Oct. 29, 1994

I remember so many details of that day as if it were yesterday.

Texas Tech whipped the University of Texas in football, (easy to remember since we've only won fourteen out of fifty six games), the Goin' Band had performed magnificently (that was a common occurrence), and I was off to Barn Dance.

When I arrived, I saw several sad faces. My first thought was, "That must be our friends from the U.T. band we invited." After a while, however, I began to see sad faces that I recognized. Upon parking the car I was told, "Heath has been in an accident...he died."

Numb. Numb from sadness, numb from anger, numb from dread. If you were a friend of my fraternity brother, Heath Denton, I suppose you remember where you were and what you felt when you heard about Heath's death as well. I encourage you to share your story in the comments section of this blog.

Yesterday a few brothers from the Alpha Omicron chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi gathered together to visit the place where Heath was buried. The cemetery is in Burnet, TX, about an hour's drive from where Ryan Butler and I live. Joining Ryan and I were Heath's big brother, Tim Stewart - currently of the San Antonio Area; Steve Makelki - currently living in the Houston Area; and Jon Caspell who flew out from Lubbock to attend.

There are many powerful take-aways for me from yesterday's gathering. I will share the one I think is most important:

Jesus Christ, the only Son of the living God, gave His life so that we may live eternally in Him. God knew Heath while Heath was in his mother's womb (see Psalms 139). God had a specific purpose for Heath's being here on earth. 20 years later, we recognized that Heath's death in a strangely similar way led us to life as well. Yesterday we gave testimony to the fact that Heath's life, death, funeral, and legacy created in us a desire to live for Christ.

Heath's headstone reads, "...God's Friend." That is exactly what he was here on earth and what he is today in heaven.

Here are some photographs from our visit. Again, I encourage you to share your comments to others who read this blog by linking to the comments section.

Thanks for being my friend!

Voter Guide

No remarks from the peanut gallery on how long it's taken me to blog, or that I owe you a "Friends, Pt. 2."

I just read a great story that almost completely captures my thoughts and ideas about voting in this year's U.S. presidential election.

The fact is, I really like both guys running. You know me - I've got friends who are liberal and conservative, Christian and agnostic, straight and homosexual, every race color and creed in existence. I beleve that every one I know is an immortal soul whom God has placed in my life for a specific purpose.
I like both guys running for president and, regardless of who wins, I will pray for him every day at noon like I always do.

That being said, I'm not enthused or excited about the idea of either candidate actually being president. However I do believe this, I trust the Holy God of the universe to be acting out His will for the election. This is especially easier to accept considering - once again - I'm not "waving my pom-poms" for either.

How then did I arrive at a conclusion for my vote?

When I was in college I had a candidate that I liked best in an election year (no comments on how many election years passed throughout my undergraduate years). A week or so before the election I stopped and actually prayed to God about who to vote for. As I walked to the voter booth a strange thing happened. I could not, in good conscience, vote for the guy I liked! It was the oddest thing for someone who had not experienced a feeling like that before and, if you've never felt that - that is, a guidance from the Holy Spirit of God in your actual day-to-day activities - you probably think I'm crazy (yeah, I know, some of you think I'm crazy regardless of what I say).

So, I went to the voter booth wanting to go one direction and I truly feel God didn't allow me to. Well, the guy I liked the best still won but I am very glad to this day that my consience did not allow me to vote for him. (I voted 3rd party that year. My conscience was clear. That guy didn't have a chance!) I would be embarrassed on this day in my life had I voted my way, for I feel 'my guy' really made a mockery out of the presidency during that particular term of his service.

My friend, I believe the Bible teaches we are responsible for our actions here on earth. One of the biggest actions we can make on earth as an American is voting. We will be held, by God, to accountability for our voting! That means - 1. We should actually be registered, be informed and vote; 2. We should vote in a way that pleases Him.

Regardless of your presidential choice and/or your feelings about God, my challenge to you is that you will pray this or something very similar every day until you vote:

"God (add 'If you're there' if you're one of my agnostic friends - by the way, He is!) would You please, by the power of Your Spirit guide me to vote in a way that pleases you?"

His answer may surprise you and, if You follow Him in your voting, you are in the clear for eternity!

God is not a Democrat or a Republican. He is in it for His own glory and His is the only party with which I am truly concerned.

Thanks for reading, and thanks for being my friend.
I appreciate you!

Friends! Part 1

Proverbs 18:24 - A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

I've had an interesting past two weeks.
There have been extreme highs and lows in both my and my friends' lives. I don't wanna talk about any of it right now. Still processing...God is faithful, I know that much.

