Worship Confessional, January 24, 2010

This post is part of Sunday Set List over on The Worship Community. Fred McKinnon has been sponsoring this Sunday blog carnival for over a year and half as worship leaders worldwide post their Sunday songs and worship orders.

Today ended the series "THE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH" and marks the last time in two weeks that I will be leading (DNOW (Disciple Now Weekend) is next weekend and the following week I'll be at RECREATE conference).

There were not as many technical glitches during the service, but the devil was in the sound system before (residing over by the drums and bass!). We finally got that worked out.

Ed spoke on The Church Alive--saying that a church that is dead to the flesh is alive in the spirit. Hmm... how many live dead churches are out there? All I know is worship at the end was awesome as I think they "got it" that praise is to be a hallmark of the church.Set List

Hosanna (Baloche)--one of our favorites. This is a great way to open the service.

Rising (Baloche)--I think that we've just about done all of the songs off the Greater Song album. This one has been on my radar for a while. I love the phrase "the people of God, in the power of God, for the kingdom of God"--that line just sticks with me everytime.

Welcome/Announcements/ Offering

Take My Life (Worship Choir)

Video Moment--Seeing (Floodgate Productions) We used a video from Floodgate production to transition from the choir to the next set. It worked really well.

Be Thou My Vision (Praise Charts)

Do It Lord (Walker) Third and last time for this song for a while... I think they've got it! Went well with our set out sight and seeing.

Morning Message--The Purpose of The Church (final sermon)

Our God Saves (Baloche)

How was your Sunday?

Toy Box Leadership

I scurried through Mardel late last night before they closed and found this book on the bargain table ($5!) and couldn't pass it up. I read and collect different resources on leadership--so I got it.

I'm only in the first few pages, but it's making sense. Leadership begins when we are young ( and who hasn't seen some stellar leadership potential on the playground lately!)

Think about--all that we are and know about our abilities and capabilities as leaders is put to an early test on the playground. Who will organize? Who will pick teams? Who will set the rules? Who will declare a winner? Who will referee? Who will call it quits and who will admonish those who aren't playing fair? See what I mean?

I've already confessed my love of Legos here on this blog, and wouldn't you know the first toy they talk about is LEGO! More on that later.

What are some of your favorite toys from childhood? What do they reveal about your leadership?

The Constitution and Freedom (Part 5- Conclusion)

This is the conclusion of the videos from Judge Napolitano. In fact, this is where we came in while watching TV one night and I gave us great discussion of "what America is and what it should be". I quickly told my oldest teens that they'd better pay attention to this--because when they vote in the future, they need to know where we came from and where we are suppose to be.

Have we surrendered to much to government or has it slowly slipped away because we don't know what America was founded on and what was meant to be our form of government. Don't get me wrong! America has done some outstanding things in the last 200 years as a group of collective individuals, but somehow, someway, we have given and inch and been taken for a mile in areas that were never expressed or intended to be the domain of the government.

I hope this has caused you to stop and think about America and what she should be in the future.

Prayer and Planning

One of the great things about my church is that they give the staff some specific time away for Prayer and Planning for their areas. I use this time to specifically plan for seasons of worship (Christmas, Easter, etc) and so I'll be doing that today and tomorrow.

I'm specifically working on the spring worship series and EASTER which includes our annual day of prayer on Maunday Thursday and Easter Services. It takes some time to get these services together and we try to make them creative and different each year.

So, if you try to catch me on these days--- I'll be talking to someone else. I always come away with a list full of things that have inspired me and a set of things that the Lord has given me. I can't wait to share them with you.

The Constitution and Freedom (Part 4)

Everything that you ever wanted to know about the Judiciary system in our country is here. The Courts were set up to interpret the laws of the land (in light of the constitution)--they were never meant to create the laws.

Things that make you wonder---"how did we ever get this far away from the ideals of American"

A Tragic Church Fire Begs The Question: Does The Church Go On With No Building

I was altered on Facebook yesterday afternoon that the First Baptist Temple (Tx) Worship Center and offices burned in an early morning fire. Fellow SWBTS grad Gary Anthony is their Minister of Music and it destroyed the music suite, the sanctuary and the offices. I can't imagine the mess that he's having to sift through.

At such times I have seen the church rise to it's highest potential. A church fire at a sister church across the street from ours in Sweetwater brought out the best in everyone as they hustled into other parts of the building to save books, tapes, tables and chairs. We sat for hours that day just marveling how the walls come down when tragedy hits.

Would your church go on if they had no building? What if tomorrow you had no place to "gather" or call home? Would you see the church rise to it's highest potential and say "we have no walls--for we are the church" That's right--the church isn't a building. The church is the people of God where the presence of the Holy spirit dwells right now. In all the churches in my city right now that sit dark and empty, God isn't there waiting for someone to come visit him. No, the church is scattered all across and ready for action at any moment. The church "building" is only a gathering station and as such is temporal.

So--what would you do. The newspaper in Temple said a poster left in the building untouched by the fire said "Greater things are yet to come". Maybe the hand writing is on the wall.

