two weeks since my last post, yowza. i don't care what one republic says... i apologize anyway.

it's been crazy busy leading up to camp (we leave friday) so posting will be tough for the next week and half or so. to whet your appetite, here are some bullets of goings on you might be interested in.

-my brother's book:




is in stores now! my brother will be in store (lifeway in the woodlands) on saturday, july 11 from 11am to 2pm. come buy the book (at the woodlands lifeway, cuz my dad works there) & get it signed!


-went to a birthday party for tight frances. she turned 75. i gave her a Jesus nightlight. i think she liked it.

-went to the children's museum with the 'rents, nieces, and 85% of the children in the greater houston area on friday. (i had a corn dog and an egg roll for lunch... oh and some fries)

those are just some of the highlights of my whirlwind, jet-set lifestyle. try not to be too jealous!

-oh and i'm buying a house. i think. not real sure how that whole process works, but i think i'm committed at this point! will let you know more later as things firm up.

so, i went to help out at God's Food Pantry on saturday with a few students and one of our interns. 20-30 families come by every saturday and receive food/toiletries free of charge that have been supplied by local churches. while the orders are being filled, someone sits down with the family to discuss life, the Gospel, etc.

usually, when i go, i mix in behind the scenes and fill orders and carry groceries out to cars. i've also been on saturdays, it seems, when there wasn't someone assigned to counsel... so most, if not all, families were just in and out with their goods. i ALWAYS wonder how much, if any, spanish i'll need to remember/use when i'm there as many of the families don't speak english. yesterday, i made up for all the other saturdays when i worked silently behind the curtain, filling orders.

apparently there is now a steady rotation of people that come in strictly to counsel and they were quick to ask who could help interpret for them as they sat with the hispanic families. i reluctantly offered my "services" because, by default, i was the most educated in spanish. the first few translations were a little rocky, but i think the gist was communicated. i found myself blanking on really simple words, not knowing the spanish words for some of the counselor's words, and totally not understanding some of the spanish that was being hurled at me at 100mph (it seemed). i felt worse, because the english speaking counselor was trying to keep it really simple and not really getting into the gospel, because a) using an interpreter was new to him and b) I was the interpreter!

every now and again, the counselors would sit with english speakers and spend much more time with them, getting into their issues and sharing God's truth and love with them as i went back to filling orders and making ridiculous messes (put too many items in a bag, it broke, so did the two jars of spaghetti sauce that were in it). just as the jars hit the ground, i was called back out to translate (huge thanks to those who cleaned it up). i had started to gain some confidence in my spanish, which i've used in puerto rico and mexico on mission trips over the years. i don't know why i always have to relearn this lesson, but when put in the position as the "go-to bilingual", i find myself remembering how to say things and getting over my fear of sounding really stupid. many of the hispanic families complimented me on my spanish, because i started every conversation with how bad it was! i wasn't fishing for compliments, honest. i've just found that if you can say something well in spanish, people often assume you can UNDERSTAND everything in spanish. not true!

as i noticed food orders being filled quicker than the english counseling could keep up with, i started speaking to families in the waiting area to relieve the back up. as i was sharing with one lady, a gentleman came over and asked if i wanted his help translating into spanish (um, yes). i could tell what the lady was telling me, but i couldn't ask the right questions to get her to see what i was getting at. definitely welcomed the help.

two more stories, then i'm done!

1) i was already realizing how little faith i had by not trusting God to give me the words in spanish that He wanted people to hear, but my lack of faith really hit me when i approached an english speaking family and began to share. i had been asking pretty basic introductory questions in spanish with great ease, but i couldn't have a normal conversation with someone in english! it was ridiculous and embarrassing. eventually, i got over it.

