esus In September
Recently I went on a retreat with the Lord near Chattanooga. I camped in what is known as a glamp, or luxurious tent. I selected the date in my calendar and wrote it in stone. Many things tried to persuade me to reschedule my getaway, many good things in fact. I had a feeling that would happen. Even Hurricane Helene herself came soaring in from the Atlantic. Rain or snow I knew I had to go. It rained the entire weekend. I built a fire in the rain and stared into the flames reflecting on the story of Moses and the burning bush. I had been hearing God tell me for awhile in a low whisper, “Find me in the secret place”. I had seen him speaking to me in His word about the tent of meeting. Moses and Joshua frequented this tent outside of the camp to hear from God. I noted the location, outside the camp. I see a common theme in the old testament and in the new testament as well, specifically in the life of Jesus. Men would be led by the spirit into the wilderness to hear from God. They would wander to lonely, uninhabited places to spend time with their creator. The louder this world becomes the greater the need to retreat to these places of solitude for intimacy with the Lord. Our greatest moments of intimacy are always experienced in private, it should be no different with our creator. How can we clearly hear his voice when so many voices are competing for our attention. Voices that tell us nothing.
As I sat in my tent praying, I asked the Lord to speak to me in his word. I flung open my bible and a verse from the Numbers Chapter 3 Looked back at me: The levites are mine. I continued to read the chapter and ironically stumbled over passages about the tent of meeting and the Levites responsibility to care for the tent of meeting. They were set apart. I continued praying and reading and the Lord continued speaking. “Lord speak to me in your word?” I flung open my bible again and found myself in Chronicals looking at another verse about the levites, this time it was David assigning the levites the duty of worship in the tabernacle. This theme continued as I spent time in the presence of the Lord.
I tell this story to show the sacredness surrounding worship in the scriptures. The lord set apart a people among the Jews called the Levites to have no inheritance but God himself. He calls them His and from this tribe specifically some were called to the task of worship in His most Holy Place. We also hear mention of worshippers or singers at the head of God’s procession in Psalms. There is no doubt God recognizes the power of music and he demands his chosen worshippers to be set apart for Himself. What an honor to hear God say, “You are mine, and I will be your portion”
A quick recap of the month.
September 30th we had two shows on the same night, one in a bar and one at a coffee bar. Nick Shrader, Colleen Mckenna, Ericka Corban, Aaron Bucks, Zach Gomez, and Garrett Dearing shared songs of faith and worshipped God at Just Love in Springhill. We ended the night with Nothing But The Blood and the audience joined in. It was the final song of the night and it received no applause. I was grateful it didn’t, because it was meant for God. Any applause would have most likely been directed at the artist. Dove week was in full swing, a time when Christian artists are celebrated and awarded for their talent. I hope as we honor the Christian music community we don’t forget to honor the one from whom the word "Christian" was derived, Christ himself. May he be placed at the center of our worship.
On the other side of town Charly Perry, Iveth Luna, Micah Christopher, Rachael Nemiroff, Holly Halliwell, Ivey Asher, Jess Kingrea, Allison Eide, Peregrine, The Band Jaren, Eli Gable, and Harrison Hackett brought Jesus In A Bar to Live Oak on Demonbreun. It was good to be in a Nashville bar again, the environment we were born in. Eli Gable ended the night inviting the audience to join us in Amazing Grace, a tradition we’ve held since the early days.
Samamantha Marsh, Jonathan Soul, and myself covered the Nursing home front. All three of us were encourage by our time with the elderly. On Septembrer 15th I was invited to bring our ministry behind bars to the Western KY State Prison. This would be my second visit there. Though I felt unworthy to be there, the Lord anointed the worship in a way I’ve rarely seen. The men and women behind bars are powerful worshippers. At both the women’s and men’s worship, I challenged them to do something I’ve started implementing in my worship. “If God tells us who we are,” I said, “We should tell Him who He is.” Each of us one by one began proclaiming the many names of God and who He’s been for us personally throughout our lives. You could feel the mood change in the room. He inhabits the praises of his people.
To God be the glory.
Jesus is Lord.
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