Blue Like Jazz author to give DNC Benediction

Check it out here: http://tinyurl.com/6go6k6
I understand what Donald Miller is saying in this interview. I have dealt with these same battles over trying to reconcile Politics and Faith. I cannot understand some of the negative critic’s comments though. Did they even read what he said?

Edit:
Just found the words from his prayer last night:

“Father God,

This week, as the world looks on, help the leaders in this room create a civil dialogue about our future.

We need you, God, as individuals and also as a nation.

We need you to protect us from our enemies, but also from ourselves, because we are easily tempted toward apathy.

Give us a passion to advance opportunities for the least of these, for widows and orphans, for single moms and children whose fathers have left.

Give us the eyes to see them, and the ears to hear them, and hands willing to serve them.

Help us serve people, not just causes. And stand up to specific injustices rather than vague notions.

Give those in this room who have power, along with those who will meet next week, the courage to work together to finally provide health care to those who don’t have any, and a living wage so families can thrive rather than struggle.

Hep us figure out how to pay teachers what they deserve and give children an equal opportunity to get a college education.

Help us figure out the balance between economic opportunity and corporate gluttony.

We have tried to solve these problems ourselves but they are still there. We need your help.

Father, will you restore our moral standing in the world.

A lot of people don’t like us but that’s because they don’t know the heart of the average American.

Will you give us favor and forgiveness, along with our allies around the world.

Help us be an example of humility and strength once again.

Lastly, father, unify us.

Even in our diversity help us see how much we have in common.

And unify us not just in our ideas and in our sentiments—but in our actions, as we look around and figure out something we can do to help create an America even greater than the one we have come to cherish.

God we know that you are good.

Thank you for blessing us in so many ways as Americans.

I make these requests in the name of your son, Jesus, who gave his own life against the forces of injustice.

Let Him be our example.

Amen.”

Still digesting it. Might add more later.

When I Face a Mountain

climbing-hand-focus.jpg
“When I face a mountain, I will not quit. I will try to climb over it. Or find a way around. Or tunnel underneath. Or perhaps, just stay right where I am and turn it into a gold mine with God’s helping hand.”

Losing Pieces, Gaining Pieces…

Yesterday I drove down a road that I have driven down many, many times. It is an old country road that runs by the Eastern N.C. COG State Headquarters, where my Grandfather is a credentialed minister, and where I spent many summers at Campmeeting and Youth Camp chasing girls under the guise of chasing God. I once used this road as a connecting point to visit my late Grandparents, my Dad’s Mother and Father, but as of late it has just been used for the short trip off of I95 to Kenly, NC to see my Mom’s Mother and Father. As people age it seems that sometimes the aging process can impact one more poorly then the next. Such is my Grandparents case. They said goodbye to their home yesterday and traveled North with my Aunt to PA and will receive much needed living assistance. It is a good thing for them I believe. So as I left their home yesterday, traveled that country road, passed the Piggly Wiggly Grocery Store one last time, a piece of me was lost. It was uncomfortable…but still change comes.

Yesterday I also drove down other roads that I have driven down many, many times. Roads to the Hospital I was born at, to the High School I graduated, to the many Beaches I frequented, and to the places and times that have had some role in shaping my being. Back home, where the Saline in the air just lifts my spirit and passion soars in me, is where I wish to be always as a piece of me is gained back. It is very comfortable…and change is welcome, although a short time it will be.

Back Home Once Again

Pelican Watch, Sunskipper, The Cove, 4 wheeling on the South end, delivering Pizzas right after a day surfing, Eagles-Hotel California, birth of Nirvana and Pearl Jam, and of course chillin’ to tunes of Steve Miller Band…..so many fond memories of this place.
It will be nice to be back once again. To be inspired once again. Good-bye dreadful Terp-Red Maryland , Welcome back Duke-Blue North Carolina….one day I will stop cheating on you and I will be back with you always…..Home In My Heart..North Carolina

Time of Awakening

This has been a time of awakening for me lately; or perhaps a time of stirring in my spirit in relation to almost all facets of my life. Be it work/career, fathership, husbandry, physical, or spiritual awareness; it seems that the conglomeration of the whole are getting major visibility to me and I constantly seem to be evaluating each piece of my being and analyzing what I must do to improve on them in the present as well as the future. I am chasing something, a renewal perhaps or maybe my own personal revelation. I don’t want personal revival. I don’t want to be revived into what I once was. I don’t want to live in an old era of being. I want something new. I want a life changing personal renaissance era. I am “chasing the renaissance.”

Up Early

Up Early

This is way too early to get up. I have started working from 6am - 5pm, Tuesday through Fridays with Mondays off. Having Mondays off is great, but getting up before the sun does royally stinks.

“What Can Brown do for you?”

Jason Brown at Frederick Coffee Co 001
Chilled last night at the Frederick Coffee Co. with one of my good friends and musical cohorts, Mr. J Brown. Jason has just recently relocated back to Maryland and is looking for gigs and worship ventures. He has an album dropping soon, so get your kicks in and book him if you can. One of the nicest guys I have had the pleasure of working with. Visit his myspace site at myspace.com/jasonthebrown.
Jason Brown at Frederick Coffee Co 002

Jason, look forward to many more evenings of music and hot beverages with you bro. It’s great having you back in Fred-town.

“I’m Horrible at Chords”

This past weekend I was watching U2’s Rattle and Hum movie on Music HD. First of all, let me just say for the record that I have severely underated U2 and the passion they have. They are hands down, the best rock band ever.
There was this one segment with Bono and the King of Blues, B.B. King that was highlighted. They were rehearsing “When Love Comes To Town”, a collaboration between B.B. and U2. B.B. casually asked Bono if someone could play the chords to which Bono replied that The Edge could take care of that. Then B.B. uttered…yeah “I’m horrible at chords”.
I was stunned and then inspired.
If God has a call on your life, the road there may not be the one that everyone else is traveling and the steps you take will not necessarily be the steps others take. You don’t have to be like someone else and do what they do. Let your creativeness flow and let God show you the way to be what only you can be. Just think, you may be a musical genius without ever learning how to play what every other musician considers paramount.

Spring…new growth, but hard sometimes

Tulips
This time of the year is usually hard for me. I tend to contemplate on a lot of what has happened during the year before and the years before that around the months of April and May. These months have been surrounded by situations such as dealing with big decisions, issues, or just “stuff” that needed to be addressed. Some of these situations were caused by me, such as resigning from my job of 6 years in April 2005; Some were caused by what I believe to be God’s life shaping, such as being laid off from my job in May 2006; and some were caused by people, such as the anguish contemplating whether I will play professionally with prophetic people again due to lack of follow up. There is a shifting that seems to be occuring again. Life is not stable and some things are dying and changing.
Lift up your head because when the old is shed, when the cocoon is broken, when the winter pruning is final, new growth will arise and change will be evident. This is not a time to despair, but a time to contemplate, meditate, and rejoice in all that will come.

To Redeemer - Thoughts on “Break the Surface”

It’s hard to believe that it has already been 3 weeks since Break the Surface happened. I have been lying low and have slowly recovered from that weekend. Overall, the event was successful. We had a great turnout, intense worship happened in the heart of our city, people were blessed, and walls were broken. The most significant thing that happened was the unspoken chain link that was formed with the Redeemer family and the different ministries and fellowships surrounding Frederick County and Maryland.

As I looked at the photos taken by LayneMarie Photography at 5:30am this morning, I couldn’t help but smile at how “Great” God is. He had his hand on this event and he has his hand on this family we are part of at Redeemer. The word “Great”…. I have had people ask me why I go to Redeemer a few times. Truthfully, we are not advanced as some churches in the technical arena, program-wise, nor do we have a gamut of paid pastoral staff and secretaries. We even meet at a “borrowed” place. So why do I take my family to Redeemer? Simple: It’s a Great church.

“Whoever wants to be great must become a servant… [Jesus] came to serve, not to be served.” (Mark 10)

The Redeemer Family is Great because they serve…

They give to the needy and feed the homeless.

They have a heart for missions, not to see the people only in a relationship with Jesus, but to educate them and teach them to be self sustaining.

The leadership opens up the platform every Sunday and allows others to use their gifts and to bring something, a word, a hymn, a song, creative movement…

The financial board takes money that could be said to be needed elsewhere and invest in the people of this city through an event such as Break the Surface and, as such, God returns the investment.

They love children, they love youth, and they love adults of all ages….no one is left on this journey to fend for their selves.

The leadership trusts the people they serve and empower them to walk in their gifts.

The Redeemer Family is Great because they serve…

Some people have thanked me for leading efforts in “Break the Surface”. All I know is that all notable leaders are only notable due to a Great team or Great support from other individuals they lead. “Break the Surface” happened because the Redeemer Family wanted it too and for that I honor you and thank and bless you for being servants and being Great!

Our Family, Redeemer, is on the verge of great change coming these next few years. One immediate change this year will be our meeting place and where we call home. We will welcome this change and pursue what God has in store for us next. We will continue to serve and change the face of what an institutionalized church is and keep moving toward Kingdom work and bridging the body of Christ by showing love in all we do.

I look forward to this journey with you all.

Kingdom…
Gene

Who are you becoming?

Be who you want to be…

Will it stop?

It’s cold outside. Very cold. I am so ready for warmer temps.