Free Coldplay Video

For all you faithful readers in the USA, head over to iTunes and download a free music video of Coldplay for their song, “Lovers in Japan”. Very cool.

I believe they’re only offering it for a week.

The Artist’s Life

Warren Cole Smith:

“The artist’s life, a helpful college professor once told me, is a vocation, a calling. It should be engaged in to tell the truth about the world, and not just to make money or even to propagate a message. It takes discipline, perseverance, and mastery of the tools of that particular art. Most of all it takes an unsentimental view of what you’ve done and what you’re capable of doing. And it takes the courage to hear the truth about your work. Tough feedback is not a discouragement—it is a gift.”

Wide Awake Study Guide – Chapter 7

ENJOY – The Hedonist

•    What is a simple pleasure you love in life? Coffee? Twinkies? Sunsets? Nintendo Wii? Share yours with the group.

•    Is life for you ‘an endless exploration of beauty and mystery’? Explain why or why not.

•    Think about someone in your life with a contagious personality. What makes them contagious?

“You were created to enjoy, but make sure you enjoy what you were created for.”

•    What is the difference between proper pleasure and destructive pleasure? What kind of pleasure should we be pursuing? Explain your answer.

•    Erwin says that our darkest moments in life will be when our relationships are a mess. Why is this the case? Explain your answer.

•    Read James 1:2. Why can trials be an opportunity for joy? Explain your answer.

•    Why do we conclude that the people who are truly spiritual are the ones who are sober, serious, and joyless? Do you agree?

“The less you enjoy your life, the weaker you will be on your journey. Why? Because the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Ben Davis starts a blog

My good friend, Ben Davis, has begun a blog. He is one of our youth pastors at APC. Ben is a critical thinker, loves people, and lives for Jesus. I know this blog will encourage you and help you think deeper about God, culture, and ministry. Enjoy.

Check it out here.

Worship Consumers?

As followers of Christ, have we focused on the excellency of our offering more than the brokenness? Worship is not pretty. Surrender is not glamorous. Worship begins at the cross and is expressed in a focused life. We cannot just sing about the greatness of God – we must feel his greatness. We cannot just say we love Him – we must love Him. We cannot simply say…we must be.

All of us look forward to cool “worship experiences”, or “worship concerts”, where there is a gifted worship leader leading great songs and excellent music. It is entertaining, emotional, and fun. This can be a great thing, but if we are not actually loving God than it is pointless. If the band is tight, the songs are catchy, but our hearts are cold towards glorious Truth, we need an awakening.

“Lord, make me a true lover of You today. Keep me from just retaining information and being able to say profound things about you, but have coldness  in my heart. Help me be consumed by You.”

Song Story – “Holding Onto You”

I’ve always learned from my Mom the importance of a quiet time with God – extended moments spent everyday in quietness and worship before the Master. This truth and discipline has kept me in many a distressing time.

The content of this song is extremely vulnerable and personal. As a musician and a worship leader, I’ve had to deal with many compliments, criticisms, and learning how to distinguish between what I do and who I am. Also, 2005-2006 was an unbearably distressing year of physical suffering – multiple doctors and hospitals finding no diagnosis for me. Through this time, even my closest friends no longer knew what to say to me. I felt alone.

This song emerged out of that season because I really was not alone. Christ was my anchor.

I had to leave North Central University when I wrote this because my health was so bad. I never sang it, but my friend Kati Tollefson and friends from school ministered through this song while I was at home trying to get well. I cried for a long time when I heard the first recording back in 2006. It was encouraging to see God use this song without me being there. God is good at getting His glory while keeping me in the shadows sometimes!

I hope this song can be a source of strength to you. It came out of a dark place and God has lifted me out!

When all the songs are sung
And all the crowds are gone
When I must be myself again
When there’s no friend in sight
No gifts to hide behind
Speak to my heart its confidence

It’s You and all You are
Satisfying the deepest part of me

Draw me nearer
To Your heart, to Your love
Let me rest here
Holding onto You forever

When darkness fills my eyes
No light, no joy, no pride
When hope’s the last thing on my mind
I’ll stand before Your face
Press into Your embrace
Receiving all I need today

My hope
My strength
My truth
Always

Engaged!

