Hello Again!

Wow's it's been three months since my last blog. Christmas is over and the year is almost over. A great time to see what God has done in a span of 365 days which seem like a blink of an eye. Thanks to all of our friends who have supported or family and Bridges, through many different ways. God has been good and we can not complain.

Here is a link for anyone to check out the songs we are doing next week at Bridges: CLICK HERE

Have a great rest of the year!

bloggin ain't easy that's for sure...

Sonseed does Rock!!

compliments of Stephen Claybrook

can't stop watching it....good stuff...love the zoom ins

henrypalooza

Bringing Henry home from China.

check out the site and support: www.henrypalooza.com
Adoptions from China can sometimes be fast. Stephen and CC are very good friends of mine and were caught off guard by a quick adoption process which limited their time to raise enough time to save enough money. This is were we can kick in. If you can help them, please do so, this is a great opportunity to help people we love.

Playlist 9.14.08

Today we began our 40 Days of Community. Praying and hoping to help people plug in with ministry opportunities within the church but also serving the community around us. God continues to amaze us by His provision and timing. It's beed a joy to meet new faces week by week and seeing Him add numbers to His church.

"I am Free"
"Everlasting God" Lincoln Brewster
"Inside Out"Hillsong
"God of this City" Tomlin version
"We are Connected" by Kenny Bristol

Playlist 8.3.08

Coming back from CIY and seeing amazing tech things being done, I am so grateful with what God has provided for us to create and environment of worship for people at our community. I admired CIY's great work and excellency. It something they plan for for a whole year, yet we do it every week with same hard work and excellency. Thank you set-up/tear-down/tech/stage team, you guys do an awesome job and I appreciate you so much.

We do this not for us, but to tell people that God loves them. It is important for me and I hope it is for all of our team to serve out of love for people far from Christ to experience an environment where they can encounter God. Thank you all who give countless time to make this happen.

"Great is Your Faithfulness" Chris Tomlin
"Unchanging" Chris Tomlin
"Endlessly" Desperation Band
"Center" Charlie Hall
"All Who Are Thirsty" Kutless

Back from CIY

Last week I got to spend some good time with 3 young guys from our church at CIY. The theme was MOVE: realizing that God moves and call us to action. The topics where heavy, there was no tip toeing around these good facts that we all need to know. Here's what we learned each day:
Day 1: Jesus Being the Only Way
Day 2: Holy Spirit
Day 3: Community
Day 4: Boldness
Day 5: Challenge to MOVE

All week was based on the first 9 chapters of Acts. Always great material to see what the church should be all about and how we as individuals can be part of this great movement that started 2000 years ago. We saw the life of Peter, Paul and Stephen which reminds me how easy we have it around here. Persecution.......what persecution? This conference reminded me of how easily we can be happy and distracted from telling people that we care for them and their eternity. Here is link to their study guide used to teach teens: MOVE.

Starbucks Wednesdays

The more we move the more people we add to the Wednesday Life Group. From Moby's Coffee on Deacon to Moby's on Summit and now for the rest of the summer at Starbucks of University (that we know of).

We have continued our Wednesday night Summer Life Group. Currently we are studying "When God's People Pray" by Jim Cymbala. Some powerful deep stuff. Challenging to hear what the power of prayer can really do. As Cymbala said, "If Christians really knew what the power of prayer can do, they would pray more."

In the midst of change and confusion to location, God continues to grow this group as we faithfully pursue Him.

Join us tonight at 7p.m. at Starbucks: 5980 University Parkway
Winston-Salem, NC 27051

Playlist 7.13.08

The Sunday came when everyone would see me cry like a baby. Well this Sunday was a bit different and spoke deep to me. At the end of service things were different as I asked the prayer team to come and become available to pray for people. The prayer team kept coming and coming, it was a large group. That really hit me, just see how people at Bridges has committed to take a task as important as prayer.

Patrick had spoken about seeing God through creation, good times and bad times. Though we see creation, we sometimes don't let God speak to us directly to our lives in accepting God's grace fully. Because specially in bad times that grace does pull us through. "Rescue" was a perfect song for God to speak to us all. Thank you Prayer Team for being there!

"I am Free"-
"Majestic" - Lincoln Brewster
"All We Need" - Charlie Hall
"You Are God Alone" - PC & Dean
"Rescue"- Desperation Band

Songlist 7.6.08

Acoustic jam can never go wrong. 3 acoustic guitars in a roll reminds Patrick of the Eagles. Something he's been asking for for a while. It was a great laid back acoustic worship set that I personally felt blessed. A lot of our set-up/tear down team were out of town this week New people stepped up. Thanks for your help!

