What does that even mean?
For me right now, it's a song lyric that I've cut out of the last six songs I've been putting together. The words themselves have been haunting me.
To me, it means that there will be tests, and there will be trials. As long as there are still humans here, injustice would still be a next door neighbor. People will always use there authority, and treat others like property. Politicians would be in it to get re elected rather than represent the greater and necessary good. Those who are blessed with material things will NEVER be satisfied with those same blessings, and will use those same things in self-worth searching of something that doesn't exist. The hardest part of all of that, is that we see a lot of that in the mirror.
The fortunate thing, is that's only the beginning of the story.
Through all the terrible things we see on a daily basis, there is one thing that prevails through all of that. Love gives us the patience to forgive those who treat us unjust on a daily basis. It gives us the peace to give away things that we can't even hold onto, no matter how hard we try. It gives us thick skin when selfish people try to speak louder in order to get there way. Love isn't "the answer", because for everyone, "the answer" is different; however, Love is the one thing all those answers have in common. It's the reason why Jesus made it the Law that outweighs all other law.
So no matter what happens in this new, unpredictably volatile world, those who live in Love, will always stand tall.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Friday, July 29, 2011
The Valley
The past couple months have been one of the hardest of my life. I definitely feel as though my soul has been chipped away. I've learned the hard way that in an instant, friendship can change, stability can disappear, promises can be broken, and your family can and WILL be shaken at times.
It has really has been the summer that EVERYTHING that's out of my control has completely gone the wrong way, yet everything I CAN control has gone very well. honestly, the truth is, is that even though it's been difficult, the fact is I've never felt a sense of discouragement. Not to say that I haven't been frustrated, but I've definitely learned the hard way that if you just keep your feet moving, good things might not happen, but great opportunities will come your way. It's how you handle those second chances that determine whether good things DO happen.
That's the funny thing about being a Christian, it's SO easy to blame God for the junk, but the honest truth is that the junk is a part of life that just happens. If your REALLY a Christian, and actually believe, than the truth is simple:
EVERYTHING from God is a blessing, ESPECIALLY the things you DON'T have.
Now as far as being a christian, I actually lean on the non spiritual side of things. I truly believe that the pursuit of Wisdom is FAR more important than the pursuit of an emotional experience. When I've studied the bible, it's obvious that knowledge is a FAR more precious gift than miracles.
In saying that, I don't think you should Thank God for the junk just cause the junk teaches you a lesson that makes you a better person. That kind of thinking just leads to a sappy feeling inside that leads you to believe that your entitled to be better. That's just pure narcissism, which leads to MORE drama you'll deal with later. I just believe you should thank God that he keeps you alive in a world where things just happen, most the time naturally, whether it benefits us or not.
Honestly, that actually gives me a lot of peace. It gives me peace to know that even though I may "underperform" or "not be a good enough Christian" in other people's eyes, that God REALLY doesn't care what I or anyone thinks. He's just thrilled that me and "those people" are still alive so we can keep attempting to pursue him and be in love with him, and that's ALL THAT REALLY MATTERS. That makes the "crap" worth dealing with, and that's what makes those people that I feel screw me over very much forgivable. I'm just really no different from any of them, they deal with the same crap that I do.
It has really has been the summer that EVERYTHING that's out of my control has completely gone the wrong way, yet everything I CAN control has gone very well. honestly, the truth is, is that even though it's been difficult, the fact is I've never felt a sense of discouragement. Not to say that I haven't been frustrated, but I've definitely learned the hard way that if you just keep your feet moving, good things might not happen, but great opportunities will come your way. It's how you handle those second chances that determine whether good things DO happen.
That's the funny thing about being a Christian, it's SO easy to blame God for the junk, but the honest truth is that the junk is a part of life that just happens. If your REALLY a Christian, and actually believe, than the truth is simple:
EVERYTHING from God is a blessing, ESPECIALLY the things you DON'T have.
