Busyness vs. Holyness

For the past two weeks I have been swept into a whirlwind of busyness! We're in the middle of an enormous pitch for a new global account-- which is very exciting-- but we've been working 12 hour days for two weeks now. I almost felt myself spinning into a panic attack at the beginning of this week and I just knew I couldn't let myself do that. But I didn't feel like I could stop it.

And I was right... I couldn't stop it, but God could, and did.

I've since been spending some time each morning and evening (late!) in devotion-- something I had not been doing earlier. God's word is so powerful-- IF we will be in it and allow it to transform us.

I can't say I'm calm as a cucumber, but I do feel that with God's grace and peace I have found balance. I know that I can find peace in any moment-- even the zaniest of them-- by acknowledging God's presence and the Spirit's in-dwelling.

Thank you Father for that peace that surpasses all understanding. You are so faithful with your promises. Amen.

Amazing Worship

A new friend from work who overheard me singing a Christian song while making coffee the other day, later came into my office and asked if I would be interested in going to church with him some Sunday night. I was really glad to know there was another Christian in my office and to have something to do to fill my Sunday nights-- so I said "Yes!"

And am I ever glad I did...

So, last night I met him and his wife for church. It's a new church that's being planted in the downtown area of Austin called Austin Stone. The church currently meets in the gym of Austin High School and the average age of the church is probably somewhere between 25 and 30. As I parked my car, I wasn't really sure what to expect... in a way I felt like I was attending a Youth Rally or something-- everyone was young and most were wearing shorts and flip-flops.

Once inside I realized there were also lots of young families with young children-- they even had a nursery!

Everyone was so friendly and excited to be at church-- there was a very strong since of community and anticipation. It was a new feeling I'm not sure I've felt at church before-- except maybe at the Zoe Conferences. There was a large video screen with running video-- mostly abstract designs moving and morphing to the beat of the music which was playing loudly-- but not too loud-- over a huge sound system. The environment was energized. I felt very welcomed even though it was an unfamiliar surrounding.

Then, the worship team (band) took the stage and starting leading the church in praise. The worship leader looked familiar... who is that guy and why does he look familiar?

My friend leans over and says: "do you know Chris Tomlin?"

"Yeah..." I say as if to imply-- "who doesn't know Chris Tomlin?"

"This is his home church-- he's the praise minister here," my friend informed me.

Oh my... that's why he looked familiar! WOW!

And what an amazing worship time it was--- and not because we were at Chris Tomlin's church. But because the young people around me were there to praise God. They were intense in their worship... no one was talking or passing notes... no one was thinking about the pot roast in the oven... and no one appeared to be judging others by their appearances or their approach to worship. They were all just lost in wonder and awe-- declaring their Maker's Praise... It was truly AMAZING WORSHIP!

Thank you God for your amazing love for us. Thank you for the avenue of expressing our love back to you through heart felt worship. Thank you for setting my heart free last night. Amen.

God's Wisdom

"It is not good for man to be alone..."

God was right, and still is... It's not good for man to be alone-- especially this man. I miss my wife and kids terribly. It's an emptiness that is impossible to fill-- I know, because for the past two weeks I've tried to fill it with anything and everything possible.

TV is no fun alone-- even though I have total control of the remote, and I don't have to worry about censoring for the family. I'd rather watch re-runs of the Cosby Show all day and night WITH my family, than watch HBO alone. Even my beloved "Trading Spaces" isn't the same when there's no one there to discuss the pros and cons of the design concepts with. For me, TV is meant to be shared. Perhaps when our family is reunited, I'll be a little less possessive of the remote. Perhaps.

Driving around and looking at houses and neighborhoods is total Dullsville without my family. You see a great house, and there's no one to show it to-- where's the fun in that?

Even Star-bucks has no appeal when the Venti Americano is sipped in silence surrounded by strangers-- all laughing and enjoying each other's company. I never thought I'd be bored of Starbucks.

And probably the weirdest and loneliest place of all is church. I've found a church here that I really like, but it is very awkward to be worshipping without your family. It seems odd to feel the loneliest when I'm surround by well over 1,000 fellow worshippers, but it is the place I feel most alone.

I guess God knew what He was doing when He designed us to desire our mates and our families. I'm learning every day how much I do truly love my family-- and how much they impact my joy. I guess I still have so much to be thankful for-- my family is all still alive (I can't begin to even imagine what widows and widowers must go through), and our family is all still intact (divorce must be the loneliest feeling in the world).

Father, thank you for my wife and children. Thank you for showing me what a true blessing they really are in my life. Help me to never take them for granted. Fill my void with a renewed hunger and desire for you. Amen