Prayer Journal/Book That I Write What God Teaches Me
(the following are sections or full parts of my actual PJ/BTIWWGTM that I keep in my room next to my Bible)
"Discipleship & Music
Ministry"
4-10-2003
I really don't know if anything useful will come from this. And I don't know the ending...but you never do, really. As life goes on, it is subject to change.
When I first learned what discipleship
meant, I wasn't sure if I'd had that or not. The answer to that
turned out to be yes, but only in a limited form. When I got into
the youth group, Glenn kinda singled me out and was going to
disciple me. Well, it turned out that he had to leave and stuff
and I was really disappointed.
After that, Jason Copenhaver really just took me under his wing
and began to just teach me and instruct me in what he knew. For
all I'd had, that was the closest to discipleship. When it all
boiled down, he graduated and I was left alone again. Enter Joey
Armstrong. I guess one Wednesday night when the worship was just
so extra meaningful and Joey gave his testimony, I can only
assume it was God inside me saying, "This guy is really cool
and he can teach you a lot." Anyway, I approached Joey and
asked him if there were a time we could meet and play guitars and
such. So he said, "Yah dude!" and we set up a time on
Sunday afternoons.
On a totally different (yet similar) note, I
was really disappointed at not getting to play during worship and
learn. Before Joey came, we had a little "make-shift"
band which slowly crumbled until it was just me. We added Adrian
Jordan to the mix and he and I played. It was awesome! I learned
a lot in a little time from him. But then came Joey and that was
all basically over.
So Jason Cope, who I had misssed since I had no real discipler,
called me up and asked me if I would be in the youth worship team
at his church in Edmond. I really thought it was the right thing
to do, but God basically told me "no" through my
parents. But I still wasn't sure. So I kept praying...
So Joey and I first meet on Sunday afternoon (4-6) and we played
a bit. Kinda out-of-the-blue, Joey asked me if I would play with
him on Sunday mornings. Direct answer to prayer from God. So I
was amazed. So next to me being discipled by Joey, I get to play
with him. So yah. There's the story.
-FARRIS
"Sunday Mornings &
Homegroups"
4-14-2003
Wow. How amazing these days get! I had to wake up earlier to go with dad to church 30 minutes early because I was going to be playing with Joey on the Sunday morning. Wow. That felt SO INCREDIBLY GOOD to be worshipping with my youth group through music again! I thank God for Joey for teaching me so much so far and allowing me to play with him. We played "The Lord is My Light and My Salvation" song and tied it into "Over the Mountains/I Could Sing of Your Love". But before that we played "Be Glorified". It was so incredibly awesome!
Then in the afternoon I got back to church at 4 to meet Joey. But he was napping and forgot. Anyway, I totally understand. He gets up early to come to OKC anyway. He deserves some rest sometimes. But anyway. I arranged so I could miss AWANA to attend Homegroups @ the Rays. That was awesome. Of all topics, what did we discuss? DISCIPLESHIP! ROCK ON! I am learning a lot about that lately. Anyway, Joey and McKensie led that and it was really cool. I didn't know McKensie knew my name...but it's a bonding experience. So yes. It was a small group of about 15 or 16...so it was good--just 9th and 10th grade Main Campus. Anyway, we discovered that in discipleship, we should have someone older and wiser than us to teach us, someone next to us in our growth, and someone below us that we can teach. It's an awesome concept! We also learned that we should count the cost of following Christ because it will cost us everything (Luke 14:28-33)! But yah. Even though AWANA is amazing...HOMEGROUPS ROCK! Pastor Craig was right: I have been missing out. Anyway, I have all of May and summer before I have to choose between AWANA and Homegroups in the Fall. But oh well.
So that is basically all I have for today.
-Farris
"Leading & Learning"
4-27-2003
I am learning so much in such a little time. Joey and I "led" worship today. Joey began by leading his song "Hallelujah", then I followed by leading "Meet With Me". We ended by both leading "You Are Holy", I leading one part and Joey the other. It was a blast. I think that as these times go by, I can be reminded of God's graces and mercies to us and that I can go on to loving Him more and wishing to show that greater appreciation through worship. Sorry that this one had to be extra-short. Gotta run.
-Farris
"Worship Views & Solo
Gig"
4-30-2003
This Wednesday Joey asked me to play a song for the "special" worship. I played "Above All". It was incredible. I love that song a lot. Anyway, Josh and Miranda and Alora had shared their thoughts on worship and stuff--Joey had sort of spread his out throughout his songs00and Joey said (before I played) that if I wanted to share my heart with the kids in our youthgroup. Joey is an incredible blessing to me always.
-Farris
"Fulfilling Day &
Kylie"
5-4-2003
Well, I got to church kinda late this morning so Joey and I had little time to prepare, but it worked out amazing. We began with "Cannot Hide My Love", then did "The Nails in Your Hands", and finally ended with "Over the Mountains/I Could Sing of Your Love" (which I led). It was quite an encouraging time because I had learned "Cannot Hide My Love" just the few minutes before and it was quite wonderful and praising to God.
Kylie came with Cami today. I know I was supposed to keep this journal spiritual, so I will find some application. ...I was so happy to see her again! She was such an encouragement to focus on God's plan for my life and to wait to date. There must be a reason why she seems so special; I pray she's the one God ordained for me.
Anyway, the pastor preached on Mary annointing Jesus' feet with perfume--an old-school story. But he shed such an interesting light on it and presented it in a very new and exciting way that I was really excited to be hearing it, as opposed to the boring "I've heard this my whole life" stuff.
After church, Joey and I met at 3:45. We
just sort of talked and played. He wanted to go over "You
are Holy" with me again--I guess he liked it. Then he taught
me "Make A Joyful Noise". I love this new song! Anyway,
then he just kinda told me how he sees my mindset of worship to
be what he would desire for someone following him. He told me he
began leading worship in his youthgroup when he was a Freshman or
Sophomore in HS...a lot like me. We just sort of talked over it
all. Then we just sort of jammed. Joey is really one of the
coolest guys ever. When I first met him, I wanted and hoped to
know him like I do now, but I didn't expect it. But God is a
wonderful God and He brought us together so Joey could give me a
short-term version of being discipled. But I think that I may
learn more from Joey about "leading" worship and
participating in it and some songs I may not have ever learned
than I could from anyone else.
Joey introduced me to a wonderful CD: David Crowder (he wrote
"Make A Joyful Noise"). I really like it. It is so rich
in worship material that I may just begin to love it more than
any other CD I own for a while.
CMac asked me to pray for him about his apathetic approach to worship and to life. I hope God is able to show Caleb His love and make him passionate. Gotta run!
-Farris
WORSHIP
I just wanted to define my view of worship and how Joey helped me see what our role is.
Worship is anyway (in the Christian sense,
of course) that we glorify God--be it singing, playing an
instrument, serving others, or living every moment for His glory.
It may be one or two or three or all of them, but we should seek
the way we best feel we can glorify God.
I feel that the specific way that I can bring glory to God is by
playing my guitar and singing to His glory. I may not be pleasant
either way, but I pray that it brings glory to God.
Joey told me this interesting insight: He and I are in NO WAY worship leaders. In fact, we are doing no more than any other person who worships from their heart. We are worship "participators". We simply provide a medium by which others can be drawn to the Throne of God. We are doing nothing special; just glorifying our God and Savior.
(for more, visit www.charliehall.com/writings.html )
-Farris
5/4/2003
2003(c)Retarded Farris