Good Morning...

I took my sister-in-law to the airport this morning. Its is
absolutely outrageous how many people are on the road at 6AM. I love
that my job is only 6 miles from my house. I would hate to make that
Atlanta drive every morning. It may just be that it interferes with
my routines because you never know what type of traffic you are going
to get.

I picked up the new David Crowder* Band CD this weekend via iTunes.
I think its amazing, but this is a matter that is being contested
amongst my fellow worship leaders. They feel that its a bit weak. I
would say I was disappointed in the mere 10 songs, but the content of
the music is fantastic if you like me. They are constantly pushing
the worship music realm with their electric fills and substantial
lyrics. Many worship songs are just repetitions of the same chord
progressions with simple barely melodic refrains. Crowder does so
much more than that. But thats only my opinion.

I am hoping to attend the Catalyst conference this week (pending the
completion of a promotional video for our new building). Any who, I
really miss writing here. I am going to make more time for it.

Back Again... And Married

Well, it has been a long while since I have been on here writing. I
hope you can pardon my absence. A recap of the past 3 months...

I am married. Marriage is the best thing that has ever happened to
me. I could not be married to a more amazing woman... not to mention
her incredible foxiness. Its been weird however. We haven't had a
real hard time adjusting to living with each other. It seems like
most people have this problem. As to a reason why, I give credit to
living in the same apartment complex for most of our relationship.
But honestly marriage... doesn't suck.

We have a new addition to the family. No, its not human. We hope at
least for three years before that happens. We got a basset hound.
Her name is Bailey. She honestly was the best thing in marriage that
we have done. It really makes you communicate and it teaches you how
to care for something else together. I am sure it would be much like
having a baby... but you can crate a puppy. You can't crate a baby.

I am leaving in three weeks to go to Jordan with my church. I am
totally stoked about it.

Anywho, all is well here. I really want to start writing again. Now
that I have an office at work. maybe I can do it more often.

Please Read.... Laugh accordingly

why would the locator not be available? best buy, blockbuster, target can find their stores anytime, but a government agency cant find their own office? no wonder we haven't found Bin Laden...

MoBlog NoWorkie

So.... I am having trouble uploading to blogger via phone... But I can get flickr working really well. Head here for the MoBlog....

When In Clemson Its The Only Place To Eat

On The Road

This is my last time in Loganville single. Let the journey begin...

Introducing the MoBlog

Hello my friends at PorchandAltar. I welcome you back to my blog via the MoBlog. I writing from my Dash and it will be my tool of telling my wedding adventure. I am currently about to fall asleep for the last time alone in my bed. Tune in for the pictures and random texts of the next 72 hours.

A Testament To God's Glory

Every Day I will Pray

Every Day I Will Pray That You Would Open Your Hand and Satisfy the
Desires of All Things

The God of All Things must be sufficent...

My prayer of late

Life Update

I know that It has been a while. I figure I will give you all a post
on what has been happening in the world of Trey.

Lauren and I have been getting our new house into order. It has been
a crazy mess of boxes and randomness. Our house is so much fun, and
we have already painted our room! Come by anytime!

I have finished my first video for Grace! You can check it out at my
YouTube site here. It was pretty fun coming up with the concept.
The college pastor, Matt Reynolds, is so stoked about Jesus'
revolution that's happening here at Grace. Check out the video!

Currently I am working on a video for the new vision for houses
churches at Grace. I am really excited about this because of how
house church in Clemson affected me. Be looking for that soon.

Pretty much life is going really quick right now. We are 30 days out
until the wedding. I cannot wait! Really I can't....

Hope all is going well. I promise to update more regularly.

Wanting to Know

"As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things." -Solomon

I got an email this morning from a friend who just recently headed out to Africa for two weeks.  He is on the last leg of his journey adn will be arriving back state side on Saturday.  In his email he said this:

"So, for now, I can say: there are relatively few things I know; many things I simply do not know; some things I thought I knew; and a few things I am perhaps on the way toward knowing."

