Not Prepared for This.....

Well here I sit, 4 months down the road, my journey of changes, and not one bit clearer about what happened to Healing Flow, the music, the band, the church, and Frances and myself.  Never before in our lives.....literally, have we been in such a predicament.  We have always known not only where we were to fellowship as a church, but also what the Lord was calling us to do.  Now we are dealing with the ultimate elephant in the room, are we getting too old for this.

Contemporary Praise and Worship is a fast evolving genre of music and churches that worship in this style are evolving rapidly as well.  The "new" church is relevant in style and worship and the music we love is central to that end.  Here's the rub (as Shakespeare would say).   The worship leaders in this kind of church look like the fisherman on the left, my son Daniel, who is an immensely talented and anointed young musician and not like the old guy on the right, who though he is a gifted musician and a heck of a fisherman is way down the road age wise for what he loves to do.

God put a call on my life in 1979, and has taken me all over the country to minister to all kinds of people.  We have never had to go looking for our next place of ministry.  It has always come looking for us.  We have served many great churches and Pastors and have met thousands of the Lord's Saints in churches, tent meetings, festivals, schools, parks and homes and have loved almost every minute of it.   We're just not prepared to go quietly into that good night.

Pray for us. Our greatest joy has been making music with my family.  Pray that the Lord would speak clearly what His plan for us might be.

May His Peace be on you this Christmas season.  We love you.

Jack and Frances

Changes

Transitions are always a challenge.  Why is it we are so quick to rebel against change?  Change takes us out of our comfort zone.  Change usually happens in the valley instead of on the mountain top.  Change often causes us to say goodbye to people we care deeply for and to fellowship with people we just don't know.  Change is hard.

Healing Flow is in a season of change.  This is not something we were looking for at this time, nor is it something we particularly enjoy....but here we are.  This is more than a Praise Band,  more than a Contemporary Christian Band, this is a family of people who share joys and sorrows, mountain tops and valleys, good times and not so good times, but most of all we have shared the life changing Presence of the Lord.  We have a motto, "Worship that takes you somewhere".  This is the most important part of our music, and when we miss this, we have missed the point.

Walk on Water World Outreach Church has been a huge part of our lives for many years.  The people of Walk on Water are near and dear to all of us, and the last thing we would want to do is hurt them.  Pastors Perry and Angie Burgess can take a lot of credit for how our music has developed and we will always love them for that.  They will always have an important place in our heart.

That being said, please pray for us as we continue on this Journey.

in the flow,

Jack

Pushing back against the naysayers.....

I'm pushing back against the naysayers.  Yes, you heard me.   Those that might denigrate

the music I do, Contemporary Praise and Worship.  First of all, I have every right and may I say responsibility to be a musical snob, a Bachelors Degree in Music and a Masters Degree in Music Education from The University of Georgia, 30 years experience as a music educator, 5 years experience as a Music rep with a large school music dealer, Performance experiences ranging from Symphony Orchestras to Jazz Bands and everywhere in between,  and 35 years in Ministry, from evangelism to Youth Pastor to Choir Director, to Worship Leader.

That being said

The greatest satisfaction I get is from making music with my Healing Flow band, and leading worship at Walk on Water Church.  There is more energy, more creativity, more influence in what we do than anything this world has to offer.  I'm not saying it's everyone's cup of tea, and if you love your hymn book more than life itself, or insist on legit music at your place of worship, have at it.  But don't put down what we do as uber repetitive, lower class, or "devil music".  

What is the purpose of Worship, anyway?  To point us to Him, right?  I know some of the music that Christian bands put out don't always choose the best styles or lyrics, but I do hope they have the best of intentions.  But after all, doesn't it beat some of the junk that is out there on secular radio?

I know it seems funny to some that at my age I prefer Jesus Culture to Gaithers but it is because hearing Anointed Contemporary Christian music changed my life back in 1978 and I hope in some way I can help someone else someday.

