There must be something in the water here in Mobile, AL. Something really good. Something like... the Holy Spirit.
I have been greatly challenged by the youth here in Mobile to get my act together and worship unhindered by pride. Each youth group we have lead worship for here have been so passionate in their worship that I have felt embarrassed by my lack of zeal for singing praise to God. I don't believe that passion is just manifested in physical form with hands lifted high, but I do believe that some of what's in your heart should infiltrate your physical response to what is being sung. I have seen youth raise their hands during the lyric "so we raise up holy hands, to praise the Holy One", dance during the lyric "the redeemed have come to dance", and shout for joy during the lyric "make a joyful noise to the Lord all the earth." I think I've been learning about response in worship a lot during this tour.
The devotions of the leaders here in Mobile have been penetrating my heart as well. One youth leader spoke about sponges and how when you stick a sponge in water it becomes saturated with that water. The water infiltrates every pour of the sponge and when you squeeze the sponge, whatever was soaked up in it will come out. Matthew 12:34 reinforces this in saying that the overflow of our hearts come out in speech. I have a confession to make: I'm not soaking in the word of God like I should be. I have not been writing the words of Christ on my heart by memorizing them. How different would I look if I soaked in Scripture instead of pop-culture? I think I would look drastically different. In a good way too. Not to bash pop-culture though, I do believe this has its place in our society (especially in being able to relate to non-believers) but at the same time, I know that I spend to much time revelling in things that are not of God.
I believe that God is moving strongly here in Mobile. I believe that He brought me here to teach me more about worship. I also believe that this has the potential to affect the world we live in. May I never forget what God has taught me here. And may you beging to saturate yourself in the words of Jesus Christ. May you become immersed in the Word so that when the world grips you tightly and tries to suffocate you, what overflows is Holy.
Luke 6:45 - "The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart the mouth speaks."
Hey Thanks, Peter...
Saturday, May 30, 2009
I was reading 2 Peter today and something shook my soul. I was a little fearful that chapter 2 might have been talking about me. Peter writes about false prophets and teachers of destructive heresy because many will follow their "shameful ways" and "will bring the way of truth into disrepute." I couldn't help but to think of how I am somewhat of a 'teacher' of true worship to the congregations that I play music for with the Sounds of Liberty. Am I teaching a false gospel by the way I live behind the stage? Are the kids that I'm going to be in contact with this summer traveling with Exodus going to hear me preach a message of hypocrisy or a message of Truth through my behavior?
What about you? What message are you preaching with the way you live?
Verse 10 of chapter 2 mentions those who follow the desires of the sinful nature, despise authority, are bold and arrogant... in many different ways I fall into each of these categories. These kinds of people bring "disrepute" to the name of the Lord. I had to look up the word disrepute to even know what it meant, but it means "the state of being held in low esteem." Our behavior as followers of Christ can cause others to look on the name of Jesus with low esteem.. what a huge responsibility we have then, as followers of Christ to hold his name up with high esteem and live in a way that is worthy of the Name we represent on Earth.
The ending chapter of 2 Peter states that Peter wrote this letter as a reminder to stimulate us to wholesome thinking. I'd encourage you to read this book... it has certainly stimulated my mind to revert back to thinking soberly.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. - Philippians 4:8
What about you? What message are you preaching with the way you live?
Verse 10 of chapter 2 mentions those who follow the desires of the sinful nature, despise authority, are bold and arrogant... in many different ways I fall into each of these categories. These kinds of people bring "disrepute" to the name of the Lord. I had to look up the word disrepute to even know what it meant, but it means "the state of being held in low esteem." Our behavior as followers of Christ can cause others to look on the name of Jesus with low esteem.. what a huge responsibility we have then, as followers of Christ to hold his name up with high esteem and live in a way that is worthy of the Name we represent on Earth.
The ending chapter of 2 Peter states that Peter wrote this letter as a reminder to stimulate us to wholesome thinking. I'd encourage you to read this book... it has certainly stimulated my mind to revert back to thinking soberly.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. - Philippians 4:8
Change, Kingship, Frustration
Friday, April 17, 2009
I'm sitting in the computer lab at Liberty University right now after just hearing the daughter of Martin Luther King Jr. speak at convocation. I should be doing an assignment for my History and Philosophy of Worship class, but instead I'm drawn into the conversation that is going on behind me. There are 4 or 5 students (I don't know the exact number because I don't want to awkwardly turn around) and they are discussing a variety of different things (who's dating who, finals coming up, etc.) but the their discussion continues to come back to the words that we heard from Bernice King this morning. And quite frankly, it's disturbing me.
