The Simple Truth

Worship Night

I'm so excited about our first ever Worship Night this Saturday (9/24) at 8pm (Playhouse on the campus of Westminster Choir College).  Nothing stirs my heart like hearing God's children lift their voices in praise of their heavenly Father.  This is going to be a night to remember and I want to encourage you to come and bring a friend.  My good friend, Chris Richardson, is even going to sit in and play drums with us - can't wait to minister with him again!

We're asking each person who comes to contribute a dollar that will go to support the Snehashrya Woman's Shelter in India. We've raised over $11,000 for the shelter thus far and we are hopeful that this night will enable us to be of further blessing to the women and children in the shelter.

See you Saturday!

Random Friday Thoughts

It's a Friday afternoon in August and I have number of random thoughts bouncing around in my head.  Read at your own risk...

• Why are we more tired when we return from vacation than before we go?
• I'm looking for a fresh supply of worship tunes. Who are you guys listening to?
• Do 13 year old boys PMS?
• I'm still totally jacked about what God is doing in the folks at PBC to raise money for Snehashrya.
• Blown away every time I pray the new PBC prayer of commitment - Where ever you want us to go, whatever you want us to do, however you want us to live; we give our lives to You to spend in making your gospel and your glory known to the ends of the earth.
• Had a blast at the GBC / DPBC high school camp this year. God did some really cool things! So awesome to reconnect with dear friends.
• Man it was hot in MO this year - surface of the sun hot.
• The financial state of the federal gov't is SCARY. I appreciate that there is no easy answer but come on fellas how about putting some sound economic practices in place before the house of cards comes tumbling down.
• Some people take themselves way too seriously!
• Every human being that has every graced this planet is a walking worship machine.
• My 25th high school reunion is this weekend. Wish I could be there to see everyone. I'm sure they'll have a wonderful time. Can't wait to see pictures of Facebook.
• I want to write more. What format would be the most useful to the most people? I don't want to add to the noise of written Christian materials.
• So glad the NFL resolved its labor issues. Excited to see what the Chiefs will do this year - continue to build upon last year or come back to reality. I say 9-7 with a really tough schedule.
• I count myself to be abundantly blessed. God is so good to me!

Thanks!

Time for the annual Thanksgiving day blog post about being thankful.  It's great that each year we set aside a day to focus on being thankful, but as a follower of Jesus we should make thankfulness a part of our everyday life.  It is God's will for us to be thankful - I Thessalonians 5:18.  Here are a few things I'm thankful for this year...

• My wonderful wife.
• My beautiful children.
• Good friends.
• A home - what a blessing.
• Running water and food on the table.
• Good health.
• The chance to serve with the people of PBC.
• The blessing of music.
• Books.
• Most of all - my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

What about you? What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving Day?

With All Your Might

In I Chronicles 13 King David and the nation of Israel are bringing the ark back from Kirjathjearim. During that process a celebration breaks out and David and the other musicians of Israel begin to play their instruments and sing.  I love the wording of I Chronicles 13:8.  Did you notice that it says they, "played before God with all their might..."  These musicians are pouring everything they've got into playing this music for God.  Every chord played, every note sang, every cymbal crash came from the depths of their soul and was intended to bring God glory.

By all scriptural accounts David was a fabulous musician.  He played his instrument while tending the sheep of his father.  He was invited to play his instrument before King Saul (that's not a gig you get unless you are incredibly good).  He authored the majority of the Psalms and undoubtedly wrote many other songs that were not published in the Bible.  Needless to say, the guy was enormously gifted musically.  God had placed that gift within him and he used it with all his might to bring God glory.

What gift has God placed within you? You may not be musical but you are without question gifted.  Maybe you are a gifted teacher, financial planner, organizer, writer, cook, artist, mechanic, etc.  Here's the tough question - are you using your giftedness with all your might before the Lord?  Is your life about using the gifts He has given you to minister in His name.  I Peter 4:10 tells us that we are to minister according to the gifts He was given us.  Ecclesiastes 9:10 tells us that we are to do life with all our might.  Are you?

Stop trying to be what everyone else thinks you should be.  Be who God made you to be.  The gifts you possess are in you to bring God glory.  Do what you were created to do and do it with all your might.

Who Are You?

 In the late 70's the British rock band, "The Who" put out a song which is in many ways the anthem for our age - "Who are You?".  For my younger readers you may know it as the theme song from "CSI". To a certain extent we all struggle to discover our true identity.  I see this a lot in middle schoolers and high schoolers, but it carries over into adulthood.  Everyone is trying to find their niche and discover who they are. Throughout this process we are continually asking ourselves three questions - Who Am I? (Identity); Do I matter?" (Importance); and What is my place in this life? (Impact).  In order to find the answers to these questions we experiment with all types of things - fashion, hobbies, sex, spirituality, education, etc.  Unfortunately, our search for value has been reduced to external displays of what we wear or what we do for a living.

