North Carolina

So we're here. I'm in Tim's office and he's at staff meeting. Be looking for a video of our travels on Facebook. Our apartment is nice, the living room is much larger than I remember, so we may not have to put as much in storage. This post may be a little random and skip around since the last 2 days I was stuck in a car.

We left at 6:15ish on Monday and I slept for the first few hours. Of course it rained the whole way. Mingus took his sedative and was perfect! We stopped in Shreveport at the Cracker Barrel for breakfast and I drove through Louisiana and Mississippi. We stopped in Meridian for a late lunch at Chick-Fil-A and bought some sheets for our air mattress at Ross (Great tip, Amanda!). Then we took on Alabama. Did you know it probably the longest state in the world to get across? I felt like we were never going to get to Atlanta, GA. Finally at about 10pm est. we got to our La Quinta (they don't charge for pets - Great tip, Elizabeth!) and we ordered some pizza, video conferenced with the Nugents and went to bed. We left at about 9:30 Tuesday morning and found a Shoney's for breakfast (my fave from my childhood trips- love me some cheesy eggs). We stopped in Greenville, SC (such a pretty downtown - Great tip, Dad) and had coffee and walked in the rain a little. On to North Carolina, we got to the house and Judy was so excited to see us. We unpacked what little we had (the movers will be here on Monday, 1/12), and asked where the Wal-Mart was. Judy suggested we go to the Target, but we had several gift cards we wanted to finish up. She said no one goes to the Wal-Mart, but sent us anyways. It was pretty ghetto, not a Super Walmart and there had been several robberies and broken cars, so we didn't take anything but the necessities. We got our air mattress, a shower curtain, a little food (no microwave or pots/pans), 2 towels, and some dog shampoo (gross wet dog). We made it back in one piece and Judy took us to the local Mexican restaurant. It was good, but there wasn't enough kick! (needed lots more jalepenos, less tomato) We cleaned up some and went to bed. Judy was kind enough to lend us a TV, so we didn't have to sleep in silence, but Mingus decided out of defiance that he would eat his bone and his teeth scraping across it nearly made me lose it! But we slept well and are excited to clean Tim's office. We're going to brown paper the walls (Great idea - Mom) and bring all Tim's guitar/recording gear here. Thomas and Kevin (praise team members) had already come in and gotten rid of a lot of things (the music ministers office was the catch-all, IMAGINE!). So we don't have as much to do as we thought, but I am finding music from 1955 to the present so I have work to do still.

I have a job interview with the Wachovia Child Development Center on Friday at 10am. So be in prayer that if that's where I need to work, everything would fall into place (including coming home opportunities). If not, I've applied at the schools, and can sub until God opens the perfect door for me.

We have a couple of nibbles on the lease of the house, so that's coming along as well.

Pray for us as we start this new adventure/chapter and that Huntersville/Charlotte gets on fire for the Kindgom. Todd (pastor) has a vision that there are 100,000 people in a 5 mile radius of the church (Wow!) and we are going to try to touch all of them in the next 5 years. (That's five people a week!) (And always pray for babies.)

Love much (come see us)
Angela

Insights on American Theology

What’s the problem with American theology?

It's not the styles, or the stages – it’s our mentality

While people of the world

Loose their life for Christ the King

We’d rather sit in comfort,

Then raise our voice and sing

---

What would the church look like

if singing Sunday morning

Meant risking your life?

Would you show up? Would I?

---

We need to learn to sacrifice,

For the sake of Jesus Christ

We need to get off of our selves

And learn to pray (really pray)

We have no time to delay,

What if Christ came back today?

Would you be able to testify,

That in your life you glorified

The only One who’s worthy,

With all your might?

Would you? Would I?

---

What’s the problem with Church priorities?

It’s not the programs or attendance, it’s the lack of empathy.

In other countries they follow Christ,

Even if it means they lose their life

In America, we get excited

Over football Monday night

---

What would the church look like

if saying no to yourself

Meant following God’s will?

What would you say? What would I?

---

Who cares if you have a Lexus?

With bumper to bumper?

