MySpace blog: Expression: Dance/Postures of Worship

“David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the Lord with all his might.” David said, “I will celebrate before the Lord. ^I will become even more undignified than this.”

(2 Sam 6: 14, 21-22 NIV)

David danced because he was filled with joy. The Ark of the Covenant—the elaborately decorated chest that represented the presence of God—was on the move. The ark had been captured when some people had misused it in a war. And now, after decades, it was finally coming back to the people of God.

David had tried to bring the Ark back into the city earlier (1 Sam. 6:6), but when a man did not follow God’s instructions on how to move the Ark, he was struck dead. Why? Why would God kill someone who was trying to bring His presence back to a city? Because God is different than us. His otherness demands reverence.

When David succeeded in bringing the Ark back into Jerusalem, he was ecstatic, because he saw that the God who demanded reverence also wanted His people to experience His presence in a personal way. Our God is a holy God, who demands our reverence. He is also a God of love who desires to commune with us! David was blown away by the beauty of this paradox: God is both infinitely huge and different, but infinitely personal to the point that He lives in us and we live in Him. David’s only response to this revelation of God’s paradox was an outward expression of his joy. He danced before God with all his might.

God wants us to love Him with our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Part of loving Him with our strength is expressing our worship through the postures of our bodies. There are so many physical expressions of worship. Raising our hands. Kneeling. Falling on our faces. Standing. Each time God reveals something to us, be it through the Bible or a sunset or a person or an experience, a response is demanded of us. Often, that response is physical.

Ask God to free you, that you may become undignified. That you may be free to worship Him with your body without worrying what others think.

Ask God to free you that you may be able to respond to His revelation.

This is part 4 of 4 in the worship writings. I appreciate all your feedback and discussions!

MySpace blog: Sacrifice

“Let’s take our place…with Jesus, no longer pouring out the sacrificial blood of animals but pouring out sacrificial praises from our lips to God in Jesus’ name.”

(Hebrews 13: 15, the Message)

By choosing God’s glory over our own comfort, we make a sacrifice.

Sometimes we don’t feel like worshiping. Sometimes we don’t want to give God praise or proclaim His worth. Worship is a choice. It is a choice to lay down our pride, to lay down our all, and lift up God to His rightful place at the center of everything. Hebrews says that praise is a sacrifice.

God asks us to sacrifice our pride. Jesus must be the Center, the Focus. He must be our Everything.

In Exodus 33, Moses said to God, “Show me Your Glory.” Maybe you’ve asked God to show you His glory or you’ve asked God’s spirit to fall. Remember that worship is about God, and not us. We must remember the lessons that God spoke through the Prophets—God is the Center.

Moses asked God to show His glory, but God responded, “Be ready in the morning, then come up on Mount Sinai. Present yourself to me there on top of the mountain. No one is to come with you or be seen anywhere on the mountain” (Exodus 34:2-3).

God revealed Himself to Moses, but first Moses had to sacrifice His pride and sacrifice his will to God’s. By submitting to God’s plan, he was able to see God’s glory. The way that God asked Moses to climb the mountain also paints a beautiful picture of what it means to make a sacrifice—he had to hike before he could encounter God’s presence, and he had to go early in the morning!

It is only through God’s revelation to us that we can worship Him. God asks us to make a sacrifice before we experience His revelation. Worship and Sacrifice lead to revelation, but they also come from hearing God’s voice. God started the cycle by revealing Himself to us in many ways, including when He became a man, in Jesus.

God demands our all. He doesn’t want just a part of us. Romans 12 says, “offer your bodies as living sacrifices.”

How is God asking you to make a sacrifice?

This is part 3 of 4 in the worship writings

Currently listening : Linus & Lucy: The Music Of Vince Guaraldi By George Winston Release date: 17 September, 1996

MySpace blog: Creativity

So God created people in his own image;

God patterned them after himself;

male and female he created them.

(Gen. 1: 27 NLT)

You were made in the image of the Creator.

