Worship Wednesday's - Casting Crowns - Who Am I?

I absolutely love this rendition of Casting Crown's Who Am I? Well done UPC Conference Church. Hope you are blessed by these hands!

Worship Wednesday's - Casting Crowns - Voice of Truth

This is a clip from the Huckabee show on Fox News. Casting Crowns has become one of my favorite bands. The reason I love them so much is because of their boldly honest, hard-hitting lyrics, they continue to challenge, strengthen and pour into the body of Christ, giving listeners a fresh, relevant perspective on loving God and loving people. Casting Crowns music is quite literally discipleship through music. This song in particular has meant a lot to me over the years. I hope it blesses you as much as it has me.

When No Referee Is Watching...

This is a great post by Mark Beeson. Thanks Bud for sending this to me.

Last Friday I took my camera to a local High School football game. A couple of friends have sons playing for the Clay Colonials. LaPhonso's son is blocking so Rod's son can pass the ball. The ref is poised and watching, ready to throw the flag on any infraction. Depending on the school, it takes four, five or six referees to enforce the game's regulations.

How many refs do you need to keep you from breaking the rules?

Maybe today is a good day for a gut-check. Maybe it's time to ask the questions, "Do I keep the rules only when the refs are watching? Is the real reason I stay inside the boundaries because I can't step over the lines without getting caught? Will I cheat if no one is watching?"

I wonder who is ultimately responsible for how I play the game?

If I cheat, is it my fault I'm removed from the game? Or can I blame the ref for throwing the flag? Do I blame myself for losing government funding, or the people who video-taped me encouraging tax-evasion and child-prostitution? On whom do I pin the responsibility for my disqualification? Is it the whistle-blower's fault, or am I accountable for my actions? Did I lose my license because of "that stupid cop," or because I was driving drunk?

Maybe it's time to own up and accept responsibility.

In the secret moments, when no one else is watching, there are no referees to keep us from cheating. There are no refs behind closed doors. No referees will force you to keep your marriage vows. There aren't any refs watching over your finances, your forays across the internet or where you put your hands on your boyfriend.

You make the call.

There is no one to throw the flag on your behavior but you. You are responsible for you. So accept responsibility, reject passivity and do the next right thing. No shortcuts. No cheating. No broken promises. No secret sins. If you need God's help, accept it. Your future hangs in the balance...and one day, whether the refs caught us and threw the flag or not, we're all going to be exposed. We'll be judged - every single one of us.

There are no secrets. God is not mocked.

In the end, no one gets away with anything.

Psalms 82:7-8 - In death you are mere men. You will fall as any prince—for all must die. Stand up, O God, and judge the earth. For all of it belongs to you. All nations are in your hands.

The introduction of Jesus by Steve Harvey

How would you introduce the Lord of Lords? I was pleasantly shocked hearing this come form Steve Harvey, but it was pretty good nonetheless. Thanks Jeff Selph for the link.

Worship Wednesday's - Help Is On the Way

This is what I am worshiping to today. Maybe like me, you need something miraculous to happen in an area of your life. May the words of this song bring peace to you when True Peace is hard to find, except in God! It is a Gospel-inflected, powerful statement of hope, this song will help your fellowship declare the truth of God's Word that He will never leave us or forsake us and find assurance in His faithfulness. "Hold on, help is on the way!" By the way I love this site.

Praise and Worship Music Videos by mypraisesong

[Verse 1:]
People say that time will heal/But you know, they just don't feel what you feel/Times are hard but God is so good/He's never failed you, and He said He never would/
He see's your tears
He fights your fears
[Chorus:]
Hold on, help is on the way/He said he'd never leave you or forsake you/Stay strong/Help is on the way/He'd said he'd help you/Just reach out and take his hand
[Verse 2:]
He knows your heart, He lifts your head/He's always close enough to hear every word /you said When you're weak, He said He's so much more/His arm is long enough to each you where you are/
He see's your tears
He fights your fears
[Chorus 2x]
Help is on the way 10x

That's My King - S.M. Lockridge

The late Dr. Shadrach Meshach (S.M.) Lockridge's famous "That's My King" message. It is one of his best-known messages. It is a six minute "attempted" description of our Lord Jesus Christ. I say "attempted" because it is the best description I have ever heard, however, part of me says that even S.M. Lockridge would think that his description is still lacking something because our mere words can not fully describe His Majesty! So sit back with the volume up, and bask in everything that God is and more!



