Sunday, September 19, 2010
River Oaks Community Church
Experiencing God, Part 10: “The Next Step In Our Journey”

Colossians 1:13-14 states

For he [God the Father] has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins. (NLT)

These two verses communicate the essence of the Gospel. We were in darkness. God, in His grace, rescued us from our sin. I really like the imagery of being transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of his Son.

So, I wrote a song about it, called “Your Grace Has Rescued Me”. It’s a very simple worship song, and it goes like this:

When I was in college, I had some really great times and some not so great times. Like anybody, I had and still have things that I struggle with. Back in college I was fortunate enough to be surrounded with people who really cared about me. People that were not afraid to let me know when I needed to work on certain things in my life, and people who were not afraid to be there for me when I did.

I’ve always had those types of people around me, and I still do. My parents. My friends. My church. My wife, Angela. You have all challenged me to be a better person, and you have stood beside me in the process. It is very important to seek out these kinds of people in life.

I wrote a song back in 2002 called “Thank You”. It is for everybody who has ever been there for me.

Today is my birthday. I’m 31 now. I’m not sure exactly the moment I was born, but my mother tells me that she went into labor as the Geraldo Rivera show started, and I was born before it ended. My 5K time isn’t quite that fast, yet. Mom also tells me that I slept all the way through the night the first night they brought me home. I still have a lot of promising talent when it comes to sleeping.

The Bible has some strange stuff going on sometimes. Here is a story that makes me scratch my head every time I’ve ever read it. I’m curious what kind of insight may be found in it. It’s found in Genesis (mostly chapter 19).

Lot is Abraham’s nephew, and he’s married with two daughters. They have a happy little place in Sodom. This is a most unfortunate place to live, especially during Genesis 19. Sodom is so wicked that God decides to destroy it along with Gomorrah. Before God reigns down his judgement in the form of fire from the sky, he sends two Angels into the town to rescue Lot and his family. This is quite a nice gesture. The events transpire like this (paraphrased):

Gabriel’s Sword was originally formed in 1987 by legends of metal

• Brian “Amadeus” Wahl
• Heath “Heartbreaker” Epley
• Curtis “the Destroyer” Dick
• Reid “Tommy Gun” Gossen.

These four warriors of rock met at a Petra concert (Stryper and Carmen opened), and the Sword was forged.

Chord Chart Downloads (PDF): Key of G (capo) // Key of B (open) // Key of C

Come out this Friday night to the Worship Night at Amazing Tone Music in Raleigh. We’ll be playing a bunch of new originals.

The show starts at 7:00p. The first hour is open mic, so bring a guitar and play a song or two. For the second hour, Alastair Vance and I (plus a few friends) will provide the entertainment.

Update (12/14/11)

I’m no longer going to be offering my music for free. Click here to read why and how much I’ll be charging.

Why I used to offer my music for free

Let’s face it, as an unknown independent artist, I’m not getting rich off album sales. Or sold out concerts. In fact, I have two day jobs that, shall we say, supplement my passion for writing and recording music. I’m far more interested in exposure than profit, which is why I’ve decided to give my music away for free.

I can be bought
Persuaded and sold
With fancy pictures and marketing you can steal my soul

Greed is my god
Jealousy my lord
There is always bigger, always better, always more

My society – lies to me – tells me things and I believe
My heart it longs – and all it wants – is something that will make me complete

Look at all my things
And count all my gold
Dig a hole you can’t fill and then ask for more

Sell me your dreams
Sell me your hopes
Just make sure you tell me that it’s nothing at all

You can’t buy me – I’m not for sale – I’m not for sale
You can’t buy me – I’m not for sale – I’m not for sale
You can’t buy me – I’m not for sale – I’m not for sale…
I’m already paid for

1st Chorinthians 6:19-20 has a curious line in it. It says, “You were bought with a price”. If I can be purchased, I suppose that means I’m for sale. There is a lot of imagery in the Bible that suggests (or, rather, proclaims) that we belong to God. We have been ransomed, purchased, reconciled, etc. I think if we belong to God, we could also belong to something else. If God has purchased us, that means we can be bought by someone or something else as well.

We live in a world that is trying desperately to buy us out. Through a system of greed and jealousy, we are always desiring, always acquiring, and never, ever satisfied. There is always a bigger house. A nicer car. A higher salary. Better lifestyle. The list goes on and on. If we allow ourselves to be sold to consumerism, we will never, ever be truly happy.

We have been bought with a price. It may seem odd to think about – maybe we never wanted to sell ourselves.  Maybe I don’t want to be owned, but I know I do want to be fulfilled. Complete. And I know that selling myself to whatever thing I want at the moment has never completed me. Only God can do that.