someone wronged me

Today I found out something that really made my stomach sick. I was wronged by someone, and it wasn't pretty. I felt betrayed, angry, upset, foolish and right away I wanted to do whatever I could do let that person know I knew what had happened. You see though, I've been down this road before, we all have, someone has said or done something and we're ready to take their head off. The problem with that as Christians is it is a complete victory for our flesh. After this wrong wronged me I emailed some people just asking for prayer. Prayer? Yes, that I wouldn't do what my flesh wanted to do and be led by the spirit to trust in God and "take every thought captive".
Then I got this back as a reply from one of them. These are the words of Jesus,

Matthew 5:39-45 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. 43 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

Wanna know something? By the time I got home, I was actually to the place where I could know that God knew about this issue, and it didn't bother me. I was actually thankful that my "pain" could be someone else's "gain" even if it was a completely un-just gain.
That he knew about it long before it even happened. Did it make it any less annoying or easier to process? Not really, but when I began to see it as a opportunity to trust in the Lord than I was willing to let it go and leave it to him to deal with. thankfully, the situation worked out all by itself and I would have gotten upset and blown it for nothing. I've got so much to learn but am so thankful that God's word will always point me in the right direction.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not to your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5

Weekend Review

I'm late posting our weekend service review in Oakville, but here it is.

Call to Worship: Lamentations 3:21-25

We began the service by reading together God's word. Starting services with scripture is a win win every time. God's word is what stirs peoples hearts, nothing I could say or do, no matter how energetic or true could spur the heart like God's word can. When heard, it always responds in worship.

G Come, Christians Join and Sing
A Song of the Angels
A One Pure and Holy Passion

Baptisms: 14 great testimonies!

We bridged the too all three services with a simple chorus "We exalt thee" thanking the Lord for all He has done in the lives of so many at Harvest. The congregation sat during this chorus and then I prayed out of it.

Announcements/Offering

O Bless the Lord

This song is one of my favorite tracks on the "Lift up the Name" album. It was written by my good friends Matthew Westerholm and Lindsay Pritchett.

Sermon: Craig Turnbull: Psalm 4

Pastor Robbie has the next two weekends off and so that means I get to work with other staff or guest speakers. This weekend Craig Turnbull did a great job at clearly conveying a strong message to trust in the one who brings hope, peace and rest. Jesus Christ!

Close: Stronger

Erin got Baptized

This past weekend was a special one for me because I got to watch my hot wife get baptized at one of our weekend services. I was so proud of her as she got down into the tank and told our church why Jesus meant everything to her and how she wanted everyone to know how real he is and has been in her life. Erin was baptized at a young age, 11, and like so many young people, got roped into it because the speaker or pastor encouraged the act without a clear summary of what was actually taking place. Erin will tell you that she had know idea why or even what baptism was, she just knew a lot of her friends were doing it and thought she should too. This weekends decision to be baptized again (once and for all) came following a message Pastor Robbie did on the topic of Baptism and a Biblical explanation of the importance of it to the believer. Oh course, I cried, and was again so aware of the hand of God on Erin and my life as he led us to Harvest and blessed us with such a loving and caring group of friends to grow together towards glory.
Baptisms are a real exciting time at Harvest, because we get to see the church family testify to the grace of God in our lives. I saw 14 different people tell stories of how they were walking in the darkness of their sin, caught up in the world and then Jesus Christ allowed their eyes to be opened to the grace of God and his goodness. Each one exalting Christ for what HE did and how HE changed their hearts.
In conclusion, my wife is absolutely the hottest woman on the planet and I love her with all my heart and am so thankful for who she is in Christ . The end.

