Next Step

Well, it’s been a while since the last post but things have been busy! I recently accepted a new position as the Music Coordinator at Generations Church in Southport, NC. It’s pretty crazy how it all unfolded.

In March, Kristen and I were exploring moving back to the Raleigh or Charlotte area because it appeared like we had served our purpose in Wilmington. Frustrated one Friday afternoon, I was sitting on the couch combing through local jobs online. Deep into the search, I found a two sentence add from a dude named Keith at Generations that basically said, “Looking for musicians at a modern church in the Southport area. Contact Keith if you are interested.” Figuring I had nothing to lose, I shot Keith a quick email and attached my resume.

Within an hour, my phone rang, and low and behold it was Keith. He later told me that he was sitting at his desk and praying that God would send them a worship leader. That’s when the “ding” from my email rang in his inbox. God is good! After a month of meeting, praying, and leading worship with the team; it is evident that my next step is with Generations Church.

So, if you live or are planning to vacation in the Southport area this summer, come see me at Generations!

My One Word

At the beginning of every year, Mike Ashcraft shares a message called, “My One Word.” Instead of forming New Year’s resolutions that maybe last 3 weeks (if you’re devoted), Mike challenges everyone to choose just one word that represents what God wants you to focus on throughout the year. Then, after we choose a word, he urged us to share it on the My One Word blog. There are some great words people have shared: trust, service, diligent, self-control, and release, just to name a few.

But, my word is a little different. I knew my one word was coming up, so I had already had it. Actually, it really had me. Over the past couple of months, God has used books, people, circumstances, prayer, opportunities, and time to really focus in on me and what is to come. So, without any hesitation, I know my word for 2009 is :: Burden.

Not the same burden as something heavily weighing on you that you regretfully have to attend to. Not like the burden of having to get all your stuff together to pay your taxes. But, the kind of burden that is birthed deep in your heart. The kind of burden that you constantly dream about, or even causes you to wake up in the middle of the night. The kind of burden you were put on this planet to do. The kind of burden that if you don’t do it, the world will not be the same.

So, what is my burden? Well……I’m not exactly sure yet. But, God is moving in my life stronger and louder than I can ever remember. Even in the few days since 2009 has begun, God is sharpening my focus and revealing my burden one step at a time. So, let me ask you:

1. What is your burden?
2. What is your One Word for 2009?

God of This City

I remember when I first heard the song God of this City. I remember vividly seeing images of Wilmington and people’s faces all throughout the city. Since that moment, the song has always been more than just a song.

For the past 2 months, God of this City has been on repeat in my head. Not just occasionally, but every single day. At first, I thought it was just because it has become my favorite song. But as the days went on, I realized this song represented the entire reason Kristen and I are in Wilmington. Although things are still vague and we’re just taking one step at a time; we know He is the God of this City and that “greater things have yet to come”!

Confirmation::Never Ending

I wish I could go into detail about every confirmation, big and small, that God has given me about the call He’s placed on my life. But instead of boring both of the readers of my blog, I’ll just list a few:

- Being able to lead the music team for NC State’s Campus Crusade for Christ, and seeing God grow it from 100 students into 2000 students.

- God totally orchestrating my first student ministry job at Mt. Pisgah Baptist in Apex, NC.

- Creating Alive Worship Ministries, which allowed me to fall in love with singing and leading worship.

- Knowing I was supposed to marry Kristen 4 years before we got hitched.

- Being able to work at Carmel Baptist while living in Charlotte.

- While wondering if we were supposed to move to Wilmington, our house was sold in 3 days.

- I was able to raise my first year’s salary to work at Lifepoint in a little over 3 months.

- Allowing me to speak to thousands of middle and high school students, college-aged students, and adults.

The funny thing about my current place in life is that it’s actually not that unfamiliar. I’ve never been the one to have a “5 year plan”, or to have a specific place or role I’m pursuing. Not because I’m directionless or lazy, in fact, it’s the opposite of that. I’m so committed to God’s call on my life, that I don’t want to miss out on one, single “Divine Moment,” as Erwin McManus calls it in his book.

I don’t want any regrets about not seizing a divine moment. I never want to live my life saying, “I wish I would have…” I don’t want to shy away from anything because it seems too risky. Erwin writes, “This truth is consistent to life itself: the greatest opportunities require the highest risk. If we want to live life to the fullest, we must be willing to trust God and risk everything.” True, with risk comes failure, vulnerability, scrutiny, and pain. But, the price of not seizing divine moments is far more extreme.

Kristen and I are still praying for clarity on our next step, and the courage needed to take that step. We have a lot of unknowns in our life, but we are putting our faith in the only thing we do know: God has put His call on our lives.

Confirmation::The Second

The summer after my junior year of college was the best summer EVER! I was selected through a nationwide audition process to join Keynote Summer Project, which is the music ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ. I was chosen to be in a band called Flashback, which preformed music from the 1960’s and 2000’s to show how we are still searching for the same things in life, and the only thing that will fulfill us is a relationship with Jesus. After putting in countless hours polishing and perfecting our show, we were finally ready to set out on our tour; which covered 9 states and 6,300 miles in a span of 17 days.

After 2 consecutive days of travel, our first stop was at a waterpark in Houston, TX. We were all pumped to finally perform our show that we had been working on, and excited about leading people to a relationship with Jesus. As we began setting up our equipment, we noticed hardly anyone was at the waterpark. But, our leader kept assuring us that it was still early, and more people would be coming later in the day.

It’s now showtime. I look from behind the stage and notice that our audience includes our 2 directors, Jamie’s (one of our band members) family, and…….that’s it. As the performance started, I kept giving myself a pep talk, “Hey, it’s still early. This is just a rehearsal before the big crowd gets here this afternoon.” Well, the afternoon performance arrived, and this time, the audience includes our 2 directors, Jamie’s family, and………..one of their family friends. So, the crowd size had grown by 20%! I wish I could tell you I kept the spiritual mindset that God had the people there that he wanted there. But, to say I was MAJORLY disappointed, is an understatement.

I was in a crappy mood as we began tearing down and loading the truck. During one trip to the truck, one of the girls in the band stopped me and said Jamie’s sister wanted to talk to me. Being the Godly focused person I am, I instantly thought: 1) Why aren’t you helping load the truck, 2) I have a girlfriend, and 3) I don’t feel like talking to anyone. But, by the time I made it to the truck, Jamie’s sister was there waiting for me.

That’s when it happened. She nervously said, “Ummm, I would never do this and I’ve never done this before, but there is something I have to tell you. As you were speaking today, God told me you are going to reach a lot of people.” This made me feel a little better, so I politely said something like “thanks for the encouragement and I’m glad you enjoyed it.” But, as I began loading the truck, she said louder, “No. God told me you were going to reach A LOT of people. A LOT. So get ready.” Then she walked away.

I was blown away! This was totally a God moment. I instantly snapped out of my woe-is-me mood, and totally praised God for His love and faithfulness. Since then, I have seen evidence of what Jamie’s sister told me. But, deep inside, I know I haven’t even scratched the surface of “A LOT“. It is undeniable that in my life, “greater things have yet to come“.