Luke Herrington

Point to the Sky

2011-02-07T16:09:00.000-08:00

"To God be the glory!" was the very 1st thing the Packers (via Greg Jennings) said after winning the SuperBowl.

Aaron Rodgers and Greg Jennings both pointed to the sky after throwing TDs.

"Really, Greg? Are you giving God the glory? Seriously, Ben? You really think you can fool us?"

It's amazing how quick we are to doubt their faith.

I'm 100% guilty of this.

Jon Acuff put it this way:

"The number of people who can analyze and reject the depth of an NFL player's faith from their couch via the TV is staggering"

We are a people who are quick to judge and slow to love...

Lord, replace our judgement with love.

The Power To Change: Stubborn Cords

2011-01-20T15:00:00.000-08:00

We just started a new series of messages at Pathways called "The Power To Change".

When we were planning out the 2011 year, we thought "what do we need to hear". We talk a lot about changing your life and living radically for God yet, I often find that I'm trying to change myself. I have good intentions, but I can never quite muster up enough power to change my life.

It's like I'm a cord, laying on the ground, trying to hop up and plug myself into a socket. It's just plain stupid. We don't walk around expecting our lamps or TVs to somehow plug themselves in, and in the same way, God isn't expecting us to change ourselves on our own.

Jesus started his first sermon with these words:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit..." (Matt 5:3a)

Why would he start like this?

Jesus knows that we're not poor in spirit. We think we don't need God. We are stubborn cords, trying to plug ourselves in, trying to change ourselves. It's when we realize this tendency that we can stop and bow before God, poor in spirit, humbled and meek, and let Him pick us up and plug us in. It is then, that God can change us.

That is why Jesus started with this verse, because if we don't get to the point where we're poor in spirit, we cannot never muster up enough power to change.

God change us.

Prayer Barrier: Chaff

2010-11-10T16:35:00.000-08:00

"John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” - Luke 3:16-17

This Sunday night we're playing a song called Fire Fall Down. If you haven't heard the song you should do yourself a favor and listen to it now.

This song is clearly another "Hillsong Epic". You know what I mean - a song that ranges from 8-30 minutes and leaves you feeling like you got punched in the face by the Holy Spirit.

However, I think this song is often misunderstood, if understood at all; the bridge's lyrics are kind of cryptic:

"Fire fall down on us, we pray"

As I was planning the set for this coming Sunday night, I wanted to focus on songs of prayer as that is our series' focus. Naturally, this song came to mind because in the bridge we sing the words "we pray". What are we praying, though? For fire to fall down on us? Dang. Sounds brutal.

Matt Crocker, the writer of this song, explains what he intended the bridge to mean:

"See, Luke chapter 3 is where John the baptist is telling people that "One will come who will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire...He will separate the chaff from the wheat and burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire...". This made perfect sense to me as the conclusion to a worship song. As worshippers, we should long for that fire to purify us and refine our expression of worship so that it would be acceptable to the Father. Chaff is defined as "any excess, unwanted, or worthless thing". I don't know about you, but I don't want my adoration for God to be tainted with "worthless" things. He deserves my best. And, it's only because of the work that Christ did and still does through the Holy Spirit that our offerings can be made acceptable to God the Father."

If we leave the chaff in our life, our communion with God and prayers to God are hindered. This song asks God to purify us and make us clean so that we can worship without hindrance.

"...Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." - Hebrews 12:1b-2

Pray

2010-11-03T13:18:00.000-07:00

GT, Haro, Dyno, Mongoose.

Those words might not mean anything to you now. But as a 10 year-old kid, atleast one of those words were in each and every one of my prayers.

I was convinced that if I prayed enough, one Christmas after all of the presents were opened my dad would say, "Wait one minute, we have one last gift for you Luke". Minutes later, I would hear a rhythmic "click" coming from the other room; then I would know. A pristine GT would role out, seemingly floating 2 inches of the ground because of it's holiness.

I would hop on it and what is the first thing I would do? Pedal backwards. The satisfaction of having a bike that didn't brake when you pedaled backwards was beyond any other satisfaction I could have experienced at the age of 10. It wasn't over, though. My dad would then come up to me and hand me the helmet. Not "a" helmet - "the" helmet. This wasn't some ordinary helmet. This helmet automatically launched you out of the nerdy category into the bmx champion category.

It wasn't some nerdy helmet like this:

It was pure helmet beauty as seen below:

I would have had an amazing bike AND a cool helmet - Heaven. Unless it didn't have pegs. Then it would have been the worst Christmas ever...

Praying is a vital part of a Christian's life.

I think that most non-churched people (and even a lot of churched people) think of prayer as a results based petition to a pick-and-choose, Santa-esque God. It becomes this lifeless part of our spiritual lives.

Instead we should...
Pray with confidence and pray with reverence.
Pray discretely and pray purposefully.
Pray loudly and pray quietly.
Pray with people and for people.

JUST PRAY

I like the question that we're asking this series: Does it work?

That's the question everyone wants answered.

We're not going to try to spell out some formula. We're not going to talk about results as much we talk about our hearts.

Just because I didn't get my pristine GT when I was 10 doesn't mean that prayer is broken.

When we pray, God hears us... Sounds like it works to me.

Here is the graphic for this series.

One Month To Live

2010-09-21T14:15:00.000-07:00

If you had one month to live, how would you spend it? That's a daunting question if you ask me. Well we're asking it...

