I have a lot on my mind!

Let's start with this week:

My high school's both girl's and boy's team are in the state playoffs. It has brought back so many memories. They play saturday and then go on to the final four in Macon Georgia. This would be sooo cool. We are not in our 3500 seat arena. Same place we have Junior High Chapel. I have mixed feeling about chapel.

Next week, I will be at Oklahoma Christian leading chapel for two days. They are being very generous to me in inviting me to come and lead their chapel. I am excited about this and looking forward to it. I do miss the college student scene. Who knows I might catch a bug out there. HA!
(I have been back to Harding during Uplift. Not an official invitation to come and lead in chapel. I did get a call to let them know when I am in the area. I live in Atlanta Georgia. Searcy Arkansas is not easy to get to within 30 minutes. Now, I'm not bitter, just pointing out OC is calling me!

Adults still make me sick in how they run their lives when they have children. I pray for you parents and all adults to make wise choices. I usually say this to teenagers, now I am saying it to adults.

I could go on. I wont since I have not wrote in a while.

Peace,

Oh, No woman to brag about today. Stay tuned.

I had a good week last week!

I had a very good week last week. I got to lead worship at my home congregation, during our faculty spiritual day, and an area wide in Houston Texas was my start of the week. I really enjoy returning to my home church. I love encouraging them, and visiting with lifelong friends.

We started back to school as teachers this week. I got the opportunity to lead worship as we return. This group loves to sing,and this is the Highlight of the week. We were in the throne room baby. It was awesome.

I got on a plane that afternoon to go to Houston for an area wide youth rally. Had to miss our day of service as teacher, but I got to serve and lead worship as Jeff Walling presented Grace in his usually great fashion. It was good to catch up with some friends there as well.

4am I leave for the airport to fly back to Atlanta and catch a plane to Dallas and then to Oklahoma City where I got an opportunity to speak to some very bright high school kids. I had a three hour lay over in Dallas, and got a chance to have lunch with two of my very good friends from there at my favorite Dallas area restaurant Red Hot and Blue. I got the Ribwich combo memphis style that included a two bone rib. It was goooood! I should have order a full rack of ribs. I love the food, the company was even better.

iDebate at Oklahoma Christian is where I was to speak Tuesday night. The kids responded very well and blogged about their experienceYou can find their blog here. Again, I had a lot of fun talking to them about Leadership. They thought I was very funny, but really listen to what I had to say. It was good to visit with another good friend there. We went back to my college days, and it was fun to think about those times.

4am again, I leave for the airport to return to Atlanta. I got back in timeto meet the boys of Junior High(male teachers) We meet for lunch once during our inservice to catch up and bond. I was glad I made it back for that.

Volleyball Wednesday thru Friday. I had to teach my team our serve-receive defense. We scrimmage the varsity and I saw they had learned a lot this week. We did not win against them, but played very well. They were focus.

It was a great week. I will attempt to include pictures in this post.

Sunday!!!

Today was a very good day. I led worship in children's worship at College Church. Yes, I did say College Church. I had not been back at that church in quite a while. Someone there said this morning jokingly "You're finally coming to church" I replied that the only service I could come to would be the children's service. We both laugh, and had a great time. I enjoy being around young people especially children. I like to try and spur them on. Some people say I do this with adults- I just don't believe them most of the time. Children expressed themselves as to whether they like something or not.

I tried going over to Downtown the church where I led for many years. It was kinda hard. I heard the singing and it brought back so many memories. Authentic worship is what I was witnessing. I could not stay because of my desire to just jump up there and lead. I was trying to resist going over, until I went to college and lead their children's church. I really did missed the authentic worship at Downtown.

2nd week of uplift is going great! Last night I served again as the MC. I was up there telling jokes and getting the crowd to know each other. I have had so much fun just almost being a comedian with a 15 minute set. I used this as my door into the teenage world of those attending this week. When they think you are funny, they want to be around you more.

I will close on my condo at the end of this week. I am excited. I have to turn around and come back next week for uplift. I am looking forward to that as well. People know me more as a worship leader. I will be leading the Area-wide Searcy bible class for teenagers Wednesday at the College church. Come on and hopefully experience authentic worship. I will be sharing how great it is to be a Christian. I look forward to it.