2) when it came time for my interpreter in shining armor to get take his groceries, he asked me if i wanted to practice my spanish on him! pretty tight! so i did. i talked to him and helped his family to their car and when i was done, he made my day. he told me my spanish was more than ok (don't remember his exact words) and, this is the best part, that i shouldn't use an interpreter any more. not because my spanish is so good (it isn't), but because when he translated for me, he could translate my words, but not my heart and when i spoke to him in spanish, he could hear my heart. SO encouraging! and SO convicting that i didn't trust God to work through me as He has been faithful to so many times before.

don't sit on your gifts and talents (even ones that you think aren't usable/profitable). God will use them how and when He wants to. just trust Him and get out of the way!

is it just me ...

-or do the astros hate me? they were on a 4 game winning streak going into last night. we took a bunch of students from the church to the game last night. they got destroyed. tonight, they dominated the dojo (thanks in part to a grand slam). ridiculous.

-or is con air on tbs 4 times a day? and when it's not on tbs, it's on tnt. maybe ted is fond of horrid southern accents (which is a puzzler, cuz cage nails it in raising arizona. he shoulda stuck with "country" and not gone for "deep south".) and crappy dialogue:

"do you know what i am?"
"ugly all day."

-or are "sytycd" judges, lil c and mia michaels, drinking some serious haterade when it comes to brandon? actually, i know it's not just me on this one.

-or does anyone else hate that saturday morning cartoons ain't what they used to be? and if you weren't alive in the 80s, you don't know what i (or willis) am talkin' 'bout.

-or does anyone else think auto-tune shouldn't excite recording artists but scare them with the thought that literally anyone can sound just like them?

ok, so tiffany's latest postings have inspired me to try and update more than once a week. man, time flies.

i have a confession to make. it probably won't surprise many of you, but i have a very low tolerance for ambient noise in group settings intended for silence. sounds like a given, but i THINK i'm a lil different on this one.

really, the only two places i find this nerve being grated on are church and movie theaters. and if you know me, those are pretty prominent places in my life. oh, and class (sometimes i forget that i'm a student again). it's not just loud outbursts or crying babies, either. all it takes is someone whispering too much on my row, tapping their foot, clicking their pen, etc. it drives me nuts. i remember one time the a/c vent was rattling ever so faintly ... couldn't block it out. another time my good friend's nose was whistling when he breathed ... couldn't focus, he moved to the end of the row. i hate it. i wish i could block it out. i don't know how pastors (including my own) don't skip a beat when a baby starts crying mid-sermon. i don't handle it well. when students tap their pens or talk/giggle during my sermons, i often ignore it as long as i can and eventually stop and tell/ask them to cut it out. in my mind, they're being more distracting then me stopping the sermon would be. i'm sure i'm wrong, but that's how i roll.

part of the annoyance is often a perceived disrespect for the speaker and people around the noise, but a lot of the time it's just my obsessive mind!

don't get me wrong. i know i'm not the only one distracted by these things, but i know EVERYONE doesn't notice/worry about them like i do. numerous times i've pointed things out that people weren't bothered by UNTIL i made them aware (my bad). i wonder if much of this aural sensitivity comes from living alone for so long. there are no other noises in my habitat other than me! no chatter, no pencil tappers, no giggling, no heavy breathers, and definitely no crying babies. my neighbors' yapping dogs and the all day pool partyers are bad enough.

i see parents who have adapted to the circus of racket that often surrounds them, able to block out all kinds of things and i envy them. oh, how i envy them.

what i'm getting at, basically, is that i've discovered i'm an 80 year old man.

so, keep it down!

anyone else care to share their tolerance level of surrounding noise?

once again, the fickle masses and almighty dollar have given the proverbial axe to another slew of shows. i don't know how some of the surviving shows made it through to another season and i hate that others didn't. here's a quick rundown of some, imo, notables.


-pushing daisies: been over this already, but wanted to re-mention it. also wanted to note that they'll be airing new eps in the next few weeks, so MAYBE we'll get some closure on this short-lived series.

-the unit: sorry, mom and dad. fans can always watch allstate commercials and hope one of those wrecks getts REALLY out of hand. from what i've seen, the unit combines the shoot-first-ask-questions-later and body count of 24 with the marital dynamic of a "good" lifetime original movie. not really my bag.

