Jump: Part 1

I've been on a very interesting journey since my 7th grade year, an adventure that has taught me so much about music, God, and the Church (big C = all Christians as a whole body)...a journey called worship leading. Full-time, part-time, volunteer - I've run the gamut, and I've still got a lot of blocks to go around. One of the coolest worship leading experiences I've had in my career is Jump Camp, a middle school Christian camp I've led worship at for the last three years. That's where I've been this past week, and every year, that's where I wish I could stay just a bit longer.

Camp is a little piece of heaven - leading worship with my great friends and pro musicians/worship leaders Joy, Tylar, Mike, and Kevin (Kaio is at Hillsong's school in Australia this year, but he was our awesome drummer the first two years!). The camp, like most every Christian camp, is full of activities, games, sessions, and spiritual growth. Every year, we lead these teens/pre-teens in worship before each session, and to put it mildly, it's pretty wild :)  We sing in worship at the top of our lungs, bounce around like jumping beans, dance in the occasional conga line - the most fun you could ever have in corporate worship. It really made me daydream about how corporate worship usually goes in most church gatherings in America - let me give you a hint: it's not nearly as fun or lively. And that's sad, isn't it? 

My wife and I absolutely love being part of a church that embraces spirited worship and teaching, but most Christians can't say the same. So here we go, right? The old merry-go-round debate over contemporary vs. traditional. Well, I'm not exactly trying to get into all that touchy business, so don't get all defensive, mmmk? I love hymns, and I love modern worship songs - to me, the difference is in the energy. Of course God is present in the silent moments and the quiet worship - just as present, actually - but what is worship if it doesn't have some kind of energy behind it? And when I say energy, I don't just mean the conga line :)  I mean the spirit behind the worship. The fervency. The burning heart. The uncontrollable itch on the inside to express your passion for God on the outside. That's it, and most people just don't do anything about that itch. "Oh, that's improper. This God-stuff is supposed to be solemn, not slap-happy. Plus hey, I don't wanna look like an idiot in front of all my friends, all these strangers...nah, God knows my heart, I'll just stand here with my hands folded so as not to raise any eye-brows and distract from worship." 

Wow, I can't tell you how many people are thinking this on any given Sunday morning. And wow is it frustrating the heart of God, not to mention worship leaders like myself. Sometimes I feel like I'm trying to lead zombies in worship. Dead, rotting, moaning, drooling, limping zombies...maybe not physically, but definitely spiritually. What is holding us back? If you are afraid of what others think, God doesn't want your worship anyway. In Matthew 10:32-33, Jesus says "Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven." Jesus is being brutally honest here: if you're embarrassed about Jesus, about worshipping Him, about being associated with Him in any way, He's gonna give you exactly what you are advertising on your personal billboard: absolutely zero ounces of Him or His presence. If you're too proud to put some sauce behind your worship, what makes you think you'd even want to be in Heaven? Heaven is an eternally glorious place of ongoing praise, where all of creation worships Christ as Lord in various ways...if you can't do that and put some energy behind that here on Earth, would you really want to in Heaven? Tough pill to swallow, so chew on it for awhile. 

So at this point, hopefully I'm painting a picture of something stirring your heart. If so, come back in a couple days and I'll tell you how to get out of the blase worship rut. If not, forget about it and go back to your comfy style of zombie worship...but if you haven't responded to that stirring yet, I sure hope you come back.

Favor

Another great week in the books...a fast week, but a great one. Man, crazy number of days since my last post! Can't be havin' any slippage, gotta keep daydreaming!

Ok, story time. (woot!) Isaiah 43:18-19 says, "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." My last couple weeks have been full of God's favor and new things - the fresh, crispy, leafy kind-o-goodness. Mouth watering, foot-stompin', goodness-gracious-sakes-alive kinda stuff, ya know? Here's the highlight reel (in no specific order of occurrence or stellar-ness):
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1. Much to the benefit of my music career, I'm now working with an entertainment agent from Key Signature Entertainment here in Charlotte! (cue theme song, "The Jefferson's")  I've been in contact with him for months, and I've been working on a promo video to showcase to his clients and for my own use. Honestly, I've been hitting the pavement hard over the past year, but I haven't seen the results I've wanted. So I decided a couple months back to enlist the help of a professional, and let me tell ya, it's already been proven as a Grade-A, top shelf, "heck-yeah" decision. My promo video was superbly created by the pros at The Bench Studios here in Monroe, and once it was finished, I sent it on to my agent. He called me within like an hour, asking if I am free June 28th. Say WHAT?! :)  He said he sent my video to a client right away and they asked if I'm available for an upcoming gig they're hosting. How amazing is that? God is fantastically faithful.

