Stepping out of my comfort zone…or let me say, mediocre zone, I’m going through a really huge personal change right now, and I’m truly beginning to feel passion for life like never before. I’m doing things I’ve never done…making up my mind in ways I never have. I have decided to live better, be better, look better and make better decisions for my life. In the process, I am conquering my biggest fears.

My passion for change has always been present, and I have set out to grow every day in my walk with Christ. But the past few weeks during our Wednesday night Youth prayer time, the Lord has been moving in my heart in incredible – mountainous – ways. Something reviving and new. Each week, each day He is taking me deeper and pulling me closer to His heart.

This past Wednesday particularly, one of the worship songs inspired me to pray for passion. I realized that my passion for the lost is so mediocre. If we were passionate for the lost, it would burn in our hearts, it would wake us up in the morning and it would stir us to step out!

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Last night at the Hillsong concert I had an epiphany, standing on the top row of the balcony looking out at 10,000 people crowded all around me. Those people out there could represent the number of jewels in my crown, they are my harvest field. They are the souls that I will have the privilege of not just impacting, but leading them to the Lord, changing their lives for eternity.
Can you IMAGINE!! — What kind of mother-load of a crown we will carry when we have THOUSANDS or MILLIONS of JEWELS plastered on top of our head? That is some major bling-bling people! (insert the Nancy Grace voice over).

Hands were lifted all over the place for salvation or to rededicate their life to the Lord. Amazing Night!

I really believe in my heart that something is happening on the inside of me – I can feel chaaaannnge a risin’ (insert the black preacher voice)! And it’s not scary – it’s weird, but not scary. Last week I was driving through our town right as a big storm was rolling in. The sky was turning a weird eeire purple grey and the wind was really kicking up it’s speed. As I drove down this hill, I started feel like everything inside of me was moving in slow motion, like something just went straight through me and I was suddenly keenly aware of EVERYTHING in my surroundings. I looked down and the hair on my arms were standing straight up. Just thinking about that moment gives me chills. Does this mean I’m the new Michael? uh. No. but I know it means something was ABOUT to happen. Lightening was about to strike.

Maybe It’s me counting down the days until I’m 30. I don’t know. But I am determined for a TOTAL LIFE CHANGE! Tonight we went walking, for our health and I feel like I can run a marathon! Its not just a new business…that’s just one tiny little spark of what I feel God doing in my heart. I want to be a “skinny-sold-out-sole-winner for Jesus!” LOL!

And I also know what else I am right now, “i’m sick.” I told Keith that statement tonight and he was like WHAT? Whatever! I said no, I’m serious, that’s how i “feel” on the inside, in the pit of my belly – you know like when you get to that point with the flu, or a stomach virus that you are SOO sick, you can’t stop vomiting and you feel so terrible you are at the end of your rope and you will do anything, ANYTHING anyone tells you to do, just to get better – even if it’s eating pickled pigs feet or something like that, you would DO it!!! You would do anything just to change your circumstances! We’ll I’m there…and I’m getting a fork in my hand and I’m saying “Grandma – bring on the pigs feet, cause I’m digging in!”

I hope your laughing right now, cause I’m being really craZy!! And I’m having so much fun, that I’m laughing too!

Maybe I’m just beginning to actually be who I am really meant to be! I’m no longer focusing on what I’m supposed to “do” in life, instead I am focusing more on who I am supposed to become through Christ Jesus. He tells me I am a conqueror. And today, finally, I Believe!

The past few years, Keith and I have prayed and often talked about “the proverbial brick wall” we often experience in our pursuit of happiness. Many times that brick wall prevents us from moving forward or often just stares down on us and intimidates the crap out of us, immobilizing us under the great shadow of doubt.
It is said that it is better to know who your enemies are, that way you can know who you are fighting. My biggest question lately is “What’s the deal with this brick wall we keep hitting?” I’m ready for it to come down. So today we have a new motto: Scale the Wall…

We are taking up our commission from the Lord, from his word, and from our passions and ‘conditioning’ every part of our life to prepare us for that wall to fall down.

if, then….It’s a conditional statement, often used based on “logical” outcomes or results. We use this type of “conditional formatting” in various communication platforms, like excel spreadsheets (my favorite)…”if cells in column ‘A’ equal a negative result; then return the cell as ‘0′…fun stuff like that!

Then we have the verbal truth statements or promises like “if you clean your room, you will get an allowance,” or “if you do your homework, you will pass the class” and an all to familiar one I’m still working on, “if you drive safely, you will receive a better insurance rate!”

