Tq's thoughts

I Do.m4v

2012-02-14T01:06:00.000-08:00

I wrote this song for my wife in 2010 for our anniversary. I love you, deeply.

Song: I Do
Artist: Tquan Moore
© Tquan Moore All Rights Reserved

Verse:
Would you care to take dive
Into the caverns in my mind
The thoughts way deep inside

Peel back the layers of my heart and
Reveal the rhythms of my soul
the beats that make whole.

Pre-Chorus
Not sure if language can attest
But I'm giving it my best.

Chorus
I do, I do. I am still in love with you.
I do, I do. Before we promised it I knew.
It's true, It's true. With all the time that slips away
If asked I still will say.
I Do.

Verse:
I am holding on to you
Until the daisies are pushed away.
I am holding through that day

And in times of disappointment
And when the pain comes on so strong
I'll be holding on

Pre-Chorus

Chorus

Pre-Chorus

Chorus

Habitat for Humanity Houston Worship Arts Festival

2012-02-13T18:37:00.000-08:00

Support the Habitat for Humanity Worship Arts Festival

Click the link for tickets to the Worship Arts Festival - http://www.eventzilla.net/web/event?eventid=201201165585

Event Description

A great concert for a great cause! Enjoy worship music from four different Christian bands as they "raise the roof" to raise money for Habitat for Humanity Northwest Harris County. Come for your favorite or stay the evening. There is a competition between the musicians to see who can sell the most tickets. Help your favorite group win be selecting their ticket type. Concessions will be on hand for purchase.

Worship Arts Festival
March 3, 2012 5PM-9PM
Cy Fair Christian Church 290 Campus
17150 Spring Cypress Rd. Cypress TX 77429

"Flood" Jars of Clay Acoustic Cover live by Tquan Moore

2012-02-11T21:49:00.000-08:00

"Let The World Rejoice"

2011-12-20T12:19:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas Everyone. Enjoy the video. You can download the song for FREE on My Facebook bandpage. and/or on Noisetrade site:

TQ Music on Pandora Radio

2011-09-20T14:16:00.001-07:00

Do you listen to Pandora Radio? If you don't you might want to start and if you do, then I have some exciting news to share with you. My music from my album "All I Need' has been accepted on Pandora Radio. If you don't know what Pandora is, then keep reading. Pandora radio is the personalized internet radio service that helps you find new music based on your old and current favorites. So, you can make your very on Tquan Moore radio station on Pandora. On this station you will hear my music and other musicians with similar music. I am so excited to fill you in on this. So, if you want to check it out, click this link "Tquan Moore on Pandora Radio" Also, share the link with your friends via Facebook, Twitter, and email. Thanks for all of your support. Thanks, TQTquan Moorewww.tquanmoore.comwww.facebook.com/tqmusic

Free Music from Tquan Moore

2011-07-10T23:31:00.000-07:00

Do you like free music? Get it here. Select songs from TQ's debut album and new demo "Dreamer's Prayer"

Quote of the Day:

Getting reconnected with old friends is like finding money your pocket. They are always with you but you are reminded how valuable they are when you see them again.

How do you make a living as a Christian musician?

2011-06-15T13:09:00.000-07:00

How do you make a living as a Christian musician?

This is an answer to a posting that I thought I would post for your reading pleasure.

I am working at making a living at the music thing. I have made head way over the last 3 years. Though I work full time hours, music as a means to completely supporting my family is a ways off.

Some thoughts.
First off, seek God diligently to see if he is calling/allowing/and or prompting you to spend time this way. It is a futile effort go against the stream of God. This is critical. If you aren't called to do this, it doesn't mean that you won't make money but it does mean that you won't see the full potential of what God has in store for you because you will be pursuing something other than your calling.

Second, be diligent/wise about business. Read, ask questions, study trends etc. Yes, I understand that God will make a way and one way, most likely, will be through discipline and wisdom.

Thirdly, Strive to produce a better quality product all the time. Write new songs, rework old ones. Work on your presentation. Whether that is nuts and bolts and/or listening to the Spirit concerning what to do in the moment.

Fourth, Make friends everywhere. You reap what you sow. Many of these friends will need you and you will need them. WARNING: Do not get into friendships so that you can have resources. Care about people first, then you will want give help and others will want to give help to you.Go for the friendship over the resources. The resources will come.

Five, Never tire of booking. Live performances are where you display your product. It is a taste test of sorts and if people enjoy what they have tasted then they will want more.

Six, Make goals. With out any goals you will never reach them.

Seven, Promote. Facebook/youtube/online, radio, business cards. Probably the most difficult thing for me but I think it where yo see the most financial return.

Lastly and most important, pray. This is a risky business but then again so is life.

God Bless

New Music Video "Finally Headed Home'

2011-04-02T08:48:00.001-07:00

Finally Headed Home from Tquan Moore on Vimeo.

Official Finally Headed Home Music Video
Performer - Tquan Moore tquanmoore.com
Song by Jonathan Barrick
Video production, Directing, filming and overall awesomeneses by
Doug Robinson and Jonathan Wilson of oceanwallsmedia.com

Silent Night Video.m4v

2010-12-17T13:54:00.000-08:00

Give the Gift of Music! Tquan's digital music is on sale for 1/2 price now! Order and receive a download of Silent Night for free. More info here: http://www.tquanmoore.com/music

NoiseTrade Widget

2010-12-06T13:48:00.001-08:00

Receiving God's love like the ground receives rain.

2010-10-14T11:25:00.000-07:00

Here is something that I have been learning lately. I have a hard time fully accepting grace. There are things that I have read and heard about how God loves me so much and how he looks at me with as his son who he very proud of. I just have a hard time fully accepting this at times. It is not that I don't accept God's love at all, because in my head "I know" he loves me. It is like this. I know that the Aurora Borealis is beautiful but I have really experience it? I have not seen it with my own eyes, heard the silence in the Arctic as the the colors dance in the sky or felt cold on my face as I was amazed by it. You see there is a difference between knowing the beauty of something like the Aurora Borealis and fully taking in the varied aspects of its beauty.

Don't misunderstand. I believe God loves me. He has shown me over and over again. So, that fact that he loves me is not really in question, but somewhere Satan has done a good job deceiving me, so that it has become hard to experience this in my heart. It is crazy because I know his love to be true, I have taught his love to be true and have seen others receive the benefits of his love. But still, trying take it in to where I know that neither my good deeds or my bad deeds change his love for me has been difficult. I am so used to being evaluated and/or 'loved' (by myself and others) based on my abilities or lack there of.

So, this is my prayer to God today. God, I know that you love me. You have shown it over and over again through you what you have done for me. So, help to the feel and know your love more deeply and to take it in completely. I want to receive your love like the ground receives the rain. I want know how high, how wide and how deep is the love that you have for me. Let your love rain fall on this barren land. In Jesus name, amen.

New Music player Widget

2010-05-18T15:28:00.000-07:00

Check out the new music player from reverbnation.

Praying for the impossible is a waste of time.

2010-05-17T10:09:00.000-07:00

Praying for the impossible is a waste of time, because a prayer like that doesn't work. Now before you believers in prayer click to another blog in disgust and before prayer skeptics exclaim, 'Finally an end to this prayer nonsense,' I want you to understand where I am coming from.

Recently, I was asked, 'Should we pray for the impossible.' Normally, I would say yes, but this time my spirit said no. Here is the reason why I have changed my thinking. The definition of the word impossible is 'incapable of being done, undertaken, or experienced.' So if we pray for the impossible, then by definition we are praying for something that can't be accomplished. Or at least we believe that is it impossible to be accomplished.

Jesus' disciples prayed for what they believed to be impossible. Or at least their faith didn't not match with what they asked for. In Matthew 17:14-20. The disciples tried to cast out a demon from a boy but they could not. After Jesus cast the demon out of the boy, the disciples asked, why they couldn't cast the demon out. Jesus responded, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." The disciples didn't believe that it was possible or at least they didn't believe that it was likely, therefore it was impossible for them.

There are some things that I don't pray for because they are impossible. For example: I don't pray that God will lie to cover up my sin. I don't pray for God to lie because he won't. It is impossible. It says so in Hebrews 6:18. I would never pray for God to reverse what he did through Jesus. That would be an impossible prayer. It is impossible because it goes against God's unchangeable nature. Not only are these prayers fruitless but they would be a waste of time. Why bother asking for something that can't be done.

Here is what I would suggest. Believe in the infinite possibilities that come from praying to God. If we are going to pray, then we must believe that what we are asking for can be granted. Also, If we are sure that what we are asking for is God's will, then we should not only believe it to be possible, but we should expect it to be granted. With God the possibilities become endless. If we believe in a God who makes all things possible (Matthew 19:26), then we won't pray for the impossible. We will pray to a God who destroys the notion of impossibilities.

Considering my Royal Position

2010-01-22T10:11:00.001-08:00

For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?

Esther 4:14 NIV

I don't generally think of myself as having royal position. I tend to think about my limited funds, limited influence and other limiting things to reinforce my thoughts about my position in life. But then I am reminded of my royal position when I drive pass the guy the with a sign that simply says, "Hungry, Need Help" after I am full from my lunch from the value menu or when I get that email about the former classmate who now has cancer after I have returned from playing hoops with the guys. If these kinds of things weren't enough, The Spirit reminds me that I have royal position by the simple fact that I am a son of God.

So, there are times when something stirs in me to act on someone's behalf or for the common good, but my limiting thoughts make room for fear and doubt to throw up "Caution" and "Do Not Enter" signs in my path. During these times may my God and Father remind me of my position, so that I may act. Not that I shouldl act out of guilt, because what God wants will be done with or with out me. No, may I act from the joy of joining God in accomplishing the improbable and the impossible. All the while kicking down "Caution" and "Do Not Enter" signs along the way.

A Prayer for Haiti

2010-01-16T10:57:00.000-08:00

Father,

A broken people cry out for a broken people.

A people who have all and need All,

have our eyes on people who have none and need All.

Father,

I pray for the miraculous.

A miraculous move of your Spirit in the hearts of your people.

Use us to heal, restore, comfort, aid, show compassion

and revive a devastated people.

Move mountains of compassion and place them in Haiti

May they be towers that declare your glory, healing and love.

In the name of the one who was broken for us.

Amen

Raise the Roof

2009-12-17T23:47:00.000-08:00

So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. - Mark 2:2-4

A few Sundays ago God really impressed this passage on my heart. I happened to end up teaching part of a bible class when the teacher had to suddenly leave. As we were discussing the story a few things came to my attention and convicted me to my core.

