel is Denzel and it's just a great story. It's also the inspiration behind our dog's name.

Here's Titan:

your turn...

Worship Confessional 10.25.09

Set list w/Itunes links:
Our God Saves - Paul Baloche
Whole World in His Hands - Tim Hughes
Uncreated One - Chris Tomlin
Mystery - Charlie Hall

Flow sheet from planning center

Also part of Sunday Setlist.

Listen to your Lady

This will be a good test to see if my wife actually reads my blog. If she does, I'll hear about this one.

Word Wednesday .::65

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:

Numbers 10:1-3 The Message

^1-3 God spoke to Moses: "Make two bugles of hammered silver. Use them to call the congregation together and give marching orders to the camps. When you blow them, the whole community will meet you at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting.

I love how God uses music throughout the Bible. He still uses it today in a big way and in the same way. When we play music to bring people together in worship of God, there's not many more beautiful things than that. So, the question is, am I blowing the trumpet for God or am I tooting my own horn?

What's your Word?

Creation Praise

This is one of my older songs. I recorded it in 2005. It has been a staple at our church for the last few years, and a fun song to play for our band. Let me know what you think...even if it's criticism. I can take it. Thanks.



You can also click here to get it on itunes.

Movie Monday XLV

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.

Have you ever gone to see a movie that has been built up to you, and it was nothing more than a big let down. I hate that, because you waste time and money, especially if you see it in a theater. So...

What movie has been the biggest let down?

Lately, the biggest let down for me was The Happening. I love all of his movies, but that fell short for me.


your turn...

Worship Confessional 10.18.09

Set List w/Itunes links:
Blessed Assurance - HYMN
Everything - Tim Hughes
What Can I Do - Paul Baloche
The Least I Can Do - Mark Roach

Flow Sheet for Planning Center

Also part of Sunday Setlist

All Creatures of our God and King

Here's a new version of the song that we've been doing at Bethany. Let me know what you think.

CCLI Top 5

Here's the CCLI top 5 songs being sung in churches in America. This is based on the reporting of churches, so it's accurate.
Our church does all of these songs, and they're all favorites for our congregation. So, I'm just curious...

What's your 5 favorites songs being done in your church?

Messin' with Sasquatch

so funny...

Word Wednesday .::64

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:

Leviticus 23:22 The Message

"When you reap the harvest of your land, don't reap the corners of your field or gather the gleanings. Leave them for the poor and the foreigners. I am God, your God."

God is certainly mindful of the poor, and that's the heart he leads us to have as well. We love the poor, not to pat ourselves on the back, but because God is God...our God.

What's your Word?

Pointing

In my first years of leading worship, I had a person who would sing now and again for our church. It was back in the day when we used "special music". Every time this person would sing, I would take a deep breath and pray that this person wouldn't do anything weird. Most of the time, they would do ok, but every once in a while, this person would turn into a Branson act and really put on a show. The most notable thing this person would do is point at certain people in the congregation during the song. It was kind of like Tom Jones or some weird crooner. As a worship leader, I really had to learn to deal with that in a loving way, because it made me crazy on the inside. I just had to give it to God and eventually things got better. The reason it made me crazy was because I wanted our church to experience God's presence in amazing ways, and everytime this person would point at the crowd, it was bringing more attention to this person, instead of God. It was battling what I was doing, which was leading worship.

As a worship leader, I'm really just pointing. The question is, to what or whom am I pointing?

Leading the band and the church, I have an opportunity to point to myself. That's a real danger in my position, if I'm not careful. Being the center of attention in a worship service is like Kanye interrupting Taylor during her moment, or the congressman shouting out at the President during his address. It's taking the attention of everyone and pointing it directly to myself. That would be a worse case scenerio in a worship service. Worship leaders need to cultivate an environment so God-centered, that they become less and less important...not the center of attention.

I could also point at the crowd. In worship leading, this is when I teach the church that it's all about them. This is where Galatians 1:10 has been so vital in my life. It says, "Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ." As a worship leader, if I give in to the desires and wants of the congregation, whether out of fear or the desire to please people, I am pointing at them and teaching them that what they want is more important than anything else. In some cases, I've had people vaguely argue that I should listen to them instead of the Holy Spirit. That's a ludicrous thought, but that's what happens to us when we get self-centered. It becomes all about ME.

The only way to overcome all of this is to simply point to God. I have seen so much healing, transformation and restoration in church when people finally turn their eyes to Jesus. I am committing the ultimate heist when I point to anything or anyone, but God in our worship service. We cannot make God the center, because God already is the center. Colossians states very clearly that He holds it all together. As a worship leader, I've got to point to God, who is in the center and is the center. I will one day be gone from the worship leading stage. It could be years from now or tomorrow. If I am pointing to myself or anything else, other than God, I am pointing people towards things that will fade away. I'm pointing them towards eventual nothingness, when I could and should be pointing them to the everlasting God who does not fade, faint or grow weary.

