Happy Anniversary Jennifer!

Today marks 3 years of being married to the girl of my dreams.  3 years of joy and struggles, excitement and frustration, happiness and anger, laughter and tears.  Yes, it's been up and down, but I wouldn't trade a single minute of married life to this women that God predestined to be my wife.  I don't mean to sound negative, just honest.  Marriage is hard.  Marriage is a struggle.  The truth of it is, we're two sinners trying to live together and do life together.  We're not perfect (didn't take us very long to figure that out about each other), but God has been abundantly gracious.  The other side is just as true if not more so, marriage is fun!  I think back on the many times where we've just enjoyed being married to each other.  Conversations, date nights, laughing together, praying together, doing ministry together, traveling together, worshipping together.  I truly mean it when I say I wouldn't trade a single minute of the past 3 years.  Yes, there are times that I wish I could take back how I acted, what I said, what I did (I know Jennifer feels the same about herself) but I also know that we both believe those times that weren't so fun, times that were hard and frustrating, have made us into the people and the couple that we are today.   It is amazing how God shows His grace and sovereignty in the lives of sinful, selfish people.  

As I look back to May 14, 2011, I remember the excitement and the nerves I felt all day.  I remember waking up and thinking my life is never going to be the same.  I remember the anxiety that I felt I as got ready.  It was such a surreal feeling.  I remember thinking of pictures of my parents and grandparents on their wedding days and thinking about how precious those memories are.  Then I realized, as I put my tux on, I'm about to take those same pictures that I will some day show my kids and grandkids.  We took some pictures, then came the worst part of my day.  Pictures for me were over until after the ceremony, but my groomsmen were still taking pictures with Jennifer and the bridesmaids.  Which left me by myself to just sit and think about what was to come in just about an hour or so (while I ate a leftover brisket sandwich).  That was the longest hour of my life.  I remember just pacing and thinking about what it was going to be like to see those doors open and to see my bride coming down the isle, presenting herself to me.  After a while, my best man came in, after taking some pictures with Jennifer, and said to me, "Man, she is beautiful."  This just made my anxiety and my excitement rise.  3:00pm couldn't get here fast enough.  

3:00pm did finally arrive and the ceremony started.  I escorted my grandparents and parents to their seats then joined the Pastor and my groomsmen back stage.  We came out and found our places on the stage.  Each bridesmaid made her way down the isle looking beautiful.  Then came the spot in the song that we planned out awhile back where I was to move over in front of the isle.  I walked over, turned to the back of the auditorium, and looked back to two closed doors with Jennifer's cousins standing in the windows like body guards so I couldn't her before the right time.   The audience stood, the "body guards" moved, the doors were opened and there she stood.  My bride.  She was breathtaking.  She and my father-in-law began to make their way down the isle towards me.  I remember saying out loud, "Wow!".  I remember the feeling of thinking, "She's mine!".  Then I remember thinking, "I don't deserve this."  Jennifer had kept herself pure for me (we even had a moment in the ceremony where she presented me with the purity ring she had worn for years as a commitment to me before I put her wedding ring on her finger).  She had lived a life commited to me even when she didn't know me.  She never compromised herself, saving herself for her husband.  What a testimony.  

As I sit here and type and reminisce, I'm reminded of the gospel.  I'm reminded that one day we will be presented as the bride of Christ to our Savior.  As I remember the way I felt as my bride was being presented to me, I am challenged to live my life in such a way that Jesus will feel the same way about me as I am presented to Him.  I also recall the joy I felt as I knew Jennifer had kept herself pure for me.  Romans 12:1 tells us to present ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to Him.  Ephesians 5 tells us that the testimony of marriage should point people to the gospel.  I want to fulfill that and love my wife everyday the same way Christ loves me everyday.  I also know the heart of my wife is to submit to me the way we, as the church, submit to Christ.  Our prayer together is that in all of the years the Lord has for us in marriage, we will portray the gospel to the world.  

The church will be presented to and united with Him one day.  May we live in a way that is pleasing to Him so that as we are presented to Him, He is overjoyed.  May we live the gospel everyday.

I love you, Jennifer.  Happy Anniversary!

It's about JESUS!

