Taylor Returns!!

Aright, it's been far too long since I've blogged about anything. That does not mean that there has been nothing blog worthy going on in my life because there has. I mean, I have a 2 1/2 year old little boy and a 4 month old little boy, I lead worship at a Jr. High camp for a week somewhere in Texas, I've traveled on vacation to Indiana for a week, I flew to Florida and drove from there to Northern Kentucky helping a friend of mine move, I traveled with the Caleb Miller Band and lead worship at NYR in Colorado, and all of this within the last month or so. It has been a very busy, but awesome summer for me and my family. Another reason for my lack of blogging has been my entry into the twitter world. My lengthy blogs have been replaced, I guess, by my much shorter (140 characters or less...haha) tweets. That just sounds funny, but I'm kind of getting into it a little bit.

Anyways, this entry just couldn't be explained in that amount of space.

Almost a year ago, when I was still living and serving in Florida, I had my Taylor guitar stolen. I blogged about it when it happened (see October '09 if interested). It was a gift from my Uncle, I had had it my entire ministry life, and it was just special to me and it was gone. Well, last week, when I was up in the mountains with zero phone/internet service, we would go into town to do some work and hang out. It was at that time I received an unusual email from a guy I didn't know trying to track me down. I was a little concerned at first, even though the email said not to be, but who would be tracking me down from Florida? After another email, Rick, a man that I would love to meet, sent me an email explaining what he had in his possession and how it got there. He had my guitar!! He explained in great detail how he got my guitar and what transpired in the months that he had it leading up to him tracking me down. He wanted me to know that he did not steal it, but that he had it and wanted to return it to me. I can't imagine all that he had to go through to track me down. I live in Texas now, there was no name or number on the guitar or the case, but through the internet, he was able to find me and return it to me.



Today, via UPS and a stranger named Rick, a very honest and good man, I received my custom made Taylor 310ce. I can't believe it! I never thought I'd see it again. It's in the same condition that it was in when it was stolen. It has been kept in the case and inside in the AC.

This is an incredible story for so many reasons. I love this guitar and like I said, it has sentimental value to me, but know that my excitement and awe over this event has nothing to do with the guitar. I'm so glad to have it back, but what is most amazing to me is the honesty and integrity of one man that I have never met and by his own recognition is not a "religious" man. Rick told me that a couple of people had offered to buy it from him but he couldn't, with a clear conscience, sell it without knowing where it came from and so he did the right thing.

Rick, if you ever read this, I want you to know how thankful I am for you. Not just for returning my guitar to me, but for challenging me with your honesty and integrity. I feel that I need to tell you that Jesus loves you, you are His child, and that He wants you to know Him. With the same diligence that you sought me out, seek Him out and you will find Him too. I know that what you did for me must feel great, but finding Jesus will be much more satisfying and eternal.


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Story Continues

Well, it's been just over 6 weeks now since Jarren arrived, and we are finally adjusting to having 2 boys now. Dreyson, the crazy one, and Jarren, the soon-to-be crazy one I'm sure, are great. We love it! Stephanie is the best mother and my boys are just amazing. God has truly blessed me with a beautiful family. We tried to capture our family in a photo a couple weeks ago, and let me just say it was challenging. Fun, but challenging.


We set the camera on the TV and the timer on the camera and we were off...literally. Dreyson was running all around the living room thinking it was a game. I guess in a way it was because we only had 10 seconds before the picture would take. Well, we made it, but just barely. We had so much fun though doing it. We did, however finally get one that we liked.

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We love our little family. I'm missing out on some sleep these days, but I would trade an hour of sleep for a second with my boys any day.

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Another Love Story

Well, my son, Jarren, is now two weeks old is doing so well. He's a blessing to our family and we're so excited and thankful that God has given us another little boy to care for and love. Things didn't start out, however, like we had planned.

The chord was wrapped around his neck causing some complications. I've not been in a lot of operating rooms, but I have a feeling that they're not supposed to be that quiet. It was a few minutes before he starting breathing. Those few minutes seemed like hours though. When he finally did start to breath they were more like coughs. He was struggling so hard to breath, but he was. Steph and I were a little worried, but there was still a peace in the room that surpasses all understanding. We prayed before hand that the Holy Spirit would fill the operating room, and he did.

Jarren only spent 24 hours in the NICU before being released to our room. What a moment. It wasn't until that point that I even got to hold my son. When he finally got to our room we were so excited because Dreyson hadn't met him yet. It was so great. Our two year old perfect baby boy looked like a giant next to our perfect 2 day old baby boy.

We spent a few more days in the hospital and then finally got to go home. Thank you God for making Your presence felt to us and bringing our Jarren to us just how you wanted. We're home now and adjusting to having a crazy man (Dreyson) and an infant (Jarren). We're tired but loving every moment of it. Steph's parents got to be here for the first week and my mom for the second. Soon she will be gone and will just be our little family unit again, learning to live as a family of four.

We love our boys!





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New Clothes

Colossians 3:12-17

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or in deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

I'm always looking for new clothes, especially now that we're in fashion "conscious" Dallas, but I look in the wrong places. Instead of new shoes, I need compassion. Instead of a new shirt or pair of pants, I need to want kindness and humility. No more hats or watches, but instead I'm going to strive for gentleness and patience.

That's how I want to dress. That's how I want to look. That's how I want to live.

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My Pursuit

For the last few weeks, at Compass, we have been in an amazing marriage series called "Revolutionary Marriage." Today's message was about pursuing our spouse. So, needless to say, this last week I have been thinking and praying about how I can do this. I've been praying about how I can be a better husband, about how I can make my wife know that I love her, and not just know that I Do, but that I WANT to. I want her to know and feel that she is pursued by me, her husband, her SOLE mate.

