tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4942232202342673442011-07-30T15:01:40.021-05:00Casshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02614051736869524844noreply@blogger.comBlogger21100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-494223220234267344.post-49899793640464183882009-07-09T10:36:00.003-05:002009-07-09T11:49:52.077-05:00I had a wonderful conversation with a minister friend of mine last week. I was doing some video work for him and we were chatting. He asked about church, kids, life in general. The he asked how I was doing spiritually. I replied, I just told you! He looked at me oddly and said "you just told me about your world and what's going on, I want to know about your spiritual life".<br /><br />This took us down an interesting road that was very revealing to me. I realized in a moment that my thinking is not at all what it used to be. Perhaps in that moment I was finally able to verbalize this new journey.<br /><br />When I spoke to him about the things that are going on in my life; daddy, husband, concert promoter, venue manager, funeral director, city councilman, I was telling him about my spiritual life. About ALL my life. I no longer understand why I have to separate my daily living activities from my "spiritual" activities. To steal from Rob Bell, "Everything is Spiritual".<br /><br />It was his opinion only those activities where you mention or specifically interject God or Jesus are truly spiritual activities. There was a very strong suggestion that only activities at, or endorsed, by the church would qualify. So you could not promote a concert and bring the community together to enjoy artistic presentation of music and call it a spiritual thing unless there was an invitation or a sign hanging around that said sponsored by God. That my wife's passion for blood drives and Relay for Life are not spiritual events.<br /><br />It is true that God brought His future to us on the first Easter. The Kingdom is here and we can participate. Partners with the Creator in the redemption of all things. I don't think that my life's journey needs to be separated into parts that are spiritual and nonspiritual. I don't understand that at all anymore.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/494223220234267344-4989979364046418388?l=smithparks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Casshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02614051736869524844noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-494223220234267344.post-66660780999822026282009-06-03T21:34:00.002-05:002009-06-03T22:06:24.961-05:00From 1981:<br /><br />Come walk with me in the darkness<br /> and as we walk along<br />I'll tell you quite a story<br /> and I'll sing you quite a song<br />I'll sing of light and darkness<br /> of victory and defeat<br />Corruption on the mountains and<br /> compassion in the street<br /><br />For it's a long night and weary<br /> grow the feet that walk the long road<br /> but the morning will come sweet<br />Yes it's a long night and the Prince is in the<br /> streets tonight<br /><br />We'll walk into the city, Chaos is it's name<br />And in its streets and alleys<br />Are the blind, the sick, the maimed<br />And the children cry for water and<br /> relief seems out of sight<br />And they dream about tomorrow in<br /> the darkness of the night<br /><br />For it's a long night and weary<br /> grow the feet that walk the long road<br /> but the morning will come sweet<br />Yes it's a long night and the Prince is in the<br /> streets tonight<br /><br />Well just outside that city far from the blight<br /> and pain<br />Is a holy mountain fortress where life seems<br /> calm and sane<br />There's feasting there and singing by tranquil<br /> waterfalls<br />And the streetfolks never come there<br /> 'cause they cannot climb the walls<br /><br />At the gateway to the fortress<br />The Man of Sorrows cries<br />A Prince in beggar's clothing with compassion<br /> in his eyes<br />The mountain folks won't hear him so he'll<br /> turn his feet around<br />And the ruler of the mountains becomes a<br /> servant in the town<br /><br />For it's a long night and weary<br /> grow the feet that walk the long road<br /> but the morning will come sweet<br />Yes it's a long night and the Prince is in the<br /> streets tonight<br /><br />Well I see his kingdom coming<br />I see the victory day<br />There'll be no need of fortress walls<br />For there is a better way<br />The Prince will lift the lowly, and the proud will<br /> taste defeat<br />Don't look for the kingdom on the mountain<br />for it's coming in the street<br /><br />For it's a long night and weary<br /> grow the feet that walk the long road<br /> but the morning will come sweet<br />Yes it's a long night and the Prince is in the<br /> streets tonight<br /><br />Ken Medema, 1981...Word Music<br /><br />Believe it or not I found and listened to this album on the original vinyl. I am unable to process the information about what I knew then and where I am now. I am really seeking. The story will be His.<br /><br />Castle<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/494223220234267344-6666078099982202628?l=smithparks.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Casshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02614051736869524844noreply@blogger.com0