Simple...not Easy.

You may have heard this quote from Gandhi, "Be the change you want to see in the world." Or you may have heard the Golden Rule, "Do to others as you would have them do to you." Maybe you saw Bruce Almighty and heard Bruce tell us at the end of the movie to "Be the Miracle!" Or how 'bout when Jesus told us to "Love God and Love Others."

If we as Christ Followers want to make a difference in the world we need to be that difference. There are so many times each day that we have a choice to show God's love or to hide it. That is the theme behind the our new CD, Live to Love. When writing for Live to Love we wanted to focus on verses from scripture that enforce the idea that we as Christ Followers can show God's love in everything we do. Loving God and Loving Others is a choice, it is not something that just happens.

If we want the world to be a kinder, more loving place we must first cultivate that in our own lives, then choose to share that with the people we meet each day. By basing all that we do on the idea of Loving God and Loving Others, will help us see everyday situations differently. This is a concept that sounds simple, but to put it into practice is not always easy.

This week, make a difference, be the miracle, let God's love shine through!

I Sing the Songs...

I have often gone into a church service and thought..."I hope I get something out of this today" or "I hope they sing the songs I like" or "I hope the message is something I want to hear."

If you have been around me for any amount of time, you have heard me talk about how worshiping God is not just about singing songs or going to an event. We shouldn't go to worship, it should be the way we live our lives every minute of every day.

However, singing is a part of worshiping God!

I found this video today and thought about how many times I have sung these songs, and the right words have come out of my mouth, but my mind is wandering off somewhere thinking about what is for lunch or who is winning the the game or what I am doing later. When what I should be focused on in my loving God. He is my defender and my friend. He is my comfort and strength. He is my fortress and my salvation.

Yes, listen and laugh because this video is funny, but when you go to your church services this week, don't just sing the words because they are on the screen or handout, sing them so that God hears your heart, (whether it is your favorite song or not.) Don't think about what I can get out of this, but instead what can I give back to God for all that He has done in my life. Worship should not be about how much we get, but how much we give.

Gabi does it again.

The other night while on our road trip across America we stopped for dinner just outside Kansas City. We had been in North Dakota and were driving to Kansas City for the night. We had been in the car for about 13 of our 15 hour drive and stopped to eat at Olive Garden. Gabi was so excited because one of her favorite foods is pasta! Well, if you have ever eaten at the OG you know that at the end of the meal they bring you an Andes mint, who doesn't love chocolate and mint!?! Gabi may have had one before but did not remember what they were, and when she ate hers, she loved it! Michelle ate hers and John, who was playing with us over the weekend, ate his. I was so full I could not even think of eating another thing, not even a little piece of chocolate. So I decided to give mine to Michelle, and she said to go ahead and give it to Gabi.

Now, the other day when Gabi came home from school she was telling us that they had learned the 3rd person rule, Jesus - Others - You. JOY. She told us how we should always put Jesus first, others second, and ourselves third. That goes right along with what we are always talking about with Gabi, Loving God and Loving Others, and how we can do that every day even in little ways.

So, Gabi takes the candy, opens it, and without giving it a thought, she takes it and breaks it. She looked at it and saw that it didn't break exactly in half. She examines the pieces and takes the smaller piece and puts it in her mouth and hands the bigger half to Michelle. My heart nearly burst out of my chest! I could not believe this amazing little girl! We all immediately told her how proud we were of her for wanting to share, but more than that, how she decided to give the bigger piece away. She looked at us and said, " I was using the 3rd person rule. Jesus, Others, You." Which blew me away even more.

I realized how often I don't practice this simple rule. I like to keep the bigger, better piece for myself. I often times get the 3rd person rule backwards. Y - O - J. I think of myself before others. I am learning so much from my sweet 5 yr old!

I will never look at an Andes mint the same!

With or Without You

Michelle and I spent the weekend in Birmingham, Alabama (yes, that is where they love the gov'ner). Kenny Conley and his team from Gateway Community Church from Austin, TX put on a Children's Ministry Conference called Illuminate #illumin8 that we were able to be a part of. We had such an amazing time meeting people and making new friends who are so passionate about God and kids.

At the morning session Michelle and I were able to just participate in worship, we were not leading or in charge of anything. That is not something we get to do very often. We were able to just enjoy worshiping through music. The music was being lead by worship leader Chuck Hooten, and the message was given by Jim Wideman. As we were there God really impressed on me something that I have always known, but have not thought about in a while. God doesn't need me to do His work for Him. So often I get caught up in set lists, and planning and where we are going and who is playing with us etc. that I forget that He is in control. He doesn't want me doing things for Him, He just wants me.

I really felt God saying "I just want you. I don't want you doing stuff for me, I just want YOU." I have always known this, but it really hit me this week. He will continue His work with or without me, but He wants me to be open to His leading. He wants me to offer Him myself, not my stuff.

Just some of the things bouncing around in my head this week....

Until next time.

Ice Ice Baby

     Hello.  My name is Justin and I am an ice chewer.

