Posted in General Articles by Alex Morrison on 7/29/2008
It's important.
"If the local church is not the most creative, innovative, and alive place on the planet,
we are failing as leaders."
-Ed Young The Creative Leader
Some churches will play rock concerts, have art shows, lighting effects, and have amazing graphic design. Other churches lean   more to the traditional side of bulletin board announcements, mass choirs, and stained glass windows. Neither is bad. I want to  stress that I'm not bashing the traditional church. But, which one of these groups do you think will attract my generation into an envi  ronment where they can meet Christ?
I am a big pusher of creativity in the church. I like to see art, different music, and anything other than the expected at the Sunday morning service. Creativity in the church brings about raises some hairs. Some will argue that tradition and the sacredness of preserving the Holiness of the church doesn't leave room for creativity. While these things are important and should be protected, we should also realize that our God, the One that all of us are striving to be like, was the original creator. What was the fifth word in the Bible?
%70 of Jesus' words in the Gospels were based on application. He knew that it just isn't just an "artsy" person that learns visually. Everyone does! He would use parables and talk about His Fathers' beauty on this Earth.
Another thought: God has given all of us creativity. We are made in the image of the image-maker. Who are we to squander that and not use that creativity to the fullest?
As a graphic and web designer, I'm always engulfed in Photoshop tricks and imagery. I love it. Most ministry work I do today involves the skills that pass through my keyboard. I get to design background worship images, title slides, flyers, bulletins, and other attractive media.
The college ministry I get to be a part of, Water's Edge, is huge on the arts and with staying relevant to my generation. We have a team that meets twice a week just plan out different environments so that services won't get stale. At Water's Edge, it won't be out of the ordinary to see a funny YouTube video, hear the band play a cover song from Audioslave or The Cranberries, or hear the pastor make jokes for 10 minutes before diving into the sermon.
Why do we do it this way? Because it works. It creates an environment where students can feel comfortable, and actually engage in the teaching, instead of worrying about feeling out of place. Most kids walk through the doors with a past of their parents dragging them to church, but when they encounter a creative and fun environment, they feel comfortable. Last week I watched 8 college-age students respond to the alter call and give their lives to Christ.
Creativity in the church is important, and as more emergent churches grow bigger as my generation responds, I feel like this statement will become more and more important for the more traditional church to embrace.
These images are how I express myself, they are not for me. I pray that
they attract my age to the right environment to meet God:
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Posted in General Articles by Alex Morrison on 7/15/2008
To my supporters and prayer partners:
Through much prayer and counsel from mentors, I have decided to delay my trip. God has shown me some issues he wants me to work on spiritually and some things he wants me to study and prepare for, before I embark on a journey as big and important as this one. So officially today, I have withdrawn from the October squad and joined the January one. I feel like January is a lot better time for me to go, however, I'm in full submission to God's plan and His timing. My mind is sad and is mourning the loss of my team mates in October, but I do know that this is the best choice for my life and being prepared.
This doesn't change too much. The countries I'll be going to will change, but I'm guaranteed, as with every World Race, to do ministry in Asia, Africa, and central America.
On the upside, I'm very excited and feel a peace about this choice because:
- I get to see my first nephew or niece born in December!
- I get to attend my good friends, Nick and Vanessa, get married October 3rd.
- I get to get in at least one more quarter of schooling at the Art Institute.
- I get to spend more time in the community I'm currently in and grow in a new season along side them.
So, thank you for understanding and sticking by me as I walk this journey of preparation. Please pray that I would steward this extra time well, and take every extra day in states as a blessing. And please continue to check this blog page for updates on prayer and my thoughts as I continue to learn and grow! Thanks again!
-Alex
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Posted in Support Team by Alex Morrison on 7/9/2008
Many people are asking how they can pray for me on this trip. Here's a list of requests that i'm praying for. Please keep checking this post, because I will continue to edit it as new requests come up and old ones are fulfilled by God!
Please pray...
- ...that first and foremost that my heart will be focused on God before this trip, that I won't be distracted by worldly things, or what the enemy will put in front of me to prevent me from going.
- ...that my heart would begin to break for the people i'm going to encounter and minister to while i'm gone.
- ...thank God for providing me so far with almost all the financial support I'll need!
- ...for my parents and family, that they would feel comfortable and assured of my safety while i'm gone.
- ...for my team mates, for all of the above things, and that we would start to know and love each other like a family, even if it's just online for right now.
- ...that my hard head wouldn't forget the priorities that I have in my life right now (school, commitments to church, small groups, friends, family)
I'm asking those of you that are joining me in prayer to just dedicate at least 5 minutes every few days to these things.