What do you think? It gets me fired up, That's the King I serve!

Worship Wednesday's - Alabaster Jar

This is what I am worshiping to today, I hope you find rest in Him today!



Verse 1:
This alabaster jar/is all I have of worth/I break it at Your feet, Lord/It's less than You deserve/You're far more beautiful/More precious than the oil/The sum of my desires/and the fullness of my joy!
PreChorus:
Like You spilled Your blood,/I spill my heart as an offering/to my King.
Chorus:
Here I am, take me/As an offering/Here I am, giving every heartbeat/For Your glory take me.
Verse 2:
The time that I have left/is all I have of worth/I lay it at Your feet, Lord/It's less than You deserve/And though I've little strength/And though my days are few,/You gave Your life for me/So, I will live my life for You.
Bridge:
Worthy, Worthy/You are worthy/Worthy is the Lord./(repeat as desired)
(Chorus)

The Still Small Voice, or " Do what I say or puke all over....its your choice!" Part 2

Well, on with the story...

Evangelist and Pastor Rick Webb, from Fraser Road Church of God in Michigan, was challenging the audience with the words found in Romans 8:28 "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them" (NLT).

I was sitting there with my family, knowing that God was calling me to speak in front of these 400 people, whom I have never met. I do not attend the Church of God, and I was a guest to this campmeeting. I didn't know the protocol. Is this excepted or allowed? How do I even approach someone about this? Do I just go up to a microphone? All these thoughts are going through my mind, along with, Lord I can't/shouldn't do this.

Well, God was getting my attention, I was literally about to puke all over the place. I have never felt that sick, so suddenly. I leaned over to my mother-in-law (not to puke on her) and asked how I should go about this. She suggested to go up and talk to the evangelist. So that is what I did...

Now that is a tough job to be in for the evangelist. To really discern whether you have a Word from the Lord, or not. Because he mentioned afterward that sometimes you get people who say all the right things up to get up there to speak, and the truth is that they just like to hear themselves speak, and it wasn't essentially God led.

So he obviously sensed that I needed to get up there right away (maybe it was fear of ruining his nice suit with my vomit).

So here I am in front of 400 people (give or take), and I supposedly have a Word from the Lord for these people. But, I have no idea where to start. It felt like an eternity. So I mustered out a quick introduction of who I was, and what I was feeling (you know sick) and that I believed God had something for someone to hear. It could be for the whole multitude or for one person. It may have only been for me to learn to be obedient in all things. Once I finished my introduction, it was no longer me speaking. Say what?

It was no longer Luke (lil' warrior) speaking. Sure it was my voice, but it was God's verbiage. It was amazing to feel like God was completely in the drivers seat. Just like in Scripture when God told Moses that He would help him speak in Exodus 4, and during Pentecost in Acts 2:1-12, it says "As the Holy Spirit gave them this ability (to speak), God/Spirit was giving me the Words that needed to be said.

Have you ever been so consumed by God that you knew somewhat of what you just mustered out, but knew that God had used you as a mediator for His Words? Being used by God is the best feeling ever.

This week God spoke to me with this quote which I shared on my FaceBook and Twitter. "The only way u can live ur life 2 the fullest, is 2 fully rely on God!" Have we fully relied on Him in our lives? Do our lives stand as a testimony of our love towards Him.

I am reminded of the passage in John 21:15-17
After breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?"
"Yes, Master, you know I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."
16He then asked a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?"
"Yes, Master, you know I love you."
Jesus said, "Shepherd my sheep."
17Then he said it a third time: "Simon, son of John, do you love me?"
Peter was upset that he asked for the third time, "Do you love me?" so he answered, "Master, you know everything there is to know. You've got to know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my sheep.

