“It’s A Wonderful Life”
As you might have thought by the title of my article, I am writing about a famous holiday movie… Well, not exactly. This is sort of a “let’s pretend for a minute” story using the fictional character George Bailey from the famous holiday classic in the scene where George tells Clarence (the Angel who’s trying to earn his wings...) that he feels things would have just been better “if he’d never have been born!” Then Clarence grants him the opportunity to see what life would have been like for everyone else if that had indeed been true. Here is where the “pretend part” comes in… imagine for a moment what the world be like today if Jesus had never been born? Really, think about that for a few moments and ponder that thought… What if God had decided to NOT give his only son to the world to die for our sins? There would be no Mary and Joseph in the manger, no three years of ministry with twelve disciples; no miracles; no resurrection of Lazarus; no upper room meal on Passover; no trial before Pilate; no crucifixion and suffering before a hostile mob; no death on the cross – and NO resurrection!
What would the world be like today if Jesus had never been born?
If one takes a historical look over the last two-thousand years – it would be difficult to find any major historical event or civilization that has not been affected by the Ministry of Jesus Christ. No single person that has ever lived has had a greater influence on the history of our world than Jesus. I shudder to even think of what the world would be like today if Jesus had not been born, and I am so thankful that he was. As the Angel Clarence in the movie tells George Bailey, “Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?” I can’t even begin to imagine how immense the hole in our world today would be, without Jesus.
We all, in our own way – touch so many lives around us - It is truly a wonderful life we live and have been freely given by the birth of baby Jesus so long ago. Have a blessed Christmas and a wonderful New Year!
Dave Farmer
A collection of thoughts, ideas, prayers and experiences I have had over the years in my personal journey with Christ and growing as both a leader of worship, as well as a worshipper.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Monday, July 25, 2011
Ten Thousand Reasons!
10,000 Reasons…
Worship leader and songwriter Matt Redman recently released a new worship CD titled “10,000 Reasons.” In his notes he writes of his inspiration behind this new album of worship music which he wrote them down in a book titled “Mirror Ball”. He relates the journey of a Christian life as being one of “wandering and wondering – journeying from scene to scene and taking time to explore the magnificence of God.”
All our lives are filled with daily testimonies to the magnificence of God; some so small they may go unseen to our own eyes while others are so great that they can often overwhelm us – if only we choose to look, we can FIND them. I am blessed to have Tammy as a partner in my life – her devotion to sit with me for hour upon hour recently in my visit to the emergency room at Banner Hospital, grilling the nurses and doctors and asking all the “right questions” that I was too sick to even think of – was one such overwhelming testimony to me of God’s magnificence… My daily life is filled with even more testimonies than this – sometimes small, sometimes unseen even, but I can find them if I only look.
In a line from Matt’s new song “10,000 Reasons” he sings;
Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me,
Let me be singing when the evening comes,
You’re rich in love and You’re slow to anger,
Your name is great, and Your heart is kind.
For all Your goodness, I will keep on singing,
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find.
Every day of our lives is filled with moments and testimonies to the Magnificence of God, maybe it’s in a cooling summer rain, watching a lovely rose as it blooms and opens before our eyes. Maybe it’s in the colors of a desert sunset or perhaps in the smiles of our children (or grandchildren) or in a hand to hold on to in a time of need. Perhaps it’s just in simply being able to rise and stand to greet one more day of life and existence is this world before our time comes to finally be with our Lord. Meanwhile, I listen and ponder the words of the song, “Whatever may pass… For all Your goodness, I will keep on singing ten thousand reasons for my heart to find.”
Blessings,
Dave
Worship leader and songwriter Matt Redman recently released a new worship CD titled “10,000 Reasons.” In his notes he writes of his inspiration behind this new album of worship music which he wrote them down in a book titled “Mirror Ball”. He relates the journey of a Christian life as being one of “wandering and wondering – journeying from scene to scene and taking time to explore the magnificence of God.”