Thank You so much for your prayers! Without them, this trip is not going to happen. Prayers are #1 priority. I hold them of the up most value and appreciate every bit of support!
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Posted in New Orleans Missions by Alex Morrison on 7/2/2008
So I feel like I just need to write about today. No deep thinking spiritual stuff, It was just a marking day, one that I will look back on and appreciate for a very long time.
So I woke up in New Orleans and get the day started filling up water coolers, my stomach with some lucky charms, and looking up prayer requests for my world race team. Today I decided to fast from Facebook, Twitter, and just plain nothing time. I decided that any time I felt like I needed a break from work, I would sit and pray for my team as a whole and for them individually. Well that's the beginning of the day.
We started off the day driving to the duplex. Daniel was parking (backing up in reverse) and hit a pole. It was very timely and hilarious because we were talking about how nervous we were with him driving on the way over. No serious damage done, just some plastic stuff in his wheel well.
We framed and patched the roof where we took out a chimney yesterday, then started working on holes in the floor. We stopped and ate lunch. I used some of this time to isolate and pray for the team. I prayed that we would have the discipline to see things through before our trip and that we would have the trust in God when it comes to providing. We have 60 people on the trip right now and I estimated it's gonna cost close to a million dollars for all of us. Even though that's a HUGE number, when I thought that, I felt at ease, because I know God can handle that. I had a sense of peace.
After lunch, a guy pulls up on the street and asks someone for me. He had my driver's license. It was an undercover cop. What?? My license was in the car that we drove over in, in my backpack... uh oh. The car is open.
Someone had stolen my backpack, a long with one of my friends' backpack. He had ran around the corner, dumped some stuff out (my license included) and ran off. We didn't even notice. He also got my friends backpack, emptied it out on another block, and took his iphone and wallet.
So here we are. Tasha comes outside, hears the story, and is very mad. Tasha is family to us and we're family to her. And little did the kid know that stole our stuff, Tasha is well respected in the neighborhood and gets what she wants. So she and Calvin start walking around asking everybody if they had seen the kid that met the description we got earlier. I felt very loved. She was very determined. Then the other neighbors got irritated. They would tell us, "I got your back", or "I'll look out for ya" and be just dead serious about it. Even though it was a "rough" neighborhood sometimes, they didn't want the reputation of robberies.
I wasn't very mad. I mean the most the kid got was my backpack, ipod, and my BIBLE. I really hope he reads it. But to end to just wrap up this story, we thought we had it nailed down to one kid, but that kid came up to Apple St later and said it wasn't him (everybody had been on his case since he had gotten home to his house a few blocks away), and Tasha believed him. We didn't get the real guy. Filed a police report (which is a whole other story in itself... got to meet CSI: New Orleans).
OK. So this was the FIRST MAJOR EVENT of the day. phew.
NEXT, we went back to the church and showered.
Afterwards, I called my Dad because he'd called me earlier, left a voicemail (saying he had good news) and I needed to tell him about the earlier events. I had the feeling that the good news was probably another pledge of a few hundred dollars and was excited about that. He told me he wasn't going to say what it was, and wanted me to wait until it appeared in my support account. I told him, I've had a bad day, cmon, I need some good news. Ok, so he talked with a donor (that will remain unanimous for this post) and watched him write me a check today for ten thousand dollars for my trip. Yes. I spelled it out because it really is that big. ($10,000). All I could say was Oh My God! For real? I kinda stopped breathing, got teary eyed i think, and just stood in awe. I'm still in that state as I write this 7 hours later. God is so good. He is so kind and awesome.
If I had any doubts that this trip wasn't for me, or that God didn't want me to go, they left at that moment. I mean, there's no turning back now. This donation brought me up to 80% of my total support for the trip (everything included)!!! I'm still sitting in amazement of how God works and just how favored I am in all this. I don't deserve it whatsoever.
NEXT, we left to go back to Apple St.
We hosted a huge block party tonight. It was phenomenal. There were kids everywhere, people from all over the neighborhood, and food. Authentic New Orleans food. We had 80 lbs of craw-fish (i think i had about 7 lbs personally), potatoes, corn, french bread, Boudin, and watermelon. I really think the kingdom of heaven is at hand when I ate tonight. I love craw fish.
I got to sit and talk with Mama Francis for over 2 hours. We talked about her former drug problem, her kids, her grandkids, her man (not married), how they met, their love for each other, and so much else. We laughed so much. I've never had that much fun with just random people. We played with the balloons and the kids, took pictures, face painted, and just all kinds of other stuff. People kept coming and eating with us and ministry was happening. The group I'm with is awesome and I watched them truly love others just as Christ did.
