what scares you?

What scares you?

Nothing scares me more than late night Christianity.

Leading people down a road away from God “in the name of God” is what scares me the most.

It scares me because you can do all kinds of things and still be wrong.

In fact, you can be completely sincere and still end up in the wrong place.

How often do we miss out on what God is calling us to do because we are doing something else (that might be entirely missing the point)?

That’s my two cents.  (I think I want a catchy phrase to close out sayings like Sid Batts does on Murphy in the Morning – “Just a thought”)

100 days and counting

God has been good to Vickie and I.

As of today, we have been married for 100 days.
And coincidentally, today is also our one year anniversary since we started dating.

I know what you are thinking.  Short time of courting and engagement, right?

It was.  But we wanted it that way.  Why postpone what you know to be the right thing to do?

We are celebrating by going out on the town.  Alone.  It feels as if we haven’t been out on a date in a while.  I know, we are lame.  Or I guess I am lame, because I am supposed to plan the dates.

100 days and counting.  Exciting days are definitely ahead.

Oh, bonus for you readers -
Mike Reeve pointed out on Vickie’s facebook page that I wrote this comment on his blog on January 13, 2007*:
“I think it is great that God gives husbands wives who are just out of their league.  That is what I want.  I am reminded of a quote someone told me once.  “I have to seek after Him to get her.”  Although, I don’t want to seek God for a woman, I do want a wife who will make me stay connected to God in order to keep her.”

That quote is so revealing to how much God has molded me for this moment.  It is also cool because another close friend, Mike Astuto (who got married a couple of weeks ago), posted this comment on that same blog on the same day:
“Its been my prayer for a long time to find a wife that has such an undying love for me. My prayer that I would have such an adoring undying love for her… and stories like that help me to believe that this is possible. Im not sure why im so infatuated with being married. I think you hit the nail on the head when you said “ Every girl I have ever dated either got bored with me or I got bored with them.” I want to find someone that doesnt get bored with me, I think im pretty boring guy and if I could find a girl that never got bored with me, I think she would be acomplishing something pretty special. I often wonder why Gods love doesnt seem like its enough,  I just pray one day I can write a blog like that about my marriage with my wife.”

I am so glad that God truly gave me a woman who is far beyond any dreams that I ever had.

The ONE thing I have learned since being married:
Cherish your time with your wife and family.  Nothing else matters above that.  Nothing can ever replace it.

*Here is the link to that blog by Mike Reeve if you want to read it.

what to do when there is nothing else to do

These days are tough.

Not sure if it is me or not.

Not sure if it is true or I am simply thinking it is rough, when I am just a pansy.

What to do….

trust in God.

That’s all I am learning.

For now, I am trying hard to get into the Word a lot more, because I don’t have any idea of what else to do.

It is funny how that works.

In this moment, I am going to the Word last.  When it should be first?

I guess it is good that since all of my plans have run out and ended up worthless, I am now relying on God.

Proverbs 3:5

derek webb concert 9.30.09

On September 30*, Vickie and I went to the Derek Webb concert and I really enjoyed it. 

The environment was superb.  It is a new coffee shop/church which is a really cool idea. 

However, I didn’t enjoy the concert that much.  Here’s why:

1. Most of the people were standing.  There were not even chairs out.  I think that all concerts should give you a choice of what to do.  Don’t just force something on people.
2. Derek Webb played his set list straight from the cd.  This annoys the mess out of me because it takes no effort for me to put the cd in my cd player and play it straight through.  Change it up.
3. Derek Webb cusses.  In his new song, “What matters most”, he throws out a couple of cuss words.  Not sure how I feel about that.  I used to think it was a good thing because it gets you to think about how we care more about language than we do about people dying.  But after thinking about it more, not sure if his point will get across at all to some. 

But despite some of the above things I didn’t like.  I did like the fact that he told a funny story about people requesting the “Freebird” song by Lynyrd Skynyrd.  Also I believe that he did a great job of playing songs acoustically that people requested.  And finally, his new stuff is completely new and very much not like his other stuff.  This is a good thing to me because he is trying to push the envelope and get new ideas, both musically and lyrically, out there. 