Let me explain...
Dr. Bernice King spoke today about Kingship, and how as children of the King of kings we are to live lives as kings and take authority over things that we have influence over. She referenced President Obama several times and made similarities between him and God ("God spoke this world into existence, and Obama spoke his presidency into existence.") Obama's campaign slogan "Change" is apparently a revelation from God for us to repent, and she says that it is sad that the Christian community wasn't able to cling on to this before the election. She likens Obama's presidency to the Promised Land since her dad represents "Moses" and his 40th death anniversary parallels the 40 years the Israelites spent in the desert. Some things that she said like this bothered me, but other things I believe had merit. She mentioned that we need to be willing to take a stand against morals that are not biblical even when those people are your loved ones (like she did in 2004 when her mother took a stance to support the gay and lesbian community). Overall, I believe that she had a lot of good things to say, as well as some unbiblical things to say (like her dad being the only national prophet that america has ever had.) But moreso than what she said, what the Liberty students behind me are saying bothers me just as much.
"She's friggin' retarded", "I wanted to punch her in the freakin' face", and "She looked like she had a headache at the beginning and it might've been, like, God trying to smite her" are just a few of the phrases that the fabulous 4 (or 5) have been tossing around in this convocation rebuttal. They have criticized everything about Bernice, from her hair style to her voice. It seems to me that their critical analysis of what happened earlier is every bit as disturbing to me as what the speaker said today if not more so.
I've been reading "The Unlikely Disciple" (since it's pretty much the 'new thing' on campus to do) and it's behavior like that of those behind me that line the pages of that book with colorful characters that shock even me, as an evangelical Christian. Not to say that I am a perfect Liberty student that has never given the name of Christ or Liberty a bad rap, because through reading this book I have felt much conviction about similar things that I have done that could have caused a non-believer to think that I am no different morally than most of his friends at secular school. I'm just frustrated that we cannot evalute critically what is being spoken to us without pulling apart more than just the falsity of the words. It's been my expereince more than once after convocation where someone will attack a person rather than their words.
I guess Liberty can be a tough crowd.
Please know this though, this post is not intended to bash Liberty or its students (or Bernice King for that matter either.) I am typing this up so that we can all realize that we do need to analyze what is being said and filter it through the Bible and if it's not true, we need to make sure to take note of that, but we also need to analyze our own speech and filter that through Scripture and see if what we are saying is meritted through it.
Well, it's nearly noon... I should probably get a few minutes of work into that project before lunch.
Let me explain...
Dr. Bernice King spoke today about Kingship, and how as children of the King of kings we are to live lives as kings and take authority over things that we have influence over. She referenced President Obama several times and made similarities between him and God ("God spoke this world into existence, and Obama spoke his presidency into existence.") Obama's campaign slogan "Change" is apparently a revelation from God for us to repent, and she says that it is sad that the Christian community wasn't able to cling on to this before the election. She likens Obama's presidency to the Promised Land since her dad represents "Moses" and his 40th death anniversary parallels the 40 years the Israelites spent in the desert. Some things that she said like this bothered me, but other things I believe had merit. She mentioned that we need to be willing to take a stand against morals that are not biblical even when those people are your loved ones (like she did in 2004 when her mother took a stance to support the gay and lesbian community). Overall, I believe that she had a lot of good things to say, as well as some unbiblical things to say (like her dad being the only national prophet that america has ever had.) But moreso than what she said, what the Liberty students behind me are saying bothers me just as much.
"She's friggin' retarded", "I wanted to punch her in the freakin' face", and "She looked like she had a headache at the beginning and it might've been, like, God trying to smite her" are just a few of the phrases that the fabulous 4 (or 5) have been tossing around in this convocation rebuttal. They have criticized everything about Bernice, from her hair style to her voice. It seems to me that their critical analysis of what happened earlier is every bit as disturbing to me as what the speaker said today if not more so.
I've been reading "The Unlikely Disciple" (since it's pretty much the 'new thing' on campus to do) and it's behavior like that of those behind me that line the pages of that book with colorful characters that shock even me, as an evangelical Christian. Not to say that I am a perfect Liberty student that has never given the name of Christ or Liberty a bad rap, because through reading this book I have felt much conviction about similar things that I have done that could have caused a non-believer to think that I am no different morally than most of his friends at secular school. I'm just frustrated that we cannot evalute critically what is being spoken to us without pulling apart more than just the falsity of the words. It's been my expereince more than once after convocation where someone will attack a person rather than their words.
