I"m back!

Well, Arizona Boy took a year long hiatus! Actually, I forgot about this blog page. No problem. I'm fairly certain that no one is reading it. No matter! On I write.

I just returned from Bogota, Colombia on a mission trip with E3 Partners. We assisted churches in ministries to draw more people to there churches. We saw 671 people receive the gift of heaven from Jesus! Exciting! Now back in real life in Texas. It's hot!

Watching Big Bang Theory. See you later!

Chris

Eye of the Hurricane

Next week our church holds its annual VBS. It's a great event for our church. Lot's of people working very hard. But also, Music Texas happens next week as well. It's going to be crazy trying to do both things. VBS from 8-11, drive an hour to Ft. Worth, attend conferences from noon into the night. It'll be fun.

We've sung concerts for Music Texas and conferences like this for years and presented music of our own to the ministers of music. Interesting to be on the other side of the stage. We've got great friends that come to these events. Look forward to getting to see them again.

We'll also be setting up the Worship to the World booth to try to get groups interested in our mission trips with E3 Partners.

Great times, but need strength for a busy week.

Let It Rise

You may know the worship song Let It Rise by Holland Davis. "Let the Glory of the Lord rise among us..." Holland wrote a book that I bought several months ago, but am just now reading. Very excellent thoughts on worship. It's a quick read and worth the time. Let me quote a section:

Worship isn't about SELF expression or musicianship. Worship isn't about having our personal needs met as we encounter GOD's presence. It isn't about what I get out of it. Worship is about seeing the KING and responding appropriately. It is revelation and response. God reveals himself, and we respond.

Holland based this on Isa. 6:1-8. Take a look. I'm always struck by this scene. Isaiah gets caught up to the throne room of heaven, is so overwhelmed and confronted by his own sin and the sin of his people that he just cries out "woe is me." He finds forgiveness and he's changed by being the presence of God's holiness. That's what worship is. Being changed by a real encounter with God. We can't help but be different if we get to that place. And the response: WORSHIP AND SERVICE!

Hey, have a great day! Love to all

Chris

Blogging about Blogging!

Hey there! It's been awhile. If anyone is reading this, welcome to my musing page. I hope you are well today.

I saw my friend, Gene Wilkes, who is a pastor and author, at the Starbucks near my house. He was, yes, blogging! It was good to see him. He's a brilliant thinker. I was having trouble spelling "brilliant." Anyway, he inspired me to get back to it. So here I am.

I sometimes feel I have nothing interesting to say. Then it occurred to me that blogging is not necessarily supposed to be interesting. Many of the ones I read are not. But, I guess that's not the point. It's more of an exercise in thinking out loud. Not because you want someone to think you're clever, but just to spew! I decided to get back to spewing.

I'll be back more frequently. If you think I'm clever, then fine, but if not...I don't care. I'm going to spew. You might want to stand back!

Good Friends!

I was thinking the other day about how blessed I am with good friends. We can all say that, but I really mean it. I remember my Dad saying to me when I was a kid, "If you wind up with 2 or 3 good friends, close friends in your life, you'll be really blessed." He was right about that. But for some reason, the Lord has blessed me with far more good friends than 2 or 3.

I have friends from High School that I place in that category. Glen and Steve. True blue friends that even though we don't see each other often, we just pick up where we left off. I love them.

I have friends from my days at Baylor that are just as close as the day I met them. Brent and Sherry were the first two people I met on campus as an 18 year old freshman. Sherry talked Diane into going out with me. (actually she chided me into not being a coward and asking her out) Brent and I share the love of music and worship together. Their daughter, Liesl, was Jennifer's roommate at Baylor. She introduced Jen to Stephen. Brent and Sherry are on the ministry board of Worship to the World. We've been in Europe and Asia together on mission trips. Our lives are really divinely intertwined. We love them.

Mike & Beth, Gary & Teri are wonderful friends that the Lord brought into our lives via our church years ago. They are friends who love and encourage us in ways too numerous to name. They give Godly counsel and prayer support. They are friends with whom we can be completely ourselves. We love them all.

I married my very best friend. Funny! Diane and I met in a singing group and have been singing together ever since. We actually became close friends, but did not date because we both were dating other people. When that ended (yeah, we both got dumped) the Lord brought us together. We'd been such good friends and then we fell in love. Now we still get to enjoy our friendship. I can't imagine life without her. I treasure our time together. Almost 31 years married and she's still my best friend. She knows everything about me and still loves me. I love her.

Remind you of anyone? Jesus knows all about me/us and loves anyway. Deep, Strong, Forgiving, Everlasting. He said, "I no longer call you slaves, but I call you friends." Inconceivable! But He does. What a friend we have in Jesus! I love Him, with all my heart!

Be blessed and remember...God Still Moves,

Chris

Birthdays!

I don't like 'em!!! Well, actually, I do! Funny how they are so significant in your life as a child. Less so as you get older. Each year drags slowly when you're young and races as you get older. But, I wouldn't go back. The blessing of getting older is the wonderful memories you build and the wonderful friends you make and the wonderful family you're blessed with. I have all those things. So, really each birthday is a time to reflect on how good God is and how much he's given to you.

You can see in these pictures some of my blessings. A wonderful wife, son, daughter, son in law and granddaughter, not to mention a wonderful extended family. And all who are a part of the family of Christ. I am blessed...and stinkin' old!!! But I'm not bitter!! HA!

Love to you all,

Chris

Cutest Baby In The World!

Okay, I know I'm biased, but we are having so much fun with Elizabeth. She's so cute and really interactive now. She should also not have any social issues. She's being passed around so much that she should be a real people person by the time she's 2 years old.

This picture was taken just before she sat on Santa's lap. I know Jen probably has that pic on here blog, but I'll get it and post it.

If I don't see any of you between now and New Years, have a great one!

Love you all,

Chris