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“Are Your Musicians Paid?”

May 23, 2013 in Worship with

During the process of “Knowing Jesus,” I was asked a question frequently by many different people:

“Are your musicians paid?”

I think it stems from the fact that I am around such quality people and it causes many people to stand in bewilderment. Surely, he has to pay these people because of their high caliber. I really am blessed to be around some of the most incredible, humble, talented, godly worship leaders that a church could ever ask for. I am way out of my league with each one of them.

“Some of these are paid, right?” I heard it from people who came to the event who were amazed at the quality of our singers and instrumentalists.

I heard it from people who worked on the audio and video from the event who were surprised at how many solid takes were recorded.

I heard it from people who downloaded the album off of iTunes and were amazed at how quality each track sounded.

“Are your musicians paid?”

Well, the answer is…

Intervention Omission

May 21, 2013 in Family with

We read of God’s calling upon Samuel’s life in 1 Samuel 3. Samuel was the child for which Hannah had prayed for ever so earnestly. Once she finally birthed Samuel, she dedicated him to the Lord and to serve under Eli who was the priest (1 Sam. 1:26-28) who had blessed her concerning her ability to conceive a child (1 Sam. 1:17).

“Please, my lord,” she said, “as sure as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD. I prayed for this boy, and since the LORD gave me what I asked Him for, I now give the boy to the LORD. For as long as he lives, he is given to the LORD.” Then he bowed and worshiped the LORD there. -1 Sam. 1:26-28

Eli the priest was leading Israel’s worship at this time, but it was apparent that his sons unfortunately would not continue his legacy. At the time when God was calling Samuel to minister, He was also rejecting Eli’s sons to follow in their father’s footsteps.

Take a look at 1 Sam. 3:10-18 to see how God help Eli responsible for his children’s sins:

The 2nd Handful

May 20, 2013 in Family with

I am now the father of two 5-year-olds.

14 days ago, we celebrated Obadiah’s birthday. Since he turned 5, he was telling everyone that he was “1 whole handful.” So, I guess today, I have two whole handfuls. I think I have known that for quite sometime.

Eli came home when he was 2. Now living with us for 3 years, there is something special about the fact that he has been with us longer than he has been without us.

I am so honored to be the father of this little boy.

I cannot imagine our family without him.

Through the Storms

May 19, 2013 in Sundays @ North Side with

Such a heavy, beautiful way to worship today. It was honest, authentic worship. We started a 2-week series today entitled “Through the Storms.” Ken Petrus, Executive Pastor at North Side, preached this first week.

4 months ago today, Ken’s youngest child, Eric, went to be with Jesus after an 11-year fight with cancer. Eric had asked Ken to preach his funeral. At that funeral, I witnessed one of the most beautiful expressions of faith, hope, and the peace surpasses all comprehension that I have ever seen. When Jeff and I were planning out the remainder of the messages for 2013, 2 weeks at the end of May were vacant. I asked Ken if he would want to address the congregation that had prayed so much for his family. With tears in his eyes, he said he would love to.

He did an incredible job. He shared the story but kept pointing us back to the Word as the source of our hope. He had also asked for some specific songs in today’s service. He asked Stacy Wideman to sing “It Is Well” as she lost her son a few years ago and can sing that song with more meaning than most. He asked for Ted to sing “How Great Thou Art” which he sang at Eric’s funeral. And “Amazing Grace” meant so much to the family to know that Eric’s chains are truly gone and he is finally free.

Today, we worshiped to: