Final Thoughts of 2008

It's is fascinating what is happening in the world.

WARS.......Rumors of Wars......Famines......Natural Disasters......One world money market..... Recession......Diseases..............all sounding familiar? (Matthew 24)

I was reading I Timothy 4 today....and it struck me how the closer I think I'm getting to God, the further away, I really am.............Without correction, I would be without hope.....so here I am.... someone who has been in ministry for Christ for almost 35 years........and I know very little.

We are all treading on a minuscule, paper-thin blade of reaping God's blessings or losing it all.

I know this isn't the happiest blog for the end of the year......but its a sobering thought

I trust you all have a blessed New Year.........May God pour Wisdom all over you.
Take a moment and read 1 Timothy chapter 4 today........i won't print the whole chapter but I'll close this year's last blog with the final 3 verses in this timely chapter.

"...Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecies spoken to you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you. Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right, and God will save you and those who hear you."

(1 Tim. 4:14-16)

Love to you all
Greg

The Result of Thinking Outside the Box

This is a very cool live video by some church (I'll have to find out where they are)
I love to see creative, fresh ideas to old concepts
Enjoy!....Thanks for sending this to me Paula

What a Battle!!!

I just witnessed the greatest tennis match I have ever seen.
The legendary John McEnroe said it was the greatest game ever played in the open era.

The King of Grass - Roger Federer
vs.
The King of Clay - Rafael Nadal

They've met the last 3 years in the Wimbledon Final with Federer beating Nadal all 3 times. In fact, Federer has tied Bjorn Borg's record 5 straight Wimbledon Finals and today he was primed to overtake Borg's record. Nadal has won the last 4 French Open Championships and no man since Borg has won the French and Wimbledon back to back; so Nadal was ready to finally beat Federer and match Borg's record.



The drama was set, ready to sweep everyone away.....but nobody could've predicted the majesty and sheer exuberance these two men displayed today.

Nadal won the first 2 sets 6 -4......it seemed Federer was down;
but he came back in a 3rd set tiebreaker........then a 4th set tiebreaker.....
now it was all even.......two rain delays.....
4 hrs of playing and now into the 5th and final set..............
it was even up to 7 - 8 in Nadal's favor......
Finally, with the day turning into night.........after the longest championship match ever played, NADAL overtook the King and became the rightful champion.

It was so amazing....and I was rooting for Federer and still loved it....that's how amazing it was.


If a measly little tennis match can give me these kind of emotions; think about how that last Battle of Armageddon is going to be....... i mean, really.........all the drama, spectacle, pain, heartbreak, excitement, victory.............and we know who's already going to win it, but it will be great.


This makes me want to watch the final battle of Lord of the Rings - Return of the King......that was an awesome battle put on film.

I wonder who's gonna film the Battle of Armageddon?......and are we gonna watch the replays over and over in heaven......all sitting up there admiring the warrior skills of each other?
Actually we'll be in the NEW EARTH....so we'll have new, cool plasma screens all over the place.

I can't wait......even so, Lord Jesus, come quickly

Never Give Up!!!!

Another production is over and there's a tremendous amount of relief in my spirit and body.

The shows were great; well performed and well received. I believe it was produced the best of any of the 15 productions we've done in the last 5 years. The set, sound, lights, and camera work was the best its ever been. The acting was very good and the singing was right on point. The reviews from all who attended were very good. A lot of lives were changed, renewed, touched and inspired.

You might assume that this is expected and it just happens.....But there's always an amazing moment in any production that never fails to appear - the moment I quit.

It never fails that at some moment in the 3 months of preparation of a major production, I want to quit (or sometimes I do quit just to start up again). This can run the gambit of casting issues, band issues, costume issues, set design issues, choir issues, sound issues, lighting issues, budget issues, personality issues.....you name it

I guess, in my mind, I don't think its worth it. Nothing is worth this or, maybe, I'm not the one who should be doing this. The hardest part is needing an instant answer for the hundreds of questions that hit me from all departments at the same time; the decisions that need to be made in a split second; the pain of seeing the clock run out and the rehearsals being quickly dissolved. Frustration sets in after all the rehearsals leading up to the performances because, my priorities are not being fulfilled.......I haven't figured out a way to be realistic with my expectations for the rehearsals.....setting me up for a big disappointment at the end of the night.

So really, I'm setting myself up to fail; thus getting more stressed and eventually quitting.

It seems that the 'stress' begins to manifest into my body. In the last year, I started to get hives on my arms and legs the week of the productions.. ..strange. I have no warning that these are coming; they just appear. In my mind, I'm not that stressed, but my body tells me different.
I JUST WANT TO QUIT!!!!!!!!!

The Hope:
One of the best things about me is my ability to visualize the future. I can work, prepare, and live in projects now, because I KNOW what the final outcome will be. I can see faces and hear stories years before they happen. In a way, I believe it is a sub-category of a prophetic gift. Certainly, not in the conventional sense of "gift of prophecy"; but it is true that, in some situations, I have seen the END RESULTS long before I even have BEGUN the writing process....before it even hits the paper.

