Worship Set

I seem to only have time to post about this type of stuff right now...oh well.

Last week we did:

God of This City (tomlin)
Happy Day (hughes)
my soul longs for you (misty edwards)
Let God Arise (tomlin)
Glorious One (tomlin)
Hosanna (hillsong)

Worship Stuff...

Nothing really worth reporting the last 2 weeks of worship leading because we haven't really done anything other than what I would consider 'same ol same ol'. We're hoping to have a bluegrass sunday soon...possibly Father's Day. We'll see about that soon.

Last night was interesting though. I was on stage the entire time. I played 3 songs...I played instrumentally behind a guest speaker for 10 minutes...behind a prayer time of 5 minutes...behind a communion time of about 10 minutes...behind a sermon of about 20 minutes...and then we were done. It was the fastest 75 minutes of my life. I spoke to people at Applebee's later that said it felt like it lasted only about 30-40 minutes. I don't know if that's good or bad!

I'm not sure a lot got accomplished...but I don't think has to get accomplished some times. Often, we make our 'services' so generically programmed (cool music...radical media presentations or dramas...etc) that the feeling of community gets lost. If we don't foster it every week in some way, then the crowd begins to expect that church is all about them and it becomes consumeristic very quickly.

Last night would have been a real challenge to an unchurched person because we didn't do anything "seeker sensitive". Instead, we prayed A LOT and we had a very short sermon and the band was, well, just me and a guitar.

It felt right to me. It felt genuine and sincere the entire time. But it was NOT polished or programmed. It simply was, well, real.

Songs from last week and this week:

God of This City (Tomlin)
The Time Has Come (Hillsong)
Holy Is The Lord (Tomlin)
O Praise Him (Crowder)
One Way (Hillsong)
Kingdom Come (Hillsong)---AWESOME SONG

That's all I can remember. This weekend will be really cool. I'll post about some plans later.

From Ebay to Craigslist...

My wife has recently been addicted to CraigsList, an online classifieds website. She used to be addicted to Ebay. Here are some reasons for this switch...

1. With Ebay, you have to wait much longer. Granted, there is more on Ebay. But for much of what she gets our family, CraigsList is a simple email away. Craigslist works like this: you go to the website, click on the state and city you're in, search for what you want, and if you get it before someone else, it's yours. You drive to the owner's house and pick it up. Sometimes a delivery is necessary for large items, but you're still allowed to go look at the item, make sure it's what you want, bargain with the owner,...which leads me to...

2. With Craigslist my wife, who loves to talk as if she's paid to do it, gets to meet lots of different people. Share stories...bargain...etc. Not much usually comes from these conversations, but the human aspect is so attractive that it's pretty much irresistable to her.

3. Immediate reward: the instant you get something on Craigslist you know it's merely a 20 minute wait for your reward. Everybody wins...quick.


I know I'm stretching on this next part, but it's not totally 'out there'. There's a stronger aspect of "community" with Craigslist by its nature of being local. Ebay offers product only. Craigslist IS more, and offers even more. The human touch doing business through Craigslist is really cool. Ebay isn't bad, but it's simply a good example of capitalism. Craigslist is much, much more. Heck, even the closest thing I could find to a logo for Craigslist was a shirt that someone was wearing on their site.

Granted, you may not find what you're looking for some times, but for the times you do find what you want, you have the potential to get much more from the experience.

Isn't that what we're all searching for in church? An experience...not a product?

Worship 04.27.08

Marvelous Light (Charlie Hall)
Not To Us (Tomlin)
Came To My Rescue (Hillsong)

Message

Jesus Paid It All (Kristian Stanfill arrangement)
God of This City (Bluetree original, new arrangement by Tomlin)

Worship Sets...

Because it's what 2 of my buds are doing and 1 of them asked me to do it a while back, here's the songs we did in our praise gathering last weekend...

"All We Need", Charlie All
"One Way", Hillsong
"Your Grace Is Enough", Tomlin
"Give Us Clean Hands", Tomlin, I think???
"I Am Free", can't remember who wrote this one, but a lot of people have recorded it.

Recent Movies...

Just watched a few movies, thought I'd share my thoughts to all 3 of you who read my blog. :)

"The Pursuit of Happyness" is based on a true story which made it almost difficult to watch. Don't get me wrong...it's good. But those of us with kids that have ever been tight on cash will relate to some degree. I felt like I was rooting for Will Smith the entire time because I felt somehow that however his story ended was how all of ours would end. I know that makes NO SENSE at all. Anyway, another good one.