What is it inside us that makes us think that we know everything?  I have been watching, near obsessing, over the show Heroes.  There is a devious villain known as Sylar who is an excellent example of our necessity to know.  The producers allude to his obsession for knowledge and greed by using the sound of clocks every time he is around.  His mind craves to know what makes the other characters he meets tick.  He also will do anything thing to obtain that knowledge, including murder.  I can't tell you how many times in my life I have told God, "I just want to know why, God!  And I will do anything to know your reason."  I too haev a necessity to know.

There is something inside us that needs to know everything, but this week I have realized as Solomon realized: The things of God are meant to be a mystery.  We, His people, should find beauty in the complex God that He is.  For in his complexity we find Glory.

I want to learn to just be caught in the Flood.  The overwhelming and calm waters of Christ.

The Beginning

I am writing once again. It has been a long while I know, but I am
now back into a sort of rhythm. I have begun my new life in
Snellville, GA. I am now working in full time ministry at Grace
Fellowship. At this moment I am sitting at my computer getting ready
to leave for staff meeting downtown at Midtown. I am currently
living in the basement of Buddy Hoffman my lead pastor. He is an
awesome guy. I live with 5 other guys in one room. He runs a
discipleship house out of his basement.

My first day was yesterday. It was awesome to think I am in the
position I am in. I am so blessed to be there. I just can't believe
God has placed me in such an awesome church, with an amazing outward
focused heart for the Middle East and the community around them.

Last night I ate with Buddy and the president of OM International.
OM is an organization that focuses on bringing the gospel to Muslims
in the Middle East. It was a really cool opportunity

I am so excited to see what the next week is going to bring. Send me
some love people!

Hey Guys!!!

The bond fire is on us again!!! You can find more information here!! Or you can sign up right now by clicking here. FOr more events check our our calender.

Giving in to the calm

Yesterday was a big day for me.  I decided to finally get baptized.  I have been wrestling over the whole concept for about two years now.  When I told people that I had not been baptized, most would gasp as if i had committed a carnal sin.  How could you be in you vocation and never be baptized?  Do you realy understand the weight of following Christ?  I was even confronted about stepping down from an intern position I held at a church one summer.  I couldn't understand how a simple act of immersion could be so crucial to the decision to follow the way of Christ.  I think I understood in the brief second I was starring at the flicker of the sun on the water's surface.  Baptism is about the moment we stop breathing.

They say that drowning is one of the most painful ways to die.  As your body gives in to the natural tendency to keep water out, the water rushes into your lungs.  At this moment you begin to suffocate.  Your body convulses and pain rips through every appendage.  Your brain shuts down, because of a lack of oxygen, and you pass into the next life in the calm, quiet of water.

Baptism is an act of intentional drowning. It is learning how to quit breathing.  It is a door way into death.

Yesterday, I gave into my theological stances.  I let myself pass into the calm.  I cannot afford to let myself breath any longer.  My hope is that Jesus breathes for me and through me.  I have been spiritually baptized for 8 years now; saved by the grace of the one who is and was and will always be.  I have tried to follow the way of Jesus to the best of my ability.  But yesterday marked a day for me to show to the world, as Jesus did, that I am going into the vocation of loving people.  I welcome the calm and willingly submit my life to it.  Giving the old life to death and start a new chapter closely following the way of Jesus

God vs Google

God vs Google, originally uploaded by dcancel.

Wow... too funny...

Film Festival Results!!!

Nathan Elmore and myself debuted our short film, Visibility, this weekend at the DCF Film Festival.  There was plenty of competition.  Ten films total were submitted.  Brandon Loi's Everyday I Prayed for Katie, walked away with the well earned awards for Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor and Actress, Best Screen Play, and Best Supporting Actress.  BreitMeichael Productions received awards for Best Comedy and Best Supporting Actor in their film Four The Love.  Hats off to Jon Breitmeier to his stunning role as Dr. Mungolo.  Justin and Erin Scott and Drew Norris won Best Music Video for Robot Cat .  Absolutely fantastic!!!