I say all this because when I allow the Enemy to get into my head (first mistake); when I see failure and hurt and pain and it makes me lose it or give up - God reminds me of the 'original' vision. He gives me another dose of vision of what WILL happen at the end of the project. I see the faces and hear the stories. It makes me start again, with a fresh approach. Failure is not an option because I KNOW the end result is good... I know, it sounds weird, But this is my passage right now.

I guess I want to just encourage you; whatever you are facing never give up.....there IS AN END RESULT THAT IS GOOD. Ask God to help you visualize the end of the journey......its okay to ask questions and work out the problems - just don't give up; don't quit. Walk through those fiend walls, because your joy awaits on the other side.

http://presenter.streamingfaith.com/links/WinningInLife/The_Exchange.htm

SHOUT IT OUT!!!!!!

First with Dolly singing Jesus and Gravity last week....and now this. I do believe someone at the idol has recently accepted Jesus as their personal savior.

Idols Give a SHOUT TO THE LORD

A Holy Calling

I found this post from a Worship Leader and loved it.....thought I would share....its from one of my favorite books 'The Heart of an Artist" by Rory Noland...gw

A Holy Calling

by Jeffrey Ream

Can you imagine the difference it would make on your band or worship team if they felt the passion, the privilege, and responsibility of a Holy Calling rather than the duties of a volunteer.

In his book entitled "Heart of the Artist" Rory Noland poses that your ministry teams must not be merely Volunteers but must have a "Holy Calling" on their lives for that specific ministry.

Below is his list of differences between "Volunteers" and people with a "Holy Calling".

1. Volunteers see their involvement at church as community service, but people called of God see it as ministry.

2. Volunteers whine about what it's going to cost to serve, but people called are committed to serving.

3. Volunteers shrink back from resolving relational conflict, but people called of God seek to resolve relational conflict for the sake of unity in the church.

4. Volunteers look upon rehearsal as another commitment they're obligated to fulfill, but people called of God look forward to rehearsal as another opportunity to be used by God.

5. Volunteers do no outside practicing or preparation, but people who are called of God come to rehearsals and a performance as prepared as possible.

6. Volunteers are not open to constructive criticism; they get defensive about it. But people of God are grateful for feedback because they want to be the best they can be.

7. Volunteers feel threatened by the talent of others, but people called of God Praise Him for distributing gifts and talents as He chooses.

8. Volunteers want to quit at the first sign of adversity or discouragement, but people called of God dig in and persevere.

9. Volunteers find their main source of fulfillment in their talents and abilities, but people called of God know that being used of God is the most fulfilling thing you can do with your life.

10. Volunteers can't handle begin put in situations in which they're going to be stretched, but people called of God respond to God's call with humble dependence on Him.

How much more would your team members be motivated, if they were fueled by a Holy Calling rather than by simple duty? Let me encourage you as leaders who are fulfilling your own calling. We must be intentional in the ways which we lead our teams. Remind them of their calling. And if necessary remove them if they are more like volunteers than people with a "Holy Calling".

Movies that sing

"Listen….can you hear it?........The music…. I can hear it everywhere: in the wind; in the air; in the light. It’s all around us All you have to do is open yourself up. All you have to do is… listen."

"Sometimes the world tries to knock it out of you; but I believe in music, the way that some people believe in fairy tales."

- August Rush
_________________________________________________________________________________

Ok..... so YES..... you can predict where this movie is headed from the the first 5 minutes of this film; the premise is hard-fetched; the sentiment is mighty; however, this movie beats the snot out of NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN ( the critically acclaimed movie of the year - and Best Picture for 2008 Academy Awards)

For the musician or just the lover of music, you can not pass the opportunity to watch August Rush (now available on DVD). The songs are good; the arrangements are stellar mixing rock & classical together. It's the emotion of music....the sappy stuff......the stuff most people who are not musicians are too afraid of. It was, my opinion, the best movie of 2007.....next to Ratatouille.

Every once and awhile, a movie will come along and challenge your own dreams and beliefs. August Rush is the latest among other music-oriented offerings to make one forget about the failures and concentrate on the dreams again. The last movie to have this kind of impact was 1995's Mr. Hollands Opus.

Now, certainly, there have been many movies about music or musicians; biographies and historical dramas that have entertained and even inspired. Check these out (notice: not all are family oriented)

La Vie en Rose (2007) -
the story of Edith Piaf , French singing sensation

Ray (2004) - the story of Ray Charles

Walk the Line (2005) -
the story of Johnny and June Cash

Coal Miner's Daughter (1980)-
the story of Loretta Lynn

Bird (1988)- the story of Charlie (Bird) Parker
Lady Sings the Blues (1972)- the story of Billie Holiday
Shine (1996) - the story of pianist David Helfgott

and last, but not least........


Amadeus (1983) -
the story of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart