coreythomaslive

It's Been A While

2011-05-25T10:14:00.000-07:00

Amy Savage told me to update my blog. Here is the update:

I don't blog very much and probably won't much in the future.

How many Christians does it take to screw in a light bulb?

2010-07-19T14:28:00.000-07:00

I saw this posted on another blog and had to share it here:

Charismatic: Only one. Hands already in the air.

Pentecostals: Ten. One to change the bulb and nine to pray against the spirit of darkness.

Presbyterians: None. Lights will go off and on at predestined times.

Roman Catholic: None. Candles only.

Baptists: At least 15. One to change the light bulb and three committees to approve the change and decide who brings the potato salad.

Episcopalians: Three. One to call the electrician, one to mix the drinks and one to talk about how much better the old bulb was.

Mormons: Five. One man to change the bulb and four wives to tell him how to do it.

Unitarians: We choose not to make a statement either in favor of or against the need for a light bulb. However, if in your own journey you have found that light bulbs work for you, that is fine. You are invited to write a poem or compose a modern dance about your light bulb for the next Sunday service, in which we will explore a number of light bulb traditions including incandescent, fluorescent, three-way, long-life and tinted, all of which are equally valid paths to luminescence.

Methodists: Undetermined. Whether your light bulb is bright, dull, or completely out, you are loved. You can be a light bulb, turnip bulb or tulip bulb. A church-wide lighting service is planned for Sunday. Bring a bulb of your choice and a covered dish.

Nazarene: Six. One woman to replace the bulb while five men review the church lighting policy.

Lutherans: None. Lutherans don’t believe in change.

Amish: What’s a light bulb?

South County

2010-05-17T15:46:00.000-07:00

We have been going to Rock Harbor church since they started a South County campus late last year and we love it!

We are very impressed with the outward focus of Rock Harbor and it has stretched and challenged our lives in many, many ways.

We have been encouraged to get out into the community and live outside of our comfort zone. This is something we needed to hear. God is good!

Here is an article from rhsouthcounty.org on living missionally:

On Display

Living life on mission is a familiar idea if you’ve been around ROCKHARBOR for any amount of time. At ROCKHARBOR South County, we are especially excited about the opportunity we have to reach those in our community and form new relationships that may ultimately draw others to Jesus Christ. This has been happening in many ways in and around RH South County, such as one cool experience recently.

One of the people working our concierge table had a unique encounter with a lady who approached the table and began asking some general questions about South County, such as: who we are, why we’re here, and so on. The concierge at that table answered her questions and then asked if she had ever been there before. She said no, but mentioned that she heard about us in a pretty interesting way.

“I purchased a bookcase from the Goodwill store in Aliso Viejo,” she said. “After buying it I realized I had no way to get it home, even though it was only a couple of blocks away.”

“Then, I noticed a man with a truck outside the store and asked him if he would be willing to deliver the bookcase to my house for $10 dollars. He agreed to deliver the bookcase, but refused the payment,” she said.

“I was surprised and asked why, but the man simply said that he just wanted to help me for free,” she said. He went on to say he was part of a faith community that met in Laguna Hills High School on Sunday mornings. His faith community has been looking to serve in the area and share Jesus’ love with others.

She was so impressed with the man’s servant heart that she had to come see what this whole South County thing was about.

This is an awesome display of people at South County being the hands and feet of Jesus to those living in our community. Showing Jesus’ love in tangible ways, even simple and practical ways, can have a huge impact on people. Our willingness to serve others allows God to work through us and effectively draw people into our faith community in South County. So often it’s so simple.

Image Blogging

2009-05-14T13:38:00.001-07:00

I am announcing my new effort to blog more often. I don't have a huge readership (more like a non-existent one) so in an effort to gain more readers and have some fun I have decided to blog about the many interesting images I send and receive through email on a weekly basis. Hopefully you will find it interesting as well!

The First Image!
This first image is of a banner I am designing for www.redwinebuzz.com. I am currently redesigning the entire website and the owner asked if I could shop around for a graphic designer to design his newsletter banner. He allowed me to have a go at it and this was the concept I came up with. He was VERY happy with my effort and we are going to iron out some details and finalize very soon. Please keep your eyes out for the re-launch of www.redwinebuzz.com and be sure to sign up for the newsletter if you are interested in the Central Coast wineries of California.

Invitation

2008-12-24T09:24:00.000-08:00

A preacher and an atheistic barber were once walking through the city slums. Said the barber to the preacher: "This is why I cannot believe in a God of love. If God was as kind as you say, He would not permit all this poverty, disease, and squalor. He would not allow these poor bums to be addicted to dope and other character-destroying habits. No, I cannot believe in a God who permits these things." The minister was silent until they met a man who was especially unkempt and filthy. His hair was hanging down his neck and he had a half-inch of stubble on his face. Said the minister: "You must not be a very good barber because you wouldn't permit a man like that to continue living in this neighborhood without a haircut and shave." Indignantly the barber answered: "Why blame me for that man's condition? I can't help it that he is like that. He has never come in my shop; I could fix him up and make him look like a gentleman!" Giving the barber a penetrating look, the minister said: "Then don't blame God for allowing the people to continue in their evil ways, when He is constantly inviting them to come and be saved."

"X"mas

2008-12-05T13:53:00.000-08:00

I used to loathe seeing the "Christ" of Christmas being replaced with the letter "X" until I found out the true origin several years back. It is basically the Greek shorthand for the name Christos just as the Greek letter O with a line across the middle is an abbreviation for Theos - God. R.C. Sproul has a great post about it here.

Here is an excerpt:

"...X can mean so many things. For example, when we want to denote an unknown quantity, we use the symbol X. It can refer to an obscene level of films, something that is X-rated. People seem to express chagrin about seeing Christ's name dropped and replaced by this symbol for an unknown quantity X. Every year you see the signs and the bumper stickers saying, "Put Christ back into Christmas" as a response to this substitution of the letter X for the name of Christ.

First of all, you have to understand that it is not the letter X that is put into Christmas. We see the English letter X there, but actually what it involves is the first letter of the Greek name for Christ. Christos is the New Testament Greek for Christ. The first letter of the Greek word Christos is transliterated into our alphabet as an X. That X has come through church history to be a shorthand symbol for the name of Christ..."

I think I am going to make a bumper sticker that says, "Put the X back in Christmas!"

The Prosperity Gospel (Full Gospel?)

2008-09-30T09:10:00.000-07:00

I have always wondered why the Word of Faith movement considers itself faithful preachers of the "Full Gospel." That claim, to me, seems empty at best and deceiving at worst. What is it that their philosophy of ministry has in place that allows them the claim of the "Full Gospel?" In researching this question I stumbled upon a great article by john Piper entitled "Prosperity Preaching: Deceitful and Deadly." This is a concise summary of everything that is wrong with the movement. If you are into Word of Faith teachers like Benny Hinn, Frederick Price and Joel Osteen then I pray that the Holy Spirit would open your eyes to the deceitful and deadly philosophy behind it.

Here is an excerpt:

When I read about prosperity-preaching churches, my response is: “If I were not on the inside of Christianity, I wouldn’t want in.” In other words, if this is the message of Jesus, no thank you.

Luring people to Christ to get rich is both deceitful and deadly. It’s deceitful because when Jesus himself called us, he said things like: “Any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:33). And it’s deadly because the desire to be rich plunges “people into ruin and destruction” (1 Timothy 6:9). So here is my plea to preachers of the gospel.

1. Don’t develop a philosophy of ministry that makes it harder for people to get into heaven.

Jesus said, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” His disciples were astonished, as many in the “prosperity” movement should be. So Jesus went on to raise their astonishment even higher by saying, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” They respond in disbelief: “Then who can be saved?” Jesus says, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God” (Mark 10:23-27).

My question for prosperity preachers is: Why would you want to develop a ministry focus that makes it harder for people to enter heaven?

2. Do not develop a philosophy of ministry that kindles suicidal desires in people.

Paul said, “There is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.” But then he warned against the desire to be rich. And by implication, he warned against preachers who stir up the desire to be rich instead of helping people get rid of it. He warned, “Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs” (1 Timothy 6:6-10).

So my question for prosperity preachers is: Why would you want to develop a ministry that encourages people to pierce themselves with many pangs and plunge themselves into ruin and destruction?

3. Do not develop a philosophy of ministry that encourages vulnerability to moth and rust.

Jesus warns against the effort to lay up treasures on earth. That is, he tells us to be givers, not keepers. “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19).

Yes, we all keep something. But given the built-in tendency toward greed in all of us, why would we take the focus off Jesus and turn it upside down?

4. Don’t develop a philosophy of ministry that makes hard work a means of amassing wealth.

Paul said we should not steal. The alternative was hard work with our own hands. But the main purpose was not merely to hoard or even to have. The purpose was “to have to give.” “Let him labor, working with his hands, that he may have to give to him who is in need” (Ephesians 4:28). This is not a justification for being rich in order to give more. It is a call to make more and keep less so you can give more. There is no reason why a person who makes $200,000 should live any differently from the way a person who makes $80,000 lives. Find a wartime lifestyle; cap your expenditures; then give the rest away.

Why would you want to encourage people to think that they should possess wealth in order to be a lavish giver? Why not encourage them to keep their lives more simple and be an even more lavish giver? Would that not add to their generosity a strong testimony that Christ, and not possessions, is their treasure?

2008-09-11T13:55:00.001-07:00

Seven years after 9/11 and not one attack on US soil! Thank you, U.S. Military, President Bush and the tireless efforts of our gov't

Cultural Evangelism

2008-07-28T13:31:00.000-07:00

I have been contemplating the intricacies of evangelism and the gospel for a lot of years now. I have come to expect the weak answers about evangelism I get from most church members I hang out with and I often wonder where and when the disconnect happened. My big question has always been, "Why do most church goers consider evangelism the act of inviting someone to church?"

Joe Thorn and Steve McCoy have a great blog called subtext where they really delve into suburban culture and try to answer this and similar questions.

Joe Thorn has a great post about suburban evangelism here that I think you should read. Here is an excerpt from the end of the article to wet your appetite:

5. The churched are often as clueless about the gospel as the unchurched.
I meet a lot of people who go to church who are more than unclear about the gospel, and I’m not only talking about people who go to “liberal” churches. Of course, when people go to a church where the gospel is not believed I expect there to be ignorance or confusion. But the vast majority of people I have met who frequently to regularly attend a local, evangelical megachurch (from my old tattoo artist to strangers at the car repair shop) have all been clueless about the gospel. I am not suggesting that everyone at this church is not a believer, or that the gospel is never preached there. I am only reporting what I have found in my conversations. In the end, just because someone is reading a Christian book, or attending a Christian church does not mean they understand the good news....

... These are conclusions I have come to after living in this community for 31 years, sharing the gospel here for 14 years, and serving as pastor here for seven years. While I believe God can use all kinds of approaches to evangelism, I am convinced that in my suburbia unscripted, conversational evangelism is generally a better way to share Christ with strangers than reading from a tract, or reciting a script. My culture requires more natural conversation skills that are developed through practice. It demands a strong theological framework from which we can make connections between real-life concerns of the people we meet to the gospel they need.

iPod Update

2008-07-08T10:29:00.000-07:00

I used to do fun little iPod posts about what I am listening too and how many songs I currently have on my iPod. I remember when I started these posts back in the day on xanga I was bragging about reaching the 3,000 and 4,000 song mark. Well, this week I passed the 6k mark with 6,155 songs. I am using a little more than a 4th of my 80GB which includes a few hundred pictures.

so here it is in the original format... my current iPod status:

iPod status: 6,155 songs, 26.0GB used, 48.3GB Free

At the Name of Jesus

2008-05-21T09:56:00.000-07:00

This morning I wanted to share one of the most beautiful hymn texts I've read or sung in a long time...

At the Name of Jesus written by Caroline M. Noel in 1870.

The 4th stanza is amazing and will instantly invoke tears for those that call the name of Jesus! Praise God for giving His Son!

Brian Moss did a beautiful arrangement of this Hymn on his Not What My Hands Have Done LP.

At the Name of Jesus, every knee shall bow,
Every tongue confess Him King of glory now;
’Tis the Father’s pleasure we should call Him Lord,
Who from the beginning was the mighty Word.

Mighty and mysterious in the highest height,
God from everlasting, very light of light:
In the Father’s bosom with the spirit blest,
Love, in love eternal, rest, in perfect rest.

At His voice creation sprang at once to sight,
All the angel faces, all the hosts of light,
Thrones and dominations, stars upon their way,
All the heavenly orders, in their great array.

Humbled for a season, to receive a name
From the lips of sinners unto whom He came,
Faithfully He bore it, spotless to the last,
Brought it back victorious when from death He passed.

Bore it up triumphant with its human light,
Through all ranks of creatures, to the central height,
To the throne of Godhead, to the Father’s breast;
Filled it with the glory of that perfect rest.

Name Him, brothers, name Him, with love strong as death
But with awe and wonder, and with bated breath!
He is God the Savior, He is Christ the Lord,
Ever to be worshipped, trusted and adored.

In your hearts enthrone Him; there let Him subdue
All that is not holy, all that is not true;
Crown Him as your Captain in temptation’s hour;
Let His will enfold you in its light and power.

Brothers, this Lord Jesus shall return again,
With His Father’s glory, with His angel train;
For all wreaths of empire meet upon His brow,
And our hearts confess Him King of glory now.

Try Jesus?

2008-04-22T09:55:00.000-07:00

I saw a bumper sticker on the way to work today that read, "Try Jesus." Try Jesus? Try Him out and see if he is...what? Tastier than chocolate ice cream? Friendlier than Buddha? More satisfying than a hot bath? Try Jesus? What does that even mean?

The problem with this statement is that it implies that trying Jesus will be the best thing one will ever try. It implies that after you've tried everything else and have not had the desired outcome you were looking for - "Try Jesus." True Christians that have been transformed by God have experienced the greatest struggles and the greatest sacrifices in life. Being a Christian is a daily challenge, a very rewarding one, and isn't just another flavor of ice cream that we try because someone says it tastes better then another's favorite flavor.

Seeing that bumper sticker reminding me of a great quote by Greg Koukl:

A couple of weeks ago, I got a call from a gentleman who challenged me about Eastern meditation. He accused me of not being open-minded in that I wouldn't meditate to see if meditation was for me. This reveals something about how people choose religion. They choose what they like, rather than what's true. I was considered close-minded because I wouldn't try it to see if I liked it.
But this admonition was misplaced because religion isn't the kind of thing you choose because you like it. It isn't a matter of tasting, and sampling, and seeing if it appeals to you.
Unfortunately, not only is this a mistaken way of encouraging somebody to engage a particular religious view when done by Hindu or Buddhist or any religion, it is also a mistaken way for Christians to appeal to non-Christians because ultimately it is not going to do the job.
"Try Jesus, you'll like Him." Well, frankly, I've been a Christian for 22 years and there are a lot of times I don't particularly like Jesus. He is not my favorite guy sometimes. He is not the kind of guy you like , in a sense. In other words, the appeal of Christianity is not to preferences but to truth. The real question is this: "Is Jesus God, Lord, and Messiah, or not?" That ought to be the watershed issue regarding Christianity.

Worship Matters

2008-04-01T13:34:00.000-07:00

Leading Others to Encounter the Greatness of God

A must read for all worship leaders! Finally released from Crossway! I ordered mine today and got an instant ebook version! Here is an excerpt:

"Getting to know God is time-consuming. We live in the age of instant everything. We want a life-changing devotional in fifteen minutes max. And why shouldn’t God fit into the slot we’ve allotted him? After all, he’s God; he knows how packed our schedule is! We open our Bibles and get bored if nothing grips us after two paragraphs. We want everything abridged, dumbed down, and in today’s lingo, so we don’t have to think too much or examine our lives too closely. Those attitudes are unacceptable if we want to display the glories of God through song each Sunday. Given our small minds, our absolute dependence on revealed truth, and the immensity of God, how can we think there’s an easy path to knowing the God we worship? There are no shortcuts. Only a grace-motivated, steadfast, lifelong pursuit of the God who created and redeemed us for his glory."

I definitely recommend that EVERY person involved with worship music read this book!

Johnny Cash - Hurt

2008-01-04T10:59:00.000-08:00

Johnny Cash... No words can describe the depth of the man and the depth of this insightful, haunting and worshipful song

Indelible Grace V

2007-11-27T09:48:00.000-08:00

If you haven't heard of Indelible Grace by now you need to go visit their site and have a listen to the newest release. I HIGHLY recommend you get connected with what Indelible Grace is all about. Your worship will be enriched! I recently had a chance to see Matthew Smith in concert at a church in California and I can tell you from experience that Matthew and the Indelible Grace team are humble servants of the Lord wishing to see Jesus lifted up through song. These new melodies and revisions of the old hymns allow the words to continue to speak and sing!

I know you will be blessed by the ministry of Indelible Grace.

Here is more about IG5 - "Wake Thy Slumbering Children":

These hymns help us express our heart cries in words richer than our own, and open our eyes to see the beauty of a Savior who has promised the blessings we need most. What joy to know that as we cry “Wake Thy slumbering children!” we cry to the Father for His “promised blessing” to revive His church. What comfort to know that even when our hearts are bereaved and lonely, we can be reminded and encouraged: “O watch and wait with patience, and question all you will; His arms of love and mercy are ‘round about thee still.” What power to know that as we cry, “Come, Lord, and wipe away the curse, the sin, the stain, and make this blighted world of ours Thine own fair world again” we actually cry out to the One who died to make this dream a reality. What glory to know that, even in our dying hour, we can plead “abide with me” to the One who has promised to never leave or forsake us. We commend these hymns because we believe they have power to wake us to the reality of our great need for Jesus and open our eyes to see we have a great Jesus for our need.

Me and My Boys

2007-10-28T21:31:00.000-07:00

I LOVE my boys! They are so special and two of the most important things in my life. Being a father has opened my eyes to a lot of relational dynamics I have never thought of before and it has enlightened my understanding of my relationship with my Heavenly Father. Being a father has helped me understand my relationship with God and drawn me closer to Him. I can't imagine life without my boys and I PRAY that they will turn out OK despite my short comings. I am committed to building a real relationship with them, teaching them, loving them, disciplining them and encouraging them to be the best they can be for God and His kingdom.

Here are a few of my favorite shots of me and my boys:

This is us out with the family for Michael's 4th birthday. We rode the train and horses at Irvine Park.

Valeri got a few shots of us after we fell asleep one lazy afternoon.

Music Monday

2007-07-16T13:15:00.000-07:00

07.16.07

I know I promised "Tonic Tuesday" to everybody, but I have just been too busy! I have some cool stuff going on that I'll share later, so for now, a little music post...

Waterdeep put this CD out in 1999 and I got a hold of it purchasing Matthew Smith's new album All I Owe. Both are great and Matthew Smith has produced another good collection of Hymns in the Indelible Grace style which he is a part of. Waterdeep continues to amaze me as I listen to more and more of their stuff. They always have very interesting instrumentation, intriguing lyrics and catchy melodies.

And, in case you haven't heard, Caedmon's Call is coming out with their new album "Overdressed" on August 28th! Derek Webb was in the studio on this one and, according to their blog, there is a lot of cool stuff to look forward to! I, for one, can't wait!

Check out their pre-order two-for-one offer.

Modern Christian Icons

2007-05-17T14:42:00.000-07:00

Since the passing of Jerry Falwell I've been thinking about how we (Christians and the church) look to the rest of the world.
My beliefs about what the Bible says about God and His relationship to man, the church and Israel has changed over the years. I have old friends who have not wavered in their beliefs and some who have gone through the same changes as I. I also have new friends that have helped me form, what I believe to be, a more balanced view of the Scriptures. I'll save that journey for another post. Here I want to throw out a few questions concerning the public perception of and interaction with evangelicals:

1. Does the public (Christian and non-Christian) understanding of the pre-tribulational view of eschatology via the media and popular evangelical figure heads differ at all from the current consensus among Dispensational Theologians? This question stems from hearing guys like LaHaye, Lindsey, Robertson and Falwell make outrageous claims about the "end times" that seem silly, sensational or speculative at best.

2. What should our figure heads look and sound like and should we have a single representative, like Billy Graham of the past decades, to speak for all evangelical, bible believing Christians?

Farewell to Falwell

2007-05-15T13:29:00.000-07:00

Farewell to a godly man. To a man who publicly spoke of the one way to the Father through Jesus Christ. To a man who boldly stood for truth and spent his life educating others in the way of The Truth. May you find peace and rest in the presence of your Savior.

Farewell to a man, an outspoken man, that got caught up in the sensationalism of fast food Christian mass-marketing and the hype of pre-tribulational end times hysteria. To a man who often spoke without thinking, spewing commentary about things he had no business commenting about. To a man who often gave Christianity a bad name with his bizarre beliefs and silly sound bytes.

Tonic Tuesday

2007-05-15T10:21:00.000-07:00

05.15.07

I haven't posted a "Music Monday" in a while because Monday is my busiest day of the week. So, I thought I would switch it to Tuesday and call it "Tonic Tuesday." Pretty clever, huh?

