A Great Song

I have always been a sucker for music. From before I can remember I found a companion in music. There have always been songs that just jump out to me and actually help me to ‘make sense’ of my times – it has always been that way with me.

Just recently I was introduced to Jon Foreman’s solo ep’s. I began to listen to some of the songs, and was blown away by his ability to take the Scripture and sing it in ways that is impacting, real, and compelling. The songs were enjoyable to me at best, until I heard the song entitled ‘Cure for the Pain’. I was immediately captivated by this song, it spoke to me profoundly.

I will not tell you what I took away from it – rather, I urge you to listen and let it speak to you.

Blessings,

r

New Scedule

This week Abby and I started a new schedule. For several years now Fridays have been our day off, and I have worked the other six through the week. However, starting this past Monday the grand ’schedule’ for worship teams at IHOP has shifted and I find myself with Saturdays off now, and a set every other day of the week. Today was my first Thursday with a set (I have never had a set on Thursday before, though I worked on Thursday) and it was interesting.

In our schedule change Abby lost her day in the prayer room. We used to take the boys over to my parents’ house on Saturday and she would spend the day with the Lord in the prayer room. Now, I come home early on Thursday and spend the afternoon with the boys. This afternoon was extremely eventful – Sam’s club; Chicken curry for 2 families; naps; mowing the front lawn; planting some veggie plants/seeds; playing with the boys; potty training (Daniel of course); dropping off the dinner for the other family; and picking up my wife – not so bad.

I look forward to my first Friday at work tomorrow. I plan on spending it before the Lord – apart from my set I do not plan to talk, email, text, blog, surf the internet, etc. Rather, I fully intend to sit before the Lord and wait upon Him in long, loving meditation.

Blessings,

r

How To Read

Well, I have come to terms with my inability to read to the extent to which I would like. My crisis has caused me to seek for help from someone who can offer guidance in this ‘art’ form. Piper recommends this book, so I found it and am beginning to read it. I believe that this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship (not just between myself and Mortimer, but myself and the art of reading).

R

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made (Ps 139)

Over the past month or so I have been hidden away in some of the truths found within Psalm 139. This has always been for me one of those psalms that my over-familiarity with kept me from really taking time to meditate on the truths therein. However, after sitting in several weeks’ worth of Tim Reimherr’s team briefings when they were doing this psalm, I was provoked to spend some time in serious dialogue with the Lord in this passage. I have found what I believe is the but the beginning of a rich well of truth, one which will help me (and all those who will subject themselves to such truth) become settled in my identity just as who God created me.

Walking in Meekness, or Responding Rightly when the Circumstances aren’t Right

This subject has been hitting me left and right. My wife and I are talking about it a lot lately, I am feeling the strain of it in various ways in my leadership sphere, and Mike is even speaking on responding in meekness out of Psalm 31:5 this morning. The subject is how we are to respond in the midst of ‘body life’ when the circumstances are not working in our favor. Now, by body life I mean any expression of community, no matter how large (corporate church body, ministry to ministry, etc.) or small (small groups, marriages, families, etc.).