But, the bible tells us one very valuable “if…then” conditional promise here:

IFs:
>Humble our ’self’
>Pray and Seek God’s Face
>turn from our ‘wicked’ ways

THEN’s:
>God will ‘hear’ us
>God will ‘forgive our sins’
>God will ‘heal our land’

TWO THINGS:
1. It’s Conditional! – one side is based on the other. we cannot expect results, if we are not willing to “pray” our part. Conditional, also speaks to me today that I need to be more “conditioned” as an athlete is for training, so I should be in my prayer life. I can’t expect to run a marathon, if I only train when I feel like it…and most days I don’t “feel” like training myself with anything much less prayer. (truth talk) – but the conditioning is necessary for the results!

2. It’s Logical! – it makes sense, simply taking time to pray (even if it seems hopeless). keep praying and remember it has a true value or result, it’s a promise from God’s word, so we can count on the conditional results “IF” we do our part!

Today, I am challenged to condition myself, my heart – my prayer life with this logical, faith-producing word to humble myself and PRAY…

As you might know our top 3 idol guys went back to their hometowns and filmed their visits for this Wednesday‚Äôs results show today. At some point last weekend while visiting their hometown they each received a text message from one of the judges revealing the “judges choice” for the song they‚Äôll be performing on Tuesday‚Äôs Top 3 performance show!

YouTube, MySpace, Twitter and other social media networks have been silenced from any media attention over the idols, giving papa bear FOX exclusive rights to their exploitation over the past few months. Even “google-ing” the idols has come up short for juicy reports, leaks, old pics, personal sites, etc.

But this past weekend, Idol has strung us back into the mix by supposedly “leaking” this weeks judges pick during the hometown visits for our Season 8, Top 3. The results are going viral.

Danny’s text came from Paula Abdul, her pick “Dance Little Sister” by Terence Trent D’Arby. Revealed via blogger mjs, is certainly a hilarious choice from her! BTW, I have never heard this particular song before, but the vocals are so close to Danny’s, I’m sure he’ll be fabulous! check it out:

Next, Kris’ song choice came in via text message from Randy and revealed on Twitter, from New Life Pastor @rick_betez. He tweeted the news at 10:29 AM on Friday, May 8th: “Judges pick for Kris: “to late to apologize by one republic” on next American idol” — It’s actually just called “Apologize” and here it is if you want to get listen:

Adam Lambert’s choice came in via text message from Simon on Friday, in his hometown of SanDiego, challenged with “One” by famed U2. This was my favorite reveal, because i LOVE U2 but also because we have a snipered audience you tube of Adam actually receiving the info live outside of the AT&T store (or was it live??? hmmm?). Here is “One” – the song Adam is sure to wow us with this tomorrow night:

So apparently, one of the judges, (Kara DioGuardio) was left out of the picking or has either had a shared vote. Poor thing, lol . Guess we’ll find out the details tomorrow LIVE on Idol!

The Kentucky Derby is a grand legacy of southern charm and sophistication. Known for big hats, summer dresses, mint juleps, elite businessmen, and a who’s-who hodge-podge of celebrity showing.

This year’s Kentucky Derby grabbed our attention yesterday with a made for television “Seabiscuit” story that was quite a touching moment! I’m so glad that we DVR’d it, for a sunday afternoon round two experience. With 50-1 odds, the unexpected, little-guy, “Mine That Bird” wins the derby with a monumental upset. “The second biggest Derby upset in history,” says the announcer.

This video only shows the rich win, but what you don’t see is what happens following the race. The jockey and his winning steed round the field with in a celebratory show for the fans and media attention. Drapped in a display of roses, the jockey, Calvin Borel nicknamed “Bo-rail” for his winning move, explains that his greatest wish was that his recently deceased parents could have been there to see it, as he tosses a rose up to heaven. The exuberant tears on this mans face and the uncontrollable emotional outbursts clearly reveals his own personal shock and excitement in the moment. I think the Derby could not have asked for a better ending to this years story….a reminder to all of us that anything is possible!

Just a few weeks ago I started leading worship our youth group. It has propelled me into to a rich, and compassionate desire for discovering new music, deeper worship songs. While I cherish the songs that brought me into a growing relationship with Christ, I realize that we must move forward and take new steps to go further in Christ. It would be a loss to remain stagnant in our faith, the point of salvation, the point of experiencing the cross. A moment I cherish with deep sanctity, was the moment I personally experienced the passion of the cross in my own life, late one night sitting by the front fountain on the campus of Southeastern.

Like the woman at the well, I had questions, and began desperately seeking answers from my Messiah – a seemingly far off Maker. Sitting there that night he led me thru Matthew’s account (ch.27), Mark’s (ch. 15) then Luke’s (ch. 23)…and then John (ch. 19). Every detail of the cross, his death and resurrection, began washing my stained, undeserving heart. He revealed him self to me, just like John 4:26, “I who speak to you am He.” He taught me more in that moment than he ever had, impressing my heart with his love for me, with the truth of what was truly inside of me, and with his purpose for the future..”yet a time is coming!”

John 4 says from the ESV Study Bible:
21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is a from the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” 25 The woman said to him, “I know that f Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.”