Jesus asked Peter three times, the same amount of times that Peter denied Him. How many times does Jesus have to ask you?

Almost done I promise!

The Still Small Voice, or " Do what I say or puke all over....its your choice!" Part 1

Funky title I know, but a true story and very real experience happened to me a few months ago. Sorry Greg that it has taken me this long to get it out.

A couple months ago my in-laws asked if I wanted to camp out and attend their churches annual campmeeting (it is kind of like a revival). Thinking how much fun the boys would have I agreed to come. I was only planning to camp a couple of nights, but once I heard the Evangelist Rick Webb, from Fraser Road Church of God in Michigan, I was drawn to stay the entire week.

I was amazed by which he spoke; with the awesome Authority and Anointing of God all over him. In fact, it had been a long time since I have experienced preaching like that.

Anyways, as I was sitting in service with my family, I started feeling sick towards the end of the service. I was wondering if I had ate something that didn't agree with me (which I had been eating camp food all week!) or what was exactly happening to me. My wife looked over at me and immediately was concerned. I was extremely pail, I was sweating profusely (which I am a B.S.G. - Big Sweaty Guy, so it happens) and I seriously felt like I was about to keel over.

Now I have experienced God's voice before, and I have felt the Spirit's leading in my life, but what I was experiencing did not feel like anything godly.

But, that is when I heard God saying, "When are you going to listen to me again?" Shocked (but not really) because I have heard from Him before, I wondered okay God clarification please! All of sudden I had an horrid, quick look back at all my recent acts of disobedience to God. The more I saw, the more sick I got. I was awakened to the saddened heart of my Creator, of every time His Chosen people disobey Him intentionally.

Have you ever felt God nudging you to do something, and you didn't do it? Maybe He wanted you to talk to a certain friend or a stranger. Maybe He wanted you to be a church planter, or to open up your home to lead a small group. Ormaybe He wanted you to step up in a specific ministry at your church, or to be Biblical leader among your peers? These types of things were flashing before my eyes, have they flashed in front of yours before? Have you ignored them as I have?

Well, have I got your attention? Come back tomorrow for the rest, it gets really good!

Great message for us today!

All who are Thirsty

All who are thirsty.
All who are weak.
Just come to the fountain
Dip your heart in the
stream of life.

Let the pain and the sorrow
Be washed away.
In the waves of His mercy
As the deep cries
out to you.

Is there any song which better encapsulates the message we are taking to this world today?

We don’t see it because of all the ’stuff’ that our capitalist consumerism surrounds us with but we are all thirsty and all weak and all of us carry pain and sorrow.

Let’s get out there this week and invite people to come to the fountain of life and let their pain and the sorrow be washed away in the waves of Christs mercy.

Take God’s message of mercy, grace and love to the world. Be The Church this week!

Great message from Peter Pollock. What a great last name! Check out his blog here.

Who can you be the Church to today? Who are you bringing along with you, pouring into their lives God's message?

Matthew West - Great Story of Recovery

Here is a good video of Matthew West's journey through recovery. Thanks Tom Roepke for the heads up!

A new era of wedding march!

Does the traditional wedding march just seem a little to boring for your style? Check out this video that has had well over 4,000,000 views on YouTube! Thanks Jesiah for sending me the link! I love it!

Worship Wednesday's - If You Say Go

If You Say Go - Vineyard Music

I have taken a lil' sabbatical from blogging. It seems to have been a while. I have missed posting things for you all to see. I look forward to getting back into the swing of things.

My friend Greg wants me to post an amazing story that happened to me a couple weeks ago. So be on the look out for that as well. I hope you all are doing well. Enjoy this weeks worship. Will you go when He says go, will you wait when He says wait? Wow, what a good lead in to my next post!!!

Missed the Hillsong Conference b/c Sydney is a lil' far?

I came across this last night when i could not sleep. I turned the TV on and flipped to God TV and was blessed with worship and teaching from Jentezen Franklin.