RT: Church Fire in Temple

Recollections of A Funeral

It's been a long day--a journey to Dallas and back for the funeral of a friend's mother. So--I've seen both sides of the clock today (the sun rising and the sun setting and in a few short hours the sun will rise again).

I guess today's like today make me realize how fast time is marching on and how little time we have to spend on the really important things in life. The tyranny of the urgent drowns out the important. Today made me realize that people, family and friends are important and that events only magnify and augment the memories of these things.

I told my girls tonight that I want this song sung at my funeral. It's my anthem and my cry. Enjoy!

The Constitution and Freedom (Part 3)

"The job of the President is to make sure that the people of the United States remain free!" Wow-now that will start a discussion in a current Civics class.

These videos really open up the questions--how did we come so far?

All Eyes Are On Massachusetts

Today's election in Massachusetts carries with it the same importance as those in the early days of our country. Will we stand up for liberty or for big government?

Which side wins will giving an indication of the direction of the United States in the coming months.

What do you think?

The Constitution and Freedom (Part 2)

Watch this video and listen to this phrase from the judge--"We are not surrounded by men who love liberty, but men who love power". Does that not describe the times in which we live?

Can you really look at the things that government is doing and say "this is liberty!" Or can you agree with the judge that we are surrounded by "those who seek and crave power?"

Things that make you wonder how far America has drifted. To be continued...

The Constitution and Freedom

I grew up with a Dad who taught American and World History in the public school, so I might be a little bias, but I think this video is the kind of thing that needs to be shown to our kids.

Diane and I plan to show this to our kids in successive evenings and talk to them about what America really means! They're not getting this information in classes and what they know about government is "biased" towards activism and social issues. If they knew what Government was "suppose" to do, then they would know what they're responsibilities are as they grow up (to take personal responsibility and care for their fellow man).

These are important lessons that I think my kids need to learn. If you haven't watched these videos, do so this week. It will put in perspective how far we've drifted from the founding fathers and what they wanted America to really be.

Rising (Paul Baloche)

I'm excited to do this song next Sunday (it's been on my "to do" list for a while). I think it goes along great with our series on THE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH.

I especially love the line "the people of God, in the power of God, for the Kingdom of God" What more needs to be said about the church.

Worship Confessional, January 17, 2010

This post is part of Sunday Set Lists over on The Worship Community where you can see what other churches did today in Worship.

Today was a challenge... technically! It was just a plethora of things that you can never anticipate. I haven't had one of these days in a long time and in the midst of it you want to scream. On the back side of it you just want to learn what went wrong and correct it from ever happening again.

Set List:

Your Grace Is Enough (Maher). We love this song.. we really do, but right from the beginning I could tell something was wrong. Turns out that the Key correction we made in rehearsal was reversed (we had it printed in A, but I wanted it in G--but we went back to A, but played it in G) Train wreck with the trax! I didn't know what happened until the break in the songs. People just were looking at me like Deers into the headlines. I felt like a cheerleader leading a new cheer.

Awesome Is The Lord (Tomlin) We got back on track on this one (Literally, the trax worked on this one)

Welcome/Announcements/ Prayer Focus on Haiti and the Americas)

Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) Worship Choir

Do It Lord (Tommy Walker) Second week on this songs... I love it and the Praise team and choir love it...may take a while for the congregation to really own it.

You Are My King (Foote)---old standby that made us feel comfortable again.

Message--The Purpose of The Church

This is the second week that we've had Battery issues on Ed's mic. Last week it was dead and this week it was dying (clip, clip, clip). I had to sneak up in his prayer and take is module away and give him my mic. Nothing like a short bald man sneaking up on the pastor during his prayer. Anyway--frustrating! My new mantra is EVERY BATTERY EVERY WEEK from now on. It's just got to become part of our discipline.

How Great Is Our God (Tomlin)--enough said!

Introduction of New Members!

So--how was your Sunday?

Pants On The Ground

This song was made famous last night on American Idol. I'm sure that it won't be the last time we hear it (in fact look for it to come back at the American Idol finals in May and a record deal is probably in the works)

However, this artist has accurately portrayed something that we've all commented on and wondered why? Why do those kids wear their shorts down to their knees? Do they really think it's fashionable? What message are they sending ( just ask my wife what she heard that the message means in the prison system)

Maybe General Larry Pratt has used his art to call attention to something in our culture that we need to examine (and exterminate!)and to ask "Why are your pants on the ground?"

411Fit.com---My online food journal

Overall Grade A- Very Good
Why Did I Get This Grade?
Your overall grade is based on contributions from the following:
40% of your grade is from today's nutrition. Grade : B+ why?
40% of your grade is from this week's exercise. Grade : A+ why?
20% of your grade is from your overall progress. Grade : B+ why?

Since August I have been journaling every bit of food and drink that have come into my mouth. It's been a daunting task, but now I have the hang of it and I look forward to seeing how my day panned out and where I made good and bad choices along the way. I would recommend 411fit to anyone trying to get in shape and get a hold of their health and eating habits. It is extremely easy to use and counts not only your nutritional values, but you can keep track of your exercise here too.

It's true what they say--knowledge is power and when you see where you are spending your nutritional points, you know why you are stuck in the ditch or moving down the highway. Give this site a try and see if it helps you. It did (and does) me!

