How to Get out of a Rut - Techie Style!

Are you a gadget guy or girl? Ever felt like you needed an extra boost to get your day going? Not a caffeine high that comes and goes but something more consistent and life-giving I have some easy steps that you can start taking TODAY!

Life can get super busy sometimes, leaving little to no time (or energy) to take care of what's most important to us. We knew we needed to switch it up and recently started taking some new supplements to help us get closer to our fitness goals.

After taking them for a little over a month, we have more energy, focus and we're building lean muscle from our workouts.  But we didn't want to stop there. In order to get spiritually in shape and out of a rut, we started applying some basic principles to our spiritual life to get our spirit man in shape also.

And since we're always on our phones or glued to social media, here's 5 Ways to Get out of a Rut and Get Your Spirit Man Going - Techie Style!

1. Download the Youversion Bible app.

This is a great way to make sure you're getting a fresh slice of your "daily bread." My wife shared a cool idea of taking a screen shot of your Daily Bible verse and saving it as your screensaver on your phone. That way she can read and meditate on it every time she picks up her phone. And if you're like us, we use our phones a lot. Try it here for free.

I've been experiencing the reality of this scripture more lately.

2. Create a Praise and Worship Playlist.

What's cool about this is that you can have your favorite songs scheduled in the order you wanna hear them. There are times when you keep hearing certain songs and want to play them over and over. I didn't know how to do this, but just saw a great tutorial on how to create a YouTube Playlist here.

3. Check out Podcasts.

I have to thank my bro, Devin Bruce, for reminding me of this one. He and his bride, Hannah, will be celebrating nine months of marriage soon, and one of the ways they cultivate their marriage is by listening to Marriage Today with Jimmy Evans podcasts. If you're a runner, cyclist or looking for something edifying to listen to while you're in the gym, podcasting is a great option. Once again, there are so many free ones to choose from some of your favorite authors, speakers, musicians, etc.

4. Write out your prayers.

This great idea came from another great brother and friend of mine - Mark David Goins. We were talking about ways to develop our prayer life, and he said writing his prayers down allowed him to express what was really in his heart. You can write them down in a journal or even on Post-It Notes like this.

I just tried this today and whoa...

5. Engage in Biblical community.

As great as it is to spend quiet time alone to think and process things, it's just as important to connect with other believers in and outside of church. I was encouraged by yet another brother (Do you see a theme here?), Aaron Heeg, about cultivating the community at my job. It was a simple truth but really impacted my heart. Most of us spend the majority of our day at work. Why not share the Gospel of Jesus Christ by showing love and kindness to your coworkers?

What are some other ways you can get out of a rut? I'd love to hear your thoughts and ideas.

The Love Walk Confessional Part 1: Overcoming Cynicism

Walking in love is a daily journey from the moment you open your eyes until you close them at night.

The purpose of my blog has been to show "life" behind the scenes, behind the music, the stories that help shape melodies, songs, albums and movements.

I'm starting a new series called "The Love Walk Confessional" capturing moments from life's journey specifically as it relates to our love walk.

Part 1 hits a sore spot. Read on to learn more...

This weekend, I had the opportunity to connect with my peeps at Church on the Rock's Young Adult Ministry - Inspire, led by Boost 101.9's Neal Hopson and his wife, Kim.

Me and the homie, Neal Hopson from Boost 101.9FM

I asked my wife to pray for me before I left the house, and one of the things she prayed was that hearts and minds would be open to the message that God had given me. I drove to the church and meditated on that.

"What is my message?" I thought. "A message of love, of course!"

I know God has given me a message of walking in love. And honestly, I thought I was doing a good job of that. But the Holy Spirit has a way of revealing what's really in our hearts. And it's not always pretty.

Hebrews 4:12 says, "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart."

Neal asked me to sing "That's When You Love" right before the guest speakers, Mark & Nikki Supak, who serve as Youth Directors at Church on the Rock. I was elated to share my heart through song and hear their message.

Mark & Nikki Supak - Inspire Guest Speakers

Let me just say the whole night was awesome, from the praise and worship by Jai and her band to the DJ, to meeting and greeting everyone, but the Word rocked me to the core. I was challenged and changed forever.

Mark and Nikki spoke so passionately about relationships and how it's important that we should constantly become "the one" for our spouse or future mate. They went on to mention that it was about having the right perspective concerning our relationships, embracing those seasons of preparation and maintaining purity.

Mark shared an amazing story that really hit home. He mentioned that there was a time in his old church where they had about 4 youth pastors in a short amount of time. There was a new one there, and Mark was just fed up. He mentioned how he'd become so critical and cynical of the guy, the service, what was wrong with it and so forth. He went on and I felt that check in my heart. "Oh no...this is me (I said to myself). I've become this person."

