DNOW 2009

Here are some shots from Disciple Now 2009 at Hunter Street back in February...

 

                                             

Millie Marie DeVane

Okay, I know.  It's been a while since my last post...but I've been a little busy.  Our daughter, Millie was born on January 21,  and we are just now enjoying more than 3-4 hours of sleep at a time.  About two weeks after coming home with Millie, the band and I got the opportunity to lead worship for Disciple Now at Hunter Street, our home church.  What an amazing weekend!  (I will include some photos in a few days)...A few weeks after that, we were in north Alabama at a singles retreat.  Again, such a special time of worship and Bible study... Which brings us to now.

Life with two kids is certainly different...Amber and I can barely remember the days before ANY kids.  While there are plenty of distractions and frustrations in parenting, God uses our children in such a beautiful way to show us how He loves us.

Thank you, Father for your love.

David

Hunter Street Baptist Church Singles Retreat - 2008

Here's some photos from the HSBC Singles Beach Retreat (July 2008) / Fort Walton Beach, FL.  Band members included Tim Branum (bass), Austin Gibson (drums), Chris Smith (acoustic), Taylor Borders (electric), Ed Moore (lead guitar),  Joel Bouchillon (keyboards), Rachel Holland (vocals), and my wife Amber DeVane (vocals).  Photos taken by Mike Nelson.

 

Church Picnic

Here are some shots from this year's picnic at Shocco Springs in Talledega, Alabama.  Every year, hundreds from our church family get together for food, fun, and music.  The evening is finished off with a baptism service at the lake.  What a great day!

9 years ago...

For those of you who have never seen my wife...she's hot.  Way over my head on the "they go together" scale.  I'm that awkward guy you see with the hot chick at the mall, and think "what does SHE see in HIM?"..

Well, nine years ago today, I married that hot chick.  

She's still hot.  I'm still awkward.  

Fortunately our two year old, Alex, looks more like her than me.

SO...to all you awkward, overweight, average guys...I'm telling you there's a chance!

Love you, baby!

Happy Anniversary!

Simulcasting worship

Since 2005, my church has followed in the footsteps of a number of other congregations that "simulcast" the preaching/teaching portion of a worship service. In order to accommodate growth in one room or campus, the basic idea is to have a time of live worship music followed by preaching that is either played on video, or simulcasted live to another room or campus. I have had the privilege to lead the live music in our simulcast room for several years, now, and it has always been a wonderful worship experience. While there's always room to learn, at our church, it has done what it was designed to do - "make room for one more". Recently, however, some critics to these "video churches" have expressed concerns. Pastor Mark Driscoll from Mars Hill Church in Seattle gives a pretty good reaction to some of the critics. Take a look... 

Together For The Gospel

I know...I know...it has been a few months, but I'm not so good at this blogging thing. I will try to do better. Just got back from Together For The Gospel 2008. Wow! Speakers included John Piper and John MacArthur (two of my favorites) along with Mark Dever, Al Mohler, Ligon Duncan, CJ Mahaney and others. Great words from some great men about our GREAT GOD! Music was led by Bob Kauflin, but in actuality, the music was...the people. The men and women that joined their voices for the singing did so with the passion I, as a worship leader, long for my people to have every week. Some 5500 voices cried out in worship as we sang songs like "A Mighty Fortress", "O For A Thousand Tongues", "Come Thou Fount", and "In Christ Alone". My new favorite was "The Power of the Cross". The staff from my church traveled with our spouses from Birmingham, Alabama to Louisville, Kentucky for the conference and we had a great time. Here's the nutshell from the amazing speakers:
We are all - everyone - completely messed up by sin.
We all need the same thing - the gospel (Jesus Christ)
We must NOT try to change the gospel to make it "work" for us
As believers - followers of the gospel - we must take risks to share the gospel with others...in other words, get outside the gates of the camp (our comfort zone)- Hebrews 13:13

I have a TON more to say, but it's late...

Thanks for hanging with me as i learn to blog.

Soli Deo Gloria
David