Evolution of a Song

I remember it like it was yesterday. Hidden inside the walls of a college ministry at the University of Tennessee, Will and I sat ready to close out a 100 hours of prayer week. We were flatly lit up by cheap fluorescent light. Drop ceiling, white walls, no sound system. Nothing glamorous, but we like it that way. No props to entertain. Only worshippers remain.  Armed with one acoustic and one small djembe, our sound had no ability to impress. We waited on God, and the music became a channel for the passion in the room. Then a prayer surfaced…

You provide the fire, I’ll provide the sacrifice.
You provide the Spirit, I will open up inside.
Fill me up God, Fill me up

I’ve watched Will do this for years. He finds the chorus that wants to be sung in the moment. It’s as if everyone in the room is leading worship, and Will is simply helping find lyrics and melodies to match the moment and what the Spirit is doing.

This time was no different. Just a spontaneous chorus caught in the moment. Somewhere in an old journal of mine are lyrics from this song. I remember thinking, “why write them down, there’s only two lines?” I wrote them down anyways and I’m sure glad I did.

A few weeks later, Will and I were in the studio working on some songs, which later became our first EP. The Fill Me Up chorus was still just in idea form, sitting loosely in our brains and in the journal. I remember talking about whether it could be a song.

“Its too short. We can’t call this a song.”
“Maybe we can add a bridge or tag?”

 Not exactly sure how it happened, but I vaguely remember Will jumping on the keyboard and playing the melody to what is now the “Love of God overflow” tag. Then the first lyrics made their appearance.

“Sweet, one new line. One more to go.”
I was in the tracking room, setting up drums, and then I started yelling out lyric ideas through the glass window to Will on the other side.
“Permeate, all my soul.” 

I think I was half joking. Who sings the word “permeate” anyway?
Well, Will grabbed it, and that was it. It stuck.

You never know how a song will evolve. From the humble beginnings of a fluorescent-lit college ministry room, to a simple home studio hidden away in a 110-year-old house, Fill Me Up became a song because God wanted it to. I write all of this, because I want to help demystify the worship song writing experience. You don’t have to join a writing session with famous worship leaders to write a worship song. They happen when they’re supposed to happen. It’s our joy and privilege to worship the King of Kings, and offer our gifts and talents as the small fish and loaves that they are. Let’s let God do the multiplying.

I felt like God gave me a special gift this summer concerning this song. I was in South Africa on tour with the guys, and we got word that Kim Walker sang Fill Me Up at the Jesus Culture stadium event in Chicago. We pulled up the recorded stream of the song, and I was moved to tears to how God could take the simple lyrics and melody born from our community, and see if impact 18,000 people in a stadium that night. It was my birthday that day, and I have to say it was a really special gift.

So yeah, just wanted to share that story from the drummer’s perspective. I’m proud of my best friend who had courage to release a song that didn’t even feel like one. You never know what can happen when God get’s in the mix. May the fishes and loaves multiplication continue! Its all we will ever have anyway.

"Here Begin" Video Teaser

Little teaser for you…Andrea Marie’s album releases Dec. 10th on iTunes!
And if you’re in the Knoxville, TN area, she’s having an album release show.
Here’s the venue/time info – http://tiny.cc/022ko, Help us spread the word!

Here’s an excerpt from a conversation with Andrea talking about the album…

“This album has set me on a journey of finding myself, and what’s inside.” All thirteen tracks are songs that I wrote from the age of sixteen till now. I feel as though they capture some very significant moments in my life. Some were written at uncertain moments of life, some at very defining moments- like the weeks right before and surrounding my wedding. A few were even written while in the studio during the recording process, which i think speaks a lot about the dynamics of the music. So, I look at the album as a whole, as an extended story and expression of those years.  

