FIREFALL... and 20 days (and counting)

FIREFALL '08
Last Sunday evening, we started a new tradition at Cornerstone...a yearly gathering of God's people I called FIREFALL; a night of worship and praise, of testimonies and prayer, of crying out to God both collectively and individually.

Did the fire 'fall'? Well, that will be fleshed out in the coming days, weeks and months in the lives of the people who came and the people for whom we prayed.

I keep asking myself, "What did I expect?" Did I want to see people saved that night? Did I want refreshing only, or real revival? Or, did I want literal fire to fall and God to actually, physically show up...and what would that even look like? (or could we survive?)

Here's what I know: It was one of the most intense times of worship I have ever experienced first-hand. Some of the sweetest, most heart-felt testimonies I have ever heard were shared on that night. The band, Praise Team and choir played and sang their hearts out. People came to the altar (something not usually done on a regular basis here) and prayed and wept. And when it was over, I was both exhausted and exhilarated at the same time.

And so, if true worship is transformational and Sunday night was truly a time of worship as opposed to a mere concert or an emotional evening, we will see change. I will see change in me.

Lord, let the fire begin in me.

20 days...and counting
In 20 days, we will leave for our Colorado Mission Tour with the Celebration Singers Student Choir.

20 days...

This group is such a great collection of students, personalities, talent levels and potential. To hear them sing, when they are really "on", is thrilling. To have the privilege to watch them grow, change, learn and mature over this year has been beautiful. To see them befriend and love each other, to depend on each other, to lead each other in various ways is priceless.

To be able to give them this opportunity away from home is one of the great joys in my life. I find myself looking for the me that was their age in them, the me that didn't have a clue about what God had in store for the future, the me that took situations and people for granted; like today was the only day that ever counted, until tomorrow showed up and it started all over again; the me that still had the ability to hear the proverbial "bell" from the Polar Express, and didn't have a care in the world about the economy, who was going to be President to make Supreme Court appointments, or what the neighbors thought about the length of the grass in my yard. The me who hadn't made the mistakes that I have made or lost the people in my life who are now nothing more than distant memories, whose voices are now mere echoes on their last few reverberations.

Instead, I now know that 20 days is just around the corner...
and all I can say is "EEEK"!