This is the first of four videos we've produced spotlighting some new members at our church. This is the first one, which we showed this morning during worship to kick off our giving and outreach series.
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For Tomorrow’s Generations, Part 1
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Quotable Monday: Tuesday Edition, 09.07.2010
"There are only two kinds of pain in life:
the pain of discipline and the pain of regret.
Choose wisely."
Do you agree or disagree?
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Kiss The Bride
One of the greatest things in life is sharing it with others.
When your life is intertwined with others, you get to share all kinds of intimate moments: pain, heartache, joy, fear, wonder. Community is a messy blessing, filled with the moments that define us and make us human.
I was honored to perform my niece's wedding ceremony over the weekend, officially adding her fiancee to the family tree.
By far, I had the best seat in the house.
Congrats to Ryan and Malorie Hacker!
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Exploding Head: Worse Than a Train Wreck
I am Jack's complete lack of surprise.
I ran across this via Bobby Gilles a while back and, well…it's agreed: some songs are worse than just 'train wreck'. And I'm really trying to be charitable here. Really, really, really. But as Gilles said, everything you need to know NOT to do (from writing a song to interpreting your Bible) is here in one video. In fact, these guys may want to consider sponsoring my Exploding Head series. But I'll leave it to you to judge.
Just….wow.
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Happy Anniversary!
Eighteen years ago today, I saw through the fog.
In a brief moment of clarity, i could see that the best decision I could make was to commit the rest of my life to a girl named Heather. So, with a crowd of witnesses, family and friends, we promised ourselves to each other at Meadows Baptist Church in Plano, TX.
Eighteen years later, I'm convinced that I'm luckier, happier, and more blessed than I ever imagined I could be.
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Demo: I Will Sing
In the coming weeks, we'll be getting started in the studio on our first original worship project. With the help of the super-talented Ross King, we'll be getting some much-appreciated production and engineer assistance.
For kicks, here is a demo of one of the tracks we'll be doing. It was recorded here at the Art Institute of Austin, by our very own Kevin Northen (guitar). Feel free to sing along…
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You Don’t Know the Bible (And Neither Do I)
Remember when Morpheus offers Neo the red pill?
When he chooses it (over the blue pill), everything changes. The blinders come off. Neo begins to learn the truth about his existence, his potential, and the role for which he was created.
I met with a local worship leader yesterday over coffee. We talked passionately about worship, scripture, and grace. But mostly Scripture. An hour and a half later, I left challenged, refreshed, and free in new ways because of the truth of Scripture and the power of brotherhood.
Originally, I found this via Bob Kauflin. It's a video from the WorshipGod08 conference where Ryan Ferguson is reciting Psalm 25. It's a 4 minute proof text of the fact that you and I don't know the Bible.
What would happen if we always heard/read/thought about Scripture like this? With this kind of life-giving thoughtfulness? If we read it with lips that believed its power? If we heard with ears that were hungry for life?
What are you going to do about it? You can take the blue pill and go back to sleep…or take the red pill and see how far the rabbit hole goes.
I'm sure there's more to come…
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Prayer Request Update: Mom
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I blogged here when we received the news that my mom was diagnosed with Stage IV Inflammatory Breast Cancer.
If you've had ANY experience in this, you know the battle she has had in the last several months. Enduring chemotherapy. nausea. dehydration. and on and on.
We've also had a setback when the doctor decided she 'wasn't the right one' to finish treatment and perform surgery. I'll refrain from telling you who I really feel about that…but you can let your imagination wander. And remember that Jesus got angry..and was outraged at injustice. That's all I've got to say about that.
This morning Mom goes into surgery for a double mastectomy, lots of tissue removal, and such. We'll be at Texas Women's Hospital and I'll try to update as I can here and here and here.
Your prayers are much appreciated.
UPDATE: We just visited with the surgeon. Mom came through surgery great. The doctor’s words were ‘things couldn’t have gone better’. Everything came out clean and very well. They are sending some suspicious lymph nodes to pathology. She is in recovery now and will be able to have visitors later. Praise God!
We appreciate all your prayers for her continued recovery.
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Beautiful
Just a little self-indulgence here. recent pictures of our family (including some cousins). i am one incredibly blessed man…as you'll see when you press 'play'.
Thanks, @BartMillard and the MercyMe guys for the tune.
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Jesus Manifesto
Get ready to leave the Youniverse.
A few days ago, I jumped into Len Sweet and Frank Viola’s Jesus Manifesto with both feet. No, I didn’t get a free advanced copy like some of my other, much cooler friends. But no matter.
What happens when a society (or The Church) is forced to wrestle with Christ’s central question to us regarding Himself: “Who do you say that I am?”. It seems to me that, in a world where real lemonade is made with artificial flavors and furniture polish is made with real lemons, it’s time to put aside our artificial Jesus made in our image. It's time to get a glimpse of what it means to have Christ as the Center, the Circumference, and all the spaces in between.
When God expresses Himself…it is Christ. As Jesus Manifesto so aptly puts it: “Christ is God’s perfect pitch.” Fully and completely. It is not that Christ has taught us about God. It is that Christ himself is the teaching.
As a living epistle (a literal ‘Jesus Manifesto’), you and I need to be refocused, reformed and re-formed in our minds and hearts. What has Christ called us to? What has Christ called you to?
Religion? Politics? Evangelism? Ministry? Worship? Family? Studying and knowledge? Teaching? Moral values? Justification by recycling?!?
None of the above. Christ has called us to Himself. And Jesus bests all things. He clears the table of all others.
Jesus Manifesto is a passionate call to be seized by the great affection that is Christ. To be shaken from a consumer-driven church coma, and to be awakened to the strange, anti-checklist life in Jesus.
Are you ready? Recommendation: 5 out of 5 tacos. Best read while listening to the Chemical Brothers or the Fight Club DVD in the background. Be sure and check out the iPhone app (with nano-manifesto) to get a preview of the book.