Spring Break

Spring break was pretty awesome this year. I went to Durango, Colorado with my family, Ross and Hiedi Holt, my little sisters friend. There was more snow there than there ever has been while we were there.


I got to talk with Ross alot about some good stuff. We mainly hung out around the cabin, rode the four wheelers, played cards and dominoes, and read alot. We went skiing one day. The conditions were awesome. There was a really awesome view from the top. I hung out for a few minutes when I went to the very top just to look around at the view.










One day Ross and I had to continue a tradition that Grant, Ross, Jonathan and I started last year. We chopped some trees up with axes and made a big fire. It was pretty huge.















I got to read a few books while I was up there. It was really nice to just relax and not have to worry about anything for a few days. Blue Like Jazz was really awesome. It really helps make a good distinction between religion and spirituality.

Heres a little section from, Blue Like Jazz, that I thought really described love very well:

"I was in love once. I think love is a bit of heaven. When I was in love I thought about that girl so much I felt like I was going to die and it was beautiful, and she loved me too, or at least she said she did, and we were not about ourselves, we were about each other, and that is what I mean when I say being in love is a bit of heaven. When I was in love I hardly thought of myself; I thought of her and how beautiful she looked and whether or not she was cold and how I could make her laugh. It was wonderful because I forgot my problems. I owned her problems instead, and her problems seemed romantic and beautiful. When I was in love there was somebody in the world who was more important than me."
~Donald Miller

Thats an awesome way to describe how we should love God. We think about him all the time. His problems become our problems: poverty, disease, hunger, lost people, ect. and they are romantic and beautiful things to work on. We dont think about ourselves, only about how beautiful He is and how we can make Him happy.

HE was definatly there

Chapel went very well. I knew it would, God had been giving that comfort to me over the past few weeks. And when I say it went well I dont mean the praise team and I sounded good and everything went smooth (even though they sounded incredible and everything flowed very well). I mean that God's presence was felt. I know God was there and He was smiling at His worshippers, who where standing and shouting Hallelujah! There is no feeling like it when God blesses you with His presence. Praise God!

I am about to leave for Colorado with the family and Ross. It is going to be incredible. I cant wait to get up in the mountains and enjoy Gods creation, and have some good family/Ross time. I won't have access to a computer while I am there so there won't be any posts until I get back on Sunday. I'll let you know how it goes...

Worship Thought:

Worship leaders, we are on a sacred journey. The cargo is precious and the mission is vital. If we're to really see our King's pleasure in this whole worship music movement, then there are some narrow paths we need to cling to. At times it may seem more attractive to find pleasure from the people. Many of you have a lot of gifting and could certainly impress a lot of people. If you really wanted to, you could grab a whole lot of attention for yourself. But the challenge is to stay pure and true to the cause. Always keep in mind the end of the journey- the pleasure of the King over you as you bring your unspoiled offering before Him and Him alone.

God's Presence

I have been waiting for tomorrow for quite a while. The beginning of Spring Break, and the day I am blessed to be able to lead worship at chapel. I have been given some real spiritual meat this week preparing me for tomorrow. I couldn't be more excited. The theme for chapel tomorrow is "God's Presence." I had really been feeling God in my life over the past few weeks, so I felt that we should focus our praise and worship on His awesome presence. I will be putting my order of worships on here from now on so feel free to use them in whatever way you want. I like using themes. In my experience it is alot more effective and helps every worshipper focus on a central theme of God and praise Him for that.

Cry of My Heart
In the Secret (chorus only)
Holy Ground (medley)
Beatty vs. 1
Davis once thru
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Blessed Be Your Name
Had It Not Been the Lord
Take me now to your heavenly throne-
It is you I want to finally meet and praise in every way.
Take me now to Your heavenly throne-
I want to kiss Your feet and be with You all day.
I can not endure this world without You;
I can not make this pain subdue…
You know my heart- You know I long for eternal life.
Do amazing things with this body, that keeps your sons soul inside of me alive.
Take me from here- for I have no burdens keeping me away.
Lord, take me to your heavenly throne-
Dear Jesus, I pray for that glorious day.
~Chaz Lilly
Arms of Love
Psalms 62:1-2
My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
He Will Come and Save You
Revelation 19:1
After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: "Hallelujah!
Revelation 19:3
And again they shouted: "Hallelujah!
Revelation 19:6
Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
Shout Hallelujah
This is How We Overcome

It should be good. I'll let you know how it goes...

