The Poetic Overture

Video Blog

2009-08-04T09:27:00.001-06:00

New Series At The Journey Church

My Conversation With Michael Gungor

2009-06-17T22:45:00.019-06:00

Michael Gungor is a friend and worship leader who is one of my biggest influences. His song, “Friend of God” written with Israel Houghton, has been one of the top songs sung in churches all over the world. He was the featured worship leader at the “Aquire The Fire" youth conferences. He and Israel wrote the song “Say So” (Michael version of the song)that made it on Israel’s album “A Deeper Level.” This album received a Grammy Award in 2008 for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album.

The Michael Gungor Band has recently been in the studio working on the second studio project that will be released under the Brash Music Group. You almost cannot go on a ministry website without hearing about his humorous, and somewhat controversial song, “White Man” from their last released album"Ancient Skies"

Michael and his wife Lisa moved from Michigan to Denver and started meeting for once a month worship gatherings, as a gift to the community. These gatherings turned into house churches, and eventually a once a week worship gathering.

Israel Houghton and Michael Gungor

I needed to get some info from Michael today and called him. While on the phone, I asked him a few questions to get you all thinking about a few things that have to do with our next series, “Modern Day Monk” at The Journey Church.

Take time to really chew on some of the things that Michael brought out as he shared his heart.

(David) Do you see a difference between what American Christians believe worship is and what God has intended?

(Michael) That asks about such a broad group of people. It is a little hard to answer. Uh……Yes…..we are very far from living the life. It is a bigger problem than just the definition. Our language and definitions are important to think about, but it is more than that. But yes, we may have defined it in an unhealthy way as well.

(David)What is the importance of practicing spiritual disciplines as a follower of Jesus?

(Michael)I think that as in any endeavor, it takes discipline to do anything differently. Being a follower of Christ is becoming the ultimate creation. We have to relearn a lot. It’s not about crossing off a checklist or getting brownie points. Disciplines help us get where we need to grow.

(David)Tell us a little about “Love Train” that was started through Bloom (Michael’s Church in Denver)

(Michael)It is actually just getting started. It is a group of people communicating about social justice opportunities in the Denver area. It gets Bloom to creep out of the walls of the building. You start by signing up for a text message system. You usually get around two text messages a week about opportunities to help people in need. I actually just got a text message from “Love Train” right before I got on the phone to call you. It is a way to network and be a gift to the community.

(David) How does taking care of the poor and those in need affect our worship?

(Michael)It is our worship!!! Worship is the way that we are living. How can we actually say that we are following Jesus? How can we sit in our church and say “come Lord Jesus” when He isn’t just present in the church building, He is present among the poor and homeless as well? He said so!!! Our worship SHOULD INCLUDE taking care of the poor and those in need.

(David)How has pursuing this worship lifestyle helped transform your art and your songwriting?

(Michael)My theology was broadened to include the hurting humanity. When I first started thinking in this light it seemed romantic, but I found myself getting sweaty and frustrated from all of the work. It is hard when you smile at someone and they make fun of you for it. I realized that, at times, it could be messy and painful. I have written songs and have heard songs that have come from these times. This reality eventually freed me from trying to be the savior of the world. I am getting off subject a little, but all of this is to say that I don’t separate art from life.

Daniel Bashta Intereview

2009-06-08T23:25:00.000-06:00

I remember back when I was 17 years old, I visited this crazy church place called tag. It was absolutely nuts. The band was great, a group of about 150 high school kids were just praising God and going nuts!

Back on the drums was this kid by the name of Daniel Bashta. He was one of the worship leaders at this church as well. I had a studio in my house at this time and word got around so Daniel came over one night to demo one of his songs with Brad Nyght and I was blown away by the passion for worship that this guys had.

I got to do some live production work for him later as well.

Check out his latest project. "My Worship In Motion" on itunes.

Here is a 700 Club intereview.

Daniel Bashta 700 club full interview from Daniel Bashta on Vimeo.

Video Blog 5_5.30.09

2009-06-04T19:33:00.000-06:00

One Of My Favorite Shows With My Favorite Author

2009-06-04T00:40:00.001-06:00

The Colbert Report

Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Bishop N.T. Wright

colbertnation.com

Colbert Report Full Episodes

Political Humor

Keyboard Cat

Profound theological thoughts. What do you think?

