Wednesday, July 25, 2007

In Their Own Words

Now that we've been back a few weeks & had some time to process, I asked those that went to try and put into words what God spoke to them at this year's IWI. Here's what a few of them had to say:



"While IWI was every bit as incredible as I had hoped, it had a completely different shape for me this year. Last year I learned what God truly wants in a worshipper, this year I came home with a new understanding of what it is to be a worshipper who is also in leadership (as well as a humbling understanding that I've still got a whole lot to learn). I was made fearfully aware of the responsibility that comes with leading God's people, whether it be in LCBS, praise and worship, youth and children's ministry, etc. We are potentially meddling in the relationship between our awesome Creator and His children, and if we are not living right, that could be a dangerous place to be. I was greatly touched by a sermon regarding the threefold relationship between the Bride, the King, and the eunuch. We are to lovingly serve the Bride of Christ in order to make her ready for the King, expecting nothing from the Bride in return. We mustn't rely on her for our reward, that comes only from the King.


I am also in awe of how God works in the Body as a whole. I found that First Baptist fell right into the directional flow of the Church in general. Our recent emphasis on being a missionary church, one that reaches outside its four walls to reach those that the church has turned blind eye to in years past, this is the movement of the Body of Christ and we are right there with them. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, but it just confirms that this is where God's heart is and First Baptist isn't missing the boat!


So I have come home encouraged to press on, very aware that growth often involves growing pains, and most expectant of the awesome things God has for us on the horizon!" -Spring Minett




"I went to IWI not knowing what to expect. I knew I would have to take a weeks vacation from work and be away from my family around the 4th of July Holiday. But, I felt the burning desire to go with my worship team and seek the word of God and grow spiritually. I had no idea I would experience what I did in such an intense way. I felt God's presence so strongly one night that I will never be the same.



Before I went I was a little hesitant about my way of worshipping. Especially on the platform leading worship. Where people watching me and how I worshiped? Would I sing off key and mess up the song or distract others from their worship? Growing up Presbyterian I never experienced as much as raising my hand to the Lord. It was during a private time that I would weep, kneel or shout. I realized I'm not at church to perform for anyone. I'm there to worship God. Its not about ME. It's all about HIM.


When I returned from IWI I had a lot to process and my family wondered what was wrong with me. I was quite, did a lot of thinking and listening. Did you know listening to God is just as important as talking to Him? I can't put into words what I felt and the impact this week had on me. All I know is that we are only here in flesh for a short time. God loves us so much and gave the life of his only son so that we could live. We all have a purpose while we are here. We have to get that! God has a purpose. If you want to find that purpose, you first have to find God. Without God, there is no purpose. So IWI has led me to really pursue what my purpose is and how I can help others find theirs." -Stephanie Marshall



"IWI was
incredible. God was there. He completely blew my concept of worship out of the water. My first night at the conference, I couldn't "worship." Raised hands, lifted voices, great music, great atmosphere.. but no connection between me and God?? I was confused; I thought I'd be right at home in the free-flowing style of worship music. I thought I was all-set to "really worship." Well, I learned that God doesn't like boxes, especially if they're meant for Him. God burned these words on my heart: "What are you seeking?" Was I seeking the worship, or was I seeking Him? I learned that God wraps Himself in a shroud and longs for us to seek Him however He chooses to be found. Slow song, fast song, hymn, acapella, it doesn't matter. The form doesn't matter. What matters is WHO I am seeking. Like Bob Sorge taught us, worship is not business; it's personal. Once I allowed that truth through my thick skull and let it change my heart, I.. WOW. God let me find Him. The sheer delight I found in truly seeking and worshipping Him is very hard to describe, but I can tell you this much: I can't get enough of it. I'm hooked. It's my personal, daily quest now, seeking Him. And it's my prayer that this will be true of each of you as well. Thank you for partnering with God to send us to IWI. God bless you!"
-Joel Chan


"There was so much revealed to me in that week that there is no way I could summarize it if I tried. So, I’ll stick to one subject. RESPONSIBILITY. I have never taken what we do on Sunday mornings lightly, and I knew that I was setting an example of what it means to worship. The problem was, I was holding back on truly worshipping out of fear. I was afraid to mess up. I was afraid of looking foolish. And I was afraid of being judged. Now I know that I am going to mess up, I am going to look foolish, and I am going to be judged, AND THAT'S OKAY. I learned that my first and most important responsibility is to minister to God. I will never please everyone, but as long as I am pleasing God, I am doing what I should. He will take care of the rest.