"Awesome God"- Vicky Beeching
"Holy is the Lord"- Chris Tomlin
"Mighty To Save" - Hillsong
"All Who Are Thirsty" -Kutless
"Rescue"- Desperation Band

rid of what's visible, in touch with invisible...

"The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7

How many times do we try to appear ok? When are we down with burdens and burning with troubles, but try to apear fine?

Today I was cutting my grass and washed my car and oh how beautiful did my yard look. Oh I was so proud of myself. Then I remembered how I intended to help clean the inside of my house and how much work I yet had to do. I thought of the fact that my neighbors probably don't care how the inside of my house looks, it really doesn't affect the value of their homes or even embarass them when they bring friends through the neighborhood.

So my question is, how many times in our lives have we just cared what our neighbors think? I must admit I can personally get distracted with what others think. God wants to help us through our burdens and troubles. He knows we can't always appear ok. It is amazing for me to know that my Savior stands at my side with open arms to either hold me or guide me.

So how can I encounter the invisible God if I only care of what the visible people think? Today I hope you can look at things that you need to render, pray and open your heart to this invisible God who can do things that no one can even attempt to. Open up to a God that really cares for you!

I am so glad we are part of this journey in seeking to hear His voice as we open our heart and hand Him every aspect of our lives. Remember that "the LORD looks at the heart."

The journey continues...

Songlist 2.29.08

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13

Cool passage in reminding me that God bring true hope. I need to depend on Him and trust Him in every aspect of my life. Especially those things I know I can pull off. Things are way better His way.

I pray that God gives me vision and new creative ideas to allow people to interact with God in a new way. Sometimes its more, sometimes it's less. Sometimes the same, sometimes different. I place my trust in Him.

"Let God Arise" Chris Tomlin
"Salvation is Here" Hillsong United
"Sweetly Broken" Vineyard
"Nothing But The Blood" Matt Redman
"Let Me Sing" Northpoint

We keep meeting new people and speaking to people who are excited about God and about Bridges. God never ceases to surprise us and is always on the move.

Hearing God's voice in little things..

Serving the world is one of main focus at Bridges. Romans 15:2 says, "Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, "How can I help?" MSG Translation

We go to learn and see the Jesus did exaclty this. He did not go wandering about life seeing what coud be done for His own comfort. Jesus did not avoid people troubles. He immediately felt compassion and sought wisdom from above to encourage and some to physically heal. There are people all around us who need help. People need to feel God's love in a practical way. At Bridges I hope we continue seeking God's will for our individual life as we interact with this God who still has compassion and power to heal. God is definitely interactive, wanting to reach out, wanting to help.

Are we ready for His call? Are we willing to pull over and help with the broken down car on the side of the road? Are we willing to help plant flowers in elderly home's rose gardens as we brighten people's lives and bring hope? What is this awesome and interactive God asking you to do today?

I am so glad we are part of this journey in seeking to hear His voice even (especially) on the small day-to-day things. Remember that "strength is for service, not status."

The journey continues...

Songlist 6.15.08

I am excited as I see God unfold His work at Bridges, through people serving and doing things with no gain to them. I thank Marshall for joining our team and playing a rocking solid bass!

"I am a Friend of God" Michael Gungor verion
"Awesome God" Beeching
"Endlessly"
"Hungry"
"Yearn" Shane & Shane

Celebrate at Bridges 6.1.08

out of my office

Church planting has it's fun twists. Jefferson Church of Christ had been sooooo generous in letting me use the youth's office until they hired a new minister. So the time has come! I'm out........

Start praying that God will provide financially to relocate to a close location towards the community we are trying to reach. We dream of a central location where people can come and do ministry (tutoring, pantry, practice room, lifegroup meeting room). Something between 800-1000 sq feet. Patrick and I currently share a 10 X 10' office, a way to know each other better, I guess. God is so good to us! Here's my hole in my office...

Song List 6.1.08

The Chronicles of the Kingdom continues.....

This week touched on The Beatitudes...blessed are those (happy are those) who are meek, poor in spirit, peacemakers, etc. We had a look into God's welcoming and yearning spirit for all to come and be happy (blessed) by Him. Poor in spirit, cause we don't have it all or have been broken or don't expect anything out of life, we can then find it in Him. The meek are blessed, cause we feel we don't have anything or been ran over or tramples, God rescues us and gives us meaning. "Who are we that He is mindful of us?" had a great Sunday! Great set-up and tear down team....thank you all!