 Recording music and producing something for the world to hear is like uncovering an outer layer of yourself and inspecting it with a magnifying glass. I believe, in the end, the finished album is the result of what you found there. It causes you to be extremely vulnerable and transparent- whether you want to be or not. I know God used it for the bettering and furthering of myself, though. I’m moving forward in finding out who I am on a personal level, who this Creator is inside of me, and then how those things work and move together. Because of that, I’ve found that all the uncovering and transparency in this process has been absolutely worth it.

But over all, no matter how actively involved I am with performing or writing new material, my dream is that this music would be a reflection of the hope of Jesus Christ and his love for the world he created. God is real. My desire is to put a soundtrack to the life that he gives to us here on earth.”

NEW ALBUM COMING SOON FROM BROCK HUMAN

If you’ve you ever listened to our music, or have listened to Jesus Culture latest album, you’ll probably know the song “Come Away”
Brock Human, part of the UP family,  wrote this amazing song. Well’s lets just say that’s the icing on the cake.

He’s been working on a solo album for the past year, and its about to come out NEXT WEEK (Nov. 8th iTunes release)

Here’s some samples to wet your appetite. We think his music is genious.

Brock Human/Color Of Red-preview by Brockhuman 

update: Now available on iTunes

Hope at 30,000 Feet

Sometimes the fish jump in the boat. It’s in these moments that I know the Holy Spirit is planting my steps. This is my favorite talk-to-random-stranger-on-plane-story yet and I share it because I want God to get the glory.

In a strange way I like long red eye flights. The take off rush where your bodyweight pulls into the seat and your eyes are tempted to close. Then, its either a book I’d rarely have time to read, or a film I’d probably never watch. Except on a plane that is, stuck with nothing to do. And of course, ginger ale. For some reason, cruising at 30,000 ft is the only time I crave this drink. Weird. And for the best part, drifting off to sleep after a long gaze out the window at the sunset afterglow melding with the stars. Yep, red eye flights have become my friend. What I don’t usually plan on doing is chatting it up with a stranger beside me. Its dark for one, and my book or movie is waiting. And who wants to interrupt the dull roar of the flight with obnoxious chitchat?  But last night, God had a different plan for my time. I love his plan.

I stepped on the Kona to LA flight ready to sleep. The past week leading worship at the YWAM base was packed full, and I definitely was spent in the very best kind of way. I sat down and was relieved to find the seat beside mine empty. “Sweet, extra leg room and no awkward small talk with my neighbor.”  This was ironic, because one, my wife wasn’t traveling with me and she would have been sitting beside me, and two, the plane was supposedly all sold out, so I had the only empty seat beside me.

Much to my surprise, a guy who looked in his late 20’s two seats over spoke up. The usual small talk ensued, and he chatted about staying at the Four Seasons Resort, which just so happens to be one of the most luxurious hotels in all of Hawaii ($1200 a night kind of prices). This surprised me, because he was dressed like me, and this is NOT like the typical high-roller vacationer.

Turns out his wealthy relative invited him out for an all-expense paid vacation, and he wisely said yes to the offer. He rambled on about the amazing resort and the surfing lessons, and honestly I was just mildly listening. I off-handily asked if he left a significant other behind to go on this trip, and he said yes, his girlfriend. “At least you bought her something, right?” He nodded in agreement.

A few moments of silence…

“I’m actually still married. I have a 2 year old, and a 3 month old.”

“…wait, what?”  I wasn’t expecting that.

All of sudden I felt the peaceful, yet hair-prickling presence of the Holy Spirit, knowing that this moment was an opportunity to listen…both to this man and to what Jesus would have to say to this man. This was no longer about my relaxing flight plan. This was my time to embody hope that I knew was missing from this man’s life, to be a touchable answer to this man’s pain, and most of all, to know that Jesus was sitting right with us with His words becoming mine.

This boldness arose in my heart, and I told him straight up that its time for him to be man and end this stupid fling and make it right with his wife. It was like I heard my words outside of myself. “Wait, am I really saying this to a perfect stranger? And he has tattoos all over him, and he’s pretty tough looking,  so he might flip out on me.”