2. My wife's birthday is tomorrow, and we're gonna celebrate with a trip to the doctor to check on little baby Tracy! She's not showing a bump yet really, but she can feel a bump coming. We're very excited, and very happy!

3. Got a new hairstyle! I was bored with my boring old bore-iffic bore of a haircut, which I covered with a stylish hat more often than not. I went to our friend, Angy, and she gave me a style! Kinda messy on purpose, ya know? Gelled scruffy, haha. I don't know how to describe it, sheesh. I'll post a pic on Facebook.

4. Heading to Jump Camp next week, a middle school Christian camp up in Indiana. My friend Joy got a great group of worship musicians together a few years ago for it, and we've been going back every summer ever since. I love leading these kids in worship, it's so much fun! We jump and dance to the newest tunes, rockin' it hard for a purpose. Plus it's right down the road a bit from my wife's family, so we get to visit with them for a week or so! Perfect retreat from the norm, which is nice once in a while.

5. I'm driving to Clearwater, FL Tuesday to lead worship for my friend Joy's church! (same Joy)  She asked me awhile back, and it worked out great for this week. We'll have lots of fun, and I have some people from a church down there coming to observe me lead for a church position they have open down there.

Big stuff happening, just wanted to fill you in! Details of my adventures coming soon!

UPDATE: Played my first show for Key Signature last night! Carmel Country Club, it was a fun atmosphere by the pool. I played for 4 hours, one of my longest performances I can remember, but it was fun. No CD sales, though, I need a mascot or something, hahaha. Any takers?

Expectant

So it's been a while since we've known, but we just started sharing the news online this past week - we are pregnant!






Jodi's about 10 weeks into her journey as a preggo mommy, and we are so enveloped by it all. The news, what that means for our future, what that means for us presently, the joy, the tears, the shock, the planning...the love. We are living a dream.

This whole feeling of expecting a child reminds me of something I've daydreamed about many a time in the past few years. It reminds me of a pregnancy other than having babies. 

God paints us a unique picture of His processes through this word "pregnancy." He is a God of process, you know. Isn't that amazing? I would have it no other way. I wouldn't want to serve a divine being who operates on instant gratification alone. Think about it: as humans, as Americans, that's all we want. We want what we think we need right now. I refer to it as a "microwave" worldview. Want a stronger faith? Pop in a prayer for a few minutes and out comes a tasty faith! Want patience? Take a bag out of the freezer, microwave on high for 2:30 and enjoy! But God is not a microwave-ready God...and I'm so glad He's not. If we all got what we wanted - or even what we needed - right away, there would be no growth opportunity, no substance to the product. It would be like a house with a foundation built on sand, like Jesus was talking about in Matthew 7. It takes time to build a house right, on the right foundation, with the right materials. 

Nope, God loves a good process in your life. Even though it's tough, that's the point - tough stuff builds an even tougher faith. It builds character. Romans 5:3-4 says, "We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!" (MSG, emphasis added) 

Expectancy is meant for more than physical pregnancy. Being expectant is a process, in relation to a baby and our spirit. Our spirits are supposed to be pregnant too, did you know that? Pregnant with hope for God to make something beautiful out of our present suffering. Pregnant with joy for God's purpose to course through our lives like a torrent. Pregnant with praise for all God's faithfulness to us. There's times when I'm bursting at the seems with praise! Have you stopped recently to daydream about God's faithfulness in your life? If you can't think of anything, you're likely not giving God the credit He's due for the things He's done. Humans are quick to pin the blame on God when the crap hits the fan, but we aren't so quick to realize the blessings that have come from His hand. I'll take it a step further: humans are also naive to the fact that God only wants to bless His children, not punish them. But that's a whole 'nother ball game for a different day.

So be expectant of God's faithfulness! Expectant of God's hand at work in your life. It'll be a process, but the outcome is worth it: a brand new creation, a beautiful little proof of God's goodness. We are pregnant for an amazing little baby, but our spirits have been pregnant for many good things over the past few years, so we're used to pregnancy by now ;)  Comment with what YOU are pregnant for in your life right now!

Besties

There's always something about her...

Something deep inside that keeps me young.

Something courageous that surfaces and keeps me honest.

Something poignant that fills me with hope and confidence.

Something rich that helps me know who I am -  with her, because of her.

Something sweet that keeps me coming back for more, like a chocolate bar buffet.

Something of substance that keeps me full, keeps my heart satiated.

Something bold that makes me fearless.

Something joyful that stands me on my feet.

Something giving that makes me respond with an open hand, giving all of me in return.

Something beautiful that gives me no end to fascination.