Video Blog 5_5.30.09

2009-05-30T02:20:00.001-06:00

Music Review

2009-05-25T22:02:00.001-06:00

"City of Black & White"_Mat Kearney

Mat Kearny is at it again. With a vocal performance style of Chris Martin from Coldplay and the instrumentals of a Nashville folk/rock feel, he has the edge that he needs to reach a wide range of listeners.

Kearney has been heard on both mainstream and Christian radio with his song "Nothing Left To Lose." This song as well as others from this album have appeared on hit shows such as "Grays Anatomy", "Jericho", "Dirty Sexy Money" and the Boulder, CO filmed movie, "Catch and Release". He is releasing his music under the Aware/Columbia label that has put out artist such as Train, Five For Fighting, and John Mayer.

His new album "City of Black & White" will catch your ear with fresh new tunes that will make you think about life and spirituality. The album opens up with a song called "All I Have" that tells God that "all I have is Yours" Without question, I endorse this album.

Video Blog

2009-05-20T19:37:00.000-06:00

Video Blog

2009-05-19T02:31:00.000-06:00

Video Blog

2009-05-18T03:16:00.001-06:00

Video Blog

2009-05-14T16:22:00.001-06:00

The Jesus Mold

2009-05-12T20:16:00.019-06:00

...So if Jesus wasn’t’ religious, why the hell are we expected to be? Why is looking like you have everything together a prerequisite for entering the presence of God? That’s not the God I know. It breaks my heart but I have seen countless people in my generation give up on the Lord because of the church. Do you hear that? They’ve given up on a real God with real power, grace, forgiveness, and love because the “body of Christ” is obsessed with appearances. This problem is not new, however. There’s a nagging memory about someone calling church people white-washed sepulchers. I’m tired of a society filled with dead bones.

Renee Nyen

http://reneesrandomrantings.blogspot.com/2009/05/authenticity.html

I have tried so hard to fit some Jesus mold that church, family, ministry organizations have tried to shove me in over and over. I over and over again tell myself that I shouldn't care if I fit into the modern or traditional church world. But I do!! How did Jesus react to arrogant religiousness? He made fun of it!!!

Here is my attempt at making fun of it. We tend to shove people to try to fit them into our religions and we try to shove God into our religions. As if we have some power to control both!!!

I wrote these lyrics for a song that I just demoed:

Arise

Soaked through the seal we’ve closed Him in

Arise

Overflowing not contained

Arise

Not packaged with our slogens

So all can see His love

See for yourself

The walls can’t contain

His heavenly presence

The heavenly glory

Made perfect in us

By His son

The glory of God

His glory arise

Take a look at this video and as you watch it, laugh and ask God to challenge you:

Worldly Organs

2008-07-09T00:17:00.002-06:00

If You are a worship leader or attend a church and hear the comments that worship leaders get, you will enjoy this.

http://www.dankimball.com/vintage_faith/2008/07/the-controverci.html

Lectio De-what??

2008-04-24T22:09:00.006-06:00

Tuesday night at the highschool group, at Calvary Bible Church where I work, we mixed an ancient form of Scripture meditation called Lectio Devina into the worship time and it was rich. People were soaked in the preasence of God and He was made real to students through Scripture.

If you are interested in practicing Lectio Devina in your daily devotions, there is a great book that one of my good friends, J.R. Briggs, has written:

Go check it out!!!!

Detective Dave

2008-04-10T13:30:00.002-06:00

The other morning Kellie and I were going to get her tags at the DMV and walked outside and saw that someone hit her car, totally side swiped it and didn’t leave a note. They did however leave a side runner from thier car stuck in the car wheel area of the car. We called the police and they wouldn’t send a police officer out without a suspect. It took us all day of driving around though all the red tape of the criminal justice system just to get paper work that we had to fill out ourselves and send in ourselves. I normally wouldn’t say anything, but I will say this...

The police should care more about taking care of crime and making the city safe than being slaves to the Department of Revenue by always writing tickets. Thier job is to serve and protect first and not second.

Tuesday nights I am up in Boulder and I came home around midnight and decided to go on a hunt for the car. I FOUND IT!!! It was parked at the top of the hill. I matched the piece that they left at the scene to the side of thier car and then called the cops. I will say this now about these officers, they were very nice and very helpful. When we explained why we didn’t have a report filed yet, they seemed just as bothed by the system as we were. They took pictures and then got a confession out of the person who hit us. Yay!!! We get to get her car fixed and justice was served!!!