The scenario goes like this: Jesus is in town. People have heard him teach and seen him heal the sick therefore, Jesus is drawing a crowd where ever he goes. He stops at a home and begins to teach and a crowd gathers. A large crowd gathers. I assume that some get there first and get front row seats, while others rush to grab the best vantage point to take in the Rabbi's teaching and to watch his miracles. People are now pressed against each other, the room has grown warm due to body heat and now people are having to stand outside and peek through windows to see and hear Jesus. A few friends of a paralyzed man, determine that they are going to get there friend to Jesus for healing. They quickly realize that the crowd is not sympathetic to the fact that they are carrying a paralyzed man and trying to get him to see Jesus for healing. I can only imagine how difficult it was to carry their friend from wherever he was to the place where they had heard that Jesus was teaching and when they finally make it there, they can't get in. So, they get the idea to tear apart the roof and lower their friend through the roof in front of Jesus.bJesus sees them, forgives their sins and heals the man, so that he can walk.

This is an amazing story with several great points to take in. Such as

1. The men loved their paralyzed friend enough to bring him to Jesus.

2. Jesus not only heals him but forgives them of their sin. (Complete healing)

3. The crowd did not let the paralyzed man through for healing.

And more

The thing that grabbed my attention was a question. The question was "What was the difference between the people in the crowd standing at the window of the house and the friends climbing on the roof and getting there friend in front of Jesus?" There may be many answers to this question but the thing that stood out in my mind was that the men helping their friend would not be content with their position on the outer edge of the crowd. They had to get closer for healing. I believe that at some level each person in the crowd settled for the spot that had.

What convicted soul was the truth that I am a part of the crowd. It is like have settled with the idea that if I can see Jesus and hear him, then that is close enough. I don't think I should be comfortable watching Jesus from a distance, even though I can see and hear him. I want to strive to be right in front of Jesus to receive the healing that he has for me. I don't remember too many times that I (figuratively) raised the roof of a house to get to Jesus. Most of the time I am content to watch Jesus from the outside peeking in through a window. I want to be the kind of person who will do whatever it takes to be right in front of Jesus. I need Jesus just as much as the paralyzed man.

Will you be my best friend? Pleeaassee!

2009-11-30T12:34:00.000-08:00

My blog seems like it could be titled "What God teaches me through my daughters" because it seems that lately all I write about is what I learned through watching them. So staying true to form, here we go again.

According to my wife, The other day my four year old was out in the backyard sitting in a fresh patch of new grass, where she frequently chooses to play, she looked up toward the sky and says "God, will you be my best friend? Please, please, pleeaassee!" Now, my wife and I have seen this kind of best friend request from our little girl several times recently. She has asked for BFF status and used her BFF potential as a bargaining chip several times in the past month. Yet, we have never seen her ask God to be her best friend. And if this wasn't enough of a Kodak Moment, my four year old looks up at the sky and responds, "Ok." It was as if God smiled down at her and said, "You bet I will be your best friend and it will most definitely be forever."

When God says that he is your friend, he means it. He speaks with his friends face to face, he let's them in on his plans, when his friends are discouraged he whispers words of encouragement to them. Have you ever thought of asking God to be your friend? Don't send him a Facebook friend request. Make it a bit more personal. Look up and say, "God, will you be my best friend? Please, please, pleeaassee!" and find out what his response will be. I think you might be pleasantly surprised.

Lose something

2009-11-04T08:15:00.001-08:00

Recently my eldest daughter, Cady, lost a tooth. I don't know if you remember losing a tooth but it is a really exciting thing for a child. You may be thinking, "Of course it is exciting, because of the whole tooth fairy thing." but around here we don't do the tooth fairy. Even though, there was no promise of a philanthropic mystical being to sneak in and share her wealth while my daughter was sleeping, she still had great excitement about losing her tooth. She was actually losing a bone in her body and she was excited. Aside from children being excited about losing a tooth, I assume that the only other person excited about losing a bone from his body was Adam. You know that when you turn in a "rib" and get an "Eve", that's not a bad deal. It seems that Cady is just excited to be on the dental journey that requires the gain and loss of teeth. There seems to be this wonder in the loosening of the tooth, curiosity of when it will being fully gone and then the anticipation of a new tooth to come. It is absolutely exhilarating to her.

Jesus invites/demands (Matt 10:37-39) that we lose our lives if we are to follow him. Yes, I realize that what I gain is far more valuable than what I lose, but sometimes my attitude about losing my life is not so rosy. What I would like is to have excitement about losing my life because it is part of the greater adventure of following Christ. I would like to have excitement about where following him will lead me next, curiosity of when I will fully lose this life and an anticipation of the life that I now have in him and the one that is coming. Hopefully, I will live in the the excitement of losing this life.

Have you looked behind your oven?

2009-10-15T14:42:00.000-07:00

A raw macaroni elbow, cooked noodles from soup, a pill, a rubber band, Grumpy (from Snow White), several dust elephants (the small ones are bunnies and these were much bigger), all of these items were found behind our oven today as I went to clean up the soup that I had spilled. All of these item have piled up over time.

Also, I saw a friend today who said that he wasn't that tight with Jesus anymore. I asked him about it and I could tell right away, that he was ready to leave that conversation. What my friend was doing was dropping things behind his "oven" to be dealt with later. The problem is that those things that we hide behind our ovens grow. They grow from dust bunnies to elephants or worse.

God is ready to gently clean up things if we let him. The earlier that we let him at those things that are behind our oven the better.

I Can Pour My Own Cereal

2009-10-06T14:51:00.000-07:00

The other day may eldest child, Cady, who is almost 6 years old made an interesting statement while we were at the dinner table. She stated rather confidently that when she turns six she will be able to take care of herself. My wife had a I gave a out a surprised, "Oh really!" and asked Cady to explain why she thought that she could take care of herself when she turned six. She replied to that question by saying "Well, I can pour my own cereal." and I will add that does not include pouring her own milk without spilling it.

It is amazing the confidence that we can have when we gain knowledge, talent, position, and/or resources. When we gain these, we can forget where these things came from, and we can forget our limitations. These past couple of years have reminded me that God gives me daily bread. That is he takes care of me every moment of every day. Sometimes he allows me to use my own strength to satisfy some daily needs, but I am reminded that if I have strength or resources it is only because God has give them to me.

Take note of the passage below, where the the nation of Israel is warned to remember God when the have prosperity.

Deuteronomy 8:10-14
When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

Pouring our own cereal is fine, but let's remember who gave us the cereal, the strength to pour it and who will even give us help to pour our milk when we need that.

A New Way of Accounting.

2009-09-02T20:20:00.000-07:00

Dependence on the God is such a beautiful thing, because within dependence our spiritual vision is sharpened and we are able to appreciate, with the vividness of HD, the great love of God for his children. But it seems that in times of prosperity, independence sets in and we forget that we must rely on the Father. So, while enjoying the luxurious life we tend to slip further away from the "Giver of Life".

So what is the remedy of the our human tendency to slip away from our Father's provision in times of prosperity? I propose a new way of accounting. Instead of counting how deep our pockets go, lets count how deep our relationship with the Father is. If we, his children, live luxuriously in his love then the first temptation to turn to independence will feel like throwing away the very air we breathe. Go ahead, try not to breathing for a while. If you try it, then you will find that you will always come back gasping for the very air you tried to live with out. Let's try a new way of accounting and learn where the true luxurious life comes from, because anything else will leave us gasping for our Father.

Glory be to ... Who?

2009-06-18T11:23:00.000-07:00

"After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you." - John 17:1

Often, when people find out that I am a musician several have asked, "Are you famous?" to which I answer with a smile, "If you have to ask then that means the answer is no." It seems that one of things things that people want to know or wish for me is fame. And I suppose that is cool and I believe it comes from a heart to bless me. The issue I have with fame is that most often it seems to be used in such a self serving way. An entertainer, athlete, public official or whoever, can use that notoriety to glorify themselves, make money, get that next job, etc When this happens it leaves a really bad taste in my mouth. Jesus, as usual, turns things upside down. He uses his fame, power and position for the purpose of putting the spotlight back on his Father. For every entertainer some amount of fame is part of the package. For me I pray for the ability and desire to use any fame I receive the highlight my Father in heaven.

It this important?

2009-06-02T11:01:00.000-07:00

Conversation between my wife (W) and eldest child (EC)

EC - Momma, What is this? (Looking at a brown smudge on her finger)

W - I don't know. Where did you get it?

EC - From my ear.

W - Oh, That's ear wax.

EC - (with a slight it of uneasiness in her voice) Is it important?

My wife and I laughed about that conversation for a while. What a good question? Is it important? I wonder how many things that I just let go or hold on to without asking God the question, "Is it important?" How many passing thoughts about someone have I missed because I haven't asked, "Is it important?" How many times have I held on to a wrong done to me without asking, "Is it important?" Life on this earth is only so long. I really want to make the most of what I experience here. My God, please give me the humility to ask you, "Is it important"

Vote for Don't Stop Praising on www.indieheaven.com (Click the latest songs added tab)

Living on a prayer

2009-05-25T21:53:00.000-07:00

Last Tuesday, I was in Austin and found this sign on the side of the road. Which certainly looked like the handy work of a homeless person. "Living on a prayer. Please Help" I was taken back by the sign enough that I took it home. I read the sign and I thought, "Now isn't that true of all of us." Take these events from the last week. A couple that I know well continue to struggle with a painful illness that is said to have no cure, a friend just found out he has some form of lymphatic cancer, my daughter was sick with a 105 fever today and was taken to the emergency room, the finances are tighter than "under armour", the car is acting funny, and I have a friend who is working through suicidal thoughts. We are all living on a prayer and we need help in every aspect of our lives. To my unknown sign making friend, Thank- you for reminding me that my life is lived on a prayer.

Trading up

2009-05-13T07:01:00.000-07:00

Today was a early morning. I have a friend that I meet, so that we can talk and pray. So I got up and took a shower and after the shower I find that my youngest daughter has left the coziness of her bed traded it for the comfort of sleeping with mom. My children tend to do this often. Therefore, the sight of my daughter in our bed was not a surprise but this morning I noticed something different. (Probably, because I was a bit more coherent than usual at that time of morning.) What I noticed was that she is making a trade. My youngest likes her bed just fine. It is just her size, it is the top bunk, it has all of her favorite stuffed animals and even her name is one the wall in her room. You would think that would be more than enough to cause her to hunker down and only come out for food, but there there is just something about resting with mom and dad. Eventhough, with mom and dad, there is no top bunk, no stuffed animals, no name on the wall and there is no room, I believe my daughters see this as trading up. As if there is no comfort like the comfort of resting with mom and dad. Here is a realization. I don't trade up enough. Sometimes, I am so comfortable with 'my bed' (literally and figuratively) that I don't trade up to be with my father. My daughters especially the youngest seem to rest the most soundly when they sleep with us. Maybe I will rest better as well when I go to my Father. "Come to me all who are tired and I will give you rest." - Jesus

“Wake up, I will show you how to die better”

2009-05-04T22:12:00.000-07:00

“Wake-up, I will show you how to die better” – Cady Moore

I am driving and I hear my two girls playing in the back seat. Cady, my oldest child, is always the architect of the games that she and her sister, Cianna, play together. So hearing Cady tell Cianna how she should play a game is very common. But this time the phrase above rang out in my mind for days. “Wake up, I will show you how to die better.” Out of her young mouth came this phrase so deep rich meaning and meaning on multiple levels depending on your perspective.

