another side of crowder

Not to overkill David Crowder (as if you ever could), but we're doing this song in our Sunday gathering (which, as a side note, is rather tricky to play). In the process of searching the internet for lyrics I found this rather amazing video.

the glory of it all

If you haven't listened to David Crowder's new CD "Remedy," here's a taste of what you're missing. The rest of it rocks, too - everything from rock and techno to songs that open a little crack of heaven.

you asked for it: marathons and walls

Ed G has put forth a very practical question: Paul writes that we must run for the prize -- but do you ever feel like you're in a marathon and you just "hit the wall"?

Nah.

It's just you.


:)


I'm jezz keeding...

I think this is one of the hardest parts about our faith, and often it's a roadblock we set up for ourselves. I'm preaching through a series right now called Movement, and the thing I keep seeing over and over again (especially in the life of the Israelites after the Exodus) is how often we erect our own hurdles and walls to the Promised Land God has for us. It's worth a listen to the series, but allow me to offer a few thoughts of summary:

1) The Roadblock/wall of fear: How many times have we been on the edge of something absolutely amazing with God and can even see how cool He is and His blessing is... only we throw out the word "but" and then it all goes downhill?

• "I see how this habit is destroying me, Father, but..."


• "I know you have a plan for my financial life, God, but..."


• "I get that you want me to work on that relationship, Lord, but..."

They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh in the Desert of Paran. There they reported to them and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land. They gave Moses this account: "We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. (Numbers 13:26-28a)

2) The Roadblock/wall of self: Often we see our backgrounds as meager when compared to what God would invite us into. In Joshua's life, he started out as a rugged young warrior then spent time as Moses' intern... which meant everything from carrying the big guy's tent and laundry to going on extended treks up the side of the mountain. Yet when God called out the next leader for the thousands and thousands of Israelites to follow, he picked this scrub. Would you allow Him to pick you for something great, too, or will you allow your past to become a roadblock?

Moses said to Joshua, "Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands." (Exodus 17:9)

Then Moses set out with Joshua his aide, and Moses went up on the mountain of God. (Exodus 24:13)

3) The Roadblock/wall of control: How much risk in our life do we avoid because it would mean we would be out of control? Sometimes we know the step we need to take, but because it would mean not knowing/controlling everything we hold back. To counter this, we need to acknowledge who God is, believe that what He has said is true, commit to follow Him, determine there is no turning back, and enjoy the journey... wherever it takes us. Otherwise, all that we fear happening just might.

"The LORD said to Moses and Aaron: 'How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have heard the complaints of these grumbling Israelites. So tell them, 'As surely as I live, declares the LORD, I will do to you the very things I heard you say: In this desert your bodies will fall—every one of you twenty years old or more who was counted in the census and who has grumbled against me.''" (Numbers 14:26-30)

4) The Roadblock/wall of preparation: When the opportunity is presented to finally walk over the line into the Promised land, will you be ready? How we spend the "everyday" moments matter more than we realize... whether it's killing time or producing "muscles" for the road ahead. The way we interact with Jesus Christ, His Church, our community, and all of culture right now will determine what we're able to do in the future... so let's prepare prayerfully, financially, and invitationally so that lives are forever changed.

So Joshua ordered the officers of the people: "Go through the camp and tell the people, 'Get your supplies ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the LORD your God is giving you for your own.' " (Joshua 1:10-11)

So hopefully those are some proactive thoughts, but I also think that sometimes when you hit a wall it's one of the best times to cry out to God. Sometimes worship is best when it comes from a dry mouth... sometimes the best prayers come from hot tears.

During such a time in my life, I made this video... and for those out there in need, may its honesty guide you closer to the Lord.

nywc06: saturday am - pt. 1

Today I danced.

I stripped off my sweater, took off my socks and shoes, and hopped around… an undignified worshipper consumed by a God who has revealed himself to me.

And so I danced.

And then I stretched.

I raised my arms in the air as if I was trying to reach a special treat off of the top shelf. Not because I didn’t just consume one but because I wanted another… and I wanted to reach for it to let the One who gave it to me know I really enjoyed it. I know that sometimes the best way to compliment a cook is to ask for another serving… which is what I did.

As I danced.

And stretched.

And then stood on tiptoe.

This isn’t easy to do, and I don’t know if I’ve ever quite worshipped in this way. Yet there is something about wanting to be picked up by your Father that causes you to tiptoe your way into his arms, as if by that tiptoe you save yourself one quarter of a second that would have otherwise been wasted if he had to dig down deeper to get you and you had to wait for him to do so. It’s hard to stand on your tiptoes very long, let alone for the length of a David Crowder song… and yet I did.

As I danced.

And stretched.

And stood on tiptoe.

And then I wept.

Hot tears of revelation as the song “Amazing Grace” brought to my mind how much I am truly lost without my Jesus. Have you ever wanted to say something but couldn’t because you were crying cleansing waters of joy and broken thankfulness? No voice came out of my mouth, and yet I think it was the loudest I’d worshipped in a while.

As I danced.

And stretched.

And stood on tiptoe.