You Can Think It... Just Don't Say It

I am watching this video of Pat Robertson from today's broadcast, and honestly I don't know what to say. Is this something that really needs to be said in a moment like this when we see such suffering in Haiti? Come on Pat, think before you speak. This wins you no friends nor does it extend the cause of Christ!

How about the incredible stories of missionaries and mission teams being on the scene already to render aid. Doctors that normally wouldn't be there were there at the moment's notice. I was in awe today as I listened to story after story of these people already there and in place giving aid and comfort in Jesus' name. Could that not have been the highlight of Robertson's story. Guess not!

Just goes to show my Momma was right. You can think it, but you'd be better off not saying it.

It's The People's Seat

This man has it right--no man (regardless of fortune or lineage, education or status) is entitled in America to a seat in Congress. We don't live in England where the House of Lords is passed through the generations to the next heir. This man (vying to be the next Senator from Massachusetts) has the correct vision. IT IS THE PEOPLE WHO GIVE POWER TO CONGRESS...not the other way around. Pass this along--this message is infectious!

This Is One Musical I Won't See

I love the theater, I really do, but does this musical really constitute anything of artistic value or is it purely political? (or opportunistic). My feeling is that it will make it to Broadway at some point and sometime in the future I'll be watching the Tony awards and it will get some prize. I'll just shake my head.

What do you think?

Unhooking Your Hopes and Dreams

I was listening to this podcast this morning by my friend Pete Wilson. I'm a little behind in my podcast listening (this was his Christmas series) as my Powerbook has been out of commission and my ipod was initialized on my Mac--so I didn't want to reformat it in PC. I waited and it was worth it.

Somewhere around mile 2 this morning, Pete whispered in my ear (via the podcast) that sometimes "God will dissolve your dreams so that you can hook your hope to Him and not the dream." (I think I got that right Pete, if not correct me). Wow! Can I tell you that in the deep dark of the morning when you are running and a truth comes to you like that, it is overpowering. I think it gave me something to chew on for the next 2-3 miles as I really pondered what that meant in my life.

I was having a conversation the other day with someone who knows my dreams. They asked "So, how is that going? Do you think it will happen?" Thinking back to that conversation and this teaching today, I don't know. When asked that question the other day for the first time I really couldn't articulate what the dream is right now. That scared me that I might have given up on it, but maybe Pete's teaching this morning (Thank You Holy Spirit) means that I have unhooked the dream from my hopes and expectations and I've linked it to God's will, whatever that may be or look like in my life.

Give me some help here if you can. Can you clarify for me what that means to unhook your dreams and hopes? Have you done this? Have you ever come back to the dream?

Everyone Can Be A Speilberg!

This video was shot entirely with a Nokia cell phone! Amazing. Look at the video and then the still shots to see his set up. Thanks Brook Sarver for mentioning this. Now where's my cell phone! Oh, yeah, it's not that good

.

Elio from Rob Diaz on Vimeo.

Worship Confessional, January 10, 2010

This post is part of Sunday Set List over on Fred McKinnon's blog

This is the second week of THE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH. All of this is very important to us as a church while we are working towards the calling of our new Pastor in 2010.

Set List

BRETHREN WE HAVE MET TO WORSHIP (G3 Worship)--Standard hymn for us, but felt it was the right one as we learned last week that the church on Sunday morning is the CHURCH GATHERED and when we leave, we are the CHURCH SCATTERED

MADE TO WORSHIP (Praise Charts)---long time since we did this one. It was good to revisit it and it went to the heart of the message today.

Welcome/Announcements/ MISSION FOCUS TODAY (AFRICA)

Offertory Music-Judy Brown

DO IT LORD (Tommy Walker) I heard this song last Spring on Travis Cottrell's album and then again this summer on Tommy Walker's album at National Worship Leader conference. It has become a regular on my ipod and has become the prayer I pray for my church as I run. It's so prophetic.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY (Hymn Charts)

Morning Message--THE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH (Ed Ethridge)

Response---just the chorus of TO GOD BE THE GLORY

Out--- DO IT LORD (3rd verse "I see the church rising up in power....)

How was your Sunday?

Changing Your Style

I'm trying to change my running style. Having just finished the book BORN TO RUN, I'm interested in the POSE method of running which is more natural, and increases your endurance and running speed.

However, I've formed some very bad habits in my running and it's hard to change your style. I find that when I'm not thinking about it I lax back into my own style which has more heel action too it (as I notice in my worn out heels on my shoes).

So--I may have to slow down a bit to learn a new style. Anyone want to video me?

Life Lessons From The Longhorns--Succession Planning

Surely if there is anything to be learned from the big game last night it was BE PREPARED FOR ANYTHING. No one could have predicted the situation with Colt Mc Coy's injury, but you have to think: Was there no preparation if McCoy goes out? Was there ever a game plan minus McCoy?

This brought up a thought on FACEBOOK that just like the Texas team, organizations never envision the day when they will be without their leader, but it happens. No one is irreplaceable.