In the flow, 

Jack

At least I know I'm free

I know that Hannah is always scared to death that I will make her sing God Bless the USA any time we have a political holiday.  With all due respect to Lee Greenwood, I want to borrow a line from him today as we celebrate Independence Day.

At least I know I'm free.........

I'm proud for several things this morning:

A loving wife

Two great sons

Two great daughters in love (Hannah becomes official in 7 days)

Two awesome grandkids (Myles has been with us this week!)

A great church family

An awesome job

A beautiful home

but lets get down to the subject for today, freedom.

Most people don't really understand what freedom really means.  That is why we are in the shape that we are in today.  Rules and standards don't take away freedom, they define it.  Let me explain.

Laws are not here to restrict us, they are here to protect us.  Borders are not here to fence us in or others out.  Standards of Holiness that God set forth centuries ago don't make Him the bad guy, it shows us that He loves us enough to set us free to fail.  Before we start to argue Grace, let me also say that we are not to take advantage of His Goodness and continue to hang on to our pet sins and shortcomings, but He gives us "free will"  in our covenant relationship with Him to make right decisions without feeling that He is standing over us with a cattle prod or a giant eraser to zap us when we fail.

The key is ownership.  We have to be citizens of the Kingdom of God to enjoy the true benefits of His Grace.  By the same token, If people want to explore the greatness of America, they should go about it in a lawful manner.  The jailbreak rush over the border is not freedom, it is anarchy.

How can you really know you are free?  Go about it the right way.  Get your citizenship through the right channels.  Take some responsibility and form the right relationships.  When you do you will discover the true wonder that we call freedom.

Marriage and family

Salvation and Grace

Citizenship and Country

There is a price to pay for what we call freedom.  Is it worth it?  I say YES!!!!!!

In the flow,

Jack

Passages

A great philosopher once said "We may never pass this way again".  A lot has transpired in the time since I last blogged here.  In fact I went through several passwords and finally gave up before I confessed to the powers that be (Google of course) that I have no clue what my password is.  I will post a hint in this blog for myself that only I and my sister and brother would get so this wont happen again!

Here we are, almost a year later.  My apologies for not taking care of this blog.  It's not that I don't have anything to say (although you may disagree with me after you read this) or my sometimes poor internet skills (just ask Google or my web server, Fat Cow.com) or my desire to express myself (just ask anybody, no shortage of opinion here), but probably that awful four letter word.....TIME.

As I was cruising facebook one day I saw where a former student of mine was retiring from teaching.  She was admittedly from one of my earliest years of teaching, but still looks like she could be in her 20's or 30's and with the same sparkle in her eye that she had when I taught her.  My response was something like "how can you possibly retire?  Go back in that classroom and do another 20 years!"

It seems like only yesterday when we were all out there on that practice field (parking lot) or at band camp or at a football game and now?????  Some of my students have more grandkids than I do.

not you, Paige, that remark was for some of your classmates.

Which brings me now to current events.  My kids.

Kid #1, Christopher is as we speak finishing a family vacation at Myrtle Beach.  He and his lovely wife, Angie have two beautiful children.  Myles, who is now 5 and a pre-school graduate looks just like his dad (and therefore like me, don't you love the tie in to the beautiful remark?) and Emma, who is 20 months old and still looks at me like a calf at a new gate.  He is a customer service rep and a children's pastor.  I remember the first time he went to church camp and ended up going commando because Lew Nix, his counselor and Christopher couldn't locate everything in his suitcase.

Kid #2, Daniel just finished his Doctorate at Emory University in Physical Therapy.  He completed his education with a 4.0 average (Highest Honors) and is studying for his boards next month.  Also next month He is marrying Hannah Roesch, a beautful redheaded soon to be Elementary School teacher from Toccoa, Georgia.  He is also beginning a job search and together they are looking at houses in the Jefferson area.  It seems like only yesterday, Daniel was getting in trouble with Mary Williamson for disrupting Kindergarden.

