Miraculously Trained

A Cat in the Sun

2011-06-20T18:18:00.000-07:00

A cat is in his glory laying in a shaft of light. He's warm, safe, peaceful. Well cleaned, coat shinny, and belly full.

A cat in his glory.

We're glad it's summer over here. Glad it's not winter. Glad there's still sunshine at 8:30pm.

...REAL glad the winter's over.

Doesn't mean suffering's over, but it means we don't suffer in the cold of night.

Means we suffer in the LIGHT.

Means we suffer in the DAY. And in the day there is hope.

Doesn't mean we hate the night.

'Cause we GROW in the night, REST in the night. KNOW that DAY . WILL . COME.

So we GLORY in the day. PUSH HARD in the day. Live HARD in the day. WORSHIP in the day.

Be thankful for the DAY friends.

Much love in the Ghost,

Interesting times

2011-05-30T17:41:00.000-07:00

We've had this dream, my wife and I. Our dream is to be together as much as possible. And we've been trying to figure out how to make that dream happen.

We know we can produce events with the best of'em. We know we can work together like few other couples can. We know we can work harder, together, than most people. And we know we have business savvy to boot.

So we came up with this idea,

"Say, girlie, what if we start a business together? You know, like events and photography kind of thing..." "Wow, that would be on hell of a risk, wouldn't it?" "Well ya, but realistically, if we don't do it we'll look back and say, 'why didn't we start a business together...'" "Maybe you're right, lets think about it some more and talk later..."

A while (and a lot of life) later, and we re-approached the idea,

"Say girlie, what about that idea we had about starting a business together?" "Yep, been thinkin' about that..." "You know, if I don't do it now, we'll probably never do it. And I either need to do it or stop talking about..." "okay, lets do it!"

(Conversation summery, no conversation actually happened that way)

My internal dialogue lately says, as Yoda best put it, "do or do not do, there is no try..."

So, without further ado, DND Productions!

We've been waiting to do this since we got married...so stick around. Things just got a whole lot more interesting!

Watchin' movies...

2011-05-28T19:55:00.000-07:00

We're watching 'everything is illuminated' on our sweet little set-up tonight. Got it last night. LED with a blueray player (to come).

Never set one up for myself, before this...

It's kind of a dream.

See, we didn't have a TV in our old place, and when we moved into this one, and with everything that went on soon thereafter, we got one kind-of out of necessity (you can check back in the posts to see what I mean), but it wasn't the one we 'wanted'. And we promised ourselves that if we ever had 'any' money we'd get one.

Well, it's here...

Still got some settling to do for it...drill the wires, put art up, etc. but you get the idea.

Just marking the occasion.

...Ya'll should come, have a glass of wine and watch a movie with us sometime.

Cuttin' the grass

2011-05-27T11:41:00.001-07:00

I bought a lawn mower a couple weeks ago, cause this is what my yard looked like...

You can see it WAY in the back. Nice mower, but it's one of those manuel push kind...good for emissions. Bad for me!

I almost quit.

Almost gave up.

Got the the end of this first strip and had blisters on my hands already.

Had the rest of the yard to do.

Then I thought,

'How can I expect to be an example for my church if I don't manage my own affairs well?'

'How do I expect to respect myself as a man if I can't power through this yard?'

'How do I expect to be a good example to my wife if I can't do this?'

See, I expect a lot of myself. I expect a lot of my work ethic. Expect a lot of the outcomes of my work. Expect as close to perfection as I can muster.

Means I let myself down A LOT.

This time I didn't.

Before I knew it I had my head down, WORKIN'.

And before I knew it, the yard was DONE.

And wouldn't you know it, two weeks later, and the yard looks like this!

Just cause hard times come around doesn't mean you can let your expectations of yourself drop.

Expect results of yourselves, friends. Even if it means blisters on your hands and a little sweat on your brow. The results will pay more than your suffering.

Much love,

Straining toward the goal

2011-04-20T11:13:00.001-07:00

I press on (push harder) to take hold (cleave to) of that for which
Christ Jesus took hold of (captured) me. Brothers (and the Loved), I do not
consider myself yet to have taken hold of (my reward) it. But one thing

I do (and I will): Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead
(into the LIGHT), I press on (strain further) toward the goal (work harder) to
win the prize (refined by trials) for which God has called me heavenward (to
GLORY) in Christ Jesus!

Happy easter everybody...

Battling Trust

2011-03-24T08:16:00.000-07:00

Spacing out the timeline by which this happened. Sifting through the papers by which this happened in my mind, 'cause things are moving quicker and quicker as we age. Moving from one step to the next almost without pause for consideration about what the next step will be...


Maybe it's suppose to be that way. Maybe its Trust sitting at the table with me, asking me to follow it instead of the paper trail I believe I have. Talking at me that is not really in my control, that it's not really up to me. Not really mine at all.