Leaders do leave organizations and it is imperative that both the leader and the organization be prepared for this. The leader must prepare those around him for the day that he (she) will no longer be there. The leader who keeps it all to himself (leadership and influence) and doesn't give it away does not help the organization thrive in his absence. Leadership must be shared.

The organization must have a plan in case the leader is not there. There must be one of those "break the glass in case of emergency" plans somewhere for the organization to continue to thrive in the absence of a leader. Organizations can survive without a leader, but not without a plan.

So what were the lessons that you learned from the game?

Succession Planning in Organizations

Texas Puts All Its Eggs In McCoy's Basket

The Eyes of Texas Are Upon Pasedena

Even though I'm a Red Raider, tonight I'll put my Longhorn cap on and cheer for the boys of Austin to bring home another championship. Unfortunately we won't be with our good friends, the Grays, tonight like we were in 2006...but we'll get by.

Hook'em Horns!

America Rising

If this isn't a campaign ad later this year, I'll be surprised. Wow! You gotta watch this one.

Leadership Heroes: Pat Lencioni

One of the things that I want to focus more on in 2010 is Leadership. There was a period of time where I soaked up every bit of leadership information, training, books, videos etc that I could get my hands on. I let that slip for a time because I doubted my leadership ability and skills.

I'm revisiting some of the resources for Leadership that I've collected and I've come across the talks from Pat Lencioni at the Willow Creek Leadership Summit from 2003 and 2006. Both of these were a pivotal moments in my leadership journey.

He is the author of 5 Dysfunctions of a Team and also Silos, Politics and Turf Wars. I'm going to be sharing on Staff retreat this weekend about the latter book and setting a Thematic Goal (short term) for us. I think we need that. I need that--something to shoot for in this interim period.

Enjoy the video. It's only a slice of his talks. I'd be willing to let you look at them (but you'd better give them back!)

I'm a PC and I'm A Mac---The great transition

We're making a big jump in the office.. We're going Mac!

Actually, I've gone MAC as of last week and have been working the bugs out on the change over from PC to MAC. It's been an adventure trying to figure out what goes and what stays. In reality, it's time for some of these PC programs to all go away.

Spent today setting up new protocols for my routines with MAC. Once they are set in place I believe I'll be flying faster on the MAC side.

Come join the dark side with me! MAC forever!

Run The Mile You're In

There are many things that I'm learning as I run. One of them came from an online running friend who was encouraging me in my apprehension about running the full 13 miles for the Half-Marathon in February. Somehow the whole 13 thing has me kinda nervous.

The advice given to me today was "run the mile you are in". I had to think about that for a moment and then it hit me how simple and profound this was and so applicable to life.

You see when I start to run, I envision the whole course from beginning to end and try to see myself ending the race. Many times I get discouraged about midway through because I've lost the vision of what the finish will look like. However, I tried this advice today and only focused on the mile that I was in at the moment and not the conclusion.

Immediately I relaxed and ran a faster pace that I did Saturday at the 10K. But the larger lesson was that we should relax and run the mile that we're in each and every day of our lives. We get so far ahead of ourselves that I'm certain that we psyche ourselves out of much of our productivity in life. And face it, life is getting faster and faster. This is just one way to enjoy and savor every moment.

So--just some wisdom from the streets. How are you "running the mile you are in" right now?

My New Running Buddy

So my new year of running began yesterday with a twist. About half a block down from my house as I began I heard barking. Let me back up and say that I searched all over the house for my ipod from Saturday's run, but couldn't find it. I was frustrated until something told me not to worry about it. (That usually means God has something to talk to me about on my run)

This barking became louder and louder and I thought maybe I was hearing the dog behind a fence. Out comes this mix (Shepherd/Sheep) who was just a puppy. If I've learned anything in these months of running, it's to just ignore the dogs and go on. It was my hope that he would leave me by the end of the block. No doing.

He followed me to the end of Houston, then on the 37th and by the time I got to the Admin. building I knew he was in it for the long haul. The dog followed me the whole way for the 4 miles. There were a couple of times I had to scream at him to get out of the road because he was going to get hit.

At the end he was happy and jumping and way ahead of me, not really paying much attention to what I was doing.

I finally led him back to my house and neighborhood. He had tags and a collar on, but I couldn't get close enough to see it. I told him " Go home now, thanks for the run."

Needless to say, I enjoyed the day with him (but I was worried about him getting hit the whole time I was out there) and I didn't run until the end because I was afraid that he would think I was running away from him.

Lesson learned: When walking with God, don't get so far ahead of him that you can't hear his voice and concern ( a big problem that I have) and don't get so distracted that you can't see the danger. I guess God had a purpose and plan for me not to have my Ipod and to enjoy the company of my new running buddy.

I hope he's sleeping in this morning.

Worship Confessional, January 3, 2010

A New year, a new set of confessionals

Today were in ONE service for the Holiday season. Next Sunday we go back to two worship services.

We began a new series today: THE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH. Ed will be talking the next 4 Sundays out of Acts 2 about the purpose of the church. It was really good today. The statement that stood out to me was " a truly healthy church will breed evangelism" I thought that was a great statement because so many times churches focus on evangelism to fix their health. Churches really need to take a hard look at their habits, their dysfunctions and their relationships!