"The Good Shepherd" is extremely creative and it does a great job telling the story. There's kind of a catch/twist to the main character's personality (Matt Damon) which is interesting. I was really into this one as a good drama.





"Stranger Than Fiction" is really good. I feel like I can recommend this one to just about anyone. Very, very creative (I love it when something new is done well in media/books/music). This one is more than interesting. It's COMPELLING! (dramatic music cue...)

By the way...Netflix or Blockbuster is the only way to go. These were all watched on DVD's because it's cheaper and it's also more fun to cuddle up and watch a movie in bed with the love of your life...some times. Don't get me wrong...if these were all movies like "Transformers" or "X-Men", I'm definitely in the theater. :)







Be good...

What is true community...

Yeah, I'm not totally sure my answer suffices for everyone. But I know I could go without catchy sermons, awesome dramas, driving worship, and the latest "church is so awesome" gimmicks and quotes. Here's what I know to be something of true community...

Last week I closed our small group time (a bunch of twenty somethings...and me) with come thoughts to chew on about serving the high school ministry this fall. They need more small group leaders and adults. They have very, very few and our group is very, very large. Quite a pickle. But I'm a youth-guy at heart because I love young people and I have a burden to mentor them and teach them and befriend them so that they make the best decisions they can and...yada yada...

Anyways, in the attempt to see if my group would think about serving, I kinda screwed up and it sounded like I was going to end our small group after the summer. Afterwards, my wife and 2 others got to talking...and they told my wife how awful that would be. In fact, one of them just cried at the thought. Fortunately, all was made clear later and everyone laughed at me as we joked about how I didn't get out the right words. I certainly didn't mean to give anyone a heart attack.

But...that someone would cry over the thought of us not being together...that says something. People church-hop all the time...but it's in these "small churches" that something intimate and lasting is developed. The older I grow, the more I see intense value in relationship-building and the need for intimacy with others. In fact, every serious growing experience in my life has been accompanied by a close-knit small group atmosphere. When church was all about sunday morning, it just didn't affect me like this.

So, preach your cool sermons and practice 20 hours a week on your delivery, and strum the latest cool song, but when it comes to depth, there's nothing like my small group times. Never has there been. Probably never will be. Why do I keep thinking otherwise, like I do from time to time?

I don't know...but I should stop.

Lonely...

Just sitting around and listening to the music on a DVD menu (The Land Before Time), it dawned on me...

"hey, b-boy is sleeping, McKenzie is out of town with memaw, and wifey is gone for the afternoon...I could really catch up on some me-time..."

And then I realized how I don't ever really want that time like I used to want it. In fact, when I have afternoons like this, I'm just lonely...anticipating when my boy will wake up and want to wrestle or play 'dinosaur' with me.

Our house is loud, fast paced, full of life...what a blessing. And instead of enjoying the quiet, I'm just sitting here...lonely...

...waiting for noise to start over again. I'm pathetic!

Pagan Christianity...

Good read by Barna and Viola. Read at your own risk, though. It's a challenging look at the institutional church and its dominance over a more scriptural looking model (in a literal sense) of church.

I hear lots of things like this (because my generation is really big on it)...

"the church, as it stands, doesn't work anymore"...

"the institutional church can't be changed to model a Christ-like image of church"...

...and so on. I totally get what all that means. And I feel the burden myself. But I wonder if abandoning the institutional church is the best course of action, in general. Barna states that organic churches have a scriptural and historical rite to exist and the institutional church has no rite whatsoever. Harsh words.

Could they really be true? My own church is a mega-church striving to shift to a discipling, process-driven church after being so program driven for the last 20 years. I can tell you right now that it's going to take some time. But we're doing it. I can't promise we'll make it, unfortunately, but I can promise that I'm certainly doing my part.

But am I wasting my time? Is this really a God-centered plan or are we simply stuck with what we've got? I don't honestly know. I just know that I really care about the 'church'. Other experiences in the past make me think that some churches simply need to close their doors because very little was being done in those churches that, in my opinion, justified existing. My current church seems to be on the right track, but are we all just fighting a battle we're destined to lose?

Is Barna and Viola right about institutional churches have no rite to exist? Should we jump ship? Again, harsh words. Makes me think...

I'm Old School...Don't Laugh...

Okay, I've always been a Neil Diamond fan. There I said it. I'm not taking it back.