The conference is supposed to last until tomorrow (11 July) but God TV is broadcasting it a couple times a day (I was watching at 3AM), check your local listings. With a greatline up: New this year are Joel Osteen (Lakewood Church) and Craig Groeschel (LifeChurch.tv). Returning speakers include Brian Houston (host), Louie Giglio (Passion Conferences) and Jentezen Franklin (Free Chapel Worship Center).

I hope you will be as blessed by this as I was!

Lil' Warrior

How do you Serve those who serve?

I saw this Volunteer Appreciation video from Granger Community Church, in Indiana at the sticks conference here in Loudonville, Ohio at New Hope. It was a creative way to thank volunteers for serving. Hopefully the people who volunteer were actually in the service to get appreciated. What kind of things do you do to show your appreciation to the hardworking volunteer?

When I was directing a class, we had set July as our Volunteer appreciation month. Every July we would strive to get all the regular volunteer's a break by taking their spot so that they could go to service, come to class, and just have some social time with their classmates.

Another way that our class served our volunteers was to collect a few bucks. We put together a gift basket of popcorn, candy, and soda, and a free movie rental from Blockbuster, and then as a class we walked to where our volunteer was serving, so we could honor them as a group. It has been a great success.

What have you done to honor the ones who serve at your church so sacrificially?

Enjoy the video!

Dave Ramsey - Life, Hope, Money - Week 3

Here is the last episode of Dave Ramsey's teaching from Lifechurch.tv. I hope they have been a blessing to you.

Worship Wednesday's - Healer

In my search for an awesome worship song this week, I came across this great social networking site where everyone can share their favorite worship songs. The site is mypraisesong.com

Here is another amazing worship song by Hillsong. Healer again has powerful lyrics that I use to pray to God. "I believe You’re my Healer, I believe You are all I need, I believe You’re my Portion, I believe You’re more than enough for me, Jesus, You’re all I need." Let these words be your prayer today.

Dave Ramsey - Life, Hope, Money - Week 2

Life, Money, Hope, Week Two from Lifecentre.org on Vimeo.

Dave Ramsey - Life, Hope, Money - Week 1

Life, Money, Hope Week One from Lifecentre.org on Vimeo.

Worship Wednesday's - Sweetly Broken

Sweetly Broken - Jeremy Riddle

I heard this song recently at Vineyard Church of Columbus. I was brought to tears once again, by the powerful presence of an Almighty God and amazing lyrics! I am however partial to Vineyard's rendition, but this is still a great song to worship to.

Are you broken today? Are you struggling with the current economic state our nation is in? Sometimes life comes at us hard, and breaks us.

It is at Brokenness that God can do the most work in us. I heard the quote the other day, in fact I even tweeted it. I said, "U can not fix what God can only mend!" It is at this hard state of brokenness that God wants and desires to show His Wonder to each and everyone of us. "At the cross You beckon me, draw me gently to my knees, and I am lost for words, so lost in love, I am sweetly broken wholly surrender! In awe of the cross I must confess
How wondrous Your redeeming love, and How great is Your faithfulness!"

Enjoy! The lyrics are on the video. If you are broken today, call upon the Great Comforter, Jesus Christ!

Worship Wednesday's

My God is Mighty to save. Author of of Salvation. You rose and conquered the grave, Yes, you conquered the grave. Shine your light and let the whole world see, we're singing for the glory, of the Risen King.

Just a few of the great lyrics in this worship song.

Will you give your all for Him today? For He is Mighty to save! He gave His all for us! So shouldn't we give Him are whole heart, our whole mind, and all our strength?

Now, praise your God whom is Mighty to Save. He conquered Satan, sin, and death!
He is Mighty To Save!

Dad's Last Sunday......or his first?

This was a picture I took from the congregation of Centerburg United Methodist Church, in Centerburg, Ohio. My dad has been the pastor here for seven years or so, and has been a Methodist pastor for over 26 years. He has decided to "Hang up the Robe" so to speak.

After many days of prayerful wrestling with a decision approaching, he has decided to take a leave of absence. He states that he is concerned with how the upper hierarchy of the Methodist Church is operating and the direction they are heading. I was joined by several friends and family celebrating my father's last Sunday behind the pulpit. Sunday, May 24, was a day to remember.