SO ALL IN ALL. Very emotional day, a few ups and downs, but a very very good day. Got great news, got to spend time with God, got to see ministry happen, got to work outside in the heat, got to give my Bible away (kinda), and just live the life i'm wanting to live. I give God all the glory for providing for me today, and for how he's providing already for me in this next year. He's so kind and i'm humbled to be able to serve him in the capacity that I already am.
Thanks for reading this long post. I just had to process the day through writing and share how great our God is through my day today.
Mama Francis and Calvin (Suga Mama and Suga Daddy)
Jen caught my eye doing somethin weird
Mae-Mae: possibly the cutest kid in NOLA
Pumpkin and Bubba and a couple others..
Thank you Jen for taking pictures this night!
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Posted in Random Thoughts by Alex Morrison on 6/30/2008
Coldplay: "Viva La Vida"
Lyrics:
I used to rule the world
Seas would rise when I gave the word
Now in the morning I sleep alone
Sweep the streets I used to own
I used to roll the dice
Feel the fear in my enemies eyes
Listen as the crowd would sing:
"Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!"
One minute I held the key
Next the walls were closed on me
And I discovered that my castles stand
Upon pillars of salt, and pillars of sand
I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can't explain
Once you know there was never, never an honest word
That was when I ruled the world
(Ohhh)
It was the wicked and wild wind
Blew down the doors to let me in.
Shattered windows and the sound of drums
People could not believe what I'd become
Revolutionaries Wait
For my head on a silver plate
Just a puppet on a lonely string
Oh who would ever want to be king?
I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can not explain
I know Saint Peter won't call my name
Never an honest word
And that was when I ruled the world
(Ohhhhh Ohhh Ohhh)
Hear Jerusalem bells are ringings
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can not explain
I know Saint Peter will call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world
Oooooh Oooooh Oooooh
So this song obviously has some biblical references in it: Jerusalem bells, Roman Calvary choirs, Saint Peter, pillars of salt, ect..
I've read a lot of forums and blogs about this trying to nail down what Coldplay is singing about:
-
Some reviews suggest that Coldplay is singing about Napoleon before going to his death.
-
Others
suggest that they're talking about Jesus (castles on pillars of salt
... sermon on the mount.) and John the Baptist making the way and then
getting beheaded.
Either way, the song rocks. What do you think? Enjoi.
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Posted in Random Thoughts by Alex Morrison on 6/30/2008
Ok, So since I've been in New Orleans this week, I've been listening to the new Coldplay album "Viva La Vida"....alot. I love it!!! It's got a lot of old school religious lyrics in it and I know God's got something in it that i'm trying to find. I'm going to post a couple of songs and the lyrics and just talk through them for fun. Feel free to comment or just listen to this awesome music!
Coldplay: Cemeteries of London
Lyrics:
At night they would go walking 'till the breaking of the day,
The morning is for sleeping…
Through the dark streets they go searching to see God in their own way,
Save the nighttime for your weeping…
Your weeping…
Singing la lalalalala la lé…
And the night over London lay…
So we rode down to the river where the toiling ghosts spring,
For their curses to be broken…
We'd go underneath the arches where the witches are in the saying,
There are ghost towns in the ocean…
The ocean…
Singing la lalalalala la lé…
And the night over London lay…
God is in the houses and God is in my head… and all the cemeteries in London…
I see God come in my garden, but I don't know what he said,
For my heart it wasn't open…
Not open…
Singing la lalalalala la lé…
And the night over London lay…
Singing la lalalalala la lé…
There's no light over London today…
I might suggest the song is about a graveyard watchman looking for God and his voice?
I love the towards the end of the song where the character realizes God is speaking in everything but his heart wasn't open! So good!
Disclaimer: I know this isn't a normal serious blog about serious spiritual issues. It's just for fun!
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Posted in General Articles by Alex Morrison on 6/28/2008
The Holy Spirit is often talked discussed as a this mystical being that lives with us, guides us, and has a special voice that speaks to us. If you grew up in a contemporary church world, It seems like everybody is best friends with this voice and has daily conversations with it. Now I believe all of this, but I think hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit is a tad more difficult than just talking with any ole friend.
First, let me just state that the number one problem with hearing this Voice is us. I think the key that we always miss is the simple case of listening. For me personally, I pray, I journal, write, and then complain when I can't "hear" God. Woe to me, the problem is I'm not listening! Luckily I've begun to recognize this and have taken baby steps to become more of a listener.