So, now I am not so afraid of the responsibility, but honored that God has chosen me for this very important task. Nothing that I have done makes me worthy of this honor and that’s what is so great about it. I am so excited to see what happens in my life and the life of others, now that I have been broken. I can’t wait to see what He is molding me into." -Laura Murray



"You may not know that many of the sessions are designed for “worshipers,” and have nothing to do with LEADING worship. Joe automatically knows what I want for my birthday every July--a trip to the IWI! To me it’s like church camp for grown-ups (with MUCH nicer accommodations)! I urge everyone, musical or not, to join us next year. I always come home closer to the others in the group, and more importantly, closer to God." -Kathy Hickey



"IWI was a new experience for me. I thought I would be learning new techniques to help me with singing & my vocal range. After the first night, God spoke to me & told me that it is not about me & how well I sing. It is about Him & giving my all to Him. Now I know that I can lead worship totally unreserved, not worrying about how I sound or what I look like. I plan on returning to IWI, & I encourage you to go with us!" -Ashley Morgan



'NUF SAID! Now you now why we go. LORD, USE US FOR YOUR GLORY!!!!

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Tuesday, July 10, 2007

We made it to Colorado

I realize that my last entry said I'd see you tomorrow. Though not a complete lie, I was obviously a little off base. The last few days of the IWI were like a whirlwind. Being in the choir kept most of us busy (it was incredible), & the Holy Spirit visited us in a very powerful way (more incredible). The choir was blessed to be able to sing with Tommy Walker & Martha Munizzi. As for the Holy Spirit visitation, the whole place was brought to our knees following a very powerful message from Bob Sorge. If there's one book I could recommend to you (besides the Bible...of course), it would be Mr. Sorge's "Secrets of The Secret Place". I'm sure I will blogging some more about the IWI, as I continue to process.

So, we are now on week two of our little jaunt across the country. The picture above is the view from just outside our tent...NOT BAD! It makes me feel very tiny compared to the Almighty & His GRAND creation. Today, we will be going into the Rocky Mountain National Park. Not sure what we're doing, but that's kind of the point of vacation isn't it? I'm sure we'll look into horseback riding, do a little hiking, yada, yada, yada.

I hope to keep you posted. It helps that the park we're staying in has Wi-Fi.

See ya when I see ya!!

Wednesday, July 04, 2007

IWI Day 2 - Evening Worship

Tonight's worship was led by Tim Hughes. You know, "Here I Am To Worship". Yep, he wrote it. I loved how he was absolutely not polished. Don't hear me wrong. It was incredible! Very simple. God came in an amazing way! Ross Parsley, former worship pastor turned senior pastor of New Life Church in Colorado Springs, led the teaching session. Here's what he had to say. Once again, forgive the choppy train of thought. Lot's of scripture...good stuff...take it in & let God speak to you. Without further adieu.


Ross prefaced his message with a very sincere thank you for the many prayers lifted up on behalf of New Life Church. For those of you that have been under a rock over the last year, their former Sr. Pastor Ted Haggard, stepped down due to moral failure. As Ross made abundantly clear, through it all, God's grace is sufficient!


“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
-Matthew 5:3

What a contrast...the poor WILL be rich. We want God to do what only He can do. We, in America, want to prove that WE are in control, instead of acknowledging that we are really unclear about how God controls it all.

“What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul”
-Matthew 16:26

“The blessedness of possessing nothing”. -A.W. Tozer

Are you willing to give it all up to gain everything? You can't receive the fullness of Christ until you are willing to be emptied of yourself. The kingdom of God works on a whole different set of rules.

“If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility, consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others”

-Philippians 2:1-4

“And whoever wants to be first must be slave of all”
-Mark 10:44

We are all called to be slaves instead of masters. Our attitude should be the same as Jesus Christ. He HUMBLED himself...even through ALL he went through. You want to be a leader? Leadership is not a gift, it's a price to be paid. We need more worship leaders who have more innocence & are not cynical from years of working in the church. “The kingdom of heaven is given to children”.

