Slish Blog

An Amazing 3 Weeks

2010-07-20T16:38:00.000-04:00

I'm finally back in the states! This summer has been amazing! I've been so blessed by the opportunity to visit India and Guatemala. I didn't do such a good job of "blogging" while I was out, but I will definitely post an update in a few days after I process things a little more!

Pray for Kelly as she ministers to orphans in China! She'll be there for the next 2 weeks!!!

Thank you for all your prayers and support!!!

Are You Kidding Me Lord!?!?

2010-06-18T01:23:00.004-04:00

India, 5 days away, and God's ALREADY doing amazing things!!!

So, tonight I took a flight to Dayton, Ohio to spend some time with family and prepare with my 2 friends before we take off for India.

I'm not really one to start up a conversation with a complete stranger, but lately I've wanted to be more out-going in that area. So, to start my flight, I thought it would be good to cause a huge mess of awkwardness by dragging my guitar on an express flight, and realizing it wouldn't fit in the overhead compartment...and then having to find a way to get it back out the door while everyone and their brother was trying to come down the one person aisle to their own seat.

Finally I got it off the plane and ended up in my right seat. I sat next to a guy and I figured I had 75/25 odds that he was Indian. I really wanted to start up a conversation. So I was running through my head how to start this conversation without sounding like an idiot.

So, somehow I started a conversation, and found out that this guy was born and raised in Bangalore, India...where I'm headed to in 5 days! WHAT!?!? Crazy. Then, I find out he and I went to the same college, and we both worked in the Physics Department at Wright State. Crazy! We ended up talking the ENTIRE flight about India and the culture there versus the culture here. I learned so much in that little hour and fifteen minute flight!

It is SO insane how God orchestrates things like that! What are the chances that I sit next to a guy like that on my flight? Not only was he from India, but from Bangalore, he was not only going to Dayton, but the same time as I was, and in the seat next to me. We worked for several of the same people years ago. Are You kidding me!?!?!

It was such an exciting conversation! It's crazy to think that I could have simply put my iPod on and listened to some music for that whole ride and missed out on that opportunity! It makes me wonder how many opportunities like that I have missed out on.

Lord, I can't wait to see what other amazing things You're going to do!!!

India / Guatemala 2010

2010-06-15T12:28:00.009-04:00

I'll be using this blog to post updates while I'm in India and Guatemala. Please be in prayer. (Specific Requests below)

INDIA: June 22 - July 7
GUATEMALA: July 10 - July 17

Currently, I'm ONE WEEK away from flying to India. I've raised about 80% of what I needed...(I've had a few unexpected travel expenses come up)...BUT, by God's grace, I think I can handle the rest. It's a subtle reminder to me that the Gospel is COSTLY! Thank you ALL who have graciously given towards this cause! Please, Please be in prayer during these next few weeks!

PRAYER REQUESTS:
1. Pray for the Gospel of Jesus Christ to be proclaimed and that it would go forth in His strength and Power.

2. Pray for my health and safety.

3. Pray that the Lord would use my gifts to speak through me in India. (as well as for Ted and Andrea - my "team-mates" - www.tedrastatter.com)

4. Pray for the Local church in India to be built up, encouraged, and blessed through our efforts there.

5. Pray that the love of Christ would be shown through our team in Guatemala and compel the orphans and widows to put their faith in Jesus Christ!

Thank you all SO MUCH!
Grace and Peace,
Jesse

Emmanuel

2009-12-06T23:59:00.009-05:00

New FREE Christmas Song Download:

www.slish.net

Merry Christmas!

Eternal Church

2009-11-09T19:03:00.004-05:00

Ok, so in an effort to be more constructive with my time, I am going to refrain from posting each week's set-list here, and use it solely for occasional worshipful thoughts.

Be sure to check out the Worship Song of the Week each week on my website:
WSOTW

Also, stay connected with news at Eternal Church and Slish.net.

Have a blessed week everyone!

PS...here's another song I'm working on...

I'm hoping to have a Christmas Song for you in December too! :)

Fall on Us

2009-10-12T19:28:00.005-04:00

I've been in the writing mood lately, so I've been working on several songs. I've been intrigued by Psalm 116. Verses 12-13 say:

"What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits to me. I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord."

What an interesting verse! First of all, how could we ever repay the Lord for all the grace and benefits He has poured out on me? Secondly, what in the world does it mean to lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord?

Well, I THINK it has something to do with Christian Hedonism. If you're not sure what I mean, then you should read "Desiring God" by John Piper! :) Christian Hedonism is the idea that we would seek our joy and our pleasure in God and God alone because we know that he alone is able to satisfy our deepest longings and needs. ...as we seek our joy in Him, God is MOST glorified. It's the idea that God is more glorified when we worship him out of delight as opposed to duty.

I won't go into Pipers analogy of giving his wife flowers...but again, you should read that book if you haven't!!!

...so, Question: What shall we render to the Lord for all His benefits to us?

Answer: We will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord.

We have been bought and ransomed by the precious blood of Christ. His blood has purchased the freedom of the condemned men and sinners that we are. We were hopeless without him, but now we have hope. We have sipped from the cup of salvation! The Lord has given us this drink and we have tasted of it's goodness!

Our response to all his benefits and grace working in our lives is to lift up that cup and call on the Lord for more! ...what a strange form of repayment. The Lord pours out his blessings and goodness to us, and the way we repay him is to lift up our cup like young children and beg for more? ...strange form of rendering, but not a strange response at all.

What could we repay the Lord with? Really, there is nothing that we could give except for our praise and honor of Him. How much does it magnify the name of the Lord if we say to him that ONLY HE can fill our cup and satisfy us and give us ultimate joy. We are saying that we desire him and need him above anything else this world has to offer.

This is what we render to the Lord for all his benefits! We go back to him and ask Him for more, knowing that it's the only place where we can find what our soul really needs!

Praise God! Lift up the cup of salvation to Him today!

Here is a recent song...and Sunday's set-list:

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ETERNAL CHURCH (10.11.09)

:AGAIN: JON FOREMAN

:MIGHTY IS THE POWER OF THE CROSS: CHRIS TOMIN
:FALL ON US: JESSE SCHLICHER
:AMAZING GRACE (MY CHAINS ARE GONE): CHRIS TOMLIN

:IT IS WELL: SHANE & SHANE
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Kidron Valley Psalms

2009-10-07T23:12:00.003-04:00

Well, the cd is mastered, the artwork is done (thanks Ryan), and it has been shipped off for duplication! YES! To listen to samples of the album:

1. Go to www.eternalchurch.net
2. Click on "WORSHIP"
3. Click on "Featured Media"

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ETERNAL CHURCH (09.27.09)

:DRY BONES: AMY COCCIA

:HE IS EXALTED: SHANE & SHANE
:UNTITLED: CHANN CARROLL
:IT IS WELL: SHANE & SHANE

:THE SOLID ROCK: HYMN
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ETERNAL CHURCH (10.04.09)

:THIEF IN THE NIGHT: LEELAND

:HERE IS OUR KING: DAVID CROWDER BAND*
:UNTITLED: CHANN CARROLL
:WONDERFUL CROSS: MATT REDMAN

:GOD OF JUSTICE: TIM HUGHES
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What Defines You?

2009-09-21T22:34:00.005-04:00

Ok. I've got to be honest. I HATE blogging. Mostly because I don't have time to sit down and do it. Occasionally there is something I do want to write about, so posting these set-lists (see below) gives me a chance to collect my thoughts at times.

So this weekend I had 16 hours to ride in my little civic and think about things. On the way home I started to ponder upon things, and I really wanted to write these thoughts out, so I wouldn't forget.

I began thinking about my dad. Mostly because I'm teaching science right now, and because he would LOVE to talk to me and relate all his knowledge of God-centered-science through me to the kids that I'm teaching. While I was home, I looked through all this fossils and cool things he had aquired and wished I would have listened a little more when he was driving me crazy with all his Creation research. :)

So, that got me started. Then as I was thinking about this, I began to see a common thread of thought, when I thought about my father. I think of the things he was passionate about, the things he talked about, and the things he did. It's kind of funny. I asked my dad on several occasions to try to explain to me what he actually did at work. (Insert "Office Space" quote here..."So, what is it that you would say you actually do here?") He took the time to explain it to me when I would ask, but it really didn't sync in my head. That was REALLY about the only time I ever heard my dad talk about his job. I remember him working hard, and putting in some late hours, and working on "projects," but that was the extent of it. To this day, I can't tell anyone what my father did for a living.

I'm sure I've noticed this before, but it hit me as I was driving down Route 35 in Ohio. So many times we define and associate ourselves with what we "do" ...in reference to our jobs. A lot of times, I notice it's the center of our conversations even.

What I realized as I was driving was that my dad didn't find his worth or his definition in his job...even though he worked hard. He was passionate about Jesus Christ, and declaring His truth to people. I began to see this in my memories of him. He was so passionate about Creation and that truth would be taught in science. He was passionate about revealing false science and strengthening his faith in what he saw in Creation. ...this lead me down another string of thoughts.

I saw his passion of Jesus Christ IN his passion for Creation but also THROUGH his love of people...specifically youth. My dad NEVER seemed to be the type of "Youth Pastor" or "Mentor" that would attract myself. ...yet, I can't believe all the young people that were constantly telling me how "cool" and amazing he was. He had a passion to BUILD into the lives of young people and disciple them to love Jesus and strive to be more like Him. ...honestly, I took that for granted. I saw it, but didn't realize the significance and definitely didn't realize the DEPTH of it until recently.

This made me recall several stores that I have heard since my father's passing away. Mostly, I heard more about "When Marc Became Radical." (This was before a wife and kids...) You see, he was a "Christian" by definition of the world's standards, but there was point when something became drastically different in his life. This was marked by the evidence of grace in his life. He began doing crazy things like picking people up off the street and bringing them home to stay for the night and have a nice breakfast in the morning. He even allowed a troubled teenager live with him in his house...and continued to keep him there after he realized things had been stolen from his own house!

