Simple ideas, tips and inspiration for living on mission with Christ
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My friend graceshaker over at The Holy Wild introduced me to Hammock recently. The video below is titled “Breathturn” and is from the album Chasing After Shadows…Living with the Ghosts which will be released in May 2010 (USA).
This video captures something deep inside of me. Makes me want to fly!
Get your coffee ready and enjoy this 6 minute video.
Grace and Peace,
Terry
Igniter Media Group describes their video Sunday’s Comin with these words:
The story of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion is one of betrayal, brutality, despair, and pain. Yet we know even before His death that redemption was promised to be coming soon. We know that the story does not end at the cross. We know what many did not realize — that Sunday’s comin’.
Watch here as Pastor John L. Jefferson narrates . . .
I have been singing Kumbayh for a long, long time. Through the years it has been sung as a spiritual by church choirs and around campfires by Boy Scouts. When I was a teenager it was recorded as a folk song by the likes of Peter, Paul and Mary and by Joan Baez. It is sung by Christians and non-Christians alike.
A 2006 news article from the Dallas Morning News (How did ‘Kumbaya’ become a mocking metaphor?) states:
Sometime between 1922 and 1931, members of an organization called the Society for the Preservation of Spirituals collected a song from the South Carolina coast. “Come By Yuh,” as they called it, was sung in Gullah, the Creole dialect spoken by the former slaves living on the Sea Islands.
It can be translated as “Come by Here” or “Come by My God.”
Get your coffee ready to watch the video, Khumbaya. It is by the Soweto Gospel Choir from South Africa.
In recent days Kumbayh has fallen into derision, satire and ridicule but I think it’s a good choice for those who choose to live a missional lifestyle.
You see, the song’s about people crying, singing, and calling out for God to come help them.
Then one of the synagogue rulers, named Jairus, came there. Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” So Jesus went with him. – Mark 5:22-24 (NIV)
Grace and Peace,
Terry
Join the Conversation: In what ways can the lyrics of Kumbayh help us focus on the task of taking the Good News to people?
I like to read and pray Celtic prayers. Below is a video of a prayer attributed to St. Patrick set to music. I think you will be blessed with these thoughts so fill up your coffee cup, enjoy the beautiful images and meditate on the words of the prayer.
I arise today
Through the strength of heaven:
Light of sun,
Radiance of moon,
Splendour of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of wind,
Depth of sea,
Stability of earth,
Firmness of rock.
I arise to-day
Through God’s strength to pilot me:
God’s eyes to look before me,
God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s way to lie before me,
God’s shield to protect me,
From all who shall wish me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone and in a multitude.
Against every cruel merciless power that may oppose my body and soul
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ to shield me,
Christ in the heart of every one who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every one who speaks of me.
I arise to-day
Grace and Peace,
Terry
When I was a boy I marveled at the mystery of the wind. I loved watching the tall stalks of golden wheat bend and sway in the West Texas breeze. There was something magical about the tug of the string as a kite soared in the air.
The wind is a symbol for the Holy Spirit. The word spirit both in the Greek of the New Testament and the Hebrew of the Old Testament means “breath” or “wind.” Two key New Testament passages about the Spirit are John 3:8 and Acts 2:2-4.
Think about these properties of the wind.
Pour yourself a cup of coffee as you watch this 3:15 minute short film that captures the magic and wonder of the unseen wind from Whitestone Motion Pictures.
I think I am going to buy a kite, let it soar in the air and talk about my old friend with my grandchildren.
Grace and Peace,
Terry
Join the conversation: Is the wind and old friend of yours? Can you describe some of the things you felt as you watched the video?
On January 13, 2003 I climbed into my pickup and drove away on one of the most challenging journeys of my life.
As a minister and pastor of more than 30 years, God was calling me to step out of my comfort zone into unfamiliar ground. At age 53, I found myself moving toward a dream God had place within me.
My heart was in my throat as I watched my wife, Beth, waving from the sidewalk. For the first time in 30 years of marriage we would be apart for more than a few days at time. She was going to continue teaching until May and get our house ready to sell while I worked at a new job 400 miles away.
As I drove, the story replayed in my mind. My experience in professional ministry had been mainly positive. In my current pastorate, I had a good compensation package along with all the perks plus a good ministry budget. I had the freedom to lead. By all external appearances I had it pretty good.
I was not angry or at odd with traditional ministry. It was my roots and had been my life. But Christ was calling me to leave all that and to follow in a new direction. An enthusiasm for church planting and starting simple, organic churches was increasing.
There is a certain a video from Whitestone Motion Pictures that captures how I feel about my journey. It reminds me of a line form a sermon I heard Charles Lee Williamson preach back in 1986. In referring to Jesus’ words, “See how the lilies of the field grow” he said “You’re not a cut flower.”
I think it’s more than the pickup truck in the movie that stirs me. It’s how God led me to get off the shelf. To live an organic life in Christ. To be a lily in the field among all the others.
Get a cup of coffee and click the play button and watch the 3:14 minute video, Off the Shelf and you might just catch a little of what my incredible journey has been like.
Grace and Peace,
Terry
Join the Conversation: Do you ever long to take a journey to find more in life? What’s keeping you on the shelf?