But I battle Trust with barbs like, 'but look what i've done' and, 'see how I've built it'. And trust looks at me while I speak, seeing me.

Selfish, proud, belligerent, dirty and unremorseful am I to Trust. But he loves me.
He loves me. Busted and leaking. Soaking in my own guilt. Securing a place in the darkness, according to myself. But he thinks otherwise...


He thinks otherwise that I might have hope one day. hope in myself. Hope to heal myself. Those around me. Hope to have hope that I might one day be acceptable to Love.

And He knows I am acceptable to Love.  Acceptable in my search.  Acceptable in my selfishness, pride, belligerence, filthiness and unremorsefulness...made RIGHT by Love.  Made Good.

And I sit, covered in the papers of my 'proof', made acceptable, made right, made Good.  weeping.  in awe.  in Love.

M.

livin' the dream.

2011-03-08T10:29:00.000-08:00

Livin' the dream...Yup, it's great...when it works.

But when it doesn't work, it's just work.

Hard.

Painful.

Work.

See, I kind'a sold out when we planted THE WELL. I gave up the idea of having a 'real' job, 'cause I 'had' to do it. I knew I had to leave behind what most people consider a 'normal' life for a life of uncertainty and risk. Knew I had to do it; because it WAS risky... because the Spirit told me to.

Now, a-year-and-a-half into it we're getting down to the 'work'.

And it's HARD work.

Work, helping people (with God's help) dig themselves out of emotional and spiritual ditches while trying to dig myself out of one. Work, learning how to pastor. Work, surrendering to the vision that I now God has for me and my wife. Work, making life work against all odds.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE it (love pastoring, love production, love helping people/serving...it's what I'm MADE to do), but there are definite sacrifices involved in doing what you love.

Especially when you're just starting out.

And that's what we're doing.

Starting out.

I read Mars Hill Yearly report today. Even after 10 years they didn't feel like they had 'arrived'. That both encouraged me and discouraged me. Made me think we've got a ways to go. Made me think I'm lookin' forward to the journey.

It's like starting out on a swim.

Yep, that's me in my second triathlon EVER...notice all the wetsuits. Notice I'm not wearing one...

If you've ever swam across a lake before you know what I mean...

You get in and you're so excited to be in the water. And when you start swimming you're very concentrated on your strokes, what you're body feels like, getting warmed up. Not caring about where the other side of the lake is.

It's when you get to the middle, and you start to feel the fatigue, and you take a break to look around, and there's only water that you realize what you've done. And you think, 'oh man, I'm all by myself and there's only water around me...'

That's when the fear kicks in.

Here's the turning point.

You either keep swimming, or you drown...

You either take the risk and keep swimming to the other side, or turn back and go back to where you came from.

It might be easier to go back where you came from. It may be harder to keep swimming to the other side. But we're not called to take the easy way

Put your head down. Swim. You'll GET to the other side. You'll be tired, and your body will hurt. But you'll be stronger, fitter, more experienced and a better person for sticking to your guns and battling you're fear...

Feels like I'm in the middle of the lake. Looking around thinking 'wow, I've come a long way, but this is the most risky part. 'cause (with the Holy Spirit) I'm the only one who can make me get across this lake...'

I just have to keep working, keep enduring the pain, and keep looking to the shore as it gets closer...because, ultimately, I LOVE swimming...

living vs. ALIVE

2011-03-01T13:59:00.001-08:00

'just because you're living doesn't mean you're alive'

heard that song lyric yesterday. Not sure who it's by, but it's a good one.

Got me thinking about what I'm doing with my life, if I'm truly alive...

'lot of people forget to LIVE life...They settle into a way of thinking and play maintenance until that 'magic' time when they'll 'break out of they're shell, and DO something'.

They look around at 80 and realize that time never came. (Freedom 55 anyone?)

Like they expected a sign along the way saying, "HAY! NOW'S THE TIME TO START LIVING!!'

Something I've realized over the last 5 months is that we really only get one crack at this life thing. Every day that you're breathing is the only day like it, and there won't be another one. Just like every breath is the only one like it, there won't be another one of those either.

(You thinking about you're breath pattern?)

My dad and I came up with this theory when I was a teenager, 'you make a decision whether you make a decision or not...', meaning, even the choice to not make a decision is a decision.

So if you're lazy, you're choosing to be lazy, even if you don't realize it...

throws it on it's head, right?

If you hate you're job, then quit.

If you hate where you live, move.

If your marriage isn't working, the fix it. Make it right. TALK to your wife, your husband. Clear the air. MAKE IT WORK.

You're the only one trapping you in you're own life...

All it takes is guts.

Being ALIVE.

Making a choice...really.

Hmm...

the son...

