February 2006

What are the little things, often overlooked, that really do bring moments of great joy and make life a little better?

For me the other day it was opening up our pantry door to find a new unopened bag of Lay’s Kettle Cooked Jalapeno Potato Chips. In the brief moment of sheer joy, I realized several things:

1. God loves me. If he didn’t, he wouldn’t have created man with the required creativity to come up with the idea of the potato chip. The real creativity was when someone improved on that idea by combining the potato chip with delicious jalapeno peppers! (Actually, the potato chip was born out of spite. Here’s the scoop.)

2. My wife loves me. CC didn’t have to buy me any potato chips, much less Jalapeno chips! And I know they’re for me because she prefers salt and vinegar (also good chips).

3. I often miss the little joys that when fully appreciated and added together help me enjoy my life and therefore make me more fun to be around.

So, what about you? What was the little thing that brought you joy today?

I met with Bill this morning at Jump ‘N Java Cafe, which he owns with his wife, Shelly. We enjoyed great conversation about what God is up to in each of our lives. Not to mention a fantastic sandwich. (Thanks, Shelly.)

It was another reminder of how I really need to get out of the office and spend more time with people. Roughly 1,200 people attend a service at Crosspointe each Sunday. A large part of my interaction is brief exchanges at the front of the auditorium after a service. How many times to I proactively find out what the Spirit is up to in the individual lives of any of those people?

Anyway, I’m going to try to get Bill to sign up for a Voxtropolis blog because I think he would enjoy the community here. If you get a chance, visit his typepad blog and encourage him to join the Vox revolution.

I’m just starting to become aware of the current trend of the combination coffeehouse / church. It seems that maybe this I’m pretty late on this one.

Anway, I’m set up to meet tomorrow with an acquaintance that I recently met at my church. His name is Bill and he recently moved from the west coast where he pastored various churches for 20 plus years. Now he’s decided to do ministry on the front lines by opening up a cafe - conveniently located close to the large number of people working in the Research Triangle Park.

The coffeehouse is called Jump-n-Java Cafe, and you can get into Bill’s mind by visiting his blog, Segue.

I attended a songwriters’ forum last night organized by my new friend Nate. Nate is a fellow worship leader and songwriter in the area. He’s writing some great music, incorporating electronic elements that enhance as well as inform the writing process. You can check it out right here.

Anyway, I gathered up my little bit of courage and shared the new song that I wrote a couple of days ago. See my last post. It was good for me if for no other reason than to follow through and help me push through my current bout of self-doubt and lack of inspiration as a songwriter.

We had some great discussion - writers’ block, quantity vs. quality in terms of writing, various writing methods (lyrics first? melody first? chord progression?), etc. This is good for me. I look forward to next month. I also look forward to seeing what greater good is accomplished in the larger community over time as a result of our investments in each other. (Does that last sentence make sense?)

Speaking of the new song…I hope to record it soon so that I can put it on the video for our China trip to pick up our daughter.

I wrote a song tonight for the daughter that my wife and I are waiting to meet. She’s from China. We don’t know who she is yet, but we love her already. I thought I’d share the lyrics:

We’ll Be Together Soon

Like the sunlight
Streams into darkened rooms
Hold tight
You know that we’ll come for you

And the waiting
Is the hardest thing to do
But we’re praying
We’ll be together soon

It’s amazing
Where did we ever get
Such love
For someone we haven’t met

And the waiting
Is the hardest thing to do
But we’re praying
We’ll be together soon

Waiting
Praying
Waiting
Praying
We’ll be together soon

It seems like God used to direct me in major life decisions much more clearly and specifically than he seems to today. I’m currently thinking of my work. I’ve made several job moves. Most have been within one field, but I’ve had one major career change. Those moves have been relatively easy to make because, even if I couldn’t explain it to someone else clearly, I felt God was clearly directing me.

However, off and on for the past couple of years, I’ve been wrestling with some dissatisfaction in my current role. I’m trying to decide how much is a contentment issue versus God birthing new dreams in me that I need to pursue. Does he even care specifically what I do? How specific is God’s will for us?

I know I’m not alone in these questions. I’m curious if anyone would care to share some methods that you’ve found helpful to move toward answers.

I’m a songwriter/musician who has a growing burden to be more available and involved in reaching the music community for Christ. I’m also a full-time musician and leader at my church. This is a platform from which I can play a part in inspiring others to leverage their gifts and relationships for the Kingdom - this is very important and I am thankful for the responsibility. However, sometimes I get really bummed when I realize that I’m insulated from the musicians who really need Christ and are unlikely to ever come to church.

This is something I’m wrestling with. Anyone else have similar thoughts?