Ephesians 1:13-14

"Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit..."



"Marked with a seal." It's cool to think of the different seals there must have been in the olden times. Pretty much everyone of importance had a ring that they would use to stamp a wax seal on important documents. It was unique to them. It was their own mark. People could blatantly see who the owner/originator was. Seals eventually evolved into the branding iron. Ranchers would brand their cattle and their livestock symbolizing their ownership. If they were to get lost, people would know who they belong to. They could be brought back. Or, if the rancher was abitious, they could seek out what was theirs. It was a way to rightfully claim what was yours.

According to this passage, we're marked in Him with a seal. We belong to God.

Should the same principles apply with this Heavenly seal? Should people be able to see that we are God's? That we are Christians? If we are lost... who returns us to our owner? Or are we drawn back?

Over the last week, my roommates and I have somehow lost 4 remote controls for the TV. We bought one - and lost it within two days. We bought another - and lost it within 4 hours. I found two remotes at home, brought them back and well... you get it. When we lost the remotes, we looked everywhere we possibly could... tore stuff apart. Flipped the room upside down. We were determined to find the remotes. Anyway...

It got me thinking again. When people fall away from God... how does He react? How does He feel? Is it the same as we feel when we lose something that's important?



"...Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory."

"What is worse - to be honest with yourself while you are dishonest with the world, or to be dishonest with the world because you have deceived yourself?"

- Reinhold Niebuhr

Think.

I've been thinking a lot lately about my definition of a Christian... of a disciple. My thoughts can't help but go back to El Salvador three years ago, on the last night of our missions trip. Don Triplett said something that will probably stick with me for as long as I live: "Only disciples make it to heaven." Now, without getting into logistics, viewpoints, and all that rubbish - think about it.

The Great Commission says it all: "Make disciples... of all nations..."

I so often see people who pray a prayer... believe in Jesus... and that's "enough." They're going to heaven. They have the mentality of "I believe in Jesus, so I'm going to heaven. I can drink... smoke... do whatever I want. As long as I believe God exists..." That doesn't seem right at all.

Look at Jesus, and the 12 disciples... He called each one individually. They stopped what they were doing... everything... they started a new life. They were no longer tax collectors, fishermen, doctors, whatever they did... they became disciples. They followed Jesus. That was it.

I just looked up the definition for the word "discipleship" in the dictionary. It's a noun. That's wrong - I think it should be a verb... Think about it.

I want to be less of a Christian (noun)and more of a Disciple (verb).

?

Last night was crazy.
I've slept maybe 5 hours in the last 3 or 4 days.
That's not healthy.

Through everything, I find God at the center of it all.
Amazing. Glorious. Healing. Father.

I feel change all around me.
I feel it coming...

Healer.

Clarification.

A number of people either didn't like or didn't agree with my last blog. Oh well. Let me explain myself.

As a musician... I see and hear a lot of things. There is a lot of deception and dishonesty that goes on in the music industry; and yes, I'm talking about the "Christian" industry. It's disheartening. I've experienced it firsthand in a few different instances. I've talked with several artists, and they've done nothing but confirm this. That being said... there are artists that I have simply lost respect for. People I used to look to for inspiration. People who were, essentially, my role models. Now, they still inspire me... they inspire me to be genuine... real... honest. To be, for lack of a better word, better.

Every band I've played in has started as a ministry. Then it plays a show or two. Once money starts coming in, and exchanging hands, things change. It slowly becomes a business (that wants to do ministry). God is placed on the backburner, but they're still a "Christian" band. The more and more I get involved with music... the more this veil of industry and business is lifted from my eyes...

In my opinion, "Christian" music today has become bland. We're called to be the salt of the earth. The "true salt" these days seems to be few and far between. That being said, I'm consistently inspired by artists like Jeff Deyo - for being raw, Robbie Seay - for being real, Switchfoot - for being genuine, Shawn McDonald - for his humility, and Shane & Shane - for their undeniable passion.

I'm off to play some bass now... more later?

direction?

Music.
greed. slander. deceit. obscene. misleading. image-driven. idols. fake. lies.

Ministry.
passion. love. truth. purity. redemption. purpose. calling. real. Christ. trust. faith.


...seems like a no-brainer to me.

Melancholy.

Psalm 43

1 Vindicate me, O God,
and plead my cause against an ungodly nation;
rescue me from deceitful and wicked men.
2 You are God my stronghold.
Why have you rejected me?
Why must I go about mourning,
oppressed by the enemy?
3 Send forth your light and your truth,
let them guide me;
let them bring me to your holy mountain,
to the place where you dwell.
4 Then will I go to the altar of God,
to God, my joy and my delight.
I will praise you with the harp,
O God, my God.
5 Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.


Life has been crazy lately. High hopes and expectations... met with disappointment. Dreams... stopped by walls. Plans... interrupted... and I'm OK with that. I wasn't at first; but who am I to question God?

...Who am I?

I tend to get ahead of myself in many ways. For instance, I'd planned for certain things over the next few months... they're no more. I'd planned for things in the spring... they're no more. Several years ago, I had a plan of where I wanted to be at this point of my life. I'm not there. Plans don't mean anthing... unless they're God's. God... let my plans be Yours. Let Your will be mine. Let my life shine You. May I not live for anything but Your glory and Your name. May my words... my actions be Yours... Rid me of myself...


The song "Healer" by Planetshakers is amazing. I heard/played it for the first time last night. The story behind it is amazing. The message it sends is beautiful. I cried.


Anyway... I've been working with some new arrangements of some hymns. They're really cool, if I can say so myself. A few might get recorded... I hope they get recorded. It's been something I've wanted to do for a while now. Ever since I found my grandma's folder of music... full of songs she wrote... songs she loved... songs that moved her...

I never even met her. If I had, I'm sure we would have had some great discussions; and one day we will...

I can't wait.