December 26, the day after Christmas, is the Feast of Stephen. Many evangelicals aren’t very aware of days like this. This is a good one to remember. This day we remember the countless followers of Christ who loved Him with their very breath, even unto death, as did Stephen, the first Christian martyr. On my…Read more …
Tomorrow I hop on a plane and head to Belgium for an HSI songwriting workshop! We are partnering with WEC International’s art division, Resonance. The team leader and three teammates are from WEC. I’m the HSI representative. Please pray as we hold two workshops. The purposes of the workshops are: Workshop 1: Seminar for Trainers • Inspire and excite regarding ethnodoxology (heart music, releasing…Read more …
This morning, while running past the budding trees and blossoming flowers in my neighborhood, I thought about how I was running in the Midwestern US today and would be on a bus to Isola del Gran Sasso, Italy, tomorrow. It never ceases to amaze me that you can be in a completely different country across the ocean in…Read more …
I enjoy using Biola University’s Lent Project. I read this one early on last week and it fit so well with last week’s Lent Challenge of combating the Seven Deadly Sins: avarice (greed) vs. generosity. But it actually applies to this week (gluttony) as well. The parables of the Pearl and Hidden Treasure (Matt. 13:44-46),…Read more …
Incarnate, OM Arts’ biennial school of arts in mission, is underway in Isola del Gran Sasso, Italy! The uniqueness of Incarnate is found in a holistic approach to discipling artists. Students from multiple artistic disciplines experience life in community, formal learning, integrated outreach, worship, studio time, an arts festival, fun and next steps coaching. There…Read more …
Pastor Mike Castelli’s Ash Wednesday message very powerful to me and a practical, refreshing application to Lent. He talked about how Lent is a great time to focus on Jesus’ call to “deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). Our culture thinks of Lent as a time of self-denial—can I get through the next…Read more …
These two delectable snacks are as good in Belgium as they are plentiful. Also plentiful in Belgium is the spiritual need. But OM Belgium has seen the evangelical presence in their town of Zaventem grow from zero to at least four churches since they began ministry 50 years ago! I had the opportunity to travel…Read more …
The co-founder of Heart Sounds International and my esteemed teammate, Frank Fortunato, recently wrote a 2-part article in celebration of HSI’s 15th anniversary. In part 2, he begins by saying, It was an epochal moment that day in the late nineties, in Pretoria, South Africa. When it was my turn I gave a brief report…Read more …
A Gift From Heart Sounds International To You! In celebration of 15 years of Heart Sounds International ••• Global worship coming from 70+ projects in about 40 countries ••• Helping to release indigenous worship in the developing Church around the world ••• We invite you to download and listen to HSI’s first album, Sounds of Global Worship…Read more …
I’ve recently been in a number of discussions regarding the concept of “organizational culture.” Organizational culture is a pattern of shared basic assumptions, values and beliefs, which a group of people has learned over time and which has worked well enough to be considered valid and, therefore, taught to new members as the correct way to perceive, think, feel and act within the…Read more …