I thought I'd take a moment to blog about friends (boy are they gonna be surprised!)
I should probably do this one at a time:

1st up - Matt Cothern. Matt is a dear friend from Kappa Kappa Psi and jazz band. We were pretty darn close in college and, don't get him started, 'cause he could tell you a gazillion stories about me - and many of them during my "who cares about honoring God" days. [For example, I believe there is one story in there about me and some of the brothers kidnapping him from his dorm at ~ 5 a.m., taking him to a restuarant I believe in his jammies and my standing up on a table loudly singing Happy Birthday to him in a Marilyn Monroe style...frat days!].

Through all the craziness, there are 3 moments I will always treasure in my mind about ole Matt:
1. When his softball team, "Fresh Meat" (or Fresh Meat II, again, frat days) were getting their habitual hiney kickin' in their killer softball division and Matt thought it was a good idea as a catcher to stop a runaway train of a man with his hand. Moments I treasure - those hours in the hospital Matt and I spent together! I realize now in my life that I did all I could during those college days to build walls in my life to keep people at a distance. I even made more "friends" so that I wouldn't have to go "deep" with anyone. Matt was one of the few people at that time I truly let into my life. He helped me learn the value of true friendships.

2. The Bet. For the life of me, I cannot remember what the bet was, but the wager of the bet I do remember. I was a hard-core liberal at the time and Matt was the polar opposite. We spent much of our greeting time daily attacking one another's political stances. Well, the wager was, loser had to vote in the the winner's political party primary and, essentially, join that political party. I became a Republican (I consider myself a conservative independent today) because I lost a bet to Matt.
I decided to look at what some of the candidate's in the Republican party were all about and, to my surprise, many of them said they operated their life and work out of their faith in Jesus Christ. Kinda made me say, "What guides me in my day-to-day?" Somehow, through that wager and several other Spirit-led people and events in my life, I ended up re-dedicating my life to Jesus Christ sometime soon after I "became a Republican." [I put that in quotes because I honestly believe no political party has a lock on God...the story is just a piece of the puzzle God used to change my life].

3. The Church. So, I ended up being hired on at Hill Country Bible Church - Northwest and the pastor and my supervisor say, "There's a guy here who knows you...Matt Cothern!" "Really?!" I had been looking for Matt on the internet for years and had completely lost touch. We ended up meeting at the place that is common ground for both of us. Oh how God has brought both of us through crazy times! (I'm sparing Matt's crazy stories to protect the...guilty!)
Well, one of the "extreme highs" of the last two weeks was HCBC's Concert of Praise. My wife posted a video of me playing sax at a rehearsal - I could blog about that...I thought I was the one who was going to get to post music...my wife is a "Blog Hog" - on her site (myjordanfamily.blogspot.com) Standing next to me, my dear friend, on trumpet, Matt Cothern.

I am thankful to God for the friends He has placed in my life.
Next blog, "Steve."

"6 Months," "Better than Shaun Groves," plus New Blogging Format update

Howdy friends!

"6..."
It's been 6 months at Hill Country Bible Church - Northwest. It has been quite a journey so far and I'd like to write more about it. Before I do though, you can help me with my blog post about it.

When I write about my first six months at HCBC-NW, I would like to answer any questions you may have. Simply leave a reply of your question(s) here at my blog comment section or email me at ajordan.music@hcbc.com and I will happily answer your questions.

"Better than Shaun Groves?!"
You may have heard about the weekend illness that attacked the Jordan Family (My wife wrote about it on myjordanfamily.blogspot.com).
I was blessed not to fall ill to the crud. When Elias went down I told Jennifer, "I'm not going to get sick...(my Pentecostal/Charismatic friends will like what I said next)...I'm rebuking this illness in the name of Jesus...(my Contemplative/Conservative friends will like what I did next)...and I began using every immunity booster I've ever purchased. Props to Airborne, Echinacea, Elderberry extract with VirusBloc, Grapefruit Seed Extract, Sovereign Silver, Acai,soap and water, apple juice...

When Jennifer gave me word that Elena was ill on Sunday morning, in addition to missing my 1st Sunday at HCBC (I am not legalistic, I just LOVE attending church here - so that was a bummer), on my 6-month/half-anniversary date (I get corny over things like this) I did not immediately remember that Christian Recording Artist Shaun Groves would be leading worship at our church that day. I would have been crushed that I missed a star, unless what happened...happened!

What I will ALWAYS remember about this date is the fact that my sick precious 2-year-old daughter, whom former co-worker Matt Mehaffey once said "...had me wrapped around her finger before she was born," crawled up into my lap in her rocking chair in her room at around 9 a.m. - the time when our 1st service begins - and stayed there until around 12:15 p.m., approximately the time our 2nd service ends, as I rocked her, hugged her tight, sang to her and occasionally dozed off with her.