And wept.

This interestingly enough put me in the right place to grab my soul brother Brian and enjoy the community around me. I know people think they can follow Jesus without the church, but I don’t know how they get to enjoy on the breakthrough moments of community we were intended for. Certainly many “sinful” activities (which you can fill in as you so choose) that we can do with someone lend themselves to a two-dimensional form of community that is based around whatever the transaction of activity is at hand. Ironically, this can seem a whole lot more authentic than anything offered in a rigid self-help church… because churches aren’t supposed to be self-help centers anyway.

But even that form of two-dimensional community that seems so tangible isn’t even close to these pure moments of worship where everything with you and God is pure, allowing everything with those around you to be even purer… creating a taste of heaven that we currently have to labor for but one day will freely enjoy when Jesus “forever fixes” the world.

Man… I don’t know, but I’d be inclined to call that “heaven.”

And so… here is our King. Here is our Love. Here is our God who’s come to bring us back to Him. He is the One… He is Jesus.

Dance with me.

I will celebrate before the LORD. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. (2 Samuel 6:21b-22a)

nywc06: friday pm - pt. 1

Okay... I really enjoy the NYWC General Sessions. It takes a lot of creativity to get people to sit in the same space for 2.5 hours and make it feel like 30 minutes. Somehow the team from YS pulls it off, introducing this year's theme: REVEAL. It's always fun to hear the usual stuff and see who is here for the first time, especially when they have no idea for what they're in for.

There is something about the arrogant faith of youth workers. I mean that as a compliment, by the way. They actually believe that God can use them to change the world. In contrast, I think the older you get the more you form a cautious spirituality where everything gets filtered first. Perhaps this is why I need to be around this optimistic energy at least once a year... people who may not be as theologically versed as a lot of published authors or professors and yet they "get it."

Personally, the conference always seems to start feeling "fresh" when David Crowder and his band hit the stage.

How does one describe David Crowder? Imagine sitting down over dinner to talk with someone about a very serious topic, but the whole time you're trying to get around to your topic your friend can't seem to get over how there is a ketchup stain on his menu. It's not that it bothers him, but he's just so genuinely fascinated about the story behind the stain and takes you on a journey into his imagination about what may have happened. By the time you're done talking about the hypothetical person behind the ketchup stain, you've realized this what you wanted to talk with your friend about in the first place... but just didn't realize it. Yet once you start to talk about it he starts telling you a story about his Uncle Ned's shoe factory.

And how it all somehow has to do with an amazing side of Jesus you haven't seen yet.

So as David Crowder got ready to lead 4000 people in worship of God, he can't help but note a laughing woman by the stage who seems to be hooting like an injured steer. Then there was this guy with a chain wallet whom we only know as “Big Country” (the guy... not the wallet). Because, after all, that’s what guys with chain wallets are known for… snazzy nicknames.

An aside by you, the reader: "Hey, I have a chain wallet, fella."

A response by me, the blogger: "Sorry… 'Ace.'"

After some time with an illusionist, Crowder's Band, and some other fun stuff, Phil Vischer (founder of Veggie Tales) took the stage. You may know the story of his success, but you may not know about his big "failure" that God turned into a pretty amazing learning curve in his life. Without repeating what is already on the internet, I'll give you some of my favorite quotes and takeway ideas:

• "What’s Veggie Tales? It’s something that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense on paper. It is a series of videos where limbless talking vegetables tell Bible stories... trying selling that one."
• What does it mean when God gives you a dream, shows up in it, you find all kinds of success doing his work, and then it dies? Why put us through that exercise? It may be that God wants you to ask what is more important… "the dream he gave you" or "him?"
• "Anything you are unwilling to let go of is an idol... and if that's the case, then you are in sin."
• When people in the Bible don’t know what to do they don’t do anything… they wait on him. We are not called to be a people of vision… we are called to people of revelation. We need to focus the people of God on the word of God.
• The world doesn’t learn about God by watching Christian media… the world learns about God by watching Christians.
• When God wanted to advance his will he knew who to call because he knew who was listening.
• If I’m a Christian, where I am in five years is’t any of my business but completely up to God.

My takeaway questions:

• What if God isn’t whispering... but speaking quite clearly? If so and I am having trouble hearing him, what am I using to muffle his voice, consciously or unconsciously?
  
• How can I be a blank page to God each and every day without letting the pressure to provide for my family or prove something to those watching me start to fill up the page prematurely?

join me in prayer?

Some of you are familiar with David Crowder. At the church where he's the worship pastor (University Baptist Church in Waco, TX) there's been a tragedy that merits our prayers. Pastor Kyle Lake was electrocuted while standing in the baptismal pool (some speculation involves touching a microphone). Kyle was an extremely gifted leader and a loved pastor at UBC.

If you think about it, a baptismal service is usually a time of celebration. I would speculate that there were people of all ages on hand to celebrate. Would you join me today in not only praying for the family of Kyle but also for any younger members of the church who are processing what they may have witnessed.

As a side note... yesterday is also the two-year anniversary of Mike Yaconneli's death, too.