Visibility was awarded for Best Editor and Best Soundtrack.  Nathan and I were absolutely honored to receive such awards.  Thanks to all those who helped!

6 Different Worlds

I am currently living in 6 different worlds

1. College World - Soon to be ending... Sad but true. I will rejoice however when I am finally through. Two more classes via internet. I will celebrate appropriately when my speech class is over. Please let it come soon!
   
2. Married World - By far my favorite. I have loved this journey toward marriage. Engaged life is what you make of it. Lauren and I have had a lot of fun. Its a whole lot better than dating.
   
3. Church World - I have been working on researching a lighting rig for Grace. Its really awesome, but I hate the distance I have with the church. Its so far way. It will be nice to be back in Snellville working along side of them.
   
4. Teaching World - GET ME OUT OF HERE!!! Not really, but I am anxious to get into my real job. Teaching has been an amazing experience. I honestly could do it for the rest of my life, but its just no what I am made to do. I will miss my cooperating teacher. I will not miss my college's education program. Don't get me started.
   
5. Film World - My first short film will be making its debut next weekend. I am sworn to secrecy to not leak any information... Punctuation is the key to everything. I hope you all can come out next weekend to DCF's Film Festival. I will sure be a great time.
   
6. Home Owner World - I am in the throws of buying a house. There are a lot of 'big boy' stuff I got to be doing. I can't believe I own a house! Wow.
   

Six worlds.. I want half as much. Soon this will be possible, but until then pray for my sanity.

And Here She Is

3074 Cooper Woods Lane

The Misses, soon to be Mrs., and I are quite excited. Just thought I would let you all know!

House Hunting

Probably the most fun part about getting engaged so far has been the house hunt.  Lauren and I have spent countless hours pouring over picture upon picture of houses in the Snellville area.  We have been out three times to look in houses we like.  I wish there was a house that had everything we liked... but only in a perfect world will you find something like that.

It has been an amazing Spring Break.  Just to sit and spend time with Lauren and I doing grown-up things has be fantastic.  I have gotten the chance to hang out with my closest boys and just have fun.  It has been quite relaxing.

Tomorrow its back to the grind.  I am heading to Bishopville later today and I have a boat load of work to do for Monday.  Lauren and her mom are going out to shop tomorrow, so I will be at home writing a persuasive speech that will attempt to get students involved in social justice movements to prevent the use of child soldiers.   Quite exciting....

Hope you all are doing great out there!  Send me an email sometime!

I Got A Job

As many of you may know, I now have a job!!! I know I am super
stoked about it. I am now officially the Arts Director of Midtown
Community Church and Video Director for Grace Fellowship Church.

Tonight, Lauren and I went to Midtown for their gathering. It was so
much fun. The church is in downtown Atlanta @ 10th and State. Its
in a church that was built in the 1910s. The building has been
completely renovated and is home to about 200 college students and
another mix of about 100 of all sorts of people, cultures and
ethnicities. I am excited to get down there an begin investing into
the volunteers. There is so much potential with SCAD and Georgia
State near by.

Grace in Snellville is pretty amazing too. It is the church that
originally planted Midtown. It is about 2,000 large. They are in
the process of adding on to their existing building. The people are
absolutely fantastic!

I'm going to staff meeting on Tuesday where I am going to be
introduced to the rest of the gang. I cannot wait!!!

New Blog URL!!!

Hey guys... I just wanted to let you know that you should unbookmark
this URL and head over to:

www.porchandaltar.com

This is my new page that is much prettier. Now for you Type A
people The links on the side are being update with content. Be
patient it is coming!!!

Bookmark it! Subscribe to the feed! Get to reading!

