What is it About Music?

Hey all!

I pray you are well, and that the Lord is your portion and strength.

I wanted to just put some thoughts I've been having into words. So here ya go...

I've never, ever considered myself a "musician." I took piano lessons for 3 years when I was in 2nd through 4th grade. I was then able to play an instrument in band starting in 5th grade, and I decided I wanted to play the drums. So, I tried out for the band, by doing some basic rhythmic exercises, and I made it! I have played in concert bands, marching bands, jazz bands, worship bands, and even a few "real bands," even if it was only for a week or two. Okay, so we never really got anywhere with that, but we had the dream. In college I tried teaching myself to play guitar a few times, but again, I didn't make it very far at all.

When I went to college I couldn't take my drumset, so I bought an African drum called a Djembe. It has been a very dear friend of mine ever since, as I have enjoyed many evenings around a campfire, in a sanctuary, outside by the lake/river, or in a living room, making sounds with talented people playing guitars. I was always somewhat envious of "musicians," specifically those who played the guitar or the piano. But, I was ultimately content to never play an instrument (other than the drums) again.

A year ago, as I was enjoying God in a special sanctuary while listening to a favorite artist, Jason Upton, I had this sudden urge to go up on the stage and start playing the keyboard. I hadn't played for 10 years, but I went up to pluck away. After a few minutes, I found myself playing along with the chords from the song that I was listening to in the sanctuary. I didn't really know what I was doing, but it was exciting!

I began to realize that I could "hear" the chords that sounded good together, but I had no idea how to read any music. So, over the past year I have plucked and plucked and plucked some more. Now, this plucking (or playing, whichever you want to call it) hasn't taken me very far on the road of improvement, but I haven't truly pursued anything either.

It didn't take me long to realize that something happens when I sit down at the keyboard and start to play the simplest of chord progressions. My soul finds rest, and the Spirit of God seems to come alive in the deepest part of my being. There have been times of amazing intimacy, where it literally feels as if God is in the room with me, and we are just having a back-and-forth conversation. There have times where the power and fire of God is recognizable in my own body, as well as in the bodies of the people present. Whatever it is, the atmosphere seems to open up and I can see and hear clearly. I'm telling you this not to receive any glory, but so that God may receive all of the glory! I mean, I don't even know how to play the keyboard (I would realistically rate myself a 3.5 on a scale of 1-10), but God uses it. Amazing.

Lately, I have really had a desire to start "learning" how to actually play the keyboard. I don't want to be a professional musician by any means, but I do think it would good to at least know all the chords and bits and pieces of correct techniques. The reason I want to do this is simple...to minister to broken, hurting humanity. When I picture what this looks like, I see people (young people especially) gathering at a coffeeshop or a park or a church building. I see no two experiences ever being the same, because Holy Spirit has free reign to do whatever He pleases. He knows the thoughts and intentions of every heart, and He desires to reveal Jesus to sons and daughters of God (and those who are not yet His sons and daughters). I see the presence of God filling the place, and people laughing, crying, praying, and worshiping the One True God.

There are 2 things that the Lord has put in my heart to impart to a young generation...Identity and intimacy. The world is screaming from every direction that they have the way to identity and intimacy. But, they don't. The only way to true identity and true intimacy is through Jesus Christ. My heart breaks to see young men and women discover who they are and whose they are. When they know who God made them to be, and that they belong to Him as His beloved, they will be FREE to do amazing things for God. When they become sons and daughters of the Living God, they still need to grow in intimacy with Him. God is not looking for religious club members. He is looking for sons and daughters. The spirit of adoption is in His heart, and He desires to release it across the earth. I long to see every man and woman on the planet enter into an intimate, I mean really intimate, relationship with God through His son, Jesus. The passionate love of God being received by men and women is the only road that leads to being truly passionately in love with God. That's what I want to see.

So, since this post took me a total of 3 hours (while at work, trying to work first and write second), I am lost for words at this point. For me that signifies the end. What do I do next, you might ask? That's a valid question. I'm not sure I have a valid answer, but I think it makes sense to simply take a step. How do you get from your room to your bathroom? Take a step, then another, and then another, until you finally get to your desired destination. The same is true with God, and the dreams and visions that He has given (and is giving) to His sons and daughters. How do you get from the dream to the fulfillment of the dream? It sounds overly simple, but I say, "Take the next step!"

So, that's what I'm going to do...better put my walkin' shoes on.

Blessings to you all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Eric

We're Not Running for Nothing!

Hey again,

Well, I may or may not ever really figure this blog thing out. I think the next season of my life may lend itself to my being able to write more. I desire to teach and equip the saints for the works of ministry. We all need revelation from the Holy Spirit to know what God is speaking through His Word.

The past month has been an absolute blur. After spending a week in Wales from June 3-10, life has felt like a tornado. I have seemingly been all over the place, trying to bring some semblance of "normality." I'm in transition out of Solid Grounds, and into campus ministry with Chi Alpha and Living Light's college ministry, The Lighthouse.

Everything is changing. Now, change can be scary, but it can also be exciting. It has been both of these so far. I not only am heading out of this job, I also saw some very close friends move to Seattle to plant a church. As hard as it was to see them leave, I know that it is not the end, but I believe, the beginning! I am so excited to hear about what God is going to do in them and through them to bring transformation to the city of Seattle. As the Lord spoke to me yesterday for Winona, I believe it is true for Seattle as well, "I'm about to send showers of love." I long to see the love of Christ, which surpasses knowledge, be poured out on a hurting, unbelieving generation.

Here's something that God has really impressed upon my heart this past week, after the Seattle team left. Luke 9:61 says, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God." When Jesus says, "Let's go. Follow me," he is asking for immediate obedience. The cost of following Jesus is leaving EVERYTHING when he says, "Follow Me." He's not asking us to forget about our past, but he is asking us to keep our eyes on the Him, our Prize, as we run the race that is set before us.

Paul uses this great analogy in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, regarding running the race: "Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, (make it a slave) lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified."

Run in a such a way as to win the prize...We're not running for nothing! There is a prize at the end of the race, Christ Jesus. There are also rewards and crowns that will distributed at the judgment seat of Christ. These are icing on the cake, as we will cast our crowns at the feet of Jesus, the ultimate Prize!

In Philippians 3:13-14, Paul writes more about pressing on: "Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Hebrews 12:1-2 says, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."

Let us throw off everything that so easily entangles, and RUN! Are you ready to RUN?? Are you ready to run without any weights?! Are you ready to run in the freedom that Christ died to bring you into?! As you wait upon the Lord, He will renew your strength. Then, you will run and not grow weary, and you will walk and not faint! Hallelujah! Are you ready to run and not grow weary?! There is a new way to run, a new way to dance, a new way to sing, and is this...FREEDOM! You are free to run and sing and dance and shout and BE exactly who Jesus created you to BE! So, wait on Him, and run, run, run, run, run...Don't stop. Don't look back. Just keep pressing on. Keep pressing into Him. Endure. Persevere. Until the end!

Bless you as you run the race that is set before you. Keep your eyes on the Prize, Jesus Christ, the Risen King!

His,
Eric