2011-02-28T17:01:00.000-08:00

my son

while I was running today I realized that the sun is getting stronger by the day. That this winter might one day come to an end. There may be life eventually.

Love, WITH sin...

2011-02-28T06:21:00.000-08:00

Your capacity for love is a direct result of your ability to repent.

You love people. Good. But do you love them as much as you should? Do you love them as much as Jesus did?

Jesus was WITHOUT sin, and therefore had an entire life of love to pour out to the world.

You are WITH sin, and therefore are held captive from our ability to love.

You hold grudges, you hate people, you do violence to one another and yourselves. We slander our selves, each other and God, by the way we live and the things we say.

We put ourselves first.

That's why we think love is this pretty thing of rose peddles, candles, teddy bears and hugs.

It's when you repent of your anger against others and God, grudges, hate of yourself, that you really find a place where you can start LOVING people.

Fact is love is hard. It's picking someone up, dusting them off and slapping them to get them to move. It's telling someone not to be stupid with they're life (even at the risk of offending them). It's putting others before yourself, even to the point of death.

Loving people enough to realize that you're NOT (actually) that important (in the grand scheme of things). Realizing you can't be all things to all people, but knowing that if you ARE who God called you to be, then you will have the ability to SPEAK to all people.

Repent.

Give up those things which are holding you captive.

Ask God to point out areas of you're life that you are un-repentant of.

Submit to Godly authority.

It's THEN that you'll start to begin to see what love is REALLY like.

Getting bumped

2011-02-10T18:15:00.000-08:00

I'm living a new reality; having got married, gotten my wife pregnant, bought a house, lost a baby, become a pastor (and all the ups and downs that come with living life in general)... all in a year and a half.

So you can't REALLY blame me for being a little introspective.

So when someone recently said to me, "what you put in is what spills out when you get bumped'. I took it to heart and was like, 'what spills out of me when I get bumped?'

Well...quiet rage, a desire to 'work' my way out of the situation, a need to 'control' the situation, a backlash of vibrato against fear, not admitting fear, pride about the things I've accomplished (as a way of controlling the situation), shutting down emotionally. Needing to 'be a man'.

I actually think the question should become more like, ' so Mike, what do you do when it hurts?' Well I wish I had an easy answer (now that I've dealt with some real pain, lived some life, acquired some scars from life...)

If I was pushed to answer, I'd have to say: Don't try to work the pain away.

Here's the key:

Embrace the joy and linger with it.

Embrace the pain and endure it.

It's in facing it head-on that you get to the other side. It might be scary and seem dangerous to look at, but to look away is not the way we're instructed to do it.

It takes courage to do it. A friend of mine said it really well,

'Courage doesn't mean FEARLESS, it can mean totally fearful, but doing it anyway'.

If there's one thing that I've learned from the last year and a half, its that life is one fight after another. It's not in knowing that the next fight is coming, it's in knowing how to KEEP fighting...

What builds you up? What things inspire you? What things make you want to get out of bed in the morning?

It's the act of pursuing those things that you get to KEEP fighting!

The hope in all this comes like my gray hair... it's that I become less of who I am by nature, and more of 'who I'm suppose to be'... hopefully that need to be a 'man', or need to control the situation, fighting the pain, or emotional shutdown are not what spill out when I get bumped. Rather, it'll be emotional vulnerability, acceptance of pain, giving control over (or seeming control) of those situations I can't control, that I see spilling out.

Now, you know the question was comin' your way...

What' spills out when you get bumped??

Lessons in film #1

2011-02-04T17:23:00.000-08:00

Lesson of the day:

When you're shooting outside in the winter, make sure you're model doesn't fall off the tree backwards...

Project 30Belly

2011-02-02T13:56:00.000-08:00

So I wanted to go for a run this morning (yep, I thought I was crazy too...) and walked out the door to THIS!

And I know what ya'll are going to say..."the snow wasn't as bad as they said it was going to be!.." bla, bla, bla.

Okay, I agree with you, but this is a drift in our front yard.

You're next question is, "Mike, why would you even THINK of going for a run the morning after 'the worst storm in 20 years'?"

Well? Because of this.

Yep, Project 30Belly.

(Yes, that is a chalk board. And it IS in our kitchen...)

K, so I'm turning 30 in March, and while most people don't think I have a 30Belly to loose, I'm in the market to loose some of that winter fat (Plus I think if I don't have a belly now, I'm more likely not to have one when I get to 50...Kapeesh ?)

So, here's the deal. I want these 6 things to stick ('cause they're all good to do), so I'm adopting them slowly...