Camden and I

I Laughed When I Saw This

Students give up social networks for Lent

Resurrecting

I have been reading a book recently titled, The Irresistible Revolution.  It is by a guy named Shane Claireborne.  He is just a regular guy who wanted to write a book about being an ordinary radical.  He started a small community of Jesus followers called The Simple Way in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  In his book he has a chapter entitled Resurrecting the Church.  I won't spoil it for you, but I will tell you about this principle.

Shane goes in depth to show how Christianity is about resurrecting the culture around it.  Jesus was famous for this.  He would take everyday normal situations and bring them to meet theological realities.  He constantly makes the humanity of people much more important than the everyday dredge of life.  Rob Bell says in his book Velvet Elvis that it is out job to call out the truth in the world around us.

I am currently looking into the business of resurrecting the things around me.  How can I make a difference in little ways by claiming the truth of Gospel inside all parts of culture?  I think a lot of just being intentional about thinking.  I am so often completely thoughtless... blowing in the wind.  I want to try and turn on my brain so I am aware of the things around me.

Here is a list of things I am currently resurrecting:

Environmental Awareness

I want to be more conscious about how I destroy the environment.  How can I be better at conserving energy?  How can I travel less or more efficiently?  How can I single handedly stop the encroachment of the apartments in Clemson?  More on this coming soon!!!

The Boy Scout "Do a Good Turn Daily"

How can I do this without being a cheese ball and/or responding like a TV evangelist?  I want to be more in tune about helping out people in little ways.  Wether it be a couple bucks here or returning the plastic baskets to the counter at a popular Clemson restaurant, I want to make a small difference in people's lives everyday.

Its a small list, but I'm working on it.

I what ways can you resurrect the culture around you? Leave a comment!

See

I would say that the majority of people come to church because of the music they hear on Sundays. Growing up, music was a constant battle in my church. I remember the struggle of power between the pastor and the Staff-Parish Relations board. My mom would come home and vent about the ‘old fogies’ that thought that hymns should never be replaced, and that drums were not an acceptable form of worship. Music, among other superficial disagreement, has divided and ended countless churches.

Churches want to be identified for some reason. The first thing you see on church signs, despite the incredibly effective evangelistic messages, are the times for ‘traditional’ and ‘contemporary’ services. Some churches have taken it a step further and completely let go of the conservative traditions that defined ‘church’ in our parent’s generation. I have been in both situations, and I find myself in one word: disappointed.


Too many times I hear churches and parachurch ministries attempting to do something amazing in their weekly gathering to bring people in. I cannot ignore the fact the humans are inherently curious, but curiosity only goes so far without action. Not to be cliché, I believe that seeing is believing. I think much of the world works this way.

What would it look like if we decided to present ourselves as the Church to the people we are called to minister to? Advertising, videos, and skits are great and all, but what is the point if the church isn’t moving? I know with my bout in creative meetings, I have spent far too many hours thinking about how to bring people in instead of thinking about how to send people out.

My challenge to all those who work, or lead, creativity teams is to spend more time thinking about the how your faith community can meet the needs of the community that surrounds you. How can the Church be present? How can you communicate this mission to those who normally attend your gatherings? How can you provide a way to meet the needs of the people who filter in from the community to your gathering? I think these question have much more important answers than, “Which announcements do we announce?”

One of my good friends tells this story:

“I was thinking while sitting in my mom’s church in Pennsylvania during communion, ‘What if a homeless man was here taking this with me?’ He would pass the plate as he received a small wafer. He would take a small cup of juice as the silver-plated tray is passed around. On cue he would take part in the most holy sacrament in Christianity. In the end he would leave with nothing, but a bad taste in his mouth and a dissatisfied hunger for something more.”

Is this all the church has to offer? Stale crackers and a small cup of grape juice?
I believe that it is true: Seeing is believing. If we want to people to believe in Jesus, and his Church, we must show them the Jesus that’s in our everyday lives and ministry. I think it is time to give people more than tasteless crackers and bland grape juice. It is time to bring people the saving body and redeeming blood of Jesus.

