JOHN KALE

I love the times in worship where I get so focused on God that everything else disappears. Those moments rock me to my very core. It is just me and my creator, one on one; me and Dad spending some quality time together. Incredible!

Have you experienced a moment like this? (if so please share!) A moment in worship where you go from just singing songs to truly Worshiping God? A moment where the entire world disappears and it is only you and Him?.

If not, you are missing out. Moments like this can change you, but it takes surrender. Are you willing to let go and say, "God, You are everything!"?

Remember: Perception determines Reception! So ask yourself, do I recognize God for who He is, and am I willing to truly surrender it all to Him? When you can say yes to both of these, get ready! He is going to rock your world, and I promise you will love every minute of it!

Here is an awesome blog on worship from Mack @ Elevation Church.

The Worship Button
Last week, Pastor Steven shared with the staff some teachings on worship. It was super low key, with him just answering some common questions about biblical worship. One of the things that was brought up was the “worship button” – How there seem to be certain songs that no matter how dead the atmosphere is, or how unengaged the people are, once you hit that bridge or that chorus, hands get lifted in the air, people start shouting, and the Holy Spirit falls.
Although these times can be really powerful in worship, this isn’t the healthiest way for us to worship. It’s not healthy to stand in the presence of our Creator God, arms crossed, waiting for the worship leader to play our favorite song, then give everything we have. We are called to enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise – ready to worship Him.
We need to mature. We can’t allow our worship to live in this infant stage, like a child waiting for his mother to feed him.
We have to find our own worship button – controlling it ourselves, not just allowing the atmosphere to control it for us. When you first come into worship, and there’s a song that you don’t particularly enjoy, spend that time speaking thanksgiving to God – remembering how good He is to you. Spend that time honoring Him and His grace in your life. Speak out loud the characteristics of God. We must make our worship a response to God, not a response to a song.
There is a “worship button” that can be pressed, but don’t allow the worship leader to be the only one to ever press it. Control it yourself.
-Mack

Thought I would give you just a quick run through of the amazing day I had yesterday. We are on staff retreat @ one of my favorite places in the world, Fort Caswell. It is a beautiful retreat area located on 110 acres at one end of Oak Island, NC. I spent 2 summers of my life working as a member of the worship team here for the youth summer camps, and something about this place just feels like home. We are currently sharing the grounds with about 1600 NC Baptist Youth and leaders as they are here for summer camp. Yet somehow we have still been able to "get away"! Anyway back to the amazing day...

The day started with a conversation with one of my best friends. I got to video Chat with Travis for about an hour yesterday morning. It was so wonderful to talk to him. For those of you who have not had the pleasure of meeting him, Travis and I went to college together, served in ministry together with AIM, and have been accountability partners for years. He is currently serving on the mission field. Our conversations are rarer than we would like but through the power of skype, we have been able to stay in touch! Please be in prayer for Travis, he has a few more months on the field and I know God is really going to use him.

After a quick but wonderful breakfast (cooked by our production pastor Doug - with help from some of the ladies) we headed off to the gym for a little staff basketball. For those of you who have been to Caswell in the past, I have exciting news...the gym now has A/C!!! And because of this new addition, we were able to play for about 2 hours. It was awesome.

Then it was off to the beach for a little sun and fun. We hung out until the beach access was overrun by teenagers (no big deal because many in our group were sunburnt by then anyway...haha). We body surfed, played football and bocce, caught some rays and even took out a few ocean kayaks. For about an hour and a half, we had then entire beach to ourselves! It was a great way for our staff to relax and play together. I think God was looking out for us!!!

After a quick shower, it was time to kick back and relax around the house. We are staying in Lantana Lodge; a beautiful house located near the point of the island right along the Intercoastal Waterway. The house was the former home of the Fort commander, but also served as the base hospital for years. It is is a wonderful place to stay. Plenty of room for our group of 19 and far enough away from the students that it is quiet. Again, I think God was looking out for us!!!

After dinner is when the real fun began! Ray decided we should have a short staff worship and prayer time to close out the day; God had a different plan. Our 30 minutes of worship turned into about 3 hours of powerful praise and worship! I had been in Hatch Auditorium earlier in the evening for youth worship, and I know I am biased, but our small group of 19 was significantly louder than the 1600 students in Hatch. It was incredible! As we sang, Students, leaders and even camp staff members joined us. In fact, 4 camp staff members said they heard us from the other side of the camp and had to walk down and see what was going on. It was an amazing time. We had a chance to pray with youth leaders, staff members and youth during the night and We got to see God do some amazing things. I hope to post a video or two from last night so all of you can join in our worship time!