All of this made me think of the core issue. The LORD had captured my father's heart in such an amazing way, that he could truly see that "life is but a vapor or a mist that is here for a while, but then vanishes away." He simply was in love with the Lord in such a way that it had transformed his life and enabled him to love others and love his family the way that the Lord had called him to. We put a quote on his tombstone that I truly think would capture the way he perceived his life:

"Only one life, twill soon be past. Only what's done for Christ shall last." -unknown

I can remember ever since I was in middle school... Dad would get up at insane hours that I truly couldn't comprehend. He would be awake between 4 and 5 EVERY morning, when the rest of the house was sound asleep. I could walk by the living room if for some reason I was awake, and see him...still in his green robe, v-neck tshirt (yeah dad!), and plaid pants, sitting in his chair, reading the Word of God! ...often times I found this was the springboard for ideas for new worship songs, or refutes to theologies that we differed on awaiting me, whenever he would come across something.

I realize that it's ONLY by the grace of God that my father was the man that he was. It's only by grace that "he became radical." ...and the way I see it, his radical lifestyle never waned. This is something that I don't think I've realized until now. ...that he was just as "radical" in his later years as he was when the Lord saved him! How radical is it that a man would devote himself to the Word of God, and loving, praying with, and pointing his family as well as others to the Lord.

It's pretty insane when I think about it, and I feel blessed to have had that influence in my life!!!

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ETERNAL CHURCH (09.20.09)

:ALL I CAN DO (UNDONE): CHANN CARROLL

:THERE IS NONE: JESSE SCHLICHER
:UNTITLED: CHANN CARROLL
:WATER TO WINE: AMY COCCIA

:BE THOU MY VISION: HYMN
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ETERNAL CHURCH (09.13.09)

:HOPE NOW: ADDISON ROAD

:PSALM 103: AMY COCCIA
:YAHWEH (WORTHY LORD): JESSE SCHLICHER
:FALL ON US: JESSE SCHLICHER

:MARVELOUS LIGHT: CHHARLIE HALL
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ETERNAL CHURCH (09.06.09)

:ALL I CAN DO (UNDONE): CHANN CARROLL

:MAJESTY: DELIRIOUS?
:THERE IS NO ONE: JASON MORANT
:BECAUSE HE LIVES: HYMN

:WHERE YOU GO I'LL GO: BRIAN AND JENN JOHNSON
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Eternal Worship CD Release...

2009-09-02T22:41:00.005-04:00

Ok, we've finally scheduled the release of Eternal's first cd entitled "Kidron Valley Psalms" for November 1st! We're going to have a pretty exciting night with lots of stuff going on! I'll give you more details soon! The album contains all oringal songs, many of which we've been singing already at Eternal. Preorder your cd now by clicking the link picture below. ...ok, just kidding. You'll just have to wait for it.

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ETERNAL CHURCH (08.30.09)

:DIVINE ROMANCE: PHIL WICKHAM

:THE SOLID ROCK: ETERNAL REMIX
:YES YOU HAVE: LEELAND
:NONE BUT JESUS: HILLSONG UNITED

:HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD: CHRIS TOMLIN
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Long Time, No Blog...

2009-08-25T17:15:00.002-04:00

Well, it's been a while since I've blogged or even updated Sunday's song lists. Summer has been crazy with a move, recording a cd, and getting ready to teach 8th grade.

So...Eternal Update: We are in final stages of mastering our cd and getting our artwork done. The music is sounding great! The artwork (by Ryan Hollingsworth) is pretty crazy too! We're hoping to have a release within the next couple months.

Here are the past few weeks at Eternal:

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ETERNAL CHURCH (08.23.09)

:UNTITLED: CHANN CARROLL

:BEAUTIFUL LORD: LEELAND
:LEAD ME TO THE CROSS: HILLSONG UNITED
:FALL ON US: JESSE SCHLICHER

:NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD: MATT REDMAN
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ETERNAL CHURCH (08.16.09)

:HEAR OUR PRAYER: INDELIBLE GRACE

:PSALM 103: AMY COCCIA
:YAHWEH (WORTHY LORD): JESSE SCHLICHER
:JESUS PAID IT ALL: KRISTIAN STANFILL

:FALL ON US: JESSE SCHLICHER
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ETERNAL CHURCH (08.09.09)

:PRAISE BE: APEX PRAISE TEAM

:CANNONS: PHIL WICKHAM
:HOSANNA: HILLSONG UNITED
:FROM THE INSIDE OUT: HILLSONG UNITED

:ALL WHO ARE THIRSTY: BRENTON BROWN
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ETERNAL CHURCH (08.02.09)

:PSALM 103: AMY COCCIA

:ENOUGH: CHRIS TOMLIN
:JOYOUS LIGHT: CHRIS TOMLIN
:WATER TO WINE: AMY COCIA

:BEAUTY FOR ASHES: SHANE & SHANE
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Eternal Worship CD

2009-07-29T13:51:00.004-04:00

Well, we are about half-way done recording our first Eternal Church Worship CD. We're really excited about it! I'll give you more information soon, and maybe a little sneak peak.

We REALLY need a creative name with some theological depth for the cd. Any ideas???

With that, things have been crazy busy. I'm sorry I missed posting the songs, for all you dedicated readers out there. :)

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ETERNAL CHURCH (07.26.09)

:ALL I CAN DO (UNDONE): CHANN CARROLL

:DOXOLOGY: ORIGINAL ARRANGEMENT
:MIGHTY TO SAVE: MATT PAPA
:YAHWEH (WORTHY LORD): JESSE SCHLICHER

:BEFORE THE THRONE OF GOD ABOVE: SHANE &SHANE
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Icy Hot

2009-07-13T00:47:00.004-04:00

Icy to dull the pain; Hot to relax it away.

Well, my back is killing me. I spent the past 10 days in Ohio helping my mom do stuff around the house. I lifted a lot of stuff, and now I'm suffering! :) ...but this is good because I have to move out of my apartment Tuesday and Wednesday. ...oh wait, that's NOT good. I have to lift heavy boxes with a sore back. AH! No fun! ...so, today I bought a support back brace, a heating pad, and icy hot.

Anyway. On my way to Ohio, I downloaded this sermon I read by John Piper. I downloaded it on my blackberry while I was driving, which was pretty tricky...but it amazingly worked!

This is the BEST definition of "Worship" that I have ever heard in my life! ...at least "Worship" in the sense of singing songs on Sunday morning. If you've ever wondered about why we sing, or the significance of our singing, or the biblical basis of singing, then you HAVE to listen or read this sermon. I would say listen, because he says a few things not noted in the transcript.

"Singing and Making Melody to the Lord" by Dr. John Piper

Other than that, I tried to record a video of a new song. Here it is:

Yahweh (Worthy Lord) - Slish music from Jesse Schlicher on Vimeo.

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ETERNAL CHURCH (07.12.09)

:FALL ON US: JESSE SCHLICHER

:HOLY IS THE LORD: CHRIS TOMLIN
:YAHWEH (WORTHY LORD): JESSE SCHLICHER
:COME THOU FOUNT: DAVID CROWDER* BAND

:BEAUTY IN PAIN: JESSE SCHLICHER
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What Right Does Clay Have?

2009-06-30T08:50:00.004-04:00

Ok, here's a thought for today. I was reading through Colossians today and ran past this:

Colossians 2:8
See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

This scripture has been very important to me over the years, especially important during my years of college and grad school. The Lord has blessed me with opportunities over the years to share the gospel with friends. Unfortunately, in my mind it seems like there isn't always a lot of fruit to it. I've realized that I have to simply speak the truth and trust the Lord to accomplish His will. The reason I say it seemed unfruitful is because it didn't seem like I was a part of any huge transformations. Again, I think I have realized through it all that it is less about me and more about my obedience and trust.

I had several friends in college who I believe were truly seeking to find or understand the meaning of life...or seeking for the Lord, "if He was out there." I think of this one guy in particular. He really was a good friend, but it's interesting too look back and think of how there seems to be a barrier to how deep you can go as friends when you have completely different worldviews. I loved this guy. He was definitely smarter than I was. We would spend all night talking. I even got him to hire me for a 3rd shift job during Winter Break so we could stock shelves at Toys R Us and talk philosophy and theology. I was impressed to hear him talk about the things he was learning in scripture. We would talk back and forth...semi-debate...but really just challenging each other's thoughts and trying to get a better grasp on the things we believe.

I think it was through this experience that I realized that I can't debate or prove Christianity through philosophy or a string of thought. If we think about it, our relationship with God is our faith. I don't know that I would call it a blind faith. I believe that there is a lot of evidence for what I believe. I also have an insane conviction and understand the Holy Spirit in me. ...but when it comes down to talking about the meaning of the universe with a non-believer, what can we preach, teach, or debate but scripture. A conviction, or the Holy Spirit in us is nothing more than an "inward feeling" to a non-believer. All we have (which is everything) is the Holy Word of God. Well, the Solid Rock of the Word of God won't hold as anything in a conversation or debate with someone who isn't a Christian, because the Holy Spirit isn't working in their life and they don't see the scriptures as powerful and wonderful like I do. I don't think that is robbing the scriptures of anything, but it's a blindness that is caused by an unregenerate heart. The ONLY remedy for that is God Himself.

So...why was I trying so hard to find the best philosophical thought and point that I could. We could debate philosophy all day, but the only real truth that I should stand on is scripture! I really believe that philosophical arguments are not as strong, and can even be harmful to your own theological beliefs. I want my foundation to always be scripture. If I'm filling myself with arguments and thoughts, they may be beneficial for arguments sake, but I think I would rather speak scripture to my situations like Christ did as he was fasting.

Christ is our Solid Rock!

I wrote a coffe-shopesque song out of this expereince years ago. ...I guess it intertwines these thoughts with Romans 9 about God's sovereignty and wisdom.

Feel free to take a listen. Click and listen, or right click and save:
Clay Song

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ETERNAL CHURCH (06.28.09)

:HAPPY DAY: TIM HUGHES

:HERE IS OUR KING: DAVID CROWDER* BAND
:GOD ABOVE (MY RESCUE): VICTORY CHURCH
:ALL CREATURES, NO.2: DAVID CROWDER* BAND

:THERE IS NONE: JESSE SCHLICHER
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...from Whom all blessings flow.