Come

I have been apart of way too many church meetings where we tried to brainstorm how to get people to come to our event/gathering. We would sit and rack our brains for hours on end trying to find that one thing that will burst the dam. A creative spark that result in the salvation for hundreds. Most of the time we came up with some pretty clever marketing campaign.

My roommate thought of this idea: In a few weeks FCA at Clemson will be in a series called Fight Club. People were tying their hardest to think of a clever way to get students from all over campus to come. Dan, who is always off in some distant island in his imagination, suddenly had an amazing idea. The idea was to stage a fight on campus in between class changes. The fight would last for about 2 minutes and then it would spontaneously break up. Those involved would then pass out cards to invite students to the gathering. I liked the idea and its creativity.

Do we have to sell the gospel in this way? Why is that we feel like we need to create a teaser for people to come to our event? Isn’t the gospel enough?

I am beginning to realize that people are not going to come unless we give them something they want. Do our creative ideas resemble that fact? Would most people come to a known ‘Christian’ event because of a comedic fight broke out in front of them? Some would… but I think many are going to laugh, put the card in their pocket, and never think twice about changing their Thursday night plans. The meeting isn’t meeting their needs, but it sure is funny to watch them try.

What do people need? I think this is a more suitable place to find how to creatively bring people into the doors to hear the gospel. College students are desperately in need of acceptance. They deal with loneliness and singleness. Often, students are blind to the cultures around them.

How do we solve this? I think in the creative arts realm we need to be more keen to ask the question, “What do they need?” Obviously people need Jesus, but even Jesus didn’t just give himself. He gave the blind eyes to see. He made the lame walk. He provided the party with wine. Jesus met the needs of people, and in response they found him as their Lord.

What are the needs of our communities? Maybe we even need to ask this question: Who and where is our community? These questions will answer our longing for people to come and know Christ. We should structure our planning around how to meet the needs of others. By doing this we will take the first step into creating meaningful environment. It will create a place that is simply irresistible.

Simply Irresistible

The first time I heard this combination of words was last summer as I was preparing to work with the middle school of a massive church in Atlanta.

(Aside: Yes its me back from a weeks worth of craziness in the teaching world of US History)

I was taught last summer that it is our role to make the church seem irresistible. Students, singles, and married folk of all kinds should step into church and feel welcomed. They should see a church that is more appealing than going to a grand opening of an Ikea on a Sunday morning. As someone who was specializing in creative arts, my part of making things irresistible is providing videos, a setting, or lighting that will engage the audience. Provide mediums for people to feel safe and focused in on what the topic for the week has chosen to be.

Since my internship, I have learned quite a lot. That church is reaching thousands of middle to upper class white people. This is the culture that this church, and its campuses, are surrounded by. They are doing what they set out to do, and they are doing it well.

I am, however, starting to question if making things irresistible in this way is the way I see how church should be communicated to the cultures around us. Rob Bell, a pastor and teacher from Grand Rapids, Michigan, said that the church should be so ingrained with community around them that if they decided to leave the community will beg them to stay. I am starting to wonder if the church's "Presence" should be found less within a confined meeting space, but living, moving, and breathing among those around us.

During the week I am going to focus on three words: Come, See, Find. I think this is how I am going to start to wrap my mind around creating a gathering that is simply irresistible. The goal is to work out through this blog how a church's large gathering can be community oriented and focused while also providing a creative environment that is engaging to the culture at large. In the fourth post I will attempt to show how a church's gathering can be involved in the process of restoration that the Kingdom, thats us, has been called to do.

Quote of the evening...

"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...

Yet Another Rabbit Trail

Mike Soltys... my long lost Aboriginal friend... wrote the following as a comment from yesterday:

a) I miss heatherwood

b) I know God is good because why else would he create watermellon?

Now, 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.