I guess Liberty can be a tough crowd.
Please know this though, this post is not intended to bash Liberty or its students (or Bernice King for that matter either.) I am typing this up so that we can all realize that we do need to analyze what is being said and filter it through the Bible and if it's not true, we need to make sure to take note of that, but we also need to analyze our own speech and filter that through Scripture and see if what we are saying is meritted through it.
Well, it's nearly noon... I should probably get a few minutes of work into that project before lunch.
Encouragement.
Monday, March 23, 2009
This weekend was phenomenal.
I had the privilege of playing at the Brooklyn Tabernacle in New York with Sounds of Liberty this weekend. I have been refreshed spiritually as a result of this trip. From the moment we stepped foot on the campus to the moment we left it I knew that the Holy Spirit was moving. The way the congregation worshiped there was unlike anything I had ever seen out of a western church. I felt as though the crowd understood the words of each of the songs and as a result sang them unto God with full meaning and comprehension. I'm guilty of making songs habit too much, I need to analyze the lyrics I'm singing and use them fresh and anew each time I sing them to God. The best thing about it was that Jesus Christ was glorified center stage the whole time. I never felt like the choir, the pastor, the worship leaders, or anyone else was trying to take the glory for anything, but rather they were leading God's people in worship that was really in spirit and in truth. What a great experience!
Another thing I wanted to mention to you guys is this little blog that my dad has for his non-profit organization. It's a blog that he posts every now and then about what goes on in the Philippines, and I have felt much encouragement and conviction from reading it. If you're looking for a ministry to pray for or support, I would challenge you to look into this organization.
http://globalwarmthblog.wordpress.com
and
http://www.globalwarmth.org
I had the privilege of playing at the Brooklyn Tabernacle in New York with Sounds of Liberty this weekend. I have been refreshed spiritually as a result of this trip. From the moment we stepped foot on the campus to the moment we left it I knew that the Holy Spirit was moving. The way the congregation worshiped there was unlike anything I had ever seen out of a western church. I felt as though the crowd understood the words of each of the songs and as a result sang them unto God with full meaning and comprehension. I'm guilty of making songs habit too much, I need to analyze the lyrics I'm singing and use them fresh and anew each time I sing them to God. The best thing about it was that Jesus Christ was glorified center stage the whole time. I never felt like the choir, the pastor, the worship leaders, or anyone else was trying to take the glory for anything, but rather they were leading God's people in worship that was really in spirit and in truth. What a great experience!
Another thing I wanted to mention to you guys is this little blog that my dad has for his non-profit organization. It's a blog that he posts every now and then about what goes on in the Philippines, and I have felt much encouragement and conviction from reading it. If you're looking for a ministry to pray for or support, I would challenge you to look into this organization.
http://globalwarmthblog.wo
and
http://www.globalwarmth.or
In Touch With Out of Touch
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
I've come to hate something: my little facebook world. I have become so non-personal with people because I think I already know what's going on in their lives. Status updates have become all that I feel the need to read to feel like I'm in touch with people. I may occasionally look at some pictures, or read a few notes, but I think I've become so stretched out socially that I don't invest my time into people anymore. And for this I apologize. It needs to change.
In other news: 2009 brings a lot of challenge for me. I have decided that I need to do a few things to better myself as a person. And they are as follows:
1.) Be surrounded by positive people.
- It seems that whenever I am surrounded by people that complain, I take on the same attitude with nearly everything that's going on in my life. I look at things pessimistically when I hear negative conversation. I need to be more positive...
2.) Read More
- This goes for my Bible and other books in general. I only read my text books and sometimes I don't even fully finish those... Reading can help me to learn so much more and grow mentally.
3.) Witness More
- I feel like the only times I witness are those times I'm on mission in the Philippines. It's easy there for me. It's a comfort zone that I should have everywhere, but I don't. I need to break myself of this and thrust myself into the spiritual warzone here in the States.
4.) Set Goals
- I never seem to set goals that work because they're always so far away. "I eventually want to do this..." or "In the future I'd like to make this happen..." I want to make those goals shorter term and be able to actually work some of them out.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm tired of mediocrity. I would love for you to join me in this fight against being average and if you're willing to fight with me, let me know.
Now off to read. I feel better already...
