Never Alone

This week a student brought in the group BarlowGirl, a girl-group that has become very popular in a short amount of time. They've sold over 100,000 units since Feb. 24th when their album was released. They have a great sound and a great message. Here's the album review from www.grassrootsmusic.com a great web site with all kinds of artists, including many independent bands you never heard of:

The Barlow sisters are out to rock their generation with messages of faith, hope and living in God's perfect image-not MTV's. Becca, Alyssa, and Lauren Barlow are radical girls for God. BarlowGirl...BarlowGirl....sounds a bit familiar already, you think? While the Barlow sisters have spent the last four years honing their rock performances, sisterly harmonies and poignant songwriting, Inpop band Superchic[k] has already introduced them to the world. A few years back, the two bands ran into each other at a festival. Superchic[k] was so impressed with the sisters' stand on purity that they wrote and recorded what has become one of their most popular tunes-"Barlow Girls." With the platform already established for BarlowGirl, the girls are ready to take the world by storm with their passion for music and leaving a mark. Their national debut is produced by Otto Price (DC Talk, Grits) and features the hit single "Harder Than The First Time."

I played the song "Never Alone" for my classes here at GACS this week and talked about the song with them. Here are the lyrics to "Never Alone":

I waited for you today
But you didn't show
No no.
I needed you today
So where did you go?
You told me to call
Said you'd be there
And though I haven't seen you
Are you still there?

Chorus
I cried out with no reply
And I can't feel you by my side
So I'll hold tight to what I know
You're here and I'm never alone

And though I cannot see you
And I can't explain why
Such a deep reassurance
You've placed in my life.
We cannot separate
'Cause you're part of me.
And though you're invisible
I'll trust the unseen.

We discussed the fact that the Holy Spirit is given to us at baptism, see Acts 2:28. What a great blessing it is to have the Spirit of the Living God indwell us. We have a guide at all times and a comfort anytime we need it. Sometimes we may feel down and out but we can be confident that we are never alone in this world. God be praised!

Back on Track

My assistant principal put me back on track today with his chapel remarks. When I heard these words I really got caught.

"We must have our focus on Jesus, and get our focus from Jesus." Those are his actual words, but that's my version of what he told our 6th-8th graders today. He was talking about the ten life lessons he's learned that he would pass on to his children and grandchildren, and us. He said without Jesus we get so sidetracked with living life and we fall off the path so very easily. With a relationship with Jesus we have a direct path and a deep focus.

I feel liked I may be the reason the Lord had Coach Thames say those words this afternoon. That hit me like a freight-train. I feel like I have no personal contact/relationship with Jesus right now. I feel like I'm easily distracted and easily enticed into sin. I want to do good works but my personal relationship is not so personal right now. I don't stay on the narrow path all the time; I swerve to the right and left because I don't have a focus.

Lord, give me the strength and discipline to call on Your name and to dive into Your Word to gain spiritual nourishment. Give me the hunger and thirst for righteousness that I need to have to sustain my life. Forgive me of my past failings and let me be refocused to serve You more fully today. Help me not to worry about tomorrow, but only worry about today.

Lost or Swamped!

It's been almost a month since my last thought, not just blogging thought, actual thoughts also. I've been empty, or is drained a better word? Busy, I hate to use that word, but that explains it all. I don't feel like I get anything done. I'm constantly working on three things at once, and this may well be just growing up. Maybe I've stayed like a college student too long, but that's what a college student must do, three things at once. Maybe I feel that way because I'm taking classes again this fall. I have homework in those classes, which includes, papers, research, projects as a group, case study presentations, case study summaries, readings, and then there's more readings. Wrestling starts soon, so I'll have practice every day but Tuesday because I'm in grad school that night. I need to get my CDL so I can drive a bus but I have no time to study the manual, and I already failed several parts of the test, but my memory is so bad I can't remember which parts I need to study. Soon I'll be gone Friday night and Saturday at a tournament somewhere and then there'll be matches at night to be prepared for and be away from my family. I have a trip to Tennessee that I'm getting our 6th graders ready for, but we still have chaperones who are calling in canceling. So our wonderful secretary is trying to fill all the spots, after I got all the groups together and tried to make everyone happy, now everything is changing. We have a parent night this coming Monday where I have no idea what I'll say. My wife and daughter get the bottom of the barrel at night because I just want to rest, or sometimes I need to work on stuff at home too. Sunday is church, Monday is sometimes spent at home, Tuesday is grad school, Wed is at small group for church, Thursday is Erin's Bible study at church, Friday is sometimes a home football game where I work too, and Saturday is project day. Can I call a time-out?