This new series will hopefully challenge us to live our lives fully. The Bible says that Jesus came so that we can have life to the fullest, life in abundance. In my opinion, the only way this life can be considered full or abundant is if it is spent investing in eternity.

No matter what you believe about eternity you have to agree that when we die, we can't bring anything with us. We can't bring our guitars, T.V.'s, laptops, clothes...

Stuff. Items. Things.

They all become meaningless in our last hours.

People. Character. Hearts. Souls.

These last forever.

As a side note - We filmed an awesome video to go with this series. It will be showing on this Sunday! See a behind the scenes look at Heather Pepin's blog.

One Month To Live Video

2010-09-18T14:20:00.001-07:00

Shooting a video for our upcoming series "One Month To Live". Stoked!

Beautiful Song

2010-08-19T10:56:00.000-07:00

I love when you can just let the music do the talking.

Sigur Rós does that very well.

This song, though not it's intention, causes me to worship God.

Roadtrip: San Francisco

2010-08-03T19:56:00.001-07:00

San Francisco has been awesome! We did so much. Fisherman's warf, Ghirardelli Sqaure, Haight street, Golden Gate Park, Jelly Belly Factory, Nappa Valley wine tasting, Muir Woods, Golden Gate Bridge pictures, and China Town were just some of the places we went! Tomorrow we're heading to Yosemite for two days. Can't wait!

2010-08-01T16:26:00.001-07:00

Big Sur was beautiful! We stopped in Morgan Hill to eat and got to San Francisco around 9 last night. Today has been fun. We hit fisherman's warf and just walked down Haight street.

Road trip: Solvang

2010-07-31T13:02:00.001-07:00

On our roadtrip up the California coast, we're leaving Solvang, first of many stops on our way up to San Francisco and Yosemite! Next stop Big Sur.

Worship Leader Rockstar Sydrome

2010-07-08T15:40:00.000-07:00

WLRS

It's a nasty virus. It focuses its violent and often pride inducing attacks on the ego. It was given its name by researchers because it seems to only affect worship leaders of Western Christian churches.

Symptoms include:

Wearing a V-neck every Sunday
Opening a twitter account
Occasionally searching "Jon Foreman's hair" on Google
Using more than 2 different guitars during a single worship set
Practicing one's autograph
Requiring at least one apple product to be on stage every week
Delusion of skill level
Carrying an unwarranted sense of entitlement
Increased selfishness and vanity

If you feel that you have contracted WLRS please consult your local Bible:

Proverbs 16:18
Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.

Matthew 23:12
For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Proverbs 18:12
Before his downfall a man's heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.

Matthew 20:16
So the last will be first, and the first will be last.

Loving God Just The Way He Is

2010-07-07T13:44:00.000-07:00

God loves us for who we are right now.
No matter what we do, nothing can stop God from loving us.
In fact, out of this amazing love for us, Jesus died for us.

We've all heard that message. It's encouraging. We need to hear it constantly. I think it is an especially important concept for new believers to understand. But over the years, as I've grown in my relationship with Christ, I've come to find that knowing that God loves me just the way I am isn't enough.

We also have to love God just the way He is.

It's a lot easier to magnify the nice and neat attributes of God, isn't it? However, in order to do that, we have to downplay God's not so popular attributes:

His jealousy.
His wrath.
His judgment.

Not very popular attributes to say the least, but they're true. I've learned that as I begin to try to explain away these attributes, I get a watered-down weak God.

Without God's jealousy, how could we feel legitimately loved by Him?
Without God's wrath, how could we know that God hates evil and loves good?
Without God's judgment, how could we call God just and righteous?

Stop helping God across the road like a little old lady

Out from under your beds
C’mon ye people
Stand up for your love

U2 - Stand Up Comedy

So we have a choice. We can downplay the uncomfortable parts of our God and create our own little nice and fluffy version, or we can start loving God just the way He is.

Keep Spinning

2010-06-18T09:29:00.000-07:00

Last week during church I used my iPod as my Bible.

I have an amazing Bible app. I can get to a verse in like 4 seconds. I love it, but as I was "flipping" to a verse, I started to feel a bit paranoid about what people were thinking. A part of me just wanted to stand up and say "I HAVE THE BIBLE APP. CHILL!". I even made sure to look like I was paying extra attention. I wouldn't want people to think I'm playing Angry Birds while they're learning about Jesus. Part of me needed people to know that I was paying attention.

It's harmless, really. I doubt anyone cared or even noticed for that matter.

However, that bit of worry/paranoia does give me a reflection of a deeper hear issue. As I lead worship, I ask people to be real - don't raise your hands unless you mean it, don't sing the words unless you believe their message... yet, I struggle too.

To be honest, this is a battle for me. Just because I know how to play guitar and kind of sing doesn't mean that I'm immune to pride and insecurities.

Our worship of God is like spinning top. Every morning we have to take action to re-spin our faith, our reliance, and our worship. If we don't do this, our faith has no foundation, our reliance drifts, and our worship becomes an annoyance to God's ears.

If I don't re-spin my "top", I struggle. I get distracted. I get prideful. I wear a facade.

Keep spinning...

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Hebrews 12: 1-3

Updates on Life

2010-06-08T17:50:00.000-07:00

Couple of updates:

I graduated! Today my boss told me "You should take a statistics course" and I said "That's probably not going to happen".

Lauren and I are almost completely moved into our new place. It is looking awesome! We bought some fake car alarm lights to plant in our cars. God is okay with that form of lying, right?

