"Dude, do you wanna hear something nasty?" -KB 3:00AM
Props to Kyle, Tripppppp, Kev, Nathan, Austin, Ed, Larry, Austin, Brandon, Jim, Beach, and Barry... Thanks for the great night! Kyle is the man when it comes to performing with a particular 'box'. He and Trip's 'gift' stole the show...
Mike Soltys... my long lost Aboriginal friend... wrote the following as a comment from yesterday:
a) I miss heatherwoodNow, Mr. Soltys is in the Outback right now. Doing some amazing things. You can check out his blog here. And I would have to agree, God's goodness is most definitely found in the creation of the watermelon. This fantastic fruit is the staple of summer. It is most surely the messiest fruit to eat. It makes me feel like a kid. I would put it on my top ten fruit list.
b) I know God is good because why else would he create watermellon?
I have been having a great few weeks. I am not sure exactly why, but God has given me a few weeks to just enjoy the beauty of what he has given me. I just wanted to take some time and list the things I am thankful for / loving right now:
Atlanta has been on my heart. This is the beginning of week long series that will contain a prayer/scripture/comments for the city of Atlanta. I plan to wake up at 6:30AM for one full week and pray for the city. Please feel free to post your prayers in addition to mine. Maybe Atlanta isn't the city on your heart. Pray for your city... the one God has you hurting for. 1 Sentence... 2 paragraphs... Just pray...
Psalm
Come, let us sing for joy
Let us shout aloud to our King
Come, let us worship God
Lifting holy hands, bless His name
Lord, we come to meet with You again
To worship with one voice in adoration
You deserve our every praise
That echoes in this place
You’re the worthy One
Lord, we come with gratitude that flows
From deep within our souls
We rejoice in You
We will glory in Your name
With a shout our lips proclaim
The praises stirring in our hearts
Every creature in Heaven and Earth below
Bless His name, bless His name
- Bless His Name, Vineyard Music
Jesus, I want to be a psalmist. I want to dance in your presence. I want to sing new songs to you. I am not sure how that is supposed to work, but I want to be a part of your glory through song and praise. I am reminded this morning that you are the giver of all things. You brought me from yesterday to today. You woke my body from sleep. In a weird way you told me to rise this morning. I am overcome by your beauty in the sunrise. I pray this morning that Atlanta nurtures psalmists. I specifically pray for the arts crowd of Little Five Points. Bring Christians to this area. Let them be integrated into the local scene. Let your art flow from their hands. Draw people into your presence through art, poetry, and music. Let people know of that side of you. Let people know that worship music isn't the only art form that we can express praise and worship. Jesus, teach me how to become a worshiper that follows yoru posture. Teach me to lift my hands to the sky in praise. Bend me to my knees in humble worship. Prostrate me on the ground. I thank you and praise you for the great works you are already doing in Atlanta. These things I pray in your expected Glory, Amen.
Atlanta has been on my heart. This is the beginning of week long series that will contain a prayer/scripture/comments for the city of Atlanta. I plan to wake up at 6:30AM for one full week and pray for the city. Please feel free to post your prayers in addition to mine. Maybe Atlanta isn't the city on your heart. Pray for your city... the one God has you hurting for. 1 Sentence... 2 paragraphs... Just pray...
Romans 8:39 - Neither height nor death, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Jesus Christ our Lord
What are the depths of your love? How high can it reach? Will it pull me from the depths of death? Jesus I pray that your word becomes a reality for me. Nothing can separate anyone from the love that you bring. I pray for those in Atlanta that do not know that they are caught in this kind of love. I pray for their eyes to see the love that you have for them. I pray that they find themselves in the presence of a stranger who is loving them as the gospel calls us to love. Jesus, I pray for your patience as I sit and pray in Clemson, SC. My heart needs to rest in the love that you have for me here. Soon enough you will place me where I need to be. I pray like Isaiah told you, send me... I want to go to Atlanta... Send me... Raise people up with me to go and serve those people to death. I pray for your patience and a peace of mind that allows me to sit in the arm of my savior. I love you Jesus. You are my hope, my strength, and my redeemer. Reclaim your city. Allow me to be a part of doing that. You are sovereign and I will go where you lead me. I pray these things in the Holy and Powerful name of Jesus, who is the giver and receiver of all glory and honor, Amen.
Let your Glory shine around, Let your Glory Shine around
King of Glory here be found, King of Glory
Atlanta has been on my heart. This is the beginning of week long series that will contain a prayer/scripture/comments for the city of Atlanta. I plan to wake up at 6:30AM for one full week and pray for the city. Please feel free to post your prayers in addition to mine. Maybe Atlanta isn't the city on your heart. Pray for your city... the one God has you hurting for. 1 Sentence... 2 paragraphs... Just pray...