2009-06-16T18:17:00.004-04:00

Ok, Praise the Lord for working out some details in an insane way to get me to the point of buying my first house. I close July 23rd. WOO HOO! ...not to mention how the attorney, mortgage lender, and realtor were all people from our church! Crazy! Thanks Bryan and Elizabeth for working your magic! Thanks Brian for putting your business cards on Elizabeth's desk! Thanks Kelly for finding the sweet neighborhood! Good times!

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ETERNAL CHURCH (06.14.09)

:DIVINE ROMANCE: PHIL WICKHAM

:O PRAISE HIM: DAVID CROWDER BAND
:GOD ABOVE (MY RESCUE): VICTORY CHURCH
:YAHWEH (WORTHY LORD): JESSE SCHLICHER

:COME YE SINNERS: ROBBIE SEAY BAND
:COME THOU FOUNT: ROBBIE SEAY/DAVID CROWDER MIX
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Nothin but a Hound Dog

2009-06-09T23:21:00.004-04:00

Ahhh. ...that is a sigh of relief after another good year of teaching.
Now I've got 2 months to get all the things I really want to do done.

We've got some exciting things coming up in the area of "worship" at Eternal. Stay posted. :)

I've also decided it was fun to post pictures, so I think I may post the most amazing picture I can find on my computer each week. Today's picture shows that my musical capabilities span past worship music all the way back to the 1950s, where I wasn't nothin but a hound dog...

Ok, so maybe it was a student teaching assignment in grad school, I can't remember, but man that purple jumpsuit is hot!

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ETERNAL CHURCH (06.07.09)

:I SAW THE LIGHT: DAVID CROWDER BAND

:YAHWEH (WORTHY LORD): JESSE SCHLICHER
:LEAD ME TO THE CROSS: HILLSONG UNITED
:HEALER: PLANETSHAKERS

:ONE THING: CHARLIE HALL
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2003 Was the Place to Be

2009-05-31T23:43:00.007-04:00

Kelly and I went with my cousin and her fiance' to the Hillsong United concert in Atlanta last week. When we were in our car waiting on all the traffic to clear after the show, a very familiar face walked in front of our car. No one else knew who it was, but since I played a lot of lead guitar in college, I had to learn all the parts to every new Chris Tomlin song. ...so I became boarderline obsessed with their guitar player, Daniel. He's just good. Now, whenever I go to their concerts, to me it's a Daniel Carson show...

...so, I obviously did what any other Christian stalker would do. I rolled down my window and yelled at him. He came over and talked to us for like 5-10 minutes while we were waiting on the crowd. Craziness.

So, it reminded me of the days when I got to meet all these Passion people back in 2003. I'm not sure what was wrong with my hair in these pictures, but I remember it looking cooler than this!

Daniel Carson (Chris Tomlin's guitar player) and I
*Click on it if you really want a good view* :)

David Crowder with me and a couple friends of mine.

He's a happy guy.

One of my favorite worship leaders of all time...Charlie Hall! Amazing man!

AND THAT HEADBAND IS SWEET! I DON'T CARE WHAT ANYONE SAYS!

Matt Redman needed his personal space.

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ETERNAL CHURCH (05.31.09)

:HOPE NOW: ADDISON ROAD

:CANNONS: PHIL WICKHAM
:GOD OF WONDERS: PHIL WING REMIX
:HEALER: PLANETSHAKERS

:YAHWEH (WORTHY LORD): JESSE SCHLICHER
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The Lord Uses Broken Vessels

2009-05-25T17:41:00.002-04:00

It was such a good message this Sunday, as we looked at Jesus and the woman at the well. It's so interesting to see how Jesus spoke right to the deepest part of this woman, and to see her response. It's an amazing reminder that the Lord uses broken vessels to glorify Himself!

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ETERNAL CHURCH (05.24.09)

:PSALM 103: AMY COCCIA

:HOLY IS THE LORD: CHRIS TOMLIN
:FROM THE INSIDE OUT: HILLSONG UNITED
:WATER TO WINE: AMY COCCIA

:ALL WHO ARE THIRSTY: VINEYARD
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My Portion Forever

2009-05-19T00:44:00.003-04:00

I really wish I had something extraordinary to share this week or last week, but I don't have a whole lot. I've been battling sickness. It seems like I battle this the last few weeks of every school year!

Here's what I do have:

Psalm 73:26
"My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."

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ETERNAL CHURCH (05.17.09)

:WHITE AS SNOW: JESSE SCHLICHER

:O FOR A THOUSAND TONGUES: DAVID CROWDER BAND
:BLESSED BE YOUR NAME: MATT REDMAN
:JOYOUS LIGHT: CHRIS TOMLIN

:THERE IS NO ONE: JASON MORANT
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NOTHING...

2009-05-11T00:26:00.000-04:00

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ETERNAL CHURCH (05.10.09)

:NOTHING ELSE I NEED: CHANN CARROLL

:YES YOU HAVE: LEELAND
:FROM THE INSIDE OUT: HILLSONG UNITED
:O FOR A THOUSAND TONGUES TO SING: DAVID CROWDER BAND

:VICTORY IN JESUS: HYMN
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A Day of Rest

2009-05-04T00:24:00.002-04:00

Sometimes I just feel like I need more days of rest! :)
I'm so ready for summer!

We're looking to getting the worship team into a studio this summer to get some recording done! Be praying that the Lord would provide for that and that He would use our gifts to glorify Him in our music.

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Eternal Church (05.03.09)

:ROOM FOR YOU: AMY COCCIA

:FROM THE INSIDE OUT: HILLSONG UNITED
:PRAISE TO THE LORD, THE ALMIGHTY: PASSION
:ROOM FOR YOU: AMY COCCIA

:YOU SAID: SHANE & SHANE
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Nicodemus

2009-04-26T21:32:00.004-04:00

John 3
¹Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. ²This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him." ³Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."

I wonder about the struggle that was going on inside Nicodemus' head. To approach Jesus with a curiosity and to have him respond that "no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born again."

Wow. A member of the Jewish ruling council was just basically told that he would not inherit the kingdom of heaven. I wonder about the struggle going on inside. On one hand, this Jesus is doing incredible things that seem could only be done if God was with him. On the other hand, he is part of the "inner circle." I can almost feel a justified feeling of offense. On the other hand, I can see how in the midst of that feeling, a deeper feeling or sense of truth in what he was saying.

I feel like it's a lot like the battle that we constantly constantly are fighting between our flesh and the spirit. It reminds me of the battle that Paul talks about in Romans. It also reminds me of the challenge that he speaks to the Galatians.

Galatians 5
¹⁶But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. ¹⁸But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

I've been working on a song that I think has finally come together that speaks of this battle. It's a prayer and a plead for the Lord to be all we need. It's a declaration that we are made complete in and only in Him.

I Need You

Verse 1:
this war is raging inside of me
a battle of blindness and disbelief
left on my own i'd choose me
and stagger down this road with no releif

PreChorus:
but you say your burden is light
Lord, lift the weight of this sin and strife, cause
left on my own I'm so weak

Chorus:
i need you, i need you
i need you.

Verse 2:
i'm so tired of feeling this defeat
in all this darkness i can't hear you speak
out on my own and still not free
a captive of my own self deceit

Bridge:
you've made me complete, Jesus
alive in you and dead to me
you've made me complete, Jesus
alive in you and dead to me

-----------------------------------------
Eternal Church (04.26.09)

:I Need You: Jesse Schlicher

:Cannons: Phil Wickham
:Lead Me to the Cross: Hillsong United
:Victory in Jesus: Hymn

:Blessed Assurance: Third Day
-----------------------------------------

Heart of Worship

2009-04-21T21:15:00.006-04:00

This week was the first in our attempt to take a break from our messages and have a "Selah" in our Sunday morning services. It was great to just sing and offer up praises to the Lord.

Also...

Eternal’s Worship Song of the Week:

There are so many good worship songs out there these days. Some of them make the airwaves, and others don’t. We as a worship team find ourselves blessed by new music almost on a daily basis. We want to share that music with you! Each week we will post a new song that is currently speaking truth into our lives and ultimately glorifying God! We count it a joy to take part in any song that is raised as an offering to bless the Lord and make much of Him. I hope you are blessed by this link.

www.slish.net/wsotw.html

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ETERNAL CHURCH (04.19.09)

:MY PORTION FOREVER:JESSE SCHLICHER

:GLORY IN THE HIGHEST:CHRIS TOMLIN
:HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD:CHRIS TOMLIN
:NONE BUT JESUS:HILLSONG UNITED
:HEART OF WORSHIP:MATT REDMAN

:TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS:HYMN
:AMAZING GRACE (MY CHAINS ARE GONE):CHRIS TOMLIN
:THERE IS NONE:JESSE SCHLICHER
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He Has Risen Indeed

2009-04-12T22:56:00.002-04:00

Man, today is a good day. It is Easter. The celebration of our Lord Jesus Christ's resurrection from the dead. Today we celebrate Jesus conquering sin and death! Praise Jesus for his passion to do the will of His Father!

As I was driving to Ohio today, I spent some time listening to music, listening to the gospel of John, a little John Piper, and driving in silence. One thing that hit me is how beautiful things in this life are. The hills in North Carolina and Virginia. The trees. Even, all the way to the sound of Coldplay. I realized how beautiful the music is that they make. ...where do chord progressions, lead lines, drum beats, bass lines, and melodies come from? Obviously everything in the world originated in the God-head. The music that even a secular band created, originated in God Himself. I was just amazed by the way the music was tied together. Music is a gift of God. Even the beautiful music of a secular band like Coldplay speaks of the glory of God...even though they aren't necessarily thinking of God, God allows this to take place.

It's amazing where we can find glimpses of God when we take the time to look and listen.

...I can't wait to hear what the music in heaven is like!!!

----------------------------------------------------------
ETERNAL CHURCH (04.12.09)

:BY HIS WOUNDS: MAC POWELL
:LEAD ME TO THE CROSS: HILLSONG UNITED
:HOW DEEP THE FATHER'S LOVE: STEWART TOWNEND

:IN CHRIST ALONE: MATT PAPA
----------------------------------------------------------

Past Two Weeks

2009-04-07T21:31:00.002-04:00

I'm so ready for Spring Break! Shoot...I'm ready for Spring itself!

Here are the songs from the past few weeks. I'm sorry I dropped the ball.

-----------------------------------
ETERNAL CHURCH (04.05.09)

:TAKE ME TO YOUR FREEDOM: AMY COCCIA

:HOSANNA: HILLSONG UNITED
:NONE BUT JESUS: HILLSONG UNITED
:AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS: KATHRYN SCOTT

:LEAD ME TO THE CROSS: HILLSONG UNITED

-----------------------------------

-----------------------------------
ETERNAL CHURCH (03.29.09)

:MY PORTION FOREVER: JESSE SCHLICHER

:THERE IS NONE: JESSE SCHLICHER
:HERE IS OUR KING: DAVID CROWDER
:BETTER IS ONE DAY: MATT REDMAN

:GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS: HYMN
-----------------------------------

Worship and the Temple of God

2009-03-23T16:09:00.003-04:00

We are the temple of God and His spirit resides in us!
That's so awesome!

------------------------------
ETERNAL CHURCH (03.22.09)

:SING THROUGH ME: PHIL WING

:HEAVEN RAINED DOWN: TED RASTATTER
:BLESS THE LORD: JASON MORANT
:NONE BUT JESUS: HILLSONG UNITED

:THERE IS NO ONE: JASON MORANT
------------------------------

------------------------------
ETERNAL CHURCH (03.15.09)

:THIS IS WORSHIP: PHIL WING

:HEAVEN RAINED DOWN: TED RASTATTER
:MADE TO WORSHIP: CHRIS TOMLIN
:HERE I AM TO WORSHIP: TIM HUGHES

:ONLY YOU: DAVID CROWDER BAND
------------------------------

Water to...WHAT!?!?!

2009-03-09T19:31:00.008-04:00

The Holy Spirit must be doing some crazy stuff in Skip, because the way he taught John 2 and explained all the symbolism and foreshadowing blew my mind!

I mean, who really stops to ask themselves what was going on at this wedding feast? Who stops and thinks about how strange it is that Jesus' FIRST miracle was turning the water into wine.

NOT me!
Ok, wedding; no wine; mom's coming to Jesus; Jesus annoyed; mom leaves, tells the servant's to do anything he asks; aw, that was nice, Jesus does it anyway; Jesus uses some weird stone water jars, who cares; somehow it turns to wine on the way to the master of the feast (not even thinking about what the servant's must be thinking); cool; OK, next section, Jesus Cleanses the Temple.

WHOA! How did I miss all that!?!?

Really, take a second to reflect on why Mary would even go to Jesus if this is really his first miracle. Think of the confidence and respect and awe that she has for her son! "Do whatever he tells you!" she says to the servants! WOW!

Ok, but WINE? Come on Jesus, you could raise Lazarus from the dead. Why is THIS your first miracle? I wonder if Jesus was thinking of how ridiculously sweet what he was about to do really was. He takes wine, that will later represent his blood, and fills up these jars that are used for ceremonial washings to cleanse people of their sin. He fills them to the brim! Think of what Jesus was saying! How have I read over this time and time again!

He is already taking the old law and making all things new! He's saying you don't need this! All you need is me, and my blood to atone for your guilt and shame! My BLOOD will purify you!

There's so much there! Amazing!

Thank you Jesus for your sacrifice. Thank you for the beginning of your mission and your passion right there at the wedding, and I'm amazed at the confidence and power and authoirity and wisdom that you began your ministry with!

You are all wise!

------------------------------
ETERNAL CHURCH (03.08.09)

:NO NEED TO WORRY: JOHNNY AND JUNE CARTER CASH

:YES YOU HAVE: LEELAND
:MIGHTY TO SAVE: MATT PAPA
:THE KING ETERNAL: CHARLIE HALL

:TAKE ME TO YOUR FREEDOM: AMY COCCIA
:THERE IS NONE: JESSE SCHLICHER
------------------------------

Selah

2009-03-01T22:30:00.004-05:00

It was definitely cool to just sing, sit in silence, and pray this morning!

ETERNAL CHURCH (03.01.09)

:YEARN: SHANE & SHANE
:WONDERFUL MAKER: MATT REDMAN
:TAKE MY LIFE AND LET IT BE: PASSION
:BEAUTY FOR ASHES: SHANE & SHANE

:ONLY YOU: DAVID CROWDER BAND
:HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD: CHRIS TOMLIN

Then Sings My Soul...

2009-02-25T23:33:00.002-05:00

Click the link below to hear Sunday's songs...

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ETERNAL CHURCH (02.15.09)

:THE SOLID ROCK: EDWARD MOTE
:COME THOU FOUNT: ROBERT ROBINSON
:AMAZING GRACE: JOHN NEWTON

:FREEDOM REIGNS: JASON UPTON
:JESUS PAID IT ALL: KRISTIAN STANFILL

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In Spirit and In Truth

2009-02-16T20:55:00.007-05:00

I've been thinking about the idea of worshiping in Spirit and in Truth lately. Kelly and I were reading a devotional book talking about the differences in worship between churches. Some churches tend to stay on the extreme traditional side where there are hymns every week and a lack of passion. Other churches sway to the other side where there is no depth in the lyrics of the songs, but an intense passion. These two styles of worship often clash against each other. One says to the other that there is no foundation for their worship. That the extreme passion is momentary, and it has no depth. When the passion or excitement fades, so does the faith. The other side says that there is no real excitement or joy, and that the traditionalist rob worship of the joy that it is supposed to have.

I believe that we should fall right between these two ideas. The Lord says to worship in "Spirit and in Truth." That means that first, our worship music should have a strong foundation that is rich and filled with the scripture. Our hearts should respond to these truths. Our spirit should rejoice. When we hear, sing, pray, or shout these truths, it should well up in our spirit and produce such joy that all we can do is express it! There are so many scriptures that tell us to make a joyful noise, or sing to the Lord with a LOUD voice. The Lord gives us these emotions and if we really have a heart that is excited about the Lord, it should show. If you think about all the other things in your life that you get excited about and joyous about, you would realize that you don't just stand there with your arms crossed and a blank stare on your face. Typically, your voice raises, your arms may flail, you might even jump around. This is continually a struggle for me...because our worship is a reverent thing, but at the same time, it should be something that is exciting to us. A lot of times I fail to be as excited as I should. My prayer is that the Lord would reveal Himself to me and our church in a way that evokes a response. ...that my eyes would be open to see what the Lord is really doing here.

There are now mp3's available from our worship services from church. Obviously they are no where near the perfection we strive for as a band, but if you are blessed by them, then feel free to download them and listen to them during the week. Just click below...

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ETERNAL CHURCH (02.15.09)

:THERE IS NONE: JESSE SCHLICHER
:NONE BUT JESUS: HILLSONG UNITED
:PREPARE THE WAY: CHARLIE HALL

:WE FALL DOWN: CHRIS TOMLIN

---------------------------------------------------

I've Got Nothing...

2009-02-07T22:53:00.005-05:00

Well, I'm trying to shake this cold, and I can't seem to do it. Ergo, I'm not really in the mood to sit and type something deep. ...is that wrong?

Although...Kelly and I were reading a devotional yesterday about worshipping in Spirit and in Truth. ...one thing that struck me is an idea about foundations. :)

So, to the 2 or 3 people who read this, there is your trailer for the next entry.

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ETERNAL CHURCH (02.08.09)

:HERE IS OUR KING: DAVID CROWDER BAND
:HERE I AM TO WORSHIP: TIM HUGHES
:COME THOU FOUNT: DAVID CROWDER BAND

:PREPARE THE WAY: CHARLIE HALL

---------------------------------------------------

ETERNAL CHURCH (02.01.09)

:MY GLORIOUS: DELIRIOUS?
:GLORY IN THE HIGHEST: CHRIS TOMLIN
:NONE BUT JESUS: HILLSONG

:FAIREST LORD JESUS: PASSION

---------------------------------------------------

Paul and Silas still sang...

2009-01-26T00:20:00.006-05:00

How about this testimony of singing?

ACTS 16

Paul and Silas in Prison

16 As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” 18 And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour. 19 But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. 20 And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. 21 They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.” 22 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. 23 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. 24 Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. 25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened.

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ETERNAL CHURCH (01.25.09)

:CANNONS: PHIL WICKHAM
:HOSANNA: HILLSONG UNITED
:THERE IS NONE: JESSE SCHLICHER

:NONE BUT JESUS: HILLSONG UNITED

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Worshiping in Song Part II

2009-01-18T22:06:00.005-05:00

More evidence of the importance of worshiping through song... This is a heavenly picture of the procession of the Lord! I remember my dad coming to me one day in college with this verse and telling me that I needed to put it into a song. ...I never did figure it out. :) Courtney brought this verse up one night at our Worship Team meeting after I shared the verse in Chronicles (below). Its crazy how the procession in the previous entry and the heavenly procession here mirror each other. Amazing stuff.

Psalm 68:24-35
24 Your procession is seen, O God,
the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary—
25 the singers in front, the musicians last,
between them virgins playing tambourines:
26 “Bless God in the great congregation,
the Lord, O you who are of Israel's fountain!”
27 There is Benjamin, the least of them, in the lead,
the princes of Judah in their throng,
the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.
28 Summon your power, O God,
the power, O God, by which you have worked for us.
29 Because of your temple at Jerusalem
kings shall bear gifts to you.
30 Rebuke the beasts that dwell among the reeds,
the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples.
Trample underfoot those who lust after tribute;
scatter the peoples who delight in war.
31 Nobles shall come from Egypt;
Cush shall hasten to i stretch out her hands to God.
32 O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God;
sing praises to the Lord, Selah
33 to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens;
behold, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.
34 Ascribe power to God,
whose majesty is over Israel,
and whose power is in the skies.
35 Awesome is God from his sanctuary;
the God of Israel—he is the one who gives power and strength to his people.
Blessed be God!

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On a lighter note, here is another great new blog:
What Skip's Wearing

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ETERNAL CHURCH (01.18.09)

:MARVELOUS LIGHT: CHARLIE HALL
:THERE IS NO ONE: JASON MORANT
:BLESS THE LORD: JASON MORANT

:HOW GREAT THOU ART: HYMN

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Singers In The Front Line

2009-01-12T12:58:00.006-05:00

Why do we sing in church? If worship is more than a song, and our worship is reflected in the way we live our lives, then why do we need to sing? Why carve out 20-30 minutes each week before the sermon? Why not just have 20-30 more minutes of preaching.