Now as far as being a christian, I actually lean on the non spiritual side of things. I truly believe that the pursuit of Wisdom is FAR more important than the pursuit of an emotional experience. When I've studied the bible, it's obvious that knowledge is a FAR more precious gift than miracles.
In saying that, I don't think you should Thank God for the junk just cause the junk teaches you a lesson that makes you a better person. That kind of thinking just leads to a sappy feeling inside that leads you to believe that your entitled to be better. That's just pure narcissism, which leads to MORE drama you'll deal with later. I just believe you should thank God that he keeps you alive in a world where things just happen, most the time naturally, whether it benefits us or not.
Honestly, that actually gives me a lot of peace. It gives me peace to know that even though I may "underperform" or "not be a good enough Christian" in other people's eyes, that God REALLY doesn't care what I or anyone thinks. He's just thrilled that me and "those people" are still alive so we can keep attempting to pursue him and be in love with him, and that's ALL THAT REALLY MATTERS. That makes the "crap" worth dealing with, and that's what makes those people that I feel screw me over very much forgivable. I'm just really no different from any of them, they deal with the same crap that I do.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
What Hope is in My Mind
I've got to stop wasting time. Every step I take from now on is going towards the goal of putting a gigantic dent in the universe. If I'm not changing my world around me, then it's not worth doing!
There's so much more to life than suffocating myself in my own comfort, or waiting for a paycheck. No, this time around, I have to be courageous enough to make the right sacrifices, for the right reasons! I'm going to believe that I'm crazy enough to change the world.
Why give up on your own core beliefs just cause of a little failure? The things you believe in are worth fighting for...that's why you believe them.
Im gonna be crazy enough to believe Love is the answer to everything. Why lose hope like every other person who has been discouraged by there own failures? Whats the point of that? Yes, I'm also insane enough to believe in giving unconditionally at all times, no matter if people steal from me, hurt me, or just take my giving for granted. Because what's the point of despising them? To become bitter? That would suck
I'm going to thank those who stick with me and I'm going to forgive those who abandon me. There's too much good in the world to focus on what you shouldn't trust.
Hope isn't blind, stupid or ignorant. Real hope is tested. Real hope sticks around when you go through failures, get rejected, and especially sticks around when things look impossible! Hope gives you courage to take chances, the clarity to make wise choices, and the strength to keep going. Hope is the ultimate forgiver! Hope believes in second, third, forth, fifth, sixth, and seventh chances (and everyone after that). Hope is merciful but also insane at the same time.
Will you be insane enough to have hope?
There's so much more to life than suffocating myself in my own comfort, or waiting for a paycheck. No, this time around, I have to be courageous enough to make the right sacrifices, for the right reasons! I'm going to believe that I'm crazy enough to change the world.
Why give up on your own core beliefs just cause of a little failure? The things you believe in are worth fighting for...that's why you believe them.
Im gonna be crazy enough to believe Love is the answer to everything. Why lose hope like every other person who has been discouraged by there own failures? Whats the point of that? Yes, I'm also insane enough to believe in giving unconditionally at all times, no matter if people steal from me, hurt me, or just take my giving for granted. Because what's the point of despising them? To become bitter? That would suck
I'm going to thank those who stick with me and I'm going to forgive those who abandon me. There's too much good in the world to focus on what you shouldn't trust.
Hope isn't blind, stupid or ignorant. Real hope is tested. Real hope sticks around when you go through failures, get rejected, and especially sticks around when things look impossible! Hope gives you courage to take chances, the clarity to make wise choices, and the strength to keep going. Hope is the ultimate forgiver! Hope believes in second, third, forth, fifth, sixth, and seventh chances (and everyone after that). Hope is merciful but also insane at the same time.
Will you be insane enough to have hope?
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Why I Love Freaking Out
Its never changed...I've ALWAYS taken criticism for the way I go about playing music. At the same time, people have been moved by my on-stage demeanor. I just wanted to clear the air and explain why I act the way I do.