I can't get this moment out of my mind perhaps because I know one day she will be a teenager and may not even acknowledge my existence! It was a sweet and unrepeatable moment in time. So, while I would have love to have been at church under the worship leadership (sermon) of my awesome senior pastor Tim Hawks and (music) guest artist Shaun Groves, and while I would rather my family never be ill, I will treasure the moment I had on Sunday for all of my days. I'd have to say, having my little one in my arm was, to me, better than Shaun Groves!

New Blogging Format Update
Finally, I have obtained some recordings of myself on saxophone, but I don't know how to edit DVD's down to make it fit my blog. Can anyone help me?

In the meantime, I am gathering my devotional thoughts, so once I learn to edit DVDs I should have one kickin' blog!

Thanks for being my friend!
aj

Hoorah for God!

A praise report from HCBC's Evangelism Pastor regarding what God has done so far this week through Backyard Bible Clubs & Extreme Adventure:

"What a week! What a harvest!

Our mighty God showed up once again to bring in the harvest. Can I hear a drum roll...

Backyard Bible Clubs:

2300 participants
359 conversions
54 recommitments

Xtreme Adventure:

500 participants
19 conversions
28 recommitments

(These are not final numbers, but they are very close.) "

When I saw those numbers I prayed for every children's and student ministers everywhere.
God bless you in your efforts to lead people to the life-changing reality of Jesus Christ today, this summer and every day!

What a significant impact you make on the kingdom of God!

My Church Family and My Blog News

I wanted to share with you some information about the summer at my church, Hill Country Bible Church - Northwest, and some changes I'm making to my blog.

CHURCH
At church summer is the time for "The Great Adventure." I'm not sure of all of the history as I'm still relatively new here, but I can give you some idea of what I'm experiencing now in 2008.

The Great Adventure officially began on Sunday, June 6 with "The Concert of Prayer," one of the most dynamic and exciting prayer services I've ever experienced. (I once attended a revival prayer service with Henry Blackaby, author of "Experiencing God," and that was pretty life-changing as well). The Concert of Prayer service's music was led by The Dutton Band who lead worship regularly at The Heights Church in the DFW area. We prayed for Backyard Bible Clubs (K-4th grade), Xtreme Adventure (5th grade - 7th grade), SummerFest and GO (Global Outreach) trips.

Our senior pastor, Tim Hawks gave the church these points for prayer:

"Here are some specific things you can pray about over the coming weeks:
145 Backyard Bible Clubs will be held throughout the community with over 225 student leaders (July 7-10)
Xtreme Adventure: The Ultimate Knockout will bring over 500 fifth through seventh graders to our campus (July 7-10)
SummerFest takes place Friday, July 11 here on campus. We expect well over 6,000 people in our community to attend!
345 students and adult leaders will take the good news of Jesus Christ to East Austin, Toronto, Chicago, Mexico, Wales, Central Asia and Peru. "

You can help HCBC - NW impact every man, woman and child's life in the greater Austin Area by briefly praying for these things as well.

Jennifer and I host a Backyard Bible Club. Last night was the first one and I thought it went really well. I am expecting God to do great things in many people's lives - children and parents - through this club.

BLOG
When I decided to blog I knew it would be a little more high-maintenance than folks told me it would be! I've been persuaded to make some changes to make my blog better and, beginning next week, this is the format I'm going to try:

1x/week - blog a devotional/thoughts from the Holy Bible
1x/week - blog impressions from society or personal life (I currently call that "Wacky Wednesday")
1x/week - blog myself playing music

Apparently, people still like to hear me play music and, since I've been fortunate enough to make friends from high school, Texas Tech, New Orleans Seminary, and Indiana who are now spread all over the world - if you want to hear me on saxophone, you will be able to do that soon through this blog. (It won't be a professional-quality recording but I hope you'll enjoy it anyway).

I'm hoping to blog in a Monday/Wednesday/Friday format beginning Monday July 14.

If you have any comments, suggestions, or ideas regarding my blog, I welcome them.
You may leave comments on my blog's comment section (listed at the bottom of each post) or through my Facebook Notes section.

Until later, thanks for your prayers and your comments!

Wacky Wednesday 4 - Citizenship

How patriotic are you? Are you a really a good citizen of these United States of America?
Lest I become conceited, I thought I'd take a quiz to confirm my patriotism during this July 4 week's edition of Wacky Wednesday.

I invite you to take the MSNBC Citizenship quiz and report back to me how you did:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25461301/

As for me, with a score of 70%, I received this evaluation:
"65-80%: Hey, you may make a good citizen yet! Look at your wrong answers and a little revision should do the trick."

Take the quiz and leave me a comment, good or bad, regarding your score!