1. Just say NO to Sugar (Fairly innocuous, but easier said than done)

-One step at a time. One craving at a time...Yep, just like killing any addiction

2.Work out 5 days a week

-Serious

-I just downloaded this app to help me train

3.Do crunches EVERY day

-Yep, it's the only way I know how to flatten you're stomach for the long hall

-Here's the program I'm using, it's not everyday, but it'll get me there

4.Just say YES to fruit and veggies (maybe INSTEAD of sugar?)

-Yep, easy, simple

-Detox on the body and minerals + vitamins

5.Kiss your wife (husband, kids...Gramma?) every day

-Easy to do, and creates intimacy in you're relationship

-serious

-Studies have proved the connection between intimacy and physical wellbeing

-Nice.

6.Drink 6 1 litre water bottles a day

-thats a LOT of water, but it's a measured target to hit

-it lubricates joints, detoxifies, helps brain function, prevents aging, increases effincey in body operation and increases energy...

-JUST DRINK WATER

-most people are dehydrated

-most people think they're hungry when they're actually thirsty...

By the way, when I was on my run I was probably one of the only people in Hamilton to see this

or this

Reality is, no one's going to do it for me. I'm the only person who can do it.

AND, I just have to do it. Not give myself the choice NOT to do it.

Get up in the morning and get out the door...

I feel like a million bucks now...really

And I'll sleep better tonight.

My Humility...

2011-01-27T09:53:00.000-08:00

That there is the source of my humility for the coming years...

1. This page got posted last Tuesday.

2. We had a conversation at bible study on wednesday about expectation.

I've come to a bunch of conclusions about that there page

1. Reality is, there's a lot of expectation of that role.

2. I'll never live up to it.

3. I'll keep trying

4. Only God can do the work that's set out before me.

5. The grace of God says it's okay that I'm going to fail, but the expectation NEVER gets taken away.

...Same with you, if you believe, that is.

6. I'm okay with that, but

7. It scares the CRAP out of me... ( see here and here for more reasons it scares the CRAP out of me)

Maybe that's a good thing.

No, that's a good thing. 'Cause it'll keep me humble.

Yup, simple as that.

Much love in the Holy Ghost,

His Weight

2011-01-24T08:35:00.000-08:00

His weight was heaver than his 1 pound.

Be BEING overflowing...

2011-01-21T07:40:00.000-08:00

Oswald Chambers

Here's the quote that got me...

God is saying to His people, “You are not in love with Me now, but I remember a time when you were.” He says, “I remember . . . the love of your betrothal . . .” (Jeremiah 2:2). Am I as filled to overflowing with love for Jesus Christ as I was in the beginning, when I went out of my way to prove my devotion to Him? Does He ever find me pondering the time when I cared only for Him? Is that where I am now, or have I chosen man’s wisdom over true love for Him? Am I so in love with Him that I take no thought for where He might lead me? Or am I watching to see how much respect I get as I measure how much service I should give Him?

Are you in love with him or not?

Was sitting with Jess eating breakfast and (as is our habit) we did this reading. And what overcame me in that moment is that I'm NOT overflowing....

Then I was cut by it, convicted. If I'm going to help lead people I need to quiet myself down, quiet my mind down and start to listen to what He's saying. Be more humble. Less proud of my accomplishments.

Really, respect Him more.

Thanks Oswald, again.

Today

2011-01-20T21:15:00.000-08:00

Today I told Jess that I was pretty convinced, all Judah knew was love. And for my part, I'd rather suffer his post-natal death knowing that all he knew was love, than him die in utero and not know the extent of our love for him.

mid-winter challenge

2010-12-29T06:53:00.000-08:00

So? There it is...

The goal is January 22nd.

The Place? my house...

The challenge? 15k on excersise bike/trainer, then a scenic 5k touring a little of Hamiltons finest waterfront trails...

I'll buy dinner for whoever can beat me.

Who's in?

We can discuss logistics on facebook or here. Hit me up. facebook.com/mikedyment...

Happy training!

Running...

2010-10-15T05:06:00.000-07:00

Went for an early morning run today and realized some things:

1. I'm a natural athlete...working out is something I genuinely enjoy doing. Something I get energy from. It's just part of bein' Mike.

I've been putting it off because I've been so busy as of late (what with moving, and the baby and the baby-church we've been trying to build over the last year), but I realized last night that its not worth not-doing...working out gives me time to think outside the box, the stress, the focus. Time to let not worry about any one thing in particular.

Plus, I LOVE doin' it!

2. I gotta be real with myself...on more than just the surface.

Bein' real is all about my honesty about my gifts, talents, passions and desires. What I'm good at, what I'm not. Taking stock of those things that get me goin'; harp on my strengths, farm out or teach myself how to function through my weaknesses, and start makin' life happen one day at a time...no matter how hard, or cold, or wet the road gets along the way.

3. I Got'a baby comin' in February!...

Two years ago I wasn't married! And now here I am: home owner, would-be father, church planter...not that I regret any of these things, it's just a lot for a guy to process. You Know?!

