A message for anyone and everyone who has ever felt so overwhelmed by life that you wondered whether you could go on. For all of you leaders and pastors who feel beaten and bloodied after brutal elder meetings, ongoing conflict, endless crises, bad press, budget cuts, personal critics, ministry haters, botched sermons and Sunday morning miscues. I know it feels like the end of the world right now, but just remember…
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This Too Shall Pass
“true love” by phil wickham
I’m not generally big on the Christian music scene as a whole, so this has probably been out for ages, but it is such a great song that I just had to post it. (You’ll just have to try to ignore the v-neck undershirt, pleather jacket and lamish intro – "its about Jesus…and Jesus and stuff…and Jesus")
delirious, say it ain’t so!
It is 5am and I just received a press release from one of my favorite bands, Delirious?, saying that they will "take a break" from recording and performing together at the end of 2009. Although they left open the possibility of reuniting some time down the road, their announcement sounds much more conclusive than temporary.
I have to admit that I wasn’t a big fan of the contemporary worship that characterized the band’s music early on. I think we ALL could have done without "The Happy Song." But over the last several years the band became increasingly progressive musically. Their lyrics became increasingly bold and socially charged. And they did all of this without ever losing the worshipful resonance that has permeated the band’s music from day one. I have grown to love and respect them as a band, as brothers in Christ, and as fellow human beings. Their music has been a staple on my life’s soundtrack and they have led me in worship often.
This morning I mourn the ending of an era.
************
If you want to get a taste of some of Delirous?’s stuff but don’t know where to begin, here are some of my personal favorites to get you started:
- Stronger (The Mission Bell)
- Miracle Maker (The Mission Bell)
- Our God Reigns (The Mission Bell)
- Here I Am Send Me (Now Is The Time)
- Solid Rock (Now Is The Time)
- Rain Down (Now Is The Time)
- Now Is The Time (album of the same name)
- Take Off My Shoes (Now Is The Time)
- Kingdom of Comfort (album of the same name)
- Eagle Rider (Kingdom of Comfort)
- How Sweet the Name (Kingdom of Comfort)
- All God’s Children (Kingdom of Comfort)
imagery & prayer in honor of holy week
"I am the only one to blame for this
Somehow it all ends up the same
Soaring on the wings of selfish pride
I flew too high and like Icarus I collide
With a world I try so hard to leave behind
To rid myself of all but love
to give and die
To turn away and not become
Another nail to pierce the skin of one who loves
more deeply than the oceans,
more abundant than the tears
Of a world embracing every heartache
Can I be the one to sacrifice
Or grip the spear and watch the blood and water flow
To love you – take my world apart
To need you – I am on my knees
To love you – take my world apart
To need you – broken on my knees
All said and done I stand alone
Amongst remains of a life I should not own
It takes all I am to believe
In the mercy that covers me
Did you really have to die for me?
All I am for all you are
Because what I need and what I believe are worlds apart
I look beyond the empty cross
forgetting what my life has cost
and wipe away the crimson stains
"dull the nails that still remain"
More and more I need you now,
I owe you more each passing hour
the battle between grace and pride
I gave up not so long ago
So steal my heart and take the pain
and wash the feet and cleanse my pride
take the selfish, take the weak,
and all the things I cannot hide
take the beauty, take my tears
the sin-soaked heart and make it yours
take my world all apart
take it now, take it now
and serve the ones that I despise
speak the words I can’t deny
watch the world I used to love
fall to dust and thrown away
I look beyond the empty cross
forgetting what my life has cost
so wipe away the crimson stains
"dull the nails that still remains"
so steal my heart and take the pain
take the selfish, take the weak
and all the things I cannot hide
take the beauty, take my tears
take my world apart, take my world apart
I pray, I pray, I pray
take my world apart"
- Worlds Apart by Jars of Clay
Note: All of these images were found on blogs and personal websites. Based on how they were displayed, I went ahead and assumed it’d be okay to share them. If I was mistaken, please let know.
my best of 2007 list…
After going through one of the roughest years of my life, I thought it’d probably be good to reflect on some of the bright spots (and there were definitely some bright spots). Enjoy…
Best events attended…
* The Isn’t She Beautiful? conference in Grand Rapids, MI with Rob Bell and company
* Acts 29 Church Planting Bootcamp in Raleigh, NC with Mark Driscoll & Ed Stetzer
Best beer drunk…
Samuel Smith’s Nut Brown Ale
Best cigar smoked…
the Acid Kuba Kuba
Best movies seen…
* Reign Over Me
* Death of a President
Best musical artists fallen for…
* Kunek
* Album Leaf
* Ray LaMontagne
* Andrea Bocelli
Best albums got a hold of…
* Hold Me to This – Christopher O’Riley plays Radiohead (Just a guy interpreting the musical genius of Radiohead on nothing but a piano. Incredible.)
* Amore - Andrea Bocelli (Amazing voice. Amazing album. I don’t speak Italian so i don’t understand 90% of what is being said and I still can’t put it down.)
* Till The Sun Turns Black – Ray LaMontagne (So good. So chill. Makes me want to move up into the mountains, get naked, and play guitar next to a river all day.)
* Why Should the Fire Die? – Nickel Creek (I listen to an album like this and wonder, how do they write this stuff? Not to mention they are incredible instrumentalists & vocalists. And in case you were curious, they sound just as good live.)
Best laugh…
One of the many times on the elders-road-trip to Michigan (watching Family Guy a close 2nd)
Best books read…
* "Making Peace: A Guide to Managing Conflict in the Church" by Jim Van Yepren (Lame title. Surprisingly great book.)
* Confessions of a Reformission Rev by Mark Driscoll. (I sure appreciated his brutal honesty about some of the mistakes he’s made along the way. And of course his commentary was entertaining.)
Best decision made…
Pulling the plug on Kineo – the church that almost was (also probably the hardest decision I’ve ever made)
Best selfish purchase…
Stalking local retail stores until I found and splurged on a Nintendo Wii
Best thing that happened to me…
Became a dad! Best thing ever…
Most un-best thing…
The year of the exodus. Had to say goodbye to friends Andy G, Josh & Kindal L, Josh S, Keith T, Paco V, Jerry B, Brandon B, Kyle D, Simon Y, Jahred S, and Curtis M
this video makes me happy
Thank you Steve McCoy for enlightening Bob Hyatt for enlightening me. How is it possible that I had never heard of Beirut!?!?!