I'm done, see ya, I hope no one ever reads this, but I'm glad to get it out. Later.

Our Map to Guide us

I gave a talk in Junior High chapel today that shared Psalm 119:105 with the students.

Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path.

What a great picture of God's Holy Word protecting us from falling off the path or even stumbling on the path. I was backpacking in north Georgia one time with my brother and a friend and we had to hike in the dark to make it the whole way. It was incredibly difficult to not stumble over roots and rocks in our path. We wouldn't of made it unbruised if we didn't have a light for us to see the path. God's Word does that for us. It helps us to stay on the narrow path. When we don't spend that time in our Bibles it's like turning our flashlight off. [oh I wish I felt as strongly about this as my words describe.] It's true that many of us have turned off our flashlight, most of us on accident, and we are stumbling through the dark stubbing our toes and hitting our shins on roots and rocks and the brush in front of us.

Lord God, please give us a passion to read your Word. We desire to have You inhabit our dwellings, or hearts, but many days we go by trying to find the Way on our own. Break us of that.

Busy

I am so busy with school/wrestling season planning/graduate class/family/church/whatever that I don't have time to enjoy life. My question to myself, since no one else knows about my blog is do I take too much on myself or do I just need to be more organized and proactive? Time flies by such that I don't have time to sit with my wife and relax at night or watch TV or read my Bible before I fall asleep or when I get up, or say my prayers...although I'm getting better at the last one. My off time I really make off. I don't wanna do anything at all. I wanna veg. Is that so bad?

I have thoughts about ideas and goals I wanna set but I have no time to think about them at school or at home or...there goes the bell, here comes another class to teach, maybe I'll be able to finish later...right.

Oh! How I Love Jesus.

When I was growing up in a small congregation in Zelienople, Pennsylvania I would sing some wonderful songs to my Lord. I sang traditional hymns and "camp" songs. We would sing some great songs that had deep theology. We would sing about the risen savior and his overcoming the grave. We would sing about walking and talking our God. We sang "Jesus loves me" every once in a while with all the adults. We sang about the old rugged cross and laying our trophies down for a crown. Great thoughts and lyrics that were biblically based.

I think about the wonderful songs we sang and it dwindles in comparison to hearing your three-year old sing "Oh! How I love Jesus, Oh! How I love Jesus, Oh! How I love Jesus, because He first loved me." I'm not sure about the correct punctuation in our song books but for my daughter it's all about Oh! She screams it like nothing else. She sings it like she's a gospel singer, not a little three-year old in the back seat of a family sedan on the way to the house after playing at her Grandma and Papa's house.

What joy it must bring our Father in heaven when we teach our children to love the Lord. When we bring them up knowing that there is a God out there that created the heavens and Earth and He loves them. He loves them enough to give up His own son for our sake. He gave His son as a propitiation for our sins. What a wonderful God we serve. And if you don't believe me just ask Macy what she thinks about Jesus, she'll yell it in your ear. Praise God.

More To Life

Going off the Switchfoot song "Meant to Live" I continue with a similar thought about what life is all about. Immediately I think of the handful of movies where someone asks, "What is the meaning of life?" I know if I walked down the street near Georgia State, or even in a classroom at GSU and asked ten people that question, I'd get ten or eleven different answers. I would hope that if I asked ten people at my school that I would get one big answer.

Our meaning of life is so easy to define when we take on the name of Jesus. I said it was easy to define, but it is very difficult to practice. So many people are going after happiness in money and power. We know that real life comes from following Jesus. Stacie you're correct, there is so much more to life:

I've got it all, but I feel so deprived
I go up, I come down and I'm emptier inside
Tell me what is this thing that I feel like I'm missing
And why can't I let it go

There's gotta be more to life...
Than chasing down every temporary high to satisfy me
Cause the more that I'm...
Tripping out thinking there must be more to life
Well it's life, but I'm sure... there's gotta be more
Than wanting more

I've got the time and I'm wasting it slowly
Here in this moment I'm half way out the door
Onto the next thing, I'm searching for something that's missing

I'm wanting more
I'm always waiting on something other than this
Why am I feelin' like there's something I missed.....