Something that makes me who I am, and loves me when I'm something less.

There's always something about her, and as sure as my love for her, there will always be something more.

A Poem

I feel like reminiscing my roots by writing a poem, so here it is...a poem:

Beauty

Vague perceptions line the streets, transparent assumptions awaiting the parade of lies

Climax into a sudden hush, muzzled by Beauty passing by...

Fragility disguising immensity, a consuming weight of centrifugal grace

A saunter through the midnight breeze, sultry smile from the corner of the terrace

Breed of Temptation, bloodline of Mystique

A rosebud bitten by Beauty, blooming in the dark

Nectar of the nocturne, an orchard of stars bleeding sacred dreams

A fissure in the slippery shale to dig my nails into, slowing the ominous fall

A rock to clutch by its underbelly with Death's searchlight closing in

Fire in the hail storm, a steamy savoir-faire

Smoke on the docks, hovering like silk, like sin

Faith running cross the state line, shackles on its wrists, blood in its eyes

White eclipse, drunk with light, burning with seduction

She is Beauty, and when she walks, she leaves in her wake the masses.

Jesus Came for Zombies

"Christianity isn't about bad people becoming good, it's about dead people coming alive."

~ Pastor Steven Furtick, Elevation Church

Zombies are an intriguing lot, from what I understand of them. I mean, I don't think they really know they're dead, what with all the moaning and drooling and what not. If they were cognizant of the fact they were eating raw flesh, would they? When I'm watching the ever-popular show of awesomeness, The Walking Dead, I'm always like, "Ugh, I wanna slap that walker across the face and say, 'wake up!'" Of course, that would probably just cause half its face to fall off and make it mad, but ya know, I'm a hopeless optimist. However you wanna slice it, there are so many times in my daily life when I interact with people who don't know God the way I wish they would, and I feel that same urge to lovingly slap them outta their dead-and-drooling life. 

I was watching an old podcast of our pastor the other day when I caught the quote above. Thank goodness for the Notes application on the iPhone. I had to write it down because it spoke to something I've been wrestling with - daydreaming about - lately: how to effectively communicate Christ's heart to those who don't know Him.

So often, people - even Christians - get confused about what following Christ is supposed to mean. We get caught up in moral codes, our pious deeds, forms of conduct - you know, the stuff Jesus called the Pharisees out on...the "Law." In biblical times, the Law of God passed down since Moses represented much more than a set of do's and don'ts, the Law represented their devotion to God, their very loyalty to Him. Over time, though, it became an obvious burden and represented what God intended it to in the first place: an impossible set of rules and implied moral standards. Don't believe me? Read Leviticus. But that was God's intention, to present a standard that was unattainable so He could introduce the only Way to really connect with God: Jesus. Through Christ's life and sacrifice, God provided the Way and Means to pursue a relationship with Him. It's impossible to be good enough to gain an audience with God, that's why following the Law alone left the Pharisees in the dust and still leaves people in the dust today. Scripture tells us "our righteousness is as filthy rags" before God, meaning it's not our right-living and moral standards alone that bring us the life God intended. That's why Jesus Himself said, "No man comes to the Father except through me." Make sense?

So after all this, you may assume I'm saying righteousness goes out the window, right? ERRRR, nope. You see, righteousness is cultivated by the life Christ offers - it's a product of Christ's heart in you, not a prerequisite. So if our righteousness isn't a prerequisite to get close to God, if our righteousness is like dirty rags before Him, we must need something else. That's where the Way comes in - the Truth, the Life itself: Jesus and the vibrant love his life inside us offers. See, we've thought for so long that our right-living made us "good" that we don't see the forest for the trees. This is the Gospel: it's embracing Christ's work for us and in us, not our vain efforts to redeem ourselves through our own strength. I mean, look at what culture tells us; I can't tell you how many movies and shows I've seen that imply that getting to heaven comes from being a "good person." How often have you heard that lie? If it were up to us to get into heaven, there would be no need for God, Christ and His work would be pointless, truth would be relative, values and virtues would be obsolete, and the weak would be left out altogether...hmmm, sounds a lot like Post-Modernism, doesn't it? Sounds a lot like our culture.

The truth I want to smack so many zombies around me with is that Christianity isn't hard, it's not taxing, it's not being a good little boy or girl, it's about experiencing an awakening to life through Christ...rising from the ashes and coming alive after a lifetime of death and decay. I have compassion for so many people in my life because they can't see it, they don't know the death that's in their lives - just like zombies. They walk through life, trying to survive off the meat and bones the world has to offer, the temporary highs until the next hunger pangs hit. It doesn't make sense to a living outsider looking at their destructive pattern of living, but to the zombie, to the person outside of Christ, it's all they know.