All our lives are filled with daily testimonies to the magnificence of God; some so small they may go unseen to our own eyes while others are so great that they can often overwhelm us – if only we choose to look, we can FIND them. I am blessed to have Tammy as a partner in my life – her devotion to sit with me for hour upon hour recently in my visit to the emergency room at Banner Hospital, grilling the nurses and doctors and asking all the “right questions” that I was too sick to even think of – was one such overwhelming testimony to me of God’s magnificence… My daily life is filled with even more testimonies than this – sometimes small, sometimes unseen even, but I can find them if I only look.
In a line from Matt’s new song “10,000 Reasons” he sings;
Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me,
Let me be singing when the evening comes,
You’re rich in love and You’re slow to anger,
Your name is great, and Your heart is kind.
For all Your goodness, I will keep on singing,
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find.
Every day of our lives is filled with moments and testimonies to the Magnificence of God, maybe it’s in a cooling summer rain, watching a lovely rose as it blooms and opens before our eyes. Maybe it’s in the colors of a desert sunset or perhaps in the smiles of our children (or grandchildren) or in a hand to hold on to in a time of need. Perhaps it’s just in simply being able to rise and stand to greet one more day of life and existence is this world before our time comes to finally be with our Lord. Meanwhile, I listen and ponder the words of the song, “Whatever may pass… For all Your goodness, I will keep on singing ten thousand reasons for my heart to find.”
Blessings,
Dave
Monday, March 28, 2011
Disney lessons learned
What would Walt do?
I recently read an article about Walt Disney and viewed a clip of a new tour that is offered at the Disney theme parks titled: “Inspiration: Through Walt’s Eyes.” At one point in the tour, the tour guide stops and remarks that “Walt’s vision for the company was to have one foot firmly planted in tradition while having the other foot firmly planted in the future and innovation.” When I heard that, I realized - this is exactly what the vision should be for a growing church today. In fact, if you look throughout history, this is what has propelled the church’s growth through the last two thousand years! Walt merely borrowed a strategy from our Lord’s unique vision to form his own creative one. What does this mean you ask? What causes some churches today to close their doors for good amidst “change”, while others thrive and even flourish in the face of it? The Church would not be alive today were it not for those who have kept their feet firmly planted in the gospel message of Jesus Christ, while endeavoring to innovate and change to meet the needs of future generations of followers. So what exactly might this look like for our church? I will start by sharing one simple idea or approach that has worked successfully in churches all across America today - to help them only just survive, but grow and even thrive amidst all the “change”!
It’s called - “Transitional Blended Worship” Since I came back to this church three years ago, this is the approach that I have attempted to use with our church. It’s not an easy approach, it can cause some “discomfort” for a few – but the rewards and blessings for the church in using this approach far outweigh any temporary discomfort felt by a few. Simply put – Blended worship means finding a balance between the popular worship music of yesterday (traditional) and the popular worship music of today (contemporary). When I choose songs for Sunday such as “How Great thou Art” and “How Great is Our God” I am deliberately blending two distinctly different generational worship styles into one unified time of worship. I firmly believe that this is the best way to build a bridge between the younger worshippers and the “saints” of the church. It works for Walt – and it’s what the Lord commands us to do.
“Sing to the LORD a NEW song; sing to the LORD, all the earth.” Psalm 96:1
Blessings to all,
Dave
I recently read an article about Walt Disney and viewed a clip of a new tour that is offered at the Disney theme parks titled: “Inspiration: Through Walt’s Eyes.” At one point in the tour, the tour guide stops and remarks that “Walt’s vision for the company was to have one foot firmly planted in tradition while having the other foot firmly planted in the future and innovation.” When I heard that, I realized - this is exactly what the vision should be for a growing church today. In fact, if you look throughout history, this is what has propelled the church’s growth through the last two thousand years! Walt merely borrowed a strategy from our Lord’s unique vision to form his own creative one. What does this mean you ask? What causes some churches today to close their doors for good amidst “change”, while others thrive and even flourish in the face of it? The Church would not be alive today were it not for those who have kept their feet firmly planted in the gospel message of Jesus Christ, while endeavoring to innovate and change to meet the needs of future generations of followers. So what exactly might this look like for our church? I will start by sharing one simple idea or approach that has worked successfully in churches all across America today - to help them only just survive, but grow and even thrive amidst all the “change”!