Wiktionary defines Tonic as "the first note of a scale," which is exactly what it is. It is also the root note upon which the basic triad chord is built upon. The tonic is also referred to as the "I" out of a seven note scale. The triad is built off of the first note (the "I") by adding 2 subsequent notes to the root. So, if you add the "III" (third note of the scale) and the "V" (fifth note of the scale) to the tonic you end up with a major triad. If you add a flat "III" (minor third or m3) and a "V" to the tonic note of the scale you end up with a minor triad.

So, given that the word tonic in music is one of the most basic elements in music I think Tonic Tuesday is a clever and appropriate name for the weekly blog. Did I already mention how clever this is?

Paul Simon is one of America's greatest musical and literary talents. I am currently listening to his latest release, Surprise, and it is definitely one of his best. Paul Simon continues to shape and hone his music keeping it fresh and interesting while not sacrificing his brilliant story telling and wonderful word pictures. He maintains his status as one of the most influential singer - song writers with songs like "How Can You Live in the Northeast," "Beautiful" and "Father & Daughter." Father & Daughter is a beautiful ode to his daughter filled with a couple of great hooks and a very hip groove. "How Can You Live in the Northeast" is Paul's commentary on Katrina, September 11th, belief, religion, principle and devastation. "Beautiful" is another literary, story telling masterpiece akin to "Rene & Georgette Magritte With Their Dog After The War" and "Darling Lorraine." The album as a whole is very original and the experimental grooves put forth by producer Brian Eno and drummer Steve Gadd are outstanding. If you are a Paul Simon fan of any era you will be satisfied with this and his previous release "You're The One" If you are not familiar with Paul Simon but you are a fan of singer-songwriters I recommend you get familiar with Paul's work.

Sin and Death

2007-05-07T11:37:00.000-07:00

Sin and Death. Destruction. Lack of Discipline. Indulgence.

I won't attempt to be a theologian on purpose in this post. I simply want to ask the question, why do we willingly sin? I think I have the simple answer... Because sacrifice is hard. It's hard to be patient. It's hard work to keep our marriages in order. It's hard to think of others when the world is screaming in your face, "What about you? Don't you deserve better? Why is no one paying attention to you? You're worth it! Stop giving of yourself and demand respect!"

In the fight against sin we need to sacrifice our selfish desires for respect, recognition and instant gratification and put on patience, peace, love, joy, etc. and that means obeying the Holy Spirit and paying attention to the Son of God who paid the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf. And, while His final sacrifice on the cross was the crux of human history, the entire life of Jesus was a sacrifice. He never gave into to sin which means He was sacrificing 24/7 for about 33 years. Now, that's hard. That's the long haul. That is the example we are to follow in answering the question.

God give us strength to persevere and do that which is hard!

Music Monday

2007-04-16T14:57:00.000-07:00

04.16.07

Symphony in Red

Comprised mostly of ex-death rockers including Dave Ellefson of Megadeath, this group has put out a contribution to the modern hymn movement. The album contains mostly older hymns (modernized and contemporized) along with one of U2's newest songs, Yahweh.
They do a pretty good job with most of the tunes. There are definitely some potential congregational tunes in here that I plan on trying at my church. One track, however stands out among the rest. Jesus, I Come, originally re-done by Indelible Grace, is a beautiful re-working of the hymn Out of My Bondage, Sorrow and Night by William T. Sleeper and George C. Stebbins.

A few of my favorite verses:

Out of my shameful failure and loss,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into the glorious gain of Thy cross,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of earth’s sorrows into Thy balm,
Out of life’s storms and into Thy calm,
Out of distress to jubilant psalm,
Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of unrest and arrogant pride,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into Thy blessèd will to abide,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of myself to dwell in Thy love,
Out of despair into raptures above,
Upward for aye on wings like a dove,
Jesus, I come to Thee.

Music Monday

2007-04-02T09:51:00.000-07:00

04.02.07

Keith and Kristyn Getty
If you haven't heard of the Getty's or their music you should get acquainted. They have a beautiful mix of old and new that is bound to become some of the timeless hymns of generations to come. I believe that hymns are still being written and the Getty's, straight from Ireland, are some of the most prolific modern hymn writers of our time. I am just getting acquainted with them myself and have already used one of their songs, Behold the Lamb (Communion Hymn), during a communion service. This hymn is a beautiful picture of what it means to celebrate communion in an era of selfishness and want. The last verse of the song goes like this:

And so with thankfulness and faith we rise
To respond, and to remember
Our call to follow in the steps of Christ
As His body here on earth.
As we share in His suffering
We proclaim Christ will come again!
And we’ll join in the feast of heaven
Around the table of the King

Keith and Kristyn say this about their music:

"There are two reasons we write modern hymns," explains Keith. "First, it's to help teach the faith. What we sing affects how we think, how we feel and ultimately how we live, so it's so important that we sing the whole scope of truth the Bible has given us. The second reason is to try and create a more timeless musical style that every generation can sing, a style that relates to the past and the future."

My Amazing Wife

2007-03-26T11:59:00.000-07:00

My amazing wife can do it all! She takes care of 3 boys - One of them is teething and can't stand to be left alone more than 20-30 minutes, one of them is 3 years old (enough said) and the other is a selfish jerk that just doesn't get it and that is not meant to be a joke... I have really been a jerk lately!

Well, I had an epiphany...

My wife feeds 2 boys 3+ meals a day. She baths them every other day. She dresses them every morning and changes Andrew's diapers all day long. She entertains them, exercises them, teaches them and provides them with warmth and security all day long while I am away working. She disciplines our 3 year old, Michael (and that is a frequent occurrence right now) and carries Andrew around on her hip - all day long. She keeps our clothes clean, fresh towels in the linen closet and she puts dinner on the table almost every night of the week. Her personal time is spent working out, volunteering at church or buying groceries. She finds time to encourage me in all that I do, support me in the decisions I make and challenge me to be a better husband and father.

My Wife is AMAZING!

Now, if only I would get my head out of my @$$ and take time to appreciate her amazing efforts instead of mumbling and complaining about the small stuff maybe she would feel more valued, encouraged and exhilarated... The way she makes me feel!

Music Monday

2007-03-26T11:23:00.000-07:00

03.26.07

Songs From The Voice, Vol. 1: Please Don't Make Us Sing This Song
is an amazing collection of songs based mostly on the psalms written by an amazing collection of artists. You will be treated to some tasty tunes by Derek Webb, Sandra McCracken, Sara Groves and Don and Lori Chaffer to name a few. The songs really provide a new "hearing" of the pslams sung to some very innovative melodies. I found several tracks suitable for corporate singing although I haven't tried them yet at my church. It would definitely be cutting edge to use as corporate worship. I find most of the songs invoke worship and awe the same way reading the psalms corporately do.

Songs From the Voice, Vol. 2: Son of the Most High is now available. I will review that one at a later time. It should be as good as the first given that they are both produced by Don Chaffer.

Music Monday

2007-03-19T14:25:00.000-07:00

A lot of bloggers out there are filling their blogs with daily themed posts that I've enjoyed. One of the most popular is "Music Monday." I am going to join the bandwagon and start my own "Music Monday" today.

My aim is to add other daily themes, but, for now, I will strive to post something about music every Monday from here on out...

