Well, this morning we had another great opportunity to worship God as a church. My dad, who normally leads corporate worship at our church, had been away with my mom out of the country for their 30th anniversary. They got back late last night...actually early this morning. It was a privelege to lead worship today. While moving from an exhortation to the last song, I began to play "Jesus Paid It All" in Bb (Capo3 for guitar players). The song was going fine until the band kicked in at the end of the first chorus - "...He washed it white as snow". At this exact point in time it was our desire to rock the Passion 06 song....but here it comes. I had been practicing all week in that key. But in rehearsal we were playing it the key of "A"! I had moved my capo up one fret too many by accident....d'oh! :-) Needless to say the song had to come to a slight hault in order for everybody (namely the acoustic guitarist - me) to get on the same page. God was gracious and I'm told it wasn't TOO distracting! HA!
The point? I'm grateful for opportunities that God graciously gives us to humble very proud people, like myself, so that He can mold us into the image of his Son. Not that we always want "musical trainwrecks" to happen, but they serve as reminders for us that it is really not about us.
Andrew Murray in his book called "Humility", writes: "True humilty comes when, in the light of God, we have seen ourselves to be nothing, have consented to part with and cast away self - to let God be all."
I thank God for the many things he puts into our lives to remind us that it's all about him.
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
UPWARD 06 almost here!
Well...we're about a month and a half away from gathering in High Springs, FL for the second annual UPWARD Conference. By "we" I mean the North Florida Sovereign Grace Churches: Grace Covenant (Jacksonville, FL), Sovereign Grace Church of Daytona Beach {Self-explanatory - :-P }, New Life Community Church (Niceville, FL), Grace Church (West Orlando, FL), & Abundant Grace Community Church (my local church, Gainesville, FL). We are also joined by Crossway Fellowship Church (Athens, GA), as well as a church led by a friend named Aaron Turner in Live Oak, FL.
Why do we gather? We gather to lift up the only name that is worthy, we gather to be taught by God's Word and equiped to glorify Him more zealously and joyfully, we gather to encounter the Spirit of God. We come not only to receive, but to give.
This conference has been a wonderful opportunity to serve these churches in a number of ways. There is still much to do though! On-site brochures must still go to print, lighting & stage details must still be nailed down, and T-shirt orders will be coming in as registrations make there way to the conference registrar.
But what a joy is to serve the purpose of God with people who passionately love the Savior and His church. We are praying that God will be magnified and the churches strengthened during our time in October.
Later.
Friday, June 16, 2006
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