The greatest moments in my life have been birth from the times when I sing songs about God. Those moments were extremely emotional for me, and turned me upside down. Anytime I have an opportunity to share those same experiences, I'm going to jump at the opportunity.
When I've been criticized for being "too outrageous", I've always noticed that it only cause I'm a threat to people's own comfort. However, along with that criticism, there are HUNDREDS of people that tell me "that really moved us, thank you for sharing your passion". If that passion is enough to convince people to sing, those songs can change them.
As worshippers, in order to comfort the afflicted, we have to afflict the comfortable. There nothing more uncomfortable than singing amongst strangers, but if I can make it easier by humiliating myself and playing like an animal on stage, then I will GLADLY wear a cloak of humility! Even if it causes me to make stupid mistakes, those mistakes mean nothing if I can give strength the single mom who's had enough. I would break HUNDREDS of keyboards if it brings hope to people who DESPERATELY need God.
So, to those who don't like the way I handle myself on stage...lay aside your comfort for a second, and be courteous to those who have nothing to lose, and have a hunger to worship the King. I know that's aggressive, but I could never apologize for saying it, so if your looking for one, don't bother.
The greatest moments in my life have been birth from the times when I sing songs about God. Those moments were extremely emotional for me, and turned me upside down. Anytime I have an opportunity to share those same experiences, I'm going to jump at the opportunity.
When I've been criticized for being "too outrageous", I've always noticed that it only cause I'm a threat to people's own comfort. However, along with that criticism, there are HUNDREDS of people that tell me "that really moved us, thank you for sharing your passion". If that passion is enough to convince people to sing, those songs can change them.
As worshippers, in order to comfort the afflicted, we have to afflict the comfortable. There nothing more uncomfortable than singing amongst strangers, but if I can make it easier by humiliating myself and playing like an animal on stage, then I will GLADLY wear a cloak of humility! Even if it causes me to make stupid mistakes, those mistakes mean nothing if I can give strength the single mom who's had enough. I would break HUNDREDS of keyboards if it brings hope to people who DESPERATELY need God.
So, to those who don't like the way I handle myself on stage...lay aside your comfort for a second, and be courteous to those who have nothing to lose, and have a hunger to worship the King. I know that's aggressive, but I could never apologize for saying it, so if your looking for one, don't bother.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Why do we ask people to sing on Sunday?
Seriously, why? I mean, lets look at it from someone else’s shoes, it’s a little strange that we invite people to a gathering and ask them to sing songs with us! Honestly, it’s kind of intimidating! Not the way to spend a weekend!
I know this is a bit offensive to a more traditional christian, but if we want to open our doors to people to EVERYONE...we have to see there World through there eyes!
So many years, I blindly led worship without asking myself this question! To be quite frank, it’s very easy to get caught up in what your doing, and forget about what’s going on! However, the truth is simple, the church HAS to relate to the world it’s trying to reach. Of course being in touch with God makes us different, it has to, but it shouldn’t make you weird. You know whats the fastest way to weirdness? Total isolation. Church people are NOTORIOUS for isolating themselves from the real world!
You know what my favorite thing to do is? I like walking. In fact, I like walking in public through really cool places, where there’s a ton a great people around. You know whats even more fun? Talking to those people. I love coffee shops, and I love turning my iPhone off, and talking to the barista when he or she isn’t busy! I’m kind of one of those people that like talking to freindly people! The best part about that is that getting to know these people is a great way for me to get to know who I SHOULD be playing music for! More importantly, I want them to experience God the same way I’ve experienced him, drowning in his undending LOVE!
So you want to know why I think we ask people to sing? I beleive that in order to experience God, you have to be Humbled, and trust me, singing songs about him is as humbling as it gets! I’ve said this before too, what makes Music so powerful is that it moves the sense that we take for granted the most: Our ability to Listen. Most importantly, when you sing in church, your singing with other people in the SAME situation, and the fact that your together in a room with these people is what makes church so great!
Why do we sing? Because God is worth singing about, and NOBODY who calls themselves Saved by grace could EVER be cool enough not to sing!