Spirit and in Truth – the kind of worshipers the Father is seeking, the kind I have committed my heart and my worship to. I must worship him in that place.

Longing to go deeper to move further. My personal experience at the fountain changed my life and my heart for Christ, the Messiah, forever. But I cannot remain at that fountain, I must know him in new ways in new truths. I feel that our worship experience in the church must reflect, in spirit, and in truth, our walk with Christ. “So, take me to that place Lord, to that Secret place where I can be with you, You can make me like you, Wrap me in your arms.”

Our worship experience should always MOVE us. It should NEVER become something we observe or witness, but rather EXPERIENCE. If we are not changed by our worship…it is not worship. It’s a song, words and clanging sounds. Last month I heard this song, “Alabaster Jar” for the first time, and it enabled me to worship Christ in a new way, with a new truth, that refreshed that same spirit inside of me, that spirit that met me at the fountain one night on a college campus so many years ago…We need to experience this type of “worship” daily with our Father. Seek it out, you will find it.

This weeks most popular digg video with over 8000 digs, will make you smile. A “Stand By Me” version, recorded by Roger Ridley on the streets of SanFransisco, CA, entertwined with local street performers from various streets singing and playing in harmony to an oldie but goodie…

Gizmodo puts it this way (minus the explicits)

This cover of Stand By Me was recorded by completely unknown artists in a street virtual studio all around the world. It all started with a base track‚Äîvocals and guitar‚Äîrecorded on the streets of Santa Monica, California, by a street musician called Roger Ridley. The base track was then taken to New Orleans, Louisiana, where Grandpa Elliott‚Äîa blind singer from the French Quarter‚Äîadded vocals and harmonica while listening to Ridley’s base track on headphones. In the same city, Washboard Chaz’s added some metal percussion to it.

And from there, it just gets rock ‘n’ rolling bananas: The producers took the resulting mix all through Europe, Africa, and South America, adding new tracks with multiple instruments and vocals that were assembled in the final version you are seeing in this video. All done with a simple laptop and some microphones.

I don’t know about you, but it blew me away. Best version of Ben E. King’s classic I’ve ever heard in my life. And I’ve probably heard between five and two billion of them.

Check out this song that echos the sound life, heard from around the world.

Playing For Change | Song Around The World “Stand By Me” from Concord Music Group on Vimeo.

Again, my competitive spirit rises up!¬† I love online surveys and I love a good contest…especially when writing is involved! So today, i’m entering a contest to “try” and win a new palm pre.¬† Never thought the questions would be so heart wrenching.

Question #3 says “describe one thing you are passionate about.”

I had to look back over my blog tags and my bookmarks to really dig deep to find one specific big huge passion.¬† There are so many variables in my “bookmark club” — music, song lyrics, photography, makeup, celebrity gossip, tech tags, social networking, church ministry, singing, worship, local eateries, entrepreneurship, news, foreign language, travel and so many more…

But I keep going back, to a secret place buried deep inside of my being, that beckons daily with memories like high-resolution photographs of a life-changing experience that dates back nearly ten years. Journeying on a one month missions endeavor to South Africa, working and ministering hope and encouragement to children and infants with AIDS, is a moment that will forever remain my deepest passion.  My heart beats for this cause Рholding hungry, hurting infants, hugging orphans that have no home, no family, no clean water, no opportunity to bathe, unloved and forgotten.

Most days I appease the ache by sending “just a dollar a day” to various organizations – hoping that will somehow make a difference. My heart still longs to loose myself completely though, in love for this hurting world. My arms still long to hold and my eyes still long to see the beautiful, smiling, African faces that are now stained forever in my memories.¬† So passion? Yes, maybe I do posses one singular passion, but it’s buried in the deepest realms of South Africa along with a portion of my heart…

Keith is in Belgium this week on a Missions trip with a Men’s MAPS team from Montgomery, and I’m in D.C. visiting David, Missy and Andrew.¬† This is the first time Keith and I have been away from each other for this long, eight days!¬† I miss him so much.¬† Today we had a ten minute chat on Facebook.¬† He does not have a phone while overseas and he did not take his laptop, so any communication we have is precious.

Even though I miss Keith so much, David and Missy have been taking me out on the town and Andrew has been entertaining me with new words, smiles and sweet kisses.¬† Tonight we went to Sette – a great spot serving the most delicious wood fired pizzas and enjoyed outside dining near Dupont Circle.¬† Then we strolled Andrew through the neighborhood and enjoyed the late afternoon air.¬† I really enjoy seeing this side of the city–versus the tourist face value side.

When I was in Paris, everyone went off to museums and gift shops, I rounded up the Eiffel Tower, breezed by the Louvre and found a nice Cafe’ with dining on the street, followed with Strawberry Truffels from a local Chocolatier then strolled down the streets of Paris, walking through Channel down the Champs Elysees…My favorite way to see the city, really experiencing it…like we did tonight.