I was doing play by play via Twitter.

"Today is my dad's last day preaching in a Methodist pulpit, pray that God will be glorified. Way to go Dad! U had a gr8 run!"

"Sittin thru my dad's last sunday, & I am amzd @ how God has moved thru my dad n his 26 yrs of mnstry. wht a srvnt of the Most High God!

Many people have requested audio as well as his sermon transcript, here are some of the quotes:

"By not saying yes 2 God 2day u cud b saying no 2 God 4 all eternity! 2morrow is never guaranteed!",

"If ur ministry is going to count, its going to cost! The ministry that counts the most, costs the most! Endure the suffering!",

My dad says, "People n church are more concerned abt the sermon length then the sermon depth." Ouch!

One of my favorite things Dad said on Sunday that shocked me was: He quoted a person from the Centerburg congregation saying, "Sorry Gary, we really put you through hell." And he agreed, "You did!" You could have heard a pin drop it was so quiet. The sad thing was he had 26 years of going through hell. You just wouldn't think suffering for Christ would come from inside the church walls.

My dad's call to ministry, and "Ministry Verse" came from 2 Timothy 4:1-5. It also was the passage of his final sermon. It says, "I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he appears to set up his Kingdom: 2 Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.

3 For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will reject the truth and chase after myths.

5 But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.

It was a great message, a great day, and a great God was glorified. I think my dad summed up an emotional day just beautifully on his Facebook page later Sunday night. He said and I quote,

"Giving thanks to God this evening for family and friends who helped to make this day so much easier for me...it may have been my last day to share God's Word in a United Methodist Church...but I'll be dog-gone if it's the last time I share God's Word!"

Praise be to God!

Dad, I have never been more proud of you than I am right now. The steps you have taken, and the way you have taken them, has been honorable and encouraging for a son of yours to observe. I know you are true to your word when you said, "I'll be dog-gone if it's the last time I share God's Word!" God bless you dad, and every step you take for Him this day forth! Love ya!

Worship Wednesday's

Welcome back to Worship Wednesday. Here is another outstanding worship song from Christ for the Nations, out of Dallas, TX. I stumbled across this school, ministry, etc... a while back, but I am continually astounded by the passionate songs/artists that have come out of there. And I have only started to discover them. Check them out when you get a chance, you won't be disappointed.

Today's song is "Running."



I hear the voice, the voice of the one I love,/He's calling my name./I hear the voice, the voice of the one I love,/He's calling my name./He's saying, come up higher, you'll hear the angels sing./Come up higher my beloved,/Come up higher and leave this world behind./You'll find me to be beautiful/(CHORUS)/I am running,running after You/You become my souls delight/I am running, running after You,/Here with You I find my life/One thing have I desired, this will I seek after
To dwell in Your house forevermore/Now I'm running after, the thing that really matters/You've become my joy and song./

Worship Wednesday's....are turning into whoops (i forgot) wednesday's

God of This City
This is a great song, Chris Tomlin is not the original artist, that I know of, but he does a good job. This is a plea to God that He is not done moving supernaturally wherever we live. Through Him all things are possible (Phil. 4:13). Our (Acts 1:8) mission starts in our homes, and moves out to our streets and neighborhood, then moves across the city, and then eventually across the world. Lord, we plea that greater things are yet to be done on that street, in my village, in your town, in their city, and in our nation!

It all starts with hungry men and women of God asking, "Lord what do you want me to do RIGHT NOW, at this very moment for you?" Wake up every morning with your arms open wide to God saying, "I am yours, use me for your Kingdom today. Use me!" Let's take our schools, towns, cities, and our world back to God.




You're the God of this City/You're the King of these people/You're the Lord of this nation/You are/You're the Light in this darkness/You're the Hope to the hopeless You're the Peace to the restless/You are/There is no one like our God/There is no one like our God/[CHORUS]For greater things have yet to come/And greater things are still to be done in this City/Greater thing have yet to come/And greater things are still to be done in this City/There is no one like our God/There is no one like our God/[Chorus]For greater things have yet to come/And greater things are still to be done in this City/Greater things have yet to come/And greater things are still to be done here/There is no one like our god/There is no one like our God/[Chorus]Greater things have yet to come/And greater things are still to be done in this City/Greater things have yet to come/And greater things are still to be done here

Its not Wednesday, but... (I missed it this week!)