...Just feels like I've been running a lot in the last couple years and I just stopped for the first time to look around.

I'm gonna go again, it's just a matter of time. Maybe tomorrow morning, maybe later today. But I'll go...

...clubbing

2010-03-09T18:40:00.000-08:00

This is my wife and I.

I love my wife...alot

...it's obvious.

See, we went to this rippin' party on sunday for a friend of mine, and my wife started to learn how to dance...

...not that I'm all that good myself, but, see she's a little self-conscious on the dance floor. So I made a pact with her that we'd go clubbing. Not 'cause we wanna go ogle the meat market, but to get out and have fun together...and dancing is FUN!

My wife wants to learn how to move...'cause the way I move makes her want to move. And that's my job...

...I gotta teach my wife to dance.

I also gotta teach my wife to worship. She's pretty good at it already, but my job is to inspire her to worship...and if I want to do that I have to live a life of worship myself. I can't just make it happen...

...can't just show up at the club never having moved my body...

If you're a husband, it's your job to teach your wife how to worship. If you're a wife, your job is to inspire your husband to learn how to worship. If you're a parent, it's your job to teach your kids how to worship.

Worship in such a way that you help others learn what worship is and what it's all about.

...so get to the club and get started.

feelin' re-calibrated.

2010-02-26T15:37:00.000-08:00

Yep, that's what it's been like.

The last bit...feelin' like this guy...

...on the side of the road...

...with a busted car...

...tryin' to run the thing on my own power

Then, along came this sermon. (A MUST listen)

...Realized that I'm naturally not a business man (as is the tendency in North American churches). I'm more of a Holy Man (as it tends to be in the Eastern Churches)

Like it or hate it...

In my books, 'holy man' means: dropping the hard shell, actively pursuing vulnerability, admitting my weaknesses to myself and those around me, focusing myself on what is above first, letting my focus on what is above inform my focus on what is ahead.

Living a life devoted to worship...

...I haven't been doing that.

...I'm sorry.

I'm going to surrender to the spirit that's been pursuing me since we started this thing.

...it's a Better Way.

PS. I did clean out under my bed...maybe that's what got this started...

Cleaning out our Closets...

2010-02-04T18:10:00.000-08:00

K, it may not look like much. But that there is one ORGANIZED closet.

Yesterday, we walked into that room, opened the door, ripped everything piece by piece out of the closet, sorted and washed it meticulously and put it into it's desired order.

We did it 'cause we're launching our 'Welkids Nursery' in a couple of days. That means that we'll have three distinct areas were kids will hang out. 'Welkids Nursery', 'Welkids 5+' and 'kids' who are 8+, who hang out in our 'Kidzone' in the 'sanctuary' (Which right now happens to be a glorified band hall). So, we cleaned the storage closet out, 'cause we had to sort out what areas things were going to.

Before this, we only had a rudimentary system of organization. Now, the leaders of various areas can walk into the storage closet, pick up their Rubbermaid container and take it to their area to set up...Genius!

...guess this means we have a growin' church...

As we were doin' cleaning, and cleaning, and cleaning, and cleaning, and cleaning...(etc.) I got to thinkin', have I cleaned out my closet lately...?

So, I went home and looked under the bed ('cause that's were most of our storage stuff is kept) and realized that there is a TON of stuff I don't use at all...so I made a pact with myself. By the end of this week I'm going to lift the bed, see what's under it, clean what needs to be cleaned, get rid of what needs to be gotten rid of and organize what's there.

Then it hit me...have I cleaned out my 'closet' lately?

...picked things up, saw what's underneath, cleaned out what needs to be cleaned out, gotten rid of what needs to be gotten rid of, and organized that's there...?

...huhh...

What about you?

Let me know what you think...

...lessons from 31.

2010-01-31T13:35:00.000-08:00

...hay, that's reminds me of that Dave Matthews song...

Week #21 in the books...

...Starting to feel like one of those parents who still counts their kids age in months when their like 5...'oh ya, little Timmie's 67 months old today...'

maybe we're gettin' somewhere...

maybe we're not where we use to be...

...lessons from sunday.

I don't look like that picture...

'Cause if I did, I'd need a reality check. Serious.

...planting a church is hard, lonely work. But if we don't do it for (G)lory than we do it for (g)lory. The reason is bigger then us. It's for the teaching and equipping the saints for the work of the Kingdom...in other words we do it so people will learn to love Jesus more and help those around them realize that they love Jesus too.

That's what keeps us going, week-in and week-out. (Without starting to look like that)

...havin' a band behind you is a REALLY good thing...

Ya'know, two weeks in and I'm realizing how much easier life is when you have good people backing you up....it's nice to play on your own every once in a while, but what a difference it makes in the immersivness of the music...not to mention the impact and the Worship that can happen when people feel immersed in the music.