I'm simply going to post some scripture the next few weeks that may give some insight to these questions. These are scriptures that the Lord has been putting on the hearts of the worship team at Eternal. It's kind of crazy that He is speaking to us all in the same way. It came kind of as a shock. I truly believe that the Lord wants to do something amazing through our worship; specifically our lifting up of songs to worship, glorify, and magnify His name on Sunday mornings.

II Chronicles 20:20-23

20 And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed.” 21 And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the Lord and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say,
“Give thanks to the Lord,for his steadfast love endures forever.”
22 And when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed. 23 For the men of Ammon and Moab rose against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction, and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they all helped to destroy one another.

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ETERNAL CHURCH (01.11.09)

:GOD OF THIS CITY: CHRIS TOMLIN
:THERE IS NONE: JESSE SCHLICHER
:THE SOLID ROCK: HYMN

:PREPARE THE WAY: CHARLIE HALL

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The Good Hand Of God Is Upon Us

2009-01-07T23:43:00.007-05:00

I'm so amazed at the things the Lord is teaching me and seems to be teaching our worship team as a group. It's insane! Today we discussed the significance of singing songs as it is shown all throughout scripture. It is amazing to me to see how the Lord uses the singing of songs as a means to display His glory and power.

If you don't believe me, check out:
2 Chronicles 20
Acts 16
Psalm 68

It's so cool! Father, I pray that you would manifest yourself through the songs that we sing. I pray that they would be a means for you to display your grace and your power. Reveal Yourself through the songs that we offer you. You good, and Your steadfast love endures forever!

------------------------------------------------------------------

ETERNAL CHURCH (01.04.09)

:YES YOU HAVE: LEELAND
:MIGHTY TO SAVE: MATT PAPA
:HERE I AM TO WORSHIP: TIM HUGHES

:THERE IS NONE: JESSE SCHLICHER

------------------------------------------------------------------

Lead By The Light

2008-12-28T15:01:00.006-05:00

Psalm 43:3

"Send out your light and your truth;
let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy hill
and to your dwelling."

...now that's some good stuff. It's so easy sometimes to let situations and words lead us in down paths that we shouldn't go...even in our thoughts and emotions. We are called to live and worship in Spirit and in Truth. Father, let your light and truth guide us and lead us to your holy place!

Eternal Church (12.28.09)

:Thank You: David Crowder Band
:The King Eternal: Shane & Shane
:It is Well: Shane & Shane

:Blessed Be Your Name: Matt Redman

Eternal Church (12.21.09)

:O Come All Ye Faithful: Sojourn
:O Come O Come Emmanuel: Sojourn
:Christmas Song: Flyleaf

:Angels We Have Heard on High: Eternal's arrangement

Put Your Hope In GOD

2008-12-08T12:53:00.008-05:00

Man. I'm overwhelmed with the enemy attacking me. "Why so downcast oh my soul, put your hope in God." I'm surrounded by things and situations that are attacking my mind and making me lose my focus on Christ. The difficult thing is to allow what I know in my head to seep down to my heart. I know that the Lord ordains all things and is in control of all my situations. I know that he has the best for me.

As I look at my friends and family in rough situations, I am just so aware of how the enemy likes to attack us and make us hurt, especially when the Lord is at work.

It's crazy to see how the Lord uses me at times when I least expect it. It's so humbling to realize that when the Lord uses you, He does it to glorify HIMSELF. It has hit me and continues to hit me harder and harder as I realize that salvation and the good gifts of God have NOTHING to do with myself. Even when the Lord uses me in my situations...it is completely and utterly not in any way about or because of me...but it is because of God's great love and mercy. It's so humbling too because I feel so weak a lot of the time.

The weirdest thing happened this morning. For some reason I listened to a couple songs I had written over the past year on my way to school today. It was insane that the lyrics that the Lord had written through me had spoken to me this morning. It was like the Lord was preaching to me through what he had already taught me. It was like a reminder. In a way it bothered me, thinking like I was returning to the elementary doctrines that they talk about in the Hebrews...but at the same time it was refreshing and strange to be refreshed by that. I don't know how to explain it. I am the worst writer ever. I should have Jimmy proof-read everything I write!

"You Lord are God of the present tense" -Jon Foreman

That's all I got for now.

Here's yesterday's songs:

Eternal Church (12.07.08)

:Silent Night: Christmas Hymn

:O Come All Ye Faithful: Christmas Hymn
:Beautiful Lord: Leeland
:He Is Exalted: Twila Paris

:Come and Listen: David Crowder Band

MAN'S Retreat

2008-11-24T22:06:00.006-05:00

The MAN'S RETREAT was incredible this weekend! It was so good to get to hang out with 50+ Eternal guys. It was especially cool to get to talk and know some of the guys that I rarely get a chance to talk to. Skip, Andy, and Richard brought the scripture to us and lead session on our heart, mind, and actions.

The Lord is doing incredible things in the hearts of the men of Eternal...mine especially. It was great to share, encourage, and pray for each other this weekend. It is such a great picture of what scripture shows the church to be. Its not a building or a service, but it's people called by God to live in unity for God.

I pray that the Lord would continue to sanctify us as men and continue the work that He is doing in our hearts. I pray that he would give us a passion for loving the Lord in all aspects of our lives.

In light of the men being gone, the ladies lead worship for us:

Eternal Church (11.23.08)
:Glory Road: Amy Coccia

:Hosanna: Hillsong United
:At the Foot of the Cross: Kathryn Scott
:How Great Thou Art: Hymn

:How Great is our God: Chris Tomlin

...and it looks like I dropped the ball the week before...

Eternal Church (11.16.08)
:Meant to Live: Switchfoot

:God of this City: Chris Tomlin
:Come Thou Fount: David Crowder style
:Amazing Grace: David Crowder style

:Jesus Paid it All: Passion

There is None

2008-11-10T23:31:00.004-05:00

Eternal Church (11.09.08)

:This World is Not My Home: Gospel Hymn

:God of this City: Chris Tomlin
:Bless the Lord: Jason Morant
:Blessed Assurance: Third Day

:Glory in the Highest: Chris Tomlin

This is a new song I wrote as our pastor was going through the book of Colossians. It's an attempt to define Christ and respond to who He is all in one.

There is None

Verse 1 :
You are the image of the invisible God
You are the first born from among the dead
You are the word turned flesh, You are the head

PreChorus :
I count it all as loss, I count it all as loss, for…

Chorus :
There is none like you
Sovereign God, you’re the way, the truth
There is none like you
Jesus Christ, your love has brought me to you

Verse 2 :
You’re the one and only Son, who bore all my sin
You are our high priest, who’s been where I’ve been
You are the light of the world, the beginning and end

Bridge :
You are my first love.
You are my first love, Jesus.
You are my first love

A Little Late...

2008-11-06T16:26:00.003-05:00

I've dropped the ball this week...

Eternal (11.02.08)

:Give Me Your Eyes: Brandon Heath

:Yes You Have: Leeland
:Holy is the Lord: Chris Tomlin
:How Deep the Father's Love: APEX Praise Team

:We Fall Down: Chris Tomlin

The Peasant Princess

2008-10-27T22:41:00.003-04:00

Between the Ecclesiastes series starting at Eternal, the Song of Solomon series from Mark Driscoll, and studying Hebrews in our small group…I’m getting more excited about the Old Testament than I have ever been. It’s so cool to see how God is the same God in the Old Testament as well as the New Testament. It’s crazy to think how our minds compartmentalize Him, and paint a picture of a different God in the Old Testament.

I feel humbled. I still feel like I know so very little and that there is this insane depth of understanding and grace that I’ve yet to experience. I want to experience it! I have to battle my flesh in everything! The simple act of finding solitude to rest in His presence is a battle. God give me the grace and the strength to rest in you, live in you, and search the depths of your mercy and love.

Eternal Presbyterian 10.26.08

:Marvelous Light: Charlie Hall
:Blessed Assurance: Third Day

:Before the Throne of God Above: Shane & Shane

:Doxology: David Crowder Band

It's a Mad World...

2008-10-19T22:39:00.005-04:00

My mind is running a thousand different directions. Skip's preaching on Ecclesiastes. What a depressing book. ...but its cool to study that while I am going through a sermon series on the Song of Solomon by Mark Driscoll from Mars Hill Church. It's cool to see how Song of Songs, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes tie together. It's crazy! Once I understand it, I might talk about it more.

On top of that, I'm desperately trying to understand Hebrews as we study it in our small group. AHH!

Hebrew's exhorts us to "consider Jesus." That phrase has some deep things connected to it. I pray that I would consider him and deeply fix my thoughts on him. It seems to continually be the desire of my heart that I keep failing and waning in.

Eternal Presbyterian (10.19.08)

:Cannons: Phil Wickham
:Better is One Day: Matt Redman
:Praise to the Lord, the Almighty: Passion

:Mad World: Gary Jules (video)

:Come and Listen: David Crowder band

Calamity: A Call to Repentance

2008-10-12T14:22:00.002-04:00

Here are the songs from this past Sunday:

Eternal Presbyterian (10.12.08)

:White as Snow: Jesse Schlicher

:Here is our King: David Crowder band*
:Blessed be Your Name: Matt Redman
:Be Thou My Vision: Hymn

:Beauty in Pain: Jesse Schlicher

As I read through this book on Psalms by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, I feel like I'm beginning to see a bigger view of our own personal worship with God. At one point Bonhoeffer says, "The richness of the Word of God ought to determine our prayer, not the poverty of our heart." In the next chapter he says, "But it is important to note that even David did not pray out of the personal exuberance of his heart, but out of the Christ who dwelled in him."

I have a strong conviction in what is stated in the Westminster Catechism. "Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever." Or, as a great preacher says, "Man's chief end is to glorify God by enjoying him forever." :)

I believe God is made much of when we take our delight in Him and seek him as our treasure. There are times when it is difficult to do these things out of the overflow, or the personal exuberance of our heart. I believe in either situation, it is important to let the Word of God direct our prayers and our worship.

Whether we are in "the land that is plentiful" or "in the desert place, where we walk through the wilderness," I believe we need to let our prayer and worship be from Christ in us.