Unfortunately I still haven't heard an audible voice. I've never heard faint whispers, or an old man's voice giving me clues, wisdom, or direction of life. However, I fully believe that the Holy Spirit speaks to me, it's unlike any other type of communication of this world.
I would suggest that the Holy Spirit speaks to each of us in our own personal way. The way he speaks to me is different than the way he speaks to my Dad, my pastor, or a random guy on the street.
For me, personally, this is the filter in which I look for the voice of the Holy Spirit:
- He'll speak to me through circumstances. I've become very suspect-full of coincidences. Too often has God spoke to me through random chance meetings, the ones where someone "just happens" to speak into the subject in which my spirit has been thinking about. Too often has God come through and filled my needs when I least expected. Usually God's plan is not my own, but in the end, his trumps mine.
"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails."
Proverbs 19:21
- He'll speak to me through my friends and family. They might not know what they're saying is from God, but sometimes I'll pick up on a consistent word that God is trying to tell me, and a friend's word might confirm that message. My friends might not be the smartest, but they come from different backgrounds and experiences and have a wealth of knowledge that is priceless.
"Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice."
Proverbs 13:10
- He'll speak to me through adversity. When brokenness occurs, we often look at our own feelings and just complain about how much things suck at the moment. We complain to God for putting us in this moment, for actually letting us feel a little pain. It's so hard to recognize what God is trying to teach you in the moment, right when your at your emotional peak. It's a lot clearer when you can look back into the past after a season of turmoil, and see what God was saying during that time. He was probably teaching you something and just like any other good father, he uses discipline as a tool.
"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
Psalm 34:18
- He'll speak to me though mentors and leadership. When I'm faced with a difficult decision, I usually seek out advice. I've only been on this earth for 20 years, and have barely begun to mark down life altering experiences. I try to seek older and wiser counsel because of their relationship with God and their longer list of experiences.
"Plans fail for lack of counsel; but with many advisors they succeed."
Proverbs 15:22
- He'll speak to me during my quiet times with him. There's something about being still and quiet that unleashes your mind to focus on what the Spirit is saying. It's hard to explain because it's hard to get to that place for me. But, if i'm full heartedly seeking out what he has for me and am not distracted by absolutely anything else, I believe he places thoughts, ideas, and creations within you that can only come from Him.
"Be still before the Lord, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his Holy dwelling"
Zechariah 2:13
So those are just a few ways in which I see the Holy Spirit speaking to me throughout my life. This is only what I can point out and recognize. Our God is a master conductor in which he orchestrates plans, meetings, and hints to what he wants for us. We don't always understand what this looks like but we can trust that they are for own good, and for the glory of his kingdom.
This is a picture I took last night on the shore of Gulfport Mississippi. It reminds me how I have to be still and wait for God. I had to sit patiently with my shutter open in the darkness and wait for lightning to strike. And just like God, when it happens, its powerful and beautiful beyond anything man-made.
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Posted in General Articles by Alex Morrison on 6/28/2008
John 14:17
"the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives in you and will be in you."
Notice Jesus doesn't say you might know him, but you know him. Somehow by the power of God, when we accepted the invitation to follow Jesus, our minds knew there is something else in our head (the Holy Spirit), which we mistaking call our conscience. We didn't have a choice to get the Holy Spirit, we signed up for the whole package!
I think a good visual on how we think is pictured as a unique conference room in our head. Three entities attend meetings in this conference room. I believe there is our own personal moral conscience present, whose opinion is based on our past decisions and experiences. I also believe that the Holy Spirit is another counselor that shows up. He is Truth from the Father, bringing the best opinions to the table. There is also just our fleshy person, and it's opinion is based on just desire in the moment.
Everyday, these meetings occur, for split seconds, every time we are presented with a choice. They also might take days, weeks, and years. There are probably multiple issues brought up in the meetings, and some issues that chosen to avoid.
I think the Holy Spirit speaks to us all the time everyday, however, we just don't choose to hear him often. We don't let him into the conversation. Our minds sub-consciencely shut the door to the conference room, and say "Hey, this is a Alex-only meeting, we'll invite you when we want your input." Most of the times this is the case, and sometimes he busts through the door and just lets us know how it is!
The wise thing though is that we should always invite the Spirit of Truth into the meeting, because:
John 16:13
"But when he, the Spirit of Truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come."
The Holy Spirit is best counselor we have. Whether it's just taking a few seconds to stop and pray, or continually seeking our His will, we should always try and listen to the opinion of the Spirit.
Disclaimer:
Ok... so the conference room idea is kind of out-there, but I'm a visual learner and that's how I tick. I don't think it was any type of revelation, just a creative idea on how we might think.