I first heard this song at a Grace Point Church youth purity event in Texas and the words consumed me. It still consumes me every time i hear it. Let God grip you today through worship. Give it all to Him, let Him consume you. All of you. Its not until then that you are really Living. When He consumes all of you is when Life Everlasting begins.
Lyrics are on the video...Just Worship Him!



The thing I love about doing Worship Wednesday's, is that I get to worship to the song I am blogging about for sometimes hours at a time. Now that is Consuming Worship! Get Lost in the vastness of God's Presence!

Happy Mothers Day

Moms are the best. They have given us so much of their time, love, and listening ear. Moms give up careers and sacrifice for the sake of the family many times. So to all the Mothers out there who have given so much of themselves...Happy Mothers Day! Here are a couple funny videos to enjoy on this great day.

Worship Wednesday's

This quickly has become one of my favorite songs. Matthew West definitely strikes a nerve. This song is a very sobering reminder of my life. Early on in my Christian faith (I grew up in the church) I just did what I thought i was supposed to do. I was just going through the motions. But, (I love big but's in the Bible as well in my life) God radically smacked me in the face, about 6 years ago. I was one of those lukewarm Christians...the kind that Christ speaks through John in Revelation 3:16, "So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth."

Are you making God puke? Do you need God to smack you, too? or I guess I can in Jesus name! Wake up, to the Life He offers. Wake up and live a life of gratitude, for all God has done for you (i.e. Salvation, Grace, Mercy, and Redemption).



Matthew West - The Motions - Something To Say
This might hurt/It’s not safe/But I know that I’ve gotta make a change/I don’t care
If I break/At least I’ll be feeling something/‘Cause just ok/Is not enough/Help me fight through the nothingness of life/I don’t wanna go through the motions/I don’t wanna go one more day/Without Your all consuming passion inside of me/I don’t wanna spend my whole life asking/What if I had given everything?/Instead of going through the motions/No regrets/Not this time/I’m gonna let my heart defeat my mind/Let Your love/Make me whole/I think I’m finally feeling something/Take me all the way/Take me all the way/Take me all the way

Worship Wednesday's

Welcome back to Worship Wednesday's. I heard this song a while ago and fell in love with it immediately. Take it in, All we need is your love God. Enjoy!

Shawn McDonald

SHAWN MCDONALD
As I sit here and think/About all that You've done/About how You gave me Your one and only Son/And I'm trying to fathom/All that You are, but so far, Lord/You're so beyond me/I fall down in reverence/And I fall down in fear/And I'm asking You, Lord, won't You please draw near/Won't You open my eyes/So that I can see/The way that You are working in me/All I need is Your love/To come and fill this heart of mine/My heart is a desert that has gone dry/And I need Your love to carry me bye, bye, bye, bye, bye/To carry me bye, bye, bye, bye, bye/To carry me bye/And I lay down my life/And I put it before You/All that I am is in Your hands/And I'm not going to question, why You're so faithful/Why that You give me the blessing that You have/Let the glory be known, let the glory be shown/Lift You up unto the throne/You are my God, You are my King/To You I give, I give You everything/All that I need is Your love, my God

Thaddeus - "Oh Larry Boy"

This is my son's first recorded album! We bought this guitar in San Antonio, when we visited last, and he loves to play it. Two of his passions are displayed here, his love for the guitar and his love for VeggieTales!

