In addition to the countless fresh contemporary songs of praise that are sure to lodge themselves into the hearts of my children,
Here's a start to my list of proven hymns I want my children to know, and thus be shaped into the image of Jesus Christ by...
1. Amazing Grace
2. How Great Thou Art
3. Be With Me, Lord
4. All Creatures of our God and King
5. All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name
6. Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
7. Be Still, My Soul
8. O Sacred Head
9. When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
10. Softly & Tenderly
11. Great is Thy Faithfulness
12. I Come to the Garden Alone
13. How Great Thou Art
14. Nearer, Still Nearer
15. My Jesus, I Love Thee
16. Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus
What ones would you add?
Friday, January 30, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
Remembering W's Inauguration and the Inaugural Ball we went to...
Thanks to my sweet mother, Jaime & I had tickets to W's 2nd Inauguration and to an Inaugural Ball that evening. A friend upgraded our seats at the Inauguration, so we got to sit on literally the 14th row from where he was being sworn in. This pic of W is his short speech before he brought Laura out to dance for only about 90 seconds total. Word was that he really didn't enjoy the dancing...
We stayed with Travis & Kelly Speck that night in NW D.C. It was so fun!
Oh, to be in D.C. tomorrow...very exciting.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Stream Franklin 2009
Join me for a great weekend of praise with Ken Young & Hallal...
RICK ATCHLEY is the guest speaker.
www.streamworship.org for more info...
it's next weekend, Friday & Saturday, Jan 23 & 24th...
and it's going to be awesome!
RICK ATCHLEY is the guest speaker.
www.streamworship.org for more info...
it's next weekend, Friday & Saturday, Jan 23 & 24th...
and it's going to be awesome!
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Song for last Sunday!
Hey Otter Creek family,
Wasn't that a great sermon last Sunday from John York? In hindsight, this beautiful song by Michael Card would have been perfect for it! To me, the song sheds light and hope on our wilderness wanderings. Hope it's encouraging for you.
(And I've emailed John to see if it would dovetail into his message for this week.)
Chorus:
In the wilderness
in the wilderness
He calls His sons and daughters to the wilderness
But He gives grace sufficient to survive any test
And that's the painful purpose of the wilderness
Verse 1
In the wilderness we wander
In the wilderness we weep
In the wasteland of our wanting
Where the darkness seems so deep
We search for the beginning
For an exodus to home
And find that those who follow Him must often walk alone
Verse 2
In the wilderness we're wondering
For a way to understand
In the wilderness there's not a way
For the Way's become a man
And the man's become an exodus
The way to holy ground
But wandering in the wilderness
Is the best way to be found
(BRIDGE)
Groaning and growing
Amidst the desert days
The windy winter wilderness
Can blow the self away
(ENDING)
And that's the painful promise of the wilderness
Wasn't that a great sermon last Sunday from John York? In hindsight, this beautiful song by Michael Card would have been perfect for it! To me, the song sheds light and hope on our wilderness wanderings. Hope it's encouraging for you.
(And I've emailed John to see if it would dovetail into his message for this week.)
Chorus:
In the wilderness
in the wilderness
He calls His sons and daughters to the wilderness
But He gives grace sufficient to survive any test
And that's the painful purpose of the wilderness
Verse 1
In the wilderness we wander
In the wilderness we weep
In the wasteland of our wanting
Where the darkness seems so deep
We search for the beginning
For an exodus to home
And find that those who follow Him must often walk alone
Verse 2
In the wilderness we're wondering
For a way to understand
In the wilderness there's not a way
For the Way's become a man
And the man's become an exodus
The way to holy ground
But wandering in the wilderness
Is the best way to be found
(BRIDGE)
Groaning and growing
Amidst the desert days
The windy winter wilderness
Can blow the self away
(ENDING)
And that's the painful promise of the wilderness
Monday, January 5, 2009
Moving Forward
I have been at Otter Creek for almost 3 months now. This church already feels like home to us, and I am grateful to God for His abundant provision...truly more than Jaime or I could have ever asked or imagined.
Here's one observation I've had since arriving here mid October....
There have been three instances in the corporate worship assembly where a member has come forward during the song after the sermon to ask the church for prayers.
I just want to say PRAISE GOD for the way this church responds in those instances. Jaime & I were talking about this...and this is the way it ought to be... At Otter Creek, when someone comes forward, you don't really know exactly who is coming forward because of the MOB of people around the responder, hugging and holding and supporting them. It's so incredible! I love the way our church family does that.
And better yet...people STAY with the person who responds. It's not just a hug and a "well wish". They sit with them the remainder of the service and usually it means they get to share communion together.
THEN, after church, just prepare to stand in line for a while if you want to hug the responder, because they again will be mobbed by this church family.
I've been in churches where eventually people will come down after someone responds, which is great, much better than it was years ago in most churches of Christ.
