Okay, so yesterday was Sunday, which means going to church. EXcept I'm in Austin, so that means there are two primary choices: Austin Chinese Church, or another called EVfree. I went to ACC, and...it sure was different. I expected it to be something like HCC's youth program Oxygen since Jason modeled it after Liquid (ACC's program), but it was drastically different. The atmosphere was similar as in there's no concrete structure. Pews at different angles, but with lots of room on the floor with pillows and bean bags (about 2/3 of ppl sit on floor). But the music was waayyyyy different. It's not like hcc in the way its more of a rock band leading worship. Heavy bass, lots of electric guitar, with a mixing board to integrate scratches (just like a dj). So the first set of worship I'm wondering what's going on, because I also didn't know the songs. I've done rock-ish worship before at Impact and it's fine with me to an extent, but for all the songs? Even the slow ones it seemed like a mellow mood almost like we're stoned on drugs or something.

The speaker was great though. It's like having an Impact speaker speak every Sunday, that's how good he is. His name is Gideon, he's married, and I think it's his honesty that strikes everyone. The topic was about how we shouldn't let what we learn at church be contained within the church walls, that we should be coming out of church spirited with arms outstretched.

Something I learned a while back about picking a spiritual home, you gotta ask four questions.

What are my needs? I need a home that can provide a worshipful environment to better connect me to God and all the while discipling me to be a man of God in this crazy world full of pitfalls.

How are my needs being met? What am I getting out of it? Even though the rock band worship was a slight shock, can it provide that worshipful atmosphere?? I think it can. Its not going to be HCC, only HCC is HCC, but this ministry is serving a different group, and there are different needs of them, so rock worship it is.

What am I giving to it? How can God best utilize the abilities He's given me to expand his kingdom? Can I serve?

And then, what more can I do??

Well, at least I can always listen to the worship music best fitting for me. I love his high speed internet. Just go to www.ksbj.org, plug in your headphones into the computer, click on "hear it now" and start listening to HOuston music and ministry.
posted by Justin at 10:09 AM