I got a job offer at GA! At least, they said that they want to hire me. So, as long my criminal background check goes well (crossing my fingers) I should have a "real" job very soon.

I got a pre-release of the new John Mark McMillan CD in the mail. It's called "The Medicine". It's gutsy, emotional, and rock-n-roll. It comes out July 6th. You should definitely buy it.

I miss blogging.

Blog takes back seat

2010-05-28T14:35:00.001-07:00

This is why I haven't been blogging...

Music for the Soul

2010-05-12T23:21:00.000-07:00

To me, this video embodies amazing musicianship: skillful and subtle guitar work combined with amazing tone, emotional vocals, and meaningful lyrics.

There is something about the way Jeff Buckley plays this song that feeds my musical soul.

At 4:45 - 5:20 or so I lose it. Every time. No joke. It's so powerful.

Don't you dare skip to 4:45!

Just watch from the beginning and see.

Wow. Great.

Follow Me

2010-05-10T20:10:00.000-07:00

Follow me is the name of the new series we are starting at Pathways.

The series will be focusing on Discipleship. What is a disciple? Who do we follow? How do we follow?

This will lead into the launch of a discipleship program for this summer. This is going to be a awesome opportunity to not only grow closer to the community of Christ by doing life together, but also to grow closer to Christ himself.

Here's a preview of the bulletin.

Systematic Love

2010-05-08T14:12:00.000-07:00

First, let me say that Systematic Love is often a good thing. Please hear that part.

It probably isn't what Jesus would do, though.

Systematic Love is like autographing someone's poster with a stamp.

It is like giving your mom plastic flowers on Mother's Day.

It is like offering someone a breath mint after a long conversation.

Systematic Love is done with good intentions. It is even done out of Love, but it often doesn't communicate love.

Americans are really good at Systematic Love. We love sending our money overseas. We love Toms. We can be fashionable and help people at the same time. This is Systematic love at its finest.

To me, the word systematic implies a lack of creativity. It implies a mechanical and robotic way of doing something.

It is only half of the equation.

There is something to be said about kneeling down next to someone who is hurting and crying with them, hearing their story, and becoming a part of their story.

When we stop loving systematically, our lives may get a little more difficult, but our lives will also start to look a little bit more like Jesus' life.

Washing God's Windshield

2010-05-06T21:13:00.000-07:00

Something funny happened to me yesterday at the gas station. I guess funny isn't the word. It was kind of laughable in an annoying yet eye opening way.

Let me first lay down one fact:

I'm an empty tank driver. Basically, I hate getting gas. It's a huge waste of time and it's expensive. When I see the little gas tank icon pop up on my dash it's like my car is flipping me off.

Back in my prime empty tank driving days (high school), I once drove back and forth to La Jolla on an "empty" tank twice without filling up.

Are you getting the picture?

Ok, back to yesterday - As I filled up my tank, I scanned the gas station and noticed a girl going around to everyone offering a free window washing. I remember instantly thinking something was fishy. As she washed one man's window I overheard her say "Oh-oh, looks like you have some cracks in your window". She then proceeded to try to get him to pay to have her fill the crack. I knew it! When he refused the offer she walked away unfazed and started toward me.

At this point I was already pretending I was on the phone. Is that lying? Probably. Does it diffuse awkward situations like a champ? You bet it does.

She stood there and waited! When I realized that she wasn't going to buy the "I'm listening to a 15 minute voice-mail gig" I "hung up" and said hi. She started her spiel and I let her finish. You know what I did next? I said, "If you touch my car, I'm going to punch you in the face". Ok, that's not why I said... I politely declined, knowing her intentions. The idea of a free window wash lost it's charm when I figured out her ploy. She still tried to play her "Oh-oh you have a crack in your windshield" game with me but I didn't bite. I had a bad taste in my mouth when I left that gas station.

I do that to people. It may be in a more Christian-y form, but I do it none the less.

I offer to serve people, secretly wanting something in return.

We (yeah, I'm bring you into this) don't only do it to people, though. We do it to God. We bargain with God. "I'll do this if you do that". When we do this, we are basically walking up to God while he filling up his hybrid Honda Prius (God's green) at the gas station and offering him a "free" window wash.

God knows my intentions. God knows when I'm in it for myself.

I want to get real with God. I want to stop faking my service to him.

I want to offer God my best with no strings attached.

Shabach

2010-05-04T00:57:00.000-07:00

Shabach - shaw-bakh - to address in a loud tone, a loud adoration, a shout

Shabach is another word in the Hebrew language that translates to mean "praise".

Ps 63:3: Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips will praise You.
Ps 106:47: Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the nations, to give thanks to Your holy name and glory in Your praise.
Ps 117:1: Praise the LORD, all you nations; praise him, all you peoples.
Ps 145:4: One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts.
Ps 147:12
Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion!

Sometimes I think that Christians feel it is better to play it safe. I do.

It's okay to get loud.

Solely for Christ....

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal."
1 Cor. 13

Late Night Cello Goodness

2010-04-30T00:13:00.000-07:00

Working on a cello part for "Your Love Is Strong". Jon Foreman is a genius.

Overflow Band

2010-04-29T14:08:00.000-07:00

I haven't been leading worship for very long.
I don't have the best voice.
I don't always communicate my ideas for a song well.
I get impatient faster than I should.

With all of that being said, the people that I play with are so amazing.

They're humble.
They put up with my crazy and risky ideas.
They are patient with me.
They always give %100.
They serve wholeheartedly and without complaint.