So, to what or whom am I pointing? That's a question that needs to be asked by all of us everyday of our lives.

Movie Monday XLIV

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 favorite children's book, as a kid, was Where the Wild Things Are. I got the book & read it to my son this week. This Friday, the movie of it is coming out. I can't wait to see it. So...

What upcoming movie are you eagerly awaiting?

Mine is definitely "Where the Wild Things Are".



your turn...

Worship Confessional 10.11.09

Setlist w/Itunes links:
Creation Praise - mine
All Creatures of our God and King - HYMN
All Who are Thirsty - Brenton Brown
Your Name - Paul Baloche

Flow sheet from Planning Center

Also part of Sunday Setlist

"Alleluia (Our Praise is)" - Song of the Month

My song, "Alleluia (Our Praise is)", is song of the month over on Worshipsource.com. This has been a great song for our church. I'm stoked to see it get some attention. Click here to check it out.

My First Car

I spoke at our churches youth department Wednesday night, and showed them a picture of the make and model of my first car. It was a 1973 Pontiac Lemans. I inherited from my step-grandfather after he passed. The picture below is the closest I could find, on the net, to what my car looked like. It was sky-blue with a white vinyl top. It was rusting at the bottom, and the worst part was that it had no A/C or radio. It was a silent, hot tank of a car, and my friends loved to make fun of it. Ironically, though, most of them asked for rides a lot. I remember the gas cap was under the back license plate. I was the only one in town with a 1973 Pontiac Lemans, for sure. It was a good car. It took me from A to B for 2 years.


What was your first car?

"Holy Reign" on All About Worship

My friends at the All About Worship podcast are the coolest! They featured "Holy Reign" as October's free song download. That means many, many people will hear this song. It absolutely blows my mind any time one of my songs is recognized. Click here to check it out, and make sure to subscribe to their podcast, which features worship artists, such as Tim Hughes, Christy Nockels and Brenton Brown.

Word Wednesday .::63

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:

Leviticus 16:29-34 The Message

^29-31 "This is standard practice for you, a perpetual ordinance. On the tenth day of the seventh month, both the citizen and the foreigner living with you are to enter into a solemn fast and refrain from all work, because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. In the presence of God you will be made clean of all your sins. It is a Sabbath of all Sabbaths. You must fast. It is a perpetual ordinance.

³² "The priest who is anointed and ordained to succeed his father is to make the atonement:He puts on the sacred linen garments;

³³ He purges the Holy of Holies by making atonement;He purges the Tent of Meeting and the Altar by making atonement; He makes atonement for the priests and all the congregation.

³⁴ "This is a perpetual ordinance for you: Once a year atonement is to be made for all the sins of the People of Israel." And Aaron did it, just as God commanded Moses.

The words "perpetual ordinance" really popped out at me when I read this. Perpetual means continuing or enduring forever. This ordinance wasn't just a one time thing, it was a commitment. In the New Testament, we're called a "royal priesthood." As people who have claimed the name of Christ, we have to view it as a commitment. We have to live our life to bring glory to God in a perpetual way. Christianity is not an event, it's our everything.

What's your Word?

Movie Monday XLIII

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.

It's October, which means we're in the heart of baseball season. The World Series is coming. So...

What's your favorite baseball movie?

Gotta go with Field of Dreams...love that movie. "If you build it, they will come."



your turn...

Worship Confessional 10.04.09

Setlist w/Itunes links:
I Will Boast - Paul Baloche
Holy - Brenton Brown
Radiance - mine
Shine - Matt Redman

Planning Center Flow Sheet

Also part of Sunday Setlist.

24 hour date

The last 24 hours was awesome. My wife is a-mazing. She got us tickets to my favorite band, The Killers. Some awesome girls from our church took the kids for the night, so we made it a get away to Orlando. So, last night, we went to the concert, which was easily the best concert I've ever been to, and then we stayed the night in Orlando WITHOUT THE KIDS! Here's some pics:


We woke up this morning, and went to Universal Studios, primarily to ride the new ride, Rockit Rollercoaster. Pretty amazing ride. Probably our favorite now.

Long story short, my wife is amazing, and it was a much needed 24 hour get away for us.

CHURCH minus YOUTH=

It's a scary thought to answer that math problem, but we're getting a picture and have been getting a picture of it for a while now. I grew up in several churches, and every one of them were geared towards the older generation...as in, our grandparents. Now, not surprisingly, those churches are changing ot dying, literally. That whole deal is a huge reason, if not the biggest reason that we have seen and are seeing the "worship wars". Meanwhile, the younger generations, starting with the boomers, have decided that church is not for them. It's really tragic. Here's an article someone sent me on all this. Interesting stuff.

Click here to read it