...our church is 'growing'...

...two reasons.

1. People are starting to call this church home. Didn't think about that when we started this thing. It's cool to watch people start to invest in this thing we do.

2.People are starting to grow...watchin' people gain confidence and trust in their faith and themselves is really fun...to sit back and appreciate how people are starting to develope in their faith and understanding of the Gospel message in their lives.

...Worship is good...

The more I shake the dust off this life of worship, the more I re-discover the joy that comes with it the more I want to infect people with what Worship can be.

It's learning that worship isn't just singing, it's praying, playing, participating, propagating(!), and prognosticating...

...so press on, friend, to that which you were called to do and make the most of every opportunity you have...

You only have one today.

...we're ready for ya

2010-01-28T18:12:00.000-08:00

Had band practice yesterday.

Practiced for the Lord. Practiced for you. Practiced for the musicality of it. Practiced to play together.

...and we're ready for you.

But'ya know what? We need your help.

We need you to pray.

We need you to pray that we will surrender to the Spirit's guidance. That we would be good stuarts of these gifts. That we would be proper shepherds into worship, into the throne-room of God.

That our lives would demonstrate a spirit of worship. That our vulnerability would be evident to all. That people would be drawn to vulnerability themselves. That we would be engulfed in a cloud of God as we play, minster and press after the spirits movements.

Pray for us as we craft our worship environment. That our humanity wouldn't inhibit the work of the spirit. That we could demonstrate what a life of worship looks like.

More than this, pray for yourselves. As you get ready to go to church pray that the Lord would prepare you to worship, to be vulnerable. To be broken by Him. Pray that church would change you. That you would be affected through your week. That it would be evident to those around you. Like an infection.

Pray for the churches around the city you live in. Pray that God would presence Himself there in a mighty way. That people would come to him like iron fillings to a magnet. Pray that people would find joy, hope, healing, water, light and forgiveness at church. Pray for the healing of our Church. Pray that we would repent of our misdeeds. That the Lord would correct our path.

Most of all, listen. Listen for the voice of God. Listen in the still moments and the loud ones. Listen to the sound of the car engine and the hum of your computer as you read this.

We're ready for you...

God's ready for us.

Question is, are we ready for Him?

we got snow...

2010-01-28T08:43:00.000-08:00

I think everybody in the GTA's been waiting for snow since New Years....

Now we have a LITTLE bit of snow now.

If you look way back in this picture, there's a cloud of snow blowing across the field....sucks. Wouldn't want to be walking in that.

Makes me think about living in Toronto. Those hallowed halls of glass and steel make for some pretty awesome wind tunnels for whatever weather feels like blowing in off the lake.

Had some pretty resistant weather myself lately. How 'bout you?

Winter sucks for that. So does church planting.

...Pushing against the spiritual wind that blows against you as you do something you know you're suppose to do. It's not easy. Not something that should be undertaken lightly.

See, we have this wee-baby church that's exploding. And as more people come we sit in the hot tub (yes, that's where we chair our staff meetings...) and we contemplate what's going on, how things are working, what's next, and try to remember people's names. And all the while we are amazed at what's happening in our midst.

It's a little exhilarating, a little terrifying, and a lot glorious.

But it comes at a cost. Spiritual resistance. We leave behind those things we treasure, jobs, dreams that are stable, for things that are unstable; security, success (whatever that means). We gamble with our own histories because we believe this is what we're called to do.

Problem is when we leave security behind and we pick up insecurity (for the sake of the Gospel) we take on a ton of other stuff. Stress, anxiety, hope (which can bode both ways), fear, doubt.

This resistance can go two ways. It can either be the ice you slip on, sending you skidding backwards, or it can be the grit you push against, driving you harder against the wind so you get somewhere.

We're gon'a choose the grit.

So if you're facing spiritual resistance right now, put your face into the wind, plant your feet firmly on the ground, realize that the ice under your feet is actually grit and get to the place where you're suppose to go...May not get easier for a while, but you'll get stronger to push against the wind and the ice. And you're feet will get more acclimatized toward pushing against the wind.

And one day you'll realize the wind doesn't blow so hard any more. Then you'll realize that you're further than you thought, 'cause the wind eased off and you kept pushin' hard. Then you'll realize that you've been running with all you've got for a while, 'cause you've had little resistance and strong legs.

Then you'll run like you've never run before, 'cause your so strong from comin' though the storm.

Lets face the storm, my friends.

...Escalators

2010-01-22T11:15:00.000-08:00

Escalators.

This is some people's worst nightmare. They stand at the top of an escalator and make like they're about to jump out of a plane or something...or they step, and then back up, 'cause, oh! they missed that step. Count out 1...2...3...4. GO! and FINALLY, they make it on by the skin of their teeth...