What does that do for the man who’s damned to hell?

Does your family love you more?

Cause their involved in every activity?

Have you shown them with your life,

The selfless love of Christ?

Christmas - Finding the Balance

I Love Christmas Time.
I love everything about it. The celebration of our salvation,the parties, the musicals, the family, the presents, and the decorations. This year I'm not able to put up decorations because we're preparing to move to North Carolina. While this is difficult for a Christmas-holic, like me - it's good for me to focus on the true reason to celebrate this time of year. It has nothing to do with lights, and trees and presents. It has to do with THE presence of God with Us. Emmanuel means God with us and that's exactly what He did.Praise God!

My struggle, I'm finding at Christmas time, is balancing things like the parties, the musicals, the rehearsals, etc with spending time with friends and family. Maybe it's because we're about to be away from all the people and places I've come to know well, but I'm realizing as great as musicals and parties are, it's extremely easy to let that overshadow spending time in community with those we love. Part of being a follower of Jesus Christ is showing His love, in a personal way to those we know. I don't know if my priorities are beginning to change with a new chapter beginning in my life, but I know that I would rather spend a quiet evening alone with my bride, or an evening with friends than in a 3 hour tech rehearsal.

That's not to say I don't enjoy Christmas and Easter presentations, I do! I look forward to certain times of year, because I feel like there's an obvious avenue for the arts to be used in the celebration of God with us, in us and through us. I enjoy finding unique music, well written dramas and combining all that to bring out the best in people while they glorify the Savior through their craft. This year's musical at Central is amazing! The story is original, the music is unique and edgy! In fact, out of all the musicals we've done since I've been here this is the most personal for CBC. The fact that it was birthed out of a ministry happening in our youth group makes it real.

So where is the balance? How does one find it and practice it? More importantly, how can one help keep those he leads in balance in their own lives?

Father in heaven,
I pray that You would help me discover balance in my life, especially in the area of my family and the passion for ministry You've instilled in me. God I want to glorify You through the arts in the most excellent way I can, but more than that I want to glorify You through how I love my family.
Thank You Lord, for grace and 'do-overs' for Your children.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen

And here we go...

Last night was such an emotional night!

We told our church that we were moving in January, to Huntersville, NC to serve at Independence Hill Baptist Church. I knew it was going to be tough, but I didn't know how tough! Telling the Choir, praise team and drama was the hardest. Angela and I have grown so close to so many of those guys and girls and having to say goodbye is going to be one of the single most difficult experinces of my life! Just telling them was tearful. The friends we have made at CBC have been so amazing, sacrifical and loving - a true picture of God's character. The exciting thing is that they will conitine to serve like that because of how much the love Jesus! 

Now we have to get ready to pack and move. But before that, we have finals, a christmas musical - which is going to rock, and graduation. It's going to be a busy December. Stay tuned!

Father in Heaven, 

Thank You for grace that is greater than ALL our sin. Thank you for always being ready to pick us up and hold us when we're hurting. Father keep my eyes focused on You and my heart broken over my sin and the sin of a lost and dying world. Let my broken heart be made whole only by Your love.

Reflections...

Ever present

You are Constant,

You won’t relent,

Won’t Circumvent who You are in me

For Your glory, for History.

Zealously You protect me

Thankfully, on bended knee

I bow before Thee

Gladly

Giving you Everything

Giving You anything.

Spewing all I’ve held on to

For You. For You. For You

For You’ve absolved, resolved, involved

You’re life into mine,

Combined together, forever, less of me,

More of you, more of You

More of your grace, love, mercy, devotion,

Commission,

adoration,

vision,

compassion

Wont give in, Won’t back spin,

Wont wait until someone else dives in

Listen. I’ll listen, I will Listen

To You. To You. To You

Devotional 10/1 - John 19:17-24

Father,
I pray that as I read your word this afternoon, You continue to remind my spirit that You are God over all gods, Lord over all lords and true and only Awesome. Lord, keep my spirit broken and tender over my sin and the things I do and don't do which Your Holy Spirit directs me to do. Not only to remain broken over these things but to move to action to restore that which has been taken, claim victory over past battles and peace in the midst of absolutely crazy times I pray also that as I read Your word, You would show me I should do because of the words written. Lord, show me how I may better obey you in my walk with men and with You. I pray this in Jesus Name, Amen.

Meditation:
As I was reading I slowed over the words "Carrying His own cross, He went out to what is called the Skull Place, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha."

"He carried His own cross." - Why did John write this? What was it significant? I know there is probably a more historically accurate reason for this, but as I read it, I think to myself "He didn't look for someone else to carry His cross" even though he'd been beaten beyond recognition, spat on, the crown of thorns pressing into His head. He carried HIS cross. Because He knew that's what The Father wanted for Him to do in order to save humankind.

If Jesus had put down the cross and said "forget it! You can carry that thing - YOU DESERVE IT!" First, He would have been right. Second, He would have missed His calling and we would have lost the opportunity to have salvation in Jesus. Thank God He carried His own cross. If He hadn't, I can't even begin to fathom what would have happened. Because Jesus did what he was called to do. If Christ had put down the cross, we might have never seen the Power of God to restore a dead person to perfection!

How often do I complain about a burden I am to carry? Maybe its a job that I don't particularly care for, maybe it's a relationship that isn't the easiest thing to be a part of, maybe just getting my lazy butt out of bed in the morning! All these things are crosses of sorts God has called me to carry at this time.

If I choose not to carry my burden, what is the ramification I'm not even aware of? How by me either choosing not to carry it, or complaining about carrying it, am I robbing myself or the people around me of the blessings God chooses to bestow upon His children during times of trial and pain?

Application:
I will be mindful of my heart and spirit and when I start to complain about something, I will stop and thank God for the opportunity for Him to show His power in the midst of that 'cross'.

Memorize:
"Carrying His own cross, He went out to what is called Skull Place, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha."

John 19:17

And Just Like That...

...Summer of 2008 is almost finished.

The back-to-school sales have started, teachers are beginning to go back for training, and students are beginning to get that panicked look on their faces like “O no! We only have a few more weeks?!?!” I just read through the last 3 years of August newsletters I had written, honestly to get some idea of what I was to write this year. It’s hard because I wonder what I can write to encourage, uplift, inform and challenge each reader of this article. Maybe I’m flattering myself, maybe people don't even read this blog. I hope that’s not the case, but I guess I’ll never really know. What I do know is that this summer there have been some amazing things happening in our church. First off, the revival services each Wednesday have been great! Each week I have been able to attend, I have been blessed and I’ve heard that the weeks we weren’t here God has spoken strongly through each of the speakers and pastors. What have you done with all the information and biblical insight you’ve received this summer? Thought about it for a few minutes or days and forgotten about it? Written it down on a piece of paper or a journal and let it sit there taking up space in a book? Or have you really began to apply it to your life? The same thing goes for John’s sermon series on Love we just finished up. Each week – he has issued a challenge to us as followers of Jesus. Have you stepped up or stepped back? In the Christian walk – there isn’t just a neutral setting. I believe we are always either moving forward or moving backwards.

The Youth have had some amazing opportunities as well – this year at youth camp God broke many of them of things they had been holding on to. We had several kids begin their journey with Christ and several more rededicate their lives to Him. When I asked them what’s the hardest thing about coming home after camp, one of them replied “…bringing back what we learned and applying it to our daily walk and how we interact with others who don’t know Christ”. Adults, both young and old – please read this with your entire attention and heart. Our youth need examples of people who live out their daily walk to show the love of Jesus to EVERYONE. Jesus, as one of His last commandments He left us before he was crucified, told us to have love one for another. That we will (or should) be known for our love. Love lived out is obvious, it’s evident by a selfless life.

This summer is one for the books – great camps, great conferences, great revival services…

There is an ellipsis on the end of that sentence intentially – what you do with all you’ve been given this summer is the rest of the sentence. Don’t just gain knowledge for the sake of knowledge – APPLY IT! LIVE IT!