Anyway, Balaam apparently didn’t notice it was his DONKEY that was talking to him, and began to argue back.  The account ends up with Balaam going ahead and prophesying, but saying blessings rather than curses.  He says some pretty powerful stuff like “Anyone who blesses Israel will be blessed, but anyone who curses Israel will be cursed,” an idea found elsewhere in Scripture, most notably in God’s covenant with Abraham in Genesis 12.  The king gets mad at Balaam, of course, and after a handful of other prophecies, they go their separate ways.

I want to draw a life lesson from this episode in Balaam’s life.  Do you ever get so focused on where you’re going or what you’re doing that you miss something so completely obvious in your life?  Maybe you’re “too busy” for someone when they need you most.  This brings to mind the parable of the Good Samaritan, where the priest was in too much of a hurry to help the hurt man on the side of the road that he passed by.  If we would just take the time to look around, people are there looking for someone to help them.  Maybe you’re so preoccupied with what matters to you that you fail to see what matters to others.  I recently read an illustration where a pastor finds out one Sunday morning a Sunday school teacher just got arrested, and the first thing that comes to his mind is “who on earth is going to cover his class?” It may seem silly, but we do stuff like this all the time.  We’re so preoccupied with what’s going on in our little world we miss everything outside of it.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to miss the next talking donkey in my life.  Or a chance to see a sloth get carried across the road.

Thoughts, comments?  Let me know!

I got a sweet present from Cody (my bass player) today. He just got back from Africa and bought me an African instrument, the mbira. I tuned it and played the solo line to our song “Anchor”. Enjoy!

Arrangement of the hymn, “I Stand Amazed In The Presence” and my first video in ages!

There’s an app from PreSonus that let’s me control my sound board via the iPad.  It’ll be pretty slick walking around the venues adjusting levels!  And, onstage I can use it to change my in-ears.

I also have iMovie on here too.  I’ll be making more YouTube videos this year!

And, to my surprise, I get this throwback to my childhood- NBA Jam… Boom Shakalaka!!!

Verse:
F#m                        G
   I may be weak, I may be tired
         Bm                            A   (D)
I may be pressed up against the wall, yeah
F#m                        G
 But Your eyes are on this child
             Bm
And You will catch me when I fall
              A
Yeah You will catch me when I fall

Prechorus:
F#m(D)           G(D)           Bm(D)
      I'm not afraid to admit I need You
F#m                   G
You are the source of life, You alone

Chorus:
D  Bm       Em
 Jesus, You are my
D  Bm        Em
 Savior, You are my
D  Bm      Em
 Lord, and I will
F#m            G         Riff
Worship You forever, yeah

Verse 2:
It doesn't matter what I am
It matters what You are in me, yeah
I need less of me and more of You
Cause You fill me when I'm empty
Yeah You fill me when I'm empty
prechorus/chorus

Bridge:

D
 Hear the sound of this generation
          Bm
Shouting, "Everything we are is Yours, Lord"
G                  A
 We're not looking back
D
 See the sight of this generation
Bm
Joining together in the name of Jesus
G                  A
 We're not looking back
prechorus/chorus

Acorns start out small and end up big, but it takes a long time.  That may describe our journey better than anything else.  I’ve been leading worship for over a decade, and our band has been around for several years, and I can definitely see where God has led us over the past several years, how he’s been growing us as a band- but it’s seemed slow at times!  Feels a little bit like Mark 4:30-32.

However, I feel very fortunate to be where I am.  I am one of those lucky ones who gets to do what he loves, and to top it off is accompanied by his wife!  Nothing’s more fun than jam sessions at home, with the kids jumping around being our audience.

We’re starting a new year, and while I have no idea what’s in store, I’m very excited.  I hope you will join in on our journey this coming year.  And hope you like our new site!

-Dave

Verse 2
Take my feet and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee;
Take my voice and let me sing, always, only for my King.
Always, only for my King, always only for my King
For my King, You are my King, You are my King

Verse 3
Take my silver and my gold, not a mite would I withhold.
Take my moments and my days, let them flow in ceaseless praise
Let them flow in ceaseless praise, let them flow in ceaseless praise
In ceaseless praise, I will praise, I will praise

Bridge
C       G    Am      Am      G      C
Take my life Lord, I give it all to You
C       G    Am      Am      G      C
Take my life Lord, I give it all to You
   C        G      Am      Am      G      C
In sweet surrender Lord, I give it all to You
C       G    Am      Am      G      C G Am
Take my life Lord, I give it all to You
          Am G C           C G Am           Am G C
My all to You,  yes I will give   my all to You

Verse 4
Take my will and make it Thine, it shall be no longer mine;
Take my heart, it is Thine own, it shall be Thy royal throne.
It shall be Thy royal throne, it shall be Thy royal throne

This is 1/4 of the reason why I haven’t uploaded a video in almost a month. I’ve been on the road at 4 camps and a one week trip to Kansas. At a middle school camp my band and the camp speaker put on this performance at the Thursday night talent show.

I was in downtown Wichita KS on a trip when the tornado sirens started going off, we were all directed into the basement of the convention center, their parking garage. it felt like one of those end of the world movies!