1. it was written by two cool guys that work on my student music team at POA
2. the lyrics seem so applicable to not only youth/students but to those who have “been there and done that.”  it “calls out” some things in life that we have issues with;  such as feeling like I’m wrong a lot, I get a few steps ahead then take some backwards
3. faith building…feels like a lot of things go wrong, BUT get up, head up, keep moving forward (reference yourself to the song “Moving Forward” by Free Chapel…it will change you).  
4. current musically, good hook
5. you can drive down the road and scream this one real loud (by yourself, of course)

check out Psalm 121:1-8

We’ve all heard it said, but it is true…  I Timothy 3:16 (NIV)  ¹⁶Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great:  He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.”

There are some days when I try to explore new things in God and my brain starts to hurt…bc He is so far from anything I can even put my mind around.  In verse 2, I talk about adding a small piece of the puzzle to the grand scheme of what we do know about Him, but then decide that there still isn’t enuff time in a day to say it…

why don’t you (and I) try to seek Him in different ways today to learn more about Him.  Watch for ways to see Him than our normal routine.  For example, like the frost on rooftops every morning, recognize that is a creation of His breath and that means he is close…His very breath touches us.  Think about the paradoxes that we see represented in the Bible and how wondrous they are.  (thank you Pastor A)

Lets be wonder-ized today…

odd info:  written in Austin, TX with Jacob Lowery (before his recent move) in his church studio.  (sometime in June 2008)

If you just read they lyrics to this song, it says everything that I want to say here.  As I do for any song that I write, this song came straight from the very heart of how I really feel.  It is so easy to just get locked into the routine of “church.”  Act one way there, act another way away from church.  Live one message to my family, live another to those that I lead.  Come to church, do the same thing we did last time, leave and go eat.  We’ve all seen it happen.  And I want to see this generation move toward a purity in our Christian faith that is only going to come if someone starts a revolution.  Lets break the mold, lets get out of the box!  Not from a rebellious or disrespectful point of view, but a real desire for change for all ages, all nations, and all levels of society.

Take a look at some definitions of “Revolution” according to Webster:  1] a sudden, radical, or complete change  2] a fundamental change in the way of thinking about or visualizing something : a change of paradigm

I can’t speak for you, but for me personally, it is time for me to rethink the way I have done things.  That is a broad statement and I’m not talking about my core values or Biblical truths… I am talking about the things I’ve just robotically always done.  I can’t do or be that any more.  Everything I am and have tried to be for so long has got to flourish to benefit the Kingdom and to help get the salvation plan of Jesus Christ around my sphere of influence.

Let’s challenge each other…worship is not just those 20-30 minutes in a service where we sing our songs…it is so much more.  So think about “what worship is.”  When was the last time you had a private, personal worship experience with just you and God?  Even without music…sometimes that is a crutch we hide behind.  When was the last time you walked into a worship service and didn’t do what you have always done? 

Misc info:   wrote this song sitting in my office staring at the bright red chair in front of my desk.  It was kind of a spontaneous thing when it happened.

This song started off as a remix of one from my previous album.  The band took off with the cool music idea and then I worked on making the lyrics work.  But I had an issue…the lyric of the song I was trying to remix conflicted with the musical intensity.  So I decided to start from scratch on the lyrics. 

I wanted a song that had the bite lyrically that the music had.  And what lyric has that any better than “get up and move on” and don’t sit there in your “pity party?”  so I started working it out…took you thru the routine of my morning and the things I have to get over in my head before I even start.  Yes…I have to do that [at least if I am going to be productive I do].

Sometimes I think that I’m the only one that has issues and problems.  Do you?  Well, news flash!  I’m not…we are all in the same boat.  Seems like I wont ever get to the end of the problem or ever.  But for me, there are days when I literally have to shut everything else out and realize things are hard, but I have to suck it up, get up and onward.

So be encouraged when you are going thru your desert and your bad time.  We’re in this together and if we can get our eye up and on the focal point (J.C.), then we will find the direction.  Sometimes you may not be able to see him but can feel him.  Other times, neither, but just move ahead.  Not back.

For your devotion today, read Job 23.  Encouraging to read about someone who went thru more than I am facing today and his perception of the situation. 

A friend named James gave me this song to hear about 3 years ago.  He is incredible on writing with an urban influence and I love it, so I decided to record it.  J  this tune is one that you can lean back, bob your head and drive down the road (while looking cool the whole time).

This is your traditional message of God’s faithfulness and love but with a current sound.  I don’t want to forget the everyday things that God does for me.  i.e. grace, mercy, unfailing love, working out my probs, always being there, etc…

We live in such an ungrateful and unthankful world that I felt it wouldn’t hurt anyone listening to this song to reflect on the consistent things that keep us moving forward.  We don’t “need” a whole lot these days bc everyone usually finds a way to get what they want within reason, materialistically speaking, that is.  So with all the “stuff” that we get, lets not for get the things that really matter.  Just to think that God is there…for me!

Just make sure that when you sing this song, on the ending I have a very clear directive…you have to raise a hand and work it out!!!  “Ooo-ooo   Ooo-oooo (high note)”…gotta get your hands up!!!  Don’t just listen!  Participate!

