I’m on a blog sabbatical.

Putting all my creative thoughts into my new job here at Harvest Time.

At this point, honestly, there is none left at the end of the day to share with you.

Soooooooo……I”m on a blog sabbatical.

When I come back it will be with a fresh look, fresh ideas and thoughts, and a fresh Jon.

I’m still interacting on twitter and facebook.

Before 24 foot whiteboard:

After 24 foot whiteboard:

Video view of the newly updated Creative Suite.  Sorry for the bad lighting, we prefer the romantic atmosphere while we work.

With that title I’m sure you are now thinking “typical” church staffer. I can’t count how many times on twitter I see a pastor, church staffer, or leader say my wife is so hot, beautiful, awesome, etc. I sometimes wonder if they write that because they are smart enough to know they aren’t home enough or haven’t been the best husband they can be?

Or is that the pastors, staffers, leaders of today really do love their wives more. Or maybe it’s because in the past that was unacceptable. Or maybe it’s because for the first time in centuries men have figured out how much the wife means to the household.

I’m not stating an opinion either way. But I will say this.

MY WIFE IS FREAKING HOT!!!!!!!!

Last night I got the awesome privilege of listening to my smoking hot wife share a word that God had given her with the entire worship community here at Harvest Time. I love watching her worship, I love watching her be mom, I love watching her cook, clean, work in the yard, and most of all I love watching her grow in God. I now get to add something to that, I love watching her get her preach on.

Here are some tweets I posted during her talk last night:

• Don’t give up at the sight of the wall of jericho. Bigger blessings are hidden behind bigger walls. @Steph_Morris #gathering
• Favor follows obedience which follows time spent with God. @Steph_Morris #gathering
• Valuable things have cost. What are you giving to see God move? @Steph_Morris #gathering
• The difference between Abraham and Jonah….obedience. @Steph_Morris

Stephanie I know you will read this. I love you so much. Great job last night. The word you spoke moved me.

So it’s been 3 weeks since I’ve done any real postings on here and I’ve got a great excuse.  Job change.  I’m still working at Harvest Time (best church in The Fort) but my J.D. has shifted.  You are now looking at the new Worship Media Director (not sure what my title is).  I will now oversee all things media (print, web, video, branding, broadcast, etc.).  This is an awesome opportunity for me to get more involved in making BIG IMPACT at my church.

For several years now I’ve worked hard but with sometimes little knowledge of whether I was working on something that would have Big Impact.  Not anymore.  I’m so blessed to now be in a position to have influence in so many people’s lives.  The first thing on my to do list to develop an structure and procedures on how this department will operate.  If your church is anything like mine you know that it is the weekly things that never change that always seem to bite us in the butt at the end of the week.  So we’re shifting things, developing things, and turning some stuff upside down all in the name of Jesus.

Here are some cool things about my new job:

• HUGE office – THE Creative Suite
• Media buddies – I have the priveledge of working with the best graphic designer I’ve ever known and the most creative out-of-the-box video/motion guy in the Fort
• Leadership – I get to lead a team of people who will have direct impact on the church, it’s future and present
• Creativity – get to dream it, vocalize it, and use it!
• Resourcing – we’re getting some toys (camera, computer, studio equipment)
• Connection – through my new job I get a ton of access with the vision of the house (this is probably my favorite thing about my job, keeps me spiritually on my toes)
• Family – in the midst of this transition the entire staff has gone to Fridays and Saturdays off.  Wooohooo!
• Football – all this to get me pumped and football hasn’t even started yet.  This could be the best year of my life.

Hopefully, I’ll be back on this thing more.

this is an old video of my son Jad and I having fun in the front yard.

• I WIll Boast – Paul Baloche – D
• You, You are God – Klaus Keuhn – C/D
• Our God Saves – Paul Baloche – D
• Revelation Song – CFNI – D

This AM was the first in Harvest Time history that we were pastored by Marty Sloan.  Some may have come in thinking “we’ll see???” or “hmmmm” (I’m trying to say a lot without saying anything)….but if they didn’t feel the presence of God they just flat rejected it.  There was so much expectation in the service this morning.  We did a few things different and a little more upbeat.  Here some things we added today:

1. Intro for Worship Video – started with a pre-recorded video challenge/exhortation from Pastor Marty creatng some exciting expectation in the room.  it worked!
2. We took out live service announcements and went to a pre-recorded video.  We launched HTTV.  I had some little hick-ups with the audio voice overs and some of the render files.  All in all, for 3 days of prep/recording it was pretty cool.
3. Pre-planned altar call song.  Duh, worked.

Pastor Marty is preaching a sermon series on Advance.   How to advance your life, famly, career, and ministry.

Here is HTTV:

Here is Pastor Marty’s Intro to Worship:

This week was phenomenal.  Transition Sunday is completed, finished and successful.  I don’t want to take the Sunday Set List post to expound on this day but if you wan to read about the day our pastor of 38 years passed the baton to our new senior pastor check it here.

Back to worship, I love how when the people show up with expectations of anykind or anysort the worship blows up.  The presence of God was so powerful and strong in the worship service on Sunday.  I got the awesome priveledge of leading a few songs on the AM.  Great day of worship, great day of ministry, great day of heritage.

Here are some mp3’s of our live service worship mix…
The Lord Reigns

Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone)

As always, part of this.

It’s done, finished. Wow! After 38 years of one senior pastor our church has made the shift. Pastor Kemp C. Holden handed the baton to Pastor Marty Sloan on August 9, 2009. Harvest Time has accepted Marty with arms wide open. The last 5 years Pastor Holden has been mentoring Pastor Marty. This is the first time I’ve ever seen the example of Moses handing the mantel of authority over Joshua happen in the church world. If you don’t know what I’m talking about then check it.

What most people don’t know is that I’ve only ever had one pastor, Pastor Holden. At 3 years old my family moved here to Fort Smith, Arkansas and made Harvest Time their home. I’m 27 now and I’ve sat under Pastor Holden’s teaching, leadership, and authority for 24 years. Until 5 years ago I had known no other pastor. I’m proud to call Marty my Pastor now. It’s so important to go to the church you work at and I can say, I do. This was an emotional day for me, it was really life changing. There is no other moment in my existence at Harvest Time that I have been so proud.

If you’d like to hear a Moses Joshua moment caught live watch this.

If you’d like to read the whole story of Pastor Holden, Harvest Time and now the transition to Pastor Marty go here.

If you’d like to watch the video where they announced the passing of the baton watch this.

Pics of the day.

Funny!  I love this guys eyes.

I find it very interesting that the first time I listen to any new Hillsong my response is always,  “not as good as _____ ” (you fill in the blank).

So to make myself look like a moron a few weeks from now I’m going to blog my first initial thoughts on the songs as soon as I listen to them.  That’s right, the first time out of the hopper.  Let’s see how much I contradict myself in a month. : )

1. First and the Last – not that fond of it, I almost feel asleep.  Joel is getting really wordy and less worshipy on this song.
2. For Your name – like the dude singing (think it’s Jad), great voice.  I wish it was more aggressive.  Feels like it’s more tracks than live instruments on the verses.  The last chorus after the bridge really takes off.  “Nations rise sing of all You are!”
3. Glow – hmmmm, 45 seconds in and no thoughts.  “You level the mountains with a whisper!” Feels like I need to be swaying back and forth on the chorus.  This is a 3 verser.  I want to go back and count how many times they say the word justice on this album.  Here comes the chant, “With one voice……”
4. It’s Your Love -  Darlene!!!  “we were worth every nail…”  I like the fact that these lyrics don’t leave Jesus on the cross.  Waiting for this song to take off, I can feel it.  They just broke it down, it’s got to be coming…..”It’s your love, It’s your love….It’s your blood, It’s your blood. “  Wow, this is really annointed.   The bridge is blowing up in my face right now.  It’s 11:44pm and I can feel the presence of God.  Darlene preaching, exhorting the people….I love hearing worship leaders teach/challenge the people to go after it.  Stout song.  4 Stars!
5. I Will Exalt You – Brooke Fraser, long intro.  I love the patience on God.  A little bored with it but a great prayer and reflection song.  Not sure I would ever lead it unless I had a 45 minute set or longer.
6. Yaweh - I’m really digging this tune.  Great prechorus, chorus flow.  Easy to sing, very leadable.  Most leadable song so far.  Not awhole lot of thought on this one, just super solid worship song.
7. No Reason to Hide – Easy song to pick out even with a different lead guitar riff at the beginning.  Is it just me or do they seem to tame down the songs a tad for the “adult” recordings?  It’s feel a little faster too.  Joel getting his second song on the album.  I really love how loud the audience mix in is on the Woaahooahoaah’s.
8. God One and Only – JD!!  Fast lyrics, tons of energy.  It’s the “All Day” of 2009.  This is a jumper tune.  Come on everyone, bounce with me.
9. The Wonder of Your Love - Darlene, mmmm.  It was ok.
10. His Glory Appears – Brooke Fraser. mmmmm.  Didn’t do much.
11. We are Redeemed – ooohh snap, this is going to be good.  I’m caught up in the verses and chorus.  I feel there might be a phat bridge coming.  “We the redeemed, Hear us singing, You are Holy, You are Holy.”  Nice.  I must be getting tired because these reviews are getting shorter and shorter. : )  You could stay on this bridge forever.
12. We Will See Him – Reuben Morgan, with his ultra-strong Aussie accent.   I was really hoping for it to be another Mighty to Save.  Salty chorus, in a good key too.  Not many worship songs are written with normal people singing them in mind.
13. You Hold Me Now - Oh I like the United version much better.  So stinking annointed, especially with Jad singing it.  Good grief we have so much to look forward to, eternity with Jesus is going to be incredible!  “For eternity, all my heart will give, all the glory to Your Name.”  Jad can make it do what it does vocally.  Thought it was over:  “Your kingdom come, Your will be DONE, here on earth as it is in heaven.”

There it is.  What’s your initial thoughts?  Like it, Love it, Can’t stand it?

Final thought:  Another big W for the Hillsong team.  Over half the songs I would love to lead or be led by.