 But he just looked at me, and then slowly nodded whispering, “I know. I can’t keep living like this.” His heart totally opened up to me, and over the next hour, he shared about his struggles in life, about growing up with a mom that was a stripper, and living on the streets, getting caught up in the drug scene and then ending up in jail. Mind you, we’re on a dead quiet night flight. I couldn’t believe this guy was opening up so much.

His story continued on with getting out of jail and wanting to make his life right. He married his girlfriend, bought a house and started having kids. This is all he knew to do. But the happiness he found didn’t last. Alcohol got in the mix, and found himself separated from his wife with nothing to hold on to. Life was back to chaos. My heart broke for this man, yet I knew God was his only hope and his way of redemption. I shared with him the power of God’s love, and how without it, we don’t know how to truly love. I shared that for his marriage to thrive, he can’t do it alone. He agreed, saying he knows he needs God in his life. And others, people to share struggles and hardships with.

I started sharing stories from the bible with him, like the parable of the prodigal son, and he didn’t know any of them. He said he tried to read the bible in prison, but all the “Thous” made it impossible to understand. He was an open slate, at the bottom looking for hope and light. I prayed for him on the plane, and I felt his hope rising for his life, for his marriage, for his kids. To be the man he wants to be, he realized he needed God.

I’m going to mail him a bible and some books for him to help him on his journey.  I’m praying for him and his family, and asking God what to do next. Meeting this man on the plane helps me understand a bit more what Peter felt like when Jesus said to cast his net to the other side of the boat. (Luke 5:4-22) The fish literally jumped in the boat. Last night, this man jumped in the boat. He was drowning, and he was looking for someone to rescue him. It was hard leaving him, so wishing I could just hang out with him longer and open up the bible with him, but we parted ways. But not the Holy Spirit…still with him.

I’m so reminded how the Spirit orchestrates our steps, divinely setting us up to cross paths with the broken and those drowning in pain, looking for air to gasp. I didn’t go looking for this man. I had my book ready to read. But Jesus did ask for me to stop for this man. Heidi Baker, one of my spiritual heroes says, “Love looks like stopping for the one in front of us.” This isn’t complicated. Messy? Yes. But complicated? No. We just have to open up our eyes and ears and look for where Jesus is at work.

You have the ability to be this rescue. You are called to this. Last night I remembered all over again. With the Holy Spirit inside your chest, you can walk with God and help pull people out of their despair with the hope of Jesus Christ. What an honor to be God’s sons and daughters, entrusted with this gospel that is for the salvation of men and women. The gospel is reality. Love is supreme. Love looks like something.

Masi Family

Funny story. We heard about a guy who got his ipod stolen the other week. He was super bummed for sure. His friend who knew his ipod was stolen was walking down the streets of the Masi township, when he heard a guy riding his bike singing out loud Will’s song Climb. Pretty hilarious.
“I give it all to You God trusting…”

Masi is a poorer area, and ipods aren’t exactly common. Then to hear him singing worship songs from a stolen ipod. Redemption?

We hope its part of his journey to Jesus.

We had a great time hanging out with a YWAM crew here, worshipping in a rented house in the township in Masi, talking about what God is doing all around the world. Love meeting people with the same DNA. Same tribe.

Tonight is a worship gathering at a church called the Bay Community. Really excited for all that Jesus has in store!
See you there.

Finally Here!!!

The best beach in the world could be right out our window. Noordhoek Beach to be exact. Its marvelously huge and wide, stretching miles down the shore. The ocean is wild. The mountains surround everything. What an amazing introduction to Cape Town.

This trip has been a long time coming. 5 years actually. In 2006, Jake, Will, and I (Nate) visited Cape Town on our way home from Pemba, Mozambique. We hung out for 10 days, dreaming about the future. We talked alot about music. We didn’t have an name yet, but the dream was there. And we dreamed taking our future wives back here one day.