I began to pray and ask the Lord to heal me from this. I don't want to walk around with a chip on my shoulder just because some things hadn't changed in the timing in which I wanted them to. (Sidebar: Shoutout to Nikki Supak for speaking on the season of preparation. Whew! I hope they recorded last night's message because you guys gotta hear this thing in its entirety.)

Malachi 3:3 says, "He will sit like a refiner of silver, burning away the dross, He will purify the Levites, refining them like gold and silver, so that they may once again offer acceptable sacrifices to the Lord."

This is exactly what the Lord is doing inside of me. He is refining me by exposing what isn't like Him. Cynicism and love are like oil and water. They don't mix.

How could I sing about walking in love and hold this in my heart? I can't, and I won't.

So my personal challenge is to:

1. Acknowledge that this cynicism is here but it doesn't have to stay.

2. Ask the Holy Spirit to show me the root of it and aggressively pull it up.

3. Feed my spirit with the Word of God and renew my mind daily by declaring the truth.
4. Find ways that I can serve God and others.

5. Walk in love.

After reading this blog, is this something that you're currently dealing with? What are your confessionals? What steps are you taking to walk in love? I'd love to hear your feedback. Feel free to share your comments below.

Never Judge a Book by Its Cover

I was a vagabond, emotionally, for years, desperately searching for love and acceptance.

I had so many voids that longed for attention, and I spent countless hours finding what I could to fill them.

Over the years, God used several people to sow seeds of love and encouragement but one conversation, in particular, became a destiny defining moment.

We used to sing a song at my church called "Never Would've Made It" by Marvin Sapp, and it resonated strongly in our congregation. 

A few weeks after leading the song, one of my good friends invited me over to talk about music but the conversation got real when he asked me why that song meant so much to me. 

I was going to give him my typical, generic response, but I heard the Lord say clearly "It's ok to talk about it."

I shared with him that I was molested as a kid, and it scarred me for years. I grew up with a distorted view of my identity and what real love was. 

I didn't trust anyone, not even myself. I was holding onto so much hatred and unforgiveness but pretended as if everything was ok. 

I felt like I was damaged goods and that no one would ever love me the way I wanted to be loved. 

I believed the lies of the enemy that said I would never get married and never have any children of my own. I was in a self-imposed prison but longed for freedom.

That day, I opened up and shared my heart in a way I'd never done so before. 

He told me he understood the pain I was going through and shared that he, too, was molested as a kid. I was floored! He didn't look like a typical "victim." That's when I learned "never judge a book by its cover."

That conversation was life changing and freed me up in ways I couldn't explain. I didn't have to hide my scars anymore. I could finally be free just like I heard so many preachers and singers say. 

That conversation was also fuel for writing this album. I set out on a mission to let the world know that there is a love greater than your past and loves you unconditionally. 

No longer would I walk under the moniker "Hurt people, hurt people." No, this was where the "hurt and the Healer collide."

If you've carried this "dirty little secret" all your life, I've come to set you free with these three words: God loves you. You are NOT the product of the past. You are free. You are healed, and you are LOVED! 

Happy Independence Day! :)

The Life of a Love Walker

I love journaling. It's fun; it's one of my favorite pastimes and is very therapeutic. 

A lot goes on in the mind of a creative, and journaling allows me to share my thoughts and feelings in ways I have difficulty conveying through spoken word.

Each one of my journals represents a season. I have journals that are bright and colorful and others that are simple and one dimensional. 

One of my favorites is a black journal with a black and white picture of an off beaten road in the middle of the forest. When I saw it, I knew in my heart that it would capture my next season of writings. 

That picture represented "the road less traveled" from the famous poem by Robert Frost. 

When I embarked upon writing and recording "The Real Love Project", I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I knew this would be a life-changing album, but I wasn't prepared for how greatly it would impact me first. 

The first single, "That's When You Love", paints a picture of someone taking a "love walk." He or she acknowledges his or her pain, wrestles with letting it go, but boldly declares in the face of hurt and shame:

When it's tough,

When it's unfair,

That's when you love

That's when you love

Oh, when it's uncomfortable,

Inconvenient,

That's when you love

That's when you love

The life of a love walker isn't always easy, but it's worth it. 

I wrote this song for you, for me and for anyone who dares to take the road less traveled. 

Imagine what life would be like if we all took this journey together, one step at a time. 

Disqualified

Today, I had lunch with a good friend of mine. His name is Erik Arneson, and he currently serves as the Metro East Director of FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes).

