Sunday, July 30, 2006

Gra-nan-de?

Last night I went to Starbucks. If you know me well enough, you know that I have a problem. It's not thang for me to drive 5 miles out of my way to get a grande vanilla latte. I need serious help!

So, I pulled into the parking lot and my 6-year old, Austin, asked me if we were going to Starbucks. I thought I'd be a wise guy and say "No, we're going to La Quinta!" in a fun, Speedy Gonzales kind of voice. Well, Speedy was still in me because when I ordered at the drive-thru, I said, "Yes, I'd like a gra-nan-de..." What is that? My buddy, Brian, that was with me asked why I need to drink caffeine!

Sometimes you just have to laugh at yourself...Ha!

Friday, July 28, 2006

Things to be excited about...

There are a few things coming up that I am very pumped about...

The biggest one is Ella coming real soon. We have had a week of false alarms, which isn't cool because it just makes you get your hope up and then nothing happens. But at least I know she'll be here in about week. (We have an induction date now!)

Next, we have some friends moving into town today. They are some very special people to our family and we've been wanting this for a couple of years now!

After that we've got Sunday's services. We had band practice last night and it went so good! TJ Barton is co-leading with us this week, which is really cool. The set list is a good one and I can already feel the Lord working in it.

Lastly, TrueNorth celebrates its two year anniversary on August 20. I can't believe it's been two years already! God has blessed so much and, with the move to the gym on September 10, I believe He's got a lot more in store for us!

Thinking about these things makes me realize how amazing hope is. When you hope for something, it helps you get through the day and it makes trials easier because you know something better is on its way.

In Colossians 1:27, Paul says that you and I have an amazing hope: Christ in you, the hope of glory. It's the ultimate hope...the hope that Christ will continue to transform us into who He wants us to be, one day culminating into the hope of glory: eternity with Him! What a day that will be! And that is a hope that will not fade away as long as our eyes are fixed on Him.

Wednesday, July 26, 2006

Taking rest

Life has been crazy to the nth degree lately...Laurie is nearing the end of the pregnancy and with that comes the usual discomfort and sleepless nights. And, as everyone married person should know, when your spouse is restless at night, chances are you won't sleep good either...which has been the case for me.

Today I've decided to take some rest...play some Crash Bandicoot with my boys...and wipe things out of my mind that have been stressing me. And it's been very nice. I hope each of you take a rest frequently. We need it.

I heard Rob Bell of Mars Hill Church and Nooma Videos talk recently about the importance of taking a sabbath every week. The sabbath refers to the Jewish custom of a designated day a week where there was no work...not even meal preparation! Rob said that he and his family take their sabbath every Saturday. It's all about what they do together. Nothing else.

How much better would our lives be if we'd learn to take a break every week from work? We are designed to work...it's what makes our lives rewarding. But, we're not designed to work ourselves to death.

Take some rest soon...it may be the best thing you ever added to your schedule!

Monday, July 24, 2006

Tozer Chapter 2

So I'm trucking along in my read of A.W. Tozer's book Whatever Happened to Worship? Just a 411 on me...I am a S---L---O---W reader. I think my biggest problem is that I get easily distracted. It's probably this ADD epidemic going through our church.

Anywho, I finished chapter 2 and the points I'm taking to heart are:

-Worship must be a constant state of mind.
-We can only go as deep into God as we are willing to go and...
-Once we are willing, the Spirit will be our guide.
-The living God has been willing to reveal Himself to our seeking hearts.
-God loves us for ourselves. He values our love more than He values galaxies of new created worlds. He remembers our frame and knows that we are dust.
-We please Him most by throwing ourselves into His arms with all our imperfections and believing that he understands everything---and loves us still.
-Fear of God is not intimidation, but extreme awe and reverence brought on by the Presence of God.

It still constantly amazes me that God is pursuing my heart and wants to take me deeper into His. Amazing!

Thursday, July 20, 2006

A beautiful face

Laurie and I went to her doctor's appointment today. She's now 36 weeks along. Baby Ella will be here before we know it. It was really cool because they did a sonogram to check some measurements.

We got a special treat because the sonographer got a shot of Ella's face like now sono picture I've ever seen (and believe me, with three kids already, I've seen alot!). It was almost like we could see every single one of her facial features. There were the twos eyes just staring at us. And the smooshed up nose because she's so cramped. What a beautiful face! Can you tell I'm a proud daddy?

It hits me in those moments how anyone CANNOT believe in God. It's absolutely a miracle that a little baby can grow in such a tiny place (though most pregnant women would disagree on the tiny part!).

Less than four weeks until she's here...and I can't wait!

Last thing, I posted that new song, Light Up the Sky, over on my pure volume site. I'm excited about this new one as it's been two years in the making!

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

TNC Chick Blogs

Laura Owings and Jenny Lou Jones (aka Mama Chick) now have blogs. Check them out!

Light Up the Sky

So I wrote a new song this morning. I love creating things! The song is called "Light Up the Sky". It really speaks of being in the presence of God and letting Him light up our lives...and there's a hint of longing for Him to come and take His children home. I'm still tweaking things and hope to get it up on my pure volume site later today or tomorrow.

There's a part in the song that says "feel the passion in my heart / feel it building for your name / i want to sing out now / i want to shout it out loud". I love that! I can feel that passion rising in God's people...it's almost like a tsunami is rising up and getting ready to crash and spread God's glory all around. Chuck has been talking about this for a few days on his blog. As he said on Monday, the anthem of the Lord seems to be rising up not just a TrueNorth, but at many churches around the country.