I just wanted to say, however, that it is a little strange for someone my age to really dig Neil Diamond. It's laughable in most circles. So much so, that I rarely ever say it. I like his old poppy stuff, too. Not just his last 5 years body of work. And that's why I'm excited because his new album is out soon and I've listened to some of the tracks from different websites and I think it's pretty great stuff. Is it my favorite? No. But his last album "12 Songs" was so good I think anyone who likes a good lyric and melody will appreciate it. His new one "Home Before Dark" will be out in a few weeks and it's more of the same stuff.

Just in case I might pass along the notion to listen to a really good songwriter, I'm putting my 'coolness' on the line and I'm telling you to check out Neil's stuff.

There. Judge away...

It's a GIRL...

Found out yesterday...we're having our 2nd girl. As one friend put it, "great...one more wedding to pay for!"

This is such a fun time. God is so good.

Oddly Entertaining Commercial...

Why do I like this commercial so much?

Finally, A Work Out Solution For All Of Us...

Up, Up, Up She Grows...

Today my wife discussed the possibility of moving McKenzie up to Kindergarten this coming fall with the Kindergarten teachers at our church (our church has a preschool and kindergarten).

We've been concerned that holding her back (which we thought was a good move) would bore her to death. The teachers confirmed our thoughts. Here's why:

1. McKenzie can read. In fact, she reads way too well for her age and life stage. She's sounding out every word she sees on every sign, label, book, you name it. Staying the usual 2nd year in pre-school would simply be mentally frustrating, possibly.

2. She can communicate impressively well. She adapts to the situation around her and then goes at it. All these years of hanging out with youth group kids and 'big kids' seems to have paid off in this way.

Now, we have a different concern about whether she's socially ready for this move, but again, she adapts well. So we'll see. If it doesn't work, we'll simply hold her back in Kindergarten.

As proud as I am of her, I cannot seem to get my mind off of the thought that just 2 years ago we were walking upstairs to go to bed. I usually put her to bed at that time in her life. As we would walk up, she would instinctively reach for my hand and walk with me...together...to her room. And I vividly remember thinking one night,

"this won't last forever...one day she's not going to want to hold my hand, or she won't (gulp) need to. one day, this will be gone." (more on this slant later)

Soon my little girl will be in Kindergarten. Monday thru Thursday 9am-3pm. Just after that comes high school, it seems.

When did I begin to care about things like this? Wait...now I remember. It was August 20th, 2003, around 1pm, Pacific Time.

Drew Christy

Last week, many of those in our church and circle heard about Drew Christy, the brother and brother-in-law of Kaila and Jonathan Harkins. Drew is still in a coma and the family are waiting to see how God restores this situation. There is a site that everyone can look into to keep up with Drew if they wish.

Keep praying. If you wish to visit, he's at Methodist Hospital, downtown Indianapolis. About 15 minutes from the church.

Drew's Site.

Mars Hill Breakfast Series

When I memorized these words of Paul in bible study years ago, I didn't think much of them. Then we discussed them at our first Mars Hill Breakfast:

"But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ." (Phil. 3:7)

I mostly thought about the sentiment that Christ mattered more to Paul than anything and he'd live a life for Christ. That's what Paul IS saying, sure. But the context isn't that simple. Well, it is simple, but different.

The context of what Paul is saying in that passage is that Paul pretty much had the Jewish Dream in his hands and then he met Jesus who called him to give it all up.

Status? A Jew of Jews. Could've been a well to do Pharisee and authority figure (who lived very well and wanted for nothing). Yes, yes, lots of biblical commands to follow, but the societal rewards were greatly more important to many religious leaders. Would Paul have been that? Who knows...but he would've been 'da man' no matter.

And then he met Jesus. And now he says that climbing the Jewish ladder was loss. Chasing after the Jewish Dream was thrown by the way side for...well...living like Jesus.

This is much bigger than we give it credit for. And probably scarier than we want to admit.

Thanks, friend, for bringing this up at our first official "Mars Hill Breakfast".

Hall Family...

Some of you who read my blog actually go to Mt. Pleasant with me. For those of you who don't, this is still worth praying over.

A good friend and praise team member's wife went into labor last night and the baby was unexpectedly still-born. This is a huge sadness for many, most of the family...David and Jennifer Hall. Jennifer is also the daughter of Spence Tuttle who is a pastor on our staff. Great people. Sad times.