Thankful

I am listening to Bob Kauflin's teachings on worship and its literally speaking to my heart of hearts this morning. This is the second time I have listened to these teachings but I truly feel like I am hearing it now for the first time. Both of these are free and available Here. In my ministry right now I have the opportunity to help develop a young man who is aspiring to grow as a worship leader. I'm trying to get as much good stuff to share with him and this series is perfect. I am so thankful for Bob Kauflin and this teaching and recommend it to every and all worship leaders AND Senior Pastors who want to get an idea as to what the worship leader is trying to accomplish through the music ministry of the church. It's Friday, download them and listen to them as you check your facebook or read another persons blog.

Random thoughts

Here's some thoughts from the day....

• I got alot of the art work completed today for the Live worship album which we decided will be titled "WORTHY" straight from Revelation 5. I'll post some pic's when its a little farther along. I learned alot in the process but proably would never volunteer to produce and mix a LIVE album again. It takes so many hours, and when you're the worship leader, you just can't put the song to rest, you want to keep tweaking, and then the songs get annoying because you've listened to them hundred's of times.
  
• I did learn a lot about recording a Live project though and learned a lot about mixing, mastering and getting the sound I want. We used Logic Pro and a couple third party plug in's to help with the kick drum and vocals. Overall for as little as the project costs, I think its going to be a great resource for our church for years to come.
• I had a song come to me mid afternoon that I shopped around the office and got some good response so continued to work on it. Song writing is such a vulnerable thing, and when you spend a couple hours on a song, then start doubting it you really go batty.
  
• Chris Martin (Coldplay) says song writing is like a fisherman who has all his rain gear on, he's out at sea on the fisherman boat, he even has his nets in the water, but unless the fish come, he won't be a fisherman. I could have my guitar out, Bible open, my lap top on and http://www.rhymezone.com on stand by and work on something for hours, but sometimes nothing clicks or fits just write to call a song a song. Today I wrote the chorus, sang it a couple times and then a brigde came, then a verse idea started and when i got home, I had a solid verse and pre-chorus (that rarely happens). I'm thankful to the Lord when those moments do happen though.
  
• I read that Kristian Stanfill is in the studio working on a new record which I am really excited about.
• My wife is 18 weeks pregnant today and feeling pain in her lower back which I tried to rub out, but think I made it worse. Have I told you how much I love my wife? A LOT!
• Im really begining to want to take more photos and learn some more photoshop filter effects.
• My wife is being baptised this weekend after hearing Pastor Robbie's sermon on Baptism last weekend. Erin was baptised when she was 10 but believes she was not saved, nor understood what Baptism even was and wants to testify, once and for all the new life she has in Christ. I'm so proud of her for doing this, there are over 15 people getting dunked this weekend, what a celebration.
• My dad is coming Saturday for a visit, I haven't seen him since Christmas '07. I'm praying we have some real moments together and our relationship grows more.
• My blog is up to over 100 viewers a day on average (hi mom and Dave) ;). Yup, pretty soon I'll be as cool as this guy and be known all over the world for my amazing blog. Joking.
• I love my bed. Goodnight
  

The tree is up

The Christmas tree is now up at the Seller house. We have a fake tree that gets pulled into three pieces and thrown behind the dog's cage in our basement. Very festive. Erin and I put it up tonight- all the way arguing where we thought the best place for ball place-age would be. She won. I got to wrap the green, tree-like stuff around the banister and so I felt some form of accomplishment. Then while I was singing at the top of my lungs, the doorbell rang and it was two people from Toronto Sick Kids hospital fund raising. I told them I was Christian and gave to Jesus. ;) (JOKING)
They poked their heads in the house and commented how Christmas-ish it looked....I grinned. (Really in embarrassment that it is Nov 11 and we are already decorating for Christmas).

Merry Christmas everybody!

Third Day w/ Joshua Seller?