Worship Wednesday's

Here is the first ever Worship Wednesday post. In fact it is almost Thursday, but I have been without power all day, so I am just now getting to it. I hope you like this song. Like most worship songs, I love it! My Romance - Christ For the Nations



My Romance
Rick Pino

Look at the way the flowers bloom for You/They want to show You their beauty Lord/Running waters dance, You and I romance/Chorus: Unto You be all the glory./Unto You be all the glory (repeat)/Bridge:The angels dance around You/The earth it sings about You/Open up the heavens Lord/Let Your Kingdom come to earth/my praises all surround you/my soul can't dance without you/open up the heavens Lord/let Your kingdom come to earth

"How dare you, who in the hell do you think you are?" Mark Driscoll

Mark Driscoll did a great job talking to men out there who need to step up and treat women with respect and dignity. Listen to Mark as he gets fired up (I will be honest I jumped!!) against them 'boys' in his own church that don't treat women with respect. Let's just say that it ticks him off ummm... just a little bit!



Do you like what he says? Tell me what you think!

De-baptism certificate???

These are interesting times. This story out of London says that over 100,000 people have officially renounced their Christian faith through downloading their 'official' De-baptism certificates from the internet. According to a Google News report: "The initiative launched by a group called the National Secular Society (NSS) follows atheist campaigns here and elsewhere, including a controversial advert displayed on London buses which declared: "There's probably no God."

More from the article here:

De-baptism organizers say the initiative is a response to what they see as increasing stridency from churches—the latest last week when Pope Benedict XVI stirred global controversy on a trip to AIDS-ravaged Africa by saying condom use could further the spread of the disease.

“The Catholic Church is so politically active at the moment that I think that is where the hostility is coming from,” said Sanderson. “In Catholic countries there is a very strong feeling of wanting to punish the church by leaving it.”

In the country, where government figures say nearly 72 percent of the population list themselves as Christian, Sanderson feels this “hostility” is fueling the De-baptism movement.

Theologian Paul Murray at Durham University disagrees. “That is not my experience,” he said, but concedes that change is in the air.

“We are in an interesting climate where Catholicism and other belief systems have moved into the public, pluralist arena, alongside secularists,” he said.

De-baptism movements have already sprung up in other countries.

In Spain, the high court ruled in favor of a man from Valencia, Manuel Blat, saying that under data protection laws he could have the record of his baptism erased, according to a report in the International Herald Tribune.

You can read more here

Wow. What are your thoughts on this matter? Europe is in a very dark place right now, but all we have to do is look around us here in the U.S. for the same darkness. It is really sad to think that people (that Christ died for) would be willing to blasphemy against God and spend eternity in hell. This site is not much better: The Blasphemy Challenge. I guess that is freewill, fully represented. I wonder how much it pains God, because of it. I know that it breaks His heart, because it breaks mine.

So weigh in. What are your thoughts?

Thanks Todd Rhoades.

NEW CREATION

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)


New Creation from Pace Hartfield on Vimeo.

SING ALONG - or just worship by watching!
Holy Spirit hovering over the deep / Speak out the light and let it flood into me / Whisper the word that gave creation her form / I'm searching for a life that hasn't been there before / Speak light into the darkness / Breathe life into my lungs / Fill my soul as deep as the ocean / I'm reaching for your love / All that I can do is give it back to you / You've taken my old skin and made it new again / All that I can do is give it back to you / You've taken my old skin and made it new again / You have made me new , A new creation / All new, a new creation / Holy Spirit hovering over the deep / Bring out the colors that my heart's yet to see / The nights on fire for the warmth of your love / But every hour there's a risen sun / Speak light into the darkness / Breathe life into my lungs / Fill my soul as deep as the ocean / I'm reaching for your love / All that I can do is give it back to you / You've taken my old skin and made it new again / All that I can do is give it back to you / You've taken my old skin and made it new again / You have made me new , A new creation / All new, a new creation

What do you call yourself? and Why?

Read this article, tell me your thoughts. The article from newsweek is entitled, "A Christian by Any Other Name" http://tinyurl.com/bp8bde

What are you? and, Why are you what you say you are?

P.S. My thoughts are...

The reason I choose the term "Follow of Christ," is because many claim to be Christians by just belief, where as I attempt to follow Christ in all aspects of my life. It says in the Bible in James 2:19, that even the demons believe that there is a God. So my point is, belief alone although good, is not enough to be a Jesus Freak. Do you completely rely on Him, or do you only rely on him when it is convienent? Even the demons know that there is a God. The demons aren't serving God, are you?

