Awesome

February 28, 2010 3 Comments

WARNING-LEGALISTIC VIEWPOINT AHEAD


Awesome-1 : expressive of awe <awesome tribute>
2 a : inspiring awe <an awesome task> b : terrific, extraordinary <had an awesome time> (from Webster dictionary)

I hear the word “awesome” get tossed around everywhere. Everywhere from a great burger, to a great guitar lick to a great car to just a great time. I have made a commitment a while ago that I would only reserve the word towards one thing… er…person… er… ok being; God.

By Websters definition, to be awesome, it must create awe, it must be inspiring and life changing, and it must be extraordinary. To me there is only one thing that fulfills all these things;  God!

No burger, piece of music, automobile or tangible object has ever seized the opportunity to inspire to the point of awe so much that it changed my life. For me, nothing deserves the right to be called awesome. NOTHING. Only God.

God has. God always will. God is the only one that can accomplish such a tall feat. Because He’s bigger than life itself. He’ stronger at His weakest point than my mightiest. He’s more powerful, stronger, persistent, bigger, greater, long-lasting, patient, wiser, grander, holier than I will ever dream of dreaming about.

He is inspiring.

He is life changing.

He is extraordinary.

He alone reserves the right to be called AWESOME!

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Should We Be Tweeting in Church

February 26, 2010 Leave a comment

I ran across this article today. After that, one of the people I follow tweeted this blog. Joshua Harris posted a blog with his comments about twittering in church here.

So there are three websites that hit all three sides; don’t do it, do it, and we’re doing it! Read the posts but more so, read the comments. There’s alot but take the time. The comments are where the meat is at.

I will go as far as saying that I read the comments and they make valid points on both sides of the spectrum. I will also say because I have the liberty on my own blog that I don’t like the idea of twittering in church. I will give my reasons but there are arguments against them and I think everyone has their opinions. I think ultimately it’s up to the leadership of the church to voice how they want to lead the church.

My reasons.

1. It’s distracting. In many cases churches are dim-lit for atmosphere and the back-light can be very distracting to those around them. It’s also distracting to the one leading at the moment cause let’s be honest, we don’t know if your checking your email or facebook because your bored or your actually doing something productive. So to calm those crazy waters, don’t do it.

2. You can wait till after church to tweet something profound. Besides, if your tweeting something, and someone you follow tweets something, then your not only trying to minister over twitter, your also focusing on what others tweeted. It becomes a vicious cycle and before ya know it, your tuned out of the service your in because of twitter.

3. I think it’s a great idea to give your all during worship. Music isn’t the only thing that’s worship in service. It’s all worship; communion, giving, meditating on the word, hearing the word. I don’t see you picking up your phone to tweet during sex. Why tweet during worship?

Being a leader in the church, my bottom line reason for not doing it is it’s disrespectful to those leading. We want you concentrating on what God is doing in you, not trying to help God do in others. Church is your time to focus on Christ, who He is and what He is doing. Don’t waste it trying to be all cool and relevant by twittering thinking you’re doing something good for somebody else.

I know that all that can seem legalistic and I assure you I’m not. I just want to encourage you to focus on you and Christ during that time. Not on trying to minister over twitter. Because more so than not, others that follow you are. And your distracting them from doing so because you want them to read your tweets. Wait till after church, then tweet till your heart’s content!

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Steering Through the Chaos

February 25, 2010 Leave a comment

I’m a huge fan of  Shane and Shane. I read on their tweet that this book was being given away. The only catch was I had to read it then review it here by March 15. Funny that this book is about mapping a clear direction in the midst of transition and change. My church Xtreme Ministries is going through a heavy change at the moment.

I thought it was interesting timing that this came up. So I ordered the book (for free) and I will commence to reading it tomorrow. Stay tuned for a full review in March.