     Chewing ice has become an obsession. All I think of day and night, is where can I get my next cup of ice to crunch and chomp.  I like the way it feels...I like the sound of it...I like the tongue numbing cold...I like the release of tension it gives me.  I have my own rating system of where I can get the best ice to chew.  I even have down to a science how long to let the ice sit and how much liquid it needs for optimal chewing depending on where I get the ice.  Chewing ice is my obsession.  It is my only vice. (Well, I guess except for Dr. Pepper, but that's not bad for me, right!?!)
     I have been an ice chewer for most of my life.  I did it off and on when I was growing up, and even stopped for a while, but here in recent years it has taken over my life. I have heard time and time again how bad it is for my teeth, or that I need more Iron in my diet, or that it is just not socially acceptable, but that doesn't stop me.  I spend so much time chewing ice thinking about chewing ice, that Michelle (my wife) has become concerned.  She has asked me over and over to stop, and I try, but I just can't seem to get a hold of it.  I have woken her up by digging in the freezer to get a cup of ice.  I have even taken my cup of ice in the other room so that she wont hear me chomping on it.  It is taking over my life.  As I sit here writing this I am deep into a large cup of wonderful Starbucks ice.
     I am realizing now, that if I spent as much time thinking about how can I worship and serve God today as I do on where my next cup of ice will come from, my day would look very different.  Instead of focusing on myself and my desires, I would be focusing on the people around me and how God could use me.  I would be able to see a bigger picture...one that I am not the center of.  One where God would be guiding my day, not my search for the next cup of icy goodness.  I would also be a lot less cold.
     So, today I am making a vow to officially stop chewing ice.  Yes, I am going off ice cold turkey (or would it be warm turkey?)  I am choosing to spend my days differently.  Instead of obsessing about my next cup of ice and spending time chomping it down, I will choose to use that time focusing on God and how I can be used by Him. I will need His help in making this transition to a non ice chewer, and I know that I can trust in Him to help me make it through this.  It sounds like such a simple thing, but I know for me it will be a big change.
     OK. So here we go!  Last cube...crunch...chomp... BURRRR!

The A-Team

     WOW! What an incredible summer!  We had such an amazing time with so many wonderful people!  We spent a lot of time in Truck Norris, and covered a good portion of Texas and Oklahoma, and all the while stayed healthy and happy!  Michelle had so many hats to wear this summer...mom, merch sales, bass player, back-up singer, road manager, video blog maker and wife, and she ROCKED them all!  I am so honored that she chose me! Gabi was especially wonderful! It is so much fun to see her grow up and discovering God's plan for her life.  She amazes me every day!   Isaac did an killer job on the drums, too! It was such a great team that God put together for this summer camp season!
     We spent the first week and last week of the summer at a place called Camp Egan.  What a wonderful place! Who knew there were such beautiful places in Oklahoma! Josh Pulver and the staff at Camp Egan were so welcoming and friendly, they made us feel right at home!  If you ever get a chance to go to Talequah, Oklahoma, look them up! www.okumcministries.org/Camps  facebook.com/campegan
     The first two weeks of July were spent with the wonderful people of Camp Zephyr. Shaune Martinez and Tyler Grantham were such wonderful hosts and took great care of us!  Durring that time we did 3 pre-teen camps with almost 500 kids each! www.campzephyr.org  www.facebook.com/campzephyr   We have loved going to that camp for many years, and this year did not disappoint!  We were to meet and work with some wonderful people.  Audie Lawley, and Bryon Compton, both from the Corpus Christi area,  were such great leaders and have become such wonderful friends! We hope to work with them again soon!  We also had the privilege to work with Kenny Conley from Gateway Community Church in Austin, Tx.  He was such a great communicator and teacher for the kids. He really made God's Word come to life for them, and even us!  Please check out his blog www.childrensministryonline.com He has some great ideas and wonderful thoughts on kids ministry and church ministry in general.
     It is so amazing to me how God brings so many people together from so many different places and ministries that have not worked together before and does such powerful things!  We can get so wrapped up in planning and preparing that we miss what God has in store for us.  When we get out of the way and seek God's plan and put our own expectations to the side, God moves in ways we never imagined. 
     I can hear God smiling and saying..."I just love it when a plan comes together!"

From the mouth of babes

     It is amazing to me how children can pick up on such deep truths when you don't even realize they are paying attention.  The other day Michelle and I were having a meeting with our pastor, Ken, from Heights Community Church, (where we lead worship on Sunday nights at 5pm at Alamo Heights UMC in San Antonio) about what is coming up in the next few weeks.  We were talking through the Summer, Fathers Day, what day we are going to do baptism, etc.  When Gabi turns to Michelle and says "I want to be baptized."  At first Michelle was thinking 'OK, how cute, I'm sure she doesn't understand, but I will humor her.' So she asked Gabi, "What does baptism mean?" and Gabi replies, "It's when you have decided to be a Christ follower and you want everyone to know about it."  Now, we have never talked about baptism with her or even discussed it really when she is around, so for her to come up with that on her own blew us away!
     As I have been thinking about that, and as we have had more conversation with her about baptism, I have realized how much people, and especially kids, pick up on the unspoken language we all use.  I have often talked about a phrase that St. Francis of Assisi once said, "Tell everyone you can about Christ, and if you have to use words."  As I live my life, are my actions and reactions pointing people to Christ or turning them away? Am I living in such a way that encourages people to want to know God's love?  Are the things that I say building up God's reputation or tearing it down. 
     It is amazing how much we say when we don't use words at all, and how much people pick up on the things we do say when we don't think anyone is listening.  I am challenging myself this week to be more aware of my words and actions. I hope you will join me in this!