Thursday, December 18th I am throwing a Christmas show that will benefit Hope of Glory Ministries (http://www.hope-of-glory.org). Hope of Glory provides food and clothing and Jesus' love to those in need around Greenville, and during the holidays they usually get swamped. Admission to the show will be a can of food or $1, all of which goes to Hope of Glory. Youthquake @ St. Paul PH Church on 10th Street in Greenville is graciously letting us use their facility for the evening.
This night is an excuse for me to play some Christmas music at a loud volume with a full band (I like to do this at least once a year), but I would really really love for this night to involve multiples bands, artists, painters, etc. (Maybe artists could paint a picture throughout the night and sell it at the end of the night and let $$ go to Hope of Glory?) who would like to express their art and help others at the same time. All styles and forms are welcome. Let me know if you want to be involved.
Going to the aquarium. I might need to elaborate on this one. There is really no reasonable explanation for the excessive beauty and creativity in creation - especially in animals that live under water. Why is there a lion fish? What about jellyfish that glow red and have stringy things that are like three feet long? How about millions of very small minnows and microscopic organisms? Why do whales sing? Why do we as humans even care? God is just bursting with life and color and lights and sounds. Just for His glory. Do not tell me God is boring, or that our worship of Him should be limited in any way.
God spoke to me last year that I would be like Hezekiah. I knew before I was 25 years old, He would use me to help bring restoration and revival to the temple of God (body of Christ) in Greenville. I was not sure exactly what this would look like, but David's tent gave me a bit of an idea - day and night worship, personal consecration, music, creativity, priesthood ministry, unity, intimacy with Yah.
I will turn 25 at midnight tonight, and at that moment I will be sitting in a prayer room in the Baptist Campus Ministry building at East Carolina University. I have included some photos of the prayer room below. Students and faculty (and other believers) have been praying in there almost constantly since Sunday night. I am just watching and laughing at what God has done. This really has nothing to do with us. It is all about the glory of Jesus. What an amazing journey this past year to get to this point, and I still get the feeling of "new beginning."
Then Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced that God had prepared the people, since the events took place so suddenly. - II Chronicles 29:36
Get ready for more "suddenly" moments. Seasons are changing folks. Things are moving quickly. Do not get too settled - this is not our home. If we are going to be a part of God's awesome plan, we have to ready to follow the Spirit. Jesus died for this.
I posted a couple of my Christmas recordings to my myspace profile today. Maybe it will help get you in the mood for the coming months, and hopefully they will help you worship as well.
Just want to remind everyone that my Christmas EP is available on ITunes (link on my profile), Rhapsody, and other major download sites. My one-year wedding anniversary is December 31... buying my music will help me and Shepard have a fun romantic anniverary. :)
Also... at least one acoustic Christmas show booked December 20th @ Tipsy Teapot... it's with Daniel and Laura Phelps. Hopefully there will be more (at least one with a full band?).