But at Otter Creek, it's like INSTANT...it's like a movement of the Holy Spirit of God activating the forces of love and encouragement...saying..."They stepped out, they're making a move, GET TO THEM AND SURROUND THEM...be my hands and feet..." It just occurred to me that it's the whole Prodigal Son idea. And while he was still a long way off, his father RAN TO HIM and HUGGED HIM etc. (Thank you Fred E. for bringing that up yesterday in your prayer.)
Awesome. Healing and growth and encouragement flows freely here.
Here's one observation I've had since arriving here mid October....
There have been three instances in the corporate worship assembly where a member has come forward during the song after the sermon to ask the church for prayers.
I just want to say PRAISE GOD for the way this church responds in those instances. Jaime & I were talking about this...and this is the way it ought to be... At Otter Creek, when someone comes forward, you don't really know exactly who is coming forward because of the MOB of people around the responder, hugging and holding and supporting them. It's so incredible! I love the way our church family does that.
And better yet...people STAY with the person who responds. It's not just a hug and a "well wish". They sit with them the remainder of the service and usually it means they get to share communion together.
THEN, after church, just prepare to stand in line for a while if you want to hug the responder, because they again will be mobbed by this church family.
I've been in churches where eventually people will come down after someone responds, which is great, much better than it was years ago in most churches of Christ.
But at Otter Creek, it's like INSTANT...it's like a movement of the Holy Spirit of God activating the forces of love and encouragement...saying..."They stepped out, they're making a move, GET TO THEM AND SURROUND THEM...be my hands and feet..." It just occurred to me that it's the whole Prodigal Son idea. And while he was still a long way off, his father RAN TO HIM and HUGGED HIM etc. (Thank you Fred E. for bringing that up yesterday in your prayer.)
Awesome. Healing and growth and encouragement flows freely here.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Resolutions
In recent years, I haven't been too big on new year's resolutions. I remember making some growing up, and not really looking at them much past January 15th or so.
Don't get me wrong, I definitely have a consistent desire to be a better person, husband and father...I just haven't put it down on paper. I definitely want to read my Bible more, and pray more, but those seem so hard to define since I don't want to be legalistic about it...
Anyway, for 2009, I have some concrete measurable resolutions. Some of them are as follows:
Read through the Bible, but this time I'm using the NLT. Want to join me? Go to http://www.oneyearbibleblog.com/ and sign up. It's free and though trite, it's true...reading God's Word every day will change your life. I've always striven to have a "quiet time" but I'm tired of trying to come up with some fresh approach every day. It's been years since I did this the last time.
Get in shape! This is my year! Jaime & I have sort of set a goal statement for this year: no new children and no moves! ;) We'd love to have another child in a few years, preferably adoption, but for now, we're viewing 2009 as a year for stabilization. (and asking the Lord to stabilize it for us!) And after serving at Preston Road C of C for 13 years, my tenure at the last 2 congregations I've worked with is an average of 30 months. Not ideal.
To help us regain our senses around eating/exercising, Jaime is forming a Biggest Loser Club in the spirit of the TV show. Go to http://www.journalforjaime.blogspot.com/ for more info.
I am tempted to make a goal about our finances. I love all of Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace stuff...but with two mortgages right now, I'm going to leave it as "improve my stewardship of the abundant resources God has given us." We just can't abide by all of his principles right at the moment. Anyone know anyone moving to Indy? Got a great house on almost an acre!
Got a resolution you want to share?
Don't get me wrong, I definitely have a consistent desire to be a better person, husband and father...I just haven't put it down on paper. I definitely want to read my Bible more, and pray more, but those seem so hard to define since I don't want to be legalistic about it...
Anyway, for 2009, I have some concrete measurable resolutions. Some of them are as follows:
Read through the Bible, but this time I'm using the NLT. Want to join me? Go to http://www.oneyearbibleblog.com/ and sign up. It's free and though trite, it's true...reading God's Word every day will change your life. I've always striven to have a "quiet time" but I'm tired of trying to come up with some fresh approach every day. It's been years since I did this the last time.
Get in shape! This is my year! Jaime & I have sort of set a goal statement for this year: no new children and no moves! ;) We'd love to have another child in a few years, preferably adoption, but for now, we're viewing 2009 as a year for stabilization. (and asking the Lord to stabilize it for us!) And after serving at Preston Road C of C for 13 years, my tenure at the last 2 congregations I've worked with is an average of 30 months. Not ideal.
To help us regain our senses around eating/exercising, Jaime is forming a Biggest Loser Club in the spirit of the TV show. Go to http://www.journalforjaime.blogspot.com/ for more info.
I am tempted to make a goal about our finances. I love all of Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace stuff...but with two mortgages right now, I'm going to leave it as "improve my stewardship of the abundant resources God has given us." We just can't abide by all of his principles right at the moment. Anyone know anyone moving to Indy? Got a great house on almost an acre!
Got a resolution you want to share?
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