Music Monday 38

This is a post that you can participate in on every Monday. Everyone likes music, and there are obviously many tastes in music. This is here to see what different types of music are filling everyone's lives. Chime in!

Went and saw John Mark McMillan this past Friday. Amazing concert, so...

What was the first concert you ever went to?

Mine was 4Him. Oh yeah, baby. Face the Nation tour. CCM in the roaring early 90's. Check out those mustaches.



your turn...

Worship Confessional 08.29.10

Setlist with itunes links:
Our God Saves
Holy
Holy, Holy, Holy
You are a Holy God

Flow Sheet from Planning Center

Also part of Sunday Setlist.

Silent Star Wars

Word Wednesday .::109

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:

Isaiah 41:21-24 The Message

^21-24"Set out your case for your gods," says God.
"Bring your evidence," says the King of Jacob.
"Take the stand on behalf of your idols, offer arguments,
assemble reasons.
Spread out the facts before us
so that we can assess them ourselves.
Ask them, 'If you are gods, explain what the past means—
or, failing that, tell us what will happen in the future.
Can't do that?
How about doing something—anything!
Good or bad—whatever.
Can you hurt us or help us? Do we need to be afraid?'
They say nothing, because they are nothing—
sham gods, no-gods, fool-making gods.

"They say nothing, because they are nothing-"
As a believer in the one true God, idolatry is one of the most stupid things we do, yet we do it. The flesh can be very stupid.

What's your Word?

Want or Need: L O S T: the complete collection

In an ever-growing materialistic society, it's becoming more difficult to distinguish the difference between what we really want and what we really need. It's time for you to weigh in on this discussion. It's real simple...is it a want or a need?

L O S T: the complete collection


WANT or NEED?

Music Monday 37

This is a post that you can participate in on every Monday. Everyone likes music, and there are obviously many tastes in music. This is here to see what different types of music are filling everyone's lives. Chime in!

My music era is the 90's & I have mixed feelings about it, so...

In your opinion, what's the worst era in music (70's, 80's, etc.)?

I think that each decade of music has shameful moments. I have to go with the pop boom of the late 90's. The corporate fueled and fabricated music that came out of that time was just gross and shameful. Justin Timberlake is probably trying desperately to forget that era, I hope.



your turn...

Worship Confessional 08.22.10

Setlist with itunes links:
God of Wonders
Uncreated One
Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone)
He Reigns

Flow Sheet from Planning Center

Also part of Sunday Setlist.

Skateboarding Priest

Social Media

How do you use social media? (twitter, facebook, etc.)

"...and if you don't like it, leave!"

That's the message that people receive when they stop and pump gas in a station in South Carolina. Click here to read the actual news story.

The people who get gas there love it. They didn't have any interviews from people that were opposed to it, probably because they stopped going there.

I know the truth will offend, and I've experienced that many times. My problem with this is that we are also instructed, biblically speaking, to speak the truth in love. I don't see love in this statement. I see a proud, dogmatic spirit.

We need to be very cautious when we use God's name. It's one of the commandments. Ignorance of God's Word and God's character can quickly take us into foolish talk and behavior.

Obviously, the owner of the station has the right to put that message up, but is God pleased?

What do you think?

Word Wednesday .::108

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:

Isaiah 27:7-8 The Message

The evidence that his sin is removed will be this:
He will tear down the alien altars,
take them apart stone by stone,
And then crush the stones into gravel
and clean out all the sex-and-religion shrines.
For there's nothing left of that pretentious grandeur.
Nobody lives there anymore. It's unlivable.
But animals do just fine,
browsing and bedding down.
And it's not a bad place to get firewood.
Dry twigs and dead branches are plentiful.
It's the leavings of a people with no sense of God.
So, the God who made them
Will have nothing to do with them.
He who formed them will turn his back on them.


"Dry twigs and dead branches..."
An all too familiar picture of Christianity at times. People who claim the name of Christ, myself included, but are spiritually dead and useless to God. Our spiritual health must take top priority in our life. God has not called us to martyrdom in our spiritual health. Take care of yourself, so you can bless others.


What's your Word?

All About Worship Highlight

My friends over at All About Worship did an interview/highlight on me about worship leading and songwriting. I'm honored to be on their site. I tell my story and journey to where I am now. Also, check out their podcast. It's listener base has really grown. If you are into worship music and artists, you will really enjoy the podcast. I download and listen to every episode. Great stuff!

Music Monday 36

This is a post that you can participate in on every Monday. Everyone likes music, and there are obviously many tastes in music. This is here to see what different types of music are filling everyone's lives. Chime in!

Sometimes you hear a new album or an artist, and you think you everyone should like it, so...

What new album or artist should be on everyone's playlist right now?

Right now, I think everyone needs to sit down and listen to a new album called "The Medicine" by John Mark McMillan. Absolutely wonderful. The best thing in the Christian genre in a very long time. I hope this album really influences the direction of Christian music. Great stuff.




your turn...

Worship Confessional 08.15.10

Setlist with itunes links:
Alleluia (Our Praise Is)
Mighty to Save
Shaken
Everything

Flow Sheet from Planning Center

Also part of Sunday Setlist.