One of my favorite "Music Monday" bloggers is Steve McCoy of Reformissionary. I highly recommend you check out his posts for the music and the theology.

Music Monday 03.19.07

Brian Moss of prayerbookproject who is the Director of Worship, Music, and the Arts at John Knox Presbyterian Church in Seattle, Washington has put out a beautiful album of lesser known hymns called "Not What My Hands Have Done." This album will direct you to worship from the first note. If you didn't know the origins of the songs on this CD you would think these are all newer songs written by the artist. Brian has the perfect mix of beautiful arrangements and slightly tweaked melodies that cause one to stop and pay attention. I am a big fan of this trend to modernize old music and Brian has done it to perfection.

I bet you never heard of this Hymn:

Day is Dying in the West:

Day is dying in the west;
Heav’n is touching earth with rest;
Wait and worship while the night
Sets the evening lamps alight
Through all the sky.

Refrain:
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts!
Heav’n and earth are full of Thee!
Heav’n and earth are praising Thee,
O Lord most high!

Lord of life, beneath the dome
Of the universe, Thy home,
Gather us who seek Thy face
To the fold of Thy embrace,
For Thou art nigh.

While the deepening shadows fall,
Heart of love enfolding all,
Through the glory and the grace
Of the stars that veil Thy face,
Our hearts ascend.

When forever from our sight
Pass the stars, the day, the night,
Lord of angels, on our eyes
Let eternal morning rise
And shadows end.

Beautiful lyrics! Brian has made this somewhat obscure hymn into a beautiful, modern expression of worship! I HIGHLY recommend downloading the album from iTunes. It is definitely worth it!

Family Update #6

2007-02-12T15:06:00.000-08:00

Well, we've all been sick just like everybody else. Andrew had an infection called RSV which turned into conjunctivitis. They call this little breathing aparatus "Bubbles the Fish!" Doesn't he look cute? He hated every minute of these breathing treatments.

Michael has been coughing along with me for over a week and a half and we found out today that he has an ear infection. You would never know he was sick outside of his cough and runny nose. He just keeps on going...!

Michael also started pre-school! He loves school and loves people! He is such a socialite. He gets that from his Mother!

Michael's First Day of School

Here are some more pictures of me and the boys for you to enjoy:

Anti-war?

2007-01-25T11:58:00.000-08:00

I am not. I think there is a time for war and a time for peace. However, I think there is a principal the world is missing that would reduce the need for war. It is called love and compassion. Not the gushy, liberal kind, but the Kingdom kind. Consider this quote from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.:

"Nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral questions of our time; the need for mankind to overcome oppression and violence without resorting to oppression and violence. Mankind must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression, and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love."

I wonder where he got this concept from?????

We desparately need modern day Martin Luther King Jr.'s to stand up for what is right and just in such a cruel, hate filled world! Lord, makes us bold enough to be like Dr. King!

New Blog for the New Year

2007-01-21T11:52:00.000-08:00

I figured I better blog something for 2007.

Should I write about resolutions...? NO!
Should I write about regrets...? NO!
Should I write about something theological...? Not in the mood!
Should I give you a family update...? I will, but not right now!
Should I write about something random...? YES!! That's how I feel right now!

However, NOTHING is random! All things are continually created by God. God is active in our lives continually creating the reality we see all around us. If He were to let go of the sustaining power He has in the universe everything would explode in disarray. Do you realize that God is continually creating your world? If you thought He was a personal God before this should really blow your mind and cause you to bow down in worship to the one that actively creates your world. He knows your coming and your going and He has provided the means!

Joy to the World

2006-12-12T09:49:00.000-08:00

We sing this popular Christmas Hymn every year during the season, but did you know that it was originally written about the 2nd coming of Christ?

Here are some of the facts about Joy to the World:

- A hymn written by Isaac Watts
- First published in1719
- Based on the last half of Psalm 98 which is about the coming Kingdom of Christ on earth
- The original title of the hymn was The Messiah's Coming and Kingdom
- The words and number of verses we sing today are as originally written (which is not the case of a lot of the hymns we utilize today. Many Hymns have seen lyrical revisions including the removal of extensive verses).

Psalm 98:

1 Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things;
his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.
2 The LORD has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations.
3 He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
4 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music;
5 make music to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing,
6 with trumpets and the blast of the ram's horn—shout for joy before the LORD, the King.
7 Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.
8 Let the rivers clap their hands, Let the mountains sing together for joy;
9 let them sing before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity.

Music - It Just Exists

2006-11-17T23:23:00.000-08:00

"Music is the art of the prophets that can calm the agitations of the soul; it is one of the most magnificent and delightful presents God has given us."
- Martin Luther

I don't remember where I first heard it said that music has always existed and we are merely discovering it, but it has always stuck with me. I often think about it and I can't argue with the statement. It just exists. Embedded in the cosmos, it rings out when a falling star glides through the galaxy. As you hike deeper and deeper into a forest the symphony swells louder and louder. Sitting in a subway station in Manhattan sticatto signals of constant information pulse with the frequency of steel brakes as the train pulls into the station.

You see, no one human being from our past created or invented music. Sure, some Monks sat down and figured out the best way to notate it so we could write it down and communicate our discoveries better, but that's just what music is: A Discovery. Day after day, week after week, Century after Century musicians and commoners alike have stumbled upon these different combinations of notes, tones, pitches and progressions. Music just exists. It is floating around out there waiting for a controlled enviroment to come to life. That's the mystery and the beauty of music. And, to me, that only adds to the mystery and beauty of God. It is clear that God created music. What a beautiful expression it is to discover something God created and turn it back to Him in praise and adoration!

Thank You, God, for creating this wonderful medium for us to worship you by! May we live lives of worship to you turning all we see, dream, draw, write, think, sing, preach, teach, design and work for back to you. For, if we labor for any other end we labor in vain!

What is a Missional Community?

2006-10-30T16:00:00.000-08:00

If you've ever heard the term 'missional' and wondered what it is or how it differs from the term 'mission' or 'missionary' then this article is a must read! There is a lot to take in as the article is a little long, but it is worth every second you spend reading it. I suggest making it a study. Follow the references. Do searches on the authors quoted. Even meditate on what is being presented.

I am a firm believer that the body of Christ needs a reformation and this line of theology seems to be paving the way. I found this article on a website that has a lot of great resources to help you grow as an apprentice of the Master, Jesus Christ. Check out theofframp and be blessed...

Andrew James Liebig (Family Update #5)

2006-09-29T12:10:00.000-07:00

Andrew James was born on September 25th at 11:37 am. He weighed in at 8lbs 11oz and 20 inches long! He is a beautiful boy and reminds me of Michael as a newborn. Valeri was induced at 9am and delivered in a record 2 1/2 hours! We were shocked when the doctor finished putting in the epidural and the nurse checked her dialation and said, "It's time to push!" The doctor rushed over from the office, Valeri pushed for about 5 minutes and Andrew James was delivered! Mom and baby are doing well and Michael Thomas is totally enthralled. He follows mommy around helping her change diapers and dress Andrew. I think they are going to best buddies and I pray they develop a deep love for one another!

Andrew and Michael: Brothers and Buddies Forever!