Just so you know, I got engaged yesterday! Woohoo! The beautiful Emily Thomas is going to be my wife and I couldn’t be more excited. She is absolutely wonderful. We took some fun pictures that I will share with you soon.

Hallelujah!

Seasons of Delay

This coming Tuesday at APEX Young Adults, we are talking about the idea of CREATING – being active in shaping our future for the glory of God. We will look at the parable of the Ten Virgins in Matthew 25. I am absolutely stunned by this simple verse:

“As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept” (25:5).

Erwin McManus says, “Preparation is the beginning of the creative process” (Wide Awake, 164).

5 virgins prepared their lamps for the bridegroom’s coming. 5 did not. Are we preparing today for what God has for tomorrow? Your dream may seem very delayed, or non-existent. Your promise from God may seem delayed, or even forgotten.

I challenge you today: Don’t become drowsy and sleep simply because nothing seems to change in your life. God’s promise to you, based on His unshakable Word, WILL COME TO PASS! Live in the moment with expectancy and prepare your heart for when God’s promise comes to pass!

Wide Awake Study Guide – Chapter 6

CREATE – The Activist

• Have you ever had any inventing ideas? If you’re not embarrassed, share your ideas with the group.

• In what area are you most creative? Share your personal experience with the group.
“God given gifts, fueled by a heart for God and a love for people, brings God great glory.”

• Erwin states, “God created the chicken and the egg. But we created the quiche.” Only God creates out of nothing but we can use what God has given. Do believe you were designed to create? Explain why or why not.

• Read Matthew 25:1-13. Share with the groups what is the theme of this parable.

• What are the two things Erwin says we need on page 165 to prepare for a different future? Write them below and define each.

1.
2.

“If you begin to capture a picture of the life you dream of but do not prepare for the challenges you will face to make them a reality, you will not see it happen. I see this all the time: people who have huge dreams but are unwilling to pay the price to see them through.”
• What does my dream demand of me? Share your thoughts with the group.

• Read the character study (on page 180-181) of Lisa Ma Perez. What inspires you about her life?

Song Story – “I Surrender All [every thought]“

I love hymns. I really strive to write songs that portray the Gospel in its glory, as many hymns do. This is one of my favorites, though it’s always troubled me to just sing “I Surrender All” and not mean it. Beautiful words and a beautiful melody can make surrender seem easy and pleasant. Not so much. Those words are massive, mind-blowing. So, I decided to add on a chorus (believe me, I’m not trying to improve on the amazing song) that brought more description to what “I surrender all” means. Every thought, every word, every deed, this is my worship to You.

The story of Judson W. Van DeVenter is also quite inspiring. Here’s a simple summary in his own words:

“For many years I had been studying art. My whole life was wrapped up in its pursuit and the thing farthest from my mind was active Christian service. My dream was to become an outstanding and famous artist. After graduating from college, I studied drawing and painting under a well-known German teacher. To help me financially, I taught school and eventually I became supervisor of art in the public schools of Sharon, Pennsylvania.

It was during this period in my life that a revival was held in the First Methodist Church of which I was a member. I became very interested in these meetings as a personal worker. The Spirit of God was urging me to give up teaching and to enter the evangelistic field, but I would not yield. I still had a burning desire to be an artist. This battle raged for five years. At last the time came when I could hold out no longer and I surrendered my all-my time and my talents. It was then that a new day was ushered into my life. I wrote I Surrender All in memory of the time when, after the long struggle, I had surrendered and dedicated my life to active Christian service for the Lord.”

It’s interesting to see how the Spirit of God led Judson to his final surrender. God knows what is best for us and patient with us when we don’t trust Him right away.

It’s also humbling to partner with Judson so many years after his death to sing this beautiful song. I pray it stirs you to give your all to Jesus.