Easter weekend is this weekend.  I always look forward to this Sunday and celebrating the life of my Savior.  Then I always get convicted the Sunday following Easter for not being as enthused and excited as I was last week. In the life of the believer, every Sunday is Easter!  Furthermore, in the life of the believer, every single day should be Easter.  Galatians 2:20a says, "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but CHRIST who LIVES in me."  The hymn writer Alfred Henry Ackley wrote these words, "He LIVES, He LIVES, Christ Jesus LIVES today! He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way. He LIVES, He LIVES, salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He LIVES? He LIVES within my heart."  My God LIVES and He LIVES in me!  Every morning when our feet the floor we should celebrate Easter because our God LIVES!

Now, I want to point something out and remind you of something as we go into this weekend... It's all about JESUS!

You may think this is an obvious statement.  However, I feel that we may preach, teach, and sing about God more than Jesus Himself.  Now please don't get me wrong here.  I absolutely, 100% believe in a triune God and believe that Jesus Himself was and is 100% God.  So where is my concern?  

Most every religion has a god that they proclaim and worship.  Some even have a prophet or leader whose teaching they base their lives on.  My concern is this... As we preach, teach, and sing about God, are these sermons, lessons, and songs something that anyone in any religion could say or sing about their god?  I think many times the answer is yes.  In our churches we are saying and singing the same things about our God that others are saying and singing about false gods.  For example, "(G)od is great, (G)od is powerful, we worship you (G)od, we surrender to you (G)od, (G)od your will be done."  All of these things are completely true about the one true, Jehovah God.  However, other religions could possibly claim these same things about their god.  

So does that mean we shouldn't preach, teach, or sing these things about our God?  I'm not necessarily saying that.  What I'm saying is we need to make sure we are proclaim what is different and true exclusively about our God; Jehovah God.  

What is this truth?  What is the distinction we are to make in our lives and churches about Jehovah God?  I tell you this... The distinction is found solely in the person of JESUS CHRIST!

Jesus Christ is the center of everything.  He is the center of Bible.  He is the center of calendar.  Everything in our lives as believers is because of and centered around the person of Jesus.  The person who came to us, died for us, rose again, intercedes for us, and lives in us!  Every other religion is based on our efforts to reach god.  The Bible declares that God came to us!  We can have peace with God through Jesus.  Once we have peace with God, also through Jesus, we are equipped with power and purpose.  Other religions have that backwards.  They try to have power and purpose and accomplish things here on earth so that one day they will be able to achieve peace with god.  Jesus changed that!  He came to us, died for us, rose again, intercedes for us, and lives us.  He accomplished what we could not.   He absorbed the wrath of God that was meant for us.  He was perfect while we are sinful.  He is holy while we are disgusting.  He is righteous while we like filthy rags.  He conquered death, hell, and the grave so that we too can and will one day overcome death, hell, and the grave and live forever with Him!

This Sunday is one of the two biggest holidays in the world and they both are centered around Jesus.  So as we gather, we are celebrating the life of JESUS.  Proclaim the name of JESUS.  Sing the name of JESUS.  Preach the name of JESUS.  Teach the name of JESUS.  Not just this Sunday, but everyday may our lives, the lives of the church, proclaim, portray, shine, and lift high the "name that is above every name, so that at the name of JESUS every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that JESUS CHRIST is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."! (Phil. 2:9-11)

You ask me how I know He LIVES? He LIVES within my heart!  


JESUS LIVES!

Why Practice? Why Rehearse? (For Worship Leaders & Worship Team Members)

Last week, immediately following our worship team's rehearsal, I had a great conversation with one of our members.  He asked me, "Why do you think God chose me to do all this stuff with music that I'm doing?"  What a question and what a humble attitude.  I told him I ask the same question just about every Sunday.  I don't know why God called me to lead worship.  I don't know why called me to be a minister.  I don't know why God chose me to be His child.  However, while I don't understand why, I'm confident in the calling He has put on my life.  

No matter what that calling is in your life, we are to fulfill that calling with all that we are and all that we have.  He deserves nothing less.  So for us as worship leaders or worship team members, how do we give him our all on Sundays or Wednesdays or any other time we have the opportunity to use our talents in music to usher people into a time of worship?

One of the ways we do so is through practice and rehearsals.  I want to offer some of my own opinions and suggestions about practicing and rehearsing that I have learned over my very short time or worship leading.  

Why practice or rehearse?

I feel like people in church music many times don't value rehearsal time as they should.  I have been told on more than one occasion by more than one worship team that I run tough rehearsals.  Rather than criticism, I take those comments more as compliments.  I take what we do as a worship team very seriously and I believe God does to.  I believe God is honored by hard work.  There are 2 main reasons I push myself and my team hard during rehearsals.

