newworship blog

The Best Things Fuel the Good Things

I realize this will sound obvious to most of you. But, I have really fallen short in this area. It's one thing to know what is the best thing to do. Yet, quite another to do it. Often the best things aren't fun or easy or attractive for some reason.

Here is one thing that is coming alive for me. Time with God. Don't get me wrong, I don't have issues with consistency in my quiet or reading scripture.

I am discovering there is a difference between doing your routine that is a good thing. I am learning, seeking wisdom, lifting up requests. But, what I haven't been doing is resting and lingering. Enjoying His presence. Enjoying the richness of that intimacy. Being still and listening for His voice. Being conscious of the presence of the Spirit.

For me this means having some music that helps me connect. It's having the scriptures open to a passage that is coming alive for me. It is quietly worshiping and raising my hands before God. It is writing down some things that are revealed to me in prayer. It is lingering and drinking in the goodness of His presence.

This is one of the best things that make the whole day work for me. It helps me get into an awareness of the Spirits presence with me throughout the day. That makes me better at EVERYTHING else. Everyone benefits. My kids, wife coworkers, team members. I feel as if I am fueled by the Spirit of God to live out His purposes.

I hope this doesn't sound self righteous or pious. It is just where I am at in the journey right now. I want to now what it means to be "in step with the Spirit." What does that look like?

Gal. 5:16-17 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.

Gal. 5:25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Sabbatical

So, my wife kicked me out the door for a week, by myself mind you, for a week in Colorado Springs with some friends. Given the season we have been in at the church I have been a little "frayed" lately.

I am basically an introvert. So, I need to be alone to get energized most of the time. That is tough to get when you have toddlers. Couple that with the most demanding ministry season of my life, and it all adds up. It is as close to burn out as I have ever been. Thank God for my wife recognizing it and having the generosity of spirit to demand I get some time alone with God.

Through some alone time and prayer with our friends at New Life Church, I had a pretty important re-calibration in my spirit.

Here are some highlights in what God is teaching me:

It is more important to lead out of brokenness than out of ambition.

What does it mean to be "in step" with the Spirit?

God is in to mind control.

The best things fuel the good things.

God gives back what you surrender to him.

Forgiveness is for YOU not for the forgive-ee. Lack of it will hold you back from what God has for you.

When we feel inadequate, God is in the business of filling in the gaps.

I can't change everything. But, I can change one thing at a time.

God's presence is what energizes.

Have you ever worked for a "Saul?" Am I of the order of Saul or of David?

God will give me the tools I need, when I need them.

My wife is a hero.

In the coming weeks I will try and unpack some of this stuff in case it is an encouragement to you. Thanks for reading.

Heb. 12:28-29 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”

My New CD "In All the Universe"

So after two years  this thing is finally out! What a gift from God! We released it at Westside this last weekend. And, it feels like a long promise fulfilled.
I am really happy with how it has come out. It is easily the best work I have done. It also sounds more like me than anything else I have done either. God is so good!

I'll tell you more of the story in future posts. If you want to hear song samples, you can go to the newly revamped newworship.com. All of the songs were written for corporate worship while I was still at Rolling Hills Covenant in Los Angeles.

Time: How Do I Balance It All

Rick Warren has, in his inmitably simple style, boiled down some great advice for all of us who struggle with getting the most out of our days. Some very helpful bullet points. Click here to read.

New CD

Hi All! I wanted to apologize for not posting as frequently as I would like. I have just begun tracking a new CD that will hopefully be out before Christmas. I would truly appreciatye your prayers for God's anointing on this project. I will continue to post as often as possible. So keep checking in!!

40: Beginnings and Transformations

OK, so my birthday was just the other day. I just turned the proverbial, big 4-0! Pretty exciting! Now lest you think this blog is a response to some kind of mid-life crisis, let me disuade your fears or disdane. I promise you that I am not going to go and buy a new Corvette. Nor am I going to take up any x-game sports in an effort to reclaim my mispent youth. I am saving those items for 70. For now I am relishing this little landmark in life.

40 years is a significant number in scripture. The children of Israel wandered the desert for 40 years. And most theologians divide up the life of Moses into 40 year segments. The first 40 as a prince of Egypt. The second 40 as a shepherd with the Midianites. And the last 40 as the one who would lead Israel out of captivity by the hand of God.

Now, I have no delusions of grandeur that I will be in any way comparable to Moses. That isn't the point. It seems that these 40 year markers were significant for Moses in that God was transitioning and transforming his identity from prince of a pagan culture, to the humility of a shepherd destined to live a nomadic life while tending his Father-in-Law's sheep, to the one who was ready to bear the mantle of leadership as God delivers His people out of bondage.

So what will this marker mean to me? Is God indeed transforming my identity in some way? I honestly don't know. I have viewed myself most of my life primarily as a student in the area of ministry. I have taken in a remarkable amount of information and been exposed to some of the best and brightest in my field. I have been quite a "consumer" if you will. But what I believe that God has laid on my heart is to make a shift in this time from being a consumer to more of a producer; from mostly student to mostly teacher, if that doesn't sound too pretentious.

WIth that, I will do my best to chronicle this part of the journey in a way that is interesting, honest and hopefully provocative. Psa. 19:14 "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer." My prayer is that God would continue to lead us all as we push on and explore what He has in mind for this next period in the history of His Church.

So that is what this is all about. I'm really not that freaked out about turning 40. Actually I think it's a pretty cool thing. Besides, isn't 40 really the NEW 30?