...some people just don't take 'em. Avoid 'em completely.

There are people who will deliberately go out of their way, walking LONG distances just to take the stairs, elevator or ramp...

Crazy you say?

Maybe you are one of those people. Can't stand the sight of'em. Strike terror into your heart.

(you say...WHERE's he going with this one??)

Perhaps you're the other way 'round. Walking, or running strait on an escalator. In complete abandon of the inherent 'risks' that the other group very obviously sees...

Maybe you're the type that run's up the opposite way, judging the movement of the escalator you go...

Crazy you say?

Could I safely assume you're inclined toward one of these two groups? Cautious, almost to a fault or running strait for the thing, full tilt.

If you're the believin' type you might be asked to do some crazy things, start an international relief organization for africa, write a book, become a musician, become a missionary, plant a church. It's like running toward the escalator and jumping on with all you've got.

There is no such thing as slow...when God tells you to go you GO. 'cause, he know's what's good for you. And He knows what the risks are. And He knows the benefits. And He knows the reward.

So stop edging toward the first step and then backing away 'cause you think it's gon'a eat you. The escalator's gon'a keep movin' weather you're on it or not.

...stayin' honest.

2010-01-21T18:02:00.000-08:00

This blog is keepin' me honest.

Makes me think differently about what it is to be a Christian, worshiper, and worship leader.

Makes me accountable to more than just me (and my lovely wife).

Makes me explain what I'm thinking about worship.

My process as a person changes by your reading this.

See, we had our first band practice yesterday and I was thinking about you. How you'd react to the new sound. What you'd think about all the musicians on the stage. If you'd 'like' it. If you 'wouldn't'. If you'd worship to it. If you'd find it distracting.

At the end of the day, I know the Spirit is behind it. It's all about the Glory of God. And I know the Spirit will push you through it.

So here's to a new way of doing worship at The Well.

Lookin' forward to it.

Singin' a new song

2010-01-16T15:25:00.000-08:00

We're gon'a be introducing a new song tomorrow at The Well...

It's taken out of Psalm 29.

Here's the entire text:

Psalm 29
The Voice of the LORD in the Storm.
A Psalm of David.
¹^(A)Ascribe to the LORD, O sons of the mighty,
Ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
²Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to His name;
Worship the LORD ^(B)in holy array.
³The ^(C)voice of the LORD is upon the waters;
The God of glory ^(D)thunders,
The LORD is over ^(E)many waters.
⁴The voice of the LORD is ^(F)powerful,
The voice of the LORD is majestic.
⁵The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars;

Yes, the LORD breaks in pieces ^(G)the cedars of Lebanon.
⁶He makes Lebanon ^(H)skip like a calf,
And ^(I)Sirion like a young wild ox.
⁷The voice of the LORD hews out flames of fire.
⁸The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness;
The LORD shakes the wilderness of ^(J)Kadesh.
⁹The voice of the LORD makes ^(K)the deer to calve
And strips the forests bare;
And ^(L)in His temple everything says, "Glory!"
¹⁰The LORD sat as King at the ^(M)flood;
Yes, the LORD sits as ^(N)King forever.

¹¹The LORD will give ^(O)strength to His people;
The LORD will bless His people with ^(P)peace.

If you're planning on coming tomorrow, or even if you're not, read this text over a few times. It's designed to bring HOPE for the soul.

And if you wern't planning to come, why don'cha...

'cause this is what you're in for...

No hearing aids required

2010-01-15T11:05:00.000-08:00

I'm not a very good listener. I'm trying to become one. But I'm not. Fact is, I'd more likely talk over someone rather then listen to them.

Maybe I need a hearing aid ...A thing you stick in your ear to make outside noises louder so's you can hear what's going on.

Typically it's older people who need hearing aids, 'cause they've lost some of their range of hearing . I need one so I can hear what people are saying.

I've been thinkin' about this 'cause I burst my ear drum a few weeks ago. I've had to listen a lot closer to people, 'cause my one ear has been pretty much out of commission and I think I've finally realized what people want.

People just wan'a be heard. Just wan'a have someone that they can talk to, not talk at but someone who will receive their concerns and dreams. And a hearing aid would make me listen to people.

So you might be asking yourself, 'where does worship come into this?'

My answer?

'What about listening to God?'

Maybe all of us need a hearing aid.

Chairs, prayers and other mysteries of life.

2010-01-11T11:37:00.000-08:00

Most of the time, when you sit on your butt, nothin' gets done. You're eaither watching TV or your on facebook or bloging(...) But there are times when you sit on your butt and something does get done. You write a paper, your butt is on a plane, or your havin' a beer with a friend talking about a new book idea or the plans to plant a church...