Our worship is more than an emotional thing. It is more than us reciting scriptures to edify ourselves in the empty times. Prayer and Worship is the Holy Spirit of God in us, singing back to Himself and glorifying Himself through the scriptures, songs, words, and the overflow of our heart. It is God, allowing us to take part in His worship.

So how do we tie in the Spirit and the Truth? I don't think we should totally rule our emotions out. I think we first have to look at the word of God, and allow the Word of God to direct our emotions, our prayer, and our worship. It is out of an overflow of the Word of God and the Holy Spirit in us, that we would glorify God in anything that we would do.

wow...I think I just confused myself. :(

The Prayer Book of the Bible

2008-10-05T20:28:00.002-04:00

A little excerpt from Dietrich Bonhoeffer's book, "Psalms, The Prayer Book of the Bible."

All prayers of the Bible are such prayers which we pray together with Jesus Christ, in which he accompanies us, and through which he brings us into the presence of God. Otherwise there are no true prayers, for only in and with Jesus Christ can we truly pray.
... The richness of the Word of God ought to determine our prayer, not the poverty of our heart.

Good stuff!

Eternal Presbyterian 10.05.08

:Washed by the Water: Needtobreathe

:Your Grace is Enough: Chris Tomlin
:Joyous Light: Chris Tomlin
:Nothing but the Blood: Matt Redman

:In Christ Alone: Matt Papa

Joining with the saints who came before us...

2008-09-29T01:26:00.006-04:00

So, I went to Eternal's Prayer and Fasting meeting on Wednesday night. It's always an incredible time of prayer and fellowship! Something crazy happened...for me anyway. As I was praying, I caught myself agreeing with someone else who was praying. ...nothing out of the ordinary. Just a little, "Yes, Lord" or a "Jesus" when my spirit echoed my brother or sister's prayer.

...then I was taken back to a much younger version of me. I remember being at a prayer meeting with my parents. My dad was in a circle of friends at their house, sitting on the ground and praying. I remember my dad making some of the craziest sounds! "Yes, Lord!" "Jeeeesus." Now, my dad was far from the extremely charismatic personality, but he would find himself in agreement when someone else's prayer would strike a note in his heart as well!

I remember going up to my dad after they were done praying. I asked him, "What were those noises you were making when other people were praying?" It was such a foreign thing to me. It was new. It was weird. Why would he interrupt people praying? Is he just hungry? What was going on? I had to ask him.

That’s about all I remember. It was such a long time ago. I can’t even remember what he said, but I know now what he was doing. Last Wednesday I just thought it was so cool to think about the things he did and the ways that he showed his love for God, and the way that it rubbed off on me. It’s cool to think of the church in a timeless perspective. To think that we are just joining in with the saints who came before us. The songs we sing, the scripture we read, the God we serve are all the same things that my dad was singing, reading, and serving…and the same thing that the Christians of old were singing, reading, and serving.

It’s such a strange perspective to have. I couldn’t see this most of my life. It’s hard to have a view like that. …especially when you’re young and you have the normal, prideful, wrong assumptions that you have in your youth. There truly is nothing new underneath the sun. Even in our Christian lives, we’re not inventing anything new. We’re just joining in the choruses that have been resounding already for thousands of years, and will continue to resound for eternity. What an amazing thing to think about!

Eternal Presbyterian 09.21.08:

:Mighty to Save: Matt Papa band
:Everything: Lifehouse
:None but Jesus: Hillsong United

:Beautiful Lord: Leeland

White as Snow

2008-09-23T00:53:00.002-04:00

Here's a new song I've been working on...

White as Snow

Verse 1:
I was a dead man, lying in my filth, a child of wrath, bearing my own guilt
I was lost, so far from home, running away, though he called me his own

Chorus:
You’ve washed me white as snow
Your crimson stains I know
Have paid the price my body owes
Now my stains are white as snow

Verse 2:
I was a cursed man, looking for foolish gain, for lust and for money to heal my pain
But nothing would fill the space in my heart, until You took these things and set me apart

Bridge:
Though they were as scarlet, and my spirit, a harlot
Lord, I know, Lord, I know

There is No One like Our God

2008-09-22T21:38:00.002-04:00

Psalms 33:2-3
Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.

...I like how the scriptures tell us to play with a LOUD noise. :) ...we can't deny it!

Eternal Presbyterian 09.21.08:

:Here is our King: David Crowder Band*
:O Praise Him: David Crowder Band*
:How Great is our God: Chris Tomlin

:There is No One: Jason Morant

10,000 Charms

2008-09-14T22:21:00.005-04:00

I was talking to Bryan before the service this Sunday. I was reading a book by Larry Crabb in which he referenced Ephesians 4:29:

"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."

For some reason this verse hit me in a new way. As I was talking to Bryan about it, he was in amazement because he had read the same verse and had the same convictions I was feeling. Growing up and reading this verse in small group or youth group, I often would think of the obvious things. This verse is telling me to not swear or tell dirty jokes...etc.

...but now, I see this verse as something so much deeper. The only thing that should be coming out of my mouth are things that are "good for building up, as it fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."

WOW! How often do I waste my speech on meaningless things. How amazing would it be if we as a church and the body of Christ would start making a point to speak truth to each other. ...to speak truth in love. Dr. Crabb defined "corrupt" as something that causes decaying. What if we stopped wasting our speech on things that will rot and destroy and focus on building each other up.

What does it even mean to speak truth to each other? I don't know...but I know when I've been around it...

I had a friend in college. Nick has an incredible testimony of what God has done in his life. He always inspired me, because every time I was around him, he turned our conversation into something about how great our God is. I always left him feeling so encouraged. ...not that he was saying great things about me that made me feel good...but he was speaking truth about our God and Savior that encouraged my spirit and made my spirit thirst for more of Him. That's what I would imagine speaking truth to each other would look like.

I guess that would fit exactly with Skip's message this week, and the vision for Eternal. We need to know our story and have a verse to share with people. We need to know what God has done in our lives. It's so easy to keep our minds wrapped around the worthless things we are consumed with every day... But if we can just catch a glimpse of the eternal things. If we can remember our salvation. Wow. Do we really realize what God Almighty has saved us from. Think upon the fact that our righteousness is as filthy rags. We have absolutely no good in us apart from Christ, yet he has rescused us from the despair we face. Praise God for the riches of his grace.

The Lord is so good! Reflect upon his goodness. Do we really treasure him as 10,000 charms? ...or are we just singing the song?

Eternal Presbyterian 09.14.08

:Washed by the Water: NeedtoBreathe

:How Great Thou Art: Hymn
:Bless the Lord: Jason Morant
:It is Well: Hymn

:Come Ye Sinners: Robbie Seay Band

The Shadow of the Cross

2008-08-31T22:27:00.003-04:00

I Corinthians 2:1-2
"And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified."

John Piper says:
"I think what it means is that whatever else he knew, whatever else he spoke about, and whatever else he did, he would know it and say it and do it in relation to Christ crucified. This brings us back to where we started. He will not let the cross become a historical relic. He puts it at the center of his everyday work and relationships. He makes tents in the shadow of the cross. He preaches in the shadow of the cross. He disputes with opponents in the shadow of the cross. He eats and drinks and sleeps Christ crucified. "

How great would it be if we as a church could hide ourselves in the shadow of the cross. I hear that phrase a lot, but think for a second about what it means. If we're in the shadow of the cross, that means that all the light is hitting the cross, and we're behind it. People see the cross, not us! I wish I could always keep the cross the center of my work and relationships. ...I want to be someone who boasts of the cross of our Lord Christ.

This Past Week's Set List:

I Surrender All - Matt Papa Band
Unfailing Love - Chris Tomlin
Mighty is the Power of the Cross - Chris Tomlin
Lord Let Your Glory Fall - Matt Redman

It's Ringing from the Skies

2008-08-25T22:46:00.005-04:00

Last Week's Set-List:

Cannons - Phil Wickham
Hosanna - Hillsong United
All Creatures, No.2 - David Crowder Band
Jesus Paid it All- Passion

“‘Come now, let us reason together,’ says the LORD. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool’” (Isaiah 1:18).

“He must become greater; I must become less” (John 3:30).

Lord, Let Your Glory Fall!

2008-08-19T21:13:00.004-04:00

"and it was the duty of the trumpeters and singers to make themselves heard in unison in praise and thanksgiving to the LORD, and when the song was raised, with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the LORD,

'For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever,'

the house, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God."

2 Chronicles 5:13-14

...that's what we were singing about this last week. "Lord, let Your glory fall, as on that ancient day!" - Matt Redman

Last Week's Set-List:

Inside Out - Hillsong United
Yes You Have - Leeland
God of Wonders - Caedmon's Call
Lord, Let Your Glory Fall - Matt Redman
Surrender - Vineyard UK

I pray you all have a blessed week!

Beauty in Pain .mp3 download

2008-08-16T22:15:00.006-04:00

To go along with the last post, I have uploaded an .mp3 to slish.net and myspace. Feel free to download it and stick it on the iPod! :)

www.slish.net (media page)
www.myspace.com/slish

Thoughts...

2008-08-12T22:49:00.006-04:00

I've decided to use this blog also to post information and thoughts from our weekly worship services at Eternal.

This Week's Songs:

I Saw the Light (David Crowder Band)
Cannons (Phil Wickham)
Knees to the Earth (Passion Movement)
Beauty in Pain (Jesse Schlicher)

It has been 25 days now since my father passed away. What I write now is not to look for sympathy or for people to look at me, but just so I can take an oppertunity to tell what God has done in my life through my father's life and death.

It was a Friday afternoon. My dad's health had fallen so quickly in the last few days. He was now so low on energy that he couldn't even get out of bed or talk to us. The little he said left us guessing what he was trying to say. It sounds strange, but to me it felt for a day and a half like he was holding on for everyone to be there with him.

Kelly had surprised me and flown in. The night before he passed away, She and I stayed up all night sitting with him. He didn't sleep much either. My sister, brother-in-law, and two nephews drove about 90 mph from their home, passing an officer and a state highway patrol car, neither of which pulled them over. The entire family made it there and we all sat around him talking to him. My mom asked me to get my guitar out, and we started worshipping, singing some of my dad's favorite hymns. We sang "It is Well with my Soul," "Amazing Grace," and began to sing "How Great Thou Art." My grandparents walked in as we were singing that hymn, and at that moment, my dad breathed his last breath.