What stood out to me was that Cady knew that Cianna had to wake up (out of her pretend death) to learn Cady’s better way to die. When someone dies there life is what is looked at to determine if they died well. Surely, you have those who in a moment give themselves in a heroic/sacrificial death at times but I would suggest that even in those cases it was living in a life that was awake with purpose, meaning, and value that would was the seed that flowered into their heroic/sacrificial death. A good death is determined by the life that preceded it. When we are sleeping through life that is a death in itself. So friends, if you find me sleeping life away, please wake me up so that I can die better.

My Dad is bigger than your Dad!

2009-04-20T16:45:00.000-07:00

O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens. You have taught children and infants to tell of your strength, silencing your enemies and all who oppose you. - Psalms 8:1-2

Have you ever seen kids playing the "My Dad is bigger than your Dad game?" You know that game where one says,"My Dad is bigger than yours" and other child remarks, "Nuh uh! My Dad can lift a million pounds!" and then the first child says "My Dad knows how to shoot a bazooka!" Then the other says, "My Dad is as strong as Superman" and the other says, "My Dad is made of Kryptonite!" This back and forth goes on and on until one runs out of ideas. Well, I get the sense that we play that game with our fears. When fears say, "There no way God can get you out this financial mess' will we say, "Nuh uh! My God owns everything in the world". Then when fear says, "You have have messed this up too badly, things will never be the same" will we say, "No way, His mercy is prepared fresh every day." And will we go on and on until fear has nothing left to say?

Leaving the Church?

2009-04-16T21:30:00.000-07:00

An interesting thought came to me after finishing my taxes the other night. I began to think about that phrase "He/She/They left the church". No, doing my taxes did not make me lose my religion and I don't think the phrase and my taxes have any correlation. (Though I know there are all kinds of jokes forming right now but that is okay too:) Anyway, that phrase "He is leaving the church" is one of those phrases generally used to say someone stopped meeting with a body of believers at a certain church location. Then after the phrase has been spoken, there are generally looks of disapproval, worry and sadness and maybe rightly so given each particular circumstance. But one phrase I don't often hearing anyone saying is, "He/She/They left Christ." This seems to be the weightier of the two phrases. Now, I am not saying that these two phrases mean the same because they don't. What I am wondering is, if I always think in terms of someone leaving the church, have I missed a crucial paradigm that Christ is the center of focus. He is the center even above our gatherings together on Sunday mornings. I wonder if the commonality of the '...leaving the church" phrase and the lack of the "...leaving Christ" phrase exposes some off-centeredness in our thinking. Understand me, I am not saying anything about attendance to the gathering of the body of Christ. I am wondering if our statements are exposing our focus. I want to be clear on the most important things. And whether someone is following Christ or not is on the top of my list. I want to peer through the clutter and see where Christ is and then continually point others to him. If that means reconsidering when I use certain phrases then so be it.

Death to life. The spiritual order of things.

2009-04-12T10:51:00.000-07:00

"Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over. In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you'll have it forever, real and eternal." - Jesus The Message

Today is Easter and the topic I most often I hear about at easter is Jesus' sacrifice and resurrection. This is always a powerful message, but today I am intrigued by Jesus' invitation to join him in his death, so that life can be attained. Death tends to bring out fear in most of us but Jesus says without dying we miss life. I suppose that the pain of sacrifice and the unknown of death is the reason it strikes so much fear in us. Death seems so final. Yet according to Jesus the death or sacrifice of the life that we live now is the door that opens us to real living. I don't begin to claim to understand all of this but I what I do know is the thing that pushes me to hold on to this life is my fear of losing it. So, I wonder if I live a life dominated by the fear of losing it, is that really living anyway. It seems that a true life of freedom can only be found in the ability to freely give up the life we have now, then our fear of losing this life won't keep us from the one promised by God.

Forecasting High Winds

2009-04-11T19:23:00.000-07:00

"The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." John 3:8

The last few days in Houston, where I live, have been a kind of breezy. We have opened the windows in our house and enjoyed the experiencing cool breeze. You can hear the whistle of the wind passing through the house, every now and then the wind slams a door shut when no one is near it and when I look outside I see big strong tree limbs being moved back and forth. It is obvious the wind has been doing it's thing. I have never seen it come or go, but I have seen what it does and I surely have felt it.

I have wondered at times if people see the Spirit in my life. Do they hear the sound of the Spirit in my voice, do they see my heart being open with love for people and closed to things that promote hate, and do they see my limbs move with the actions of peace, patience and joy? I believe this is what Jesus is saying it will be like for those born of the Spirit. May our spiritual forecast call for high winds.

Money is not life.

2009-04-09T11:26:00.000-07:00

Daily Bible Verse -

Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.

Ecclesiastes 5:10

The other day I was thinking about money. I mean I was thinking about the actually bills, coins, shiny (precious) metals and sparkly rocks (jewels) and I wondered when did paper, metal and rocks ever become so valuable to us. I don't know the history of money making but I do know that because of the value we place on it, we are able to trade it for things that our bodies need to live. Ex. water/food, clothing, and shelter. Try living without any one of these. So money is a means to and end. It is not end in and of itself. So, why do we fall in love with it so often. Loving money is misplaced. Loving money is overvaluing money. It would be like me falling in love with my wife's clothing. She looks great in it, but I am taken by the fashion of it, the designs and the feeling of her clothing. The clothing is there to adorn my wife, not the other way around. Money is not life, it doesn't produce life and to spend all of our energy trying to attain it so that we might live is a waste of life. Turn to the Giver of life and he will provide things you need to really live.

Message in a Diaper

2009-04-08T14:14:00.000-07:00

Al-righty! Today, I am changing my daughter's diaper and it was one if those everywhere diapers. You know, everywhere the diaper is you don't want to be. So, I am changing this impressively filled diaper and I get through it as usual. I clean my daughter up and dispose of the air pollutant. Then I go to sanitize myself and I notice a brown spot on my pants. Awwwww Maaaannn! That feeling of utter grossness totally covered me like a body bag. So, I commenced to deep cleansing so that I can be whole again.

I wonder what it was like for Jesus when he was carrying the full weight of our sin/filth. Did he smell it? Was it a feeling of utter grossness? It surely covered him like a body bag. Yet, he rose whole, new, and alive. Completely holy, sanitized and with power to cleanse others. Thank-you Jesus for getting filthy to cleanse us.

Need Fixing Again

2009-04-06T12:36:00.000-07:00

While at the drive through today, My daughter asked me a question about something and as I was moving the car so she could get a better view. I ended up hitting a pole and damaging my rear view mirror. This is second time damage has been done to our rear view mirror. So, I got out got some duct tape put temporary fix on until I can take the car to our mechanic.

My walk with God is similar to this incident in that I go along doing the best I can, then I get distracted by the world and sin hits me. The next thing I know I get my spiritual duct tape to hold things together but it never really fixes the issue. Until I go to the Father with my brokenness, I will never be healed of my self-inflicted wounds. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9 and "God's loyal love couldn't have run out, his merciful love couldn't have dried up. They're created new every morning. How great your faithfulness! I'm sticking with God (I say it over and over). He's all I've got left. (The message) Thank-you, God!

Good gift?

2009-04-02T15:25:00.000-07:00

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

You ever received one of those gifts that when you opened it you thought, Oh...wow. Thanks? Well, I received one of those gifts once from my wife. A shirt and a pairs of shoes. When I first received them, especially the shoes, I thought I probably wont use these much. Today, I use them both frequently, especially the shoes. It was until later that I experienced the value of these gifts. Sometimes God gives us gifts that we can't appreciate. Sometimes the gifts are wrapped in hardship but if we hold on to the gift then after a while we might find ourselves really enjoying the gift. He always gives good gifts.

Securities

2009-04-01T06:45:00.000-07:00

“…He (God) is my refuge, my savior, the one who saves me from violence.” 2 Samuel 22:3

A typical thing that occurs in my home is that in the middle of the night one of my girls will wake up scared from a bad dream or can’t sleep and they come into the room to find some security in Daddy's or Mommy’s arms. Children seem to know where safety can be found. Along the line in my ‘growing up’ I seem to frequently forget where my security comes from. I have “securities” or at least that is what my financial institutions call them. I have a security system on my home, which tends to be more of a nuisance than a help at times. Also, I have ‘bootstraps’. You know, the kind that I can pull myself up by when life gets me down. But I think one of the straps broke a few months back when my car wouldn’t start. Are you getting the picture? Somewhere in there, I lose sight of where my refuge and salvation really comes from. Father, when I am in the dark hours of life, may I see clearly enough to turn to you for security. In Jesus name, Amen.

Rest easy. God is watching.

2009-03-31T08:39:00.000-07:00

I lay down and slept, yet I woke up in safety, for the Lord was watching over me. Psalm 3:5

King David writes this as he is fleeing for his life from his son Absalom, who has orchestrated a coup against him. So, David takes all of his court and they run for their lives. Out of this comes what we just read. David says, he rested during this. I have a hard time resting when a few things around the house go undone. I assume that if a family member were trying to kill me, that rest would be hard to come by. But David says, ‘he slept and woke up in safety because God was watching over him.’ Which causes me to ask myself, “Do I believe in God’s watchful protection enough to rest when times are the hardest?” I am not talking about sleep to escape the problems but I am talking about rest, that reminds me that I am under God’s watchful eye. I got a lot of room grow here. May we all rest under God’s watchful eye.

Thanks for voting for my song,

Good Fruit Filling

2009-03-30T09:14:00.000-07:00

March 30, 2009 Daily Bible Verse

"No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks."