     1)  God deserves our best.

When we stand on Sundays or Wednesdays (or whenever we lead worship) we should be in a place spiritually and musically to offer the Lord our absolute best.  He deserves your best in every area of your life.  During services, but also during rehearsals, He wants you to give it your all.  So, next time your rehearsing with your worship team, stay focused, work hard, and learn your stuff!  I believe God is honored and worshiped when we have this kind of attitude even during rehearsals.

     2)  The main goal for a worship leader/team is to keep people's focus on God.

The number one thing that we should be doing for our congregations is pointing them to the Lord.  Shifting their focus to Him through worshipful lyrics and scripture.  We've all heard it said that we should disappear on the stage.  We all pray that God will be in the forefront of our worship.  He is why we do what we do.  He deserves our attention.  He deserves our focus.  He deserves our worship.  We, as worship leaders, deserve nothing.  Therefore, the congregation should be able to look past us and our instruments and see the Lord.  So, let's say the lead guitarist hits several wrong notes during his intro riff, or the drummer comes in at the wrong place, or the alto in the praise team doesn't know her harmony and is singing in who knows what key.  Now, where is the congregations attention and focus?  It's on the people on stage.  It's not on the Lord or the lyrics their singing.  Therefore, to truly disappear and let God be in the forefront of our worship  we have to be prepared!  Make sure you have your intros down, make sure you know the map of the songs, make sure you know your entrances and harmonies.  Keep people's focus on Him and not on yourself because you were ill prepared. 

Practice for Practice.

Practice for practice?  Crazy thought isn't it?  I can't tell you how much smoother practices would go and much less stress is on the leader if the team members came to rehearsals already knowing their stuff.  Leaders, know your stuff before rehearsal also.  Not much is more time wasting and frustrating than the leader trying to figure how he/she wants things done while everybody stands around and waits for the decision.  Or for the leader to be waiting around on the guitarists to figure our their chords or riffs or the piano player to figure out an intro.  If everybody already knows their stuff ahead of time and are prepared, things go so much smoother.  You'll find you'll be able to get more done in you allotted rehearsal time and that stress and frustration levels go way down!  Look at and learn your music ahead of time and show to rehearsals prepared and ready to go!

Refresh.

Most worship teams that I know will do a sound check/run through on Sunday morning before the service or Wednesday night before everyone shows up.  Set lists have been finalized, rehearsals have already been done, all that's left is double checking your mix and making sure the group is ready to go for the service.   This time is not a second or last minute rehearsal!  You've already had the time in rehearsal previously that week to stop and go over certain spots or practice the bridge 3-4 times.  The expectation is going to be that you remember everything that was already rehearsed (or at least to have taken good notes on your music that will jog your memory).  Therefore, in between your rehearsal and sound check on the day of the service, you need to refresh yourself on what was practiced.  Go back over the songs and sing your part or practice your instrument.  Don't simply say you "listened" to the songs on the way to the church right before sound check.  Actually take the time throughout the week to sit down, listen, look at your music, and truly refresh and prepare yourself.

All this is not just to make you a better musician, band, or worship team.  Our goal each time leading worship is not for the people to walk away saying what a great band or praise team we have.  We don't do what we do for our own glory.  We practice, rehearse and prepare so that we can offer God our absolute best and not distract people from focusing on Him and worshiping Him!

"Not to us O Lord, not to us, but to Your name be the glory forever and ever!"  -- Psalm 115:1

Celebrate Freedom

Happy Independence Day!  I've always loved this holiday... Fireworks, cookouts, baseball, apple pie & homemade ice cream, patriotic music, & the red, white, and blue everywhere!  As I get ready to celebrate today just like everyone else, I started to think about those things we have as a country that ensure and secure our freedom as Americans.  

When people first settled in America, their citizenship still belonged to England.  They were British people.  However, they decided to fight, shed blood, and even lose their lives to secure their freedom, the freedom of their families, and the freedom of those who would be born and raised in this country. And they succeeded!  Because of their success, we have these symbols and guarantees of FREEDOM!

The Deceleration of Independence 

We have a document that declares our freedom, liberty, and independence.  This document was signed by men who believed in their cause, fought for their cause, and risked all for the cause of freedom that they believed in.  Now, for us as Americans, we can go back to this document and find security and assurance that we are now and forever FREE!

