Sunday set-list

Here is a sneak peak at what we will be playing on Sunday:

How Awesome Is The Lord Most High - Opening
Be Glorified
Now That Your Near
Give Me Jesus
It Is You
My Savior, My God
God Of Wonders - Offering

Now that you know what we are doing I except it to be loud in there with voices singing, you have a couple of days to practice.

Practice

Well we are hoping to start a new chapter with the worship team as tonight we had 3 new fellows join us for practice. Now I'll be honest with you and some might feel the same way but when new people show up for anything there is always a feeling out period, a time of nervousness not knowing what someone brings but I can honestly say that last night went so much better than expected. Eric, Brent, and Nate just seem to fit right in and things went real smooth. It seemed to be a good fit, except for the mandolin but hopefully that will always be checked at the door, and I am excited about Sunday morning. Things just seemed to fall into place last night with the only problem being a song that those guys have never heard but they picked up on it and it's gonna be allright. We will see where this leads and if this is the plan.
This is phase 3 of my worship team experience and it has gotten off to a good start so far.

Comment

I remeber watching Casting Crowns performing on tv one night and something Mark Hall said struck me and has stuck with me for a while. When I first heard him say it I was kinda like what did he just say, that can't be right, but the more I thought about it the more it made sense. What he said was "God doesn't need me, He wants me." When I think about this and when he first said it that whole human nature ego thing kicks in with the whole "I'm the greatest thing since sliced bread" or "I'm cooler than the other side of the pillow." Who else is going to reach the people that only I can reach. Then reality and truth set in with God is God, he can do all things with or without me. He wants to come along with me on this journey we call life and lead the way. The thing that still floors me is that he knows me and has known me all my life and still wants me, he still calls me to do things for his kingdom, he can still and wants to use me in ways that I can't even imagine. He longs for me (us) to cry out to him and turn everything over to him. That is just so cool.

I went back into my childhood last night by watching a show that I used to watch all the time as a kid growing up EMERGENCY. A friend of ours has season one on dvd so he let me borrow it and I got a kick out of watching an episode last night brought back memories. I remember having the squad 51 fire helmet and some other stuff. Good stuff.

Big mistake

Taylor made a big mistake yesterday, she proved to me that she can mow the yard. She came in relief of the old man on close to half of the back yard and did a pretty good job. Tammy reminded me of when both kids were little how we couldn't wait till they were able to mow, do laundry, dishes, etc....and that time is now here. Unfortunately the driving, the dating, the first real job is just around the corner and will be here before you know it, and that I am not ready for. Now if we can get Tyson to learn how to mow so he can burn off some of that energy we will be all set.

One more thought from yesterday I see where they are building a Bob Evans.............................



right next to Bob Evans???????????????????????

Explain to me.

Explain to me why a gas station sells gas for $2.799 why not make it $2.80 cause that is what it is. Are you really getting a deal by saving .001 cents per gallon? I also want to know why in Muncie its $2.80 but drive to Parker and its $2.96 than the next day they are switched and it is cheaper in Parker than Muncie.

I want to give a shout out to Dave Rees for the song at the end of service yesterday, great job Dave. Ready for Wednesday to get back to a practice routine and get back at it. Yesterday was different but good with the singers but it is hard sometimes to sit down and not play on a Sunday.

This week I looked on the calender at home and the only thing this week is the M & O meeting tomorrow night, no other meetings no ball games no nothing should be a good week.

Song lyric for the day

A song lyric that has been going through this vast space I call my head today

I know that I've been given more than beyond measure I come alive when I see beyond my fears, I know that I've been given more than earthly treasures, I come alive when I'm broken down and given you control.

Do you ever stop and think how blessed you are? Do you ever stop and think that you are blessed "Beyond Measure?" Do you ever feel undeserving of the blessings that you have recieved? Do you ever find yourself praying to be blessed with more and more stuff instead of praying for someone else's blessing? And finally are you thankful for the blessings that you have?

I personally have been blessed more than I could have ever imagined and I thank God for each and every blessing He has given me.

WOW

As I sit and think back to the meeting last night all I can say is wow. This is gonna be cool. Faith stretching and growth will be a couple of words mentioned quite a bit in the near future. I think it is so cool that we have to add on for our kids, that can only mean big things when they grow up and become the leaders of our church and other churches as well. It is exciting to be a part of a church that is growing in more ways than just numbers. I remember as a child going to church every Sunday and enjoying it than through the teen years it got to be more of a struggle to go each week than it became an every once in awhile pattern until it got to the point where I stopped going to church all together. Since we started going here to FFC it has been nothing but total enjoyment and growing up. I hope and pray that the kids here from youth group to kidzone, to little kidzone, all the way down to the nursery never lose that spark of going to church. I think one of my favorite parts or elements of all this is the faith stretching, I for one am ready to get loose so I can be stretched like the old Stretch Armstrong toy.