Erik and I met a few years ago through Daryl Whittington, a mutual friend of ours. Daryl reached out to me to speak and lead worship at a summer FCA Football camp at St. Louis Christian College. I was shocked. "Who? Me?? Football camp?? What am I going to say? I'm not athletic. If I was honest, I don't even like sports (that's another blog.... maybe even a series lol). What could I say that would merit these guys listening to me?"

I knew this was a God opportunity and had to trust that He would lead me. I hesitantly agreed and asked a few of my bros to assist me with this endeavor.

The football camp was amazing! These were some of the nicest guys who really love Jesus with all their heart. We hung out, stayed in the dorms, grubbed on some good food, and made some good connections. I even made some life-long friends through the camp.

I remember the first night of worship and one of my musicians wasn't able to make it at the last minute, so the Three Amigos (Ed Meeks, Ryan Williams and I) made it "do what it do." It was CRAZY!!! God came in that auditorium in such an amazing way. It was like being at a Friday night football game, and we scored the winning touchdown. The guys were jumping all over the place and passionately expressing their love for Jesus through their praise and worship.

I spoke at a few of the sessions, and it was cool to see how attentive the guys were, even the camp leaders and FCA staff. Here I was disqualifying myself from speaking into their lives because of my lack of experience. But the Lord reminded me that if He (Jesus) be lifted up, HE will draw all men unto Him. And that's exactly what He did.

It's been a few years since that camp, and I'm still in touch with some of the guys. Erik and I haven't met up in 3 years, and it was great to see and hear what the Lord is doing in our lives, marriages and family. I'm glad I cast that fear down and was obedient to the Lord. It's been a rewarding and life-changing experience!

Maybe you feel like you're not good enough for that opportunity, that relationship or call God's placed on your life. If that's you, I'd like you to join with me in prayer right now:

Jesus, sometimes I fail to see myself as you see me, and I disqualify myself from people and places where you're calling me. But I don't want to live in this prison any longer. I want to break free. I want to be as bold as a lion (Proverbs 28:1b). I want to be EVERYTHING you've called and created me to be. Help me to "Arise and shine for my light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon me (Isaiah 60:1)." I want to serve you wholeheartedly. If there are areas in my life that are opening doors of hindrance in my life, reveal them to me. Help me to expose them, so I can walk without weights and chains. "Give me a clean heart, and renew within me a right spirit (Psalm 51:10)." Anoint me with power from on high. I give you praise for this in Jesus' name. Amen.

If you prayed that prayer and feel your faith rising, please share what used to disqualify you and where you're going now in Jesus! I am stoked to hear what you say! :)

I Get to Open for Eric Roberson!!

Eric Roberson has been one of my favorite artists for the past few years. I've had the honor of sharing the stage with him a few times as the co-host of The Suite Soul Spot, but my first time seeing him perform live in St. Louis is probably the most memorable.

Vanita Applebaum hosted an event at a small hotel in downtown St. Louis a few years ago featuring St. Louis native, Teresa Jenee and Blue Erro Soul performing artist, Eric Roberson.

It was my first time seeing either artist perform, and I LOVED it! To this day, Teresa Jenee's song "Breathe" is one of my favorites.

Eric's keyboardist for that show was from the Mississippi Gulf Coast and moved to Chicago after Hurricane Katrina. The whole band was great, and they vibed from one song to the next.

One of the coolest moments though was when Eric shared a testimony of how the young guy who designed the blazer he was wearing that evening was able to reconnect with his long lost father at one of Eric's shows in another city.

What made the moment special was not only in how powerful music is in bringing people together but that the band started playing Tye Tribbet's song "Everything" in the background. 

I've always felt like God was looking for moments like those to show Himself strong in venues and places outside of the church's four walls. This was one of those moments and probably the first time I'd really experienced something like that. 

As Eric talked and the band played, I felt the presence of the Lord walk in the room. The intensity of the moment was rising, and I felt like I was going to explode! I'm sure Eric could feel it too. That's when he said, "You know what? It's Sunday. Let's do it....'Master!!!! Savior!!!!!" 

I was DONE!!! I'd never experienced God show up in a "secular" environment like that. That was a life-changing moment and one I'll never forget. Since then, I've watched Eric perform several times, and his shows are always amazing.

So here we are almost eight years later, and I get to open up for his St. Louis stop of The Box Tour/Birthday Week Show at Plush. To say I'm excited (and nervous) is an understatement.

I'm looking forward to rocking out with some awesome musicians and play some new tunes in one of the best music venues in the city. I'd love to see you there!

