The Neighborhood

I've had the privilege the past 6 months to play with The Neighboorhood (or official website) in their live shows. 

Phil Rice, the lead singer, has been a spiritual mentor of mine for the past 2 and a half, almost 3 years. They recorded their first full length record with Trent Bell (Flaming Lips, Chainsaw Kittens) and it released last November. My first show with them was for their CD release show on Campus Corner at OU. I have to say it has been the most fun band to play with: the guys are super laid back but serious about making good music. Their record was a bit bigger-sounding than a 3 piece live show could do justice for, so I guess that's why they brought me in- to fill in as many gaps as possible. It has stretched me in every way musically, because they've been giving me about 5 different parts to do in a song, and have literally said, "Just do as much of that as you are comfortable with." All in all, I'm switching constantly between: Keys (synthesizer, mellotron, horns sounds, organ, pad), Guitar (rhythm mostly, some lead on one song), backup vocals (one song I'm in the whole time), bongos, tambourine, shaker, and even vibraslap. 

This form of worshiping the Lord has been a huge blessing. At first I didn't want to look all pretentious and 'rockstarish', so I'd hold back in order to 'humble myself' and choose that as a sacrifice to the Lord. But then, a few months ago, I clearly felt Him say "LET LOOSE! Give it EVERYTHING you have, because I've given it to you for you to give back to me. It makes me proud to see you just go CRAZY doing the things I've created you to do."

That moment was incredibly freeing. So if any of you end up seeing us play, know that it is my desire to put on a rockshow for the King. If you'd like, enter into that worship with me by taking time to thank Him for the things he has created you to do and be. And then go out and BE and DO those things, from a place of love and intimacy for our Lord.

Waco

I'm planning on moving to Waco, Texas in the Fall. 

I know, it sounds gross. I'm not exactly a big fan of the city. But I'm a huge fan of my Father's Presence, and it seems like he is taking me there to Antioch Community Church's Elevate program. It's a training school that equips followers of Jesus for ministry. Many that graduate from Elevate go on to the next school, '24:48', to learn how to plant churches in foreign countries, et send out, and devote their lives to mission work. The 'plan' is that I will go to Elevate, get discipled, and then plant a church with a handful of people in the states that sends our harvesters into the field, much like Antioch, just based in another area.

This idea didn't please everyone. You see, i still have 2 years left at the University of Oklahoma in my Visual Communications (Graphic Design) degree. moving away now means I'm not planning on finishing my degree (36+ grand down the drain), I'm not planning on ever having a 'real' job, and I'm walking away from those 'precious' college years that I'll never get back. Some people think I'm stupid, others think I'm in a cult (are you sure you can hear from God?), and some think I'm just irresponsible.

Well here's the deal. Luke 14:33. "So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple."

I don't believe this verse means we are to be irresponsible- we are supposed to be faithful with everything, even the small things. Matthew 25:21. When we are faithful over little, He will set us over much. But when he says to walk away from the boat, drop the nets, sell everything, renounce everything, hate our parents (Luke 14:26 for better context), all that... we are to follow Him- even if, and maybe especially if it means seeking the approval of only him and no one else. I believe there will be times when He will keep people from being supportive of what He is calling us to do simply in order to see if He is our only thing. He is a jealous, jealous lover. He wants to know just how much we love Him. Just how much we want to see Him move. Just how bad we need only Him. Whether we will chose a whole kingdom built with our own hands, or if we would rather be a doorman in His courts (Zach Payne Music, "Whom Have I"). I choose to be the doorman. He is my portion. Psalm 142:5, "I cry to you, O LORD; I say, 'You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.'"

I'm not going into the subject of Hearing God- that's another post in the future. I guess all I'm saying is I don't need money. I heard that little chuckle. I really don't. I don't need chairs and beds and cars and houses. I need Jesus. And if suffering, Hungering, thirsting, being tortured, laughed at, ridiculed, becoming homeless, and only having crack addicts as friends means more of Jesus in my life and a furthering of the Kingdom of God, then i choose those things gladly. THAT is joy in suffering (also a future post topic).

Whoever reads this, I love you. Thanks for listening to me babble. My prayer is that these wouldn't be my words. My words are useless.

Number 1

This is my blog.. WELCOME. Please, everyone make yourself at home. Both of you.

But really, thanks for reading this. I feel like this is going to be a good thing for me to do. I'm looking forward to writing about what the LORD is doing. Because it doesn't matter what I'm doing. I'm not intellectual, I can't think of great arguments or opinions and word them in neat ways. But I definitely can tell you what I'm passionate about. And that is the Kingdom. But for now I need to go to sleep, because I have an Art History test to 'study' for.