Stick around and enjoy the challenges and growth that is coming our way. We were not going here when the move took place but watching the slideshow last night of the old church and the beginings of the new one was pretty cool to see it all take place. Now we are a part of this new chapter and it will be something to remember for years to come. If your not a part of it yet, what are you waiting for, it is time to get involved.

I will have to say though that when we got there last night and saw all the tools on the tables Tammy joked that she hoped I didn't have to use any of them because tools and I don't mix well, now give me a bat, golf club, or a guitar and now we are talking.

Halfway through the week

We've made it halfway through the week and the weekend is right around the corner but what is getting even closer is a weeks vacation. The first week of July I've got scheduled for a week off, going with the family to Cincinnati to the Newport Aquarium to check that out and maybe a ball game. Not going as far or going to be gone as long as last year but a break away from the normal will be just what the doctor ordered. Then its back home to do a little painting and relaxing and who knows what all. Last night was Taylor's last ball game and then Tammy took the kids (both of ours and 2 of my nieces) to the drive-in while I went home and actually got to bed at a decent hour, I was probably in bed about the time the movie was starting. Get to go watch some fireworks tonight in that big thriving metropolis of Parker City at the Bly's and also get to go hang out at the church for a while tonight to hear what all is getting ready to happen there, should be a good night.

I don't get it

"I would rather live my life as if there is a God and die to find out there isn't, than live my life as if there isn't, and die to find out there is." TD Jakes

I am not a big fan of these "chain" e-mails that are out there you know the ones, "send this to 10 people and you will get a miracle tomorrow" or "if you send this back to me you will get a financial blessing." Now I don't know about you but I don't think these e-mails have that much power. Now saying that there are some out there with a good message in the text like the one above, I like to soak up every bit of God's word, promises, and encouragement but to send these e-mails on for "my miracle" that I won't do, sorry.

I got to thinking about what TD said and thinking about a few people I know or have known who choose to go their own way and I wonder what it will be like for them when they stand before God on judgement day and realize how REAL He is. It breaks my heart that people are walking around blind or in what they say is their "happy place", will it be so happy when they come face to face with the creator of the universe. God sends signs of his greatness everyday to us but for some reason some people just miss them. I just pray that they will finally get it before they leave this place.

A little boredom

I was kind of bored this weekend so I decided to see if I could remember how many concerts I have attended. To the best of my knowledge I have seen over 60 concerts at over 30 different places and have seen over 100 different bands in 5 different states. I have seen shows in Indiana of course, Ohio, Florida, Illinois, and Kentucky. I have seen shows at Market Square Arena, I miss that place, Verizon Wireless-Deer Creek-insert your name here, RCA Dome, Allen County Memorial Coliseum, Hara Arena, Nutter Center at Wright State, Ball State Arena and shows at smaller venues like Emens, Reardon Auditorium, The Ritz, The Sherwood, Taylor Universtiy, The Key Palace in Redkey and others. Bands range from AC/DC to Zoegirl but no country. I really enjoy going to concerts and look forward to going to many more. I have seen bands alot of you have heard of like AC/DC, Kiss, Van Halen, Dokken, Aerosmith, and the likes in the secular scene and Third Day, David Crowder, Newsboys, Jeremy Camp, Kutless, Toby Mac, and even Jump 5 in the christian scene. I have also seen bands that many of you probably have never heard of like Shaded Red, Rachel Rachel, Benny Hester, Hoi Polloi, and many others.The bands I have seen the most are:

Apologetix 5 times
Guardian 4 times
Petra 4 times (twice in one week)
Randy Stonehill 4 times
Anthony Gomes 3 times

My favorite shows have been the last couple I went to with the kids, with Tyson - Stellar Kart, Kutless, and Newsboys and with Taylor - Family Force 5, Building 429, Thousand Foot Krutch, and Toby Mac. Others are David Crowder and Third Day at Emens, Fates Warning/Dream Theater/Queensryche in Columbus and Seven Places/Sanctus Real/Jeremy Camp in Avon. I have had the privilage of meeting quite a few of these artists and can't wait till the next show.

A second can change everything

Today is kind of a blah day so far, my thoughts these past few days have been on something from about 15 years or so ago. This morning if you don't know Micheal Lambert was excecuted, he lived in Farmland for awhile growing up. I knew him and his family and hate that this unfortunate situation ever took place. We never hung out together but would say hey alot of the times we passed. It is amazing how our lives can change by a split second decision sometimes it changes for the better and sometimes that split second can send our lives spiraling downward out of control. There is so much of this that doesn't make sense but the outcome has affected 2 families in different ways. I feel for both families dealing with the losses that both have had to face. I am not defending Micheal's actions on that night but there are some things that don't make sense as to why this even had to take place on a routine stop.