That is my latest. I need to be outdoors right now walking and exercising. We will see how it works out when I get off of this computer. Bye!

Weekend!!!!

16 miles of walking this week. I am looking forward to the weekend because it is my timeoff of walking. I have enjoyed it so far. I am buying an ipod this weekend to keep it up whether I have someone to walk with or not. I am very motivated! Wow!

________________________________________________________

Adult Conflict? I don't really like dealing with Adults. I like to resolve issues quickly and early if at all possible. Pray that all conflicts will be resolve in due time.

________________________________________________________

My job is changing a little for next year. 1 less class and 1 less chapel to lead. I am excited as I will have more time to be with the Junior High. I am excited.

________________________________________________________

Tomorrow will be the 1st sleep in day in quite a while. I wonder what time will I get up tomorrow. This week, I have had two early morning walks. I am ready for a true sabbath!

________________________________________________________

12:11 Service- a new service offered at East Cobb. I am excited about what God will do with this service. This sunday will be a very busy day with 2 services and our Timothy boys service and fellowship at night. I like to encourage the boys like people did me when I was their age. More about 12:11 after sunday.
________________________________________________________

Vacation ideas? I plan on using two almost complete weeks this summer. 1 being the 1st of June and the second one the 3rd week in July. Any ideas? I know I need to include Florida since I am sooo close. I am thinking about going to an island. I have not done that in a while. We will see!

Who decides what songs you sing each sunday?

Who should decide what you sing each Sunday? Elders,Worship leader, Committee,members, or let say the Holy Spirit. This has been on my mind for a while, so I will blog my thoughts on the subject. I have led worship at many places and have always been amazed how people think they should pick the songs. Granted on one hand, I do get to choose the songs. I just start thinking about the Old Testament in how they people did not do it right. They worshipped the wrong thing and did not follow order. I want you to know the worship that I planned with the Holy Spirit's help is seasoned with prayer in order that we can worship in truth and spirit. This is very important to me. I problably could count on both hands the times where I got to sing what I like. Some people think that this is always the case. Believe me, It is not!

If I don't choose the songs who should? I want to build the case for all of those(I believe there are 2 of you) who read my blog, to pray for that Worship leader or song leader whatever you call it at your church. Randy Harris had spoken last week about how the taste of music of a congregation could be split in thirds. So, each song sung at your service, about 2/3rd of the people prefer another style or just plain don't like that hymn. So, if you are the worship planner(leader), you are in a no-win situation. This being the case, choose to rely on God's spirit to guide you on song selections. People will be mad no matter what! Is that biblical? I don't think so. If you look at the parable of the wedding feast taught by Jesus, he tells us to not to be first or to have it our way. The first shall be last and the last shall be first. We say we want to serve, but really we say I want to have it my way. Side note: Just because you are older does not give you the right over those who are younger. The bible even warns the young peole to not let you look down on them because they are young.

Be prayerful of that leader, if he gets it wrong(grace will still be given) or starts listening to members- how can he tell that your request is from the Holy spirit. Remember God is the audience, NOT YOU! Another sidenote: Who do you think receives the praise you are given? Who is doing all of the listening? Let me answer this one for you--GOD. I have had to tell people over the years that they are not lifting their hands for the people around them- It is to the Receiver- God. Does this mean that the worship leader should not take suggestions? No, but be careful what you ask for.

Worship is very important to me. Over the years, many have considered my style of leading worship participatory-friendly. I love when every one can sing to God without reservations. I have led in churches where new songs were discouraged and encouraged.. I have led at churches where old songs were discouraged and encouraged. I do believe in a blended service with BOTH type of songs. I don't mean do all your preferred style and then throw in one or two of the other style. I have even been a part of a work that called it balanced if we had 4 days of old style and 1 day of the new. He called that BALANCE! Are you kidding me!

I just want to praise the Lord. My prayer is that there is a church out there that will want to be led by the spirit and want their leaders to be led by the spirit. I believe when the spirit is working in a church the only boundaries are the ones we selfimpose. What do you think?