Saturday, October 18, 2008

Lyrics...Day #4

Hurt by
Johnny Cash

I hurt myself today
to see if I still feel
I focus on the pain
the only thing that's real
the needle tears a hole
the old familiar sting
try to kill it all away
but I remember everything
what have I become?
my sweetest friend
everyone I know
goes away in the end
and you could have it all
my empire of dirt

I will let you down
I will make you hurt

I wear this crown of thorns
upon my liar's chair
full of broken thoughts
I cannot repair
beneath the stains of time
the feelings disappear
you are someone else
I am still right here

what have I become?
my sweetest friend
everyone I know
goes away in the end
and you could have it all
my empire of dirt

I will let you down
I will make you hurt

if I could start again
a million miles away
I would keep myself
I would find a way 

Friday, October 17, 2008

Lyrics...Day #3

My Brightness by

Charlie Hall


well i've been hit from every corner

and I've been thrown from side to side

and them cracks up on the inside

so I come to you for life

you're presence always heals me

so I want to drink it in

You know where we're going god

and you know where I've been

 

            

And you're love is like a rock    

When I'm spinning      

You're love is like a rock       

When I'm spinning     

and you're love is like a rock     

When I'm spinning around

 

yesterday I felt so angry

and today so insecure

and I hate it that I wrestle

with the god that I adore

 

You're presence always heals me

so I want to drink it in

You know where we're going god

and you know where I've been

 

well i've been hit from every corner       

and I've been thrown from side to side

and them cracks up on the inside

so I come to you for life

you're presence always heals me

so I want to drink it in

You know where we're going god

and you know where I've been

 

 

And you're love is like a rock        

When I'm spinning    

You're love is like a rock         

When I'm spinning         

and you're love is like a rock         

When I'm spinning around

 

 

yesterday I felt so angry

and today so insecure

and I hate it that I wrestle

with the god that I adore

You're presence always heals me

so I want to drink it in

You know where we're going god

and you know where I've been

 

 

 

And I know less about you

But my heart loves you so much more           

You're the bright inside this

You're my brightness

I wish this thing can pass from me

but I'm wanting what you want

so bring me high or bring me low

just hold me in your love

 

 

And you're love is like a rock      

When I'm spinning     

You're love is like a rock      

When I'm spinning        

and you're love is like a rock        

When I'm spinning around

 

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Lyrics...Day #2

God of Justice
by Tim Hughes

God of Justice, Saviour to all
Came to rescue the weak and the poor
Chose to serve and not be served

Jesus, You have called us
Freely we've received
Now freely we will give

We must go live to feed the hungry
Stand beside the broken
We must go
Stepping forward keep us from just singing
Move us into action
We must go


To act justly everyday
Loving mercy in everyway
Walking humbly before You God

You have shown us, what You require
Freely we've received
Now freely we will give


Fill us up and send us out
Fill us up and send us out
Fill us up and send us out Lord

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Lyrics...

Tears of the Saints
by Leeland

There are many prodigal sons 
On our city streets they run 
Searching for shelter 
There are homes broken down 
People’s hopes have fallen to the ground 
From failures 

This is an emergency! 

There are tears from the saints 
For the lost and unsaved 
We’re crying for them come back home 
We’re crying for them come back home 
And all your children will stretch out their hands 
And pick up the crippled man 
Father, we will lead them home 
Father, we will lead them home 

There are schools full of hatred 
Even churches have forsaken 
Love and mercy 
May we see this generation 
In its state of desperation 
For Your glory 

This is an emergency! 

There are tears from the saints 
For the lost and unsaved 
We’re crying for them come back home 
We’re crying for them come back home 
And all your children will stretch out their hands 
And pick up the crippled man 
Father, we will lead them home 
Father, we will lead them home 

Sinner, reach out your hands! 
Children, in Christ you stand! 
Sinner, reach out your hands! 
Children, in Christ you stand! 

There are tears from the saints 
For the lost and unsaved 
We’re crying for them come back home 
We’re crying for them come back home 
And all Your children will stretch out their hands 
And pick up the crippled man 
Father, we will lead them home 
Father, we will lead them home

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Life...

     tends to pass us by..especially when we think we are living it (for ourselves). I only say this because I have walked this road and still walk/struggle from time to time in that mindset..or lifestyle shall we say. We get our purpose out of whack. We may think I got to live life to the fullest...but is our perception of what "fullest" looks like really full or just a faux-reality? I guess I write this because of what I read in 1 Peter 1 this morning:
The old life is a grass life, 
      its beauty as short-lived as wildflowers; 
   Grass dries up, flowers droop, 
      God's Word goes on and on forever.
This is the Word that conceived the new life in you.

