LOST TONIGHT!!!!!

I’m so pumped for the new season of LOST. This is the creme de la creme of t.v. I absolutely can’t get enough of this show. Last season ended with such a bang and I know that this season will be nothing short of greatness. I love how this show is written. It keeps you thinking and watching all at the same time. Let me know what you think of tonights episode.

And by the way, did anybody else notice the reflection in the water on the title slide for the show?

I’m a STAR

Ok. So I know that I’m a complete dork, but I was looking at the UNLEASH Conference promo and I noticed something.

Spiritual Emphasis Rap-up

I had the opportunity to lead worship this past Monday and Tuesday at Southern Wesleyan for their Spiritual Emphasis week. Hence… the lack of blog posts. It actually started on Sunday, but I was still down at White Oak and couldn’t get back until Sunday night. Let me just say that the experience was awesome. I led worship many times there while I attended, but there was something special about this time. Just to go back and see old friends and professors that impacted my life so dramatically. These guys literally shaped who I am today. Props the faculty and staff there.

As far as the actual services that was easy. I got to play with Lyle, Curtis, Sanchez and Palmer. All are very talented musicians. Curtis has mad skills on the bass guitar. Sanchez busted out some amazing stuff on piano to end the services last night. He’s also a dang good drummer. Lyle is a great guitar player who is driven to lap up all that he can musically and is going to be a great leader one day. Palmer is a gifted musician who has an extraordinary heart for worship. He said something to me last night that I’m going to remember forever. We were talking about leading worship and he made the statement that by the time you get up to lead other people, you should have already done it before in your private time. He’s exactly right. Too often worship leaders are dealing with so much that we often put off our private worship in order to get other things done. The most important thing we can do is to first worship God when no one else is listening.

Definitely something to remember.

Long Weekend

I had an awesome weekend. We were down in Winnsboro from Thurs. through Sunday afternoon with some great kids. I had the opportunity to lead the worship for a D-Now weekend and work with the student band they had down there at Winnsboro First Baptist. I’ve got to say, by the end of the whole thing it was sounding pretty darn good. I love leading people in worship services, but another passion of mine is taking a group of musicians and helping them gel together to create a beautiful synergy in music. I love this. I love helping teens (especially) reach there potential for God. Music is a HUGE, GIGANTIC passion for teens. It is their outlet. To see them get excited not only about playing music, but using music to worship is an experience that is out of this world. I wish I had a little more time with them. Anyway… I know I’m ranting on and on, but I had a blast. Everyone down there was awesome and I can’t wait to do it again.

Last Day at HCC

Yesterday was a very bittersweet experience. It was my last time leading worship at HCC. It was sweet in that I’m excited about what the future holds for my family and HCC. It was bitter in that I had to say goodbye to so many friends. Hope Creek has been such a wonderful experience. My time there has allowed me to grow and learn beyond what I could’ve ever imagined. The people there have loved me and my family like we were part of their own and have treated us exceptionally well. I want to tell all of you that you are awesome. You’ve blessed me way more than you will ever know. I will miss each and every one of you. Keep pursuing God and His dreams for this community. I know that awesome things will come from HCC in the future. Please know that HCC will always be home and I’m praying for you daily. Much love!

Snow… AGAIN!

I’m sitting here staring out the window and it is snowing again. It better not stick to the roads.

Mixed Emotions

Normally when there is a chance for MORE snow I would be extremely excited. There is just something about it that brings out the kid in me. I remember when I was younger and there was a small possibility of snow, I would lie awake at night sooo excited about the next day’s events. Don’t get me wrong I’m moved a little at the chance of snow tomorrow, but not to the level I usually am. All this to say, that I really, really don’t want to have to cancel church on Sunday. It’s my last day leading at HCC. To go out and not get to serve my last scheduled Sunday would be a bummer to say the least. I love that place and the people there.  So  it’s okay if it snows, I just hope it’s gone by Sunday morning.

As Promised… Snowday!

What’s That?

So if you hadn’t noticed yet, it’s snowing. Zoe kept saying “MO” for snow and pointing outside last night.  We’ve got big plans today. This will be Zoe’s first experience actually running around and playing in the “mo”. Pictures coming later… stay tuned.

Devotional for HCC

We’re currently doing a series at HCC called “The Simple Life”. I had the opportunity to share of few of my thoughts here this morning and I thought I’d post it here as well…

Luke 4:14-44- The Power of Mission

I’m currently reading through the book Just Walk Across the Room by Bill Hybels. Hybels is the pastor of Willow Creek Community Church, where they average 20,000+ on any given Sunday. The whole principle of the book revolves around the idea that Jesus simply walked across the spans of the universe to be with us; to love us; to save us. Furthermore, we should simply walk across the room to share our faith with others. He gives countless examples of how God has been faithful in this over and over in his life.

Hybels talks of a soccer coach that he knew was far from God. His son played on his team and almost everyday he had the opportunity just to walk across the field and invite him to church. One day he mustered up the courage to approach him expecting the hard-nosed coach to simply melt in his hand, but he received an unpleasant surprise. The coach rejected his invitation and asked him not to speak of it again. Now I know this reaction would’ve discouraged many, but Hybels kept thinking back to what Christ did for us. He came even though many of us weren’t willing to listen. So for some strange reason, the rejection motivated Hybels even more. Day after day he would go out and just help the coach gather up the soccer balls and put them away. They would talk about all kinds of things, but Hybels could never quite get him to a place where he would talk about God or church. Nevertheless, he kept doing the same thing day after day.

One day several years later, Hybels was teaching a class on baptism when he looked up and saw the ole’ ball coach standing there. He thought to himself, “Of all the times he could’ve come, why did he come to this class”? Soon after he had wrapped things up, he approached the man and asked why he had come. Coach replied that he had snuck into a few of Willows services the previous weeks and HAD GIVEN HIS LIFE TO JESUS AND HE WANTED TO BE BAPTIZED!!! Hybels jaw dropped and then a smile crept over his face. It all began with that walk across the field.

If I could take the liberty to imagine what Hybels must have been feeling during those encounters: fear, uncertainty, failure, determination, rejection, and finally elation. All because he was focused on the mission, the same mission that Christ was, is and always will be pursuing. In today’s reading Jesus first faces rejection. The people of his own town don’t accept him. They run him off and even try to throw him off a cliff. But does that stop him? NO! He’s focused on the mission. He sums it up best in verse 43, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent”.

So the question is, what is the mission? As a Christ follower, we have a purpose. We exist to spread the love of Christ. Sometimes that is as simple as walking across the room. It’s not always easy (I can attest to that, because I’m a shy person), but it is simple. Simply invite someone this week. If they say no, don’t give up. That just will make the reward even greater when they say yes.