The last point of the story... This pisses me off more than anything!!!! The girl who hit us had a Jesus fish on the back of her car!!!

Moments

2008-04-03T14:46:00.000-06:00

This last Sunday night at Bloom Michael talked about Sacrament, a moment that is set apart to be holy, a moment when heaven meets where we are. Living with a heart of this is living with a heart of worship. I have been chewing on this. Moments in time can not be taken away. There is none exactly like them. As a musician I know that you can never capture a moment musically exactly the same. The instrument you play, the room you are in, everything makes that musical moment what it is and makes it unique. I can set that one moment apart as an act of worship. God is a God of moments that are life changing that can never be redone or changed. My wife and I are going to have a baby boy this summer. God says that He is there knitting my baby in the womb. The moments that God is developing my baby are moments that heaven is here on earth moments that will never again be relived. At the death of Jesus, the temple veil torn in two, the moment Jesus breathed again and was alive and sin was conquered are all moments that mattered, can never be relived. In the fast moving lives and culture that we live in, may we find times to reflect on moments that were sacraments, may we make new moments sacraments and worship God through them.

Good Article

2008-03-07T23:37:00.003-07:00

I felt that this article was pretty good so I am posting it. It does a great job of clearing up some misconceptions of the emerging church.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/february/11.35.html?start=1

Truth and Beauty

2008-02-29T20:02:00.003-07:00

I see so much beauty in this world. Last night I felt my baby in my wife's belly kick for the first time!! Life that God put together at has my blood, is created in the image of God and is a beautiful thing. I see God!! As I see beauty, I see God. Many people do not see God but they see beauty. How do we point God out in the beauty that they see? How do we bring the truth of God to a people who don't believe in God but see beauty? Just some things to chew on after the blog that I posted before this one.

Big Gaping Hole!!!

2008-02-24T22:45:00.004-07:00

I lead worship for a church that meets in a high school. We came in this morning to set the stage and there was a big gaping hole in the center of the stage. We couldn't get it covered in time for the service. Many times I couldn't focus because I thought that I was going to fall in.

Thought's on St. Augustine

2008-02-21T15:07:00.002-07:00

I was going through a bunch of books that Kellie brought home from work last night and came across one with complete works of St. Augustine. Some thoughts that I have been chewing on from my readings of his books "On Christian Doctrine"

_He say's that we need to view God as more than a being. He is life itself. To be disconnected with God, is to be disconnected from life.

_Augustine puts a huge push on love. He says that God uses us as we enjoy him. We are used to love one another and enjoy one another in Him.

_Right interpretations of Scripture should uplift love.

_The three things above are things that are strived for in our American evangelical churches today, but the thing that I have been wrestling with that goes against what we are taught in churches today is that Augustine believes that when a person is matter in Faith, Hope, and Love, they no longer need the Scriptures. Scripture teaches us how to love and loving God one another is the greatest commandment. Because my brain is so trained by beliefs from the church today, I have a hard time wrapping myself around this.

I grew up in a very legalistic church world were people would flaunt Bible knowledge and how much they read the Bible, almost like they wanted Jesus points or metals for it. The problem was that many of these people didn't even have an ounce of love in them.

These beliefs from Augustine were all the way from the third century when the common man didn't have a Bible. If the common man didn't have a Bible, according to standards today, they couldn't be a strong Christian. See Jesus came for common man. Those who didn't have a Bible to wake up to every morning, those who didn't have a Daily Bread with a cool little story and a verse in the margin to start the day off with, could be devoted to Jesus and the gospel of Jesus.

Maybe this is why Jesus says, "My yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Jesus came to bring purpose to a world of sinful chaos. The purpose is to join into the salvation through faith in Jesus. To join into the restoration of the world unto God, is the ultimate example of love. Jesus left heaven to live as and with common people, teach them about the Kingdom and die. All this was done by love so that all who turn to Jesus, receive salvation.

I am thankful for my Bible! I am thankful that since the time of Augustine, we have Bibles in the hands of anyone who wants one.

I just pray that as I thirst for Biblical knowledge that I am not thirsting for my own arrogance, because arrogance lacks love. I pray that I am thirsting to know more about the story of Jesus. I want to be thirsty to be a Kingdom bringer and a history maker, to help Jesus restore a fallen world back to the Father. I pray that I may be a person who leads people to Jesus for eternal life and that I don't waste my time on anything else. May I study the scriptures to empower me to lead through love!!!

