Catalyst

So today Michael and I got to go to Catalyst Headquarters for a luncheon and discussion time with other church planters in the metro atlanta area. What a BLAST!! We made so contacts with other pastors and worship leaders that are in different stages of church plants...whether it be the planning stage, the launch stage or the stage that we are in (almost 2 years old). We discussed the fact that building relationship and growing up members that know how to build relationships wiht the unchurched is soooo much more important than advertising techniques. It was an amazing time in the center of the conference that I contribute God using to have me where I am today

Back in 2001, I was working and leading worship part time and was just totally burned out. I had decided (without my current pastor knowing), that I was going to throw in the towel in ministry and was going to just pursue my secular career. Well, my pastor had us tickets to the 2nd Catalyst conference back when it was held at Northpoint Community Church up here in Alpharetta. I did NOT want to Go!! I had already made plans to come up with an excuse that I could not go. But, the day before the conference came upon me and I could not lie to my pastor and friend, so I went.

30 minutes into the service, we were singing and worshipping to the song "My Glorious", and God dropped me to my seat. I prayed right then and there that I would never give up my dreams and goals of leading worship no matter what cost it meant. I went home and ripped up the notice I had typed the day before and I have been going at it ever since.

No it is not always easy...i work all night saturday every other week and go without sleep to make the drive to Griffin to lead worship. Yes, I lose alot of family time with my wife and son, whether it is the fact that we can't go away on the weekends or during the week, when we are at home and i'm off, I am usually in my office planning services or learning new songs, but I keep going. Every time I hear the song My Glorious, I think about that moment at Northpoint. I guess it is like a stone marker in my life that I can always look to to know that God will complete what he started in me. Thank you Catalyst. You are AWESOME!!

Suffering?

My favorite verse in the Bible is Colossians 1:27;  To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.   I just love the excitement and mystery of that verse.  But while reading it last night, my eyes were drawn to a couple verses before it, to verse 24;  "I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church.  

My sufferings...whos? Pauls!!  Wow!! and what sufferings we know that he went through for the sake of the gospel and the church.  And he is what was that...rejoicing?  in his sufferings?  for the church?  His body...which is the church.

He was in prison for the church...He was beaten for the church...He was going to be killed for the building up of His body, which is the church.  Kind of makes our problems "at" the church seem petty and not even on a scale to be complained about.  Jesus...let me rejoice and find that YOU are all that is lacking in my joy in suffering.

The North side of Atlanta is completely out of gas!! Every station is dry.  I was at QT the other night after they had been out of gas for a half a day, when they finally got 9,000 gallons.  Then...utter chaos broke out!!  There were people cutting each other off...arguments...traffic backed up into the streets...it was crazy! I totally saw the "every man for himself" rule in action.  I couldn't help to think about what it is going to look like during the end of the tribulation.  I know...I know...how can a gas shortage compare to what is going to happen during the tribulation but it was a glimpse.  People searching for what they need...just trying to get what they need to take care of their family...confusion, anger, tempers flairing, and dispair.  I wish I had an upbeat way to end this, but, without Jesus in those days...there will be no happy ending.  I wonder...are we as the Churh, doing all that we can to bring everyone we meet with us to a happy ending. i wonder...

Making It

So for about 8 years now I have been trying to "make it" in the Worship business.  Here recently God has been doing something new in my heart.  He has brought me to a place where I am trying to define "making it".  Is it having a recording on the charts?  Is it being full time?  Is it being at a big church like most of the Worship Leaders I listen to (except for Hugh Cooper who is one of my mentors who is also at Journey)?  I must say...I always thought I knew the answer to this question...now....I'm not so sure.  I mean, I lead worship every Sunday.  I write songs and get to use them in our services.  Sure I don't get paid enough for leading worship to make a living on, but is that the definition of making it?  I don't know...maybe there is a certain salary you have to make to be considered made.  Or....maybe....just maybe....the process of aligning your heart with the heart of God, and doing what God has called you to do week after week...maybe that IS making it.  I don't know...

Journey Communion Service

Wow!  So Sunday night was the joint Communion service with Lifesong Church.  What an amazing time of worship and reflection we experienced.  I almost couldn't sing Oh The Wonderful Cross after three of our men carried in a 200 lbs cross and hoisted it up in front of the stage.  As I watched our people watching what was unfolding, I again was taken back to what it must have been like when Jesus held the "first Communion service".   I want to recapture the feeling of knowing that His Body and Blood would soon be sacrificed!  I want to capture the urgency that we must regain that this world needs to know of His blood sacrifice.  

I left Sunday night on a major high!  Then, I woke up Monday morning and laid in bed for a few minutes, replaying the night in my head.  Then...it hit me....what had we REALLY accomplished?  Cool service?  Good music? a time of reflection and celebration? a good flow? a few pats on the back?.... What did it all mean?  NOTHING!  unless at least one person is different this week in their perspective that their lives on earth mean nothing compared to the greatness of know Jesus and spending eternity with Him.  I pray it was not wasted!