EEM

This coming Sunday is EEM's, that stands for Eastern European Mission, "The $1,000,000 Sunday." They are raising money to put the Bible into the hands of Russians that are begging for it in their schools. In their July newsletter they have a great article, which can be read online, describing why the Russian public schools are asking for the Bible. They are having the hardest time with "criminality"-drug and alcohol abuse, gang violence, disrespect, sexual promiscuity, prostitution, etc. The teachers and many parents are "terrified" of what their country and society will be like for their children, and future generations.

Several years ago, my wife made a trip to Novosibirsk, Russia with our church. We attended a dinner given by EEM before the trip and got to hear Dr. Vladimir Skovorodnikov, formerly the minister of education for the Altai region (roughly the size of Texas), tell us about the Russian schools and their desire to have Bibles to help them teach about morality and the difference between right and wrong. What an inspiring man and what a mission he is on. Please go to their web site if you are interested at all in helping support this wonderful mission. Don't worry about getting money in by this coming Sunday, they'll take your support any time you have it to give.

Go to www.eem.org to find out more, or www.milliondollarsunday.org

David Crowder Band and Passion

Turn your ear to Heaven and hear the noise inside
The sound of angels awe, the sound of angels songs
And all this for a King, we could join and sing
"All to Christ the King!"
How constant How divine, this song of ours will rise
Oh, how constant, how divine
This love of ours will rise, will rise...
CHORUS:O praise Him! O praise Him!He is Holy!He is Holy, yeah!
Turn your gaze to Heaven and raise a joyous noise
Oh, the sound of salvation come, the sound of rescued ones
How infinite and sweet, this love so rescuing
Oh how infinitely sweet, this great love that has redeemed
As one, we sing... "Hallelujah! Hallelujah! He is Ho-ly! He is Ho-ly!"

Now, tell me, if you've heard that song either on their album Illuminate or on the Passion Sacred Revolution album that this is what we can look forward to in Heaven. I've had the fortune to see the music video/live performance of this song and it gives me the goosebumps. I just imagine myself before the throne of the Almighty giving him all praise and glory and honor and strength and wisdom and power for ever and ever. This is my picture of Heaven. I know the band in Heaven is gonna rock but this is the only thing I can think of when I think of worshiping God in Heaven. Check it out if you haven't heard it. Go buy their album. Go buy the Passion album, if you don't love either one I'll give you your money back. You have my word on it.

Go to either www.davidcrowderband.com or www.worship.com to find out more about these events and this wonderful band.

Glory

Ever feel like you are taking some else's glory? I did it this Sunday. At the end of services I got to hold my newest nephew for a while. Oh boy did I enjoy that. It's been a while since my little girl was less than 3 months old, so I took every moment in with my nephew. While I was holding the little guy our Korean congregation came into the main auditorium for a baptism. They sang some songs in Korean and then they all witnessed a new birth of a fellow believer. As they came down the aisle they passed me by and made numerous comments on my nephew. I didn't dare tell them that he didn't belong to me. I just said "thank you" to each kind soul. I didn't think I should make a comment stating that he was actually my brother's baby. I just took all the glory for myself. I had a great big smile on as they all walked by.

That reminds me of how I take God's glory sometimes. He deserves it but I step in and say "thank you." Even though it doesn't come from me, I pose as if it did. The money I earn teaching and I give back to the church for it's work. Not really mine. But I say "you're welcome." I just smile and say "thank you" when a mom or dad comes to me and tells me what a great time their son or daughter has in class or on the wrestling team. He's given me the talents to teach and coach. When I give my time for a ministry at church, He deserves 24 hours, and I give one.

Lord, give me the desire to serve you with all of my heart, my soul, my mind, and my strength. And help me to give You the glory for what You do in my life. Help me not take it for myself.

Revelation 1:5b-6 "To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father-to him be glory and power for ever and ever!"

Meant to Live

"We were meant to live for so much more."
That's a lyric from the phenomenon known as Switchfoot. The band started out in San Diego and continues to make that city its home. I heard about Switchfoot about 5 years ago when I went to see Third Day in concert near my home here in Atlanta. Third Day was, and still is, a great concert band. But Switchfoot really impressed me. Their first three albums had marginal success. Then they signed to Columbia Records and "BOOM!” one of my favorite John Madden phrases, they took off like a rocket. Every time I put it in my player it "feels like the first time." They are now, according to a Rolling Stone interview, a band that is made up of Christian musicians instead of a Christian band. That distinction has helped them in the secular markets enormously. That distinction has helped other bands lately also.

So what do I want to say about the song?
1. Do you believe the phrase?
2. Do you live the phrase?

