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So yesterday I blogged about one of the most inspiring moments of my life – seeing “Gungor” live at re:create.  Their album released yesterday, and I hope you picked it up.  (get it here on iTunes) It’s awesome, though after seeing them live, even the album was a bit anti-climatic.

My friend Bobby (who I’ve known via blogworld and twitter for years and finally got to meet!) captured some cool footage from the conference.  So … enjoy!

(HT – Bobby Marchassault, MyWorshipRevolution)

I’m back from the re:create conference.  We hit the ground running wide open … what’s new.  I need to sit down and unpack everything that happened last week during re:create, but haven’t found a slow moment.  Do they exist?

Anyway, while I was there I experienced “Gungor” – formerly known as “The Michael Gungor Band”.  Folks, unless you’ve just offline, you’ve already seen the buzz on Twitter and blogs about this band.  I have witnessed some amazing performances in my life and this ranks as one of the most inspiring performances of my lifetime.  I’m not exaggerating.

Gungor’s CD (which he presented from start to end for us with the full band and multimedia experience) released today, Feb 15.  It’s called “Beautiful Things”.  I’d encourage you to spend the $10 and download it right away from iTunes.  It’s so worth it.

Here’s their “EPK” video.  Enjoy the heart of a husband/wife and band that show some of the most inspiring, creative, passionate worship I’ve encountered … ever.  Also, my friend Russ Hutto just published an amazing review of the album and the live experience we had with Gungor over at TheWorshipCommunity.Com.  Go checkout that review after watching the EPK below.

Hey Everybody,

I’m about to board a flight to Nashville, TN with my good friend Russ Hutto for the annual “re:create” conference.  Can’t wait to make new friends and see lots of folks like … well, to list all of their names and link to their blogs would take all morning!

I want to be “in the moment” as much as possible so probably will restrain myself from blogging every day and “tweeting” about every nuance.  (Can I hear an “amen”!?).  So, I’m going to embed the code that will allow you to view all tweets from myself and others who attend that use the #recreate hashtag.  Enjoy.  Be sure and view the Media tab as well!

You’ll hear from me whenever I can.

Let’s face it.  Ministry is tough.  As leaders, we are held to a higher standard.  The world is watching and they are eager to pounce on the story when someone in ministry screws up.

The fact of the matter is this – we are all destined to screw up.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m not discounting the power of God’s Holy Spirit – the power to transform our lives, and change us “from glory to glory”.  Still, this is a process.  We are still human, and though we have a new “birth” through Christ, the old sinful nature still wrestles with us.

Don’t take my word for it – listen to the Apostle Paul:

15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. (Romans 7: 15-20, ESV – YouVersion.Com)

We discussed this last week during the re:create conference for a while.  We paint ourselves into corners by pretending we have it all together – that we are living the perfect lives.  We would never get vulnerable and confess our struggles – then, we find ourselves out of a job, crucified, and kicked around.  It happens all the time.  I once even confessed a struggle AFTER I’d sought out counseling and was walking in victory and it still was used against me.  Thankfully, God vindicated that one in my behalf.

So we find ourselves in this “don’t ask, don’t tell” environment.  Don’t ask your staff or co-laborers how they are doing … because truth be told, we’re afraid of what the truth may be.  And whatever you do … “don’t tell” or volunteer anything.

I want to see this culture changed in ministry.  It’s time that we learn to walk in love and trust one another.  It’s time we find people who can hear our struggles and help us wihout us fearing the fierce kick in the butt from the religious crowd.  As Randy Elrod said this past week, “I’m tired of people getting fired by people who haven’t been caught”.

What about you – do you ask, do you tell?  Do you have a safe place?  Don’t fool yourself – we all have issues.  How do we wrestle with them?   By hiding them in the dark?  No – those things that are hidden need to be exposed.

Thoughts?

Hey Everybody -

Here’s a little Saturday blog love … checkout Steve Fee’s site … yours truly is starring in the opening of his latest live video …

In addition, you’ll see:
Randy Elrod
Alastair Vance
Carlos Whittaker
Joel Klampert

and of course … Steve Fee.
(thanks, Brody – for shooting the video and making the walls between artists and fans disappear)

Check it out here.