Salt Of The Earth

2008-02-19T22:46:00.005-07:00

We know that we are to be salt of the earth. So many times I hear that we are made to make people thirsty for God. That is true, but the whole purpose of what Jesus came to do is restore the earth from the deadly result of sin. Sin brings pain and hurt. Salt can be used to disinfect. We can be used to disinfect! Salt is used to inhance flavor. As followers of Christ, we help restore the world unto God by making the world tast good. You see, salvation is not meant to be a selfish personal thing. Salvation is the means in which Jesus brings restoration to a world that,because of sin, has turned away from a righteous God. A world that you know just by turning on the news tasts bad, now has the ability to tast good and become the things of heaven through us. When we realize that this is the good news, this is salvation, we live for something greater than ourselves.

Check out this video

Division

2008-01-26T17:41:00.000-07:00

I'll just go ahead and warn you that this topic is a little weighty for me right now, and if you are feeling like something light and happy, I created another blog this morning called "puppies and ice cream" that may be more enjoyable for you.

I must ask a question. Has anyone noticed that Christians like to fight with each other? I've been wondering how much we have really changed since Paul wrote the Corinthians about how divided they were?

"I follow this guy!" "No, that guy is an idiot, this guy knows how to read the original Hebrew!" "Are you kidding? That guy is a heretic! You should come to my church and get the truth!" (1 Corinthians 1:12 my paraphrase)

I remember when this girl came to a youth conference that my youth group was putting on, and she was pretty messed up emotionally. During worship, she started shaking and hissing and freaking out, so a bunch of us started trying to cast demons out of her. It was quite an ordeal. I don't know if she really had demons in her or if she was trying to get attention or something, but we turned it into an opportunity for a full-fledged charismatic circus in there.

I remember talking to her later about it. This girl had a lot of bad stuff happen to her in her life, and just had a lot of baggage. But the one thing that I really honed in on was that she was Catholic. I'm extremely ashamed of this now, but I'm going to go ahead and tell you what I told her because I was in junior high, and I was a bit of an elitist jerk.

The thought I had in my head was something like "well, of course you have demons, you're Catholic."

So I tried to talk her out of being Catholic. Didn't they worship Mary in those "churches"? They sit there and chant and worship idols all day, don't they?

I told you.

And that was just the Catholics! What about those Baptists, Lutherans, and Presbyterians? They might not be as bad, but they certainly aren't preaching the whole Gospel that my friends and I happen to have cornered the market on!

Today, I don't think most evangelicals are quite as mad at Catholic people as they used to be. Maybe it's because many of us have noticed that many of "them" happen to be some of the most sincere and wonderful Christ followers in the world... But don't worry, there are plenty of others that we can find to aim our swords of truth and destiny at. (I thought "swords of truth and destiny" was funnier sounding than "ignorant bigotry" or even just plain "swords")

If it's not crusading against Muslims to convert, or burning scientists and witches at the stake, or massacring "savages" if they don't accept the gospel, can we at least get some vitriolic sermons about how the "emerging church" is going to be the downfall of America?

It is so easy and comfortable to find all of those ways separating "us" from "them". The Pharisees of Jesus day knew that comfort quite well.

"I heard that they believe..."

If I hadn't already used my cuss word... What is the deal with this? Some of you who are reading this have had conversations like this within the last week probably. I have heard so much "I follow Paul", "I follow Apollos" lately, that I was either going to have to tear my clothes and rub dirt all over my body or write a blog about it.

That was random, and though I'm playing around in this blog a bit, I really am concerned about this.

Here's my point: we are supposed to be on the same team.

Can we forget for just a moment about our privileged knowledge of the "full gospel" and remember that the point of our faith isn't acing a doctrinal multiple-choice test when we stand before the Christ in the end...

For the Christian, faith should be about Jesus, and the new creation of hope, faith, and love that He brings. He wants His Church to be united in bringing His Kingdom into the world, not bickering about whether creation happened in seven literal days or whether you should speak in tongues or not or what the physics of hell will or will not be. Are these things really the point?

I thought Jesus was supposed to be the point! So those of you playing the sides games out there, protestant or catholic, left or right, white or black, modern or postmodern, male or female, jew or greek... Oh wait...