1. Pineapple
2. Strawberries
3. Watermelon
4. Peaches
   
5. Cantaloupe
   
6. Apples
7. Grapes
8. Plums
9. Oranges
10. Tangerines

Mike I applaud your findings. I do believe that the watermelon in fact is one of the most perfect examples of God's goodness. Within it we find color and imagination. I mean pink and green don't even come close to matching. Thanks Mike for sharing such profound theological rhetoric with us at tboden's blog. We raise our glasses to you: May your journey be safe, and your experience be abounding. Sincerely, much love to all...

PS... I have still yet to receive a schematic on my Treo...

A break from the prayer...

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:

1. Lauren; She is beginning to look more and more like a wife everyday
2. My Classroom; Teaching is actually a lot of fun
3. Friends and Family @ Heatherwood; Nothing better than house church
4. My exhausted patience; Teaching me God is Sovereign
5. Gail Mahaffey; My co-operating teacher! She is the best!
6. My Dad; The greatest man I have ever known
7. Camden, Katie, and Jackson Elmore; Nuf' Said
8. Austin Booth and his 'Picnic of Music'
9. Working out; I have lost 10lbs in 4 weeks
10. The Groomsmen and Company; I get to hang with them all Saturday and Sunday!

I felt like I needed to list these things. In the midst of prayer I think it is important to remember the blessings God has given you. Jesus, thank you for your abounding grace and love. You alone are worth all the Glory!

6:30AM :: Prayer for Atlanta :: Part 5

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.

6:30AM :: Prayer for Atlanta :: Part 4

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.

A Picture While You Are Reading

Let your Glory shine around, Let your Glory Shine around
King of Glory here be found, King of Glory

6:30AM :: Prayer for Atlanta :: Part 3

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

6:30AM :: A Prayer For Atlanta :: Part 2

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.

6:30AM :: A Prayer For Atlanta :: Part 1

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.

Latest Art

Lauren took it. I edited it. Thoughts?

Cast into the fire

"You "bind the sacrifice . . . to the horns of the altar" and see to
it that you don’t wallow in self-pity once the fire begins. After you
have gone through the fire, there will be nothing that will be able to
trouble or depress you. When another crisis arises, you will realize
that things cannot touch you as they used to do. What fire lies ahead
in your life?

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

Midtown

Well, yesterday I got to hang out with the senior pastor of Grace Fellowship. It was an awkward lunch at first, but it loosened up and I was able to really enjoy it. I hope he enjoyed it as well.



Afterwards, Lauren and I spent some time in Starbucks before heading down to Midtown Community Fellowship. Midtown is where i would possibly work in a few months. I was blown away at what was happening down there. God is moving in huge ways. The church is in an old Baptist church building. It has pews still, which is pretty amazing for its feel. It is primarily college aged, but there were a few people who were older.



I was blown away at the potential this church has. I was reading this morning in 1 Corinthians 4. This is what it said:



"It seems to me that God
has put us who bear his Message on stage in a theater in which no one
wants to buy a ticket. We're something everyone stands around and
stares at, like an accident in the street. We're the Messiah's misfits.
You might be sure of yourselves, but we live in the midst of frailties
and uncertainties. You might be well-thought-of by others, but we're
mostly kicked around. Much of the time we don't have enough to eat, we
wear patched and threadbare clothes, we get doors slammed in our faces,
and we pick up odd jobs anywhere we can to eke out a living. When they
call us names, we say, "God bless you." When they spread rumors about
us, we put in a good word for them. We're treated like garbage, potato
peelings from the culture's kitchen. And it's not getting any better."



This to me shows a radical type of living. It demonstrates a living for only the gospel. I want that. I want to be a part of the 'Messiah's misfits.' How do I do that? I'm not sure, but I am praying for it.



I see this type of living and presence possible at Midtown. Its a counter cultural living. In this passage I find people giving up what makes them comfortable for the sake of Jesus. Wow... I want to be like that.