It was so surreal to me! We all paused for a second, and then continued worshipping and praying, giving thanks to our Heavenly Father for providing us with such an incredible father, husband, and man of God that we had been blessed with. It was amazing to me that God gave us the grace to have everyone around and to send my father forth with the praises of his family. I can't even imagine what an amazing homecoming that was! :)

Through this past year I finished writing a song that the Lord has been stirring in my soul for years. It speaks of some of the most incredible truths that God has been teaching me. It's about the sovereign hand of God, and is referenced much from the books of Job and Daniel. It's called, "Beauty in Pain." (Hopefully I'll have some audio for it soon!)

Beauty in Pain

Verse 1:
You are almighty God, who formed the universe
Your kingdom endures in heaven and on earth

PreChorus:
No one can hold back Your hand,
No one can say, “What have You done?”

Chorus:
You give and You take away, You comfort and cause dismay.
Holy is your name
You give your grace away, in beauty and in pain.
Holy is your name.

Verse 2:
You are a mighty King, ruler over everything.
You do as you please, through all eternity.

Bridge:
For from Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things
To Jesus, be all glory, forever, amen, amen!

I think it is so important to know that our GOD is in control of everything. He is a sovereign God! He's in control of the good times as well as the bad times. We have to understand that He does everything to bring glory to Himself! We also have to have to humility to understand and admit that our wisdom is foolishness to God. What right does the clay have to talk back to it's maker!?!?! ...yet so many times we feel like God must have made a mistake or we question him. I miss my earthly father like crazy, and it is one of the saddest things I have ever experienced, but as my own mother said: "We mourn, but we don't mourn as if we were people with no hope." We understand that God's perfect will has been accomplished. ...though we don't always understand, we trust Him, because He is perfect and holy! All glory to Him!

Moleskine

2008-06-06T00:13:00.002-04:00

I finally broke down and bought a moleskine! I've been using it to journal and write out prayers more. It has been very helpful in processing my thoughts. I hope to journal on here much more this summer!

As for now...

Today was my last day of teaching for the next 2 months!

This summer I'm hoping to spend a lot of time with family, friends, and my 2 wonderful girls...see below! :)

Mile5 will have a little reunion in Cedarville, Ohio in June! mile5music.com

Izzy's Legacy 5k was a huge success. They raised over $20,000 for support of families with children of Sanfilippo syndrome. Isabelfoundation.org

Pray for the students of Super Summer, that God would teach them amazing things about himself this summer, and continue to grow them into the men and women of faith that he has created them to be!

Pray for my family as my dad continues to battle his cancer. His last cat-scan gave us positive results, saying that the cancer had not spread in his last cycle. He has been extremely low on energy since then. Pray for strength. Pray for peace and strength for my mother as she continues to love him and take care of him.

Thank you all for your support!!!

the·ol·o·gy [thee-ol-uh-jee] by: Steven Barth

2007-08-11T18:42:00.000-04:00

The following is a little essay on the importance of theology by my good friend, Steven Barth: (conduitofgrace.blogspot.com)

I have heard people say, "Why is theology important?" or "Why are you so passionate about theology?" or "I'm just not into theology" to which my response is a broken heart. My first response is anger (righteous I hope) that boils up and come out of me in the form of a blank stare or a frown. It breaks my heart that Christians, believers in Christ, pastors, would say these things. So I want to take a moment to highlight what theology is and why it is important for every Christian and in doing so, I pray God is glorified and we are filled with joy in Him.

What is theology? Answer: theology is the study of God. That is the simple, one sentence, definition. Theology is the study of God. Maybe now you are beginning to see why those questions/statements break my heart. What I hear is "Why is studying God important?" or "Why are you so passionate about studying God?" or, and this one breaks my heart the most, "I'm just not into studying God." These are true sentences that have come out the mouths of believers and I have even heard the last one from a worship pastor before. Can you image saying to your wife, "I'm just not into studying you." "I really don't care to learn about you." No way! Not in a million years would a husband say to his wife, "I do not care about getting to know you." There should be a longing and a desire for all those married to learn and study their spouses. But more than that, there should be a longing and a desire to know who made you and who it is you say you serve. You should be far more passionate about learning God than learning your wife! So it brings us to question two.

Why is theology, the study of God, important for every Christian? Answer: theology is important for every Christian for many reasons. Maybe hundreds of reasons. But the reason I am going to focus on here is a Christian's response to the sweet and bitter providence of God. To say it another way, theology is important because the world will be watching as you go down a bitter road of suffering (the death of a loved one, news of cancer, tsunamis and hurricanes, bridge collapses and the like) and your response will speak volumes of where your treasure is and whether or not you are indeed a Christian.

When you get a call, like I did a couple weeks ago, that your best friends dad (which I will add has been an important father figure in my life in a spiritual sense in addition to living in his house for three years or so) has colon and liver cancer and the liver is inoperable, how are you going to respond? All of the sudden, theology matters. How you think about God really does make a difference. Is your response going to be anger? Or fear? Or resentment toward God? Your response will tell volumes about how you view God and how you view yourself. If your response has "ME" in the center, God is not glorified. But if your response is centered around Jesus Christ and has Jesus running through the entire response, then you make much of God and he is then glorified in your response.

Jonathan Edwards, a preacher, theologian, and missionary to Native Americans, said the following in his "Miscellanies":

God is glorified within Himself these two ways: 1. By appearing... to Himself in His own perfect idea [of Himself], or in His Son, who is the brightness of His glory. 2. By enjoying and delighting in Himself, by flowing forth in infinite . . . delight towards Himself, or in his Holy Spirit...So God glorifies Himself toward the creatures also in two ways: 1. By appearing to... their understanding. 2. In communicating Himself to their hearts, and in their rejoicing and delighting in, and enjoying, the manifestations which He makes of Himself...God is glorified not only by His glory's being seen, but by its being rejoiced in. When those that see it delight in it, God is more glorified than if they only see it. His glory is then received by the whole soul, both by the understanding and by the heart. God made the world that He might communicate, and the creature receive, His glory; and that it might [be] received both by the mind and heart. He that testifies his idea of God's glory [doesn't] glorify God so much as he that testifies also his approbation of it and his delight in it.

Many people will, I hope, see the glory, or intrinsic worth and radiance of Christ, during these times of uncertainty. But my prayer for those reading this, is that those that see the glory will rejoice in the glory of Christ even when staring cancer in the face.

Let us remember the words of the Apostle Paul who said, "But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ" Philippians 3:8-9. This health I have, I count it as loss. This job, I count it as loss. My family, I count it as loss….that I might gain Christ! If you are not there, wrestle with God; Plead with God; Oh God I pray I might go there and stay - treasuring Christ all the way to my deathbed!

2007-06-04T15:48:00.000-04:00

Spiritual Disciplines.

Dallas Willard said, " ...spiritual growth and vitality stem from what we actually do with our lives, from the habits we form, and from the character that results. True character transformation begins, we are taught to believe, in the pure grace of God and is continually assisted by it. Very well. But action is also indispensable in making the Christian truly a different kind of person--one having a new life in which, as 2 Corinthians 5:17 states, 'Old things have passed away and, behold, all things become new.' Failure to act in certain definite ways will guarantee that this transformation does not come to pass."

I can't believe that I am still trying to figure out this whole grace vs. works thing. It's so complicated. I am enjoying this book, "The Spirit of the Disciplines," because it is giving such great insight as to why we do things such as pray, fast, meditate, etc. I believe it is by grace that we even do these things, but that these things are a means of becoming the person that Christ has designed us to be. We use these disciplines in order to form habits, and train our body to act according to the grace we have received. Man! Good stuff.

----------------------------------------------------

For my friends and family of the yankee territory...

My apartment now has a waiting area outside of it. :)

My "bistro set"

...I even bought my own grill back in the corner!

...a great place to eat breakfast and read! I love it!

Here's the new car.

"Galaxy Grey"

profile.

The cool thing is, Honda is going to call me when my plates come in, so I don't have to deal with the License Bureau!

:onelove:

Thoughts on Important Things

2007-05-19T23:36:00.000-04:00

I've decided to take some time to reflect more upon important things, and write about them. Probably more for me than anyone else, but maybe it will bless you too. This will be my home for thoughts and reflections upon the things God is doing here.

:onelove:

I'm back

2007-05-19T16:15:00.001-04:00

I'm going to try giving this blog thing a try again.

Not I

2005-08-23T10:45:00.001-04:00

I Corinthians 1:18-31

The Wisdom of God

18For the word of the cross is (AI)foolishness to (AJ)those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is (AK)the power of God.
19For it is written, "(AL)I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE."
20(AM)Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of (AN)this age? Has not God (AO)made foolish the wisdom of (AP)the world?
21For since in the wisdom of God (AQ)the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, (AR)God was well-pleased through the (AS)foolishness of the message preached to (AT)save those who believe.
22For indeed (AU)Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom;
23but we preach [c](AV)Christ crucified, (AW)to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles (AX)foolishness,
24but to those who are (AY)the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ (AZ)the power of God and (BA)the wisdom of God.
25Because the (BB)foolishness of God is wiser than men, and (BC)the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26For consider your (BD)calling, brethren, that there were (BE)not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble;
27but (BF)God has chosen the foolish things of (BG)the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of (BH)the world to shame the things which are strong,
28and the base things of (BI)the world and the despised God has chosen, (BJ)the things that are not, so that He may (BK)nullify the things that are,
29so that (BL)no man may boast before God.
30But by His doing you are in (BM)Christ Jesus, who became to us (BN)wisdom from God, and (BO)righteousness and (BP)sanctification, and (BQ)redemption,
31so that, just as it is written, "(BR)LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD."

Wow...its been a while since a post...

I finally finished and recorded the song from the last post.