Guess what I'll be watching on October 26th?

The World's Farthest Basketball Shot

Happy Birthday to the...

...most beautiful lady in the place.
...best wife I could ever ask for.
...most amazing mom my kids could have.
...girl who still catches my eye.

Happy Birthday, to my wife, Jennifer. Love you, babe.

Word Wednesday .::107

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:

Isaiah 17:7-8 The Message

^7-8Yes, the Day is coming when people will notice The One Who Made Them, take a long hard look at The Holy of Israel. They'll lose interest in all the stuff they've made—altars and monuments and rituals, their homemade, handmade religion—however impressive it is.


Just wrote a song about this, before I read it. Very confirming. You may not notice God now, but you will one day.


What's your Word?

First Day of First Grade

Music Monday 35

This is a post that you can participate in on every Monday. Everyone likes music, and there are obviously many tastes in music. This is here to see what different types of music are filling everyone's lives. Chime in!

Today is my son's first day of first grade, so...

What album reminds you of your school days?

Obviously, there is so many answers, so I'll just narrow it down to high school days. One of the biggest albums for my high school days was the first Hootie & the Blowfish album. We wuz all about Hootie!




your turn...

Worship Confessional 08.08.10

Setlist with itunes links:
Forever
Glory to God Forever
Shaken
Blessed Be Your Name

Flow Sheet from Planning Center

Also part of Sunday Setlist.

The Big Shamrock

I'm actually excited to get Shaq. Not because he's going to be a dominant player for us, because he's past his prime. I think he's going to come off the bench as a really effective role player, which will make us 3 deep in the center department when we get Perkins back in January. I think it's a good move in our quest for a ring this year. Welcome Shaq!

IRON BABY

You like the devil!

My son, Josh, is awesome! He occasionally drops these epic statements, in which I immediately call my brother and we laugh for years about it. It's like sharing a quote from a funny movie. It's great!
My son is 6 and my daughter, Jade, is 2. They fight like a brother and sister, but they're good kids and Josh is a great big brother to his little sister. The other day we were driving home and Jade was getting on Josh's nerves and aggravating him. He then let out his frustrations with her by announcing out loud, "Jade, I like God and you like the devil!" I instantly had to hold back my laughing and tell him not to say that to her. I told her that it wasn't a nice thing to say.
It got me thinking later about it, though. Josh may be on to something. Even though, we don't walk around proclaiming to like the devil or doing evil, our actions can raise that suspicion. When I decide to trust myself instead of God...when I'm jealous of others...when I lust...when I get angry and lose my temper...etc. These are times when I'm essentially saying, "I like the devil!" I Peter 5:8 says, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." It's important to believe and understand this and that the more we grow in Christ, the more we will be attacked. Ephesians 6:12 says, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." It's a spiritual battle, and our worship is the prize.

Word Wednesday .::106

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:

Isaiah 1:10-16 The Message

¹⁰"Listen to my Message,
you Sodom-schooled leaders.
Receive God's revelation,
you Gomorrah-schooled people.

^11-12"Why this frenzy of sacrifices?"
God's asking.
"Don't you think I've had my fill of burnt sacrifices,
rams and plump grain-fed calves?
Don't you think I've had my fill
of blood from bulls, lambs, and goats?
When you come before me,
whoever gave you the idea of acting like this,
Running here and there, doing this and that—
all this sheer commotion in the place provided for worship?

^13-16"Quit your worship charades.
I can't stand your trivial religious games:
Monthly conferences, weekly Sabbaths, special meetings—
meetings, meetings, meetings—I can't stand one more!
Meetings for this, meetings for that. I hate them!
You've worn me out!
I'm sick of your religion, religion, religion,
while you go right on sinning.


A bit of a toe stomper for sure. As a worship leader I've had battles with both sides of the worship war spectrum. On one side you have the conservative legalists who refuse any kind of change and sometimes any kind of worship. Then on the other side, you have liberal legalists who think that the end to all holiness takes place within the forum of a worship service. More and more I've learned that worship outside of an organized church service is the real worship that the Father is seeking. The better the worship is outside of the church walls, the better it will be inside the walls. Not the other way around.


What's your Word?

Billie Jean by Igor

Music Monday 34

This is a post that you can participate in on every Monday. Everyone likes music, and there are obviously many tastes in music. This is here to see what different types of music are filling everyone's lives. Chime in!

Occasionally I'll hear a new song it just grabs me. It's a rare thing, but it happens, so...

What song has just really grabbed you recently and why?

This past weekend I took a good listen to Paul Baloche's new album "Glorious". It's an amazing album of songs for the church. Near the end is a song called "Shaken". It's so relevant for our culture and definitely myself. "Everything that can be will be shaken..." Powerful stuff. I encourage you to go download it. It's full of God's Truth and encouragement. Only God remains.





your turn...

Worship Confessional 08.01.10

Setlist with itunes links:
Everlasting God
Our God
O God Our Help (Same God)
You Alone Can Rescue

Flow Sheet from Planning Center

Also part of Sunday Setlist.