Set List

Scripture Reading-from Psalm 137 (The Message) "Great Is The Lord"

Great In Power (Fragar)-Praise Charts-- One of my favorite Hillsong songs...but it's not well known. We need to to this one more often.

Great Is The Lord (Smith)-Praise Charts David did a trax to this one that would have made MWS proud (complete with the ending)

Welcome/Announcements/ World Missions Moment (Operation World)--This week's focus THE WORLD. We are focusing on a different country each Sunday this year (to keep missions before our folks. We'll be doing interviews with missionaries (via skype, video and in person) and really making the focus of missions (praying, giving, going) all year long. I made contact with a missionary in the service this morning about Spain (he was on my to-do list this week). I'm excited to see how this energizes our missions efforts. We'll also utilize the Operation World web site.

Indescribable (Story)-- always a great song. This one would have been even better if I hadn't looked up and taken the CODA instead of the 2nd ending... it was a momentary boo-boo but those chords in that section are so "different"--oh well! I'm starting the new year off with true confessions!

Wonderful Maker (Tomlin)--- one of my favorite songs...we did this simple this morning

Great Is Thy Faithfulness (Lincoln Brewster arr.)--- a great hymn!

Morning Message (The Purpose Of The Church)--Ed Ethridge

I Surrender All ( Hymncharts arr.)

How was your Sunday?

This post is part of Sunday Set List over on Fred McKinnon's blog

Death To The Bowl Championship Series!

I had a lot of time to think (driving 2 plus hours in each direction to our run) and as I thought about the Bowl Championship Series, I got mad.

These Bowls use to mean something. First of all a birth in said bowl (Cotton for example in the old SWC) meant that you were the best of your group. Now--it's all for naught. None of these bowls mean anything anymore,(except money to the networks and to the schools who have the scam going)

I'm all for a playoff system in college football. Can you imagine if they did this in Basketball? Let'll all go to different tournaments then claim a championship and you'd have rioting in the street.

When is this all gonna make sense to those in charge? Maybe never because all they see is the $$$ in their eyes and in their bank account. There is truly no NATIONAL CHAMPION in football. You have a purchased championship--paid for by the companies and fans who still follow blindly!

Resolution Run--Game On!

So Daniel and I headed out early this morning to Monahans (about 30 minutes West of Midland) for a Resolution 10K Run through the Sandhills State Park.

This is our 2nd 10 K together and our 4th race. I'll post the results and some pics when I get back home.

Now--on to Cowtown Half-Marathon in February!

Update: Daniel got 1st in his division (11-19) with a time of 53:57

I got--nothing. I was :15 off my 10K time from November. I came in at 1:02:37

But we had fun!

A Bowl Game Half-Time

Now this is what a Bowl Game half-time performance should look like. I watched yesterday's Rose Bowl where they gave each Band less than 2 minutes to play and show what they've got. Seems like some producer would have least have watched the rehearsals to pick out the best 2 minutes, but no it was "let's swing the camera in and give them their two minutes regardless of where it enters and exits". Awful!

The half times of college games are some of the best exhibitions of marching music today, but we have to suffer through drama and analysis of ESPN commentators and broadcasters. I say bring back the band and let half time be the focus again!

Rose Bowl Parade--Someday

We say it every year "we're going to the Rose Bowl Parade!" And every year about this time we say, we didn't get there this year, but we will some day.

It's on my do list--some of those things you want to do before you check in to the heavenly hotel. Also on that list is New Year's Eve in NYC!

I'll keep hoping and dreaming. Maybe when the kids are gone--who am I kidding? They'll never be gone

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Just Another New Year's Eve

Don't look so sad,
It's not so bad you know.
It's just another night,
That's all it is, it's not the first,
It's not the worst you know,
We've come through all the rest,
We'll get through this.
We've made mistakes,
But we've made good friends too.
Remember all the nights we spent with them?
And all our plans,
Who says they can't come true?
Tonight's another chance to start again.
It's just another New Year's Eve,
Another night like all the rest.
It's just another New Year's Eve,
Let's make it the best.
It's just another New Year's Eve,
It's just another Auld Lang Syne,
But when we're through this New Year
You'll see, will be
Just fine.
We're not alone, we've got the world you know.
And it won't let us down, just wait and see.
And we'll grow old, but think how wise we'll grow.
There's more you know, it's only New Year's Eve.
It's just another New Year's Eve,
Another night like all the rest.
It's just another New Year's Eve,
Let's make it the best.
It's just another New Year's Eve,
It's just another Auld Lang Syne,
But when we're through this New Year, you'll see, will be
Just fine.

Just another New Year's eve...sitting here looking back and looking forward to what is yet to come. I spent some time this afternoon looking back over the year and honestly there are parts of 2009 that I would do over and over again, and conversely there are parts that I'm glad only came once during this year.

What will 2010 hold? Only the good Lord knows and I'm ok with that. I'll just trust him to get me through, around, or over whatever is coming my way.

Happy New Year~

Going Home!

My girls were bored yesterday when we were back at my boyhood home for family Christmas. They are of the age now when they can drive around town and so they went on a picture chase.