Galations 3:28--There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Please stop.

_Michael Gungor

Michael Gungor

2008-01-10T17:24:00.000-07:00

Since middle of the summer, I have been helping "Bloom". It is a worship gathering in Denver that is Led by Michael and Lisa Gungor. Here is an article about the vision for their ministry and music.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/music/interviews/2007/michaelgungorband-mini-1107.html

Hope For China

2008-01-10T17:16:00.000-07:00

Many of you know that my old mentor and friend, Mark Tedder, is in China with his family being a light of hope. Here is a video for the 2008 Olympic song that he wrote.

Amazing!!!!

2007-11-30T23:13:00.000-07:00

Only A Man

2007-09-15T22:06:00.000-06:00

I led worship at "The Front" last night in Boulder, and Jimmy Lakey talked about where God is when times are hard and stressful. Here is that song that we listened to last night. It is "Only a Man" by Jonny Lang:

I used to live my life in fear
Was worried all the time
From waking up to laying down
I had no peace of mind
The world became a darkened place
A struggle without end
Although bitter times those were
The days that I had began to understand
I was only a man

I grew up singing songs in church
With questions in my mind
Then turned my back and ran away
From God who gave me life
Then one night his presence fell
I wept and shook and then
I fell down and cried, Dear Jesus, rescue me again
I understand I am only a man

And He said, What will it be now?
Will you choose me or keep swimming up stream now?
I've been inside your head hearing you scream out.
Well here I am, just take my hand and I'll take out
All of the pain and all of the fear
All of the fear

I'll give you my burdens (I'll give you peace)
All of my desires (I'll give you what you need)
Oh, what about these chains, Lord? (I'll set you free)
But they're so heavy (Lay them at my feet)
I'll lay them at your feet
Just promise you won't leave (I'll never leave)
So where do I go from here, Lord? (Just follow me)
(Just follow me)
I'll follow you (Just follow me) wherever you lead
Wherever you lead, wherever you lead

Light Of The World

2007-09-11T01:27:00.000-06:00

The difference between Christianity and many other religious beliefs is that of who Jesus is and was. Many people look at Jesus as a myth or a good teacher. Maybe He was a prophet? Ministering to the Boulder community shows me how many different views of God and Jesus there actually are. Boulder was once known as the New Age Capital of the world. Freethinking runs wild in this mountain college town. If you look at Matt. 16, Jesus and His followers were in Caesarea Philippi. This was a town very similar to Boulder. It was a melting pot of beliefs so to speak. This is where the Greeks considered the gates of Hates (the underworld) to be. This is why Jesus refers to the gates of Hates later in the chapter. It was a town of marble statues to gods. this is where they would have worshipped to the goat god "Pan". The worship usually involved sexual rituals. Jesus bring his young Jews disciples here would be like a pastor bringing his just graduated seniors to a strip club. Imagine what was going through the disciples minds. Jesus asked, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?" 14They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" 16Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

I can spend time trying to prove to you who Jesus was and is, but He already did that. I will then point you to Him. He will direct your thoughts and understanding and eventually, you will come to the truth. He was who He said He was. I love how Jesus would talk in ways that would excite people. “I am the bread of life…” Just being in a room with the smell of bread baking is comforting and warming. John 1 says, “the Word because flesh and dwelt among us.” The presence of God came and moved in and became a friend to the sinners. How exciting is this?! Jesus said, ”I am the light of the world.” The people of Israel were in darkness and ruled by the Romans. There were 400 years of silence before Jesus came, and He brought the bright light of who He was and is, and the message of the The Kingdom of God that He offers.

I encourage you; if you are not sure about who Jesus is, open up John and start asking questions.

Bloom Worship Night

2007-09-10T14:24:00.000-06:00

For the last couple of months, Michael Gungor and his wife Lisa have been hosting worship nights in Denver called "Bloom". I have had the privilege to help with the last two. Many of you know Michael through either Michael Rossback or from his song "Friend Of God" that Integrity released in 03 and made it on the last "Passion" DVD. He and his band travel with "Acquire The Fire" as the worship band for the events. At Bloom, Michael and Lisa share there hearts through leading the people in intense passionate worship. Michael usually teaches and then we come together for communion. If you can make it and want to worship with us, come to New Beginnings Church at 8390 E Hampden Ave, Denver, CO at 7pm this Friday the 14th to join in.