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Posted in General Articles by Alex Morrison on 6/27/2008
I title this post "We are Holy" for one reason. We are just that. "Holy" in Hebrew means to be set apart. We are set apart.
We are set apart for God, to do his will, and are not meant for anyone
else. I believe our God is a jealous God, and takes pride in us. He
loves watching us grow and takes delight when we come into his presence.
Romans 1:1 "Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the Gospel of God.."
Acts
13:2 "While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy
Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which
I have called them"
Paul was set apart by God to start his church. The way it's been described to me is in 3 steps:
First off, he was set apart to Jesus Christ, to serve him, and to follow him while Christ did his physical ministry on earth.
Second, he was set apart from sin, to a life of purity.
Third, he was set apart for purpose!
The order of this is important. Notice that first Paul put himself
serving others first, then let God clean up his past life, then he
received his purpose, not the other way around. Paul didn't go after
his purpose first. He wasn't thinking of himself. His humility and
character naturally paved his life to serving others first.
I find this a very useful point. So many of us my age are always
concentrating on what our individual purpose is, and waiting around for
God to slap us with our calling. Maybe there a steps he asks us to walk
in order to get there. Just a thought. Back to Paul...
Paul was set apart, which means he was Holy. Guess what? We are Holy
too! We are set apart as well! I think our role on the race is much
similar to Paul's and we have much to learn from his story. (I mean
he's kinda a big deal, he kinda wrote most of the New Testament)
Paul went from culture to culture, village to village, spreading the
good news of Jesus Christ. Sound familiar? We are going to be doing the
same thing! Paul was only one man, so he didn't reach the whole world.
There are still unreached parts of this world! For me, that's difficult
to believe because I grew up in a state where Baptist churches are more
common than high schools.
Matthew 28:19
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit"
We are Jesus' disciples, just as Paul was. We are called to disciple nations. We are Holy and set apart.
I give my thanks and credit to Kevin Queen for his message this past
Sunday on the life of Paul. A lot of the points of this post come from
notes in that message.
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Posted in Quotes by Alex Morrison on 6/20/2008
I'm going to keep adding to this post as I run into more and more greatness caught through words. These either just rock my face off, or are just cool thoughts that I think everyone should read.
The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one."
- Elbert Hubbard
---------------
"To
love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will be
wrung and possibly broken. If you want to be sure of keeping your heart
intact- you must give your heart to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it
carefully around with hobbies and little luxuries, avoid all
entanglements. Lock it up safely in the casket of your selfishness. And
in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will not change, it
will not be broken. It will become unbreakable, impenetrable. The only
place outside heaven where you can be perfectly safe from dangers of
love is hell."
-C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves
---------------
"Creation left to
itself is incomplete, and humans are called to be co-creators with God,
bringing forth the potentialities the Creator has hidden. Creation is
full of secrets waiting to be discovered, riddles which human
intelligence is expected to unlock. The world did not spring from the
hand of God as wealthy as man might make it."
-Michael Novak, The Spirit of Democratic Capitalism
---------------
Donald Miller gets his own section, because I love his books and basically everything he says is phenomenal:
I never liked
jazz music because jazz music doesn't resolve. But I was outside the
Baghdad Theater in Portland one night when I saw a man playing the
saxophone. I stood there for fifteen minutes, and he never opened his
eyes.
After that I liked jazz music. Sometimes you have to watch somebody
love something before you can love
it yourself. It is as if they are showing you the way. I used to not
like God because God didn't resolve. But that was before any of this
happened."
"The
real issue I had with the Christian community was that love was
conditional. You were loved, but if you had questions, questions about
whether the Bible was true or America was a good country or whether
last week's sermon was good, you were not so loved. You were loved in
word, but there was, without question, a social commodity that was
being withheld from you until you shaped up."
"For me, the beginning of
sharing my faith with people began by throwing out Christianity and
embracing Christian spirituality, a nonpolitical mysterious system that
can be experienced but not explained. Christianity, unlike Christian spirituality, was not a term that excited me. I couldn't share something I wasn't experiencing. And I wasn't experiencing Christianity."
++RACERS, you'll like this one:
"We
get one story, you and I, and one story alone. God has established the
elements, the setting, and the climax and the resolution. It would be a
crime not to venture out, wouldn't it? It might be time for you to go.
It might be time to change, to shine out.
I want to repeat one word for you: Leave.
Roll the word around on your tongue for a bit. It is a beautiful word, isn't it?
So strong and forceful, the way you have always wanted to be. And you will not be alone. You have never been alone. Don't worry. Everything will still be here when you get back. It is you who will have changed."
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