I just love this picture! Mattie is standing in front of my boyhood home (609 7th Street). Mom sold the house in 2003 but we can't help drive by it each time we're home and tell the story of how 7 of us piled into and lived in this 1300 sq foot home. I'm still amazed that we did that.

The home has been refurbished and sold twice since Mom let go of it, but it will never measure up in the memory area to the occupants who lived here for 36 years!

Mom always said "Wear clean underwear!"

My mom used to always tell me "wear clean underwear, in case you are in an accident. That way when you go to the emergency room you won't be embarrased."

Wisdom, huh? Wonder if the bomber from the NWA flight from Christmas day took the same advice from his mom? How would you like to have your undergarments pasted across the web and ABC news?

It'll make ya think before you go out again!

Resolution Run

It's not even Jan. 1 yet, but I've signed up for this Saturday's Resolution Run at the Sandhills State Park in Monahans. I sure hope that the wind ain't a blowin'.

Here's a video that gives you an idea of the terrain. Daniel is running it too. We'll see if he can keep his record (of winning something in every race that he has entered).

I'm inspired by BORN TO RUN and ready to get out there and get going in 2010. You'll see quotes from this book from me in 2010. It has revolutionized my thinking on running

Happy Birthday To Me!

It's my birthday! Yippee! I'm 46 today (ok, now I'm not saying Yipee!!)

This is me and my twin brother, Jon. We're spending the day together with he and his family and the rest of my immediate family.

It's funny being 46--I still remember being 6! My how time flies.

Oh well, Happy Birthday to me!

Worship Confessional, December 27, 2009

This is a Worship Confessional for December 27, 2009--but I didn't lead it . I was on vacation and celebrating my birthday!

Set List

Scripture Reading (Responsive)

O Come All Ye Faithful (Tomlin)

Welcome/Announcements

Video--A Prayer For The New Year (Worship House Media)

Offering (Baloche)--always a favorite!

Come and See (G3Worship)

Agnus Dei (G3 Worship)

Morning Message --Robbie Boyd

Hark The Herald (Tomlin)

Announcing New Members

Dismiss

This post is part of Sunday Set List over on Fred McKinnon's blog

Sign Me Up--Cowtown Half-Marathon Here I Come

One of the ways I've stayed motivated in my exercise program is to set goals and events to shoot for. I planned for the White Buffalo 5K in October, the Turkey Trot in Fort Worth in November, and today, I signed up for the COWTOWN MARATHON (half) in February. I did it and I'm committed to 13.1 miles in 2010.

This is a huge accomplishment given that the last time I ran in the Cowtown in 2003 I was trying a 10k and I swore then I would never do anything like this again. Well, here's to eating those words.

I'm on track to do it---keep me motivated folks!

Christmas--This Time Won't Last

It became real to me last night that our Christmas celebrations are changing (or will quickly be doing so). The kids have all grown up and in the past I've noticed that the older ones didn't have much in common with the younger ones.

However, last night as the adults gathered around the table I noticed that all of the kids had gathered around the center island of the kitchen and were carrying on and laughing. Later on when the conversation flipped and the adults were at the island, the kids took over the table and the desserts.

I told the kids today to enjoy these days. The time is coming (very quickly) when it will be hard for 5 families to get together and spend Christmas Day together. There will be additions to the family with new sons and daughters in law and invariably there will be absences with some (even this year we were missing some) and so Christmas is changing. Makes me sad, but also is a reality check to enjoy the day and the moments that you have with these family members.

I look forward to the day when my kids come home with their families for Christmas (not yet!) and we'll make our own Christmas memories. But for now, this is Christmas in my family.

How was your Christmas?

Nothing As Exciting As This Happened At Our Christmas Eve Service

Pope Benedict was tackeld in the Nave of St. Peter's today on his way to the altar.

Nothing as exciting as this happened at our Christmas eve service? Did yours?

Worship Confessional, Christmas Eve 2009

Here is our list from Christmas eve tonight. We had a white Christmas with about 2-3 inches of snow!

Never underestimate what a little snow can do. We've had electricity brown outs beginning about 2 AM this morning (which by the way knocked the server down at the church and thus disconnected the Media Shout from the server! So--we had to recreate the service at 4PM--Yikes) All sorts of other technical issues that I wish hadn't happened--but they do. I thought this year was going to be stress free--but I walked out and my heart was racing about 120-125 a minute!) Missing several from our program (calls all afternoon from people that were scheduled but couldn't come). I felt like a one man band or Honey Ray Futrelle (the character from Christmas Belles)--"Wise man down, Wise man down! I'm going on!"

Set List:

O Come All Ye Faithful (Pre service)

Video: Four Words

Angels We Have Heard On High (Tomlin arr.)

Welcome

Hark The Herald (Travis Cottrell)

In The First Light (Travis Cottrell)

Advent Reading (The Christ Candle)

Carol Medley (Hymn Charts)

O Little Town
What Child Is This
Away In A Manger
Silent Night

Message (Robbie Boyd)

Lord's Supper

O Holy Night (Tomlin)

Dismiss

My Soul Magnifies The Lord (Tomlin)

I'm Dreaming of A White Christmas

We awoke to a 2-3" dusting of snow this morning. It really put us in the Christmas mood.