I'm so blessed to have such awesome and talented musicians by my side.

If you haven't been to Overflow, you should check it out. Sunday nights @ 6:30 @ Pathways.
Bring a friend. Everyone is welcome!

Check out this awesome video Heather made with her new camera. If you haven't checked out her website, you should! Thanks a lot Heather!

Sneak Peek behind the scenes of this weeks worship set!

Silence

2010-04-28T13:11:00.000-07:00

Somewhere we know that without silence words lose their meaning, that without listening speaking no longer heals, that without distance closeness cannot cure.
-Henri Nouwen

Silence gives God a chance to do the talking.

Disobedience vs. Obedience

2010-04-24T12:27:00.000-07:00

Genesis 3:6b
"She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it."

Philippians 2:8
"...He humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death -- even death on a cross."

Romans 5:19
"For just as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous."

Adam and Jesus both had choices.

Adam chose to disobey.
Jesus chose to obey.

What will we choose?

Very Interesting...

2010-04-18T11:50:00.000-07:00

So, when my Dad and I get together we talk about theology. It's not like we try; It just happens. Call us nerds all you want, but I kind of like it. I think I'm a theology major at heart.

During a car ride the other day we got a to talk a lot. After pondering the gift of tongues, predestination, the future of the Church, and much much more, the topic of miracles came up.

Basically, we boiled Christians down into two extreme camps:

Those who are a bit obsessed with miracles
Those who are pessimistic but still believing

On one hand, you have people that believe it's a miracle when their car rolls into the gas station with an empty tank.
To which the other side of the camp would say, "That's not a miracle, that's irresponsibility".

As sad and non-spiritual as it sounds, I think I'm a part of the second group. I like to call it discerning, but pessimistic is probably a better word for it. I believe in miracles without a doubt (usually), but when someone runs up to me eager to tell me about a miracle, I put my thinking cap on.

So now that we all know that Luke doesn't believe in God, I'll tell you a story.

It's about me and my Dad's car ride that I mentioned earlier.

My Dad and I were on the way to go dig through a junk yard to look for a window for Lauren's car. (Her window got smashed in the night before) We left around 4:00, missed an exit or two while we were deeply pondering the meaning of life, and showed up at the junk yard in Chula Vista around 4:50. At this point I realized that Lauren and I had a meeting with an apartment manger back in Santee at 5:30. I instantly came to the conclusion that I was going to be late and called Lauren to tell her. There was no way that we could find a car, remove the paneling on the door, un-bolt the window, and pay for it all in 10 minutes.

10 minutes later, we are paying for a window that was the exact fit for Lauren car. Within 2 minutes of searched a huge junkyard, we had found a Camry of a compatible year. The window was basically laying inside the door, un-bolted and ready to go. We grabbed it and within 5 minutes, we were out of there and on our way to the meeting.

Just what if...

What if God heard our miracle conversation. What if God decided to show a pessimistic believer that God does care about the little things.

"Immediately the boy's father cried out and said, 'I believe; help my unbelief'"
Mark 9:24

Dinner without my wife

2010-04-15T18:59:00.000-07:00

He may be a huge jerk, but he kind of rips

2010-04-11T11:24:00.000-07:00

It's time's like these when realize that I don't actually play guitar. Haha!

I.AM.ALL

2010-04-10T00:16:00.001-07:00

I.AM.ALL is the name of a new series of messages at Pathways.

Sometimes we forget that God will never leave us or forsake us.
Sometimes we underestimate God's power.
Sometimes we doubt God's plan.
Sometimes we can't imagine why God loves us.

I.AM.ALL is a reminder of who our God is.

A Type of Redemtion

2010-04-08T15:03:00.000-07:00

Stories of redemption are powerful. Nike knows.

Here's the good news:

The type of redemption that God offers is more than just a learned lesson or a second chance!

Thank you for redeeming us through the Resurrection.

Funny Video

2010-04-07T17:02:00.001-07:00

I saw this video a couple of years ago and just re-discovered it while I was bored at work.

I love how around 1:08 the guy behind the camera, who is cleary very very southern, sounds like he is filming his baby son take his first steps.

Just watch it.

Dinner Tonight

2010-04-05T18:51:00.001-07:00

Tonight for dinner: Italian Enchiladas? Looks amazing! I'm going to go eat now...

Plague Finger Puppets

2010-03-31T12:03:00.000-07:00

Found this one on stuffchristianslike.net. This is a real product. You can probably buy them at the Family Christian Book Store.

Just imagine the Kindergarten puppet show that used these biblically accurate plague finger puppets!

I hear it now... "NO! I WANT TO BE BOILS THIS TIME!"

Whoa

2010-03-24T16:01:00.000-07:00

I saw this video of Los' blog.

When I watch videos like these I get destroyed. I have no idea... zero idea of what it feels like to have faith like Zac.

We all would like to think that we would raise our hand if the shooter asked who was a Christian, or if we found out we have cancer, or a friend or family member died. We wouldn't deny our faith if life pushed us over the edge, would we?

Job didn't.

Job found out within the course of seconds that he lost his cattle, his servants, and his children. Three times in chapter 1 of Job does it say "While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said..." Job's wife loses respect for him because he won't curse God. Then on top of all of that Job is struck with painful sores on his feet and on the top of his head.

Chapter 1 ends with Job scratching his sores with a piece of sharp pottery as he sits in the ashes that were once his life.

After hearing from his friends why this may be happening to him, Job decides that he deserves an answer from God.