In order for us to truly understand who we are and thereby have an inner confidence in our identity, we must come to grips with who we are Christ.  We must discover and have confidence in what the Bible says about our God given identity.  If we consider the scriptural phrase "in Christ" we can begin to understand our true identity in Him.  Here are some highlights...

• I am a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17) - in Christ we have a fresh start. The old things of your past are washed away and all things are new. You don't have to carry the burden of guilt around with you any more.
• I am a winner (2 Corinthians 2:14) - "in Christ" we are always triumphant.  I hate hearing people referred to as "losers". With Jesus you are never a loser. I know that may sound a bit corny, but that is the reality.
• I am a child of the King (Galatians 3:26) - let that sink in for a moment. God has brought you into his family and you are his child. Earthly parents may forsake you, but you heavenly Father never will.
• I am loved forevermore (Romans 8:38-39) - earthly love is conditional.  God's love is eternal and unconditional.  I never grow old of saying it - GOD LOVES YOU! Don't forget it.
• I am incredibly blessed (Ephesians 1:3) - it's easy to focus on the negative but we must always remember how incredibly blessed we are in Christ.
• I can be a powerhouse for God (Ephesians 6:10) - in Christ I have access to incredible power.  The power that raises people from the dead. The power that changes character.  Tap into the power.
• I have a purpose from God (I Corinthians 15:58) - God has a mission for you.  You matter.  You are significant.  Carry out the mission that God has placed before you.
• I am a citizen of heaven (Ephesians 2:6) - God has given me a new home in heaven. I'm only here for a little while - just passing thru.  One day I will go home - there's no place like home.

A firm grasp of these truths gives us a strong inner confidence.  Our niche is with God.  In Him we find our true identity and it's not based solely upon the external.  Who are you "in Christ" is beyond amazing. Get that truth and it will change your life! 

Judging the Book by It's Cover

Yet more proof that you can't judge a book by it's cover.  Or as I Samuel 16:7 says, "don't look on the outward appearance.  Check out this clip from Britain's Got Talent.  If you can watch it without smiling or getting a bit choked up, you need to check your pulse.

Youtube won't allow me to embed the video so here's the link...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-KiGva9dV4

Praise and Prayer Service

Home again today and still feeling like I've been hit by a truck - but nonetheless I wanted to post and invite you to our Praise and Prayer service this weekend.  I hope you'll join us this Sunday as we dedicate an entire service to praising our Savior and sharing our prayer requests.  In addition, we'll also be celebrating communion together.  I'm really looking forward to this service but it won't be the same if you're not there.

While you're thinking about prayer would you please say one for me and Drew - we've both been home all week with the flu.  Just keeps hangin' on.

A New Song in My Heart

I'm leading worship this weekend at PBC and am preparing to roll out a new song - "Mighty to Save".  As I've been preparing for next Sunday's service I've been listening to, playing, and singing this unbelievable song.  It has truly encouraged me and lifted my spirit.  Check out this video of the tune.  Hopefully it will minister to you the way it has to me.

World Premiere Video

Here it is - what you've all been waiting for - the world premiere of the new Baubles video, "Walk Like an Ephesian".  Check it out - you don't want to miss it!  I posted the lyrics below for your enjoyment.

WALK LIKE AN EPHESIAN Video

Paul said that men were walking dead

‘Twas in a verse that our Pastor read.

Build lives for God (O Lego)

Walk in good works, so the scripture said.

Christ in our hearts remains our goal

We have to ask “What would Jesus think?”

We walk in faith (oh whey oh)

Abundant love keeps us in the pink

Lose your pride and you’ll find your stride now

(Ay oh whey oh, ay oh whey oh) … Walk like an Ephesian.

Let’s make our Father beam with pride -

We work for Him as He works in us.

Paul taught us well (oh whey oh)

His letter was brought by Tychicus

Renew the spirit of your mind

Become a new man in right-eous-ness

 Be kind to all (oh whey oh)

Deciding to live in holiness

Lose your pride and you’ll find your stride now

(Ay oh whey oh, ay oh whey oh) … Walk like an Ephesian.

Put on the helmet and the shield,

deflect the darts Evil shoots at me.

Protect your heart (oh whey oh);

The sword of the Spirit sets us free

Walk not as fools, but as wise;

Conformyourselves to the will of God.

If we sub-mit (oh whey oh),

The angels in heaven will applaud.

Walk not in vanity of mind;

Be careful to stay away from sin.

Improve your thoughts (oh whey oh).

Let’s make our walk so Eph-es-i-an

Lose your pride and you’ll find your stride now

(Ay oh whey oh, ay oh whey oh) … Walk like an Ephesian.

Walk This Way...LOOK

I hope you'll join us for the final week of the "Walk Like an Ephesian" series.  I must say I'm sad that this series is ending - I've had an absolute blast going through this book!

If for no other reason you must come to check out the world premiere of The Baubles new music video, "Walk Like an Ephesian".