God created us in His image! Praise God, who allowed us to be made as a representation of Him. It is important to remember that since we were made in the image of the Creator, we are creative.

The Hebrews had an understanding of Creation that was different than our own. They believed in a concept called “continuing creation.” God began creation, but He put humanity over all He made so that everything would be kept in order, and so that we would create things out of what He created.

The word used to describe how God created everything is the Hebrew word bara. Bara means to “create out of nothing.” God made everything out of nothing. We are not God, so we cannot create out of nothing. When you paint, you use paint that is made out of various things with colorful pigments in them. When you write songs, you can only hear them as the soundwaves travel through the air that God made. When you sculpt, you use materials which God made. Every time we create, we use the resources that God made. We worship Him, for He made us.

Every time we create, we point back to our Creator.

Not only are we worshiping when we create, but we worship when we take things in that have been created by others for the Glory of God. We begin to understand that God has made others with beautiful minds and given them the imagination to fashion the work of His hands into beautiful pieces of art. Humanity is the crowning achievement of God’s creation—He made humanity in His image. When another person creates something beautiful, we have a renewed appreciation for the work God did when He created humankind.

You have been gifted in a unique way. God has given some of us different creative talents. When we create or observe, we embrace the way we were made. We worship God for using His infinite wisdom in uniquely making each of us.

How has God gifted You? In what way can you personally worship Him?

Part 2 of 4 in the worship writings.

We looked at this tonight as a challenge to the worship team to stay creative.

MySpace blog: Communion

“Whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

(1 Cor. 11: 26, NIV)

One way to look at worship is that it is proclaiming what God has done. When you proclaim to believers what God has done, you preach

When you proclaim to unbelievers what God has done, you evangelize.

When you proclaim back to God what He has done, you worship.

When we take communion, 1 Corinthians says that we proclaim what God has done, which means that communion is an act of worship.

When Christ died for us on the cross, it was God’s greatest act of love towards us. It only makes sense that we should worship Him for His greatest act of love.

Our worship is a response to God’s revelation. Revelation is anything God does to let humanity know more of Him. Jesus Christ is the essence of revelation, for He is fully God and fully man—God in human form is the ultimate revelation.

Because of the complete revelation of God’s love to us—His death on the cross—we worship Him. Communion proclaims God’s greatest revelation back to Him, and through it, we worship.

The word “Communion” is applied to the Lord’s Supper, because in this event, we remember that God’s grace has made it possible for us to commune with Him. You are in community with Him.

Not only do we commune with God when we partake of the elements, but Communion reminds us of Christ’s death, which makes our day-by-day relationship with God possible. Without Christ’s sacrifice, we would not be worthy to commune with God.

While many people use communion as a time to repent and re-commit, that is not the main point of the Lord’s Supper. These things are beneficial, but the core purpose of Communion is to remember what God has done for us. Communion should be centered on God, not ourselves.

As you take communion this evening, remember God’s sacrifice for you.

This is part 1 of 4 in the little blurbs I wrote for the Stirring

I'm a little sick, and tonight was the worship night, so it was very weird for me to be singing while sick.

MySpace blog: the most immature person I know

Eric was throwing wiffleballs at my door just now to get me out of bed. Wiffleballs hitting a door is suprisingly loud. It sounds like a small explosion. I'm a pretty jumpy person, so each time my door got hit, I would jump a little. Maybe you think I should have gotten up before 12:25, but hey, I stayed up till 4 writing stuff on Ike's blog/doing worship team stuff/listening to the new Crowder. I just started listening to it again, and this awesome 1st song makes me less mad about eric. So, maybe this will be the extent of the revenge. But here's the problem: I woke up earlier than I wanted to this morning because his music was on. So, he may not get as good sleep tonight as he wanted. Or maybe it will be tomorrow night. Monday's his birthday, so maybe I'll just ruin his day.