Think you've got it all together? You're like, "I'm no zombie, man. I feel great on my own." Well, to this living breathing outsider, you're toast. And you're gonna stay dead until you let someone wake you up out of your trance to the life that God meant for you - the colorful, rich life only Jesus offers, the life that God has purposed for you to have through Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. Fair warning: if you're dead and outside of Jesus' heart, you're not going to heaven. Sorry to break it to you, but think about it: the point of heaven is to enjoy the presence of God forever, so if you don't want to be with Him now, what makes you think He'll let you in later? If you don't want Jesus now, what makes you think you'll even want to live in a place where His presence is forever? It just doesn't make sense.

So if you know you're a zombie, I'm here to tell you Jesus came exactly for you. He came for the zombies of this world. Jesus said in Mark 2:17, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." He's not just talking about physical healing here, He's speaking spiritually - He came for the dead, to raise them to life. He didn't come for those who think they have it all together, He came for those who know they don't. He didn't come for those full of hot air and bologna, He came for those who desire His breath of life and hunger for His word and ways. If you're dead, you should see a doctor, and the only doctor I know of who can raise the dead is my doctor...His name is Jesus Christ.

Defense

"The best defense is a good offense." It's an old adage that still holds water, especially in relation to this big, messy, beautiful thing called life.

In my last post, I talked about offense and feeling that twinge when something irks you in a specific way. We talked about conviction, integrity, and how these are healthy attributes (when displayed in a non-extremist, non-snobbish kind of way, of course). I feel it would throw off the balance of the universe if I do not in turn touch on defense.

Like in my basketball analogy, it can be easy to let the "offense" slip by if you are fatigued, if your mind is elsewhere, or if you are altogether apathetic. When we let our guard down on our heart and allow things that aren't healthy for our spirit to creep in, it facilitates a slow-as-molasses, oozing mess of spiritual atrophy that will ultimately suck us down like quicksand. Trust me, I know...I fight it everyday. And it's hard getting out of quicksand - flailing around like Gumby on crack - which is why we need God, the Solid Rock, to stand firmly upon.

I said it once and I'll say it again, it's not all defense either. It's an offensive strategy that wins. If we stayed on defense the whole time, what good would that do? Just like some people get way too extreme with their defensive strategy in regards to culture and our surroundings - zero exposure to TV, music, and movies out of religious piety. Hey, just calling it like I see it. I see naivety, ignorance. There's got to be a holy balance, a sacred middle ground between raising our children under a rock and throwing them to the wolves. So what is it? What is the magic median? It's sustaining a solid defense with a stellar offense. 

In Matthew 16:18, Jesus prophesies regarding the future of the Church (big "C," meaning the entire body of believers in Christ). I usually read the Message and NIV, but I love how the King James Version has this verse: "Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." The Greek word for prevail is "nikao," and to my limited understanding, it quite literally means "conquer, overcome, to be victorious." I was daydreaming about this passage some months ago and I discovered one astonishing truth: we often understand this passage as "hell will never defeat God's Kingdom," but the word "gates" implies that hell is the one on defense - meaning the Church is the one on offense. You see? The word "prevail" can hold two meanings in this passage, and I prefer the one that suggests we take the fight down the throat of hell itself. 

Stand up for your integrity, champion a sturdy defense - and in doing so, be intentional and present a worthy offense, full of heart and purpose...God's heart, God's purpose. The things that are causing you to twinge, yes, take a stand! And in your standing, do something about it. Don't burn an abortion clinic, take those mothers under your wing. Feed them, counsel them. Stand against what is unsavory in pop culture, not by brainwashing your children and commanding them to live in the chains of naivety, but by bringing what is now in the dark into the light and teaching them what God's heart is concerning true love, anger, revenge, sex, and other messages culture is mixing. Don't know what God's heart is concerning things like these? Don't be afraid to find out. Be intentional about reading His Word, asking Him in a quiet time, asking someone you respect spiritually for their pearls of wisdom - don't let your defense get lax, that darn offense is slick.

All of this may seem scary, but it's worth it. You may have gotten burned in the past from taking a stand, but don't let that deter you, let it reinforce you. In Luke 21, Jesus is giving a rousing - albeit terrifying - speech to His disciples regarding how to handle themselves in the most terrible of times: “But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. And so you will bear testimony to me. But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. Everyone will hate you because of me. But not a hair of your head will perish. Stand firm, and you will win life." (NIV, emphasis added) You see, the ultimate defense is a stellar offense, and the source of that offense is from Christ Himself. He will give us the words, the ways to walk in when times are tougher than ever. All we need to do is stand firm, and we will win life.