That day has arrived. We’re all married now, and we’re here because churches want us here to lead worship. We are happy to oblige:)

Our crew

Will & Andrea
Jake & Dana
Nathan & Brit
Brock & Crystalyn
Spencer & Melody

We’re here in Cape Town for 5 days, then off to Port Elizabeth for a few days. So pumped to be here. So excited to see all that God wants to do.
Stay tuned to this blog more stories, photos, and videos.
In the mean time, enjoy this little song from Brock this morning.

"When you Set Yourself on Fire

I (Nathan) have never known much about John Wesley. I’ve picked up a  few of his quotes here and there but that’s about it. I’ve never been very interested enough in his story to pick up a biography on him…well, until now. Yesterday, a few of us in Knoxville took a field trip to the neighborhood Methodist church. Why? Well, here’s the back story. This has been a long time in coming for me.

Two years ago, I was on a prayer walk around neighborhood of the Banks House, when I stumbled upon this beautiful old Methodist church. It was only two blocks away from the house, but somehow I never saw it. Ambushed by the Spirit, i felt compelled to knock on their door. It was winter, and bundled up in my hat, worn leather jacked, and long hair, I must have been a shock to the white-haired ladies gathered around a collage of southern casserole dishes. But once they realized I wasn’t out to mug them or their food, they warmed right up, and promptly took me on a tour of their church.

ONE HOUR later, and I was still being shown photos of their old pastors. But I was in love. Love with these old saints who have faithfully served the Lord over their whole life.
“That’s Pastor John. What a fella. He knew the word with the best of em’. He’s not with us no more.
That’s Betty Sue. She cooked the best greens this side of the Mississippi.” 

When I stepped into their sanctuary, I immediately felt God’s presence, but wasn’t sure why at all. I just knew I needed to be here at this moment, and maybe there was something for the future. The dark wooded paneled walls, broken up with stained-glass windows, reflected the sunset light. A lone piano set on the alter. The acoustics were great. I closed my eyes, and imagined the place full of young people, hands and hearts lifted up to Jesus as pure worship.
Then it was over. I left the church, thankful of my tour, and scratching my head at what to do next. The following day, I told Michael and Ivey, our good friends here in Knoxville, and they both jumped with excitement, quickly telling me they both have had dreams of revival breaking out in old sanctuary type buildings. This got me excited, about nothing much came out of this conversation at the time.

Its been two years since that church tour, but the image of worship coming from that building never left me. I think my friend were tired of me pestering them about this idea, so we finally decided to do something about it. Yesterday, we put on our Sunday best, and showed up at the neighborhood Methodist for their 10:30am service. Talk about stepping back in time. We made our way into the sanctuary, and to the obvious shock on everyone’s faces, took a seat on the third row. It was HOT. No AC. But that felt appropriate somehow.

A lady named Mary was quick to greet us. She was full of energy and life, and her southern twang was just about perfect. Oh, and she all gave us fans to keep cool. About 30 people were scattered out over the pews. Next, the choir entered–a choir of five. The hymn book’s opened, and the old classic’s started.
I grew up in a southern baptist church, so some  of the songs were faintly familiar. Michael was there too, and his dad used to be a baptist music minister, so he knew them all.

During announcements, we were warmly greeted as visitors, and we’re asked to stand up and introduce ourselves. Everyone was still in shock I think that they had real life visitors. The service continued, with the local itinerant Methodist preacher making his way up the front. (He preaches at two other small Methodist churches each Sunday morning) He shared a simple sermon, with just the right amount of “southernness” to bring his points across. The service ended quicker than i expected (maybe because of the heat…90 degree on the thermostat), and we were greeted by everyone, and invited to Sunday potluck.