Michael Tait (DC Talk) + Newsboys + ATF (Aquire the Fire) = great times!

Two of my favorite childhood bands DC Talk and the Newsboys have joined together with Teen Mania Ministries (which I also have ties with) to produce quite a worship experience on the Battle Cry tour. Teens lives are forever being changed in Christ's name! Looking forward to see this play out the rest of the year!

This is my friends piano rendition of "Dare You To Move" by Switchfoot. Here are his comments: "My Piano arrangement of "Dare You To Move" by Switchfoot. I did this by ear. Hope you like it, I don't know if my stuff will stand out from all the others on here, but I'm putting it up anyways. Please comment, question, suggest, share, or favorite my video!! God Bless!"

What an amazing talent, and God uses him in so many areas. I am so proud to have gottent to know him more on Chrysalis Boys Flight #16 at Inspiration Hills! Good stuff man, keep it coming!

Revelation Song, sung by Kari Jobe, is a powerful worship song from the album "Glorious" by Christ For the Nations Institute. Here are the lyrics to worship along. I pray that the Spirit of God meets you where you are right now!

Worthy is the,
Lamb who was slain
Holy, Holy, is He
Sing a new song, to Him who sits on
Heaven's Mercy Seat
[Repeat 2x]

(Chorus)
Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come
With all creation I sing:
Praise to the King of Kings!
You are my everything,
And I will adore You…!
Yeah!

Clothed in rainbows, of living color
Flashes of lightning, rolls of thunder
Blessing and honor, strength and
Glory and power be
To You the Only Wise King,
Yeah

(Chorus)
Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come, yeah
With all creation I sing:
Praise to the King of Kings!
You are my everything,
And – I - will - adore You!
Yeah!

Filled with wonder,
Awestruck wonder
At the mention of Your Name
Jesus, Your Name is Power
Breath, and Living Water
Such a marvelous mystery
Yeah...

(Chorus)
Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come, yeah
With all creation I sing:
Praise to the King of Kings!
You are my everything,
And – I - will - adore You!

Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come,
With all creation I sing:
Praise to the King of Kings!
You are my everything,
And – I - will - adore YOU…

(Chorus) (Repeat at a cappella)

Come up lift up His Name
To the King of Kings…
We will adore YOU Lord…
King of heaven and earth
King Jesus, King Jesus
Aleluya, aleluya, aleluya!
Majesty, awestruck Honor
And Power and Strength and Dominion
To You Lord,
To the King, to King
To the King of Glory

(Singer: Kari Jobe)

Iron Sharpens Iron

Proverbs 27:17 says, "Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another."

I am so excited that I finally got to meet with an awesome man of God today.

We have been trying to meet for about 3 weeks now, I believe that Satan was adamant that he did not want us to meet. Finally in God's timing we had our first meeting, and it was so refreshing to sit and listen to a grown man pour out his life in front of me (and I in front of him) and then we poured into each other!

We were able to pray with each other, encourage each other, and just be real with one another! Man to man, with our Awesome God present, that is when true sharpening happens. We have decided to read through Into the Depths of God by Calvin Miller and extraordinary book, I highly recommend it to anyone that wants to learn to Grow deeper in their faith in Christ, because it is in the depths of God is where we find the True Treasure!

Giving 150%

Giving 150%

Ever hear someone say they give 150% in everything they do? They say that hard work, intelligence and attitude will get them everything they want.

So what does it really mean to give 150%? Here’s a little math to help figure it out:

If:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Is represented as:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26.

Then

H-A-R-D-W-O-R- K
8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%

K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E
11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%

A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E
1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%

But there’s only one thing that will get you there:

J-E-S-U-S-C-H-R-I-S-T
10+5+19+21+19+3+8+18+9+19+20 = 151%

Jesus gave it all, in everything he did.

How much are you giving today?

“Jesus, thank you for showing us what it really takes to give it all. It is my only wish to strive to reflect your effort and sacrifice. Thanks for loving me 150% of the time. Amen.