Here in West Texas it is not unusual to have snow at Christmas, but it only comes in cycles (I guess we are in an El Nino year) when the Jet stream dips to the south.

It's melting pretty good here this afternoon, so the only memory of it will be in the grasses by this evening. Anyway, it was a nice Christmas surprise.

Bah Humbug!! Senate Gives Us Scrooge For Christmas

In what can only be described as a "typical" act of Congress, the Senate met early this morning in Washington DC to deliver to America a gift that it didn't ask for (or did it?) when it passed the Health Care reform bill that was only released last Saturday.

Never in all of my years have I seen a bill so fast tracked and shoved down the throats of the American people. The very thing that Democrats cry foul on when they are not in power is the same thing or worse that they do when they are in power. My mantra has been and will be--throw all of Congress out and start over.

I heard on the radio yesterday that Congress has lost the understanding that they serve the people and not vice versa. Here's hoping that in 2010 the message to Congress is delivered in the polls with swift retrobution for what they have done to the United States of America.

God help us everyone! I know it's "God bless us everyone, but girl this is the United States and we need all the help we can get" (these last words were lines from our play Christmas Belles, but I thought they applied here)

Bah humbug!!!!

Top 10 Songs For 2009--FBC Snyder

So, it's that time of the year again where you look back at what you planned and what actually happened. Yesterday (20th) was the last Sunday in 2009 I'll lead (I'm off for my birthday next week).

It's interesting to look back at the list of songs that you planned. So many of them were given to us to use in a season that we had no idea that we would be going through (loss of Senior Pastor and staff) and looking back at this list makes me thankful that the Lord gives the songs in those seasons.

Here they are. Let me know which one was your favorite.

#10 I Will Sing of My Redeemer (You Set Me Free) (Travis Cottrell) We love the combination of the old hymn and a new chorus. This one was a winner!

#9 How Great Thou Art (Baloche) This arrangement is fresh and new. We still love HGTA!

#8 Here I Am To Worship--still a favorite

#7 Grace Greater Than Our Sin (Rich Smith) My friend Rich has done a great "Calypso"type of arrangement of this old hymn. Our congregation loves it and sings it loud.

#6 Today Is The Day

#5 To God Be The Glory (Rich Smith)

#4 The Stand

#3 Mighty To Save

#2 Jesus Saves (Travis Cottrell) A simple song that I heard back in February at Recreate would magically spark the true meaning of Christmas --way back in October when I introduced it. It all made sense yesterday when member of the church came up to me with tears in her eyes. She said " Of all the songs this year, this one is my favorite!"

#1 Big Enough God (Jenny Riddle) A song simply chosen for a series in Jonah would lead us in a time of transition and confusion. Thanks Jenny for these amazing words.

What were your top songs in 2009?

Here we go again....

I've signed on to direct another play at The Ritz Community Theatre here in Snyder. EXIT THE KING will be Feb. 12-14 and Feb. 19-21.

You can read a little more about the play here and you can watch a little of the You Tube version here.

Auditions are Tuesday night in the Ritz Annex (just behind the theater).

It's gonna be a wild ride! Can't wait to start with a group of artists on this journey!

Worship Confessional, December 20, 2009

Christmas is slowly winding down. All that's left now is Christmas eve.

I love Christmas--I truly do, but at some point in a Minister of Music's life you have lived with Christmas since June and you get a little tired of it. I'm almost there. It's a shame at the pinnacle of the season I'm ready to move on to something else. I guess that is just the spoils of being a leader. You know what is coming ahead and by the time everyone else experiences it, you are already past that moment. Maybe when I retire I can really really enjoy Christmas, and Easter.. in their seasons.

Set List

In The First Light (Travis Cottrell Arr.) This little three set book from Brentwood Benson has been a challenge. The orchestrations are tough to get a hold of but the choir has handled it well. We've combined the Worship Choir/Sr. Adult Choir for this season. Just Christmas eve left and we'll be back to normal. Good job choir!

The Glorious Impossible (Carl Cartee) Last time for this song. It's been a great song for the season. Just good theology here!

Welcome/Announcements/Offering (our missionaries from Guatemala were home and presented the church with a plaque from the orphanage in Guatemala that they work with)

Emmanuel (Hallowed Manger) Tomlin song which has been our theme for Advent.

O Holy Night (Tomlin arr)--did the Tomlin arrangement. I think it went well. (Kim Bontrager--no legging arrangement here!)

Advent Reading (Candle of Peace)

Winter Snow (Audrey Assad) I've been looking forward to doing this song. Sarah did a great job on this one and I think that it fit with the theme of PEACE

Morning Message--Conclusion of the Christmas Is series. Ed has done a great job with the series explaining the meaning of Christmas, and it's more than just shepherds and wisemen and gifts!

Hark The Herald (Tomlin arr) such a simple way to close the service today

(and at that point my in ear monitors died and I knew we were done)

This post is part of Sunday Set List over on Fred McKinnon's blog

How was your Sunday?