* I know that this is like two weeks late.  Get over it.

more to come

The past few months have been wonderful.  Simply wonderful. 

My bride and I are truly learning more and more about each other.  And… I love it.  Hope she does too. 

Well, I have not written much on this blog because honestly, I haven’t felt like saying that much. 

In celebration of a possible return, here are some things I am excited about, in Chris’ words, “bullet style”:

• Seminary.  Honestly, in the past, I never liked school.  Right now, I am kind of enjoying it.  At least the readings that they are giving us in massive amounts.
• Marriage.  Yeah, every since I was little, I wanted to be married but for some reason, I never thought that that day would have come.  I am loving it very much.  It is hard at times (mainly because men are stupid, selfish jerks – Vickie’s words, not mine – ok, it is my phrase) but it is very much worth it. 
• Music.  God is putting me around a lot of great musicians and we are starting to develop some new things.  I am truly excited about it.
• Church.  I am helping a church plant again.  Well, actually I have two churches at the moment.  I am back at the Patio connecting.  And with 24/7 Church, leading worship in the beginning stages of a church pre-launch. 
• Vision.  God is truly been pouring into me about what I am called to do with my life.  A lot of these thoughts are in the beginning stages so I am not going to let the blogworld know, but be praying because there is a lot of hard work in the future to accomplish these dreams. 
• Responsibility.  Never before have I had so much responsibility. 
  Let me show you what I am talking about - 
  - leading a team to create a culture and atmosphere of worship
  -  volunteering at another church when I can
  - being a groomsmen in tons of weddings and playing music (sometimes simultaneously)4) being married to a beautiful and brilliant wife
  - having a dog that is ridiculously crazy and stubborn and also cute
  - making plans to possibly move into someplace better (be praying for us)
  - seminary with all of the heartaches and joy that that brings
  - starting to get back into music more than ever before (which consists of songwriting – just beginning stages, lessons – more coming around the corner, and simply playing new places and new stuff). 

All in all, my life is busier than it ever has been and I am loving it more and more everyday. 

Also, I am trying to get back into the writing game.  Thoughts are there, just not the motivation and energy because of the above things occupying my time.  I will keep you better informed from now on.

God brings the heat

I am learning that God loves to smack people in the face. 

Seriously, I truly mean this.  I know it is funny to think about a deity that would come down here just to pop you in the lip but there is truth to it. 

Have you ever had one of those moments where you have to be hit in order to see things clearly?  A moment where your life will not change unless you are struck with a new thought or a new way of thinking.

Yesterday, I got the smack beat out of me. 

You see, yesterday was not a good day for me.  It all started when I was getting ready to leave for seminary.  I couldn’t find my notebook which was desperately needed in that moment.  So I left without it and had to do a few handwritten assignments over again. 

Then, class was just dragging me down and my teacher reminded about an assignment due in the near future that I had not known about. 

Then, on the way home, my car (2004 Honda Civic=lovely and glorious vehicle) starts acting dumb.  The battery light goes on.  Then the valve-like light goes on.  Then I turn off all the electronics (no air and no radio – two things I must have at all times) to preserve the electrical energy.  Then all the electronics start flicking on and off, on and off, leaving me thriving in anger.  Then the car shuts off just inside the Greensboro city limits. 

Long story short, the wife and I are in a tight financial situation and a huge repair bill doesn’t help that.  God smacked me in the face. 

Now we have to figure out how to pay a $500 car bill, but for some reason, all this shifted our perspective.  We prayed and I feel fine.  I feel stupid because I wasn’t prepared for this, but honestly it will work out.  Not sure how.  But it will work out. 

All the above, simply to say: 
God smacking you in the face equals greater truth being internalized in your life.  A fist from God equals a new direction in you.  Because when God moves you, you can’t do anything but go in that direction.   