++in this time of sadness and confusion, make your presence obvious in your love and comfort and whatever else suits your will...they need you++

Mercury Radio Theater

I went to a MRT concert last summer and it practically blew me away. It was at the Cornerstone Festival in Bushnell, Illinois. It was in a small tent at a late hour when others were probably watching P.O.D. or Flyleaf. Pretty much, this funk-pop-indie band played some great jazzy/ska music that was upbeat and fun. I didn't know what to expect. The coolest part of the show was the video illustrations and story narrative that went on in between songs. In between segments of the video-story they'd play music. No lyrics, just music. The story was so cool. The art was fantastic. The drama was great. They simply did a really cool job. This is a video to promo their latest stuff. Very over the top, but funny in many places. If you don't like Zombie blood graphics, then don't watch. By far, the most interesting Christian band I've ever seen.


Sponsor a Zombie from Harvey J. Wallbanger on Vimeo.

Brant Hansen

I've been reading this guy's blog for some time. I find his thoughts and journeys to be very interesting and some times even challenging. Brant is a radio host in Florida as well as, get this, the coolest thing ever, a concert accordian player. I happen to love accordian playing. Evidently, he's played with some pretty great bands and musicians in his career.

Anyway, I'm just pointing anyone who cares towards this guy's site in thinking that maybe some of my friends might actually get something from him. He's such a good communicator.

30 Day Sex Challenge...

Here's the news cover of "Relevant Church"'s push for stronger marriages and abstinence among singles. Somehow, I still haven't come to a good feeling about it. Maybe it all starts with the fact that the church name is 'relevant'. Might as well name it 'the post-mod' or 'emergers church' or 'name your cliche word/phrase'. I'm not big fans of using them for headlining ministries or using them much at all. But I digress.

Still, having a hard time with the method of the madness with this one.

Are You A Real Man?

My youth minister (yes, I still call him that) had this on his blog. I had to steal it. I'm wondering if there's an appropriate title for it? For the record, I do not know this guy. This is just something floating around blogdom. It's definitely an interesting sermon tidbit.

Puerto Rico

I'll be heading to sunny Puerto Rico tomorrow morning. I get to spend time with some good friends from college who moved to Puerto Rico to work and live amongst the communities there.

I've been to Puerto Rico before. I went to many of its beaches and now I'll be on a completely different part of the island where I'll get to see, hopefully, parts I haven't seen before.

I'll be gone until Feb. 19. I may be able to upload images while I'm there. We'll see. The weather is as predictable as ever. Highs and lows in the 70's with some regular scattered showers each day as every tropical area has.

The last time I was in the tropics was the Bahamas and I got to film a water spout (tornado on the ocean) that was right outside my beach front hotel. Pretty wicked.

Peace out.

Oh, More Super Bowl Stuff, What The Heck...

Bill Simmons is a writer for ESPN and a HUGE Boston sport fan. So he's a big Patriots, Celtics, and Red Sox fan. His latest article has emails he's posted from people's reaction to the super bowl. I liked this one a little bit...

"I'm sure by now you've heard that the rights had already been sold to a book titled "19-0: The Historic Championship Season of New England's Unbeatable Patriots." In fact, Amazon.com and the Boston Globe were offering people the chance to preorder the book. Given this past Sunday's events, perhaps the publishers should take a queue from O.J. Simpson and change the book's title to "19-0: If They Had Done It, This Is How It Would Have Happened."
-- Ricardo, Dallas

Need Something New...

Ok...I'm over my super bowl high. I still think that's one of the greatest games played for any championship, ever, but I need something new at the top of my page now.

This should do.

I'm Not Done With Belichick Yet...

Look, walking off the field with time on the clock is...

1. Something we expect from Randy Moss, not a coach. Looks like Randy taught the old guy something after all. Randy Moss has played for both the number 1 and 2 offenses in league history (stat wise). And neither won it all.

2. As much as you run the score up on teams who've already given up and just want to go to the locker room to regroup for the next week, you had NO RIGHT to ditch out. Everybody stayed on the field every time you did that and you can't do it for the ONE loss you have to suffer through. C-L-A-S-S-L-E-S-S. Emphasis on the, well, I won't say it.

3. You taught your team how to win in the WORST DIVISION OF FOOTBALL. Why do people overlook this? Not only that, but you didn't even break all your records on the FIELD OF COMPETITIVE PLAY. Can we say OVERRATED??????

Okay. Back to work.