Oh, that I had someone to hear me!
I sign now my defense—let the Almighty answer me;
let my accuser put his indictment in writing.

God answers:

Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. He said:

"Who is this that darkens my counsel
with words without knowledge?

Brace yourself like a man;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.

"Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation?
Tell me, if you understand...

God pounds Job into submission with these kinds of questions to which Job replies

I am unworthy—how can I reply to you?
I put my hand over my mouth...

...Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me to know.

God answers Job question by revealing his vast glory to him - his power, his strength, his love, and his goodness.

This is where Job gets to the place where Zac is. Despite the calamity that struck his life, all he can say is "God is good"; it is his only response.

God, let me remember, in the times that I struggle, that in your infinite goodness, you love me. YOU love ME. What a privilege.

Help me to begin to understand the kind of faith that Job and Zac have. Grow my faith in you everyday.

Thank you for being good no matter what.

Christian Is Not An Adjective

2010-03-19T14:03:00.000-07:00

Christian Music
Christian Bookstore
Christian Movie
Christian Politics

The word "Christian" is only found in the Bible a few times.

Never is it used as an adjective.

Over the course of 2000 years, the word Christian has become an adjective; a label that is tacked on to other words to make them more church-y and Jesus-y.

Now here comes the part I struggle with: What happens when I'm bored by a "Christian" Book, unimpressed by a "Christian" movie, or disagree with "Christian" politics?

Does it make me less of a Christian?

Over the past 4 or 5 years I've learned that I have to test almost everything. If I go around swallowing every opinion I hear uncritically, I'm going to lose my identity in Christ: My identity as a Christian - not a Christian person, but a Christian.

This all sounds very distrusting and negative, but as you start to deeply look at your life, you have to ask yourself these types of questions.

This isn't merely a phase one goes through, either. We must constantly disconnect ourselves from a watered down Christian culture that offers easy answers and ticket to heaven and reconnect ourselves to Christ.

We have to find our identity in Christ.

We have to stop being Christian people and start being Christians.

Grant

2010-03-15T16:59:00.000-07:00

Let me start by saying this: I've never had a friend like Grant.

About two days before Grant left for Washington, I discovered how to describe Grant and my friendship. I think it took me a while to figure it out because I'd never had a "Grant" in my life.

After reflecting on the way I look up to him, our little disagreements, the way he gently broke hard truths to me, the way he was patient with my shenanigans, they ways we joked around, and the ways he encouraged me, I found that the best way I could describe him to someone is like a big brother.

If you've never had a "big brother" I suggest you find one quick, because they will probably change your life.

Miss you man!

Disney Day Complete!

2010-03-12T19:44:00.001-08:00

Another successful day at Disney!

2010-03-12T19:03:00.000-08:00

2010-03-12T17:31:00.001-08:00

With 500 people watchin MJ do his thing.

2010-03-12T15:39:00.001-08:00

2010-03-12T13:09:00.001-08:00

And we're off.

Disneyland Today!

2010-03-12T10:33:00.001-08:00

I'm totally stoked. Lauren and I are heading up to Disneyland today. Before we got passes my frequency of attendance was somewhere in the once every 5 years range. So, this is so fun.

I'll post pictures occasionally throughout the day.
Lauren will be taking some with her new camera! So, I'm excited to have some Disney pictures of our first year on something better than a cell phone camera...

Stay tuned!

Urb re-recorded Reflection

2010-03-11T19:14:00.000-08:00

Check it out.

Inbetween

2010-03-11T17:12:00.000-08:00

Remember Goosebumps? Night of the Living Dummy scarred me for life. Ever since I read it, I've been terrified of dolls. Ventriloquists especially. I'm not kidding. Ask Lauren. When we passed the "Dolls of Doom" maze at Knotts ScaryFarm I absolutely refused to go in.

Anyway, because I was a pastor's kid, I "got" to read Spinechillers. They were basically the same thing as Goosebumps, but no one actually died and everyone got saved at the end. It's all very funny now, but back then it was scary. I couldn't put these books down!

I used to wonder what happened between the chapters. Chapter 4 would end with little Jimmy being chased by a skeleton or something. Then suddenly chapter 5 begins with us being introduced to Suzie. It always bugged me. I wanted to find out if Jimmy was okay!

This feeling happens in life. However, it is not as much of a disappointed feeling as it is a helpless and scary feeling. Between the chapters of our life we face uncertainty, doubt, worry, fear... It is in these times that God feels so far away. It is like when you're dreaming and you so desperately want to stay in the dream, but you slowly start to realize that you're waking up. It is a helpless feeling. A feeling of "inbetweeness".

We have to remember that God thrives in these times. God doesn't shy away when things get confusing or hurtful. In fact, God enters into these times. God kneels down beside us and just is.

Note-to-self: God is always present and working.

We rocked out tonight!

2010-03-07T20:08:00.001-08:00

I broke a pick! hah...

Delicious

2010-02-26T20:45:00.001-08:00

Sushi Deli. Again!

Face to face

2010-02-21T13:24:00.000-08:00

What if knowing God did something to us?

²⁷ "Then the LORD said to Moses, "Write down these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel." ²⁸ Moses was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments.
When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD. ³⁰ When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him. ³¹ But Moses called to them; so Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him, and he spoke to them. ³² Afterward all the Israelites came near him, and he gave them all the commands the LORD had given him on Mount Sinai."
-Exodus 34

Moses had an amazing privilege - one that no other human has had:

He knew the Lord face to face...