Check it out at one of these sites:

Purevolume

Myspace

Bandspace

I wrote this song after reading through I Corinthians. It's mostly from the first chapter. These verses even just recently have really spoken to me. The wisdom of the Lord is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to those who are being saved, it is the power of God. That's amazing! It's such a beautiful reminder to me of where I have been, and where God through his grace has brought me. It also is a reminder that some of my friends are blind to this wisdom. They see it as foolishness. Its so hard for me to see some of my friends live in the sin that they live. I feel grieved to be around them a lot of the time....grieved spiritually for them and for myself as well. God I just pray that you would give me strength to proclaim you in the midst of darkness, and I pray that you would give me favor with my friends and enlighten them to who you are. Give me strength to be a man! ...and finally, I pray that I would know you more, and you would use these trials to show yourself to me in an even deeper way.

To God be the Glory!

“Not I”

There's this wisdom all around,
foolishness for those perishing

But for the weak who are called,
it's their strength and their joy; supernatural

I'm not gonna live as a natural man

I see and understand, not on my account for who can boast.
who can boast.

Everything here is so turned around,
the weak, they defeat the strong.

and the first become the last
so the last, they can take their place.

I'm not gonna be a natural man

I see and understand, not on my account for who can boast
who can boast.

Oh I see this mystery

that was destined for our glory

humbled by this reality

cause I see its not about me

I'm just a steward of this mystery

Natural Man

2005-05-16T11:48:00.000-04:00

Natural Man

There's this wisdom all around, foolishness for those perishing
But for the weak who are called, it's their strength and their joy; supernatural

I'm not gonna live as a natural man
I see and understand, not on my account for who can boast...who can boast.

Everything here is so turned around, the weak defeat the strong.
and the first become the last so the last can take their place.

I'm not gonna be a natural man
I see and understand, not on my account for who can boast...who can boast.

Oh I see this mystery
that was destined for our glory
humbled by this reality
cause I see its not about me
I'm just a steward of this mystery

this song idea taken from I Corinthians...
I'm pumped about this book right now. Another thing that's really sticking out to me right now is the chapter on love.

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
- I Corinthians 13:1

But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.
- I Corinthians 13:13

This chapter has really opened my eyes in a new light to the importance of love.
In the words of Paul, "Pursue love and let all you do be done in love."

-Grace and Peace to you all-

p.s. Coffee Expressions this Friday

The American Dream...that's a tragedy

2005-05-09T12:31:00.000-04:00

God thank you for this beautiful weather. Let it be a mere reflection of your glory. Reveal that to Your children and Your lost sheep.

The American Dream...

Let me quote a few paragraphs from John Piper in his sermon, "Boasting only in the Cross." (You might have heard this sermon)...

Three weeks ago we got word at our church that Ruby Eliason and Laura Edwards had both been killed in Cameroon. Ruby was over 80. Single all her life, she poured it out for one great thing: To make Jesus Christ known among the unreached, the poor, and the sick. Laura was a widow, a medical doctor, pushing 80 years old, and serving at Ruby's side in Cameroon. The brakes failed, the car went over the cliff, and they were both killed instantly. And I asked my people: was that a tragedy? Two lives, driven by one great vision, spent in unheralded service to the perishing poor for the glory of Jesus Christ—two decades after almost all their American counterparts have retired to throw their lives away on trifles in Florida or New Mexico. No. That is not a tragedy. That is a glory.

I tell you what a tragedy is. I'll read to you from Reader's Digest (Feb. 98, p. 98) what a tragedy is: "Bob and Penny... took early retirement from their jobs in the Northeast five years ago when he was 59 and she was 51. Now they live in Punta Gorda, Florida, where they cruise on their 30 foot trawler, play softball and collect shells." The American Dream: come to the end of your life - your one and only life - and let the last great work before you give an account to your Creator, be "I collected shells. See my shells." THAT is a tragedy. And people today are spending billions of dollars to persuade you to embrace that tragic dream. And I get forty minutes to plead with you: don't buy it.

This has been on my heart...I realized how hippocritacal and selfish I am. I was talking to my friend Emily the other day about how much we both despise the comforts of America. Even for a Christian it is so hard to truly come to the point where all is loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ...to truly have the mindset that nothing is ours. I have been spending just about 4 dollars every morning on coffee...more precisely an Iced Mocha from Coffee Expressions. It is sooo good. But that is 4 dollars that could feed a kid in a 3rd world country. Granted I do support a kid in El Salvador...but who cares. That's easy to do. I can put it on my VISA bill and forget about it. I mean whats 40 bucks a month anyway. When will I stop living for myself!!!!!!!!! AHHH! How can we as Americans come to that point? I know its possible...it just seems much easier to have nothing...then we could see our need and our reliance upon God so much more clearly. But I'm not called to do that at this point...SO...how do I live like I am called to be? I am called to suffer. How do I suffer when I just bought this $700.00 computer. I have everything I could possibly want or need. How do you get to the mindeset...and live a lifestyle that nothing is yours? How?

I may seem scatter-brained...but those are my thoughts...and that is my heart. What are your thoughts?

Ignorance is Bliss

2005-05-03T15:16:00.000-04:00

Ignorance is Bliss

"Do I really believe these words I sing
Or am I conjuring up some fantasy
...that I don't believe"

"Cause faith goes deeper than that
The assurance of things yet to come
...the hope of a future"

"It's more than an emotion
It requires real devotion
But we sell out to our own promotion
Because ignorance is bliss"

This is probably the shortest song I have ever written, but one of my favorite to sing. My faith is not based on pure emotional experiences as great as those are. My faith rests on the truths found in God's Holy Word. As John Piper so eloquently puts it, "You have to be able to move from theology to doxology." That's what this song does for me. Lord give me the faith to move mountains, and Your Spirit that will put my flesh and it's desires to death. Help me to stop selling out to the poultry pleasures of this earth, and pursue life's greatest satisfaction through you.

I'll be playing some of my new music at Dino's Cappuchinos in Yellow Springs this friday from 7-9 p.m. Come out if you can make it. Yellow Springs is an interesting town for those of you who don't know. I won't go into any detail, but it is extremely intimidating to try to go in there and play my "Christian" music in a place that seems to be overtaken by evil. So I would ask that you would pray for me this week if you can find time. Pray that God would use me, my music, and anyone of us that come to speak to and reach out to this community for God's glory. Pray that the Lord would use me as a vessel of mercy to reach out to His children.
Thank you.

What Right Does Clay Have?

2005-04-13T01:39:00.000-04:00

What Right Does Clay Have?

I heard your new philosophy
It changes every day
But you still think you got it all figured out

What makes you think you can know it all
How are you gonna find all the answers
When you can’t see you’re blind in the dark
And dead in sin

What right does clay have…and how can
What is formed talk back to its maker

You seem so smart but you water down
Anything you don’t understand
You take the middle road but you didn’t know…
It’s destination nowhere.

What right does clay have…and how can
What is formed talk back to its maker

Why can’t you see?
Just take a look around you.
Little glimpses mirror
Eternity
But still you can’t see it
Why can’t you see it
A sovereign hand has covered your eyes,
And only That hand can give you sight.

You ask me how could I not have a choice
We’d all be robots with an artificial voice
But I’ll respond to you.

What right does clay have…and how can
What is formed talk back to its maker

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This is a new song I wrote. It came from a few different points. The whole song has the thought of Romans 9 behind it. It also came out of a frustration of people combating my Biblical beliefs with philosophy...not only my non-Christian friends, but my Christian friends as well. Don't argue Christianity with me with the use of philosophy! Especially my brothers and sisters in Christ! Come on! You have to back it up with scripture people! I'm not trying to be mean, but express my feelings. It's dangerous to build a faith on philosophy...build it on a solid rock! Read the scripture...and check your philosophy and personal thoughts with that. There should be no disagreement!

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I will be playing this song and some of my other new acoustic material next friday
@ Coffee Expressions.
Come check it out if you can.

Coffee Expressions
1111 N. Plum Street
Springfield, Ohio 45503

Time: 6pm-8pm (no cover)

I Caved!

2005-04-03T13:35:00.000-04:00

So I caved...I gave in...I think I'm gonna give this whole blogspot thing a chance. It's much more complicated than xanga though...maybe because that's all I know. I couldn't understand myspace either. Dah well...here's the low down...

We had our second "Collective" meeting this week. It was sweet stuff. I drove down with Ted and Joe Bylor from Mechanicsburg.
Guess who was there to speak today...none other than Dave Dorr! Wow it was good to see him!

Dave talked to us about our God the Consuming Fire.
a few random thoughts from Dave:
"The jealousy of God calls us to be zealous for God."
"We are shepherds of the Name of God"
"Whenever the Bible speaks of the jealousy of God it denotes action...and not only by God's wrath but also by His mercy"
...finally...this is out of J.I. Packer's book "Knowing God"...
"The classic description of zeal for God was given by Bishop J.C. Ryle. We quote it at length. Zeal in religion is a burning desire to please God, to do His will, and to advance His glory in the world in every possible way. It is a desire which no man feels by nature--which the Spirit puts in the heart of every believer when he is converted--but which some believers feel so much more strongly than others that they alone desreve to be called 'zealous' men... A zealous man in religion is pre-eminently a man of one thing. It is not enough to say that he is earnest, hearty, uncompromising, thorough-going, whole-hearted, fervent in spirit. He only sees one thing, he cares for one thing, he lives for one thing, he is swallowed up in one thing; and that one thing is to please God. Whether he lives, or whether he dies--whether he has health, or whether he has sickness--whether he is rich, or whether he is poor--whether he pleases man, or whether he gives offence--whether he is thought wise, or whether he is thought foolish--whether he gets blame, or whether he gets praise--whether he gets honour, or whether he gets shame--for all this the zealous man cares nothing at all. He burns for one thing; and that one thing is to please God, and to advance God's glory. If he is consumed in the very burning, he cares not for it--he is content. He feels that, like a lamp, he is made to burn; and if consumed in burning he has but done the work for which God appointed him. Such a one will always find a sphere for his zeal. If he cannot preach, work, and give money, he will cry, and sigh, and pray....If he cannot fight in the valley with Joshua, he will do the work of Moses, Aaron, and Hur, on the hill (Exodus 17:9-13). If he is cut off from working himself, he will give the Lord no rest till help is raised up from another quarter, and the work is done. This is waht I mean when I sepak of the 'zeal' in religion. (Practical Religion, 1959 ed. p. 130)"

P.S. Facebook Me. This is the coolest new internet thingy. YEAH!