The Flag of the United States of America

Our flag, that we pledge our allegiance to, is a symbol of freedom!  I don't know about you, but every time I hear our National Anthem, I am moved with emotion by these lyrics written by Francis Scott Key, "And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night that our flag was still there; O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave, o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?"  In the midst of the battle's rage, the flag stood for freedom.  It was the battle's rage that brought light and reassurance that flag was still standing and that there was still a cause to fight for... FREEDOM!

The Blood of Those that Fought for Freedom

Many men and women have fought and lost their lives to win and defend the right to freedom.  Blood has been spilled on many, many battlefields as soldiers stood for what they believed in and were called to do.  They were obedient to their orders.  They knew what had to be done.  They paid the ultimate sacrifice so you and I can be FREE.

_____________________________________________

What is most comforting and assuring to me today, is not my freedom as an American, but my freedom as a Christian.  I love my country, but I love my God more.  As Christians today, think about your independence and freedom that you have through Christ.  Just as our forefathers came to this land with their citizenship still in England, we, as a people, are born into this world destined to very real place called hell.  Our forefathers fought and bought our freedom as Americans.  As Christians, our Father fought the fight and paid the price for us and He declares us FREE!  We also have symbols that ensure and secure our freedom as Christians.

The Bible

We have a document that has been written by the One who fought for our freedom.  This document not only assures and secures our freedom, but also tells us the story of love that our God has for us.  Now as Christians, we can go back to this book and find security and assurance that we are now and forever will be FREE!

The Cross of Jesus Christ

The place of death of our Lord and Savior, now, for the Christian becomes a symbol of freedom.   The price has been paid, the atonement made, IT IS FINISHED!  So, now as we fight this battle of the Christian life, we look to the cross as a symbol that the fight has already been won!  We persevere in the midst of the battle and look to the cross and remember it stands for FREEDOM!

The Blood of Jesus Christ

As humans we are born slaves of sin (Romans 6).  The Bible also tells us that without bloodshed there is no forgiveness of sin (Hebrews 9:22).  God Himself stepped into this world, took on flesh, became one of us, and shed His own blood to forgive sin.  The precious blood of Jesus was shed on the cross for you and for me.  Jesus was obedient to His call.  He knew what had to be done.  He paid the ultimate sacrifice so you and I can be FREE.

Christians, as you watch fireworks tonight, a public display of freedom as Americans... Let your worship be a public display of your ultimate FREEDOM as a child of the King!

"If the Son has set you FREE, you are FREE indeed!"  -- John 8:36

DOER.

As I sat in my office at the end of the day, I began reading in the book of James.  Chapter 1 verse 22 is a verse I've known for awhile and have even studied.  But it is like we do with many things in our lives.  We learn them, know them, can recite them, but then after awhile, we forget.  Going through college, I can remember time and time again, studying & memorizing material for classes and tests.  The important stuff, the stuff I knew I would use throughout my life involving music (which was my major), I retained.  However, much of the material in classes I "had" to take, that did not apply directly to my major, I learned/memorized for the test, then it was gone!  Things that I deemed "important" or "significant", I remember to this day.  Things I found "pointless" or "insignificant", I forgot almost immediately.

When I comes to the Word of God, how dare I deem any of it less significant than any other!

2 Timothy 3:16 says,

"All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness..." (ESV)

Did you catch that?  ALL scripture is breathed out by God.  How many times do we treat the Bible as if it were a buffet?  All of it laid out before us to examine then choose what we want and pass over what we don't want.  To pick out what is desirable for us and leave that which disgusts us.  To cling to what comforts us, yet ignore that which convicts us.  

I do not want to treat the God-breathed scriptures the same way I did my college material.  As I study and learn the scriptures, I want it retain it all so much so that it defines the way I live.  Which brings me back to my reading today in the book of James.

"But be doers of the Word, and not hears only, deceiving yourselves."

James 1:22 (ESV)

It's interesting to me that the term "doers" is used rather than simply saying, "do what the Word says".  The implication here is that being identified as a doer means you're defined by what you are doing.  A teacher teaches.  A preacher preaches.  A writer writes.  A singer sings.  Therefore, being a doer of the Word, implies that obeying scriptures defines your lifestyle.  

What defines your life?  Many of us go to church and live the common "Christian" lifestyle, but throughout the week, don't touch our Bibles.  We leave them sitting in our spot on the church pew, or in the car, or on the table we set it on every Sunday when coming in from church.  

