dear heARTists…

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BEWARE: ABOUT TO TYPE THE MOST BORING SENTENCE EVER…

i don’t even know how to start talking about VBS.

I used to think VBS was the same old same old, and everyone did something they had done a million times. noah. creation.moses.joseph.

then… i started working at Long Hollow.

I would actually be planning our own VBS for kids.

WOW. Mind blowing. Determined to make sure everything taught is worthy of their time, and ours… I think about this time of year, all year. I pray, read, listen, draw, write… and most importantly collaborate with people that I treasure and adore (jason underhill, emmy hendrick and sharon fleming).

This week, I told the kids that I’ve been thinking about them and praying for them for months. It’s true. True story.

We have been looking for the best ways to help them understand how great God’s love for them is… and that if they know Him, it’s their job to tell others. This is Biblical.

I can’t begin to share all of the amazing things God has allowed me to participate in this past week… because I think you’ll probably stop reading at some point, but there are some major highlights i want to share. because they are awesome. And because I want to trap them somewhere before I forget.

Here we go…

1 – literally thousands of kids have journeyed with us this week. almost 200 made eternal decisions.

2 – the worship leaders on each of our campuses KILLED IT!!!! I deeply love it when amazing musicians and singers commit their time to kids. Kids deserve excellence, not mediocrity. And boy did they get it this week!

Hendersonville: Ben Eggebrecht, Colin Henderson, Beau Hoffman and Niko Xidas; Hillcrest: Warren David and Foster Loven; Gallatin: Mike Hurst; Springfield: Brad Damas; Madison: Ben Eggebrecht, Wes Pickering

3 – we got to teach about mephibosheth. YES! David rescued him when he was powerless to help himself because of his love for his family. Jesus rescues us when we are powerless to help ourselves.

4 – teachers brought the truth to kids. the gospel was unashamedly proclaimed and it will defend itself.

5 – our video series was awesome, and jackson, emmy and beau were amazing.

6 – family night… SO MANY PEOPLE. SO MUCH WORSHIP.

7 – we got to teach “God loves you no matter what!” when we taught the thief on the cross story. he did not have time to do any good deeds, after meeting Christ. That means that there was nothing about HIM that saved Him, only Christ. (what a relief, right?!)

I’m totally getting excessive with the capitals and exclamation points.

i’m overflowing, drinking from the saucer. grateful.

jeff lovingood – thanks for supporting lhkidz and giving your guidance, wisdom and influence to this amazing experience we just had.

jason underhill  - thanks for partnering with me to bring the truth to kids… your support and encouragement are crucial in the creative process. i’m grateful for your commitment to excellence.

emmy hendrick – thanks for dreaming and planning, and replanning with me. acting, serving, and doing VBS in Gallatin like a boss. you blow my mind.

sharon fleming – thanks so much for “holding down the fort” while i was looking for an assistant. your kindness is palpable. your love for kids is beautiful. you manage details like a boss!

beau hoffman – thanks for… 1 – acting in the videos, 2 – editing the videos, 3 – making the music videos for EVERY campus, 4 – playing the bass with the band, 5 – teching and/or playing the cajon in the evening at hillcrest, 6 – teaching me about patience

eli spiller – thanks for teaching, hanging posters, making phone calls, dealing with fellowship one, loving kids, serving joyfully… and more

jordan dennis – thanks for loving the madison campus, and praying and preparing to serve with them; thanks for making phone calls, entering stuff in the computer… and more

steven – thanks for rolling with us, loving kids, killing it on kickball, doing everything you were ever presented with

and so much more…. may have to do a second post. i’m about to cry at this point.

i hope you get as stoked as i do about doing something that points to Jesus, with people you adore.

in a full circle moment this week – i wrote a song with a friend from high school.

i love when that happens.

i love when you have a hisotry with someone (even if it was just a moment) and then God gives them back to you.

Julie Forester is a singer/songwriter here in Nashville. I’ve been to several of her shows over the past few years, and her voice is still as stunning as it was when I knew her first. It was a blessing to hear her singing the song we wrote. Now, we just wait and see if anyone chooses to cut it….

another insane moment: i was writing with Alexis Slifer monday night around 8. I’ve known Alexis for about 5 years, but this is the first time talked about writing together.

as we decided what to sing, praying and reading some scripture… i was reminded of a piece of music and lyrics that God had given me couple of months ago. I sang them for her, and she just looked at me. Then proceeded to tell me that God had given her the same tune and simliar lyrics two weeks before. CRAZY!!!!!

So we had our chorus, we had some affirmation that we were supposed to be writing this song, and so we wrote.

I love it.

is there anyone that God has given back to you that you just want to thank Him for?