I know that this is a stretch but it does fit here is a song lyric for you from Geoff Moore and the Distance's song Evolution:

You can wait a million years hoping nature does its part
BUT IT ONLY TAKES A SECOND FOR GOD TO CHANGE A HEART

Our lives can change in a second, for the better or for the worse. I know he wishes he had those moments back and made another decision, I just pray that during those years in prison that his heart changed for the better.

Times are a changing

The worship team is going through some changes as you know and the times ahead at times are unclear. We have had 2 important members step down in the last few weeks and while from a personal standpoint it is a bummer from the fact that I really enjoyed the time playing music together, hanging out and learning from God's word and spending time in worship together I know that the friendships built we remain. Right now we are leaderless so to speak so things are a little scary.

But we (I) are ready to dive right in and continue on without missing a beat and maybe bring something new to the table and just see where this all leads to. I know God isn't going nowhere.

So just hang in there with us for awhile and be patient with us for a bit as we find our way and our voice in all of this.

As long as we stay in God's hands I know he will not leave us or forsake us and I pray that something we do each week will touch someone, somehow, someway. We need to keep our focus on why we are doing this and put God first in ALL aspects and let him play through each one of us each and every Sunday.

The day after

Yesterday was a good relaxing day and it was topped off with my favorite strawberry pie. My Grandma Chalfant started something years ago by making me a strawberry pie instead of a cake for my birthday and its pretty much stuck ever since. Yesterday Taylor made me a pie, which was mighty tastey I might add, and that is a mistake on her part because now I know she knows how to make them.

I got an email today with some cool points that I would like to share with you. I got this from Dale Thompson who is the lead singer of the christian rock band BRIDE and here are a few tidbits...

From the sanctuaries to the streets (Doing the works of Jesus wherever we find a need)
From christianity to Christ (Not a philosophy or a system but Christ in you)
From weekly worship to constant worship (Worship is more than singing ROM 12:1-2)
From selective submission to total submission (All in, every bit)
From local vision to world vision (Jesus' last command: All the world every person, every nation)
From building my kingdom to building HIS kingdom.
From dependence on programs to dependence on prayer (The ACTS 4:29-30 kind)

Just a few items of things to help inspire and challenge you in your daily walk.

1st 2nd post ever

This is my first ever second post of the day but I saw something interesting online a minute ago. You all know I like music and lately I really like it when "secular" artists come to know Jesus Christ. Case in point about a year ago one of the guitar players for Korn was saved and left the band. His name is Brian "Head" Welch and he is set to release his first book next month called SAVE ME FROM MYSELF. Now I am excited to get this book and read it to see how much his life has changed. You can check him out at headtochrist.com. Its is simply amazing what God can do.

You say it's your birthday...

Well it's my birthday too and if you see Jim Nabors or former President Bush tell them I said hey cause they share the same birthday as me. 39 today I'm getting to be an old fart but these things happen. I don't understand why some people are afraid and or ashamed of getting older, hey people its a fact of life we all get older. I am not ashamed to say I am 39 and will not be ashamed next year at the big 4-0. Man these people never would have made it back in the old testament when people lived 4 or 500 years and or more. "I'm turning 357 again this year" just has a wierd ring to it. Last year at this time we went to Sea World in Orlando, great place and if you get the chance I suggest you give it a shot. The only bad thing about that day was the tropical storm that was there and all the rain, we were so soaked. At first we were trying not to get wet than after awhile it was like who cares. The only bad thing was that we never got to see the whole Shamu show. When we got there for it we couldn't find 4 seats together so an usher said to sit here which was dead on center under the sound and video both perfect seats. They are reserved seats for the show but people weren't showing up so we sat there which was good because halfway through the show a storm came rolling through and they stopped the show and people all around us were scattering but we were dry. Seems like only yesterday we were there.

A few birthdays stick out more than others like that one and when I turned 12 and went to a Reds, (yes Bly I mentioned the Reds) game to see them play my beloved Pittsburgh Pirates at the time. Great day of course the Pirates won and Mike Easler of the Pirates hit for the cycle which for those baseball challenged people means he got a single, a double, a triple, and a home run. We sat about 20 rows up on the 1st base side in the blue seats which at the time were the lowest level, great game I need to get to the new ballpark and check it out, hey Vickery up for some baseball?