For more info, click here for more details.

Eric has a great catalog of music. What's your favorite song and where were you the first time you heard it?

Men's Prayer Breakfast and Recap

It's been almost a week since our first Men's Prayer Breakfast, and I'm still riding on a high from the awesome time we had together.

We had about 25 guys show up who were ready to pray - Black, White, Hispanic, young and older, all ready to tap in.

The breakfast was delicious and our servers did a great job setting things up and serving.

The Worship Band was phenomenal! We could've stayed in worship for hours but enjoyed the sweet moments with the Lord.

FaithWorks Fellowship Ministries is located in a really cool area of town (Midtown) near Saint Louis University, the business district and Grand Center. Their church is this dope loft-style space that was perfect for us. Everyone felt free and comfortable.

I couldn't have pulled this off on my own. So many people helped make this men's breakfast a success.

First, I gotta thank God for entrusting me with the vision to gather the men of St. Louis together to fellowship, spend time praising and worshipping our Great King, interceding for our city and being empowered to go back and change our communities, one relationship at a time.

Secondly, I thank my wife, Christia, for being a true helpmeet. When we got married, I mentioned to her that I felt like God placed a special burden on my heart to encourage other married couples and to empower men. She has covered me in prayer and supported me wholeheartedly, even to the extent of asking our Hope Church friends, Christelle and Christina, to assist with serving breakfast that morning. Babe, I love you to the moon and back! :)

3C (Christia, Christelle, Christina) 

I gotta thank my Pastor Greg Bruce and our Hope Church Family for praying and supporting me with the prayer breakfast. Several of the guys from our church, including some of our youth, came out and were mighty soldiers that day, assisting with setting up and cleaning up afterwards.

A big shoutout to my brother from another mother but the same Father, Mark Grimes, Pastor of FaithWorks Fellowship Ministries, for opening his doors to us as the host venue for the prayer breakfast. I had a vision of having it at a loft style event space in the city. The Lord brought Mark to my mind. I reached out to him. He loved the idea, let me check out the place and it was perfect! We really appreciate you and your family, bro!

Pastor Mark Grimes, Christia, Kenny

I knew I wanted the breakfast to be free but didn't have the funds at the time to pay for everything. I reached out to a few people and I wanted to thank them again for donating their time and gifts to this cause. Thank you Mama Thelma Parker for making an ANOINTED breakfast casserole, as Mark David Goins so eloquently stated. LOL! Thank you to Jamie of LaCosecha Coffee for providing a tasty Guatemalan brew for us and to Freedom of Panera Bread for providing bagels. Thank you to LaTonja Flowers, Kristen Linares, and Shirt Kong for providing some really cool goodie bag items for the volunteers.

Kenny and Jamie of LaCosecha Coffee

Kenny and Chelsea of Shirt Kong

Kenny and Latonja of SahGol Appareal & Jewelry

Mother Thelma Parker

Kristen Linares (not pictured) Thirteenth &Washington

Everyone knows how much I love music, and there's nothing like anointed, skilled musicians who know how to flow and lead others into the presence of God. Mark David Goins, Tony Mallory and Harvey Lockhart, thank you, thank you, thank you! I really appreciate you guys. You helped create that atmosphere of expectancy for us to go further into the presence of God. I love y'all and really appreciate you for helping out. Gotta thank my bro, Pastor Todd Genteman, of Apostles Church and Lloyd Nicks who weren't able to play/sing with the worship band at the last minute due to unforeseen circumstances. Love you guys.

Worship Band (Harvey, Tony, Kenny, Mark)

And lastly, thank you to the men who were able to attend and for those that wanted to but couldn't make it. I know God wants to do something mighty in the city of St. Louis. I know it's supposed to start when the men take our rightful place in the Kingdom of God and be led by the Spirit of God. When we do, we'll see our marriages stronger, our children and families on fire, our communities strengthened and our nation devoted to God. I don't want to imagine what will happen otherwise...

Men's Prayer Breakfast Group Photo

This is just the beginning. My mother-in-love, Thelma Parker, asked me a few times what was next after this prayer breakfast, and honestly, I didn't know for a while. After the breakfast, I knew what the next step would be.

We're going to do a prayer walk in Ferguson. We'll need representatives from the community who live there who believe in the power of praying the word. If you or know of persons who would like to attend, let me know. I gave the men a handout that I found that provides insight on praying specifically for communities. Feel free to check it out here. I'll have more details soon.

Keep me in your prayers. I don't want to do this alone. I want to see others burn with the desire for prayer and change in our city. If that's you, leggggo!