a beautiful mess

praise GOD that his heart beats for the new. new life. new songs. new visions for a community. renewed hope for a people. resurrection always follows death in the kingdom of GOD. we are, in fact, agents of change: change that moves toward the new. even the freedom for which christ has set us free implies an ongoing rise of newness; much like yeast within dough.

so. i just thought i would share some of the new things in my life: things of sustenance and spiritually tangible grit: things that matter when you get “over the sun” – because after all, there is nothing new under the sun.

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a couple of new books that are finding a home within my heart are the magician’s elephant, katie dicamillo and the rabbit and the elephant, tony and felicity dale. katie dicamillo is a phenomenal author who happens to write for the children’s genre – but her stories embrace everything a good story should and the magician’s elephant is no exception. there is so much being born within me through the questions tony and felicity dale have raised that i can’t even get into them yet: but their thoughts on the megapower of the microchurch, new testament organic/simple local churches, and a return to early church history leadership theology – these thoughts and more are keeping me up at night getting excited for what the future holds for me, my family, and the church across america as well as the world.

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it seems there is always something new coming out of the worship music arena: the problem is, a lot of it is only remicrowaved leftovers. and i say this with a gentleness, because i have a lot of passion for this branch of the tree of worship life. but suffice it to say, here’s a new song with a spirit about it written by an acquaintance – we just sang it again this morning as a body – and it is the reason for this post, really. what’s crazy is, when she and her friend wrote this song, i too wrote a song around the same theme – maybe i will share this song at a later date. anyways. here’s the lyrics to sent together to heal by abbie cox:

Sent Together to Heal
Abbie Cox, Wes Pickering ©2009

With all authority
The captives were set free
And by your sacrifice we have been redeemed
Compassion in your hand
You healed every disease
And now you call us to greater works than these

You save us
You heal us
You deliver us from every kind of fear
So we’ll go
Wherever you lead
Sent together to heal
Sent together to heal

As you heal our hearts
Your mission becomes ours
And we’re compelled by love stronger than we are
Perfect us in your love
Send us in your power
So we can shine your light in the darkest hour

You save us
You heal us
You deliver us from every kind of fear
So we’ll go
Wherever you lead
Sent together to heal
Sent together to heal

Send us out in your great power
Send us out in your great power
Send us out in your great power
Send us out, send us out

You save us
You heal us
You deliver us from every kind of fear
So we’ll go
Wherever you lead
Sent together to heal
Sent together to heal

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so my question is: what new things is GOD bringing to you? what are you experiencing these days like never before?