In Fayetteville, GA, there is an expression of the Church called Rolling Hills Baptist Church.
They moved to a Tinseltown Theater complex and the operating costs for them now is only a third of what is was before.
My name is Russ and I’m a preacher’s kid.
So, I’ve pretty much been a “kid” of the church my whole life. Of course, I’m a grown up now and have been for the last 15 years, but I still feel like I’ve never known anything else.
I wasn’t one to go buck wild out of high school and make an idiot of myself and embarrass my family.
I wasn’t a prodigal son (in the “out of church” sense).
I wasn’t the crazy preacher’s kid who fell into the stereotype of preacher’s kids…hating the church and anything to do with it.
I feel like my journey has been a pretty good one. Not perfect, but pretty good. I thank God for His grace in my life, because like the next guy, I fall short of His righteousness and glory on my own. I’m not any better or worse than the person next to me in church, and I want it to be known that I struggle with pride, lust, greed, and every sin that anybody else does.
My name is Russ and I’m a preacher’s kid.
Today Lydia and I had the privilege of leading worship for Rush Hour (the middles school service for St. Simons Community Church).
What an honor. What a great time. What a wonderful sound.
To hear about 75 middle schoolers singing lout to Jesus “Here I am to worship…here I am to bow down…here I am to say that You’re my God…”
I never get tired of hearing a group of people, especially young people, singing out their worship to God.
I brought back a lot of oldies for today’s set and had a great time leading them. It was just me on the guitar. I capo’d 5 on two of them for a little variety.
1) Here I Am To Worship (Hughes): Key C. I capo’d 5 and played in G. I know C might be a little low for the tenor screamers, but it works REALLY nicely for my range. AND the kids sang out beautifully on this one. I love this song.
***MESSAGE***
2) At The Cross (Butler): Key D. This is the old vineyard tune (not the Hillsong one). I remember singing this one back in the 90s and I loved it then. I pulled it out specifically because the theme of today’s service was The Cross. Worked great as a reflective song coming out of the message time.
3) When I Survey/The Wonderful Cross (Tomlin): Key C. Capo’d 5 and played in G again. This one works nicely in C or D, and Lydia brought the mad harmonies on this one. Another one that brings back memories of my youth pastor days.
4) I Give You My Heart (Morgan): Key G. Pretty standard acoustic arrangement. This is another oldie but goodie.
A lot of times as Christians we don’t live for this one big truth that is really the crux of what we believe:
Jesus is coming back.
What if we lived the next moment as if He were coming back? And by coming back, I don’t mean coming back to take us away from this “bad, old world” but I mean coming back to establish a Kingdom. Coming back to rule and reign a new earth. Coming back to set things right. Coming back to make things good.
In our “western” gospel we’ve embraced a kind of escapism mentality. We hope to cross the line of faith just far enough to get to glory land. To make it through the pearly gates. But I think God has thrown down the gauntlet. I think He desires a wild and passionate journey of faith, love, and hope from His followers. One filled with a life that has a meaningful destination. Not just one that makes it to the cloud and harp.
If you read the New Testament, it’s clear that “heaven” is not just a mindless, eternal bore of an existence. It’s not just foo foo dust and white robes. It’s a vibrant and life-filled kingdom. What we do here on earth has eternal ramifications. There ARE rewards in heaven for our actions here on earth.
If all we do is live for the “gates” will we stand before God and fill regret for what could have been?
Jesus is coming back.
He’s not coming back for a people that barely know He’s even gone. He’s not returning for a people who give Him lip service on Sundays and live like hell the rest of the week. He’s not coming back for a people who think of eternity as some distant, unimportant time.
He’s coming back for YOU and ME. And He desires for us to live ready. Looking for His return. Prepared for His return.
A lot of times people take the whole “thief in the night” scriptures out of context. Those scriptures do not mean that WE can’t be ready for his return. They are talking about the WAY we live. Either we live ready and expecting His return, or we live like the world, not expecting His return. When Jesus comes back, it will be like a thief in the night to those who aren’t prepared.
Think about it. What are ways that you might be more prepared for His returning? Is it possible to “do” something that could make you more prepared?
I wanted to take time out today to say thank you publicly to the new readers/followers/subscribers here at RussHutto.com
I know I’ll never be a huge mega blogger or anything like that, but I appreciate (truly) those of you who stick around and journey with me. You make this a great place!
If you’re a lurker around here, say hello in the comments!
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A special thanks to these new readers/commenters for stopping by recently:
Jason Hannah
Liz
Bill Todd
Brandy
Mark Jaffrey
Alece
Faith
And everyone else who’s stopped by in the last few months! Thanks!