-kath & kim: i didn't even have to watch this show to know it was horrendous. they got this one right.

-knight rider and harper's island: REALLY?! NO WAY! (i guess those weren't really notable cancellations)

-my name is earl: i admit, this ole grey mare ain't what she used to be. not as upset with its cancellation as i am with the decline of the show. glad pressly got an emmy out of it, though. she quickly (and somewhat sadly) became the only bright spot. (i did read that 'earl' is being shopped to other networks.)

-king of the hill: hats off to a good show with a good run. i didn't keep up with it, but i did appreciate it. chagrined that my hank hill impression isn't as valuable if no one knows who he is!

-the unusuals:last, but not least, is a show i really enjoyed and HOPED would have some staying power. i thought the cast acted well (jeremy renner, amber tamblyn, harold perrineau, adam goldberg, and kai lennox were ALL great), the quirks were outlandish but still believable enough to watch, the soundtrack was cool, and the stories were fine. so what happened, america?! "blech," i say. not cool.

with these cancellations (and many more), come some new contestants to vie for america's downtime. one promising new show that caught my eye is community, brought to us by nbc. the blurb in entertainment weekly reads, "joel mchale heads up the cast of a comedy about a community college full of misfit students and teachers. funny and clever, with chevy chase costarring." now, mchale was pretty horrible on the improv flash in the pan, thank God, you're here, so my hopes aren't too high.

at least my survivor and 'idol' picks were victorious. so not all hope is lost, ha.

i'm so glad tv isn't important. then i'd really have something to be upset about.

when i graduated from college almost 9 years ago (wow), i thought i was done with formal education forever. even after getting into ministry people would ask me if i intended to go to seminary and i would say i didn't see a need for it. at the time, that was true. i've also rubbed finals, homework, quiz, tests, projects, etc. in students' faces for the past 9 years. "oh you have to study? guess what, i never have to do homework ever again! ha!" apparently, i spake too soon.

as i mentioned at the beginning of the year, i started very slowly but somewhat surely pursuing my M.Div. through Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. i tested the waters this first semester with three whopping hours (yep, one class: new testament II) due to a variety of reasons. it was a little weird being in school again, but i did well as far as i can tell (i know all of my grades except the final, which i feel good about). my professor has kind of a tough reputation, too, so that's encouraging!

taking a class with another pastor on staff at my church sure helped. we were able to study together, instead of being left on an island with our notes. we spent a lot of time going over lists, purposes of letters, themes of chapters, etc. and our hard work paid off on the quizzes and exams. it was also cool learning things from the wisdom/experience of our professor, dr. woo, who is a pastor in alief at one of, if not, THE most culturally diverse churches around.* really enjoyed being in his class. i just hope i've retained a lot!

this fall i've registered for new testament I (with dr. woo, again!), systematic theology I, and biblical hermeneutics (with my senior pastor, dr. howell). our church is actually hosting classes which is awesome, so i'll be able to walk to school for hermeneutics!

i'm really hoping the jump from three hours to nine isn't too ridiculous, but at this rate, i'll be graduating in 2035! ha.


*btw: dr. woo has written a book about multi-racial ministry/church, due this august.

tonight i attended a recital at our church where several students who have been taking piano, flute, and voice got to showcase their progress. the songs ranged from chopsticks to beauty and the beast to things i can't pronounce/remember involving numbers and foreign languages.

we have some VERY talented students at our church. it was cool to see students sit and play well on a piano knowing they can sing/act/drum/play bass/guitar/draw/paint/what-have-you well, too.

everyone performed a solo and a duet, and those with siblings in the recital (more than a handful) were paired with their sibling for their duet. this was, obviously, pretty cool. i see these students all the time interacting with their siblings (in very harmonious way, mind you), but seeing them sit side by side at a piano to play even the simplest of songs, was something special. i hope they realize that. i KNOW their parents did.