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I Love Because He First Loved Me

February 11, 2010 Leave a comment

Sunday is Valentine’s day. This… is not necessarily a Valentine’s post. Lately, God has been pouring into me ideas and lyrics and I’m trying to contain it all. Today these lyrics poured into my head;

I love You because You first loved me

I love You because You freed me

I love You because you made me to be like You

I love You

Thinking about where God was taking me with these lyrics I have to beg the question: why do I love God? I can tell you I love my wife not because what she can do for me but what she has done in me. I’m not the same person I was before we met. I’m a better man, and only because she exists in my life. If she were to cease existing in my life, I would not be the same and I certainly would not be as good.

As for God, I would have to say the same. I’m not the person I used to be because of the influence He has had on my life. I am a changed man and for the better. For this reason, I love Him. I do not love Him for what he has or will do for me. I love Him for what He has done IN me. However, I could not love had he not authored love in the first place.  (1 John 4:19)

So… why do YOU love God?

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A Honk of Affirmation

February 7, 2010 Leave a comment

Sandhill cranes are large birds who fly long distances across continents and have three remarkable qualities.

1. They rotate leadership

2. They choose leaders who can handle the turbulence

3. All during the time one bird is leading the rest are honking their affirmation.


So the question is are you honking affirmation to your leaders or are you honking repudiation?  Are you confirming your support or are you gossiping dissension behind their backs? What have you done or said lately to your leaders that would let them know your behind them? How have you shown them that your trust is in them lately?

Sometimes  an affirmation honk is just what Dr. Crane ordered. Try today to find someway to give a honk of affirmation to those that are leading you; at work, at church, at home, or on the field of recreation.

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Night Time Confessions

February 4, 2010 2 Comments

It’s a Wednesday night at 12:30. I thought I would relieve my mind before I hunkered in for a nap and have to get up to go to work. Today I had the opportunity to listen to one of my favorite worship podcast “All About Worship“. On the podcast they had guest Carlos Whittaker. I like me some Los.

I love reading his blogs but today I got rather depressed. I try not to envy or covet or desire what I do not have but I let that spirit take me over today as I listened to the podcast. Here’s a guy that never set out to be a recording artist, a famous blogger, or even a well know worship leader. But he has made it to that point. He even mentioned on his podcast that it’s not a glorious position that every one thinks it is. Living out of a suitcase and not seeing his family all that much. Yeah I can see that.

But where my jealousy came into play was not necessarily wanting to know what it is like to live out of a suitcase, but rather the fact I have set out to be a blogger with every bit of two people even caring to read my blogs. I’m figuring I’m just not that interesting. I have set out to be a great worship leader. I’ve always wanted to be the one helping other worship leaders excel in the position of leading others to Christ by doing worship retreats and conferencess. I have set out to being a recording artist only to watch my dreams slip out from under me as I watch band member choose other things beside our music and to watch all I have tried to build up fall before me. Carlos has achieved what I couldn’t.

Now before you get all religious on me, I know that God plays a HUGE role in all things happening. So when I say I built up or I… I… I… don’t get all bent out of shape and say that I tried it without God cause that is not the case. However, I have given it my best shot and I am now watching other people take on my dreams. I was talking to Carrie (my wife) the other day and I told her that it makes me nauseous to know some folks can pick up a guitar and one year later they’re signed to a record deal.

I sit and ask God where I have I screwed up  that your not blessing me like that. That’s the desire of my heart but it seems as Bryan White sang once before, I must be wishing on someone else’s star. This isn’t rally a pity party as much as it is an admission to my jealousies and envies. It isn’t a pity party as much as it is a confession that I too ask God why.

I’m not really complaining about where I am at in life. I love what I’m doing. I’m just questioning how come others are getting to do what I’ve always wanted to do and I’m having to “work” with what sometimes seems very little rewarding. I don’t like having to crawl under houses for hours on end fighting spiders and snakes and anything else that resides in the confines of darkness under houses.

I want to minister. I want to have time to have lunch with a friend that’s hurting. I want lead authentic worshipers in worship and lots of em too. I want to travel to see where God is working in all places on earth and not just one.

But let me say I am excited about where God has me at working with the church that I do. As a matter of fact, all I’m saying is I want to do it more!

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