God brings the heat simply to mold you.

The Lost Symbol – Dan Brown

Do you ever find yourself captivated by someone’s ability to do what they do? 

That is my take on Dan Brown. 

I have always loved his books.  I have read almost all of them.  The only that remains is Digital Fortress.  He writes with such knowledge that it astounds you and he sure knows how to build up his suspense. 

Some thoughts on this book:
1) He writes short chapters.  4 or 5 pages.  I love that because he gets straight to the point.  Why can’t more books do that?  If they did that, books would be shorter and better. 
2) Where does he study all this material?  He can’t just make it up.  I don’t believe that was he is saying is always true, but come on, he is good. 
3) I love the fact that it takes place in Washington, D.C.  Vickie and I were talking the other day about how most good stories don’t take place over here in America.  Its always London or Egypt or something that I likely won’t get to visit.
4) I just might read Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons again. 
5) As I was progressively moving through this book, I couldn’t help but think, “slow down because it is almost over.”  That is what all writers should strive for.  It is my opinion that in order to do this, one must write less and leave one wanting more. 
6) What should I read now?

I joined the craze of what Dan Brown means to publishing shortly after the Da Vinci Code came out. 

Before the churches took over and sent millions to read his book because they were attacking it. 

Is it sometimes best to ignore rather than to send people to the store in fascination with the controversial writings he had going on? 

This book stars the same character from the Da Vinci Code and its predecessor, Angels & Demons.  Robert Langdon. 

This book is good.  Very, very good.  Might be better than the two above.  Not sure though. 

***Disclaimer:  I hate doing a review on a fiction book because I can’t write about the plot (because unlike some jerks, I don’t want to ruin a book) which is the whole point of the book.  So read it for yourself.  I loved it.

news for you

So have I got some news for you. 

Click here for the info.

being married = brand new car

Being married is like being the winner of brand new car.  

It truly is a gift from God.  

However, even though we received the gift freely, we must be focused on the (I hate this word, but nothing says it better) upkeep.  Or in better terms, the gift is free, the upkeep costs.  

We must constantly be focusing on how to maintain the love in our relationships.  Over the past month, I have been reminded more often than not of how I fail as a person.  I am learning just how truly sinful and selfish I am.  

I was having a conversation the other day with a friend about how marriage truly brings out the selfishness that we all have.  And just like my friend, I am learning that each and every time I do something that is not in her best interest.  Something that purely has my desires as the focus.  

The book Sacred Marriage points out that marriage is not about happiness but about holiness.  It is about obtaining whole-ness.  

But even though I am so glad to be where I am now, I never thought that this day would come.  Or at least, I thought that it would come a lot farther in my life, when I was forty or something.  But I am so fortunate and blessed to have such an amazing wife.  

And for that, 

I want to work as hard as I can to show her that I love her more and more each day.

links

Some links for today.  I know, I know.  What is up with all my link posts?  Honestly, I am not sure.  I am working on some stuff for you to enjoy but time is of the essence and I don’t have much at the moment. 

Be praying for me because I am going to lead worship with some close friends in Florida next week.  I am excited.  Posts to come. 

But for now, here are some links for you to enjoy:

1) Top 30 kid’s cartoon theme songs
2) Thoughts on writing songs from the Elevation worship team.
3) I saw this interview with John Piper and thought it was worth your time to read.  Once again, check it out here.  Also get a free copy of a new John Piper book (Finally Alive) here.
4) I try and keep track of some of my favorite questions that other people are asking themselves concerning their walk with Christ and their respective ministries.  After all, everyone of us needs to stay in check and examine their lives.  Perry Noble had some really good leadereship questions on his blog.  Check it out.  Part 1 here.  Part 2 here.
5) I have enjoyed the lessons that Mark Batterson learned on his family trip to Disney.  They are some great lessons.  Here they are.
6) Brad Lomenick is one of my favorite bloggers.  Here are his thoughts on gaining credibility as a young leader.