Weekend observations

I must confess I really enjoy the weekends, got a double dose of church this weekend playing both Saturday and Sunday, actually we all did except for Mandy. Saturday night was good I really dig History Maker. Sunday was good as well. I don't know how it was for anyone else but I was blown away with everyone singing LOUDLY on It Is You, as soon as we started and the singing began I couldn't believe how loud it was. I'll admit it has been a hard week after talking to Ryan last Sunday night and finding out he was stepping down, I will miss him in the worship team aspect but I am glad to still be able to hang with him at church and I'm sure other times as well. He is the one who invited me into the worship team and I have enjoyed the few years we have spent playing and even writing some songs together. I hope everyone bears with us for a few weeks as we find our voice and groove with where we are led and who will be leading, who knows maybe Eric, Tim and I will start singing, who knows all I know is we will do what we are led to do and keep all eyes and focus on Jesus Christ.

The message was another great one, it mixed truth, comedy, real life experiences and even suspense with the a__h___ thing. It was fun to see and hear reaction Sunday morning after listening to it Saturday night and also being challenged myself to make today a totally positive day. I'll keep taking it a day at a time and before you know it everything will be positive and the negative will have to find someone else to mess with. Finally today is the last day of year 38 for me, it has been a good one starting out with a family vacation to Florida, North Carolina and Virgina and alot of other good things have happened along the way, drawing closer to God, starting a daily bible reading, leaving things I shouldn't be messing with behind and etc.. but it is also been a tough year with some hardships that have been experienced by myself and family and things that friends of ours have gone through. I know that somehow God is using these experiences for His kingdom and His glory, I may not understand why yet but someday I will and He will be praised.

One more day

Finally we are down to one more day till the weekend and I am excited for Sunday and to hear the message because after hearing the topic and what has transpired this week I need it. I know that we cannot please everyone all the time but people who gripe and complain sometimes brings me down when it shouldn't. I am tired of all of the talk of not being able to worship during service for whatever reason. My only comment is look within first, is your heart ready regardless of your surroundings. If you can't worship because of (insert reason here) I think it is something else keeping you from worship not the excuse. But after all of this I am reminded of more song lyrics from Barren Cross....

Jesus told me let it go and let it die
I paid for that brothers wrong with my life
Then he told me let it go and let it die
You've got to forgive or you'll die inside.

I will not let these things bother me anymore, the devil is trying all he can to wedge whatever he can to disrupt what is going on here because life's are being changed and he don't like it. Lets rise up and not fall into his trap.

Proud Dad

I was so proud of my daughter last night, I missed her first ball game last night but saw the second one, during the game a girl hit a fly ball out her way and she caught it. She has not played long and is sometimes afraid of the ball but she hung in there and caught it and that made her day. That was until she came up to bat and got beaned in the side, thats gonna leave a mark. I could learn a few things from her about facing your fears head on.

Nice weekend

Good weekend that was extended by a day so that is always good, now its back to it. Sundays message was phenomenal and I know that God was and is working on others who have not yet commited but we'll keep praying and He will keep working. An old line to a song by a band called Tourniquiet "Pray without ceasing, give thanks for all things" that is what we will do. Talked to a friend for about an hour Sunday night about somethings he is going through and just some general discussion and some of it was a bummer but when I sit back and look at the whole picture it's not about me, not about him, it's all about God we just need to keep focus on what we are to do as christians.

Yesterday was fun hanging with Taylor and even Tyson for a bit at school for her graduation. I am going to have to come to the realization that she is going to grow up no matter what and there is nothing I can do about it but pray that she stays grounded in the word. This one is for PK sat down to watch the NASCAR race yesterday and was just getting comfortable when a loud bang outside happened and the power went off. Transformer blew a fuse a couple of houses down and we were without power for about 2 hours, thought we were going to have to play euchere and listen to country music on the transistor but luckily it never came to that. Get to go to a M&O meeting tonight and discuss "Simple Church", a book that we have been reading and I enjoy this book but I'll admit I haven't got to absorb all I should have with alot of distractions while reading. I need to sit down and read it all again and let it all soak in without interuptions to get the full effect. Maybe we will have ballgames tonight as well if the weather cooperates supposed to have 2 of them, I'll miss the first one but should be there for the last one.

Working for the weekend

I know the title is about as 1980's as you can get but when you lived through that decade you remember alot. The weekend is almost upon us and that is a good thing, some relaxation, some yard work, work around the house, sports on TV, and church on Saturday and or Sunday which ever is your choice. Since I liked the 3 day weekend last weekend I decided to do it again this weekend. Take Monday off to hang out with Taylor as she graduates 6th grade. Now I don't know about you but when I was in school we only graduated after the 12th grade not after 6th and 12th, my how times change. I wonder if Mrs. Ingalls is still teaching, Laura that is (not really that old but...). All we got was our report cards with you have been promoted to on the back and hopefully it said the next grade.

Got to hang out with some friends that we haven't seen for awhile last night and it was good catching up with them and reconnecting with them. They were washing their cars when we came by then had to fill up some water ballons for school today then with the kids allready wet the got the sprinkler out and really got soaked. Good times. While the kids played we got to have time to sit down and talk about anything and everything.