...and it made his face glow.

It glowed so brightly that he had to wear a veil when he was around people.

If spending time with God (the Bible says they were like friends) made Moses' face glow, I don't think I'm crazy to say that spending time with God - reading the word, partaking in community with other believers, praying - can begin to make a change in us: A change that people will notice.

This Is How I Worship

2010-02-19T11:21:00.000-08:00

Last weekend, I went up to Camp Marston to speak/sing for the High School group. I had a blast! I was exhausted when I go home.

One thing that I was reminded of during the retreat is that music itself can be worship to God. I think that often times, when I am leading or playing guitar, I fear that I'm going to get "caught up in the music". I think, "Man, I should memorize that part so that I can truly worship God". I forget so quickly that I can worship God merely by playing my instrument.

Zamar - zaw-mar: To touch the strings or parts of a musical instrument, i.e. play upon it; to make music, accompanied by the voice; hence to celebrate in song and music: give praise, sing forth praises, psalms.

On Saturday night, the students had a very emotional time during the worship set. The lights were low, the music was loud, people were bowing, people were clapping, crying, singing. It is all a blur now. However, I do remember a particular part of the set vividly. We had just finished playing All Who Are Thirsty. Austin held the beat with a smooth and ambient rhythm on the djembe; Justin strummed a beautiful rhythmic melodic line full of open strings; and I played a simple melody on the vibraphone with my keyboard. The melody matches that of the chorus: "Come Lord Jesus, come". Do you know it? We played it over and over again. Then something amazing happened. The melody I was playing became my voice. The vibes were singing, "Come Lord Jesus, come". The music had become my worship.

I'm starting to learn that, as a worship leader, I can't expect an emotional experience every time I sing or play. Expressing our emotions to God is a perfectly legitimate act of worship. In fact, on Saturday night, I had that moment. But it is when I was playing the simple melody "Come Lord Jesus, come" that I was worshiping in the way I was meant to worship.

Six Month Sushi

2010-02-06T16:59:00.001-08:00

First in line at sushi deli!

Results of the video

2010-01-30T17:13:00.001-08:00

Every person should do this at some point...

2010-01-30T16:18:00.000-08:00

Time Flys

2010-01-29T11:24:00.000-08:00

The Bandwagon Effect

2010-01-23T01:17:00.001-08:00

I just watched the last episode of the Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien.

Tonight, in his very emotional speech, Conan thanked NBC, his viewers, and his staff for an amazing 7 months. He even got a little choked up at one point.

Here's the funny part...

I got choked up too.

Even more funny...

This Monday was the first time I ever watched the show.

How did this happen to me? How did I go from not even liking talk shows, to almost tearing up over the departure of a host that I've watched for only 5 days.

The Bandwagon Effect happened.

It's a crazy phenomenon. Sociologists call it "mob-mentality". A "mob" of people get swept up in a fad, a cause, a team etc... and everyone else follows. The thing about the Bandwagon Effect is that it's not only a intellectual dissent. It isn't: "I inwardly affirm the Chargers and wish them the best this season". The Bandwagon Effect elicits an emotional and physical response. It is what makes you cheer when "your" team scores. It is what makes you yell and raise signs in front of a building. It is what makes you cry when a host leaves a show.

The Bandwagon Effect gives you passion for something. Is that so wrong?

Now imagine this. A man comes to your town. He has about 200 people that follow him wherever he goes. He is down to earth, travels by foot, and talks about peace and love. Then you hear that he is healing people. You hear that the blind can see and that the sick are well. The lame can walk and the diseased are cleansed.

What person wouldn't want to see for themselves?

In Mark 6 it is written that over 5000 men were following Jesus. Including women and children, it's estimated that there were over 10000 people that had come to see him.

Here's the problem.

Jesus Doesn't Like The Bandwagon Effect

We know this because of his use parables:

This is why I speak to them in parables:
"Though seeing, they do not see;
though hearing, they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:
" 'You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
For this people's heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.'"

Jesus was over the hype. When he saw the thousands of people following him, he didn't see a fan club. He saw broken people in need of healing. He knew that people were following him for the wrong reason and knew that they needed truth. They didn't need someone they could believe in. They didn't need a hero. They needed the truth. They needed to be healed.

Let's jump off the bandwagon and make our faith our own.

What if we were real with ourselves and with God?

Praying For People

2010-01-19T23:48:00.001-08:00

How often do the words "I'll pray for you" begin to mean "Awe... I'm sorry for your circumstances... Too bad..."?

We tell others that we'll pray for them, but we end up forgetting or just plain not caring enough to actually take the time.

Something I've been trying to work on is actually meaning what I say.

If I tell someone that I will pray for them, I will actually do it.

My Wife

2010-01-12T23:41:00.000-08:00

Is so cute.

Isaiah 6:9-10

2010-01-12T22:23:00.000-08:00

9 He said, "Go and tell this people:
" 'Be ever hearing, but never understanding;
be ever seeing, but never perceiving.'

10 Make the heart of this people calloused;
make their ears dull
and close their eyes. [a]
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts,
and turn and be healed."

Sometimes I get obsessed with hearing from God, seeing what God is doing, or understanding God's "motives".

God will not always speak, but he will always welcome a heart in need of healing.

I'm Starting To Realize...

2009-12-29T12:46:00.000-08:00

that I will never love my job.

I'll like it. I enjoy being a nerd. It's fun.

But I won't love it.