A New Song

2006-09-20T12:50:00.000-07:00

I just finished a new song (although it lacks a 2nd verse) and would like to share the lyrics and get some feedback. I need opinions on whether or not it makes sense, is theologically sound or fit for congregational singing.

Perfecter of Our Faith

V1
When we are broken,
No words are spoken;
There is nothing we can say.

But, oh how we feel You;
Your Holy Spirit,
Surrounds us giving life anew

Pre-chorus
We need Your grace,
We seek Your face,
Author and Perfecter of our faith.

Chorus
You know where we stand,
You know where we fall,
You know we are nothing,
Without Your love,
Without Your power,
We can do nothing.

Grace Hills Church: Vision for Worship

2006-09-08T15:11:00.000-07:00

At Grace Hills Church we believe that a proper understanding of God, His will and His mighty acts will cause believers to well up with awe and gratitude resulting in lives lived in worship to God. Everything we do ought to be worship to God and we seek to understand and live this out. Worship is not the songs we sing on Sunday, but rather a lifestyle of seeking God and striving to live according to His will and not our own.

Our Vision for Worship

Our vision for worship at Grace Hills Church is one of proper perspective and foundation. Jesus is our foundation and His word our perspective. We desire to discover, develop, and nurture what God desires in worship leaving our vain imaginations behind.

We believe that meaningful worship is more than just singing songs. When we gather together for worship it should be thought of as a continuation of the individual worship life already being lived out. Through Scripture reading, sermons, prayer, the Lord's supper, fellowship and music, to name a few, we seek to continue worshipping God together in unity.

Music Ministry Goal

Therefore, the Grace Hills Music Ministry seeks to create a meaningful worship environment where God is praised, honored and glorified through our response to His revelation of Himself. We believe that God has given us, in His Word, all we need to understand what He expects of us in worship. From that starting point we seek to prayerfully fill in the gaps with the intention of bringing glory and honor to the One who firsted loved us.

Experiencing God?

2006-08-24T13:40:00.000-07:00

I've always had a problem with the "Experiencing God" study by Blackaby. Finally, I found a concise yet brief commentary that communicates the thoughts I have been formulating for years. Take some time to read the entire article here.

Here is an excerpt:

"If you think God is telling you something through Scripture that is not connected to the meaning of the words in their context, it can't be of God because God chose to communicate through language, not around it.

Yes, the Holy Spirit is our teacher, but that means He illuminates what's already there. All teachers work from a body of information, clarifying it and passing it on. The Holy Spirit does not give new information not in the inspired words. The curriculum, so to speak, is then standardized for all Christians. Every person has equal access to the meaning. There are no private messages in Scripture."

Enjoy and be challenged!

Forgiveness

2006-08-15T21:45:00.000-07:00

For those of you that don't subscribe to Carl Stam's Worship Quote of the Week I highly recommend it. Here is an excerpt from this week's quote on forgiveness:

"I find that when I think I am asking God to forgive me I am often . . . asking Him to do something quite different. I am asking Him not to forgive me but to excuse me. But there is all the difference in the world between forgiving and excusing. Forgiveness says, 'Yes, you have done this thing, but I accept your apology; I will never hold it against you and everything between us will be exactly as it was before.' But excusing says, 'I see that you couldn’t help it or didn’t mean it; you weren’t really to blame.' If one was not really to blame then there is nothing to forgive. . . . What we call "asking God’s forgiveness" very often really consists in asking God to accept our excuses. . . ." -C.S. Lewis

The entire quote is one of those that you have to sit with for a while. The point that C.S. Lewis makes about excuses is very insightful and hard to digest. It takes a while for it to sink in. The hardest part is realizing that we need to repent of this haneous sin and get on to asking for real forgiveness.

Amazing Korean Guitarist!

2006-08-14T11:41:00.000-07:00

For all of you musicians and music lovers out there you have to check out this guys blog. You've never seen or heard Mario Brothers like this before! Or you can go directly to the YouTube link here.

Unconditional Obedience

2006-08-13T21:54:00.000-07:00

Today at church we had a guest speaker. His sermon title was "Unconditional Obedience." His text was Acts 8: 26-40. The example of Philip in Acts was great but what stuck out most was the pastors use of I Samuel 15:22...

"Samuel said, 'Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams.'"

There are lots of examples of obedience in Scripture like Abraham, David, Isaiah, Philip, etc. And the one thing that rings true in all of those examples is that the Lord is not interested in our RESOURCES. He is interested in our HEARTS! When the Lord gives us a command He expects that we will unconditionally obey. Too many times we answer God with excuses and justifications why we can't do this or that when all he wants is our obedience even when it defies common sense! What a great Word this morning! I hope it is an encouragement to you.

Saturday Night's Alright

2006-08-12T22:01:00.000-07:00

Thanks go to Josh for his posting on what we all do on Saturday night before church. A Huge conviction for me and an encouragement to change my ways.

Here is another encouraging excerpt...

Be still as you enter the room and focus your mind's attention and heart's affection on God.
Psalm 46:10, "Be still, and know that I am God." As we enter the sanctuary, let us "come on the lookout for God and leave on the lookout for people." Come with a quiet passion to seek God and his power. We will not be an unfriendly church if we are aggressive in our pursuit of God during the prelude and aggressive in our pursuit of visitors during the postlude.

This point is especially refreshing in a seeker sensitive world that goes to great lengths to attract people to church and attack them as soon as they enter the door!

Family Update #4

2006-08-11T21:52:00.000-07:00

Well, everyone is doing fine. Valeri's last trimester has been the best of the three. She is feeling much better and has a lot more energy. She had some issues with her blood that got resolved and the treatment has improved her energy, mood and stamina dramatically.

Michael is now 3 years old and more energetic than ever. We threw him a rocket themed party and invited all of his friends to play at the park and shoot rockets. His favorite toy is the "stomp rocket" that works by jumping on a little pump that shoots air into the rocket and launches it 200 feet in the air. Michael is a very funny and witty boy. The things he comes up with have us rolling all the time. He is also VERY friendly. He walks up to EVERYONE and strikes up conversation. His favorite conversation starter is, "So, what do you want to do today!?" He likes to say he is shy, but is definitely NOT!

Andrew is getting very active in the womb. He loves to kick his mom and especially likes it when she eats. Valeri hopes that Andrew will be more of a mamma's boy as Michael favors his Daddy (not really, but I like to think so)! Valeri says that I am just a novelty because I work all day and then come home and play with Michael. We are both disciplinarians so it balances out. Andrew is due October 4th (see count down at the bottom of this page) and we can hardly wait for him to break free.

Day 2 of my 7 day blog promise is complete... More tomorrow...

Heresy

2006-08-10T09:17:00.000-07:00

Under pressure from some of you to be a better blogger I will attempt to blog everyday for the next 7 days. Today's blog will have to be a random thought off the top of my head...

...got it...

Heresy!

