My first blog....

...well, it's the first blog in a LONG time, and in a new spot. So... here it is. 

Seems kind of appropriate to start a new blog on Easter I suppose. Speaking of Easter, we had a great morning at 2|42. We had a choir and they did a great job. The band was phenomenal as usual too.  I've got some major allergy stuff goin' on right now and I almost completely lost my voice, so I was definitely glad to have the support of the choir on such a huge morning. 

The last couple months have certainly been a whirlwind. There has been a lot of change/transition to work through. I'd like to think I've handled it well, but I know there are moments in which I haven't. It was tougher than I thought.  Here's a little synopsis: 

In February, I left the job/career I had been at for the last 13 years to follow God's lead (which I am working on doing more often) and work for our church (2|42 Community Church) full time as the Director of Music. It's a dream job, and for those of you who know my story, it was certainly only through the grace of God that everything worked out the way it did.

Leaving my prior job was a little tougher than I thought. I definitely don't "miss it", but transitioning from something that I was so familiar, and was good at - to something that I'm completely green at (I've never been a Music Director at a church before) was a bit intimidating, especially considering the eternal significance. I have a lot of ideas and I like to "accomplish" things, at least in my own mind. The problem with this was timing, well again at least in my mind. But God is funny like that. You see, all this change/transition was happening right smack-dab in the middle of 2|42 launching a new campus in Ann Arbor, MI. 

A really exciting time, but crazy nonetheless. The pre-launch phase was a bit hectic, particularly on Sunday's. But we made it through. 

Funny enough, we then went right into Easter prep (and the choir was a huge chunk of that). In the midst of this, my beautiful wife and I are expecting our first child in May. That alone is a pretty significant life change/transition, but combining it with all the above - WHEW! It's been quite a ride. 

So, today my body finally said "Enough Dude". My voice is pretty much gone, my throat is raw and my lungs are on fire. I will say this however, in the words of my very good friend Jeff Boriss... "there's nothing better than being wiped out if you're doing God's work". And it's true. There is a great feeling that comes along with doing God's work. A heightened sense of purpose that I'd never felt in my prior 13 year career. 

My Easter reflection: 

I can't imagine my little boy (yep- its a boy!!) coming in to the world with me being in a better place in life. I thank God daily for his grace. For sending HIS SON to die for my sins and then Coming Alive for ME. For allowing me to be a part of his mission here on earth and for blessing me in so many ways. I'm wiped out doing God's work and I can't wait to meet my son, he's due in about a month. I'll keep you posted!! :-)