We couldn’t turn that down, and went downstairs to the feast of all southern feasts. You have to understand that all these people have literally been going to church together for 40+ years, and they were like a big family. It was great. Desert was glorious…

During lunch, we got to share our hearts for this neighborhood, and our ministry with highschool and college age students in town. We asked them what they thought about us using their sanctuary for a worship night, and they beamed. And then i said 200+ young people might show up, and their eyes go big. After lunch, we went back up into the sanctuary to check out the acoustics more and the piano, and a few of them joined. We sang hymns together on the stage, and I’m pretty sure they asked us to come back and join the choir next week.

This fall,  we are going to host at least one, maybe more, worship nights in the old Methodist building. I’ve heard people refer to “re-digging the wells of revival” and that’s exactly what comes to mind.  John Wesley was a radical man of faith and passion. Ever heard this quote?  “When you set yourself on fire, people love to come and see you burn.” That was Mr. Wesley. He understood what a heart on fire meant. Back in the 1730′s, John and his brother met with a group of Oxford college students, and they committed to living out the bible practically. They visited the sick and the poor, those in prison. The gospel became a lifestyle, not a static religion, which was the norm back in England.  Their practical faith helped sparked the Great Awakening in America through fellow peer George Whitefield, and helped inspire William Wilberforce take a stand against slavery, eventually winning.

Just a couple of college students who weren’t afraid to stand up against the status quo and follow God with all their hearts helped shape history.
That’s worth paying attention to.

For the Sake of Tradition

“Bless this food to our bodies. Amen”

I grew up saying this prayer right before dinner. Luckily, punishment was mild if caught sneaking food before the prayer. That just meant you were the one who had to pray. (Which is a lot of pressure when you’re a kid, but nevertheless, no real harm done)

Millions probably say a similar type of prayer dinner. It’s tradition. Its just what you do, right? When I think about it, I pray that the greasy pizza is going to bless my body, but in reality, I know it really won’t. Less saturated fat please.  So I guess I’m not really praying, just acting out what I’ve been taught. And in this case, it’s harmless. But what’s scary is that this same human pattern can get us into big trouble. Tradition for traditions sake. “It’s just the way things are done.” Being completely blinded to truth…honoring tradition instead of the Lord.

Jesus’ warnings of keeping empty traditions are very real in the gospels. Over the past two days, these scriptures keep finding me. So here they are….

“This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men – the washing of the pictures and cups, and many other such things you do. All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.” Mark 7:6-9

“Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition.” – Matt. 15:6

Yikes. I’m fine with saying grace before dinner, but today I’m very aware of the ease of mistaking our traditions for “God’s will”, and missing out on God’s will all along.

I can ‘t stop thinking about the Church today and wondering about her destiny. Not the institutional church buildings, but for the millions of people around the world on a journey, walking with Jesus. I believe we’re at another crossroads in our destiny, with a reformation looming. The first reformation was a revelation of God’s grace, not by works. The second reformation was discovering our identity as God’s son’s and daughters….that we could have a real, personal relationships with Jesus.

As many others are saying, this 3rd reformation is of practice…what we do as followers of Christ. Putting into action the Christ life on the earth. Being the “earthly image of the triune God.”

Tradition says hold onto the old ways of doing things, no matter what. It pretends that our religion actually works. It gets a certain counterfeit life from the whole thing.

But a new wineskin is forming. It’s organic in nature. It grows by the Spirit, not by human institutions. May we not miss what God is doing in this hour. It’s simpler than we think. It’s Jesus being our center, focus, point, and pursuit. Worship is the overflow. God sings over us first, and our lives sing back to Him. Community is grown from His presence. The broken and weary are invited in the family, and they actually want to stay. And it’s sustainable.

“The great difference between the present-day Christianity and that of which we read in these New Testament letters is that to us it is primarily a performance; to them it was a real experience.” J.B Phillips

This makes me jealous. This bothers me. This makes we want to purse God all the more. Not just alone, but with my covenant friends.

Who is your tribe? Your community? Who are you linking arms with, in pursuit up the Holy mountain of God? If you don’t have one, find one!  Don’t fall for the American temptation that your fine alone.