Worship Thought:

"Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face."
~1 Corinthians 13:12

We will be completely unveiled worshippers, seeing in full what we see only in part now. We will become the perfect unquenchable worshippers, for there will be nothing to quench our devotion. No more tears, no more troubles, no more pain. We will be the ultimate undignified worshippers, no doubt joining the 24 elders as they throw themselves before the heavenly throne. That day will bring a freedom in praise the likes of which this world has never seen. Every distraction to our worship will have passed away. No more temptations and no more enticements. Completely undivided worshippers, we will stand in the very presence of God, and He alone will consume every heart.

Faith vs. Works

Do you think you'll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does talking about faith really mean that a person has it? For instance, you go to a friend who is wearing old torn and dirty clothes, starving and say, "Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!" and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup. Where does that get you? Isn't it obvious that "God-talk" without "God-acts" is completely ridiculous?

I can hear you thinking sounds good! You take care of the faith, I'll take care of the works. I don't think so. You can't show me your works apart from your faith anymore than I can show you my faith apart from my works. Faith and works, works and faith, fit together like a hand in a glove.

Dont trust me. Read it for yourself... James 2:14 ff

Living Jesus

It was probably the best day (as far as weather goes) outside today. I loved it! Around 8pm I was like what in the world am I doing inside. So I went out and played my 12 string for a about an hour and half, and then I was on my way back to the dorm around 9:30 when I saw a girl trip. I met up with her and she asked where the library was so I walked her there (she doesnt go to ACU yet). She happens to have a great alto voice so we just sat down and praised God. (I used my guitar shhhh dont tell anybody haha just kidding) Then Eric Johnson joined us and we sang and talked about stuff til curfew. Her name is Jessica White. Afterwards I came to a devo/discussion time with a bunch of guys from around the dorm, and Randy Harris. It was awesome! Lots of guys really opened up and asked questions and shared their beliefs. We talked about not being "Christians" but just following Jesus instead. And how radical of a life that really is. What I love most about it is that it is more than a religion. It is a call to GREATNESS! And I want to be great at everything I do. So that makes it so much more attractive to me. So with that I leave you with this challenge.

Do not settle for "well at least I only did _______" or "its not as bad as the sin they are doing." There is no reason we should ever settle, for ANYTHING. Following Christ is more than that. It is a call to greatness. A call to an authentic faith. A call to perfection.

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
~Matthew 5:48

Jesus Freak

Today was a good day. I bowled a 141 in bowling class. And then I worked on chapel for a while longer. I bought 2 new ZOE Group books. I think I have them all now :) Then I went to make copies for my praise team and Sarah Aguilar and Scott Morrison were there making copies too. It was a good reunion since I never see Sarah anymore. SHEESH SARAH! Later on we had a Freshman Devo, and Steven Moore gave an amazing lesson about being a Jesus Freak, and not holding anything back. Pretty much he said we should be "unquenchable worshippers" so as you can guess I was ready to give a follow up lesson. Too bad it wasnt a discussion thing cause I might have made the devo alot longer haha. After the devo i had practice with my praise team. It went really well, I am so excited about Friday Chapel. They sounded awesome! It was a good day.


Thought for the Day:

The Creator of the universe has opened a door to closeness with Him, and we need to ensure we never take it for granted. If this talk of intimacy is to be wholesome, we must never forget whom it is we are approaching. The writer of Ecclesiastes puts it perfectly:

“Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.”
~Ecclesiastes 5:1-2

There is a time to be still and just know that God is God. This is a time to reflect on who He is and respond with the fewest of words and the simplest of songs. As the Ecclesiastes passage goes on to say, “Therefore stand in awe of God” (v. 7).

The Unquenchable Worshipper

This world is full of fragile loves- Love that abandons, love that fades, love that divorces, love that is self seeking. But the unquenchable worshipper is different. From a heart so amazed by God and His wonders burns a love that will not be extinguished. If survives any circumstance. It will not allow itself to be quenched, for that would heap insult on the love it lives in response to.

~Matt Redman (The Unquenchable Worshipper)

(several of these blogs will include quotes from this book)