Reconciliation
God off the nations, you are the creator of all things. I thank you for the beautiful world that you have given to us to tend to. I thank you that I have a part to play in the story of God. This morning I pray for a reconciliation between inner city Christians and suburban Christians. Build a soil group of people in Atlanta that burden for it's restoration. May it be a mix of those from different socio-economic levels and race. Teach us that we can have a local mission field. Where we live can be our Darfur and our home. I thank you for the things that are going on in Atlanta. there are places where we are seeing your reconciliation, but we need more of it. we are a chosen people of God, and our mission is to spread your love and gospel to all people. Not just people like us, but to all who surround us. Jesus, I pray for peace between the inhabitants of Atlantic Station and those of Bankhead Highway. I pray for investment. I pray for Christians who will embrace a missional living in both of these areas. That you would be the strength and provider for these prayers. God, I picture Midtown Community Church being a source of light to all nations and races. A home to all socio-economic levels. Your gospel does not judge or discriminate. Teach us to not do the same. May we embrace a missional life style. May it be pleasing to you. May the gospel be on our lips and on our hearts ever moment of the day. I pray these things in your expectant glory... Amen
Atlanta has been on my heart. This is the beginning of week long series that will contain a prayer/scripture/comments for the city of Atlanta. I plan to wake up at 6:30AM for one full week and pray for the city. Please feel free to post your prayers in addition to mine. Maybe Atlanta isn't the city on your heart. Pray for your city... the one God has you hurting for. 1 Sentence... 2 paragraphs... Just pray...
Hope
Jesus, my hope and salvation, the giver of peace...
Toward Atlanta I directly pray. Bring me to my knees for this city. I want it to be shining for you. Who's name is greater or more powerful than yours? Draw me into your presence so that I can pray for Atlanta more and more directly. This morning I pray specifically for those whom have lost hope or have never even seen it. I pray for the homeless on the street. Bring them people, disciples, to meet their needs of substance and safety. I pray for the Hispanic single mothers. Bring them a peace and rest about finances. Send them someone who can point them to you, the giver of all things. I pray for the politicians. I pray that you trump their self motivating interests. Jesus, that you plan would use those who follow the Way and those who do not. Your ability to be sovereign is one of my favorite traits about you. I can trust in the fact that you know how to bend the nations to do your will, despite if they know you or not. Come near to me Christ. Teach me to be a Christian, a lover of the gospel. Teach me to be a missional follower. Someone who has a purpose. May Atlanta be claimed in the Cross. May your people move toward reclamation and restoration in Atlanta. May your hope be our message and our song. Point our eyes toward the city.
Atlanta has been on my heart. This is the beginning of week long series that will contain a prayer/scripture/comments for the city of Atlanta. I plan to wake up at 6:30AM for one full week and pray for the city. Please feel free to post your prayers in addition to mine. Maybe Atlanta isn't the city on your heart. Pray for your city... the one God has you hurting for. 1 Sentence... 2 paragraphs... Just pray...
Restoration
God, the Holy One who has chosen me, you are beautiful and wonderful. My hands are lifted high because you have brought me out of the pit of sin. I am claimed by the grace of Christ and I am thankful. I ask that your freedom come to Atlanta. I ask that you are seen above all things. I confess of neglecting the homeless, and the despondent. Rework my view of the gospel. Jesus, as you taught us to pray, "Your kingdom come and your will be done on Earth as it is in heaven." We are in your kingdom now. We are the vessels, the hands and feet, the shakers and movers, of your active and living restoration. We stand in the midst of your restoration. Sometimes we see only ruin. Give us sight like you have. Give us the ability to see what you have begun to restore. Jesus, I want to be a curator of the world. I need a master to teach me how to bring art back to its original beauty. I need someone to help me paint, hand in hand, so that your work may be completed. I pray these things specifically for Atlanta. I pray for the suburban church; that they would have a unbridled passion for claiming the city of Atlanta. I pray that we may do it for the sake of the humanity of others, a representation of your Glory on Earth. May I see those whom are different for who they are and for whom they will be when restored in the merciful and graceful hands of the master. In Jesus' name, the one who was, and is, and is to come, Amen.
Tell God you are ready to be poured out as an offering, and God will prove Himself to be all you ever dreamed He would be."
Feb 6th My Utmost For His Highest
I read this passage this morning. I don't know if I have the guts to put myself on the altar. I don't know what that honestly mean... It scares me to think of myself laid out on the altar. I wrote this in response:
The Lamb
The smell of burnt skin
Fills the room with a haze
Sitting, laying, hands stretched out
Eyes toward the altar within
Made of the purest cedar
The combination of smells
Both wonderful and putrid
Beautiful love and light
Focus upon salvation, redemption
Restoration
Standing, ablaze, he walks
Untouched by the flames no more
Its really annoying. I can't access my blog during the day. The school doesn't allow it. I am going to start using this program that allows me to write the blog during the day and update it later. Its pretty cool.
This Sunday I am going to be semi-interviewing for a church in downtown ATL. This is not entirely true. The church is actually in Snellville, but they have a plant off of State Street and 10th in midtown. I'm really excited about it. I am going to lunch with the senior pastor and his wife.
The church is doing some pretty radical things. Their target outreach are Muslims. They travel to the middle east a lot and the church downtown was strategically planted next to the largest mosque in the South East. It has provided for some pretty awesome encounters apparently.
The community groups are supposed to be amazing. Its primarily a college aged churhc. Which is good because it won't feel very different from where I am now.
I'm going to miss Nathan and Amie... sadness...
Well leave some love. I'm not slacking I promise. Be looking for some more regular postings. Peace.