Go over to Eric's page and tell him "happy 12th birthday," because who plays wiffleball? Who throws balls at doors? Who doesn't let slightly older people sleep in? 11 and 12 year olds. Who thinks the world revolves around them to the point of everyone must wake/sleep at the same time as them so they have company at meal times? Not people who are turning 22 on Monday.

I hope this makes you cry, Eric. I hope this makes you all dislike Eric, attractive ladies of the world.

This blog is partly written tongue-in-cheek. Maybe it's just tongue in mouth.

Currently listening : A Collision By David Crowder Band Release date: 27 September, 2005

MySpace blog: random shirts

So...let me get this straight. All you people had seen random shirts before? Well, then. You all are great friends! You found something hilarious, and didn't tell me about it?!?!?!

You're not the best friends to awesome people, either. You found cheap, quality products but didn't support them by buying their products? I just wrote "produck" at first. that's like a professional duck or something. I wrote 4 really deep things tonight with Patrick that you can all read at the Stirring on Sunday night. I'll post them on Sunday night or Monday.

I enjoy listening to bootlegged CDs before they are released.

Currently listening : A Collision By David Crowder Band Release date: 27 September, 2005

MySpace blog: The return of the DB

DB: Double Blog--Blogging twice within a short period of time.

I suspect Theresa will attempt to rename this the DC*. Please explain why in the comments, Theresa (If you're stuck, think C*OTC).

I found a t-shirt website last night, called www.randomshirts.com that is utterly amazing. Cheap, hilarious shirts. I was laughing and rolling on the floor. Maybe they aren't that funny, but it was around 2 AM when I was looking at them. I have no money right now. At least no money to buy shirts with. But $10 shirts may force me to reconsider my wise decision to save money.


really, I'm going to do my homework. soon.

Currently listening : Destination: B-Sides By Mae Release date: 16 November, 2004

MySpace blog: Moobees

I like movies. Not really.

I like shooting videos

I don't like editing them.

Actually, I like editing them. I just don't ever do it.

So, I've decided that I really like having this camera crew around, because they have cool jobs, so I look up to them a little. I don't know what kind of money they make, but they have fun.

Since I'm into making movies, I like watching how they work, and I have a ton of respect for them and I try my best not to ruin their shots (unless I'm in a destructive mood). In fact, I know that if you try to ruin their shots, you might fail, and just end up looking like an idiot in a shot that they use. So, look pretty all you people!

I have to write a 5-page paper for tomorrow. I know, that's not that long. But I haven't started, and it's 11:48. Of course, I write 5 pages on MySpace in 40 minutes all the time, and this is double spaced. Also, it's mostly just a summary of a book I read on topics I know a lot about. I told my dad that if it takes me more than 45 minutes, then I've failed myself.

Time to work!

Currently listening : Destination: Beautiful By Mae Release date: 25 February, 2003

MySpace blog: the news in brief

I was going to call this blog "brevity," but I went with "the news in brief."

Which was better?

I didn't go for my walk. I kind of forgot. I had my 3:20 class today (OT Criticism), which I had forgotten about when I said I was going to go for a walk. Then, when I got out of class, I totally didn't remember I had planned to do that. It was too hot anyway. I worked on worship team stuff instead, and I felt productive and organized; I'm sure people are happy because I did that, while if I had gone on a walk, the only person who would be happy would be the CEO of Old Spice, because I would have to buy another stick of deodorant sooner.

I may get to bed before 1 AM tonight. That would be an accomplishment

Yesterday I had a bout with the stomach flu. I think it's going around. I had to go home from work early and skipped one of my classes.

By the evening, I was feeling better, and went to the Basketball scrimmage, where they invited a bunch of fans because they're shooting a new video marketing the school to possible financial donors.

Earlier, a helicopter was flying around campus, shooting footage, and we were sitting outside, so the guys asked us to wave at the copter each time it passed over. Today they set up chapel all weird to make it look better on tape. Kind of screwed up. But, I didn't mind too much.

As you can see, my rain dance picture is back up. It was time to bring it back.

I'm getting sick of my myspace profile, so expect it to get stripped down to nothing. There will be a major surprise, though.