Thank You Lord for allowing us to have this time to refocus and unwind. Glory to God, Forever!

Great blog by Jon Allen. Really sums up what God did last night. Still in awe of an amazing God moment!!!! Glory to God, Forever!

http://jonallen-hrcc.blogspot.com/2010/06/worship-breakout.html

Vuvuzelas in church.

It was an amazing weekend for the High Rock family. A weekend I wont soon forget. When I finally got home late Sunday night, I just laid in bed thinking. I was in awe of what God did. I was humbled by the fact that He allowed me to be a part of it. And I was so pumped up that I think I could have made an appearance on American Gladiators!

The weekend started with an amazing time with friends on Friday night. A dinner at Casa Grande that lasted 3 1/2 hours because we just decided to sit and talk. Saturday was highlighted by an amazing night of worship @ HRCC West; followed by another 3 hour meal with friends.

I woke up Sunday morning so excited about what was happening. The message this week was on Lust and the struggles we (men and women) have with it. I know lives were changed, marriages were healed and victories were won. It was evidenced by the response of people as they worshiped a Mighty God! As we sang Hillsong's "The Stand" I looked out to see a sea of hands lifted in worship to Our God. Tears started rolling down my face as I watched High Rockers crying out to their Savior; telling Him that all they are is His! It was amazing! It was a God moment!

But the excitement didn't stop there! I left the west campus following the 11:00am service and headed to High Rock Lake for a Baptism Celebration...and let me tell you, it was a PARTY!!! We had lunch on the lake and when all was said and done, we baptized 49 people! (50 if you count me...HRCC tradition is that the new guy on staff gets dunked...Thanks Jon!)

I left the lake and headed back to the west campus for Ignite West (West Campus Youth Service) and was blown away by the number of students who came and the excitement in the room. During the service, one of the youth accepted Christ as his Savior!!!!!! Yet another God Thing!

When I got to staff meeting this morning, I found out that our Kannapolis Campus baptized another 7 on Sunday night, bringing the weekend total to 56!!!!!!!!! All I can say is Thank God!

So in honor of all of the High Rockers who took that next step in their walk, I have decided to upload a live video of one of my favorite Needtobreathe songs "Washed By The Water". I hope you enjoy it!

Great New Song from North Point! Can't wait to sing it with all my High Rock family!

Last Monday I posted a blog in honor of the men and women who have given the greatest sacrifice they could for our wonderful country. As I was typing it, God brought something to mind. I decided to hold it off for another post because I wanted to focus on those who have served our country and died for it on Memorial Day.

As I was typing, God continually reminded me of the sacrifice He made for me. I begin to think more about it. The sacrifice American soldiers make day in and day out is a beautiful picture of what Christ did for us. He left the comforts of home and traveled to the place of need, He gave up the luxuries of home and became a servant, He fought a battle which most of us know little about, and He gave his life for the freedom of others! The cost was high, and He was willing to pay it.

Today I challenge you to consider the sacrifice Jesus made for us and ask yourself, am I living a life worthy of that sacrifice? Freedom is never free, but by the grace of God we have received it. Now it is up to us to decide what we will do with it.

Thank You, Lord for paying the price that I could never pay! May I never forget Your sacrifice and may I never forget that I need to follow Your example.

"Sunday's Coming" Movie Trailer from North Point Media on Vimeo.

Let me start by saying Happy Memorial Day. Today is the day set aside to remember all of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our country; men and women who died to keep us free. I don't think we could ever say thank you enough to these individuals and their families! America is the great because of the people who stand for her, fight for her and die for her. That is what sets our country apart. We recognize the high cost of freedom, and our country's true heroes are willing to pay it.

So today as you and your family are out enjoying the holiday, don't forget why we have the day off of work or school. This isn't the day set aside to hit the lake with friends or grill out with family. It isn't a long weekend to head to the beach. It really isn't about us at all! Today is the day we say Thank You to Heroes! Today is the day we remember what our freedom costs. Today is the day we are reminded what it takes to be an American!

Many of us have forgotten that freedom is not free. We have grown up in a country where all we have ever known is freedom. We expect it, and in many cases we are unwilling to sacrifice for it. The further we get from being willing to sacrifice, the closer we come to losing the freedoms we have grown to love.