Please pay attention to the last sentence. The Word conceived the new life in you. Im not sure about others, but sometimes the old life looks great. I get a since of control and I can plot my on comfortability in my life (or so I think). The reality of it, all of that hype will fade like grass. Money, prestige, glamour, the american dream, our own world, your control...gone...withered...useless. My life, our life, is defined by the God's Word and the purpose and life It gives. It keeps us from withering, or chasing after withering things. I guess for me..i don't want to hand God the bouquet of my life and it be all withered up and dead because of the useless life I sought after instead of Him.  

~~~To a life worth living!~~~~

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Clutter...

I have...

missed out on the simple things in life. I came to this realization one morning when the sunrise, with its red and golden train, poured into my room. It was 6:00 am, but the colors were so beautiful I just had to pop up and see it. I made some coffee, starbucks verona, and headed outside to see the show. After the morning carried on, I began to think how I have missed out on so many little things that are huge. I guess what I am really trying to say is that I forgot how simple things and being able to enjoy them are worth far more than "stuff" or ___________(fill in the blank the trinkets of your choice). Somewhere along the way, I felt like I had to "add to" the moments, situation, and encounters. If I was going to go eat with some people, then it had to be the greatest food. If I was going to watch a movie, then it had to be at the best theater. If I was going to "hang" with people, then it had to be the people that I clicked with the best. Don't get me wrong, those things, in there proper place, are not bad. I just made them bad, because I am sinful. I put them in a different priority. 
     The other day while I was on facebook, I noticed some pictures from a friend and caught myself envying. I envied there ability to take the simple things (such as a sunset, a cup of coffee, a few friends, etc) and enjoy the heck out of it (that is my theological phrase for today). They looked so happy, so full of joy in the moment. Then I remember how I was once that way. I now am pursuing to get back to the basics in my life. I want to enjoy those things. Again, things or material possessions are not a bad thing, as long as they are in the proper place. For me, it became the clutter in my life that kept the beautiful sunset from being enjoyed. They robbed me of the time to sit and chill and ultimately go "wow...this is awesome!"
     So I now love the simple things and re-prioritize the other stuff. Laughs at a buck theater, quoting movies at a friends house, conversations over a cup of java, and random adventures are more valuable to me now because I am learning to drain every last drop of enjoyment out of them. My daily life is back on track. ~Cham 

Ps. Shout out to the book of James for straightening me out. 

Thursday, October 2, 2008

So...Seattle...I go...


So, I am...

off to Seattle. Well.., not yet. Some of you who read my blogs kind of saw it coming after seeing some of my post while I was in Seattle. The answer is a definite YES! I met with the leadership of my church and shared with them what God is doing in my life, so now I think I can share with my friends, family, and colleagues the news.
     This decision is an awesome but scary time for me. Let me break it down a little.

Awesome: It is overwhelmingly incredible that God is calling to Arlington, Wa to serve on leadership at the Commons with my friend Tim. People joked with me that when I was going out there, that I will fall in love with the place and will not come back or that I will move out there. I responded with a "yeah..you're probably right", but in my heart I was like.."God...I want what you want". It was 2 days before I had to return back to B'ham. I remember waking up and just saying..."This is my home". That is all I could hear in my heart. It was like God sat beside me in a chair and was whispering.."This is your home". I talked to Tim about it. Two days later, I stepped on the plane to leave for B'ham. I remember sitting down and having this feeling of "why am I leaving my home?" I started getting homesick over a place and people that I have only been acquainted with for 2 weeks. So to fast forward, I took the next month to really pray and make sure that this is God and not Cham. God kept confirming that it was Him. I know it is not me because it freaks me out. Yeah, the place is awesome, but this is the biggest faith step of my life (i will explain in a minute). So, I definitely know this is not Cham, because I use to only take risk if they were favorably. The thing is...everyday my heart grows more and more with the love of God for the people in Arlington. In all my years as a Christian, I have never been so passionate for a group of people like I am with these people. It's God's vision, and not mine. I think if I hadn't of responded to God this summer in the way that I did, then I would have missed out on the greatest calling in my life.

Freaked out: I try to be honest on here, so here is this side of the equation. Yes, this freaks me out. Not the moving and new people, the process. As mentioned earlier, this is the biggest faith step of my life. I remember telling God back in June that I would go and do whatever He wanted no matter how crazy and no matter how scary. Well, there ya go. He has pulled me way out of my element and comfortability (which i am thankful). See, the Commons is a beginning church plant. So, I would not draw a pay check from them. This means that I have to raise support to GO and DO. Never did this before, ever. Things have always fell in my lap and for the first time God is saying...don't trust in your understanding...trust Me and My provision. This is a scary thing for a guy who always has a plan a, b, c, d, and e. So, I know with out a shadow of a doubt that God will provide everything I need. I am pumped!!!! My heart for the people in Arlington is way louder than a few worries. So...I am really not freaked out.

     All in all, God has taking a pit and turned it into purpose. If He hadn't changed my life this summer, then I would be missing out on the biggest calling of my life. I think He has huge things for The Commons and I am honored to just be a part of it. 
     I tell you (the readers) all this to say please be praying for me. I feel that God has set a moving date....somewhere around the first of Jan. I have to raise support, and I have a lot to do between now and when I leave. I will be doing another blog and eventually a website that will give all the info on how to support, my calling, and etc. I will still maintain this site because it is my personal journey with God . So...it is official...I am Seattle bound....and I am so passionate about it that IT IS SEATTLE OR BUST...there is not option b.  Much luv ~cham