It makes me think of this Derek Webb song called “Name”:

oh my darlin’, you’ve must be a moving target just like me
they’ll call you right, they’ll call you left
they’ll call you names of all your friends

you never know
what you’ll have to do
baby don’t let ‘em
don’t let ‘em put a name on you

there’s no categories just long stories waiting to be heard
(if there’s love in your heart)
don’t be satisfied when someone sums you up with just one word
(if there’s love in your heart)

Ok, now watch this press conference on CNN, yeah i know its 8 minutes but he handles the questions and attacks so well:

“What is God’s will for my life”?

I hear this question being asked a lot by those who have committed their hearts to Christ and I have found myself asking it as well. This year has been important for me in learning lifelong truth.

Recently another question has risen to the surface and that is “Do I want God’s will”?

There are plenty of passages in the Bible telling us what the Lord’s will is. (1 Thess. 4:3, 1 Thess. 5:18, 1 Peter 2:15) The biggest question that I have been asking myself is… do I really want His will? Most people think that if they say yes they will have to give something up or possibly go to Africa or some far off land and they very well could. I think that I have lived far too long with God as a sidekick, thinking up clever plans and then asking God to bless them. Some of these plans were never His idea though so what business do I have asking Him to bless them?

The problem I think is that my view of God, His word, the Church, and my role in it all has been far too small. As Christians we have been invited by God through Jesus to take on the strongholds in our lives, in other’s lives, in the world, and to make Disciples, and to be a part of His redemption process. This is an incredible privilege and honor.

The enemy would love to keep us consumed with distractions and in the 21^st century there are tons.

We have to be willing to count the cost. When I said yes to Jesus I said yes to being in heaven one day and no to being in hell. I said yes to making moral choices and no to making immoral ones. I said yes to setting myself apart for Him and no to the way of the world. But my commitment goes beyond that.

Before He left, Jesus said “Go and make disciples of all nations, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you, behold I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matt. 28:20)

He didn’t suggest this to me, He told me to do it. Jesus was about His Father’s work, am I?

It won’t be easy, but He has promised to be there the whole way through. There are changes that must be made constantly so that my life is in step with this “great commission”.

Whenever we get confused about what God is taking us through or what His will is we should remember this: “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you” (Matt. 6:33)

Jesus redeemed me so that He could use me in this world and as long as I have my own agenda, He can’t use me. I really believe this. So let’s stop buying the lies of the enemy and submit ourselves to God and tell Him “I really don’t know what’s best for me”. Be ready to listen and be changed, your life will never be the same. You will truly come alive for “whoever loses his life for my sake will find it”. (Matt. 10:39)

I know that there are two opinions of this show, some of you may be saying “so cool!” and others may be saying “how worldly”. Regardless I thought it would be a fun thing to do over the summer and figured what have I got to lose?

So…the second week of August my buddy Joey and I went to Charleston,SC and got in line at 5am to audition for American Idol. We didn’t actually audition until 11:30am. It was quite a circus…imagine a coliseum full of people..13 different audition booths with judges behind each one…singers standing all around you doing their best to be noticed. So we move forward towards the judges 4 people at a time. Finally I get up there and I am the first to sing out of my group of four. I started with “Happy Together” by the Turtles. The judge was very nice, she asked me if I had anything else, so I started to sing “Hello” by Lionel Ritchie. She thanked me and I stepped back. After all 4 had sung she called us up and said “the three of you will not be moving on today”. I asked “so do i just go with them”? She said “No, you are moving on give me your information.”
You have to understand that I was just having fun and doing what I love to do most so I was completely shocked. I was one of about 200 people that made it through the mess of 6 to 8 thousand. Right before I sang I had a verse that a friend had shared with me running through my mind, “The most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and He gives to them to anyone He wishes”- Daniel 4:25. I was grateful to be moving forward.

Two weeks later I went back down to do round 2 which was also in Charleston. This time it would be in front of Nigel Lythgoe (So You Think You Can Dance). I was in the first group to audition and I was the first guy of the day. I got in there and the stage and lighting was exactly like it is when you see people sing in front of Simon and Randy. Nigel asked me what I was going to sing and I said “Hello” by Lionel Ritchie, he then asked if I had anything more current so I sang “I don’t want to be” by Gavin Degraw. Nigel said he liked my voice but that I didn’t have the whole American Idol package and that I was “old fashioned”. Thinking back now I should have said “what you mean timeless?” “old fashioned like Taylor Hicks?” I’m sure that they would have loved some argument for TV but I figured that if it was meant to be then I shouldn’t have to argue with him.

I am completely grateful for the experience and the fact that I made it as far as I did. The great thing is that I love the life that God is allowing me to live right now. A few days after returning from the audition I was singing worship songs in the congregation at a church service. I thought to myself “i would rather be singing these songs to God and about His glory than singing pointless songs on any TV show.”
I know it seems easy for me to say that because I didn’t make it but I am really starting to understand what is important in life and what God places value on.
So many times I feel like song lyrics say things better than I can so I’ll leave you with some.

“The Other Side of the Fence”- Jonny Lang

“The grass always looks greener
On the other side of the fence, yeah, yeah
But the dog over there might be meaner
On the other side of the fence, yeah, yeah
The car in the driveway looks longer on the other side of the street, yeah, yeah
Does anything ever go wrong there
On the other side of the fence, yeah, yeah
Stay in your own yard
Play in your own chard
Cause everything (that) glitters really ain’t gold
Instead of worrying bout what you are not
Gotta make the most what you got
Instead of keeping up with Mr. Jones Betta look out for your own
Stay in your own yard
Play in your own yard
Be happy in your own yard
Cause everything (that) glitters its not what it looks like
it really ain’t gold.”

10 reasons why churches don’t use team leadership:

1. The desire for simplicity (it takes a lot of energy and work to get people together)

2. The need for control. (this tends to be a person who lacks self confidence and experience)

3. The need for personal significance.

4. The quest for efficiency.

5. Adherence to tradition.

6. Don’t know how. (teachability is crucial)

7. Nobody models it. (churches should strive to be authentic)

8. Absence of vision.

9. The pastor’s traditional, central role.

10. The church culture. (“You create the culture that you lead”)

10 reasons why churches should use team leadership:

1. It’s Biblical. (Paul, Disciples and Jesus)

2. No more superheroes.

3. Hallmark of true community. (Unity)

4. Less stress.

5. Greater Synergy. (multiply leaders)

6. More Innovation. (“Great leaders solve problems creatively”)

7. Greater joy. (People are changed)

8. Priesthood of believers. (Eph. 4, “deploying all the gifts that people possess for maximum ministry potential”)

9. Numerical Growth. (Multiplication)

10. Relieves the Head Pastor to do what he has been called to do and what he is best at.