my brother doesn't play any instruments (unless he counts the guitar that he dabbled in or the kazoo, but i don't think he does) ... and i faked my way through band on the trombone, so don't hold your breath ... maybe he'll let me write a book with him one day!

my brother's book is coming out in july!




you can pre-order it here.

also, jared will be at the lifeway store in the woodlands on july 11th for a book signing... my brother, the celebrity.

i hope that story about me ALLEGEDLY chasing him with a kitchen knife when we were younger isn't in there ... or he at least changed my name to laramie or something.

i promise i have more to post than just videos, but i wanted to share our camp promo with you!

so THIS is how to do ministry...

Ignatius from travis hawkins on Vimeo.

full disclosure: i have had my hair cut at tony and guy (but NEVER highlighted) and used intro music for message series. BUT i hope the comparisons end shortly thereafter!

i'm no long-timer. last season was my first season of AI to ever watch. i'm definitely not hard-to-the-cizz-ore 'cause i fast forward through everything but the actual performances and simon's critiques. i've even stopped listening to paula's nonsense as comic relief, but am tempted to see what she has to say every time simon starts with something like, "i REALLY need an interpreter to know what she's saying."

alas, just give me the talent and the most to-the-point, realistic judge (i realize he words things more harshly than necessary at times, but still).

all that being said, i see things that fuel what i hope will play out for this season.

my early favorite was danny gokey... but my new fave is kris allen.

to compare to last season: gokey is my jason castro. i liked jason from day one, but he kinda fizzled for me. kind of a one trick pony. no progression. i see that with gokey, too. kris is my david cook. cook last season kinda grew on me and kept me rooting for him week after week with variety and execution. that's what kris is bringing to the table for me. cool arrangements, masterfully executed. winning combo, if it were wilsonian idol.

now... adam lambert... (prepare to hate) is my david archuleta. he's talented, no doubt. i just don't like what he does. archuleta and lambert are VERY different, i realize. but in my book, they're both talented singers who i don't want to listen to. lambert is quite the showman. very impressive, but i don't want an album of it. he's like axl rose meets geddy lee meets elton john... in a bad way.

and sadly, over the past two season, i can't figure out why girls are still even contestants on this show. good luck, ladies. adam is DEFINITELY the only person with eyeliner who has a chance.

(and the rest of you, i guess. but specifically the roberts girls, who haven't wavered in their HSM proselytizing!)

mr. walter disney gets weird, but just dismiss him...

i've been wanting to share this with the interweb for many moons, but have just now been able to due to technical and legal obstacles. it's a video we put together for an exodus series i preached last semester.

hope you dig it as much as i do.



The Plagues (Prince of Egypt/Johnny Cash) from HWY 249 on Vimeo.

i realize my holy week posts have each been 12-24 hours late each day (i thought this post went public late last night...)



(this is a lot, but i just couldn't cut more out... it's hard enough not posting the entire chapter!)

12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For God has put all things in subjection under his feet. But when it says, all things are put in subjection, it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. 28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all ...

35 But someone will ask, How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come? 36 You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies ...

42 So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. 43 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 Thus it is written, The first man Adam became a living being;the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. 47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. 50 I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable ...

1 Corinthians 15:12-28;35-36;42-50

the crucifixion validates the Gospel of Christ's sacrifice. like paul says in the passage above: if Christ was not resurrected, then we have no hope and are still dead in our sin. the fact that Jesus lived a perfect life and laid it down to pay for the sin of others is amazing enough. the fact that He not only fulfilled that law/payment but trumped, conquered, and negated it is astounding.

i was encouraged by this passage earlier in the week while leading a Bible study and reminded this morning again that we are to live with the hopeful expectation of people forever changed and made alive in Christ BECAUSE of the resurrection. it's one thing to be saved from wages of sin... it's another to be made alive in Christ knowing that one day what is perishable and was sown in dishonor and weakness will be raised imperishable in glory and power! it may be difficult to separate the two, but these things are possible because of the resurrection, not the crucifixion. because Christ was raised, we too will be raised. if we aren't to be raised, then Christ wasn't raised either. and without that validation, that sealing of the deal, we are to be pitied; our Gospel is hooey, our hope is a pipe dream, we're still dead in our sins.