“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
-Luke 14:11

We will all be mistreated in our lives. The question is, how will you react to it, with “how dare they” or humility? Humility is never chosen. It sneaks up on you.The very idea of worship is the humbling of self & the exalting of God.

“To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

-2 Corinthians 12

Boast in your weaknesses & see God's power revealed! Bring forth your SERVANT HEART!

It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full
extent of his love

The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

-John 13:1-5

'NUF SAID! I hope God speaks to you like He did me. Now...Go & serve!

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Tuesday, July 03, 2007

IWI Day 1 - Evening Worship

We just finished our first night of worship with the IWI band & are waiting for Steve Fry to begin the first teaching session. Unfortunately, I can't yet get the wi-fi user name & password for the hotel. Hopefully, I will get that soon & be able to blog live. Until then, I will act as if I am, & paste this in later...or should I say...NOW. Don't forget to click on the Flickr.com link in the sidebar to check out the latest pics.

So, what is God speaking to me thus far...


IT'S ALL ABOUT HIM!!

Lord, let me live in that truth! I've really been struggling lately with what new thing God has in store for me. Or, if He even has something new for me at all. I guess I just want to know what's next? However, I think I've been basking in that so much that I've begun to make it about MY plans & not HIS. Even as I type these words, Antonia Lawrence is leading us with the words...”The Spirit of the Lord is upon me...and...He has anointed me right now”. Lord, I want, I need to feel that anointing! Do you ever feel that way? If so, I wish you were here with us this week. Bar none, the Lord has always come in fullness at this conference. I know & believe he will do it again. Steve Fry is now being introduced as the night's speaker. Let's see what he has to say... ...God weaves tapestries into all of or lives. Are you grateful for that tapestry?

“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority”
-Colossians 2:9

“Fullness is the potential for genuine satisfaction in any circumstance.”
You can overcome those circumstances that are keeping you from Him. At that point, you will “transcend” into a new place of worship above those things that keep us bound from the “fullness” in Christ..

If a million dollar check was given to you, what would you do? At that point, you receive an overdrawn bank statement & for a moment, you forget you have the million dollars. In actuality, you have “fullness” & can pay off that debt & much more.


We are called to look at our lives through a whole new set of lenses. We are to stand back & look at who He has called us to be. One of the first things we need to do in our walk with Christ is to declare our worth & “fullness” in him.


Many Christians believe that they are victims of their circumstances. We live in a culture that makes us out to be a victim. Though there are real victims, many of us are “nickel & dime” victims, thus giving us a skewed view of life. We feel offended at the injustice of it all & blame other things for our lack of “fullness”. The bottom line is this...we're all going to go through the stuff.

Life is not about success here, it's about training for there!

Learn your lesson so you can graduate with the top of the class. You DO NOT have to look at your life as series of injustices. God just wants us to be HUMBLE before Him.


Others of you may feel like your going through your life just being. You've lost your dream & vision. You say, I'm stuck & don't know where to go, or what to do. Friends, when you feel like you're just surviving, God is increasing your spiritual authority in Him!


WE HAVE TO GET BACK TO THE POWER OF GOD”S REDEMPTION!

If we come to Him in repentance, He can redeem. There are no failures in the kingdom! As sinners, we must come to Him in repentance. We never have to labor through a lifetime of guilt!
GOD CAN, WANTS TO & WILL USE YOU! Next time you're corrected, say to yourself, God's fine tuning my future. OUCH!

“YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN FULLNESS IN CHRIST!”...

I can't speak for everyone, but Steve spoke straight to me. Now I just have to line in the truth of God's Word. Rather than babble on, I'm going to take some time to take it all in. Hopefully, something here will speak to you as well. My apologies, if it seems a bit disjunct. I pray that God will speak to you as He did me.

See ya tomorrow!

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Monday, July 02, 2007

IWI Pics on Flickr.com

Alright, I decided to post this year's IWI pics onto Flickr.com. The link is on the sidebar of the blog. Just click on it & have fun! You can leave comments on the pics, just like you do on this blog. We offically start the IWI tomorrow. We had a great prelim day today at Six Flags. Well, at least until 2:00 when we got rained out. After that, we went to see Evan Almighty. It was a pretty good flick. I'll post some "dance" pics later. Check in to flickr every day to see the action.

Until then...

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