God is a God of Details!

At my church we are reading through the Bible this year. I am a slow reader so I am behind a few days, but I am learning a ton. For instance, when you read through the details of the tabernacle it amazes me. God is so concerned with the details of their life that he gives dimensions of each piece of furniture. He provides details about the lamp stands and even the oil they are to burn. Each sacrifice, festival, meal, piece of furniture, or even he clothing He concerns himself with.

I was reading today that a young man pulled a gun in school and shot five students, killing three, as of this post. I wonder if that young man ever stopped to think about a God that was so concerned with the details of his life that He numbered the hairs on his head. I thought about a friend struggling with sin and wondered if he would ever realize the depth of God's love for him. A love so great that He detailed how a sacrifice could redeem him.

I sit at my computer and think about my recent readings through Leviticus. I have complained about how detailed everything is in the book. When will I ever learn that He is so concerned with the details of my life that He laid down His life to redeem me. If my God is so concerned about the cubits of a curtain, how much more is He concerned with the hope in my heart!

To quote Chris Tomlin that is playing on my computer right now, "and if our God is for us then who could ever stop us, and if our God is with us then what can stand against us!"

He is concerned with every detail of my life and yours.

--Mike

Why do I run sound?

In 1990 I joined Colonial Hills Church. A year later I started serving as the Youth Ministry Intern. As the youth group grew we needed to add a sound system so that we could have singers lead worship and have the message heard more clearly. This started what has become a passion for me. Van Toomey, who later would become a dear friend, started showing me how to set up and operate the highly technical sound equipment (ha!). We ran a 4 channel sound board with two speakers hooked to an amp. Not very technical. I thought I would never learn how to do it without him helping every time. I graduated to helping in the main sanctuary around 1993, mainly hooking up cables and setting up microphones. As time past and we grew into a larger building, I went from the 4 channel board to a 48 channel analog sound board. Each time we upgraded equipment I would grow anxious that I would mess it all up. After Van stepped down for the Sound Technician position I got the opportunity to work with a number of men over the years. Each one taught me something new. I won't go into the personality differences and power struggles today, that is something we can sit around the fire about another time. We then upgraded equipment to a digital sound board, which scared the poo out of me.

This takes me to a few years back. We brought on a new Worship Pastor. This brought more power struggles and personality clashes. My direct pastor and friend Scott Little walked me(actually pushed sometimes) through this. For those who have ever worked "behind the scenes" in church understand how hard it is at times. God began to speak to me through my bride, pastors, and this "young, only child, perfectionist" Worship Pastor. I pick like that, because God had to break through my heart to help me see what a blessing Brent Climer was to be in my life. I know this is getting long so I will wrap up. Why do I run sound now, 21 years later? This past Sunday, as our new Technical Director, Jason Latshaw (who by the way rocks,but don't tell him I said that) was running sound I looked around. Our church was worshiping. Yes worshiping the King of Kings! How could they hear the band and singers? The sound man was worshiping through his instrument! My job as a sound man is to make it sound so good that people have the opportunity to engage in what Jesus desires and that is our WORSHIP.

Why and what do you do for the Kingdom?

Sometimes we just need an outlet in life to express what is on our minds. Well... this is mine. I will start to use this Outlet as a place to express what is going on in this shallow well of a brain. I invite you to comment and share your thoughts as well.