This past week, I also was blessed to have attended a worship conference at Gateway Church, which was amazing by the way. But for three straight days I was reminded of God's pursuit of us. That's an amazing thought, huh? God pursues us! Notice that wasn't in past tense, but in present. He pursued us when He willingly sent His Son, Jesus, to this world to die in our place. A Savior now a man; a King now a servant. He pursued the Apostles when He washed their feet, the blind when he gave sight, the lame when He made their legs move and He pursues us today with that same love and humility and power and grace. He loves us and wants us as His own. He pursues us!

The question, in self-reflection, this week I have been asking is, "Do I pursue God? Do I pursue Jesus?" The answer to that question is yes, although I wish I could say that a bit more emphatically. Yes, I pursue God, but I know I don't the way I want to, the way Jesus desires me to. I want to pursue God the way David did. David was a man after God's own heart, and perhaps if I would live the kind of pursuit David displayed in Psalm 63, I would be too.

Psalm 63
1 O God, you are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land
where there is no water.
2 I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory.
3 Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.
4 I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my
hands.
5 My soul will be satisfied as with the
richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise
you.

Are you pursuing God? The question needs asked and Jesus deserves an answer. After all, He pursued us all the way to an old rugged cross.

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Humility

Maybe this is a very prideful thing to say, but I've never thought that something I struggled with was pride. I'm just not a proud person...or am I?

We have been in Texas now for just over a month. We love it here. The weather has been nothing to brag about, especially having just moved from Florida, but we love it. I love the conveniences and amenities of living close to a major city. I love the church where I am now serving, and so does my family. It has been a fairly smooth transition for us and God has made it clear to us that this was the right decision. We are where He wants us. One of the ways, however, God has made that clear to me, I was not ready for. He has used this transition and new role in ministry as a wake up call for me.

I have been a worship pastor now for 8 years or so. I love knowing that I am doing exactly what God wants me to do. I was part time in college for a few years and then we moved to Florida for my first full-time position. In both of those places I was THE worship pastor. There was no other. I was in charge of the whole department and lead, every week, God's people in worship. I never knew it, but I was thriving on the recognition. I was thriving on the weekly "pat on the back." I subconsciously loved that everybody knew my name and what I did. I loved that any question about worship or music was directed to me. I thrived on the fact that I had the closest relationship with the lead pastor; that he wanted to know my opinion and have lunch with me.

Now, I'm in a place that I love, a position that I'm growing into, and a church where I'm so excited to serve, but it's different than my first two experiences. The difference is I'm not THE worship pastor. I'm just A worship pastor. My title, however insignificant, is the Associate Worship Pastor. I'm truly ok with that, but like I said, it's different.

Caleb is the worship pastor and he is great at what he does. I'm so thankful that God lead me to this church to work with him, to learn from him, and to grow under his leadership. Compass is a place where I feel my family can be for a long time and I think any success that we might have here, or anywhere else for that matter, will be directly related to the lesson I'm learning right now, only a month into my time here.

Here are a few scripture references that God has been using to speak into my life:

Proverbs 16
18 Pride goes before destruction,
a haughty spirit before a fall.
19 Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed
than to share plunder with the proud.

Ephesians 4
1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Psalm 25
4 Show me your ways, O LORD,
teach me your paths;
5 guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
6 Remember, O LORD, your great mercy and love,
for they are from of old.
7 Remember not the sins of my youth
and my rebellious ways;
according to your love remember me,
for you are good, O LORD.
8 Good and upright is the LORD;
therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.
9 He guides the humble in what is right
and teaches them his way.

God has used this transition, for me, to expose the ugly pride that I wasn't even aware of. To remind me why it is I do what I do, and that is not for a pat on the back or for any recognition from man, or for any form of authority, but for His glory alone. That's the only reason I lead worship and the goal of my life. I'm still dealing with these feelings, but I'm thankful that God has allowed me to recognize this so early. This is a time of reflection for me, a time of growth, and I want to thrive in nothing else but the love and mercy of Jesus Christ. I am being humbled...so "God, teach me Your way."

It is my prayer for you, the reader, that this post will awaken you to any pride that you might need to deal with. If it does, open yourself up to be changed from the inside out.

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What A Ride

Well, not sure if I have any followers or not for this blog, but if I do sorry that's it's been so long since my last post. Life has been crazy! Great, but crazy.

Since my last post my wife and I have made the single biggest decision in our ministry life in that we resigned our position at New Day Christian Church and have moved to Texas. It was such a tough decision because we loved Florida, I loved my job, and most significantly we loved the people we served and our friends there. All are dearly missed, but we are embracing our new life in Dallas, TX. Actually, our apartment is in Euless and the the church where I know work at is in Colleyville, but it's minutes from Dallas so that's just easier to say.

I joined the staff at Compass Christian Church as a Worship and Arts Pastor and I love it. The staff is amazing and the church is as well. There's still a lot to our transition, roles to learn, relationships to build, but we couldn't be happier to be where we are because we know that we are in the will of God for our lives. He has made that clear.

I am a blessed man to have the love and support of the love of my life by my side, an amazing 22 month old little boy and another due in March, and a job that I'm called to, that I love, and that I know I will be challenged and grow both in my craft and in my walk.

Thank You, God, for making Your presence felt in our lives during this difficult, yet exciting transition. Thank You for being so faithful, so amazing, and for reminding me of Your love every day.
Your servant

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