I've been thinking a lot of deep thoughts recently, so maybe when I have time, some of them will find their way onto myspace.

Currently listening : Give Up By The Postal Service Release date: 18 February, 2003

MySpace blog: a deep blog again

I know a lot of you hate that i don't write deep stuff anymore, so I'm going to announce a deep blog! Go read Ike's. They're always thought-provoking.

OK, now to my normal weekly song update.

Kindness, Unashamed Love

How Great Thou Art, How Great is Our God, Nothing but the Blood, Breathe, Worthy

One Thing, I will not Forget You, Everything that Has Breath.


The Stirring was pretty freaking good last night. Nate and I both were really amazed by ourselves. I mean....

Actually a lot of people really liked it, and as far as the aspect of a service being a product for consumption (which, be it a negative or insignificant, is true), came through as a rather good product last night. Of course, the only reason it was good to consume is because we weren't just creating and selling a product, but we fully believe that we're doing something of significance that God is behind. And, there was some fruit last night.

i didn't do any homework all weekend, so now I'm doing it between classes today. I have to work later. I really wish I didn't have to work here anymore. I like my job, but I'd rather not do it. I'd rather try beating another nintendo game or do homework or hike or go discing or go for a walk. I really want to go for a walk right now. I'm going for a walk tomorrow. crap, i have to work tomorrow too. OK, I'm going for a walk on Wednesday afternoon.

I realized that going on a walk is like casual hiking. You don't need a whole day, you don't have to be in shape, you don't need the proper equipment, and your butt and lower back feel fine afterwards. Also, you don't have to wear crappy clothes or worry about smelling all sweaty afterwards.

In Redding, at least, where there are many places to walk, you don't lose all the benefits of hiking, either. You still get to be near water and trees and flowers, and you can still see the mountains and clouds and sky. You interact with God's creatures as you share the path with them. Lema Ranch and the River trail are pretty pretty. That sounds funny to say, which is why I wrote it. I went on a lot of walks last spring, but I didn't have a job, and I never had class on Tuesday and Thursday, so things were a lot different. Actually, I think my ministry practicum class was at 1 PM on tuesday every other week, but I don't remember.

Last night, we had a worship team meeting, in which about 10 or 15 girls showed up to maybe sing or something. So, I'm a little worried about how I'm going to handle the situation, because I know I'm going to do something stupid; also, I know there are going to be people who are less talented singers than others, and I believe that God has gifted certain people in certain ways for a reason, so it's not just a matter of sounding good for each other, but of putting the right people in the right place in the body of Christ for His glory and the edification of each other. That was a long sentence. If you remember to, pray for wisdom, leadership, and authority as I proceed with the team.

Time to do some reading before I go to my class. yeeha!

clarification on the music portion: I'm listening to the Saint-Saens part--the Carnival of the animals. The piece entitled "Aquarium" is a nice little impressionist thing that is on a lot of movies and I really like to listen to it, because it's so good and mellowing. It's only 2:24 long, so I listen to it over and over.

Currently listening : Prokofiev: Peter and the Wolf / Saint-Saens: Carnival of the Animals/ Mozart: Eine Kleine Nachtmusik By Prokofiev Release date: 17 August, 1999

MySpace blog: hw sucks!

I just want to say that I have way too much reading to do this semester. Mostly I just wanted to say that because I only need 4 more blog views for 6000 total.

Oh, here are some pictures I promised from the sunset the other night, the ninth. They're in order, and the first 3 are from Simpson, while the last 3 are panoramas (composites) from taken from the target parking lot.













I'm not sure, but I may have taken those first 2 panoramas at the same time, with the intent to merge them into one. There were a lot of other pictures I liked, too, but I didn't want to take up more bandwidth on everyone's internet. It took me 2 hours to get these online and uploaded onto myspace because our internet is so slow!

Oh, i "finally" got the legal Switchfoot CD, so I can say I'm listening to the Dual Disc version now, because that's what I got.