"Friend of God"
"Let Me Sing"
"Nothing But The Blood"
"Jesus Paid It All"
"Mighty To Save"

SongList 5.25.08

Patrick spoke about new life, through Admitting that we need Him, by Believing in Him and Committing to Him. A heavy subject weekend. Spoke of Nicodemus who asked about the whole being born again thing. Was he serious when he asked Jesus if he had to go back into his mothers womb? I guess with Jesus' miracles going on, he thought it would be possible.

"I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." John 3:3

Jesus offers us a fresh start, a new life, a path into His kingdom here on earth.

Songs:
"Let the Praises Ring" Lincoln Brewster
"Sing to The King"- Billy Foote
"Everlasting God" - Chris Tomlin
"You Are God Alone" - Phillips and Dean
"All Who are Thirsty" - Kutless

Thank you God for the musicians YOU provide to offer their gift to you. Thanks to Joel:drummer, Jamie:guitarist, Chuck: guitarist, Sid:bass...THANK YOU!!

Songlist: 5.18.08

The Chronicles of the Kingdom- began at Bridges. We were all reminded on how we should Christians first in doing whatever it is we do. I am a Christian who is a musician, not the other way around. The kingdom lives within me as I accept Christ and die to myself and let Him reign in me. It a daily cross and realm I live for.

Let God Arise- Chris Tomlin
Not To Us- Chris Tomllin
Mighty to Save- Hillsong
Most High- Hillsong
You Are God Alone- Phillis & Dean

I'm So Vain...sometimes

It's Sunday morning 15 minutes before service. There I am feeling nervous as I do every Sunday. Fixing my mohawk and my collar making sure I'm all pretty. Then I it really hit me, it is not about me. I turned my glance away from the mirror and walked. No more me,cause even when I look at me, I can put me down. But God loves me for who I am, knows my innermost part of my heart. Probably parts I don't even know about. Romans 8 reminds me of the amazing grace and love God has for his children. The great love He has for me. Every day I am grateful and reminded of His kindness and greatness. He loves me...He loves me....He loves us. That's amazing.

Here's a picture of my princess. Oh how much I love her....oh how much more He loves me!

what's going on in the world?

What's going on in the world? Earthquakes in China, children killing children, and children starving all over the world. There are so many tough things happening.

So I ask myself what are we doing about it or what can we do about it?
Then wonder how guilty I should feel when I flip a switch and there is light, when I turn on hot water to shower, when I sit next to a pool drinking a virgin colada? These are the questions I ask myself.

I am challenged and wonder if I sacrifice enough to make a change in this world. There are countless testimonies of friends who are just awesome. Just recently I met a humble man who adopted 2 children (his gifts) from China, one has a blood disease and the other had a stroke and lost use to his whole right side, and now recovering. These new parents not only decided to care for children who were strangers, but children who were not healthy and needed to be loved. They are my present day heroes. They've now sacrificed their whole life to make a positive change in these 2 lives. Hat off to them!!

Boy, is this a challenge for me. I pray that God may show us as a family to value every moment and everyday and to see what God is calling us to do to bring Him to life in those around us. Even though there is pain and hurt in this world, there is love and hope to all through His church. I'll continue my journey, seeking God's call for our life, without losing hope!

Psalm 31:24 NIV
"Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD."

5.4.08 Songlist

There were some sound anomalies going on Sunday morning. In the midst of all that I'm so glad God always shows up. I thank Jimmy and Boris from Winston Salem First who faithfully serve in our worship ministry monthly. They are strong warriors and great example of Kingdom minded people.

Salvation is Here
All Because
Let Me Sing
Yearn
Sweetly Broken

Florida

We had been waiting and waiting, now it's past and very memorable. Aiyana's first trip to Florida, she got to visit Disney, MGM and Animal Kingdom. We got one day of laying out at the pool, where Vanessa got an awful sunburn and Aiyana got her first kiss from a boy. Good times!!



Just a kiss right, that doesn't mean anything!!

1.27. 08 Songlist

- Let the Praises Ring
- Unchanging
- Holy is the Lord
- You're Worthy of My Praise
- I am Free

Dare to dream: becoming the church He wants us to be.

On Sunday we studied Acts 2 as we strive to become a living and fruitful church. Our plan was to implement as much as what the early church did, so we worshiped together, broke bread (ate lunch), had fellowship, shared belongings to those in need (brought canned/dried goods), encouraged people to sign up for life groups and had a baptism. All in one Sunday. Pretty exciting times!

songlist 01.06.08

Already '08, already 3 months of existence as Bridges Church. It's pretty amazing how time flies when I'm having too much fun. God had been very faithful as we continue moving forward at Bridges. Thanks for all your prayers and support!

Everlasting God
Unchanging
He is Exalted
Enough
Blessed Be Your Name