Frances and I will be fine, no empty nest syndrome here.  We have plenty to keep us occupied, me with work, my music, my ministry, bowhunting, and my dogs and her with being my snowbunny super hot midlife crisis incredible drummer, gardener, sidekick, accountability partner, and soulmate.  As we prepare for Daniel and Hannah's wedding I remember when she came in the back door of Jefferson United Methodist church on that day in 1979 and took my breath away.

So my journey continues, from that place where the train City of New Orleans pulled out of in that famous song, (there's a hint for you) to a lazy morning on Runt's Private Drive.  Time is flying by and life couldn't get much richer.  To those of you who have played a part in this adventure, I say thanks and I love you, and stay in touch.  I promise to do better......really.....

In the flow, 

Jack

Matters of the Heart

Above all, guard your heart....

Let's look at two HUGE issues facing Christian people today:

Holy Spirit Baptism and Lust.   I will pause here for everyone to take a deep breath and to steady themselves.  OK.  READY?

1.  Holy Spirit Baptism   As someone born into the Methodist church, and sprinkled into the fellowship of believers in 1957 I can promise I had much catching up to do in this regard when I discovered the possibilities of gifts and manifestations of the Holy Ghost in the spring of 1978.  (math students, I was 22 years old, and in a close encounter of the God kind, I told the Lord that I was totally incapable of living a "Christian" life and if He wanted me to do so, He would have to give me the power to do it.  To make a long story short, He did exactly that.

There are many doctrinal discussions and theories about whether or not it is necessary to speak in tongues to be "Spirit filled".  Many Pentecostals insist that you must speak in tongues or you didn't receive it (or Him as it were).  I always say you don't have to speak in tongues, you GET TO.

Here is the key, as I see it.  Speaking in tongues is an exercise of faith that involves bypassing your understanding (and thus your mind) and speaking out of your spirit man.  To do so requires a level of submission and trust that supercedes any previous experience you have ever had.  The flow of living water from within should be beyond human understanding and communication skills, as the awesomeness of God is so far beyond description.  Trust me on this one.  If you think the essence of an unlimited, all powerful God can fit in your tiny human noggin you are kidding yourself.  So relax, check your submission level, take a deep breath, and say, "Holy Spirit, Speak through me".

Speaking in tongues is not the point.....Where is your heart?  Out of that overflow will come a sound with which you will be amazed.  We usually get this one backwards.

2.  Lust  Before you SuperChristians start to bark, let me say that as humans walking around in our earth suits, nobody is perfect and nobody is sinless.  Lust is a very real thing.  That new car, that boat, that diamond ring, that big house, all these things appeal to all of us.  When someone else has it, it is a perfectly normal thing to want it yourself.  Let's go one step deeper (or darker).

Sex

There, I said it.

Alright, buckle your seat belts.  Here we go.  What causes lust?  Pornography?  Scantily dressed men or women?  Improper physical or emotional contact?  Flirting?  I say these things are not the cause of lust, but are manifestations of a lustful heart.  The condition of your heart causes you to look at that R rated movie, to pick up that magazine, to flirt or even be unfaithful or lacivious.  If we would fill our hearts with good things, and take into captivity any wild imaginations or thoughts, and call upon the Lord to wash us clean with the water of His Word, we would see a difference in how these things manifest in our lives.   Try it this week and see what happens in your heart.

Because out of your heart flow the issues of life.

In the flow...

JACK

                                                               

Resurrection Sunday

Resurrection Sunday.....He is Risen indeed!

Amazing service yesterday at Walk on Water.  We continue to be surprised by His Presence week after week.  Pastor Angie Burgess did a super job with the teaching on the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.  Altars filled with people hungry for a touch from God.  Worship time was strong, including the following songs:

Happy Day by Tim Hughes
Praise Adonai by Paul Baloche
Glorious Day by Casting Crowns
Grace Flows Down by Chris Tomlin
Here I Am to Worship/When the Music Fades

this blog, infrequent as it is, is networked with others at http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/sunday-setlists-245/#more-5844

Healing Flow will be leading worship Friday night, April 5 at a Seder dinner at the Garrison Center in Homer GA.  Yall come out and celebrate Passover with us!

in the flow...

Jack