That same verse says that if your life is not being defined as being a doer of the Word, you're deceiving yourself.  By living the common "Christian" life, going to church, doing all the things your should be doing, and not doing the things you shouldn't be doing, you think you're in a right standing with God.  How can we have a relationship with God, if we're not spending time with Him?  We're deceiving ourselves!  

Just a few verses down, James defines the difference between a doer and being a hearer.  Hearers forget, while Doers act!  He compares a hearer to someone who looks intently at themselves in a mirror, then turns away and immediately forgets what they look like.  The picture here is that we use the Word of God as a mirror, reflecting our lives.  When we see things that shouldn't be there, or that need to change, we act.  A hearer simply reads these things, or hears a message preached, that should convict them and change the way they live, yet nothing changes.  John MacArthur says it like this in the study notes of his ESV Study Bible, 

"1:24 forgets what he was like.  Unless professing Christians act promptly after they hear the Word, they will forget the changes and improvements that their reflection showed them they need to make."

We're beginning a new year.  A new opportunity for you start over.  A new opportunity for me to start over. I want to be defined as a doer of the Word.  Too long, I've been a hearer.  I hear, I go, I know, I teach, I read, I lead.  I've deceived myself too long.  It's time to get right with God.  It's time to spend time with God. It's time to be a DOER.

Christmas is over. But...

Well, Christmas is over and I hope and pray that each of you who read this had a very Merry Christmas!  I hope this wasn't just any other Christmas.  I pray God revealed Himself to you in a way that you've never viewed Him before.  I know He did that in my life this Christmas season.  As we embark on a new year, I don't want these things that He taught me to escape my mind, or be put in a box like all the decorations and lights, not to be opened again until next Christmas.  I want to live my entire year this year with the truth that God is with us.  He is Emmanuel!

"Therefore the  Lord himself will give you a sign.  Behold, the  virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel." (Isaiah 7:14 ESV)

Emmanuel, God is with us.  What  a promise!  We know the story, we know this name, we know it's translation.  But do we really know what it means?  "God is with us!"   After 400 years of silence from God, the Israelite people knew the significance of this promise.  Generation after generation longed for a sign or a message from God and heard nothing.  They heard the stories of God from their ancestors and of His protection and provisions for their people.  But they heard nothing.  They longed and cried in their humanity for a sign that God still cared.  Then on that silent, holy night the silence was broken.  It was broken with a baby's cry.  God Himself was crying.  I find that significant.  He sympathized with the pain of humanity.  He cried with humanity as He came to save us.  God is still with us and He still sympathizes with us.  He walked this earth just as we walk the earth.  Now, He dwells in us and walks with us.  He is Emmanuel!

"And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling  to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.  But as he considered these things, behold,  an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 1:19, 20 ESV)

As a man, I understand Joseph's predicament and reaction in this situation.  What other choice did He have.  God had been silent for 400 years, and now his fiance is coming to him saying that God had spoken to her and conceived in her the child of God Himself.  However, as the Bible says, he was an upright man and decided to not publicly humiliate her (which would've been understood and acceptable to society), but rather to divorce her privately and quietly.  Yet after hearing from God himself, he knew what she had said was true and followed obediently what God had commanded him to do.  

In our lives, so many times we fall short of being the person God has designed and desires for us to be.  We sin.  We don't deserve God's grace.  Just as it would've been socially acceptable for Joseph to publicly punish Mary, so it would be just for God to punish us eternally because of our sin.  Yet in His grace and mercy, He chose to adopt us as His children.  To give us a new life.  We didn't (and don't) deserve it, but He still promises us His love.

And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all  the people. (Luke 2:10 ESV)

The first message the angels brought to the shepherds and to Mary (Luke 1:30), was to "Fear Not."  These two words carry a message that is often over looked when we look at the Christmas story.  The angles were bringing the greatest news the world had ever known, yet when presented with it, a sense of fear came over the recipients.  Which is why the angels said first, "Fear Not!"  

You know, when we encounter the holiness of God, we have much to fear.  Yet, Jesus' message by coming is "Fear Not."  The message of Christmas is "Fear Not!"  When we trust in Him and surrender our lives to Him, we no longer have to fear our unworthiness because imparts to us His worth!  We no longer have to fear our unrighteousness  because we live in His righteousness!  God punished His one and only Son as if He had lived our sinful life, so that now, He can reward us as if we had lived His Son's holy and sinless life!

It doesn't make sense.  But God, in His love and mercy, chooses to do so!  

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!