I urge you to spend time today honoring those who have served and died. Find ways to teach your family what this day is all about. Instill the truth of freedom and sacrifice in your children. America needs heroes now as much as ever; we truly honor our fallen heroes when we teach future generations that they must be willing to do the same!

Taps

Last night I had the amazing pleasure to speak for Ignite (High Rock's youth ministry) at our East Campus. I would be lying if I told you I wasn't both excited and nervous. In the few days I had to prepare for the evening, God laid a passage of scripture on my heart and it was amazing how He just wove my thoughts together. I sat down to begin making an outline, and before I knew it, I was finished. Last night felt the same way, I was closing out my message and preparing for the time of response when I realized I wasn't even sure what all I had said. It was as if God had been talking and I was just lucky enough to be standing there.
As a worship leader, I live for moments like that in worship. Moments where God says "step aside son, I'll take it from here." It is in those kind of moments that lives are changed because we encounter a living God who draws us to himself. I have been fortunate enough to be apart of lots of "God moments" in worship, but this was the first time anything like that ever happened to me when I was teaching. Looking back on the evening, I can't help but praise God for what He did! Last night we had four students accept Christ as their Lord and Savior, and the alter was full of students praying for their friends. I know the only way this could happen was because God did something. If it had been left up to me, I know I would have messed things up!
As I got to the office this morning, I had time to sit and reflect on all that happened, and God began speaking again. He reminded me of all the times in my life that He has been in control and the amazing things I have seen Him do in those times. He then reminded me of our lesson in small group from Tuesday night. We watched a dvd on "Worry", and afterwards we talked about all the things in life we as college students and young adults worry about. Many of the usual topics were discussed: Money, School, Jobs, Relationships, Future, and the list went on. As God brought this discussion back to mind, He begin to use my experience from last night to teach me.
He taught me that the greatest moments in my life have been when He was in control and I was along for the ride. The times I let go were the times I saw God move in ways that I could never imagine. I have decided that life is much better when God is leading, and I am going to give Him control in all areas of my life. Sometimes I struggle with that; I like to hold on to some things, but I know I can't. I'd much rather the world see Him working rather than me; I'm pretty sure more lives will be changed that way!
Thank you God for still using youth group to teach me! I'm letting go! It's ALL Yours!


I'm Letting Go - Francesca Battistelli

I am a songwriter. Something inside of me just desires to put my thoughts into musical form. I can't explain it, its just something I know to be true. For years I kept a journal in the form of lyrics. It is just how my mind works. Things happen, I write; I hear a quote that I like, I write. This is just the nature of being a songwriter. It can be a lot of fun! There is so much excitement around each new thought or lyric; the hope that it will produce something amazing that will speak to people. Something that people will hear and think, "wow, that's exactly what I was thinking". But more often than not, the lyric fades from memory and the melody is forgotten; and frustration and disappointment set in.

I am really good at starting songs, but I'm not so great a finishing them. I have a theory on why that is. So many times I start to write a song and I focus so much on making it perfect. I struggle to find the perfect word that will make the song go from good to Grammy worthy. The result usually is that I spend so much time trying to write something perfect that I don't write anything at all.

I think in life we all do this to some extent. We get so wrapped up in trying to have the perfect job, the perfect family, the perfect house, the perfect relationships, etc. that we stop living. We miss out on all the wonderful things God has in store for us, because we are trying so hard to make them perfect.

I have a suggestion to all of us who find ourselves in this situation; stop trying to win a Grammy and just write! It is a lot more fun that way; and in the end, it is the only way your song will ever get written!

It seems like a lot of things in my life have been changing lately. I have started over on many fronts; moving back to Salisbury from New Orleans, starting a new job, creating new relationships and on and on it goes. These past few months have seemed like a whirlwind. I have heard it said that the only constants in life are death, taxes, and change; and I am pretty sure I agree. I have also realized that change always leaves me at a crossroads; will I complain about it or will I embrace it and see where it leads me?

Maybe you have find yourself in a similar place in life. Your world seems to be in a state of constant change; you don't know whether to roll with it or just toss in the towel. It is a tough place to be, but I have discovered a truth that has made this changing world a much easier to cope with. No matter what changes come my way, I remember that I serve a God who never changes, and somehow that makes everything else seem a lot more stable.


Unchanging by Chris Tomlin