the law is powerful. the law is God's standard. the law wasn't just disregarded and dismissed. the law was fulfilled (praise God!) on good friday. the law was first fulfilled, THEN dismissed. we shouldn't miss that when we consider God's grace. it's not a gimme. it was paid for. it might be free to us, but it was very costly. to leave it at that, though, keeps the law in power. death remains the victor. and if you know God, you know He's not going out like that (He's not going out, ever). rejoice that we share in His victory! death is swallowed up!

53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is your victory?O death, where is your sting? 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

1 Corinthians 15:53-58

how often we lose sight of that ending! we worry, we doubt, we fear. but our hope is secure! the victory sealed at Christ's resurrection is just waiting to be unleashed en masse at the final resurrection! so yeah, easter's a big deal. it matters. ironically, the crux of Christianity, in a way, is not the cross... it's the empty tomb. it's proof that Christ's death wasn't a publicity stunt to drum up a following. the crucifixion wasn't a dice roll. the resurrection confirms it was God's insured, calculated, predetermined, sovereign and victorious plan to display His glory by redeeming sinners.

because of the resurrection, "just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven."

hallelujah!

22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

Hebrews 9:22

1 Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. 2 And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. 3 They came up to him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! and struck him with their hands. 4 Pilate went out again and said to them, See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him. 5 So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, Behold the man! 6 When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, Crucify him, crucify him! Pilate said to them, Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him ...


17 and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. 18 There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them.
19 Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews. 20 Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. 21 So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, Do not write, The King of the Jews, but rather, This man said, I am King of the Jews. 22 Pilate answered, What I have written I have written. 23 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, 24 so they said to one another, Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.This was to fulfill the Scripture which says, They divided my garments among them,and for my clothing they cast lots.So the soldiers did these things ...


28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), I thirst. 29 A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, It is finished, and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

John 19:1-6;17-24;28-30

24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

1 Peter 2:24

18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,

1 Peter 3:18

good friday, like maundy thursday, has a few aliases and possible origins. it's sometimes called black friday, but of course we've associated that term with the consumer madness on the day after thanksgiving.

some people wonder why "good" was used to describe the day of Jesus' death. some believe "good day/friday" evolved from "God's day/friday". others believe that "good" is a gross understating of what happened on the day Jesus died.

the darkest day in the physical life of Jesus the man was the culmination of His saving purpose on this earth. "it is finished" didn't mark the swan song of a great philosopher, teacher, or prophet. Jesus wasn't throwing in the towel on His physical life. He was proclaiming the completion of His substitutionary atonement. good friday is marked by Christ's ultimate act of obedience to the Father. Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross created our only way for reconciliation to God. if Jesus had any sin of His own, His death wouldn't have paid for ours. before we believed in Him, He did this. before we considered Him, He did this. before we heard of Him, He did this. before we even existed, He did this.

that's not a picture of us finding or pursuing God. that's a picture of God pursuing us. that's Jesus condescending from Heaven to humanity to seek and save the lost. Christ's death on the cross fulfilled God's plan of redeeming us to Himself. without it, we stand guilty, condemned. through it, by it, and because of it, the righteousness of God is imparted to us. to borrow from my favorite hymn, "oh the bliss of this glorious thought!"

good friday, indeed.

3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, Lord, do you wash my feet? 7 Jesus answered him, What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand. 8 Peter said to him, You shall never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.

