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"Scared of getting older... I'm only good at being young." John Mayer Stop this Train Continuum
It was one of those conversations with my 14 year old daughter Leanna... I was talking about feeling young, and looking older than I feel... and she said, "Well Dad, think about Adam and Eve... they lived 100's of years... think about how rough they must've looked."
I can see it in my mind... "370? Nah, you don't look a day past 320.)
Spent the day with my girls... This is us before the John Mayer Concert at the Pensacola Civic Center. We had great seats, third row, dead center. We could see everything... of course, I was watching every guitar change... making notes of pedals and effects... It was a load of fun.
The opening act was Josh Rouse, a singer/songwriter who lives in Valencia, Spain. I think he is an American who moved to Spain. Great ecclectic first set. I enjoyed him a lot.
Then it was time for John Mayer. A lot of people dismiss him because the girls go crazy for him... but make no mistake about it.... this guy is a musician's musician. The band was tight... and JM played with feeling. I really think he is a bluesman at heart.
He really has worked a lot of blues licks into his music... I'm real excited to see where his music goes over the next few years.
He had lots of cool guitars, playing mainly strats, but also a semi-hollow body and several acoustics. He did most of his hits, except "Daughters" which I thought was interesting since he won a grammy for that song. He started the night with "Vultures" and it was awesome. Also the guitar playing on "Gravity" was unreal...
One side note... present in Pensacola and apparently traveling with the tour... John's new friend... Jessica Simpson. (and that's all I have to say about that.)
All in all... a great night for music... I knew it would be a good concert, but it far exceeded my expectations.
Its Sunday night... Leanna is at youth... Vicki is home from Las Vegas (Yeah!) and we went to Outback and had a steak... We're listening to Delirious Live at Willow Creek... Killer! Tomorrow night... Close to the front tickets for John Mayer at the Pensacola Civic Center... Looking forward to that.
If you want a taste of what the concert is going to be like... check out live footage from Orlando and Jax here. John Mayer is getting stronger and stronger with his guitar work... Should be an awesome night...
We had a great morning at Coast as we talked about overcoming fear and letting God move us from our fears into faith. The crowd was great... Jay and the band did an awesome job! Then this afternoon, we had our Engage class... and it was a great afternoon as we looked at how we grow spiritually... and we talked about the practical aspects of spiritual growth.
There was a story in the message that I wanted to share about overcoming fear... and I ran out of time this morning, because God was doing so much... There were people in our celebration service today who have been paralyzed by the stranglehold of fear... and God set people free today. It was an amazing morning!
Anyway... here's the story...
I heard this week the story of a guy
This guy said everybody was running as fast as they could and as soon as that announcement was made the people in uniform immediately stopped, heard the announcement and turned and raced back in a fast as they were racing out. This was a civilian guy who said this. I didn’t understand it. I was running for my life but the people in uniform heard the announcementand ran back in.
Here was the learning; fear can be overcome … when we live our lives to a higher authority. Those people in uniform had a higher authority. Today, we have a privilege to have a relationship with the highest of all authority. We have a uniform. We have been clothed in Christ. And in that highest authority we can hear these words from Isaiah 43 "Do not be afraid for I have ransomed you. I have saved you. I have called you by name. You are Mine."
Randy Bohlender from IHOP (International House of Prayer) has announced his run for presidency. I love his slogan... Dumber things have happened.
Read about it here. The no chai left behind proposal... I am onboard with 100%. Randy gets my vote, I don't care who else is running.
Sometimes its amazing how people "Shop" for churches. We have become a very consumeristic society, shopping for churches as if they were a new car... looking for all the features and extras that will make us "comfortable." Where did we ever get the idea that church is all about us?
Ben Arment up in Reston Virgina has a wonderful post where he talks about Christians demanding more meat... He writes...
"I've always felt troubled by phrases such as "I need to be fed" or "I need meat" when referring to spiritual growth. And not just because they're usually meant to be critical of a pastor's content... but I could never see this thinking in Scripture. Paul uses "feed" and "meat" in terms of where he expects Christians to be in their maturity, but it's never used by people to demand something. So I took a crack at it on Sunday...
Sunday's message [The Table - part 2] was the compilation of research from my own study of scripture, Ed Young's message series 'The Table' and John Piper's messages about spiritual milk. It's about not being a lactose intolerant Christian, but someone who drinks the milk of the word."
I look forward to each and every Sunday morning... and I always have... long before I became a pastor... I do go to church with a sense of expectancy, because I do know God is there and I will hear from Him. But I also have always gone with a sense that I am meeting with other believers to bring my worship to God... that Sunday mornings are about relationships... my relationship to God and my relationship to others. (Love God - Love people) Sunday mornings are not about me... Yes, we have all the creature comforts at our church... coffees... and a bookstore... and people there to serve... but the point remains... Sunday mornings are about God... and Sunday mornings are about reconciling others to God.
As I travel I am able from time to time to attend a lot of different churches. I never walk away without feeling God. It can be high tech, or high church... unashamedly seeker oriented or unashamedly believer oriented... It can be a new young pastor or a seasoned veteran. Doesn't matter... when the word opens up... God speaks to my heart. Whether its a verse or a hundred verses.
I go to church with the purpose of giving to God. I give my love, my worship, my time, my energy, my resources. And because of who God is... He never allows me to out give Him... He pours back into me... more love, compassion, mercy, grace... He blesses me with more resources, more time and more energy. Make no mistake... in my mind... Sunday is the most important day of the week... And I always know that God is going to show up and do something amazing. But I also know, that I am going to show up and let God know that I love Him... and that Sunday morning is a reflection of what I want to give Him the other six days as well... I am there to give Him me.
So I am back from my fasting retreat, just in time to see my wife off to a hair convention in Vegas (she cuts hair) Tonight, I think she plans to see Blue man group.
Luckkkkyyyyyy.
I have reminded her that what happens in Vegas does not stay in Vegas, and that Jesus is with her wherever she goes...
Actually, I'm not the least bit worried, she is an awesome woman of God, and full of integrity. But I sure am going to miss her for a week. Leanna and I are prepared however... we have bought comfort food ... and I see at least one or two movie nights in our immediate future.
The fasting retreat was awesome... the guys I meet with every year are solid men of God who know how to pray and hear God's voice. It was a very encouraging time, confirming a lot of what God has put in my heart. I really do believe that prayer and fasting is the key to breakthroughs. I also believe that prayer and fasting is tool that many pastors and church planters are reluctant to use. Denying your flesh, your desires, are never easy. But its amazing how clear God's voice becomes in times of prayer and fasting.
But this is an unusual time... seems like the full spectrum... me in fasting, while Vicki is in Vegas. One thing you can say, God sure has a sense of humor.
God is here! We are in day two of our fast... The worship time has been wonderful... getting the word together and hearing from God... We also spend a lot of time praying for each other.... my time is coming up tonight. God really is giving lots of clear direction... Don't forget if God is speaking something to you for me... email me at jrpclc AT aol.com I will update more when i get back... we keep the schedule pretty full, which is good.
Do pray for a few of us... we are staying up way too late talking each night so there is really a lack of sleep happening... but the conversations have been awesome.
Face Down...
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