Rice Lake, WI and other nonsense.

This last weekend, I found myself in Rice Lake. It's what some call a small town (8,000 or so). I traveled there with the band I'm currently playing with, BRAZENaltar (www.brazenaltar.com).

The trip, as a whole, was amazing. My favorite moment of the weekend was during our encore. Before I go on, let me make a disclaimer: I hate encores. I hate what they represent because, for the most part, they're for self-glorification and that's not why I do music. Anyway... on with it. The first encore I've ever done (or at least remembered). We finished the set and people wanted more. So... We pulled one song out of nowhere - I'd never heard it, much less played it. Then, out of nowhere, we started playing some worship tunes. Everything shifted. The mood. The feel. The heart.

I think it was one of the most defining points of my life. Singing/playing/screaming God's adoration... with a band I've known for a week... with a group absolute strangers... in the middle of nowhere. I felt God more than I have in a long time. It was/is indescribable.

Sunday morning was amazing as well. We started off the service with some worship songs, RT brought the word, and again... it happened... God rocked the house. I'm not talking about the music, I'm talking about revival. Bonds broken, hearts restored, Holy Spirit revival. Again, hard to put in words; but God is like that... and I freaking love it.

I was reading in Psalms and then came to Psalm 86. It's basically the epitome of what I've needed to read over the last few months.

"Hear, O LORD, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.
Guard my life, for I am devoted to you.
You are my God; save your servant
who trusts in you.
Have mercy on me, O Lord,
for I call to you all day long.
Bring joy to your servant,
for to you, O Lord,
I lift up my soul.
You are forgiving and good, O Lord,
abounding in love to all who call to you.
Hear my prayer, O LORD;
listen to my cry for mercy.
In the day of my trouble I will call to you,
for you will answer me.
Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord;
no deeds can compare with yours.
All the nations you have made
will come and worship before you, O Lord;
they will bring glory to your name.
For you are great and do marvelous deeds;
you alone are God.
Teach me your way, O LORD,
and I will walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.
I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart;
I will glorify your name forever.
For great is your love toward me;
you have delivered me from the depths of the grave.
The arrogant are attacking me, O God;
a band of ruthless men seeks my life—
men without regard for you.
But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.
Turn to me and have mercy on me;
grant your strength to your servant
and save the son of your maidservant.
Give me a sign of your goodness,
that my enemies may see it and be put to shame,
for you, O LORD, have helped me and comforted me."

God is good. All the time.