Luke 6:43-45

We recently had to get my oldest daughter a new lunch box. I say ‘had to’ because the old one grew a forest full of mold in it. We (mostly me) didn’t take the leftovers out of the lunch box before we began traveling for spring break and poof ‘Chia’ lunch box was created. (Think Chia Pets) What is inside a container is a big deal. According to Jesus as recorded by Luke, the our actions and the words we say are an out growth of what is in our hearts. So, this leads me to think about what is in my heart. Is there anger, bitterness, and envy or is there love, joy, peace, patience and the like. There is only one way for our hearts to be filled with good things. Let’s hand our hearts to God so that he can fill them up with the stuff that produces good fruit. Good fruit filling is what we need. (Ok, that last line was cheezy)

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A Spiritual Workout

2009-03-29T15:13:00.000-07:00

My wife asks me the other day, “How can joy be strength?” Which I thought was a good question. ‘The joy of the Lord will be my strength’ is a song Ihave sung and a verse that I have read for years. I sang it with excitement but it is one of those things that if you would have asked me about, then it would have taken some stumbling around in my mind to come up with... “ Uh, I am not sure”. With that said, this is my best shot right now. In Hebrew 12:1-3 it states that Jesus for the Joy put in front of him endured the cross. There seems to be something about going through hardship and knowing that once you get through it everything will be just right, knowing that the when the is over more than you can imagine will be accomplished, and knowing that if you see this through, then the world will be different. I believe those thoughts brought Jesus joy and with that joy in his heart it gave him the strength to bear the sin of all mankind and the death that would pay for it. God has given us all a picture of great joy that is to come with him? Let that joy be the workout the strengthens your spiritual muscles.

Thanks for voting for my song

How beautiful is unity

2009-03-28T13:08:00.000-07:00

Daily Bible verse
How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!
Psalm 133:1

In John 17 Jesus prays that we may all be one as he and the Father are one. Unity these something about it that truly makes my heart leap there are few things as beautiful as unity. It is also an active testimony that Jesus came from God. The song and this video seems to give a glimpse of unity in a way that few things that I have experienced have. All the different people, instruments, and dialects all singing about peace and unity. It makes my heart leap every time. I hope you enjoy. Click the link to watch the You tube video

Thanks for voting for my song:)

Fill up your hope tank.

2009-03-27T13:22:00.000-07:00

Encouragement is the fuel for the car called Hope. Recently, I have had people give all kinds of support, verbal, financial, spiritual and even their mere presence. I feel so much more hopeful than I did maybe a week or two ago. Not a lot has changed except that I have received great support from my friends.

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. Heb. 3:13

Thanks for voting for my song.

Congestion

2009-03-26T09:10:00.000-07:00

Most people who live in Houston are familiar with congestion and I am not even talking about traffic. I am talking about allergen instigated nasal congestion. You know, the kind where try to breathe with all your might and you take in less oxygen than a flea. Well, the last few days nasal congestion has been my plight. As I sit here feeling like there is a brick stuck in my nose and trying to come up with the thought of the day, I find myself thinking about my bills, my coffee shop gig tonight, the Conversant Life contest, my kids, my wife, the dog’s health, the phone calls that need to be made etc, etc, etc. My mind is congested just like my nasal passages. Maybe that is why God says ‘Be Still and know that I am God’. He says stop and focus on knowing one thing – “I am God.” I believe this practice may act like a decongestant for our mind and spirit. It clears the way for us breathe in God’s Spirit. Stop and breathe deeply of the Lord.

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Need a little Support?

2009-03-25T07:40:00.000-07:00

So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword. Exodus 17:10-13>

Have you ever set out to do something significant and as you worked to see it through, you became tired, discouraged, and/or frustrated? It is at times like these that we need ‘Aarons and Hurs’ in our lives to supports us and lift up our weary, discouraged and frustrated hearts. Lately, I have been supported be several people. Many of you reading this have been a great support to me. Thank-you. May we all be like Aaron and Hur to each other. In this way the kingdom of God will see its enemies defeated.

Thanks voting for my song

In Between

2009-03-24T08:45:00.000-07:00

In the story where Jesus is walking on the water and Peter comes out to him, we see the faith of Peter when he says, ‘Lord, if it is you tell me to come out on the water and I will’ and then we see Pete’s faith waiver after he has walked on the sea for a while. His faith brought him far enough away from the boat that he wasn’t swimming back and he had not yet reached Jesus. He was in between. While he was in between is when he noticed the waves and wind. The time in between is probably the hardest for us all to navigate. If we find ourselves in between, then it means that we, like Peter, had enough faith to initially step out siply based on Jesus’ word. It seems that when we are walking according to what Jesus has told us, then this is when the real hardship comes. It’s when the finances dry up, someone gets sick, or things just aren’t going as planned and we can’t see answers to those problems. When we notice the storm and wonder how we will get through it, then we have taken our eyes off of the very one who is the answer to the storm. Let’s stick to the faith the got us out of the boat in the first place and anticipate Jesus being the answer to the difficulties while we are “in between.”

Unwrap your gift and use it!

2009-03-23T10:09:00.000-07:00

What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church. 1 Corinthians 14:26

When Paul writes to the church in Corinth he shares with all of them the best ways to use their gifts to encourage the church. For many years, I have not considered using my spiritual gifts to encourage the body when we met together, unless my name was written on the program for the day or I had some title like minister, Senior pastor, preacher, etc. I get the sense that Paul is inviting the whole body to be ready to be used by God when the church gathers. Are you ready to be used by God when the church meets? Have you been given a revelation, or word of instruction, tongue or interpretation or maybe some other gift that may give the church strength? Seek God about how to use it. At least, we should start looking for God to use us regardless of our title. Here is a title that you can take with you every where – child of God. That is title enough to be used by God at any given time. Unwrap your gift and use it!

Please vote for my song "Don't Stop Praising"

Wondering about that thing you did last summer ... or in last 5 minutes.

2009-03-21T12:50:00.000-07:00

The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. Psalms 145:8

Are you wondering about that bad thing you did the other day? Are wondering if the man upstairs is angry with you? Have you turned to him to see if everything is okay? He is gracious. Are you wondering if he is about to blow his top? He is slow to anger. Are wondering if he looks down on you or thinks less of you? He is rich in love.

Please for vote my song "Don't Stop Praising"

Wait!

2009-03-19T18:15:00.000-07:00

But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.
They spread their wings and soar like eagles,
They run and don't get tired,
they walk and don't lag behind. Isa. 40:31 (The Message)

This has always been a encouraging verse to me, because of the fresh strength, soaring and etc. Today, I am noticing the part about waiting. Notice the strength, the soaring and extra energy are conditional on the wait. If you are in a waiting period, like I am, the waiting can seem unbearable but there is hope. See the waiting as labor pains before the birth or as the climb before the view on the mountain peak. Consider this, if times are hard and you are staying your own devices to wait on the Lord’s plan then hope is coming, fresh strength is coming, glorious flight is coming and energy is on the way.

Please vote for my song "Don't Stop Praising"

Whose child are you?

2009-03-18T07:58:00.000-07:00

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure. 1 John 3:1-3

Do you remember that movie, “The Princess Bride?” There was a character in the movie named Indigo Montoya. His whole being was based on his identity, as an orphaned child. He went around trying to avenge his father’s death by looking for the six fingered man who killed his Father. He had even prepared a monologue for the six fingered man, which stated, “Hello, My named is Indigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.” Everything centered around this identity. Who we think we are directs our actions as well. According to John, if we believe that we are children of God, then we try to purify ourselves just as God is pure. Frankly, I need to believe more fully in my identity as a child of God. I believe that I will find myself living more fully for my Father in heaven.

Thanks for voting for my song

Hope that does not disappoint.

2009-03-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Romans 5:5

It is NCAA Basketball tournament time and many teams will go out to play with confidence that they will win the whole thing. They have this hope for a myriad of reasons. Maybe they have hope because of great practices, a good coach, exceptional players, good luck charms, you name it. Many have hope but only one will walk away with a hope that has does not disappoint them. According to Paul (the apostle), our hope of being saved from death to abundant life is sure because of the demonstration of God’s love through his giving us his Spirit and placing his love in our hearts. By the way, love never fails. Paul said that as well. Our hope does not disappoint because it is supported by a love the never fails, from a God who never stops loving.

Seek with all your heart.

2009-03-16T09:07:00.000-07:00

When you seek me with all of your heart you will find me. Deut. 4:29 Recently I had a time of seeking God where it felt like I just could not connect and I was wondering where he was. I felt like I really needed him and he was not coming around. On the next day I thought about the passage mentioned earlier. Then I reviewed my time of seeking him. When I did this, I realized that I was seeking God, with worries on my heart and fear about the future on my mind. These worries and fears were taking up space in my heart. So all my heart was not engaged in seeking God. When I really break it down, I wasn’t seeking God I was seeking relief. I was seeking a pain killer, not God. Maybe, that is why I thought God was so distant. If I had found relief, I may have mistaken the relief for God.

Oh Lord, teach me to seek you with every part of heart. In Jesus name, Amen

Other items

East to West

2009-03-16T09:04:00.000-07:00

He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. Psalm 103:12

Many of you know the song by Casting Crowns “East to West” it just speaks to me every time. So I thought I would put the lyrics down for you.

Here I am Lord and I'm drowning
In your sea of forgetfulness
The chains of yesterday surround me
I yearn for peace and rest
I don't want to end up where you found me
And it echoes in my mind
Keeps me awake tonight

I know you've cast my sins as far
As the East is from the West
And I stand before you now
As though I've never sinned but today
I feel like I'm just one mistake away
From you leaving me this way

Chorus
Jesus can you show me
Just how far the East is from the West
Cause I can't bear to see the man I've been
Come rising up in me again
In the arms of your mercy I find rest
Cause you know just how far the East is from the West
From one scar[r]ed hand to the other

I start the day the war begins
Endless reminding of my sin
Time and time again
Your Truth is drowned out by the storm I'm in
Today I feel like I'm just one mistake away
From you leaving me this way

Chorus

I know you've washed me white
Turned my darkness into light
I need your peace to get me through
To get me through this night
I can't live by what I feel
But by the truth your word reveals
I'm not holding on to you
But your holding on to me
Your holding on to me

Chorus

Please vote for my song "Don't Stop Praising"

Satisfied?

2009-03-14T08:52:00.000-07:00

When the service/love you give is reward in and of itself, then the deepest levels of satisfaction maybe experienced. I am learning that the gifts that I get to give my music, attention, time, heart should not be things done to receive appreciation, fame or riches but they are ways to express the wonderful life that I have been given. When I already have abundant life, why would I need more than that life to be satisfied with living?

Other topics-
I have enter a song in a contest and I would love your vote.

There is no better place than ...

