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We launched a new (and much-needed) series at SSCC this past week called “Worth Fighting For” – it’s about marriage and family.  Our creative team spent some time coming up with a set which includes a way-cool boxing ring on stage and tons of full-sized posters with various families from our church in “boxing robes and gloves” in the building.

With some help from friends, Chris Moncus shot this video at a local gym and Travis Paulding gave it his editing mojo.  So we could truly “own” this series and the creative elements, I was asked to compose an original musical soundtrack for the trailer.

So, I present this sermon trailer, featuring one of the founding families of this church (Larry and Beverly Wade) … no, they aren’t fighting each other … they are fighting WITH each other … for marriage … for family.

I tracked this in ProTools with several keyboards, samplers, and groove modules, and tweaked tempos and time-stretching to try and get the big horn motif to “match” the transitions in the video.

You like?

22 And Jesus answered them, Have faith in God. 23 Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, Be taken up and thrown into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. (Mark 11: 22-24)

This is a remarkable passage. Yet, how many of our prayers seem to go unanswered?
Why is that?

God is always speaking.

Are you listening?

What is He saying to you during this season of your life?

As you read that, it came to you.  Instantly.  Maybe you have to think about it for a while.

Share it … in 3 words or less.

For me?

Margin.  Gratitude.  Slower.

For you?

Earlier this year I was asked to participate in a blog tour and review of the book “Picking Dandelions:  A Search for Eden Among Life’s Weeds” by Sarah Cunningham.

I’m hesitant to agree to a lot of reviews because my desk is already covered in book, resource, and CD/DVD reviews from publishers and record labels.  Hat’s off to a couple of websites with decent traffic, I suppose.

For whatever reason, I agreed and the book arrived shortly thereafter.  After reading through the entire book I would summarize it with words that my wife would use … it’s a “feel good” book.

You know, one of those books that just makes you feel good.  You connect.  You identify.

Sarah takes us on a journey of her life (much of which is still to be lived) and her experiences growing up in this life as a Christian.  I found myself laughing at the stories she tells as I could so easily identify with them.  I love her use of stories and humor.

Ultimately, this book is about identifying the bad and recognizing the good.  It came at a perfect time for me as the word “gratitude” has been stamped on my spirit for 2010.  Over and over, God is teaching me to be grateful and reminding me of how much I should be grateful.

Sarah, in a true display of authenticity and vulnerability, shares her own flaws and hangups.  She takes us on a journey through life with unexpected twists and turns.

For the “churched” – you can truly relate.  If we are not experiencing a tension of how to be “in the church” and how to “be the church” and “do the stuff” that Jesus tells us to do … we aren’t living.  Sarah lives this out in print and takes us through her own journey of “christian-dom” and how it has blessed her, and how it has frustrated her.

As I spoke to Sarah after reading the book she couldn’t help but ask about my perspective as a man.  It seems the book may have been unintentionally targeted to women.  My response?  Everything I read connects to me as a man.  I feel the same frustrations.  I have the same flaws.  I have the overwhelming need to find the good in life, and need help and reminders to do so.  Not to mention, I like an easy read that puts my soul at rest.

I hope you’ll checkout the book here on Amazon.Com.

In the meantime, I’ve invited Sarah to stop by and field some of your questions.

How do deal with the “weeds” in your life?  How do you focus on the good, and not the bad?
How do you think the church is doing with “outward ministry” – meaning, beyond the 4 walls of our structures?
What is the biggest change that God is taking you through at the moment?  Be vulnerable.  Be authentic, and share.

Let the conversation begin.

Giveaway, Giveaway, Giveaway.

That’s what’s been happening here all week long.

Still to giveaway:  3 more copies of Vicky Beeching’s new “Eternity Invades” CD.  Enter here.
Still to giveaway:  1 FREE registration to the “AllAboutWorship” retreat in May (Kansas City).  Enter here.
Still to giveaway:  a free copy (instant download) of my 1st ever instrumental, “QuietTimes” Keyboard Instrumental.  Get it here.

And today?

“QuietTimes” Volume 2 Instrumental

Building on the success of the first instrumental (granted, these are 16 years old!), I went into a real studio and recorded this with my buddy Dutch Heidler on saxophone.  This album was spontaneous, meaning … we didn’t rehearse and write themes … we just went into the studio and started worshiping … with the “record” button on.  This is great music for prayer, meditation, and reflection.

Please giveback by doing the following:

1.  Click the green “Tweet/Retweet” button in the top RH corner of this blog post and spread the word about this giveaway to your Twitter followers.
2.  Go to my Facebook Profile and click the “Share” link underneath this entry on my profile page (it will appear as a “Networked Blog” post on my Profile.
3.  Leave a comment below letting me know you are participating.
4.  Don’t forget to register in all the other giveaways (each day had a different giveaway and a different page, links above!
5.  Enjoy your new music – Download “QuietTimes” Volume 2 Keyboard/Saxophone Instrumental now.  (if you burn a CD, be sure and set your software to allow no seconds of space or “gaps” between tracks so the music flows continually)