Friday, November 5, 2010
Bottom Line Theology
Want to know what makes me gag? Three word punchlines that accurately describe a lot of churches: seeker sensitive programs, numbers driven ministry, etc. Ok, there's the obvious attention grabber...what might be surprising is why I hate them.
It's not that I don't like larger churches. Let's be honest, "mega-churches" have more resources that can cater to a wealthier crowd. That crowd needs to be plugged into a body of believers just as much as the needy or even middle class. And let's face it, whether you like it or not, most mega churches make the body of christ a stronger body.
Its not that there's anything wrong with a "leadership pipeline" or a "pathway program". Those systems when used correctly make it very simple for people to get involved with the church!
Here it is: it's the fact the ALL OF US at one point or another can get caught up in everything we are DOING for the church, that we forget WHY we do it.
The truth still stands: GOD IS STILL GOD...if he wanted to build the body without us...he easily could!
He could use the church of 10 people to make Disciples of the ENTIRE population of the planet, and he can use the church of 10,000 to feed the needs of a homeless family!
What is disgusting is when our lack of finances and numbers start to give us heartburn! God can still use his bride as long as she is still after him, even if she's broke!
That's why we sing songs on Sunday. It's not a ritual, or a routine, it's a chance to recognize on a weekly basis that no matter if we do everything right or wrong, NO ONE who is saved is above the Love of God, and that's why EVERYONE needs to worship him!
If you can't get through a worship set without taking your mind off your own challenges, it's a good sign that it's time to let go and realize that God doesn't care about your challenges. God cares about a relationship with you and all the people you are trying to reach, an his Love is FAR GREATER than our stupid challenges!
-David
PS. I'm guilty of ALL of this! This was written out of the frustration that I felt self evaluating myself and realizing what I've allowed myself to become!
Sunday, September 5, 2010
From the heart of a Musician
You know one thing that’s nice about sitting on a plane for four hours, is that it forces you to sit down, not do anything and think. Well, here I am on my window seat 26A, perousing through my iTunes library, and I decide to do this one thing. I listen to the Fred Hammond and Israel Houghton records that I first got into when I first started playing worship music. When you listen beyond the AMAZING chops that musicians have on those records, you will find soulful songs that bleed honesty, and I find that to be courageous writing.
After listening through those tracks, I moved on to the first New Life Record that I had the honor of playing on (Counting on God). I realized how those black gospel records had a heavy influence on me, and how that soulful artistry came through in my playing. I moved on to other records that I played on, and I realized something, that artistry had slowly been suffocating!
This week, I flew to Colorado Springs to record a record that Jared Anderson was producing, and to be quite honest, I really didn’t get the chance to be in the right mindset to record. Honestly, I came to the table with stale, overused ideas that I have always felt comfortable with that had worked in the past. When you lean on the same ideas and habits musically, your comfort increases, but your creativity dies, and when your creativity dies, your souls stops receiving oxygen, so you become a comfortable cadaver. Over the week, I didn’t play horrible, but at the same time, I couldn’t really offer anything that blew me away personally because my soul wasn’t breathing into these ideas.
Our engineer, Mike Rossback said something to me during the week that crushed me, “if we’re here recording and doing music, why not make it the most amazing thing we’ve ever made”. Wow...to be honest, I responded to that statement with a little bitterness, because it meant I had to get out of the comfort zone, and create a bit of a new identity. What’s funny is that wasn’t Mike’s intent at all, but it was exactly what I needed to hear! Over the course of the week, it felt like musical bootcamp for me.
So, as this experience comes to a close, I’m sitting on this plane not looking back on the past week, but reevaluating what the heck happened to my oxygen starved soul! That’s why I’m digging through my iTunes library, and listening back to the music that inspired me to become a better musician. I’ve got to say, it’s been extremely healthy to look back on the past!
Is there some sort of lesson in this? Not really, I’m just putting my thoughts out there just because it makes me feel better, and if you read this and get to know me better, than yes, posting this was worth it for me!
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