2009-03-13T11:31:00.000-07:00

There is no better place to be than right in the middle of God’s will. Understand this, His will is not always easy but it is best. So,
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” - Heb 12:2 I believe when Jesus is our perspective, then the truth of God’s will becomes clear. Jesus through his obedience to God’s will saved us all and sat down at God’s side. I wonder who God might save/rescue through us and where he might place us when we have completely lived out his will in our lives.

Other topics-
I have enter a song in a contest and I would love your vote.

Let's make the world better.

2009-03-13T11:20:00.000-07:00

"What man is a man who does not make the world better."- Balian of Ibelin from the movie ‘Kingdom of Heaven’. Today, let’s see if we can make a our world better. Show a little kindness to the cashier at the store. Be a bit more patient with your spouse. Start on that idea that will benefit many but may cost you a lot. Or even, pick up some trash. If we are not making the world better, what are we doing? Let’s make it better together.

Other topics-
I have enter a song in a contest and I would love your vote.

What springs from hope?

2009-01-15T14:16:00.000-08:00

This entry was instigated by a discussion posted at the website listed below. Join the conversation.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2332534059

What springs from hope? What are the byproducts of having hope in Heaven?

I believe there a many things that arise from the hope of heaven and even more things arise from our hope in a Father who loves us beyond our comprehension. The thing that seems to stir in me when I am full of hope in God is peaceful confidence. Here is what I mean by peaceful confidence. Imagine you and a friend are waiting by a Starbucks in the mall to be picked up by your Dad and taken home. You are supposed to be picked up at 8pm. 8pm rolls around and Dad is not there to pick you up. 8:15 comes and your friend with you begins to get nervous and asks you if your Dad is coming. You calmly assure your friend saying, "He is coming. He always comes." 8:30 rolls around and your friend insists that you give him a call. But you left your phone at home and your friend's phone is dead due to excessive texting. So you tell your friend, “Don’t worry. He is coming. He always comes." 8:45 comes and another friend sees you and says that his mom will take you both home. To which you calmly respond, "My Dad is coming. He always comes." Your friend is not convinced by your words and bails on you, leaving you alone at the mall. 9:00 rolls around and mall security notices that you have been waiting for a while and offers to call your Dad for you. He calls and the phone goes directly to voice mail. You leave a message for your Father telling where you are and that you know he is coming and you will wait for him. 9:15 comes and the malls security asks you to wait outside. So they can lock up the mall. The area of town is not the safest but you calmly sit and wait. 9:30 comes and some people looking for trouble approach you to take your money and to do you harm. You calmly tell them your Father is coming and they look around and laugh, because they see no one.

At this point in the story it doesn't matter isf the Father shows or not. My point has been made. You have shown that you have hope by displaying a peaceful confidence that says, "My Father is coming. He always comes"

But to continue the story... as the thugs prepare to take your money, a deep and very authoritative voice calls out and suggests they rethink their actions before things get ugly. The voice is coming from your Dad. He has arrived. As you wonder why he wasn't there to pick you up at 8pm your Father explains. He tells you that the note that was left for him, by your friend who bailed on you, listed the wrong Starbucks as the pick up spot. Then after waiting and looking around you Father used all the battery on his phone trying to call you and all the Starbucks in town and finally after having no luck finding you he drove to each Starbucks before he was able find you.

Those who are hopeful peacefully wait on God with the certainty that "He is coming. He always comes.

Misty - How do you receive a gift

2008-12-14T18:01:00.000-08:00

Today, I was leaving a fast food restaurant after purchasing two items of the dollar menu, because I am fully aware of our economic crisis. Not the country’s crisis but the one in my own bank account. I bought a burger and an apple pie. (I know it is not nutritious, but I got the pie and it does have apples in it. :) The burger was consumed in a matter of seconds and then the pie was left for safe keeping until I finished arranging some items in my car. Once I was done with my task the only thing left was for me to fully enjoy the dessert that I had put on standby. As I was getting ready to enjoy a few morsels of sweetness a woman calls to me from the side of the road. Her name is Misty. Misty, as far as I could tell through her somewhat slurred speech, was asking if I could spare some change. I didn’t have any change, but I did have a pie and I offered it to her. (Maybe I should start carry some change just for occasions like this one.) After receiving the pie she did something that really caught my attention. She graciously accepted the pie and kneeled, repeatedly. It was one the most gracious ways I have seen anyone receive any kind of gift, especially a gift as meager as a slice of apple pie from the value menu. As she walked away and approached the next person I began to think of how I accepts gifts from God. The big, jaw dropping ones seem pretty easy to receive and those are received with much rejoicing but what about the small items. How do I receive something that gift that might not be what I asked for but is still good or that gift that helps to only partially take care of a problem? Do I accept with a gracious kneeling to my Father or do I accept with a whiny “It this all?”

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
James 1:17

“Give thanks to the Lord…”
All over the Bible

Thank-you to everyone for voting

2008-12-02T08:42:00.000-08:00

Tq is Official "First" winner at www.conversantlife.com/undiscovered Thank-you to everyone for voting and asking your friends to vote. The whole process of watching your votes come in and getting your messages of encouragement show me what great support that I have from my friends. You all have lifted my spirit so much and your support helps me to see God's great work in this ministry. The win is bonus at this point. Thank-you from the depths of my being. If you still want to vote or leave a message you still can. Click the link Below.

Walk with God til you are no more.

2008-11-25T21:35:00.000-08:00

Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away. Gen. 5:24

What a phrase “…(he) walked with God, then he was no more…” I have thought about this quite a bit lately and have been a bit envious of good ole Enoch. Who gets to cheat death and go to God? That is way cool. The only way I know to potentially top that is hitch a ride on a flaming chariot one your way out and Elijah already pulled that one. But I think there may be a way for all of us to experience walking with God, and being no more. When we are called to follow Jesus, we are called to be no more. Jesus says, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.” If we walk with Jesus, it is a requirement to become no more and then God will take us away to real life. True life. Abundant life. I don’t know exactly what the circumstances of Enoch’s life was when God took him but I believe the principle this remains. If we walk with God, we will be no more because God will take us (our life as we know it) away. That is a trip I surely want to take.

God doesn't always get what he wants.

2008-02-13T21:45:00.001-08:00

I have often heard a phrase used for comfort in times of tragedy or heart ache that I think may be more detrimental than helpful. The phrase that I am referring to tends to go something like this, "It's okay. It was the Lord's will." This phrase on the surface seems to really give relief by setting up the idea that if this incident (no matter how terrible) was God's will, then there is some good in it somewhere and/or he will redeem it. This all seems good because any one who has known God at all knows that he redeems things but the statement that says it was God's will puts these terrible things in the realm of God's desires. Which would mean that a car bombing would be what God desired in his heart to hava down here as it is heaven, then it implies that God's will is not always done down here in flesh land. If what God always wants happens here then why pray for it? In 1 Timothy 2:4 it says (God)"... wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." But elsewhere in the Bible it says clearly that some will not choose God and they will not be saved. Jesus prayed from the garden, "not my will but your will be done" as if he had a choice in the matter.

Now if what I am presenting is true and God does not always get what he wants then, this might leave someone unnerved. This is unnerving because if what God wants is not happening all the time, then at any moment that we find ourselves in tragedy's wake we might be completely be on our own with a God who (at best) may want good us for but is unable to do anything about it or (at worst) be on our own with a God who is able to do something about it but is unwilling. Well don't lose hope because I don't believe that either of these accurately describes my God.

In Romans 8:28 the Apostle Paul writes,"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
My take from this passage is that God is taking all things (good or bad things - things God wants and things that he doesn't want) and either using them or redeeming them for good, aka his will. But if he is using it for his will then isn't he getting what he wants? Doesn't that put us back at square one; God getting what he wants? (I am glad you asked.) Here is what I think happens. I believe that a lot of things happen in this world that God mourns over, grieves over and even regrets ever happened, but God's ultimate and purpose will occur. It may be something like a coach who, during a game, watches his team at times make excellent plays exactly as he has planned and other times watches his team make plays that aren't remotely what he had in mind. Yet, ultimately despite the unintended parts of the game the coach is doing everything in his power to come away with a game that his team wins. I believe God has an wonderful ultimate desire and plan for his creation/people and I believe that he will see his plan to its finishing point (Phillipians 1:6). God may not always get what he wants now but there will be a day when he will answer Jesus' prayer and his desires will done on earth as it is in heaven.

2008-02-13T21:45:00.000-08:00

You are glorious - Monica - (and everyone else who feels like her)

2008-01-09T21:31:00.001-08:00

This words written immediately below are from the Bible (a version called The Message). They are for Monica and anyone else who feels like she does. Monica, one the first phrases you said to me was, “I am useless”. This statement is not true. I don’t say this because I know you so well. I say because I know my God.

God says these words to us. Through a man who had slept with another mans woman and had him killed, a man who acted as if he were insane to keep from being killed, a man who was the leader of a gang of criminals and outcasts, and a man who knew a lot of violence. Listen with your heart.

Psalm 139:14 (The Message)
   13-16 Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother's womb. I thank you, High God—you're breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration—what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, The days of my life all prepared before I'd even lived one day.

The Message(MSG) Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

Also hear the lyrics of this song.

"Everything Glorious" by David Crowder

The day is brighter here with You
The day is brighter here with you
The night is lighter than it's hue
Would lead me to believe
Which leads me to believe
(chorus)
You make everything glorious
You make everything glorious
You make everything glorious
And I am Yours
What does that make me?

My eyes are small but they have seen
the beauty of enormous things
Which leads me to believe
there's light enough to see that
(chorus)

From glory to glory
You are glorious You are glorious
From glory to glory
You are glorious. You are glorious
Which leads me to believe
why I can believe that

You make everything glorious
You make everything glorious
You make everything glorious
And I am Yours
You make everything glorious
You make everything glorious
You make everything glorious
And I am Yours

From glory to glory From glory to glory
You are glorious. You are glorious.
You are glorious. You are glorious.
You make everything glorious
You make everything glorious
You make everything glorious
And I am Yours

To all the Monicas out there. You are created wonderfully and God will make you glorious. Believe it.

The music - continues to form.

2007-11-29T22:43:00.000-08:00

I am amazed at how the music is coming along. Ryan Owens (who plays with the Robbie Seay Band, is playing bass on the album. He is amazing. Also Joe, who plays with Evangeline; Blew my socks of on tuesday. Both bands you should check out. I praise God because of these guys and my hope is that you will praise God through the music that we are making.

