Going Back In Time

Here is a video of me and the Saturate band playing 'Your Name'. Saturate is the 20Something's gathering at LCBC Church. I'm not gonna lie, it's an old video. Have fun watching a clip from yesteryear!

Discouragement Management

     If you have ever had a manager that said things like, “Yeah, well if you think THAT’S bad, wait till…” or, “I remember a time when something similar happened to ME! Listen to this story…” you know what it means to be subject to management discouragement. I just wanted to drop a quick bit of encouragement to all of you who feel put down, undermined, discouraged or even downright frustrated in your position of subordination.

     It won’t last. It’s ok. This is not your forever.

     One of two things will happen. 1) You will get sick of it and quit or begin lashing out and underperforming leading to your dismissal. 2) You will realize that your manager is insecure and his or her actions will become so small in your mind, a mind focused on the big picture, that you’ll grow past that person. Both outcomes rely HEAVILY on your response. Don’t be that guy that everybody hates to be around because you are constantly whining about your boss.

     Be positive. Be the one that is casting vision. Serve your co-workers. 

     It will pay off. You may still be working under that person a year from now, but you will be happier and more fulfilled as an individual and therefore more valuable to your organization.

     The best way to handle a discouraging manager is to manage your own discouragement with grace and peace. TMF

How Faces Melt - Part Three

     The best way to melt faces, point 'em to God. He will melt their heart. Here are the lyrics to a song I co-wrote with my friend, Jeff Culp. Best attempt at pointing people to God. If you've been to LCBC Church recently, you might have heard this song. It's one I'm pretty proud of.
     Also the songs I co-write are always better than the ones I write on my own. A rare, vulnerable, humble moment. Cherish it. Tomorrow, I go back to melting faces with the strength of my rock.

Savior Called

Michael Ferrari, Jeff Culp

2009 LCBC

Verse 1

Look what love I’ve found;

So complete, so secure, so sweet.

Look what hands I hold driven through with nails,

Hands so strong holding hands so frail.

Look what love I’ve found!

Verse 2

Look what joy I’ve found; I’m made new,

I’m redeemed through and through.

Laughter fills my heart when I recall

The day you became my all in all.

Look what joy I’ve found!

Verse 3

Look what peace I’ve found;

I am still, I can rest in your will.

I’m falling to my knees at the thought

That I’ve been saved I’ve been bought.

Look what peace I’ve found!

Bridge:

Your love’s the perfect measure

For what my heart should treasure

You lift my head up. You lift my head up.

My salvation story

I sing to bring you glory

I lift my hands up. I lift my hands up.

Bridge

Verse 4

Savior called to me and

Hands once bound have been untied

And freedom found.

These feet have been set free rom shackles’ hold

Now they run to calling Savior‘s fold.

I WANT ONE

Wordle Of Worry

Tomorrow Will Take Care Of Itself

Today I woke up early and found myself worrying about things. Money, buying our house, and a few other odds and ends. I began thinking in 'what ifs'. Immediately I was reminded of what we talked about last night at band rehearsal for LCBC_CTY (Lives Changed By Christ church, City Campus). The convo revolved around God's provision for us and what our fears and expectations are with regard to having and wanting (sounds like a Friends episode). My mind jumped to Matthew Chapter 6 (NLT). Ima post it here for you so you can read it as well and be encouraged. I love these words. They are like a how-to manual for christian living. Simple. True. Hope you have a great day. Don't worry about today. And certainly dont worry about tomorrow - tomorrow will take care of itself.

Matthew 6

Teaching about Giving to the Needy

1 “Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. 2 When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. 3 But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. 4 Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

Teaching about Prayer and Fasting

5 “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. 6 But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

7 “When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. 8 Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!

9 Pray like this:
Our Father in heaven,
may your name be kept holy.

10 May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth,
as it is in heaven.

11 Give us today the food we need,

12 and forgive us our sins,
as we have forgiven those who sin against us.

13 And don’t let us yield to temptation,
but rescue us from the evil one.

14 “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 15 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.

16 “And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. 17 But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. 18 Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

Teaching about Money and Possessions

19 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

22 “Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light. 23 But when your eye is bad, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!

24 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing,29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

How Faces Melt - Part Two

Need I say anything, really?