That may sound backwards, but I think it's okay.

There are so many more important things to love anyways.

Like my wife, my family, my ministry, music...

Am I crazy?

Seeing God

2009-12-12T00:35:00.000-08:00

God is an old woman in an ice cream parlor.

Being at Disneyland during Christmas was amazing. It sounds really cheesy but there is definitely something magical about Christmas at Disney.

Aside from the rides, the hidden Mickeys, the parade and the amazing fireworks, I totally had a "moment" while we were eating ice cream.

I noticed an older woman and a young boy eating ice cream next to us. The boy wore hearing aids, but they didn't seem to slow him down. He was happy. The older woman watched her grandson play with his toy. I could tell she loved him. Eventually she gave the boy 51 cents and pointed to a penny smasher. The boy ran over to the machine to carefully choose his design. From across the room, his grandma watched proudly, smiling. The boy pulled his now smashed penny from the machine and instantly turned to his grandma to show her his creation. Her smile widened.
After eating his ice cream the boy, like most boys, headed towards the video game section. His proud grandma gave him some quarters and let him go, still smiling. After about 10 minutes I could tell the woman was beginning to wonder where he grandson was. She nervously tapped her fingers on the table and swayed in her seat, peering through the crowds. I saw fear in her eyes. She just wanted her grandson to come back to her. Her sways became more frantic and her eyes perused the crowded room for the boy.
Finally the boy appeared from around the corner, still smiling. The woman's face instantly melted into relief. A smile slowly covered her face. He was safe and back in her arms...

God is an old woman in an ice cream parlor.

TMJ

2009-12-08T09:53:00.000-08:00

I have TMJ.

It is a made up condition that gives me an excuse to whine about my jaw when it hurts.

I read this post by Los and it totally nailed me.

Since TMJ has no cure/treatment I might as well get over my broken body and live my life for an eternal purpose!

Who is this King?

2009-11-25T14:14:00.000-08:00

Here is the art work for the Christmas series at Pathways. It going to be a good one!

Thanks to the creative team for the concept. I'm excited to start seeing the creative people of Pathways use their gifts!

"Who is this King?" is a question many Jews in Jesus' day asked. Jesus claimed to be the Messiah yet he was a homeless, dirty and sometimes unruly carpenter. Doesn't sound like a King to me (by me, I mean the Jews of Jesus' time).

We're going to be answering this question by contrasting the rugged life Jesus lived to the Heavenly King that he was (is). Even though we, unlike the Jews of Jesus' day, have the Bible to tell us about Jesus' life, we often forget to acknowledge Jesus' deserved royalty in our lives. He is meant to sit at the throne of our hearts.

Zephaniah 3:14-20

2009-11-24T22:37:00.000-08:00

A Song Of Joy

14 Sing, O Daughter of Zion;
shout aloud, O Israel!
Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,
O Daughter of Jerusalem!

15 The LORD has taken away your punishment,
he has turned back your enemy.
The LORD, the King of Israel, is with you;
never again will you fear any harm.

16 On that day they will say to Jerusalem,
"Do not fear, O Zion;
do not let your hands hang limp.

17 The LORD your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing."

18 "The sorrows for the appointed feasts
I will remove from you;
they are a burden and a reproach to you. [a]

19 At that time I will deal
with all who oppressed you;
I will rescue the lame
and gather those who have been scattered.
I will give them praise and honor
in every land where they were put to shame.

20 At that time I will gather you;
at that time I will bring you home.
I will give you honor and praise
among all the peoples of the earth
when I restore your fortunes [b]
before your very eyes,"
says the LORD.

Judah was in a critical state during the time of Josiah. Her future looked dim and it had been that way for a while. It is such an obvious pattern in the Old Testament.

Here's an over-simplified version:

1. God's people ask for a King
2. God sends a king
3. The king, being human, screws everything up
4. God sends judges to straighten out his people and prophets to convey his message

In this pattern the prophet always gets the short straw. They're the one that has to deliver the "you guys suck and God's super mad" message. Zephaniah was no exception.

Judah was worshiping Baal. Very basically, Baal worship was "sexy" and more fun than worshiping Yaweh.

Zephaniah spends two chapters talking about the consequences for their worship of Baal. God will "reduce the wicked to heaps of rubble" and "crush" Judah and Jerusalem with his fist etc...

However, at the end of Zephaniah's message comes a call to repentance. It is called a "Song of Joy". This song encourages God's people to not lose heart. It that says "the Lord, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who will give victory..." Later we find what kind of victory Zephaniah speaks of.

"And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise..."

God's message from Zephaniah is one of restoration. It was a message of transformation - to change shame into praise. God had a perfect plan for Judah.

Here is what I took away from these verses:

I don't think it is a reach at all to say that if God had a plan for Judah, God must have a plan for his people, his church, today. I bet it is not too far off to say that it is also one of restoration.

God, continue to transform the shame of your Church into praise. Restore us.

Overflow Church In The Round

2009-11-22T22:50:00.001-08:00

Here was the setup for tonight's worship service. We did "church in the round". The stage was in the middle of the sanctuary with all of the chairs facing the middle. It was definitely different. It was funny to see people looking for their "normal" seat.
Very fun - Very creative. We are definitely doing it again soon.

Wrestling Memories

2009-11-21T22:08:00.001-08:00

Watching a documentary about Brett the Hitman Hart. Memorys of my wrestling fandom.

Paul

2009-11-19T20:12:00.000-08:00

I seriously love the man.