Kyle's Blog

I have a new blogging friend...



Kyle has been my closest friend for nearly all my life. He started blogging yesterday, and I know its going to be pretty awesome. Here is his link!



Get to reading.

As Promised...

So, I was looking around today and saw a most innovative churches in America article. It brought me to LifeChurch. Now I haven't heard much about this church. I have heard about it in passing, but I haven't actually researched it.



I went to their website as I was supposed to be preparing for my lesson that i am teaching today on WWI. It is pretty insane. The web design is absolutely beautiful. The church seems pretty crazy too. Very very advanced in their technology.



An innovative idea: the internet church. They have a fully functional online campus. Here you can see the message live and participate in a "lobby" online before and after the service. This is very awesome. They also have video of every sermon in good quality. Wow...

Spike Jonze - GAP ad

Funniest Gap Ad Ever... It would have been so much fun to shoot!

Teaching doesn't leave time for blogging

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.

The Church @:15AM

This weekend was a blast. I spent it with some of my closest friends. We talked about church planting for like 10 hours yesterday. It was really awesome.

I am sitting here eating my bowl of cereal about to go to church. I am leading music this morning. Our conversatiosn over the weekend made me think about what church really is. My friend Nathan describes one facet of the church with the imagery of a table. Its a very simple display of the unity of Christ through the fellowship we have in him. The breaking of food is so crucial to the gospel. I have more thoughts on this but I am running out of time. I'll be back with a clearer head...

Late Night Snack

Peets is cooking steak @ 11PM... He ate cereal @ 6PM... He sat on the couch, slept on the couch, ate on the couch, for nearly 30 hours this weekend.

I don't understand...

This is just stupid...

Stupid... Goodness...

The dumbest thing I have ever seen....

The Ole' Switcharoo

My roommate Dan is two years younger than me. He has a bit a learning to do when it comes to the apartment life of Seniors. We have gone through the whole deal about cleaning up our dishes, not leaving too much stuff around, and being mindful of each other spaces. Its really not his fault... these things just come with time.

So, we decided to send him to bootcamp... with Mr. Peets.

Mr. Peets (Which will most probably become a verb in my vocabulary sometime soon... you are such a peets, that is so peets, why do you have to be so peets, etc) is a sinister neat freak of our apartment. You would not be able to tell this if you looked in the mold of his bathroom... but when it comes to the living room, AKA his room, you better be mindful. The eyes of Peets is like the one of Sauron lurking over middle earth trying to find his next victim of the unclean. His hideous unmerciful laugh and that odd look in his eyes is a nightmare to those whom have heard it. For Mr. Peets a common room is not communal, but merely a place to establish his serfdom. We bow to the Peets because it is the peace of 312 that is at stake. This is whom we have sent Mr. Roge to learn how to become a man. If one can live in a room for a week they will learn the ways of right, because only Jesus can bring sanity in such darkness.

We decided after 24 that Dan should live with Peets for a week. We moved all of Dan's stuff into Peets' room and moved Matt's into mine. It was like a work of art. The detail was outrageous. Perfection...

Dan wasn't happy at 2AM when he found that Matt now is my roommate. We felt bad and told him it was a joke, but now he is cool and he is going to go along with it. What will be Mr. Peets' reaction? God only knows what lays in our near future.

LEGO Church

This is pretty sweet. Its a massive LEGO church with occupants. Too much time on your hands. I'm in a student teaching seminar... someone please save me from the boredom and lack of creativity in educational technology practices...

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Ahhh... Back at school

Its good to be back in Clemson. My apartment sometimes feel more at home that that of my new house. Actually I am currently writing about it in an essay. I will publish it once its done. I am enjoying the Lord of the Rings trilogy these past two days. I am watching the Two Towers right now while I am typing. It is a huge distraction.

I hope everyone gets settled in well. I know I will. Talk to you all soon.

My Dad... Nuf' Said