Currently listening : Nothing Is Sound By Switchfoot

MySpace blog: This blog is not about bagel dogs

I just ate a bagel dog, hence the title. But, that's not what the blog's about

Set list:
Facedown (with the loop)--I played keys
The Love of a Holy King--I played electric this time. I don't think that all those new people were especially interested in learning a new song.

Hungry (keys/guitar)
Once Again (keys/guitar)
All Creatures (guitar)
One Thing (guitar)
Wonderful Maker (guitar)

Majesty (guitar)
Nothing But the Blood (guitar)
O Praise Him (guitar)
Holy Is the Lord
The Love of a Holy King

It was weird tonight, because I was a little nervous because there were finally a lot of people at the stirring. The main reason for my slight nervousness, though, was that I had planned everything out. Even the things between the songs (things I said) were planned out for the most part. Very, very weird. but, that's how it had to be because I was playing keys and guitar, and I needed to be able to switch. Also, I didn't use my acoustic, though it was on stage in case I broke a string. I don't know why all worship teams love the acoustic guitar so much. I mean, I like it too, but why do you need to use it on all the songs you play? So, to try to balance things out, I didn't use it at all.

I killed a squirrel today. I ran it over. At first, I got excited that it was going to run in front of my car, but then I decided to slow down and not hit it, but it still ended up getting squished by both of my right tires.

The 49ers won today!!! happiness abounds from my football fan sector of the mind.

Ava (who is 2) commented on my shoes today. I was wearing my black Chucks, and she had on little pink chucks, and she told me that we had the same shoes on. I thought that was one of the cutest and coolest things I've ever heard. I didn't know that little 2 year olds cared about shoes at all, and the fact that she noticed they were the same even though the color was different really blew me away. Then again, she is a girl, and girls know a lot more about shoes than I do.

Gripe o' the day: I have homework. I got confused about which classes I have tomorrow and I started doing the homework for a class that's on tuesday, when I have plenty to do for tomorrow. boo hoo.

odd, ending note: I have started saying "bye bye" in a stupid accent whenever I say goodbye to people. I guess it's not really an accent. You know how it's usually spelled, "bye-bye?" Well, I say it as 2 separate, distinguishable words. Like, "Bye bye." Nate started leaving voicemails on my phone like that this summer, and now I'm doing it too. I don't know why he said it, except that he has a 2 year old daughter who wears pink chucks. I'm not 2, though, so I feel a bit stupid when I say it. I guess it's pretty funny, though, so it's alright.

Bye bye.

MySpace blog: school and facial hair

wow. i need to go to bed. the first week of school was good.

I usually trim up my little beard (I have trouble calling it that, because I keep it so short), daily, because I like it really short and not scraggly at all. i go for the 4th day shadow look, i think. that's probably an accurate name. Anyway, my little beard trimmer has an adjustable comb, and i set it on 2 (i think it's 2/16 of an inch). Tonight, I was trimming it up and I accidentally had it set on 1, which I didn't realize until after I had already shaved the whole right side of my face off. i didn't shave my face off, but it sounds funnier that way, so i said it.

i also went too high. So, I couldn't just shave off the facial hair, because my sideburns are really short. So, this here's my dilemma. In a few days, my sideburns (and the rest of my beard) will be back to normal length. Should I just shave off the beard? I kind of am getting sick of it. But, i can't wear my mesquite shades without the beard, because I just look like a perverted guy who sits in a white van near the park and kidnaps the kiddies (eric's scenario). your suggestion would be appreciated.

It rained yesterday and today! Yessssss!!!!

I love the rain. I really love it when it alternates between rain and sun (like in thunderstorms, which is what we've had). The most amazing part is that it snowed on Lassen yesterday!! unbelievable. It was absolutely beautiful. Last night's sunset was probably the best I've ever seen anywhere. So, I took tons of pictures, and I'm sure one or two will find their way onto my space.

I just realized that everyone refers to their page as "my site," or "my page," or "my myspace." I'm just going to call it "my space" from now on.

