Worship on February 22

I had the opportunity to sit in the gym this morning and worship amongst the congregation. I thoroughly enjoyed it, Ty Maier led and he did so well! I also sat in on calvary chapel's worship that morning and I couldn't help but notice a difference; and I'm not referring to a difference in professionalism or musicianship, but a difference in the genre's or selection of music that was played and the different feelings that was evoked in me. The gym's selection was good. Hosanna (Paul Baloche), Jesus Blood and This is our God - all great songs! Pastor Clay's gospel selections of Holy, Holy, Holy and Hosanna (by Kirk Franklin) had me dancing and singing along, and I yearned for more. I realized then how much I miss gospel, how much I miss the choruses we sing back home and the lady with her tambourine, and the people dancing at the back and everybody rocking, bouncing or swaying....or doing some unique movement. And I realize in my life I need a good mixture of both gospel, reggae and alternative, for one without the other leaves me imbalanced and not fully satisfied. One of the things i'm looking forward to when going back home is the opportunity to combine both genres to appeal to a jamaican congregation. How do I take all the hillsongs, charlie hall's, chris tomlin's and jamaicanize them? How do I combine both completely different genres and make them appealing to a jamaican (reggae lovers) congregation? Exciting times are ahead.

Beach Day

Our surprise beach day was perfect! And as I sat on the wave beaten sand i contemplated upon David's writings in Psalm 139: 'How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.' And as I looked out at the ocean, so intimidating and forceful that i'd dare not go in; i thought to myself - What a wonderful wondeful God!