Michael Jackson: A Legacy Defined

I'm going to miss Michael Jackson.

As a 37 year-old, Michael's music was a huge part of my growing up. I remember sneaking to watch M-TV for the "Thriller" premiere. I had a sequined glove, convertible sunglasses, and, yes- even a pleather jacket with the pointy "V" shaped shoulders. I remember hearing about his love for music and sound, and how Michael worked hard to achieve what he heard in his head, even if it was scary sometimes.

And I remember the allegations, the charges, the sight of a lesser man walking under an umbrella for fear of the sun. I remember not liking his last nose, and thinking that living with a chimp was just strange. I remember seeing the pictures of a run-down Neverland Ranch, and how sad I felt.

And now he's gone. Last night, one of the tweeters I follow, @shawnw re-tweeted @feeband saying, "Crazy thought ... The "king of pop" stands before the "King of Glory" today ... Fame redefined."

it's got me thinking about what my legacy will be. What am I doing, saying, singing, etc say about who I am; about Whose I am? I was reminded of a song I wrote and sang at my ordination:

Let the life I live

Be an offering of praise

To my King

May each step

Be louder than the words I sing

Let my voice be silenced

By the things I do for You

And when people look at me

May the only thing they see

Be a light that shines

And points the way to You

I want my life to shout the Name of Jesus. I want every action to be a part of God's story at work in and through my life. I will miss Michael, and I pray that Jesus carried him into Eternity, because that's what I want for everyone, including myself. And that's why I want my legacy to be one of testimony to the Power and Mercy of God's Saving Grace.

Music, The Man, and God

I have often wondered about what would happen with my music.

I mean, I have been writing music now for six years or so, singing all my life (see my Bio), and giving all glory to God, who is the Author of any talent to which I might lay claim. And now, as I grow older (I turn 38 in October of this year) I see my youth is behind me, and my days are filled with parenting, ministry, and work. I get the opportunity to write, and sometimes the writing takes on a life of it's own. So where is this leading?

I have come to understand that "God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden." (Romans 9:18, TNIV) And I know that I want to be in God's Will way more than I want to be out of it. So it comes to this: I have chosen to hold and live this Bible verse-

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time." (1 Peter 5:6, TNIV) This is my place, this is where I live from now on. I don't want anything God doesn't give me. And if He never exalts me above where I am now, I'm okay with that, because I know that I will stand before Him and be able to declare (as much as anyone will on that day) that was obedient and humbled before God.

And that's all I have to say about that.

National Day Of Prayer: Pastors In Prayer

"Share each other's burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2, NLT

This year is the fourth year I have coordinated our local National Day Of Prayer events in the Upper Keys. I consider this a privilege and an honor, as well as a responsibility. I believe that the Bride of Christ should take EVERY opportunity to proclaim "In God we trust!" every chance we get.

This year we are sponsoring a Pastors prayer time, getting pastors from different denominations together on neutral ground to pray for one another, to lift each others' burdens, and, heaven help us, pray for each others' churches. This, I believe, holds high the Law of Christ as stated in this passage. It is my prayer that the Body of Christ should come together, crossing denominational lines more often, and lift one another up in prayer.

The Nature of God

In Exodus 3:14, God tells Moses, "I Am Who I Am." In my TNIV, the note says, "or I Will Be What I Will Be." Now, we have called God "I Am" for ages in the church, but have we stopped to fully understand what this means? (Of course not- duh! Even Isaiah 40:13 says "Who can know the mind of God?" [paraphrased])

But I feel this morning a deeper meaning here; a meaning that says, "I am God. Who I am is Who I reveal Myself to be." The nature of God is unchanging (James 1:17), so if He chooses to reveal a small part of Himself to one and another part to another, this does not contradict Himself; it is only another part.

The beauty is that as we get to know Him more we will learn more of the unfathomable complexity that He is. It is His pleasure to reveal that to us.

"When God Says Go" or "How Was Your Day?"

Those who follow me on TWITTER know that I was dealing with some hardship Friday (April 17). I really felt that those in leadership over me dropped an important ball. I had the idea to show "Fireproof" to the community after having seen it with my wife. It is a message this whole world needs to hear about relational healing.

But I waited on someone to pat me on the back and say, "Great idea, JW!" and then do the thing God had put in MY heart to do. I was reminded today of an evangelist who told of a nagging idea he had once that he put to rest after some fighting with it. A few months later, he was approached by someone who had the same idea and ran with it, starting a book. The Lord told him, "Don't say a word. Don't you get mad! I gave you that idea and you did nothing, so I gave it to someone else!"

So here I am, having heard God's voice, ignoring it, and blaming others. Wow!

But you know, God showed me today that when He says, "Go!", we don't need man's permission. Saddest thing is that I knew that once.

God, bring me to where I can hear Your voice. Teach me again and Help me to follow.

In the Potter's Hand, JW

Reading My Bible By Christmas

Okay, so God's been pulling me back to His Word. I heard someone offer a very simple way to read through the Bible. Taking his cue, and using my parallel NIV/Message Bible, I can finish on Christmas day (253 days away) if I read eight pages of either version. I can do one or the other, or both is necessary, but eight pages daily is the goal.

So I began tonite, and find myself excited to see what God will teach me through this. More than anything, I just want to know Him more!

You can follow me on Twitter by searching "#biblein253days". Maybe you can even take up the challenge with me. You in?

In the Potter's Hand, JW

A Special Baptism

Easter is my favorite time of the church year. People seem more into worship, songs are a little more joyous, and let's face it- it's a day that defines our faith. But this year, I had the privelege of baptizing my son in Believer's Baptism.
Maybe not all of you feel the same about baptism; after all, not all of you are Baptist. But my eight year-old son had been talking about it for months. And he wanted to wait until Easter, because we get to baptize in the ocean. As you can tell from the picture, it's a light show like no other!
And so, I have now had the privelege to baptize both my daughter, in 2004, and now my son as my Brother and Sister in Christ. Wow! What a blessing!
God is Good, All The Time!

In the Potter's Hand, JW