On Friday I was asked if I would be interested in opening up for the band Third Day when they come in June for an outdoor concert close to Oakville; um...duh. I was, like anybody, really thinking it was a all a joke, for a number of reasons, but mainly because opportunities like that don't just fall from the sky (until now). So I've got a few months to write some new songs and work with my band on some new arrangements. In all of it its like anything at the end of the day, another oppourtunity to shine Christ and be used for him.
One thing I want to be really be concious of and pray against is the worship leader/rock star mentality, they don't go together (ever).
Since feeling a call into full-time ministry, I've never set out to be a "touring" worship leader, but I have friends that are and see much fruit from it. But they are doing it because those overseeing them has affirmed it or God has opened the door for them to walk through it. Im just thankful for this oppourtunity to sing to the Lord.

Weekend Review

Today is the Day (new Lincoln Brewster) a lighter song then most we sing, but a great way to get peoples hearts warmed before the Lord and stir people to "join" together in singing not as individuals but corporately as a church of one for an audience of One.
The Songs chorus comes right from Psalm 118 where it says in verse 24

"This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it."

Bless His Name
Everlasting God (Praise Charts has a great sequence track that we used this weekend, it went over really well and added a lot to the mix)
How Great is our God

Announcements/Prayer/Offering: Stu Jones (our Director of Seniors Ministries) prayed all three services a special prayer of blessing for all those who fought in the arm forces. There were no more than 3 people per service who stood when asked. That's the sad reality that many of them have passed away already, the tendency then is to overlook or give less attention to Nov. 11 but it was great to see those men and women who served our country. We remember.

Special: Stronger (Hillsong)

Message: Pastor Robbie Symons: "What is Baptism" : This message was communicated so clearly with various passages that really helped the believer and non-beleiver what baptism was, why we are commanded to do it and then the question was asked "What are you waiting for?"
Next weekend we are having a huge Baptism service in response, it's going to be a great time of celebration.

Close: Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone)

my wife is a good pray-er

I just finished praying with my wife before she goes to bed. Its a really special time because we get to share with the Lord, and hear each other's hearts in the process. I love moments like this because they show me evidence of God at work in Erin's heart. Her prayer's are powerful and spur me to a deeper love for God because I get excited about about what He is doing in her, and want more of that in my life.
We pray for our families, our church, each other, our co-workers and our little baby, but sometimes we just thank the Lord for all He has done, all He has provided and its just mind blowing. Erin and I met, and both were not at all where we are now spiritually. We knew God but didn't KNOW God. Its so amazing to see what He has done in our relationship, in our marriage and our ministry together at Harvest.
She is a custom build from the Lord most High because what other women would give so selflessly to her husbands ministry schedule and love so many times when I forget to love her back. I've got it good! Praise the Lord!

Touching base

Im still alive.....been going hard on the final touches of the mixes before we begin mastering. I'm really learning a lot and from what I hear from some who have poked their heads in, we are going to have something really special for our church. Other than that, my wife is 17 weeks prego today which means we can find out if its a boy or girl in 2 weeks! Woo Hoo.

The piano player can do it all?

I love piano players. Mainly because they are unlike most guitar players where they actually have some forms of intelligence (music theory, left brain skills), and not just ripped jeans and a scraf. I can say that because I am a guitar player. I don't know too many worship leaders who lead from the piano except for this guy. As a worship leader, I can't tell you how much I rely on the piano player to keep the back line together and fill in the blanks of the service.
It seems like everyone wants to learn the guitar now a days, I would love to be able to play the piano though. Check out this video, I saw it on a friends facebook wall and was blown away. Can you imagine Bob Kauflin rocking out to this sweet track? :)

tie-ups

So tonight I was given a gift from Erin's place of employment. A free belt, but not just any belt. This belt is the "not even released to the public" infamous "tie-ups belts" made from 100% recycled plastic.
I even got to pick the color. I got the color red, and after that I learned my alphabet. :)
Anyways, I write this because the belt is not only the most expensive item in my now closet, but also I didn't have to pay for it. Check out the website, www.tie-ups.it
I'm also suppose to tell you it is available at a Holt Renfrew near you this holiday season.

(I'm Joshua Seller and I approve this ad) ;)