I believe it, but I know if don't live it like I should. I get caught up with the everyday things in life. I buy into the "more is better" is better philosophy. The rich and famous make me jealous. The cars, the houses, the lifestyle appeal to me. I should rephrase that. They appeal to my sinful nature. But I am a new creation in Christ, the old has gone, the new has come. The hope is that we realize what we were meant for. We see the purpose in our lives. We see the Lord's will winning over our own.

If you haven't heard this song you've probably been in the backwoods on a 2 year retreat from civilization, or you're my dad and you can't stand rock 'n roll. Find yourself a copy of it and BUY IT!

First Day of School

Here it is again, whether I'm ready or not, here they come. I really get tired of the summer, most years, but this summer was so busy that I was not ready to come back today. We've traveled so much that I didn't get restless and annoy my wife enough to have her ready to get rid of me during the day. Most years she is ready to kick me out. She's happier than the parents of my students when school starts. Listen to me, I'm talking as if I've taught for decades. Well this is my sixth year, and I feel like a veteran. The start of the school year still makes me anxious and nervous though. I didn't sleep well last night and I dreamt all night, both are unusual for me.

God is paving the way for a great school year. He has placed students in my class that don't know the Him and I have a responsibility, no a priveledge, to show them Jesus. Lord give me strength when I'm weary and give me words when I'm speechless. Give me a heart for all my students everyday, not just the first day. Shine through me, the light of your Son. Thanks for blessing my life with the joy of teaching these young people.

PK

Fellas, this year was as good as any to be at Promise Keepers. What a wonderful ministry to bring more men into a relationship with Jesus. Friday night 1400 men came forward dedicating their lives to the Lord. I only wish that they continue this week to find a local community of believers that can disciple them and follow the rest of the commands given in the New Testament. That they confess the name of Jesus and follow His example in baptism. That they join a local congregation and find their God-given talents to bring more people into His kingdom.

Joe White was my favorite again. He spoke last year and I didn't think he could top it. He came close this year. He spoke of the Great Physician, the Divine Surgeon, that has given us a new heart. He has given us a new life. Joe gave biblical examples of men that were given new chances, new hearts; Moses, Abraham, David, Zacchaeus, Peter, Paul, Thomas and the thief on the cross. All of these men were given a new heart by God, evident in scripture. Joe showed clips from Brian's Song, Antoine Fisher, The Passion, and music video by Jimmy Wayne entitled "I Love You This Much." We need to let go of sin because Jesus has already won. He's gained victory over sin and death. Praise God. Thank you Lord for bringing Joe to PK in Atlanta to speak to us.

Chris Tomlin was another highlight for me. He led us in song Friday night. What a wonderful and gifted singer/songwriter. He's one of the best out there, in my book. He sang several off his new album that's due out in stores this fall. Check him out if you haven't already. He's part of the Passion movement that has been going on for the past five years. One of my favorite songs, one that I could listen to over and over for hours, is his "Holy is the Lord" which is found on Passion: Sacred Revolution.

Lord, I ask that You make me the man I was intended to be. The man You created me to be. The man who seeks Your will and Your purpose for my life. The dad that protects his children with love and a covering of prayer. The man who loves his wife the way she needs to be loved. Lord give me the guidance through Your scriptures. Fill me up with You.

Perspective

I spent the day with my daughter, Macy, the other day and boy did I learn a lesson. I made plans with my wife to take her out for the day while my wife went shopping and enjoyed some leasure time without her two kids, Macy and I. Being a one cell phone family, we have to flip a coin for the privilege to use it. I lost that day, as I do most times. That is why, in my free time, I'm trying to figure out what cell phone company is offering the best deals for a family plan.

I decided to take Macy to the park and have a picnic lunch. Before I could do that, I had to run by the bank for a deposit. Being an all American dad I didn't bother making a picnic lunch, I knew Burger King would offer us some great choices for our picnic. We took our lunch went to Lilburn Park, which is looking fabulous after all the work they've done in the past year. After lunch we went over to the playground and played for and hour or so. We then went to the public library and spent another hour playing the games on the kids computers, looking for books to check-out and finding some kids videos for the 'Macer.' We then went to Walmart to pick up some odds and ends. After we finished up at Walmart we headed by the house to see if Erin wanted to join us for the pool. She wasn't home so instead of calling, like a responsible adult, I just threw the Diet Coke's in the garage and headed to the pool. We spent almost two hours at the pool and then decided around 5:30 that we better head home soon. When we got home I thought I was going to lose my scalp. I hadn't called or left a note or anything and Erin was about to send the search party out to find our dead, rotting bodies. So now when I say I'm taking Macy for the day, I better not take all day.