In other news: 2009 brings a lot of challenge for me. I have decided that I need to do a few things to better myself as a person. And they are as follows:
1.) Be surrounded by positive people.
- It seems that whenever I am surrounded by people that complain, I take on the same attitude with nearly everything that's going on in my life. I look at things pessimistically when I hear negative conversation. I need to be more positive...
2.) Read More
- This goes for my Bible and other books in general. I only read my text books and sometimes I don't even fully finish those... Reading can help me to learn so much more and grow mentally.
3.) Witness More
- I feel like the only times I witness are those times I'm on mission in the Philippines. It's easy there for me. It's a comfort zone that I should have everywhere, but I don't. I need to break myself of this and thrust myself into the spiritual warzone here in the States.
4.) Set Goals
- I never seem to set goals that work because they're always so far away. "I eventually want to do this..." or "In the future I'd like to make this happen..." I want to make those goals shorter term and be able to actually work some of them out.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm tired of mediocrity. I would love for you to join me in this fight against being average and if you're willing to fight with me, let me know.
Now off to read. I feel better already...
Merry Christmas?
Thursday, December 25, 2008
So here it is. Christmas. There are two firsts for me this Christmas:
1.) It's the first Christmas of my 20's.. and
2.) It's the first Christmas without my family.
I'll admit, I was kind of depressed that I would be spending Christmas half a world a way from my family. Hearing of all the wonderful Christmas plans that my friends had made with their families caused me to sulk in my loneliness for a while. It seemed at every turn there was a family enjoying a meal, or a commercial with a family eating Christmas dinner. Christmas this year seemed like it was just going to fall short of being Christmas...
As the clock struck twelve (Christmas), I read aloud Matthew 1 as I played my guitar slowly. I actually got excited reading the genealogy of Jesus for the first time. As the names got closer and closer to Jesus I started to play harder and read louder. By the time I got to verse 14 I could no longer hold back, I shouted that Azor was the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Akim, and Akim the father of Eliud, Eliud the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan! Jesus was coming soon! I continued on almost sweating: Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born JESUS, who is called Christ!
My hair stood on end as I read verse 21: "She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." THIS is the first Christmas that I've truly reflected on that. Jesus was born into this world so that He could take our punishment. I would encourage you to reflect on that. I don't know who you are reading this, you may have just stumbled on this randomly, or you may be a close friend. Either way, may you be transformed by the love of Jesus Christ this Christmas season.
1.) It's the first Christmas of my 20's.. and
2.) It's the first Christmas without my family.
I'll admit, I was kind of depressed that I would be spending Christmas half a world a way from my family. Hearing of all the wonderful Christmas plans that my friends had made with their families caused me to sulk in my loneliness for a while. It seemed at every turn there was a family enjoying a meal, or a commercial with a family eating Christmas dinner. Christmas this year seemed like it was just going to fall short of being Christmas...
As the clock struck twelve (Christmas), I read aloud Matthew 1 as I played my guitar slowly. I actually got excited reading the genealogy of Jesus for the first time. As the names got closer and closer to Jesus I started to play harder and read louder. By the time I got to verse 14 I could no longer hold back, I shouted that Azor was the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Akim, and Akim the father of Eliud, Eliud the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan! Jesus was coming soon! I continued on almost sweating: Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born JESUS, who is called Christ!
My hair stood on end as I read verse 21: "She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." THIS is the first Christmas that I've truly reflected on that. Jesus was born into this world so that He could take our punishment. I would encourage you to reflect on that. I don't know who you are reading this, you may have just stumbled on this randomly, or you may be a close friend. Either way, may you be transformed by the love of Jesus Christ this Christmas season.
Christmas Break
Friday, December 19, 2008
As Christmas draws nearer I've been thinking more and more about getting away for a few days and just camping. I don't know if this desire has sprouted from my immediate family being half a world away or if it's just my masculine side telling me to get out and live life in the wilderness for a while. It seems that I'm surrounded by concrete so often and that everything is man-made. It would be great to be in the woods reflecting on how marvelous God's creation is for once... I think that I may just do this with Josh the weekend after Christmas. It'll be rock and roll.
In other news, I actually cooked lunch for people other than myself today. Roberts family was brave enough to let me do it, so I prepared chicken adobo (filipino goodness). It looked like this:
It worked out though, I think. No one threw up at least...
In other news, I actually cooked lunch for people other than myself today. Roberts family was brave enough to let me do it, so I prepared chicken adobo (filipino goodness). It looked like this:
It worked out though, I think. No one threw up at least...
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