Lottie Moon--Do You Help Her?

At this time of the year in every Southern Baptist Church , there is an emphasis on the Lottie Moon Christmas offering. This is the annual time of the year when SBC churches focus on Foreign Missions (Global efforts outside the US) and this offering funds the entire International Mission Board efforts around the globe. It's all named for a tiny lady missionary Charlotte (Lottie) Diggs Moon.

We show videos for Lottie Moon each year. This church decided to do it's own--maybe I should have shown this one last week instead of the 'snoozer' that I chose from the IMB. I don't know--calling Lottie a "hottie" might now have gone over well. But, give these guys a for effort and creativity in trying to teach their students about Lottie.

The joke in circles is "we've been paying for Lottie for years, haven't we paid her off by now" (that's an actual joke). Our church will give 38% of it's Partnership Offering to Lottie this year. That's the single biggest mission gift we give. And it's worth it.

Worship Confessional, December 13, 2009

Another crazy week, and here I am just now posting this confessional. The play is over, so things should slow down around here. No, wait, here comes Christmas! It never stops.

This week was a challenge, but we made it. Several of our regulars were out (sound, instrumental, etc).

Set List:

Hark The Herald (Travis Cottrell) Worship Choir/Sr. Adult Choir

Angels We Have Heard On High (Tomlin)--No tracks this week so we were kinda thin in sound.

The Glorious Impossible (Cartee) I think they like this one

Open The Eyes of My Heart (Baloche) This one just seem to flow out of Glorious Impossible--and in the same key of E!

Welcome/Announcements/ Offering

Missions Video---We support Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and I love to show these videos--but this one seemed a little dry and out of place

Born That We May Have Life-(Tomlin) This one started out rough...my mic died during the video and we had to make a quick adjustment. We had to start over--just have to do that sometimes.

O Come All Ye Faithful

My Soul Magnifies The Lord (Tomlin)---had wanted to introduce this one earlier in the season, but it got cut the previous two weeks. I thought them the chorus first and then we sang

Advent Reading (The Candle of Joy)

Jesus Saves (Cottrell)---did this one a little more subdued and accoustic. I think they like this one too. Worked well since Ed's sermon was basically a salvation message.

Message: Christmas Is... The Suffering Savior

Jesus Paid It All (Hymn)---change up at the last minute--just went back to this old hymn as we closed out because it fit.

It was a good day. One of the cast members from our play made a profession of faith. What a great way to head to the theater for the last performance. That's the whole reason we are over at the theater--to meet and reach people!

How was your Sunday?

This blog is part of Sunday Set Lists over on Fred McKinnon's blog.

CHRISTMAS BELLES--Cast Photo

Here's the cast photo from CHRISTMAS BELLES! I think it's the best!

Only three shows left--Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Call the Ritz to make your reservations! (573-8880)

We're planning to do the follow up of this play in the Spring.

Worship Confessional, December 6, 2009

It has been a crazy week with the opening of Christmas Belles at The Ritz, Annual Meeting and other things. I'm just now coming up for air enough to write this post. I had intended to write it early, but a 4 AM wake up on Sunday morning with things to get done for the day kept me from it.

Have you ever had one of those Sundays where you just wanted to skip. The music was going to be a challenge not to mention the schedule of the day (event backed up to event). This was my Sunday. We were doing some pretty challenging stuff Sunday and I knew we were going to have to work at it. We struggled through rehearsal with some issues and I just wanted it to be noon and be done. But something in my soul reminded me that on days like this, this is when the Lord shows off. We concluded the rehearsal with a prayer time submitting all of this to God. It worked.

I've heard from people all week long how the worship service blessed them. I just give the Lord the credit for it all. Just when we think we can't--He can!

Set List:

Ring The Bells (Ronnie Freeman) This one is off of the Travis Cottrell Christmas album last year. David did a killer backing track, we added 4 handbells on the chorus and we were off! Worked well

Come Thou Long Expected Jesus (Accapella) We did the version from "GLORY IN THE HIGHEST"---again, worked well

Advent Reading--Candle of Love

O Come, O Come Emmanuel (from Ring The Bells Album) This exciting version from Travis Cottrell's Christmas album. We combined the Worship Choir and Sr. Adult Choir for this.

Joy To The World (Unspeakable Joy)---Tomlin's song is exciting. We had to lower the key to get in the chorus (and we still might have to lower it again) But it worked well.

Welcome/Announcements

Offering

Video for Lottie Moon (Foreign Missions Offering)

The Glorious Impossible (Carl Cartee)--Second week for this song. People are beginning to like it

Emmanuel (Hallowed Manger)--Tomlin song again this week. Again, I think they're catching on to it.

Emmanuel (Bob Mc Gee)---Threw in the old chorus of EMMANUEL--it just seemed to fit!

Morning Message--Ed Ethridge (Christmas Is....)

Jesus Saves (Travis Cottrell)----This was the odd one for me... it's just a power song, it seemed kind of out of place at the end. We've done it a lot lately so maybe it has lost it's magic for me.

Dismiss

How was your Sunday?

This post is part of Sunday Set List over on Fred McKinnon's blog.