deo MMIX – a look back 06/19/2009

CORAM DEO MMIX – The Underground – promoted to be – the don’t miss this event – an accurate and true statement it turned out to be.

THURSDAY night - DJ Reddy doin’ jams – lights on stage – hard work is always worth the effort – especially for the kingdom.  The music builds – it builds – dooks are open – the crowd rushes in – trying to get to the front row – trying to be with their remix group. It’s arrived – it’ s deo MMIX – here we go. One Band cranked up to 113db audio – God anointed worship – song after song hands lifted in surrender.  The thirst is being quenched. Such an experience to be a part of as I ran the video presentation for worship. Experiencing God in worship does not stop anyone in the tech booth from lifting Holy hands in honor of our Holy God.

FRIDAY morning – breakfast then the continuation from last night. Intense worship reeking from the platform played skillfully & sung by a band dedicated to the cause of Christ. There’s nothing like it – singing praises in the am at a youth retreat – cornflakes &  Christ – Good Morning Jesus – how are you?  Rap groups split off  – 40 something – amaZing synergy in these groups as they go – meet – share with their leaders and others from their hearts. These students love these rap groups as they learn about others & most importantly have a chance to express themselves in a small safe environment.  Ready for this – HS/CC dodgeball tourney – it’s a furry of flyin’ rubber balls – face paint – fast action – friendly braggin’ rights for the year. Afternoon activities – swimmin’ – skateboardin’ – sand volleyball – sleepin’ – it’s all good.

FRIDAY night – One Band – One more time – pushin’ the people to praise – experiencing the presence of  God – One more time.  Pastor Craig presented the drama – The Moment of Truth – aWesome presentation of revealing the lives of 2 believers. Powerful – persuasive – great character roles – the crowd at the altar was Huge. People moved forward to find an altar of repentance & our God that we love – so MUCH met them with arms wide open. Later in the band dorm where I stayed – hunger took over so we went to find some fast food – found a KFC/Taco Bell. Ok – 6 guys ready to eat anything at this point – we start the order process & then after the 1st order we are told they can only take one order at the drive-thru – what! Next – here we go in unknown territory looking for a well-lit sign that had food spelled on it somewhere. There’s a Sonic – STOP – made fresh daily – Yes! – we get our food & have a pre-Midnight picnic at the red tables in front. Always wondered why those tables were there. We placed personal orders using our 1st names – it  was funn-E.  The Sonic lady takin’ orders was just as funn-E as we were – she was playin’ along great – we kept the dialogue rollin’ - love u.

SATURDAY morning – more cereal & the revealing of the bad breakfast burrito. The only way you could eat thiswas knowing that God would heal you quicker than normal because it as a God-event Youth retreat titled – The Underground – where these burritos could be going soon once you participated.  Another round of worship  – musicians play – singers sing – lights flash – words on the screen – we Will go – we Will go – we Will fight the fight…   Rap group time – these students are stoked for this activity – I belong – I belong in this rap group. First time I used the word – stoked – Yea – I went there.  Ok – here we go agane (spelled correctly) – let’s play inside w/multi-color d’balls – it’s JH tourney time. Let’s play outside – v’ball – hit me w/your best shot – here come the boys from the South. We will swim – we will splash – we will burn – we will smile – we will have fun.

SATURDAY night – intensity turned up – the last night – music cranked up – worship begins – hands lifted up – One Band playin’ with the anointing (agane) – song selection for each session was aWesome – loved being a small detailed part of  what God did – I will serve – I will help – I will care.  How does a worship leader end a song – end worship – when God’s presence is so thick ? – talkin’ thick frosting here.  Now it’s time for the theme drama  – lights down – black out – The Underground.  A multimedia drama – students & leaders – songs – video which was craZy – treMendous – unBelievable – there goes Landon raisin’ the bar agane – Mr. bar raiser guy – his talent is not normal – it’s Heaven gift stuff – it’s obviously like Hollywood style – I’ll call it Heavenwood style. PoWerful with a capital W – that’s one word to describe it  – the presentation of – The Underground – we experienced.  Moments of humor – the crowd of some 370+ roared – intense moments of drama – the crowd of some 370+ silenced.  Hours & hours of prep – prayer – practice – brought results when the last word was spoken.  Pastor Josh opened the alter as God spoke to the hearts of those that were ready to receive.

SUNDAY morning - last bowl of value brand cereal – imitation frosted flakes without frosting ain’t bad – freshness always wins. Last set of worship – last time for – we WILL fight – we WILL fight – we WILL make it right – or something like that.  Rap groups become a small army of servant squads as they march out to do accomplish their clean-up assignment. I love it – work never hurts – a great discipline to shape character – in this case – team work atmosphere is established. The baptism waters are ready – everyone at the pool to celebrate with the 70 or so who have made this decision – this life changing decision.  I’m taking photos – making memories to share – a friend asks me to hold his iPhone for safekeeping – Ok – I can do that – not a problem – I’m not getting wet.  AmaZing is a good descriptive word to use as you watch one by one – as they are baptized in the waters of repentance. Then I hear it – Elijah’s mom, Monica calls out a name – Kortni Hobbs. What? – Hey wait – that’s my daughter. My mind racing at major RPM’s right now – I tell myself I have to get in the water – I have to experience this with Kortni. Just then – Pastor Craig finds me on the pool deck & tells me I need to get in the water – I heard that. I hand the camera to Kat, unload my pockets (except my friend’s iPhone – oops),  jump in & head towards Kortni.  I hug Kortni – I hold Kortni – I tell her how proud I am of her for her decision to be baptised again.  Her Icon leaders pray for her – Aaron & Reggie – these guys are Icons in her spiritual life.  Then Pastor Craig turns to me  – puts his hand on my shoulder – and says – “this one is all yours Dad”.  WOW – what a gift that Pastor Craig just gave me – the honor & privilege of baptising my beautiful daughter that God gave us over 15 years ago.  I immersed Kortni in the water and as she held her nose & I held her -  Heaven rejoiced – the crowd clapped & shouted Kortni’s name. I have re-lived this moment many times – many – many times since then – since that day.  I made a memory that day – it was a family memory – a destiny moment in Kortni’s life & I was there to see it – to experience it – to participate in it.  In the near future I will write a blog solely based on this spiritual moment in our family history. 

CORAM DEO MMIX – Huge God event in the summer of 2009.

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