How could the same events cause such opposite feelings (emotions)? Joy for Macy and I while Erin had despair. Is it not the same for many other events around us? 9/11 caused dread and fear among Americans while it caused a quite different reaction in other parts of the world. The last Presidential election between President Bush and that other guy. The gay marriages that were happening in San Francisco. The music sharing Internet invention of Napster, and then the lawsuits that followed. A savior dying on a tree in Isreal two thousand years ago. Which side are you on?

Matthew 10:32-35
"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn" 'a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law--"

True Love & Moving Day

As I lay my head down to sleep tonight I realize what Jesus said about his followers..."they will know you are Christians by your LOVE." Of course that is the song version I was taught growing up in the church. The apostle John's version says, "by this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." The morning started with Dad and I bringing a bunch of boxes and other miscellaneous items outside in the turnaround at the end of our drive waiting for some more men to show up to help load the furniture on the moving truck first. We had no way of  loading an oak wardrobe, a workbench, or a lay-z-boy couch on the truck. We worked for about 6 hours bringing smaller items that we could carry out the drive before our brothers showed up. Ken, Len, Jonathan and Steve (my favorite brother-in-law) showed up just in time to help move all the furniture on the truck and then help with the jigsaw puzzle we had to put together to fill up the truck with all of my parents items they were bringing to Georgia. These men had worked hard days at their jobs and then came to the aide of my father and mother. That's true love. Where would we be without our community of believers? More tired and sore and NOT DONE PACKING!

What an awesome God we serve and what a wonderful institution we call the church, the body of Christ. Thanks guys for your help.

Patience

This morning my wonderful, fabulous wife was trying to give me an address as I wrote it on an envelope to send in the mail. I was getting so impatient because she was reading slower than I wished her to.  I didn't realize how impatient I was until I sat in the Atlanta airport for 3 hours waiting for my plane to take me to Pittsburgh to help my folks move to Atlanta. It was then that I needed extra patience. Patience is such a wonderful fruit of the Spirit. I sometimes forget what a great virtue it is to have. As the plane was heading back to the terminal to unload us to wait for another plane to come in to take us to Pittsburgh I connected the events of the morning with the predicament that I was in. I did not have those feelings I sometimes have when my patience is running thin. It was as if...maybe that's a poor way to say it. It was God knowing I would need to have patience for my long day of travel ahead of me. I felt as if I needed to call my wife right away and apologize for being so impatient with her, not that she could tell I was acting impatiently with her, but I knew I had. After almost five years of marriage, I'm sure she knew. I can't hide my feelings much anymore, she sees right through me. God truly knew what I'd be facing today and gave me an extra measure of patience. Thank you for the safe travel and the chance to help my parents in this way.

God is good, all the time! All the time, God is good!

Whisper To Me

That's a title to a Warren Barfield song that hit me last night as I was listening to some new albums. It was past midnight by several hours and I had already tried once to lay down and fall asleep around 1 AM to no avail. This song was the perfect lullaby to help me fall asleep, too bad my three year-old had other plans about her sleep schedule and mine. Here's the chorus of the song.
 
Hold me safely in Your arms
And clear my crowded mind
And whisper words of peace
In the dark
Whisper to me
Oh, Whisper
 
If you haven't picked up his album, do it. He has such a fresh voice and a longing spirit. I got to see him perform "Oh Lord, You're Beautiful", a Keith Green classic, several weeks ago here in Atlanta at the Fox Theatre with several other Christian artists. What a wonderful song, it made me go out and find Warren's album, even though it wasn't even on his album.

My First Blog

Well folks this is all new to me. I got this idea from my friend and chaplain Jon Owen here at GACS. I don't have any 'deep thoughts' per see at the present time but I wanted to explain my title of this blog, "God Chasers." I'm a huge fan of Christian music and one of my favorites going back to the Spring of 1998 is Andrew Peterson. My absolute favorite song he's written is called 'The Chasing Song.'
 
"So, I wish that I could say that at the
close of every day
I was happy with the way that I'm behaving
'Cause Samson chased a woman
And he chased the Philistines
I'm not quite sure what Jonah chased
But I know he caught the sea
And Cain, he chased the harvest
While Abel chased the beasts
David, he chased God's own heart
All I ever seem to chase is me.
 
God knows the only time I'm winning
Is when I'm chasing him."
 
Praise be to God for his infinite wisdom and his immeasurable grace.
 
Jeff Harsh