FINALLY ........this BLOG IS GETTING UPDATED

Hey everyone, sorry that I have been so tardy at updating (9 or so months from last post and 3 weeks from the last conference). But now that the 2008 "I AM" AICEMEA European youth conference is over I have a reason to update again.

Firstly, for all the AICEMEA participants who are reading this....you are amazing! You were an amazing group to hang out with and I was blessed by the ways that God was working among us and the ways that you responded to God's presence. So...keep undignified; remembering that you are far worse than you imagined and far more loved than you could ever know.

Over the next few weeks I will be updating this site with MP3s of the songs so that you can learn them and share them with your churches easier. I will also (hopefully) update this site with articles, poems, musings on worship, and new worship music to share.

And I want to end for now with a benediction that comes from Frederick Buechner, that I pray for you as you process the conference and struggle to live in God's love, grace, and purpose in your daily lives:

"Go where your best prayers take you.
Unclench the fists of your spirit and take it easy.
Breathe deep of the glad air and live one day at a time.
Know that you are precious.
Learn to trust.
Know that you can trust God.
Know that you can trust others.
You need help.
You need others.
You need the One who C.S Lewis calls 'Aslan'.
'Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything
by prayer and supplication
make your requests to God.
And the peace of God,
which surpasses all understanding,
will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.'" (Philippians 3:6-7)
-Frederick Buechner, Telling Secrets

I Praise You For What Is Yet To Be

Wondrous Worker of Wonders,
I praise you
not alone for what has been,
or for what is,
but for what is yet to be,
for you are gracious beyond all telling of it.

I praise you
that out of the turbulence of my life
a kingdom is coming,
is being shaped even now
out of my slivers of loving
my bits of trusting
my sprigs of hoping
my tootles of laughing
my drips of crying
my smidgens of worshipping;
that out of my songs and struggles,
out of my griefs and triumphs,
I am gathered up and saved,
for you are gracious beyond all telling of it.

I praise you
that you turn me loose
to go with you to the edge of the now and maybe,
to welcome the new,
to see my possibilities,
to accept my limits,
and yet begin living to the limit
of passion and compassion
until,
released by joy,
I uncurl to other people
and to your kingdom coming,
for you are gracious beyond all telling of it.
- Ted Loder, Guerillas of Grace

Songs from the Paris Conference

Hello everyone! Last weekend the praise team and I recorded Mp3s of the worship songs that we sang at the Paris youth conference a few weeks ago. We recorded these mostly at the LIFT evening service or before that. Many of these songs we also sing regularily at the contemporary service...so feel free to download and enjoy!