Then there are those times when you look at the chair and say, "ya know what, I'm not going to sit today. I'ma go and make life happen" and you walk out of the house, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and get somthin' done!

We made somethin' happen this week. We added a bunch of chairs to our weekly service. We did it because we had to. We did it because people are startin' to see God in our wee-baby church. We did it because people are responding to our active surrender to God. We did it so people could have a place to sit while the word is preached, worship happens, the sacraments are administered and community flourishes. THAT is church folks. No bones about it.

Really, church is about becoming more Godly. And really, becoming more Godly is about learning about God. And how do you learn about someone? Y'hang out with'em. Listening, looking and spending time with'em. Just like you hung out with your wife or husband when you first met.

I see that as worship. Sure, going to church can be worship. Singing songs can worship. But true worship is an awareness of God's activity in the world. It's a way of thinking, a way of walking, a way of breathing, reading, petting your dog, making dinner...it's a process of learning to hear God's voice in the the mundane, seeing God in the clouds and praying with every breath. (This book got me thinking this way)

So this week when you breath, pray for our little community. Ask God to have mercy on us as we push toward the dream that he's planted in us. Pray for your family. Pray that God would grow you into people that would be worthy ministers of the gospel (Check here if your not sure what that means). Pray for our city. Pray that God would open up the door for us to reach our city. Most of all listen for God, 'cause we don't do near enough of that now-a-daze....

Then, we can add more chairs...

History and...

2010-01-08T11:07:00.000-08:00

Dallan Forgaill.

Know who he is?

Neither'd I.

...a breif bio...

He was Irish.

He was a poet.

He was a renowned scholar.

He went blind from studying.

He was second in command only to the king.

When he was martyred (by beheading), they say the Lord restored his head to his body.

'Be thou my vision' is attributed to him.

Lived in the 6th century.

Interesting, hay?...not really.

Point is, the beginnings of 'be thou my vision' were written in the 6th century. THAT is crazy. Make me think, when we sing that song we're singing a song that's been sung for 1500 years!

The first people to sing it were monks in Ireland. Now we sing it.

Makes me think. Same thing's true about goin' to church. Under the spirit's guidance people've been going to church since day one. Whether you believe in this thing or not, our calendar shows that the world changed. That makes gathering together to mark the change important. Just like singing.

We're singin' on sunday...

...come and be a part of history.

What happened Yesterday?

2010-01-04T17:55:00.000-08:00

This is my view from 'back stage' 5 minutes before our morning service starts at The Well. It's the time when I sit and pray and think about you and think about how your feeling and how yo

ur week went. I listen to the murmur of people talking, the pre-service music, maybe a couple of kids screaming in the background. I take 2 or 3 minutes to collect my thoughts and get focused, only in that room, only at that time. Then Todd and I (and whoever happens to be there) pray for the service, the church, the city. It's one of my favorite moments of sunday.

Yesterday was the first time in a while (4 weeks) that I played alone (thanks DJM). Funny thing is, the stage didn't feel empty. You made the difference. Had feeling all week that it was going to be good. Knowing God was going to do something. Knowing something is growing that wasn't there before. Knowing that the people who show up are there 'cause they want to be.

And my hunch paid off.

Really. good. church.

'cause ya know, good church (and good worship) is like a bunch of kids dancing around the backyard. They don't care what they look like. Don't care who's looking. Don't care how loud they are.

There's usually a leader, but that's just the one who turns on the music...after that it's up to the other kids to go crazy

...and for what end? To GLORY in being alive.

And THAT, is what we're after...

Enjoy your week in GLORY.

Finally Letting go...

2010-01-04T16:30:00.000-08:00

Starting a new year. Starting to build on 4 months of successes (and failures) at THE WELL. Starting to feel the spirit building something there. Starting see the weight of what we've taken on. Starting to make in-roads in the community (and online) where we live...yep, starting a worship blog.

We threw around the idea a couple of months ago about starting a 'worship blog'. The idea of it being another venue (other then me standing on stage with my guitar) to learn about what worship is. So, before we get into it I need tell you some things.

1. I don't know everything about worship....Because i've been doing worship a while (since I was 12) and leading worship for a while (since 2003), I should know SOMETHING about it. And while I consider myself a worshiper first and musician second we all know that you can always learn more about something (and I'm on a real steep learning curve).

2. I'm not a master musician...I think this can be summed up a little in the previous statement 'I consider myself a worshiper first and a musician second'. While this is an area that's weak in my arsenal, I'm workin' on it...So bear with me while I try to become one.

The purpose of writing this thing is to give you insight in to my process as a worshiper and as a leader of worship...what I'm reading, what I'm writing about, experiencing, and learning about. In the process of doing this the goal is that you'll learn about how worship works in both a community and individual context.

Stay tuned...