John 13:3-8

i admit it. i had no idea what "maundy" meant before yesterday. i knew the events of maundy thursday, but never really understood what "maundy" meant. if you're like me, let me explain. the english word "maundy" stems from the latin word for mandate or commandment. it's associated with the night of the last supper because, after washing the disciples' feet, Jesus stated "A new commandment (mandatum) I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another."

john 13 begins by explaining that Jesus knew His hour had come. with the coming events in mind, Jesus begins to serve the disciples by washing their feet.

as if His incarnation and crucifixion wouldn't be strong enough examples of humility and service, He literally kneels to wash the feet of His own followers. peter's response is only natural, that Jesus shouldn't stoop to such a menial task. but Jesus, through the self-debasing act as Jesus/rabbi/teacher washing His students' feet was pointing them (and us) even further to His role as Christ/Messiah/Savior. "If I do not wash you, you have no share with me."

if Jesus didn't come to earth in the likeness of man... if He didn't humble Himself to death on a cross... He wouldn't be the Christ... He would just be rabbi. and if we aren't washed by His blood... if we don't accept the benefit (by placing our faith in Him) of His service and submission unto death, then we have no part with Him. peter's impulse was that accepting a foot-washing from Jesus would tarnish His role as rabbi. Jesus points out that if we deny a "spirit-washing" we deny His role as the suffering, serving Savior.

likewise we, as followers of Christ, are to suffer and serve. we're to love one another as Christ loved us (through service and sacrifice).

don't skip over the events of holy week this week. today/tonight reflect on Christ's service/sacrifice on the night of the last supper, keeping in mind His ultimate sacrifice that was to follow.

forgive me, blogosphere, for i have slacked. it's been 17 days since my last post.

so, i got to spend the better part of today with my mom and her four sisters. the highlight for me was when we watched the gaither gospel hour on daystar. (the lowlight was the lifetime movie, midnight bayou or murderous swamp mansion or whatever it was called. i didn't catch much of that one!)

anyway, i LOVE gospel music, i LOVE the gaither homecomings, and i LOVE that my family knows the songs and grew up singing them. i think my mom's family was even called the singing damrons or something. that's legit! (mom, if it's not true, don't tell me... at least not on here!) one of my favorite all time family memories was sitting around in a campground chapel with my mom's side of the family singing old hymns and gospel songs while my aunts traded out playing the piano. i have a big family, so it was like a gaither homecoming all its own.

i'm not sure all of my cousins share my enthusiasm, but i'd hate for that gospel tradition to be lost on future generations of my family in the same way it's fading out of christian culture at large. there's just something special about getting together as family (physical or spiritual) and singing great hymns and gospel music. i think it's different than the corporate worship we're used to now... but maybe i'm too sentimental about it. and i know it's a genre of music that isn't much appreciated these days, so it's tough for people not accustomed to appreciate it. maybe i was just born in the wrong generation!

anywho, if you want to share in my joy/see what the fuss is about/taste and see/or remind yourself why you never listen to gospel music, feast on these excerpts from the special we watched today:

God's Building a Church:




He's a Personal Savior




you're welcome...

this weekend will be the tenth wedding i have participated in, if my count is accurate (hope i'm not forgetting someone).

this will be my second outing as an usher. i've also been a groomsman four times and held/shared best man duties four times. it's always an honor. i know it's not about me AT ALL, but when i think about being asked to share in such an important event, i feel blessed to be counted as friend by the people in my life.

i'm really thankful for the people and friendships God has placed in my life over the years. i'm so undeserving, yet here i stand.

matt tipton is on itunes!

matt was a student at our church growing up who joined our high school worship band after a radical conversion. i've had the privilege of seeing matt grow in Christ as a high schooler, college student, husband, and now father and i've been spoiled to work with him in ministry, call him friend, and stand at his side in his wedding. he now serves as pastor of music/production at the journey in the north seattle area. it's always been amazing to see matt discover and create songs that i truly believe the Lord has blessed him with.

the worship "industry" needs more matt tiptons. guys with humble hearts and the gifts to usher others into the throne room for the purposes of exalting Christ and edifying the Church.

this link should send your itunes browser to the page for his album, today. buy it!

confession: i've never seen rattle and hum. pretty sure i need to.