It’s called - “Transitional Blended Worship” Since I came back to this church three years ago, this is the approach that I have attempted to use with our church. It’s not an easy approach, it can cause some “discomfort” for a few – but the rewards and blessings for the church in using this approach far outweigh any temporary discomfort felt by a few. Simply put – Blended worship means finding a balance between the popular worship music of yesterday (traditional) and the popular worship music of today (contemporary). When I choose songs for Sunday such as “How Great thou Art” and “How Great is Our God” I am deliberately blending two distinctly different generational worship styles into one unified time of worship. I firmly believe that this is the best way to build a bridge between the younger worshippers and the “saints” of the church. It works for Walt – and it’s what the Lord commands us to do.
“Sing to the LORD a NEW song; sing to the LORD, all the earth.” Psalm 96:1
Blessings to all,
Dave
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Happy New Year!
A time to renew and look to the future…
A new year is upon us already – 2010 seemed to just flyby in a hurry didn’t it? Do you ever wonder why things ever have to change? Do you sometimes wish things would just stay the same, at least for a little while? I think as I’ve grown older I find myself sometimes wishing for that to happen. How we become creatures of habit; of routine, but is this really what God has destined for us? All one has to do, is take a look at God’s glorious creation to know that “change” is good as it creates the energy and variety that fulfill God’s plan for each of us. Seasons will come and go, winter, spring, summer and fall. Plants will sprout and grow and produce beautiful flowers then seed and blossom and eventually they will wither and die to start the process all over again. Nature’s change is constant and relentless. We can all learn from this.
God never wants us to keep our eyes looking at what lies behind – the “good old” days weren’t really all that good were they? I mean really, were they? Just think about what life in Phoenix was like in those “good old” days when few (if any) homes had central air conditioning in the summertime! Jesus taught to always keep our eyes focused on the future ahead, not to look back at the past;
“No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62 NIV) The moment we stop to look back, even for a second – it increases the chances of our making our furrows crooked, uneven or even worse yet, useless!
As we begin another new year, I challenge you to stay focused on the future ahead, seek out God – brace for change, enjoy it and savor the good of it but never look back! Instead keep focused on things of God, seek him earnestly and he will find you.
“Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established” (Prov. 4:25-26 NKJV) “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” (Jer. 29:13 NKJV)
- Dave
A new year is upon us already – 2010 seemed to just flyby in a hurry didn’t it? Do you ever wonder why things ever have to change? Do you sometimes wish things would just stay the same, at least for a little while? I think as I’ve grown older I find myself sometimes wishing for that to happen. How we become creatures of habit; of routine, but is this really what God has destined for us? All one has to do, is take a look at God’s glorious creation to know that “change” is good as it creates the energy and variety that fulfill God’s plan for each of us. Seasons will come and go, winter, spring, summer and fall. Plants will sprout and grow and produce beautiful flowers then seed and blossom and eventually they will wither and die to start the process all over again. Nature’s change is constant and relentless. We can all learn from this.
God never wants us to keep our eyes looking at what lies behind – the “good old” days weren’t really all that good were they? I mean really, were they? Just think about what life in Phoenix was like in those “good old” days when few (if any) homes had central air conditioning in the summertime! Jesus taught to always keep our eyes focused on the future ahead, not to look back at the past;
“No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62 NIV) The moment we stop to look back, even for a second – it increases the chances of our making our furrows crooked, uneven or even worse yet, useless!
As we begin another new year, I challenge you to stay focused on the future ahead, seek out God – brace for change, enjoy it and savor the good of it but never look back! Instead keep focused on things of God, seek him earnestly and he will find you.
“Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established” (Prov. 4:25-26 NKJV) “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” (Jer. 29:13 NKJV)
- Dave
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