Exciting stuff!

Sunday, July 16, 2006

The beauty of the moment

Thinking back on this morning's services, I have to say I'm in complete awe of God. This morning was a powerful time of worship in the presence of God. His Spirit was present in a mighty way...and has been for a few weeks now. I've never experienced Sunday morning worship this way ever before. Sure, Facedown has always been powerful, but this has been different.

Thinking on it I'm seeing a new chapter in our church...a spirit of worship that happens anytime and anywhere. Whether it's on Sunday morning, at Facedown, or down at the river, the people of God at TrueNorth are surrendering themselves before God through expressions of love and devotion for Him.

I'm convinced that God has some incredible things in store for us this fall...His presence is with us and He's providing what we need to make the move to the gym possible. I couldn't close this post any better than this:

How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all with see
How great, how great is our God

Thursday, July 13, 2006

Holy Ground

I posted a new song on my Pure Volume site today. The song is called "Holy Ground" which Zak and I opened up the June edition of Facedown with.

The story behind the original song by Geron Davis here.

Rick Warren blogs

For those of you blog readers out there, I discovered this morning that Rick Warren, author of the Purpose Driven Life, has started a blog. Check it out here.

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Deep calls to deep

There's a David Crowder song called "My Hope" where he uses the lyric "deep calls to deep." It's a reference to a verse in Psalm 42...Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls. The first time I read that I quickly wondered what that meant. I knew it had something to do with my relationship to God, but what? And then I read this yesterday in Tozer's book:

"...we know Christ only as the Spirit enables us. How thankful we should be to discover that it is God's desire to lead every willing heart into depths and heights of divine knowledge and communion." (Whatever Happened to Worship, A.W. Tozer)

After reading this, it hit me. God pursues us...He calls us as deep calls to deep...His heart is calling to our hearts. It is a matter of the heart! But we must be willing to be lead into the depths and heights of God.

Oh, that I would be willing, knowing that "God desires to take us deeper into Himself." (Whatever Happened to Worship, A.W. Tozer)

Let me see the depths of You, o God of the universe!

Monday, July 10, 2006

247Think Defined

Tozer's just blowing my mind with this book...and I'm only into the second chapter!

Not to far into the chapter, he spells out the purpose of 247Think: "True worship of God must be a constant and consistent attitude or state of mind within the believer." That's a 24/7 lifestyle of worship! Right before that he says that "God's highest desire is that every one of His believing children should so love and so adore Him that we are continuously in His presence, in Spirit and in truth. That is to worship, indeed."

I couldn't have said it any better.

Thursday, July 06, 2006

Center

I was just on Charlie Hall's website, and he has a section of videos that tell the story behind some of the songs. He wrote a song titled "Center" that we have sung at TrueNorth before, so I clicked on the link to watch the story behind the song. In the video he mentions a verse that the song is formed from, Colossians 1:16. It says, "For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities---all things were created through Him and for Him."

It's really hit me how Christ has not been the center of my life. I mean, I do a lot of things for Him, but I can't say He's constantly at the center...I'm so busy doing and going that I neglect to sit and soak. I miss those times of soaking in His presence.

We're singing that song this Sunday and I'm really looking forward to letting it brew in my heart. Last night at Journey Team, one of the girls closed our group in prayer and she asked God to infiltrate us. That's what I want...for God to penetrate my heart and become the center of it once again.

Tuesday, July 04, 2006

Freedom

Happy 4th of July! What a tremendous day to celebrate the sacrifice of our forefathers to give us the gift of freedom. It's really hit me this year that freedom isn't free. It always comes with a price. May we always express our support and gratitude to our brothers and sisters who fight to keep us free!

Monday, July 03, 2006

Change - the only constant

TrueNorth will be changing again real soon. It's seems to be the only constant thing about us! As Steve announced the past two Sundays, we are making the move across the courtyard to the NAHS gym. What an exciting time! It will give us the chance to reach even more people for Christ...and that's what it's all about! I read Chuck's blog today and he mentions all that has to be done to make this possible. We are researching what we'll need like crazy...and we're seeing people use their talents and energy to help make it happen. We are seeing such a fresh excitement that it reminds me of when we made the move from Hammond Hills Elementary to the auditorium. We will need more hands for set-up and teardown...but as a friends said, "Jesus bore the cross, and all we have to do is setup and teardown the gym every week." That's kingdom focus right there...putting the mission before self...

So I'll leave you today with some thoughts on Tozer's book, "Whatever Happened to Worship?" Chapter 1 is titled "Worship in the Christian Church." There is so much good stuff, it will take me a few days to share the insights. One quote that has grabbed me was this: I am of the opinion that we should not be concerned about working for God until we have learned the meaning and the delight of worshiping Him.

What does he mean by that? Is he saying that we have a "get out of work" card? No...that's not the point. We are created for one ultimate purpose...to worship God with passion and devotion...with our whole lives! But out of that 24/7 lifestyle we will gain a clearer vision of what God wants us to do with our lives. We'll see where He's at work and we'll join Him in that work, doing whatever we can. I have witnessed so many live this life at TrueNorth. People park cars, hand out programs, play with kids, teach Journey Teams, and tote equipment all for the sake of Christ. And the coolest thing is that our worship on Sunday carries into the week. God has changed lives all around our community and people are seeing it.

The journey is just beginning...