Psalm 36: 5-6  [check it out]

What happens to the atmosphere when the crowd starts to go crazy at a sports event?  The entire atmosphere changes!!!  I actually have experienced not being able to hear myself scream bc of the roar of the crowd at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge.  Unreal!  By the end of this song, this tune gives you the freedom to shout out as loud as you feel.

Many times in the Bible God would use a shout or praise to set up a victory.  Sometimes the victory seemed impossible and then the command would come to shout.  In our case, or at least for this song, maybe you are NOT free yet.  Maybe you still battle with the same things you’ve always fought with.  And I ask you this…have you tried to give praise your to set up the victory yet?  I’m guilty a lot of times in waiting until I see that things are going to be ok, then I praise.   Sometimes we need to first remember that He is the Savior, then share what God has done.

Others have already experienced triumph in your lives and need to share that with someone.  I have friends who have been addicted to drugs, emotionally messed up, disowned by everyone, had abortions and even lived promiscuous lifestyles.  But thank God for grace, mercy and the sea of forgetfulness!  What a story to share.  Tell someone…

Rev 12:11

If you are a song writer, or write poetry or have even sang spiritual songs (which are spontaneous moments in your private worship, and you DON’T have to be a worship leader to do this J) where you free flow with what you’re feeling, you have probably felt like I have many, many times.  The feeling of wanting to say it where the words are really creative, different and will be revelatory to everyone who hears it, or reads it, can be a bit stressful.  That was the case with these lyrics.

I wanted to write a song that said “I love You”  and was praying.  And in prayer I wanted to say what I wanted this song to say.  Long story short, I became very frustrated with myself bc I wanted to say it better than just “I love You” and couldn’t get out much more.  So when we actually started to put the ink to the pad, we came to the chorus and I said, “is there anything wrong with just leaving it plain and simple?  Just say ‘I love You’?”   As you see through the song, v3 is where I describe how I’m trying to get it out, but when it all boils down to it, as simple as it is, the message is one of the most powerful…I love You.

Try it today…just tell Him you love Him.  More than once today…just randomly with no strings attached.

Psalm 18: 1-3 (The Message translation)
Psalm 101: 1
Psalm 116: 1-3

Why is it that we wait for people to ask us about God or we wait for others to bring up the subject of God?  Why is it that people may or may not be able to just “see” that I am redeemed and have been called to be salt and light to the world?   Why is it that anyone would ever have to ask if I am a Christian or saved?  I hope this is not the case.  Shouldn’t they be able to see something different about me?  I think this is one of the great sins of the church of today… not enuff disciples and true Christians in this world.

I wrote this song with Jacob in my office during the recording of our band trax.  We ran in and I said I wanted to write something that talked about being able to be who we are in Christ and not even have to say that we are His…and for others to be able to know by just seeing or being around me that I am saved and have Jesus actively involved in my life.  So the lyrics started rolling and resulted in this message.  Check them out.

Just a few questions for you that our church has asked ourselves lately:
What if we became a touchable Christ to our neighbors?  Maybe we could learn how to truly love our fellow man.  Matthew 25:40

What if we really believed that we are all sons of God?  Galations 3:26-27  the equality in which we treat each other would be astounding.

Colossians 3:12-17   Many may see Jesus (or not) active in our lives based on our response to situations, life events, etc… What is my response and how do others interpret that response on a spiritual or emotional level?

We’re all on a journey, right?  And none of us have this thing figured out, right?  Especially worship…I hope I never think that I have a handle on it.  Bc then what would I have to look forward to if worship is revelation based?  That means I would have discovered all there is to know about God…which we all know isn’t possible.  So, that means we’re all on a road leading us somewhere spiritually.  Hopefully to revelation.

A friend sent me this song idea and I decided to put it on the album.  Many of they lyrics really speak to me personally.  But one line that I just love is in v2… “release dead weight for elevation.”  I reflect on the scripture in Hebrews 12:1-3 (from the Message translation) “Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!”

What inspiration…keep the faith, and see the road that God has for you.

I lose myself in this song…the lyric puts me in front of the face of Jesus.  The melody came to me in a spontaneous worship moment at the end of a RUSH HOUR (our weekly student service on Wednesday nights, www.thepentecostals.org). 

In 2002, our church experienced an incredible move of the Spirit in our services.  It got to the point that we began to add extra worship services born out of a hunger from the congregation.  In that season of revival, our Pastor shared a story about a man that came to him and said God had given him a word.  The man was living in our homeless shelter at the time…our pastor admitted that he decided he wasn’t going let the “word from God” account for much based on stereotyping.  However, he was quickly convicted and began to make “this word” the message to our church for a while and asked forgiveness for stereotyping him.  The message from God was this:  “As my child, you ask Me to show you more of My power.  My power is represented in My word as my right hand.  Why don’t you seek more of My glory?  My glory surrounds My face…if you seek that, then we can be face to face, and intimacy happens face to face.”

wow!  It brought new meaning, depth and revelation to having a relationship with my Father.  From that point, our church has been on a deep journey to really know God.  And I have wanted to write a song about the glory that surrounds Him since that time.  So here is my first attempt.

Bottom line…if you get to where you can see His glory, you have to change and worship is the only response when you see Him.  I want to be able to continue to see God’s glory consume us, our churches, communities and ultimately, as the scripture says, the earth.

Exodus 40:34, Habakkuk 2:14