It has begun

2007-11-29T22:42:00.000-08:00

Well, the recording has begun. Jeff and Ryan (the producers) are rolling in the new studio, Red tree studios. I am a guy who has really just jumped into this world of music, so I am feeling very green but you have to start somewhere. I am glad there is a capable team around me. Tigh was laying down drum tracks this past week and guitars are going to be started tomorrow. It seems like I am traveling at light speed but I am not worried. My God is a way better captain than Jean-luc Picard.

Life of a rock star. (From a bird's perspective)

2007-11-10T16:24:00.000-08:00

Well, I am in the middle of getting this CD and music career launched and when you do that, it requires that you have pictures of yourself - good ones. Not just one of you of you and your friends making faces in the camera. So, I schedule a photo shoot. I know it sounds kind or pre-madonna -ish, but it seems that is how it goes down in this business. I have a photographer take me to some spots that he has scouted in downtown Houston and we get started. He has me stand there and I am in my best 'musicians shirt' and he begins the whole rapid fire picture taking thing. So, people are passing by, of course, because it is downtown and I have that uncomfortable feeling because it is really awkward to have a person taking tons of pictures of you. People are stopping and trying to figure out who is this guy that is getting all these pictures taken. It was all really kind of weird to me.

A few moments into the session I am realizing that it appears that I someone famous and I realize that all I did was pay someone to take pictures. While realizing this, I am also realizing that this is not that big of a deal and I am not that big of deal - not to put myself down and/or not to elevate myself above anyone else. Well, I believe God gave me some help in remembering not to elevate myself.

In the middle of the session, as I am striking a pose yet one more time, I hear a couple of rain drops on this very clear Sunday afternoon. As I begin to surmise that those can't be rain drops, the biggest drop lands right on the top of my head. When I took into account that there is a huge flock of birds hanging out near by and once I saw that the 'drop of rain' on my head was brown, I became confident that a bird had pooped on head in the middle of my photo shoot. I went form rock star to toilet in a matter of seconds.

What a funny way to be reminded that God is always helping me to be humble. Thank-you God for the reminder. Point well taken and with a smile.

One last thing before I end. Remember, If you get a big head you become an easier target for birds.

Being vouched for.

2007-09-23T22:32:00.000-07:00

I am beginning a music label called TQ Music and Ministry through which I can create and promote the music God has given me. To make this company a reality and not just a dream there comes this need for capital, cashola, benjamins or whatever you call it. So, I sent out some emails and talked with some people and I began to receive investors. All of these investor have been people who have known me for years except for one investor. Those investors who have known me continue to show there love and support of me. Many of them don't know a thing about the music business but yet in still they have invested in me, which is extremely humbling and a treasure that is far greater than the amount invested. With all of this great love I have been showered with, I came to one investor that has just totally perplexed me and I believe has given me a living example of the relationship between God the father and Jesus the son.

This family that I am referring to does not know me. I think we had one crossing of paths years ago, but that is about it. But I do know their son and I heard from their son that they wanted to invest and I mean really invest. I thought great that is awesome, I will call them and we will talk details and answer all their questions and once they hear everything then maybe they will be ready to invest. So, I made the phone call and asked if they had any questions. They said 'no'. I asked if anything needed to be explained. They said, "No. We wouldn't even know what to ask. But they did told me that their son spoke highly of me. So with that recommendation they were in. Just like that - with no questions, no heavy examination, no doubt and with just the son's recommendation their resources became the resources of Tq Music and Ministry.

In the later chapters of the Gospel of John (chapter 14 and following), Jesus tells his disciples that he is going to the Father and if they remain in relationship with him then they can ask for anything in his name and they will receive it, because Jesus knew them. Jesus has said that through him they have full access to the resources of God. Much like I knew the son of these investors and their resources became available. If we know Jesus then, the Fathers resources are made available because he trusts his son.

Raw thoughts: To Wait and then to move. (part 2)

2007-09-18T23:08:00.000-07:00

Good things might come to those who wait
Not to those who wait to late
We got to go for all we know

-Just the Two of Us - Grover Washington, Jr.

So Joshua said to the Israelites: "How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you?

-Joshua 18:3

Today I sit right in the middle of 40 days of waiting. I have heard all different kinds ideas about what to do in this period of time. So I will wait until I can go for what I know.

The above was written in April and now (sept 18th) I find myself ushered out of the waiting into a moving part of my life. My life has taken a turn in a new direction since Feb. 28th, my last day as youth minister at the West Houston church of Christ. Since then, I believe the God has laid a path that says trust me, walk the road of a Christian musician and seek to bring transformation as you walk with me, help your family live fully as I have made them and don't not veer to the right or left of this task I have given you.

So today, I find myself promoting Tq Music and Ministry, being Mr. Mom while my wife brings home the bacon as a school nurse. At this point in my career, I could barely bring home the pigs feet and you can forget the bacon. I have gone from going work all the time to working at home.

Inwardly, I am finding that this financial drought is stretching my faith, even though God has continued to provide more than enough as usual. Also, I am truly in a spot where I know very little and I find that uncomfortable at times.

But with all of this upheaval, I find myself 'ultimately' at peace (definition of 'ultimately': the calm after I have figuratively scream and yelled because the 'sky was falling') Here is the reason I am ultimately at peace. I know that God has us (me and my family) here and "we've got to go for all we know". Just the two of us -God and my family.

Father, we are ready to take possession of the land. May it be on earth as it is in heaven.

Violent Freedom

2007-04-25T23:29:00.000-07:00

The freedom that Jesus offers is violent to our lives, yet freeing for our souls. Our lives will not stay the same and neither will our souls. They will be truly free. Notice Lyrics from the bridge of Third Day's song "Who I am" -
"And I know that you want to change me
Want to rearrange the way I feel inside
Yes, I've heard that you take
The broken hearts of lonely souls
And make all things right"

Beautifully spoken and my heart has witnessed it's truth. - TQ

Fasting

2007-04-25T23:28:00.000-07:00

"Fasting is not about food it is about seeking. And in your seeking it is not about finding the answers to life's questions, it is about finding life. And when you find life, you will notice it looks exactly like Jesus because he is life." - TQ

Raw thoughts: To Wait and then to move.

2007-04-17T22:59:00.000-07:00

Good things might come to those who wait
Not to those who wait to late
We got to go for all we know

-Just the Two of Us - Grover Washington, Jr.

So Joshua said to the Israelites: "How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you?

-Joshua 18:3

Today I sit right in the middle of 40 days of waiting. I have heard all different kinds ideas about what to do in this period of time. So I will wait until I can go for what I know.

Raw thoughts - Don't be Silent

2007-04-07T19:10:00.000-07:00

Psalms 83:1
1 O God, do not keep silent;
be not quiet, O God, be not still.

As my family and I are in a period of waiting on the Lord to tell us what he would like the next chapter of our lives to look like. I find consolation in the the words of the Psalmist. He has the courage to ask God to speak and to no longer be silent. For the purpose of showing outsiders that God is with his people and he is God overall.

So Father, I ask the same request to the psalm writer. Please do not be silent. We are openly waiting on you because we only want to do what you would be doing and I believe there are others waiting to see what you will do. Overcome the unknowns our our future with your prescence.

In the name of Jesus - May it be as written.

My family's prayer and new song "Waiting"

2007-02-06T13:52:00.000-08:00

Lord, we are waiting
For you to speak
Lord, we are waiting
Waiting in peace.

Chorus 1
You never let us down
never let us down
I know that you never will

Lord, We are certain
That you will catch us
Catch us when we fall
So Lord we are waiting

Verse 2
Lord, we are waiting
For you to point the way.
And our feet so ready
Just lead the way

Chorus 2
We know you have plans
Plans not to harm
But to prosper your children
So we won’t be alarmed
Oh no Oh no
So we are waiting

Bridge

Those who wait on the Lord
He will renew their strength
Those who wait on the Lord
They will run and not grow weary
Those who wait on the Lord
They will mount up on eagles
mount up on eagles

So we are waiting

All rights reserved by Tquan Moore
Copyright 2007

When God Shows Up

2007-01-31T20:54:00.000-08:00

Tonight I went to Husky's, the restaurant nearest to our church, to celebrate the baptism of a student. As I was leaving, I met a man in the parking lot. His name is Tony. I met Tony because he was asking me for some financial help to get his car fixed. I talked with him and we got a bit of cash to help get his car serviced. As we talked God showed up.

Tony began to tell me about his tough time over the past two years since finishing his prison sentence. He shared with me how people would tell him that he should go and be productive in society but he is finding that society doesn't want to take a risk on him. It is as if society no longer sees Tony as a person who needs help, it sees him just as a liability. Interestingly enough, in the midst of that tough setting, God showed up. God always picks the best times to come on the scene. Tonight, He chose to show up in Tony's desperation. This man who is just trying to make ends meet didn't see much hope for the ends getting together any time soon. As I looked into this desperate man's eyes, I saw God.

Tony needed hope for the future and since I didn't have a job in my back pocket, we sought hope together. We prayed. We asked God to provide and encourage. And when the amen was said I met a man who was broken and in need. You may think I am talking about Tony but I am not. I am talking about me. I once read that a man who was helping an ex-con said to him, " The only difference between you and me is that I didn't get caught." You see, like the man I just quoted, I was realizing I am no different than Tony. Tony was in need tonight and his neediness helped me to recall how frequently I am in need. This recollection was highlighted as I got back into my car that was just fixed today because God provided for me the payment I could not afford to pay for on my own. (Again, God knows how to show up.) I realized that, though the world doesn't see it, I am no less broken or in need of God's provision and encouragement than Tony.

Thank-you Lord for showing up and reminding me of my brokenness and my neediness. It keeps me grounded. May the abundance your grace cover Tony in all his areas of need. In the name of Jesus. My heart says, "Yes!" (Translation: ...name of Jesus, Amen)

Note to the reader:
By the way, If you know of anyone willing to give Tony a chance just respond to this blog. Thanks. Being transformed daily.

Transformation Series: The Desire to Transcend

2007-01-23T09:21:00.000-08:00

As far back as I can remember, I have aspired to do something that, at the time, I was unable to do. Before I knew you needed a license to drive I wanted to win races like 'Speed Racer'. When I got my first radio, I began to imagine singing before crowds of people. While in college I began to believe that I was supposed to be part of something great for God and I am still reaching for whatever he has is store. I don't know if you are one of those dreamers like me who sees something out there that seems beyond you, but you find that the only acceptable action for you is to reach it anyway. I wonder what brings us to dream beyond ourselves like this. Some may think that this is just youthful naivety, but I think it is something written into our DNA. I take that back. It is not just in our DNA. It is in something deeper. I believe it is written on our very souls.

I wonder if the caterpillar deals with this. Think about it for moment. If you could get into the mind of a caterpillar, what do you think would drive it to seek flight? I wonder if a caterpillar is born among its other caterpillar brothers and sisters and begins to go about its life finding leaves for food, crawling up trees and flowers, and trying to keep from being eaten by the early worm. It is an existence that probably seems like a good one, from his perspective. It seems manageable and not too bad of a life as long as you've got food on a branch near you.Okay there is the potential of some bird of prey, like the terrible pigeon, that could end your life in one swoop but that does keeps things interesting. What is it that takes the caterpillar beyond its ground level life and causes it to gaze to the heavens and picture being up there? I wonder if this dream doesn't begin to develop until it sees/imagines the possibility for it. Imagine what it might be like for the caterpillar to see a butterfly for the first time. Does its heart pound? Does it stop it munching away at the leaf and drop its jaw? I don't know. I don't know if they are oblivious to their metamorphic destiny or whether they were taught as little larvae that one day they would soar the skies above them. Either way I believe if they ever got to see a butterfly fluttering by then something would be stirred in their heart.

When I get to see dreams lived out, it inspires the dormant dreamer in me. I remember seeing Star Wars and desiring to be a noble hero like a Jedi. But more than the lives lived out on the silver screen, real life people have inspired me to dream. My father inspired me to be a leader, as I watched him lead men under him in rank. My youth minister inspired me to join God in transforming lives, by joining God in my life's transformation. I am inspired to hold on to the God, because I have seen my mother stubbornly (in a good way) hold on to God when despair was pound on her hearts door. There is something about the dreamers reaching for the stars that helps me to believe that the stars can be touched. These dream pioneers don't even need to successful they just need to keep reaching.

There where a band of ordinary men who became dreamers because they believed in the one who makes the deepest dreams of our hearts come true. Those followers of Jesus believed in him. Now listen to how Jesus sets them up to dream beyond themselves.

John 14:11-13

Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.

"...Greater things than these..." Wow! Talk about transcending yourself. Jesus did amazing things and so did his followers. They healed the sick, cast out demons and raised the dead and because they continued to be fishers of men and followed a dream that transcended them, they changed the world. Those men are butterflies to this caterpillar.

To all butterflies fly high and to all the caterpillars look up.

Raw Thoughts: Standing without a Platform

2007-01-18T22:35:00.000-08:00

Note to the reader: This is not about wrong or right or about persuasion of any kind. This is about openness and the sharing of my journey with you. May you be blessed as you read.

Well, I have had a sabbatical and I am back at the office for about five more weeks until I reach my last day. I have been in the office for one week so far and it has probably been one of the hardest weeks of my career. When I left back in December I knew that the the youth ministry was in capable hands and I was absolutely right. When I got back things were moving very well. Events were happening, groups of people were getting involved and there was even an excitement at our youth staff meeting that I hadn't seen in a while. Things were moving right along...without me.

Have you ever been faced with watching the world move without you? It is a humbling experience (and I know I need a bit of humility). I excepted things to be going well without me. I even hoped for it, but experiencing it is an altogether different thing. I came back to a place that I at one time was an integral part of. Now I am trying to figure out how to fit in. The experience is like one of those cartoons (probably Road Runner fits best ) where the character is standing on a platform, limb or plank that is precariously hanging over a cliff. Then the plank that the character is standing on gets yanked from under his feet and he looks at the audience as if to say, 'This is going to hurt.' and plummets to the ground beneath him. You see what I am finding is that the thing that I was standing on, my job, calling, vocation, whatever you want to call it, is gone. And with it being yanked from under my feet I find myself plummeting through a myriad of emotions and thoughts in the whole process.

Doubt is one of the first things that I have been facing. Like a neon sign that flashes at your window at night while you are trying to sleep, doubt seems to annoyingly make himself glaringly apparent when you are trying to have some peace or get some rest. There are doubts about whether I have been useful or not. Doubts concerning if there is anything that I have to offer the world in the future. Doubts concerning convictions that stand on. Doubts seem to be springing up every where like weeds and they can be very unsettling.

Being alone is another thing that I am facing. I don't mean like 'I wish I had a love interest' alone. I mean like I am wearing a scarlet letter and I want to get away alone. My letter is 'L'. It stands for the guy who is leaving us. So, I find myself wanting to isolate myself to hide my letter. I want to dodge questions about the future, and wanting to get away and figure out the answers to those questions. I find myself wondering if I am the only one who has ever felt like this but I don't want to ask. And thereby as I try to hide my letter I end up fulfilling what the letter stands for. I end up leaving, even while physically being present.

Anger is another one of those emotions that I find myself experiencing. I find myself angry at those who don't agree with me. Wishing they would have done...(whatever I thought best) and thinking I'll show them them when I... ( and I come up with a marvelous scenario where I prove them all wrong in grand fashion). Then I get angry at myself for not being above these petty thoughts concerning those who think differently than me. Ye Ha! This ride gets better the further you drop, huh? (Can you smell the sarcasm emanating from your computer screen?)

There are probably more emotions that I am falling through but I am tired of writing and it is kind of late. So what happens when I get to the bottom? Will that be the end of me? What will I land on? Where will I find myself? The answers to these questions can't be found in a job or new location to pitch my tent. I am talking about something a bit more personal. I want to know where will I land. When the cartoon character previously mentioned finally finishes his descent, he tends to land on something solid. My hope is to land on something solid, as well. I am hoping the that solid thing I land on is my Lord. You see the neat thing about the cartoon character who goes through the fall is that, eventhough the fall is scary and sometimes very rough on the way down and the landing can sometimes be met with pain, he always gets up after he finds solid ground.

Lord, please be the solid ground where I can stand after my platform is gone and through the fall. In the powerful name of Jesus. Amen.

Transformation: Becoming Myself

2006-11-25T20:20:00.000-08:00

On a Thursday evening in October during one of my typical calls to one of my best friends on the planet I became unraveled. I don't really know what brought it on but I do know that it was intense. That evening, as I do for all my conversations with my friend, I took a look at my life and when I looked at it this time, I was filled with frustration. I was frustrated because when I looked at my life I saw a bunch of unfulfilled goals. I don't mean unfulfilled goals like forgetting to take out the trash, but big life transforming goals. I was frustrated with the progress that I had made with my battle to have pure eyes, and I was frustrated with my closeness to God. Now don't misunderstand or try to judge how bad it is. The degree to how good or bad it is, is unimportant. The important piece was that I looked at my life and I found that I was not as far along as I felt that I should be. I felt like I had been working on these things for years and barely had scratched the surface of being who I was meant to be. Understand I was not trying to do any remodeling of my life, I was just trying to live it as I am designed to live it. It was like I had been cleaning my office of trash for a week only to find that I had replaced the old trash with new trash. So, instead of being able to see my office, all that was visible was the mess. And just like the trash in my office, it became apparent to me that I was covered with my mess.

So there you have it, I am a mess. This is not some 'let me show you how holy and humble I am by calling myself a mess' mess. No, It was a very real gut wrenching, tears flowing, snot running mess that I had found myself in. I was completely frustrated and helpless to alleviate the problem. You see I had already tried everything I knew to try. I had tried spiritual disciplines, accountability partners, web monitoring, confession and more. With all my best efforts I would look at myself and still find a filthy mess. Don't get me wrong I am not saying that the things that I tried are bad. On the contrary, I think they are extremely helpful. I even recommend them. The problem was not the things that I was trying. The problem was me. Give a pig a water hose to clean itself and it will make mud to wallow in. The water is not the issue it is the pig. So, I found myself helpless. I had tools I could use but no ability and sometimes there was even a desire to do the things that would let me truly experience the abundant life that God has in store for me. I found myself truly helpless. I was exhausted and frustrated, like a man in the desert who is looking for water but all he can find are mirages.

So, I spoke to my friend about my mess and my frustration and he suggested that we pray. So, we began to pray and then something happened to me. It was something new. No, I didn't see an angel or anything like that but I believe the Spirit of God guided my prayer. My typical prayer in a time like this would be to address issues of frustration. An example would be 'God make me more disciplined' or 'God, purify my eyes.' but I found that those things weren't the deepest desires of my heart. These were my desires but not the deepest desires. The deeper desire was that he would, 'Get close enough to me to get messy while being with me'. I just wanted God to be close. Like a child who wants his father or mother to hold them when he gets a 'boo-boo' on his knee and somehow that makes things better, I just wanted God to be near enough for me to feel him. I needed more than tools or skills to overcome. I needed the one who overcomes. Thank-you Spirit.

Here is something that I am learning concerning what happens when we ask God to come near to our messy selves: He likes to make good out of our messes. Recall Genesis 1:1-4. The earth was formless and empty (translation: the earth was a mess, a big shapeless mess) and God came hovered over the mess and began to change it. He created light and where there had been mess, now there was beautiful good light. This continued for six days until he was done. Each day he took the mess and created something good. I believe that is what God is doing in you and me. When the time is right he will hover over the mess of our lives and make something good. Notice that he will come and hover over our mess. A word of caution though, it is likely that when he comes and does his good work it will be a radical change but rest assured the change will be good. In the last month,God has been working me over and surfacing the me underneath the mess. He is making me good. I will share more about this in future posts. May God be near us all and may we all become the selves that he has created us to be.

Transition

2006-11-19T06:43:00.000-08:00

Eleven years ago in June 1995. God placed me and my wife here at West Houston church of Christ. Now he is releasing us from the ministry here to a place that he will make known later. At the elders’ initiation and my mutual agreement, we have determined that the vision paths that we have will lead down different paths in the kingdom of God.

Therefore, thanks to the graciousness of our elders, my plan is to take a month long sabbatical to seek God concerning the details of plans for me and family’s future. The sabbatical will last from December 10^th – January 10^th and then to I plan finish my duties as a youth minister on staff on February 25^th.

My dear church family, my love for you runs deep. You have watched me grow up. You have always welcomed and cared for us. You were there when we struggled through three years of waiting to have children and you have loved my family as if they were your own. My prayer for you is that you grow in deep relationship with God and each other and that you will make disciples of Christ as you are transformed in the your relationship with God and each other.

I want you to know that I love you and entrust you to God. Many times when a minister leaves a church many wonder and speculate as to the reasons. Please don’t do this. It will only grieve my spirit and I believe it will grieve God’s as well. The elders here love me and I love them and we both love you dearly and desire what it is best for you. Even though the visions that we have are leading us into different paths, there is no bitterness, anger or strife - just different paths. God calls each of us to where he will lead and no matter where we are or where we go God ultimately is directing all.

Please feel free to speak to myself or any of the elders with questions that you may have. I love you with the amazing love that I have received from Christ.