I have my song stuck in my head. The band says it has been getting stuck in their heads since they all learned it. I guess that means it's catchy--not a bad thing at all.

abrupt ending #5

MySpace blog: On saturday and school

I realize that I already wrote about sunday, but I must write about saturday. Saturday, Kenny came to visit and we ended up going to Clear Creek Falls at Whiskeytown. we saw a snake kill itself. it was very funny. Here's kenny's version of it:
"we turned back and worked our way back to the falls. From there we turn back around towards the bigger of the three small falls. This one is about 20-25 feet tall. As we are walking around the top and off to the left of the falls to get a good view of the water, I stumble upon a snake that is sitting on a rock on the edge of the water. As soon as it sees me, it darts into the water to escape capture. Stupid snake. So it gets caught in the current that is flying over the rocks over the waterfall. It manages to get itself out by going into a point in the falls where two rocks come together and the water shoots over the edge. So it gets out of the water, for about ten seconds. Then the stupid snake tries to get off the rock...and ends up sending itself to its doom over the falls. Josh and I got a good laugh out of it"

that's it.

i've only used the instant messenger on myspace 2 or 3 times, and right now, both Theresa and Juan decided to IM me. so, as i write this blog, i feel like i'm ignoring them, and i need to get up for school tomorrow. well, not technically. I actually have work from 9-12, then class at 1. school. man, it's so weird that it's starting again, and that it's starting for possibly the last year.

insert haunting music here...

MySpace blog: set list

my voice was hurting today, probably because I ate too much pizza the last couple days, and it was salty. anyway, the new song went well. In fact, I enjoyed leading the whole night (except i was having difficulty staying on key--i wasn't way off--toward the end (which was less critical, because we had reverb tonight, and reverb makes being off-key much less noticeable).

Blessed Be Your Name (redman)
Enough (Tomlin)
Welcome
The love of a Holy King (me)
Wonderful King (crowder)
Undone (Brian Johnson)--just touched on the song, and decided to do it on the fly
Come Let us return to the Lord (redman)
You Alone (offering) (crowder)

Enough chorus
Let My words be few
Everything that has breath
Our Love Is Loud
Holy Is the Lord
The Love of a Holy King

the last 3 songs were on the fly

fin.

MySpace blog: More than blogs.

I wrote a song last night, but what I'm really excited about is that we're going to play a song that I wrote. We had practice tonight for about an hour and we got down this song which I wrote over a long period of time. I'm just going to put up the file with all the chords on it, because I want to go to bed. If you're coming to the stirring this week, read the words and learn them.

The Love of a Holy King
Amaj7 A6 Amaj7 E B
To the Maker of all things, To the King above all Kings
To the One who stays the same, We sing.

For the blood that made us clean, For the way You set us free
We were blind, but now we see, So we sing

C#m B/D# A
You’re so amazing
My God, You’re beautiful
Simply captivating
O Lord, You’re wonderful

E
And You spread out the Stars
E/G# A
What a marvel You are
C#m B
O, God of the heavens
F#m E/G# A
You’re the One who made all things

And You came full of grace,
and You call me by name
What an intimate Savior,
You’re the lover of my soul


To the One that we adore, To the Lover, King, and Lord
We will praise You ever more And we sing

You're the Name above all Names And your love will never change
You are worthy to be praised So we sing


C#m B/D# B A
The love of a Holy King robed in Majesty
The love of a Holy King --what a mystery that
The love of a Holy King dwells inside of me
C#m B A
God of Mystery



Most of the chords were written in the back of my truck on a warm, sunny April day during sunset. the words were written suddenly while driving home after the 04-05 school year. written while driving! The Chorus written (on the mandolin!--ironically, it is very loud and rock-y) as I watched a thunderstorm at 12:30 in the morning. Bridge words written in the middle of Lake Shastina Resort during the Summer 05 home group leader retreat and the chords were added when I got back to the lodge. Serious editing was done on 8.31.05 in the wee hours of the morning, and some was done tonight after practice.
out.