Posted by: DJ on
Jan 8, 2009
The Gathering of Church Bookstores ’09 Praise report:
Yesterday I led an hour and a half of prayer and praise over bookstores and bookstore managers and personnel from around the nation. Incredible time of intimacy…and lots of refreshing for some weary folks…many tears. Many, many stood in honesty for needed ministry and prayer. My friend, Reggie May, came and ran the EasyWorship lyric presentation for me. Since my manager’s (Dennis Disney) dad was to be undergoing surgery, Dennis could not be here to help so Reggie stepped in literally at the last minute and saved the day! Thanks, Reggie!
The evening concert was a presentation of authors and new books as well as the debut of my new recording (Kingdom Come) to this group. Wonderful worship and ministry with many again standing for ministry. As I ended my set the room erupted in applause and gratitude and worship…and the host – Dave Condiff – asked me to do another song. We ended with ‘I Cry Holy’.
One of my favorite moments was when ‘W’ impersonator, John Morgan who told me he was a huge fan and that he had once wanted to do what I do. God had other plans and since 2005 has been impersonating George W. Bush as a ministry! You’ve seen him on places like ‘The Tonight Show’ with Jay Leno and probably had no idea how much he loved Jesus. He does an amazing job…and is an excellent guitarist and singer. He sang and played ‘W’ singing the blues with a little Elvis thrown in. I loved it!
Two authors I think you should get to know:
Steven Scott
Steven Scott is the best-selling author of The Richest Man Who Ever Lived, Mentored by a Millionaire, A Millionaire's Notebook, and Simple Steps to Impossible Dreams. After failing nine jobs in his first six years after college, he learned the laws of life success by studying the Bible. He began creating companies and new products, and started marketing the products using a sales technique that had never before been tried on a large scale. Beginning with the American Telecast Corporation (ATC), Scott and his business partners have since built more than a dozen multimillion-dollar companies from scratch. His companies have generated sales of more than 2 billion dollars, making Scott one of the most successful marketing entrepreneurs in the history of direct-response television marketing. Scott has written, produced, and directed countless award-winning television productions and commercials featuring celebrities such as Kathy Lee Gifford, Charlton Heston, Tom Selleck, Chuck Norris, Michael Landon, and more than 70 other world renowned celebrities. He also is a popular speaker on the subjects of personal and professional achievement and corporate productivity.
This man of God wrote a new book on the wisdom of God’s Word and told stories of God’s miraculous answer to prayer that emboldened my faith. It was such an honor to share the platform with men who trust God the way he does.
Tullian Tchividjian
William Graham Tullian Tchividjian is the grandson of Ruth and Billy Graham. As a teenager he rebelled and ran from God, but in 1993 God radically saved him and he's never looked back. A graduate of Columbia International University and Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, FL, he has served on the pastoral staff of three churches. In 2003 he moved back home to start New City Presbyterian Church in south Florida. He is a popular conference speaker, Bible teacher, radio preacher, and the author of The Kingdom of God. An avid surfer, Tullian and his wife, Kim, have three children and live in Coconut Creek, Florida.
As the grandson of Billy and Ruth Graham, Tullian Tchividjian grew up hearing the Christian faith preached to millions. Yet he struggled to come to faith personally. His first book, Do I Know God? Captures the sincerity and intensity of his own spiritual quest, and shows the way for a new generation of seekers.
I LOVE Tullian! He spoke my heart as he described his new book ‘Unfashionable’, relating how he believes the church in America has compromised itself to seem more fashionable and palatable to the world…when God has called us to be different. All I could do was cry. I have yet another hero of the faith. I suddenly did not feel so alone in what God has called me to do and in who He has called me to be…and in the message He has called me to deliver…
After hearing from these amazing men of God, we all went to the convention floor where we signed books! I ran out of ‘Giant Killer’ books my publisher, WaterBrook/Multnomah Press had brought! Signed books and CDs for almost 2 hours…and came away so blessed to hear of how far God has taken the message of freedom and worship to so many and to such a varied number of places around the nation and world.
Thank you for praying!!!!
DJ
Posted by: DJ on
Jan 6, 2009
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
How Did That Happen?
Posted by: DJ on
Jan 5, 2009
Monday, January 5, 2009
The Language of Worship
I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to You among the nations.
Psalm 57:9 NASB
I led worship for a group of about 3,000 today. What was so amazing – besides the sheer joy of leading worship for ANY group of ANY size – was that 60% of those worshipping were from somewhere other than the US. Many were from African nations or Asian nations…and everywhere in between! Although the words were not displayed the heart of worship was evident. As I sang about Jesus coming again the crowd stood to their feet in adoration of the King of Kings. That moment transcended language. When I asked for those who needed to know whether it was going to be all right in a certain area of their lives, hundreds stood. Need for the assurance of God’s sovereignty transcended national boundaries. Even though we were not from similar cultures and did not speak the same earthly language, we all spoke the language of worship – hearts turned toward God in complete surrender and all desiring deeper relationship with our Creator. Pretty cool.
Posted by: DJ on
Jan 5, 2009
Sunday, January 4, 2009
A Melancholy Day
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Hebrews 13:8 KJV
I spent a wonderful holiday break just being with my remaining children who have not left the nest and playing with them. So much has transpired during that break. Had a wonderful NOP in OKC which I led jointly with a young man I mentored when he was just a young teenager – Stephen Hinkle. He made me proud. Drove to St. Louis to spend a day with my daughter Glory and her husband, Shaun. My daughter Hannah became engaged to a wonderful Aussie man named Ashley Brown. All of those things are good and wonderful…but I feel like time has passed by so quickly. The break ended with me leaving home to minister for a week…so I sit here in my hotel room in Nashville missing my wife and my children and wondering where the time has gone…yet rejoicing in the fact that my wife is so faithful and that my children are all mature and independent. My melancholy is not a depression but rather a deep emotional nostalgia about all the good things I have witnessed and experienced as my children have grown up. They will always be my children and I rejoice in their lives well lived. Such feelings make me very, very grateful.
Posted by: DJ on
Dec 30, 2008
Remember my affliction and my wandering, the wormwood and bitterness.
Surely my soul remembers And is bowed down within me.
This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope.
The LORD'S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail.
{They} are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.
"The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "Therefore I have hope in Him."
- Lamentations 3:19-24 NASB
Posted by: DJ on
Dec 30, 2008
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
- 3 John 1:4 KJV
Posted by: DJ on
Dec 29, 2008
Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when {people} insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
- Matthew 5:10-12 NASB