Transformation Series: Word

2006-11-10T09:29:00.000-08:00

Words can produce so much change. Consider Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who spoke of a dream that has been changing the culture of the United States of America ever since. Consider Hitler who, through his words, convinced a nation that they were superior to the rest of the human race and left a blemish on mankind forever. With words men are inspired to give their lives in battle. With words children become the people that they believe that they can become. With words women change their names to be the same as some young man as they plan to spend their lives with.

Why is it that words can produce such change? It seems pretty random to me. Let me explain. The process of speaking goes something like this- air that is stored up in your lungs get pushed out and that air passes over muscles in your throat called vocal cords. These vocal cords tighten and loosen to create distinct sounds. We call these sounds words. Generally these sounds carry meaning. For example: Say this phrase (Make sure to run the sounds together like a sentence) 'Ay em gud lukin.' Now smile. Did you catch it? If you didn't, then read it again. What I asked you to read is not a sentence in the English language. Yet, hopefully as you sounded the phrase out it meant something to you. You should have heard yourself say, 'I am good looking' (By the way, I hope it made you smile. I am sure it is true.)

My point is this, what you heard/said meant something to you. Whether you believe the phrase you spoke or not, it meant something. It affected your thinking even if it were on only for a moment. It changed your thinking from whatever you were thinking about to whatever you thought about the phrase. How do words do that? Why do the words 'I love you' cause my daughter to light up everytime she hears them? Why is it that while I was in school, when students said my nose was too big, I would look in the mirror and think I am ugly because I have a big nose?Here is the reason - It is because words carry meaning and things that have meaning infiltrate our hearts and minds and things that infiltrate our hearts and minds shape our belief and then once we believe something, then we do as we believe. (Side note: We don't always do what we claim to believe but we always act is agreement with what we believe.)

It is likely that you hear thousands of words a day. Some things you hear are true, some are false. Some things you hear encourage, some things discourage. My daughter believes she is a princess, because I tell her she is (and so does Disney by the way). Those words affect how she carries herself. Now imagine if we always spoke words of love, truth, encouragement and hope. What do you think that would do to the people around us? I think it would help them become more of who they were created to be. Will you tap on someone’s heart and mind with words of love, encouragement and truth?

To those of you who care to join this movement of transformation, I ask you to speak words of life to people. Jesus was said to have had the words of life. Speak words that refresh and build up. Do not speak words of death. Do not speak words that make people weary and tear them down. Your words will help produce the transformation in people that they long for. Will your words help them be the people they were meant to be or will it destroy even the very hope of becoming who they were meant to be? You decide every time you open your mouth. Transformation is on the tip of your tongue.

The Transformation Series: The Call

2006-11-07T20:45:00.000-08:00

Do you remember when all that you wanted to do was be big? My eldest daughter is almost three and she has a list of things that she looks forward to doing when she gets 'big'. This list includes buckling a seat belt all by herself, being able to tie her shoes, going to school, (I'd better cherish this one while it last) being a mommy and much more. My daughter is envisioning her potential. Potential – Do you remember that word in school? School is where I remember it from. My teachers used to write about potential on my progress reports. They would say, "Tquan is so bright and has such great potential. If he would just apply himself then..." and you know the rest. Potential is a word that carries so much weight and hope all at the same time. Our potential is the untapped part of us. My potential is my dormant self that has not awakened from its slumber. It is a part of us that, many times, we don't even know how to reach until someone helps us.

My daughter often says confidently, "I do that when I big,” referring to some future achievement she envisions. Even though her tone says confidence, she still looks at me as if to say 'Right?' She wants some confirmation of this hope that she has, because it is hard for her to believe it without someone else affirming her vision of her future. Why is it so hard for us to see what we could be? I really don't know. There are probably a plethora (I like that word) of reasons. But I do know that everyone that I know who is stretching to reach their full potential can point to people who are being instrumental in their transformation. There are no flowers that blossom without help from the sun, rain and soil.

So I write this to call to action all those that would be the sun, rain and soil for would be blossoming flowers. There is a massive shortage of those who would give of themselves to help someone else to become the truest version of them self. How do I know of this short fall? I say there is a shortage because I see many who are frustrated at this desire to have something more than what they have, but they are not knowing how to grab hold of it. I see families who don't really know what is like to live in peace with each other because they can't even visualize that potential reality. I see church goers who really wish that they were sold out Christ followers, but they don’t know how to get out of the rut of pew sitting. Many just need someone who will walk along side them and encourage them to take each next step to becoming fully who they were meant to be.

Here is my call. Will you be poured out like rain on a person who is withered by life? Will you be like sunshine on someone who has only felt the cold of a harsh world? Will you give of yourself to nurture someone else’s growth, like the soil gives nutrients to the flower? As one who is seeing much untapped potential around me, I ask, with piercing eyes, deep conviction and a sincere heart, will will join me in this movement of transformation?

This is not a movement driven by any institution, constitution or other organized entity. No, this is one man with a passion for the world around him, calling others who share that same passion to turn their passion into action and be poured out for the community of people around them. Will you join his movement? Your world needs you. And frankly, if this resonates in you, then you need to do this. You need it just to live up to your full potential. Consider yourself rained on.

May God give us grace, power and success through his Spirit and may the world be a transformed place because of it.

The Mirror

2006-10-27T12:04:00.000-07:00

I sit here at the computer with a mirror in front of me and as I look directly into it you may think I see myself. Sadly, that is not what I see, at least not this time. I see what I have been taught to see. I see misplaced hairs, blemishes, acne, gray hairs that peek out from my beard like flags of conquest and the redness of tired eyes. Then there have been other times after a good bit of primping and touch-up work to my face and hair, a hero appears in my mirror and he has it all together. He has the coolness of Shaft, the integrity of Superman, the intelligence of Einstein and the wit of your favorite talk show host. Yet this picture is still not me. Why is that I (and maybe others of you who are reading this) have so many differing views of the same person that I see in the mirror everyday? Maybe it is because we have been taught a faulty way to look in the mirror and see ourselves.

Let me explain with a story. I once saw a yard that was filled with wild flowers. When I looked, I saw what looked like just a bunch a blossoming weeds that had completely swallowed up this yard, especially when seen next to one of those subdivision manicured "yard of the month" lawns. Now, If my daughter were to lay eyes on that wild flower monstrosity. She would say something like, 'Look at the pretty flowers, Daddy.' My daughter sees the beauty in the wild flowers because she has not received the Homeowners Associations letters that say you can not let your yard grow wildly. I, on the other hand, have learned very well what a good yard looks like. It is one that doesn't embarrass the neighbors or make other people fear the loss of value to their homes. It has evenly cut yards with beautiful symmetrical flower beds and absolutely no weeds. Can you see where I am headed? I have been taught to look at yards based on a communal standard. The home owners, neighbors, parents, and even I have set the standard. So now I look with a comparative lens at each yard I see, as opposed to taking the yard for what it is.

In the same way I believe that, at times, I see myself through a comparative lens, comparing myself to one person or another and I thereby judge myself based on this standard that has been handed down to me. This leaves me feeling at times like I am on the top of the world and other times like I am on the bottom of the manure pile.

So what do I do? Do I just accept this standard that leaves me feeling up or down at any given moment, do I just chunk the mirror to never consider what I look like or could there be another standard?

I want to explore that latter option. Let's look at this other standard. My Father (I mean my heavenly one) says he doesn't see people like we do. He looks at the heart. When he described David he described him as a "man after his own heart." Was David perfect? No. But he was seeking to know God and striving to be like him. We are made in God's image. I believe God sees us as that. Yet, we have blemishes, faults or sin (to use more religious language) that taints the image that we have been made in. Here is the thing about a blemish. It may change my appearance but it doesn't change me.

So here is what I am suggesting, when we look at ourselves we should look through the lens of how God has created us. This means when I look in that mirror again I will see myself ... but I will still see blemishes. Remember Isaiah in Chapter 6 of his book, he sees God (the standard) and says, 'Whoa, I am unraveled because I have unclean lips.' Our natural response in the face of perfection is to recognize our imperfections. You may say, "Well, how does that help? We are in the same position we were in when we had the communal standard." Then I would reply, 'Not exactly.' If we look at the mirror through God's standard then we see the image of God in us. Yes, it has blemishes but we see the image of God instead of just seeing the blemishes. Then a beautiful thing occurs when we realize that we were meant to be blemish free. We turn to God (we confess our sin) and he begins to give us a complete makeover. Isaiah's makeover came when a hot coal from God's altar was placed on his lips to clean them. After we recognize our blemishes and turn to God, then as time passes and we allow God to work he removes our blemishes and we begin to experience who we were created to be. We experience the fullness of God dwelling in us.

Don't get rid of the mirror. Get a new standard so you can see clearly into it. Then turn to Jesus and enjoy becoming who you are.

The whole earth is full of His glory

2006-10-24T20:49:00.000-07:00

"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory." Isaiah

I was reading in a book by Rob Bell last night and he brought up the idea that God is always around and we are the ones that are missing him at times. So I read the passage in Isaiah 6 and here is the imagery....

God, himself, is seated high and exalted on his throne. There are six winged creatures that with four of the wings they shield their eyes and their feet and with other two they fly. Then as they speak their voices shake the doorpost and the threshold of the very temple of God. Isaiah is taken back at the scene and assumes he is toast because his imperfections are being consumed by the perfection the Lord of host who is right in front of him. While all of this great scene is going on, the seraphs (the six winged creatures) say, "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory." How do these beings who are in the very prescence of God, in their praise, leave this temple and the Most Holy place where God would dwell and speak of the whole earth? I suppose that they can say, " the whole earth" because they have eyes to see, with great clarity, how God's glory burst past the walls of the Most Holy Place, past outer courts of the temple, through Jerusalem, beyond Judah, out of the middle east, past the oceans and engulfs the world,

They see it as clearly as I can see my hands typing this blog. I want eyes like that. Eyes that can recognize everywhere God's glory is. How peaceful a person can be when they see the glory of the Lord everywhere. I want eyes like that.

I want to see His glory in the homeless man who is bothering people for change. I want see him in the storm before the rainbow. I want to recognize him in the beautiful and the ugly. I want to see like Jesus did when the town whore came and interrupted a highly respectful meal with her tears and perfume. (see Luke 7) The Pharisees saw a whore, an inconvenience, and shame. Jesus saw a woman created in the image of God and living it out by placing perfume on him and cleaning his feet with her tears. How beautiful God's glory is.

I want to see clearly , like Jesus did. I want my vision to be swallowed up in God glory.

Give us sight Lord

In the name of Jesus