Heresy, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is a "theological or religious opinion or doctrine maintained in opposition, or held to be contrary, to the Catholic or Orthodox doctrine of the Christian Church, or, by extension, to that of any church, creed, or religious system, considered as orthodox. By extension, heresy is an opinion or doctrine in philosophy, politics, science, art, etc., at variance with those generally accepted as authoritative." -Wikipedia

This is actually a pretty good definition for an encyclopedia. If we agree with this description then I submit that we are putting up with a LOT of heresy within our own congregations and our own members. Especially in Southern California, I have noticed a blatant disregard for the authoritative Word of God. More often you see Sunday Christians that live it up all week long and then put on a happy face and talk in short, spiritual sentences (product of the mega church?). I notice more priorities out of step with God's will for our lives. Every financially successful Christian I know lives an equally rich lifestyle. Even among Christians a 6 figure income means a 6 figure lifestyle and I know that God is NOT glorified when we buy another boat, car, vacation house or entertainment system. It seems to me that our current lifestyle choices could be the biggest heresy in Christian history?

In conclusion I submit an idea for the latest fad in Christian jewelry.... a gold wrist band (bracelet) with the initials WWID? - What Would Irenaeus Do?

Worship America?

2006-07-03T11:49:00.000-07:00

This year on Sunday, July 2nd and following, congregations across our great country will sing songs like "America the Beautiful," "God Bless America," "The National Anthem," and "My Country 'Tis of Thee," during their worship services.

My question is whether or not this is at all appropriate. I personally don't think so, but am willing to be swayed. Just because the word "God" appears in these songs or because they tell a story of God's role in our great nation does not mean that they are appropriate for worship services. They are great songs. They give me the chills when I hear them and sing them in a crowd. I nearly come to tears every time I sing our national anthem at a large sporting event. It is overwhelming! But, is it appropriate to ascribe greatness to anything else but God during our corporate worship gatherings?

I say, "No, never!" We must remember our freedoms and be thankful for them, but not at the expense of elevating our troops, leaders and country above the one who created them!

When Life Was Simple

2006-06-15T11:33:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite lines from a song is from Chris Rice's 8th Grade:

Why does the past always seem safer?
Maybe because at least we know we made it.
And why do we worry about the future,
When everyday will come just the way the Lord ordained it?

Just like the 8th grade!

Yesterday Josh posted about the new addition to his family and the verse he quoted almost brought me to tears:

For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother's womb.
I will give thanks to You,
For I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well.

Psalm 139:13-14

God creates all, knows all, allows all, sees all, ordains all, controls all and forgives all. May we fear more, trust more, believe more, live more, surrender more and cherish more!

King of This Heart

2006-05-30T09:28:00.000-07:00

Listening to Matt Redman this morning I came across a song of his that I just love, but really hit me for the first time.

Time is too short to say it's ok
To think I can live this way just another day
So, I'll search through the night for the one my heart loves
Won't stop 'till I've found You
Lord, I need to hold You close

Be the King of this heart again
Be the King of this life
In my soul there's a cry today
Be the King of this heart

Why do we stop searching? Why do we fail to see His beauty (more on beauty in a later post) all around us? May God forgive our wandering hearts! Oh, how we need to search through the night not stopping until we see His glory!

Family Update #3

2006-05-09T22:30:00.000-07:00

IT'S A BOY!! Shown here sucking his thumb. We had an ultrasound and as of today the baby is 18 weeks and 6 days old! Valeri and I both really wanted a girl, but God saw it fitting that we needed another boy. Boys rule! Valeri actually loves the idea of having 2 boys, but her heart was set on having the mother, daughter relationship. I guess we will have to adopt a girl at a later time as Valeri has declared, "I am never doing this again!"

All we need now is a name for this wonderful creation. So far, we like Andrew, Dustin and Matthew. Andrew is safe, Matthew is too obvious and Dustin is growing on us. Any ideas? What is your favorite name for a boy?

The Sentinel

2006-04-25T16:40:00.000-07:00

Dubbed, '24 for the big screen,' this thriller starring Kiefer Sutherland and Michael Douglas definitely entertains. Michael Douglas plays the rebellious Jack Bauer character and Kiefer plays more of a Season 2 George Mason role. I thoroughly enjoyed the movie, but the plot and the ending were a let down. I knew who the mole was the first time he appeared on screen and the ending was anti-climatic. The first lady character was annoying and her relationship with the Michael Douglas character was unbelievable and boring. I say all of this not to deter you from seeing the movie. It was a fun, predictable thriller that kept my interest. You may want to wait for the rental, but if you enjoy 24 then you will enjoy seeing the similarities on the big screen. The biggest disappointment was the fact that it did not live up to 24 or anything else Michael Douglas or Keifer Sutherland has done in the past. Long live Young Guns!!

Foundation for Unity

2006-03-30T08:56:00.000-08:00

"Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshippers meeting together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be were they to become ‘unity’ conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship. Social religion is perfected when private religion is purified. The body becomes stronger as its members become healthier. The whole church of God gains when the members that compose it begin to seek a better and a higher [spiritual] life."
-A.W. Tozer

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." -Romans 12:1-2

I came accross this quote from A.W. Tozer online today. It is yet another reminder that our individual lives are to be lived in worship to God. If we are all striving to live out Romans 12 then when we come together in corporate worship and fellowship our hearts will have been already "tuned" to the same Lord and unity will automatically happen. True fellowship will happen and we will genuinely care about the well being of others. Our focus will each be on Christ, our Foundation for Unity

Lord, help us to truly seek you first. Help us to see that you are close enough and it is our pleasure and privelage to know you more. Remind us of where we would be without you. Depraved, sick and hopeless!

Constraints of Love

2006-03-20T11:05:00.000-08:00

Jason's inspirational post about the importance of words and poetry lead me to write this poem. I hope you all are blessed by it's message!

Constraints of Love

Wide, wide, wide

Mankind nowhere to hide

Stabbed, open, wide

The wound in His side

Rejected, bleeding, denied

The weight of life crucified

Long, long, long

The voiceless sing a song

Breathless, winded, long

Dissipates the throng

Silent, dark, long

Forbidding but never wrong

High, high, high

The Father's only sigh

Exalted, lofty, high

Rejoice! No need to cry

Enthrone, establish, apply

On His atonement I will rely

Deep, deep, deep

Unsearchable yet I creep

Profound, mysterious, deep

Unreachable yet I leap

Gallant, fervent, deep

Forever in your keep

Ephesians 3:17-19

Corey Thomas' Lyrics

2006-03-16T12:07:00.000-08:00

Josh asked me to write out some of my lyrics so he could read them so I will do that here for 2 of my personal favorites. Please give me some feedback. Your comments and suggestions are greatly appreciated. If you haven't listened to my songs yet then take a jump over to my music blog for a few tracks. You can also visit coreythomaslive.com for samples of the whole album.

