Love This…
I went to the gym this morning. It was my usual routine, which ends up with some time on a cardio machine. Its such a great place to zone out and think. I think about family, work, life, future, dreams, failures. You name it.
As I was thinking this morning, I found myself evaluating where I am. What I do. How well I do it. After many of these thoughts, I came to conclusions. Ideas of how to move forward. I found myself continually making the statement, “it doesnt matter”. It could have been better…it doesnt matter. I need to try harder…it doesnt matter. Im not succeeding…it doesnt matter. Now, dont get me wrong. I want to live life to its fullest potential. I want to be an ultimate pleasure to the God that created me and I serve. But, I realize now, I too often relate simple or easy to enough.
How many times as leaders, do we walk away from an event or project and we think, there were lots of mistakes and I could improve on this, but God showed up in a powerful way, so…it doesnt matter. For me, I find It way too easy to do this.
Ive been saying it doesnt matter, too much. So much, that its become a way I look at things. Its easy to fall back on. I use, “God showing up” as a chance for me to slack off. For me to say things dont matter, is to place a lower value on those things. My life, and how I live it, should have the utmost value placed on every commitment, thought, process, decision, and step.
Everything matters. Not some things. Not just what I prioritize. Everything. In my weakness, God is strong. If life is easy or simple for me, am I even giving God room to show up my life? I dont want to live life walking down a sidewalk, just to get to my car. I want to experience the power of God in every facet of my life. From the small and the big. Everything Matters.
Last week, I decided on my “One Word” for 2011. If you are not familiar with “One Word”, head over to Alece’s blog and get involved!
Essentially, I have chosen one word that will be a focus for me for this year. I settled on the word “Discipline”. Discipline is something I have always struggled with. And unfortunately, discipline permeates every aspect of our lives. Disciplined to living healthy. Physically, emotionally and spiritually. Disciplined to tasks and duties. at home and at work. Disciplined to family and relationships. If I struggle with discipline, I struggle with life.
Saturday morning started as many other New Years days before. Slept in, enjoyed a little breakfast and then football. Pretty much, my entire day was to be spent in the lazy chair watching football. Shortly after lunch, I felt a flutter in my chest. About once or twice a year, I will experience a little flutter in my chest. I am known to have a heart murmor and these flutters have been shown not to be dangerous. But, what would normally last for seconds, didnt go away. For 30 minutes, my heart fluttered and my heart rate raced.
If you have a chance, you can head over now and read my wife’s account of this event. She is much more detailed than I want to be here, because I want this post to be about the “One Word”.
In the end, I was found to be in “Uncontrolled Atrial Fibrillation”. Essentially my heart was racing at a fast pace(180-220bpm) and very irregularly. I had no rhythm. So, they ended up shocking me and forcing the heart back into rhythm. CRAZY! Again, you can read more detail at Tammy’s Blog.
So, where do I go from here. Well, I was given a clean bill of health when I left the ER. My heart is in perfect condition. My labs looked good, although I had elevated enzymes in my liver. In other words, My eating and drinking are likely the cause to setting this off. One more detail…It hereditary. And, my Mom has it. So, I now know that I am predisposed to Atrial Fiblliration.
I think God was smiling when I said I wanted discipline in my life. He sure did set me on a course! I now am forced to face, head on, my laziness. My selfishness. My pride. And sacrifice it all at the hands of discipline. I start immediately. I am fortunate that A-Fib is generally not deadly. Long term exposure to it can cause issues down the road. but, I hold the keys to that door. I can choose whether I live or die well.
Many are not given this chance. Some die tragically in a moments notice. On the way to the ER Saturday, I took time to understand that this might be it. I had no idea what was ahead. I had no idea what was happening to me. The unknown is fearful. Side note…Why do we fear the known? But, that is a whole other discussion.
I am grateful. To have more time with my amazing wife and kids. To serve my God. To live out my dreams. And, through discipline, I can drastically affect the path I take on this journey.
So, Discipline it is. The course has been set…
It was easy to worship on the way to work today (Taken with instagram)
My amazing wife Tammy, just started a team for Gifts Of Water. Here is a little video, to help you get to know them…
So, head on over to Tammy’s team page and jump on board!
This is my best friend. My biggest supporter. My co-dreamer. She gets me. She is patient with me. And I love her dearly!!!
She is my amazing wife. And today is her birthday!
I won’t say how old she is :) but I will say that everyday ive known her, she is more beautiful than the first day I saw her.
Tammy, I love you!
Happy birthday!!!
(Taken with instagram)
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Today, Adam Young of Owl City released a beautiful, simple piano/vocal arrangement of “In Christ Alone”. You can read his post, hear his heart, and listen to the song here.
I want to make a challenge to Worship Pastors and Worship leaders…
Each week we step on a stage to lead groups of people to the throne of Jesus. Worshipping is far more than the songs we sing, but that is not the point of this post. I will however be talking directly to the songs we sing/play each week.
If you are like me, you spend hours listening to songs. Previewing new songs. Evaluating Older songs. We pick and choose based on style, dynamics, content, theme. We then put an order of songs together, that we believe will best engage with those we will lead.
We live in a constant balance of wanting to be “relevant” or modern, while still holding to the truth of God’s Story. Some songs are “let go” because they are overused, or have grown old. Maybe they dont fit our style anymore. And many times, songs are no longer a part of our routine, because they are no longer “cool”. In reverse, songs are sometimes chosen…because they are “popular”. Or, we choose songs, because the writers/performers are “popular”
I struggle with this. And this is my challenge. “Popular” is a perception. What is “in” today, may be out tomorrow. We cannot choose music based on the next fad. When this happens, we lose site of the Story. And, we no longer become leaders, but instead followers.
I love what Adam has done with “In Christ Alone”. In my opinion, It is hardly revolutionary and it doesnt change the styling of the song, but it is beautiful. My concern, is that, in the following weeks, we will see many of us choose to “revive” or begin using this song…because it is now, “popular”. It doesnt matter if this song is already a part of your song database or not. We cannot allow “popular” to determine whether or not, we lead this song again.
The lyrics of this song are amazing. The melody is beautiful. This song is as accessible to your congregation as you want to make it. Whether with choir and organ or with drums and guitars. This song works, because this song is about the story…not the “popularity”.
I challenge each of us in leadership, to not allow hype and trends to guide us. But, instead, let God’s story and our Worship of Him, always be the gauge by which we choose and lead.
“No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll Stand”