I was reading through Colossians tonight and found myself super impressed by Paul's faith.

This guy never knew Jesus. He wasn't there when he healed the sick. He wasn't there when Jesus fed the hungry or rebuked the Pharisees. Yet, I can hear the passion in his voice just from reading his letters to the churches of his day.

There are a few qualities that make Paul stand out to me. I instantly thought of a sermon (I can't help it - I've got pastors blood in my veins!) as I was reading but I'll restrain myself and only give one point. Here goes nothing!

1. He was vulnerable.

I often try to appear strong. Story time.

Let me set up some background for you with 2 quick facts.

I am shallow.
I don't have a six pack.

Okay. Now that we have that cleared up, I'll get to the hilarity. When Lauren and I first started talking, some of our friends were going over to her house for a pool party. My instant thought was "Crap, I need a six pack to make it with this girl" (cause she's super hot). I figured I'd bust out a few pushups/crunches and be ripped by the end of the week. However, being the procrastinator that I am, I waited to do all of my pre-pool party crunches (like 100 of them) until 10 minutes before the party! Still, after that, my ego was pumped up (abs.. not so much) enough that I felt comfortable swimming.

True story. Pretty funny, right?

The problem is that I do this in more serious situations. To me, vulnerability often equals weakness. Paul would beg to differ. Paul would stress that vulnerability is the key to confidence in life and faith. In his letters he spoke of his pain, his trials, his past...

...Love bears all things... (1 Cor. 13)

Paul had a deep love for the people he was writing to. If I am going to love others I must stop putting up a facade of strength. I have to stop telling 90% of the story at "prayer request time". I have to stop giving the "I don't read the bible enough and I feel like a bad Christian so can you pray that I read my bible more" pray request.

I need to get vulnerable with people in order to start loving them.

More later.

Stuff Christians Like

2009-11-16T18:54:00.000-08:00

If you haven't heard of Jon Acuff and the "Stuff Christians Like" blog, you're missing out! This guy is hilarious. His blog (book this spring) is a parody on Christian culture. I've been following him for about a year now and it never gets old!

Here is a blurb from his site:

"Sometimes, we fall in love on mission trips even though we know we’ll break up when we get back.

Sometimes, you have to shot block a friend’s prayer because she’s asking God to bless an obviously bad dating relationship.

Sometimes, you think, “I wish I had a t-shirt that said ‘I direct deposit my tithe’ so people wouldn’t judge me.”

Sometimes, the stuff that comes with faith is funny. This is that stuff."

He also does "Serious Wednesdays" where he puts parody aside and challenges Christians in their walk.

Good "Stuff"!

Solstice

2009-11-10T09:59:00.000-08:00

Future of Forestry just announced that their Christmas tour documentary will be released to their online store on Novemeber 19th.

It's going to be epic.

To get a preview listen to the CD here.

Go see them play on December 3rd at 7:00 at the Rock for FREE! If you miss that they'll be back in SD at the Epicenter on December 22nd at 7:00.

I'll be there on December 3rd.

Don't miss it!

Confused

2009-11-09T23:04:00.001-08:00

Trying to figure out how to use Live. We're going be using some loops on the 22nd. Stoked!

Post urb frubble

2009-11-08T21:49:00.001-08:00

Frubble after urb worship

Pain

2009-11-08T10:40:00.001-08:00

"Sometimes we avoid entering in to others pain because it reminds us of our pain."

Sometimes, I live my life trying to do as much good as possible without getting my hands dirty. I open up my heart just enough to "half help" a person with an issue, and close it quickly to make sure I don't get too affected by their life.

As a Christian body, we must enter into each others pain as if it was our own. We must stop living in fear of pain.

1 John 4:18

...perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. We love each other because he loved us first.

Fear makes it impossible for us to love. Fear and perfect love cannot coexist.

We need eyes to see others pain and hearts that are open and not self-centered. We need to authentically sympathize with others in order to show them Christ's love.

1 John 3:18

"Dear children, let us not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions."

Big Fish

2009-11-07T23:03:00.001-08:00

Still trying to decide what I think about it...

Isaiah 43:1

2009-11-07T12:03:00.000-08:00

I was reading through my journal and came across this verse:

Isa. 43:1

But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you.
O Israel, the one who formed you says,
“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine

I really needed to re-read/meditate on this verse. God gets far away (actually we get far away from God) if we don't remind ourselves of God's deep love for us.

Side bar - It is amazing how this verse comes to fruition in the New Testament when Jesus becomes our "ransom" on the cross. He redeems us...

Anyways, here is some of what I wrote about this verse. It is about the sovereignty of God.

"The phrase 'I have called you by name, you are mine' really struck me. Once I thought about it, since we belong to God, do we really have to worry about God not taking care of us? ...Not being responsible?"

"Trusting that which we don't understand is frightening at times. Keeping in mind that God is Love should give us solace. That which we do not understand about God is purely good. It's not like the mystery of God is scary or dark or something we should fear. We can know that the mystery of God is amazing and beautiful beyond our comprehension!"

Remembering that God has a perfect plan for my life is so comforting...

Finished!

2009-11-05T21:53:00.001-08:00

Ready..Set..EAT

2009-11-05T21:44:00.001-08:00

Hello World

2009-11-05T18:54:00.000-08:00

I have a blog! I've wanted one for a while and now I finally got around to (kind of) designing it. It should be fun.

Hopefully it is interesting to you. I guess that isn't really the point, though.