Burning Passion and Desire

Father, I want to do Your will
Jesus, Your words live in me still
Spirit, I want to please You, I want to get my fill
You've been calling
You've been calling me

Show me how to spend my days
Trying to understand Your ways
The only gift I can bring You is a sacrifice of praise
You've been calling
You've been calling me

Chorus:
Burning Passion and Desire
Holy Spirit, the burning fire
Lord, I'm giving You my life this day
'Cause You've been calling
You've been calling me

Called out from this world that's not my home
Living Your will and not my own
I will turn away and live the life You've shown
You've been calling
You've been calling me

There Was a Time

There was a time when I would break Your heart
There was a time when I would find myself and blow apart
You were only as far gone as I was near to You
I was cold in the stormy weather and You were warm and dry
My Lord

There is still time for You to melt this heart of stone
There is still time to dwell in me down through every bone
I was singing in the temple when I fell to see
That I would hold to nothing as You would show the way
My Lord

When time is the center of my attention I begin to realize
That I don't see myself the way You see me through the Savior's eyes
And I miss the blessing of Your forgiveness and Your plan for me
To bring glory to Your Name

There was a time when I would break Your heart
There was a time when I would find myself alone in the dark
You found me lonely, now You're my comfort and my guide
I was only slowly learning how to cry, "My Lord"

Family Update #2

2006-03-15T22:32:00.000-08:00

Here is the first picture of Baby #2 at approximately 10-11 weeks. You can already see it's head, body, arms and legs. I was not present during the ultrasound, but Valeri reported that the baby was very active. She said she saw it moving and jumping around and waving it's arms and legs. The doctor even took note and said that this was the most active 10 week ultrasound he has ever seen. Now, there are a lot of things a person can do in life that involves this kind of movement and coordination. Our new baby could grow up to be a preacher, teacher, dancer, 3rd base coach, symphony conductor, choir director, wall street trader, etc. If you have any other ideas of what this baby will grow to be send me a comment.

In other news:

Michael is just about completely potty trained! He is having fewer accidents and is remembering to tell us when he has to "go" before it is too late. He continues to learn new words everyday and his grammar is very impressive for a 2-1/2 year old. His favorite sentence is, "If I am a nice boy and good listener then I can have fruit snacks, daddy?" What a joy, what a joy!

Valeri is still sick morning, day and night. She has a few good days and then a few bad days. With Michael this lasted the 1st trimester and she is hoping for the same with this one.

Nothing new with me really. At church we are gearing up for Easter and then 40 days of purpose. We love our new church family and look forward to many years of fellowship, encouragement and ministry together!

Corporate Worship Lessons from Torino

2006-02-21T15:47:00.000-08:00

Who hates figure skating? I can't stand it!! I don't get it, it's boring, it's girly and I just don't like watching it... until now...

I read and article in the sports page today explaining all that goes into a figure skating routine and how difficult it actually is to do the required moves, well, in 2 minutes and 49 seconds (short program). I was amazed at what the rules actually entailed and how much of the score depends on the subtleties of the moves like what kind of toe touch you do coming out of a triple lutze! And, to end at exactly 2:49 is ideal because if you are one second over you loose points. In short, now that I am informed about figure skating I can't wait to watch it!

We tend to make the same mistake that I did about figure skating in lot's of areas in life and, oh, how dangerous it is to make this mistake in our corporate worship. People come uninformed about the rules and subtleties of worship and end up either bored or entertained but not really excited about worship. Before I was educated about figure skating I would of watched if I knew they were going to play chicken with a zamboni, armed with an uzi, unloading a magazine as they careened to the center of the skating rink ending in a huge explosion. The skater emerges from the flames in a triple axel and the crowd goes wild! Armed with the facts about figure skating I now desire to participate simply for the beauty, passion and excellence of it.

We need to be informed, biblically, about worship. We need to understand the subtleties of worship and the difficulties of the battle for worship within our dual natured skin. We need to get excited about worship because we have a desire to see what we have learned unfold in real time as God inhabits the praises of His people. We need to put away the uninformed expectation that we will either be bored to tears or mildly entertianed. Let us put aside our vain longings and shallow expectations of corporate worship and yearn for something real, something beautiful, something excellent! Worship is for God! It's not about us!

Family Update #1

2006-02-16T13:04:00.000-08:00

Well, Valeri is pregnant! She is due sometime in late September. Michael is, so far, very excited about being a big brother. He talks about sharing his room and toys and has even gone as far as saying he has a baby in his tummy just like mommy.

Michael is now 2-1/2 years old and loving every minute of it! He is a well behaved boy but has recently taken advantage of the 2 year old syndrome. He likes to hit, wrestle with dad, play trains, play at the park, go to the mall and Dana Point Harbor with mommy and watch movies. He loves to watch The Incredibles, Robots, Winnie the Pooh, Shrek, Aladdin and Star Wars (like father, like son!). He has been potty training successfully and we hope to have him fully off of the diaper by the time baby #2 arrives. Oh, I must not forget his love for Disneyland! His favorite rides are Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, Winnie the Pooh and Monsters, Inc.

I am still looking for a full time ministry position. I have been interviewing and "auditioning" at churches around the country for about 5 months now. God has recently focused my attention on a church close to home in Laguna Hills, CA. All has been very positive and I am just one more interview away from becoming their Worship Director.

God has been good to me and my family over these past few months despite our doubts, fears, insecurities and frustration. He has taught us a lot about patience and trust and I pray the lessons will stick with us as we embark on this new chapter. To God be the glory, honor and praise!

Caedmon's Call

2006-02-08T11:03:00.000-08:00

I am now Caedmon's Call's biggest fan. I never really was a fan and I used to think they were just another christian fluff band until I really listened to one of their albums the other day. I discovered that this band is actually made up of a bunch of bonifide theologians. Have you ever really read or heard the lyrics from "Thankful?"

Check this out:

I ran across an old box of letters
While I was bagging up some clothes for Goodwill
You know I had to laugh that the same old struggles
That plagued me then are plaguing me still
I know the road is long from the ground to glory
But a boy can hope he's getting some place
But you see, I'm running from the very clothes I'm wearing
And dressed like this I'm fit for the chase

No, there is none righteous
Not one who understands
There is none who seek God
No not one, no not one

I am thankful that I'm incapable
Of doing any good on my own

'Cause we're all stillborn and dead in our transgressions
We're shackled up to the sin we hold so dear
So what part can I play in the work of redemption
I can't refuse, I cannot add a thing
'Cause I am just like Lazarus and I can hear your voice
I stand and rub my eyes and walk to You
Because I have no choice

I am thankful that I'm incapable Of doing any good on my own
I'm so thankful that I'm incapable Of doing any good on my own
It's by grace I have been saved
Through faith that's not my own
It is the gift of God and not by works Lest anyone should boast

WOW! Amazing lyrics. Simple, poetic, theological, powerful lyrics! When will I ever learn not to judge a book by it's cover?

In the beginning...

2006-02-03T11:13:00.000-08:00

I started blogging a few years ago on Xanga www.xanga.com/cliebig Then I switched to Myspace where I discovered that I could have a musical myspace for my original compositions. Now, I have a website www.coreythomaslive.com where you can listen to samples and buy a CD. I encourage you to check it out and pick up a copy! However, on www.myspace.com/coreythomas you can listen to full versions of a few songs if you are interested.

Anyway, now I am on blogger which will be a link on my website www.coreythomaslive.com I will try to blog often enough to keep you coming back and hopefully we can engage in interesting, God honoring conversation. This blog will also be a place to post updates about my family, my church and my www.myspace.com/coreythomas music blog which hopefully will be updated with new songs as they are available. I wouldn't waste time visiting www.xanga.com/cliebig as it is now only a link to www.myspace.com/coreythomas and www.coreythomaslive.com

Bye for now...

Coming soon: Thoughts on worship, culture and age

Corey