Go and Dance

Hello Friends,

It has been a long time since I have posted anything. Please forgive me:) This post is very special. On June 3, 2009 God called home a beautiful young lady named MaKenzie Stocker. I did not know Makenzie or her family very well. However, the few nights I stayed with them a few summers ago was a great time. They are amazing people who love Jesus with all they have. It was no wonder Makenzie made a lasting impression on so many people in her short 18 years she danced on this earth. Yes, I said dance. Makenzie was a gifted ballerina. That is what she did. She danced for thousands of people through out her life, but her dad, Todd, said it best, "Makenzie danced for an audience of one."

Makenzie loved Jesus and all she wanted was for others to love him as well. That is how she lived her life, as one big inviting dance with Jesus. She is now in heaven where we all will be dancing with her someday. Please read the letter below that I sent to the Stocker family.

Dear Stocker Family,

Hello, my name is Anthony Celia. You may not remember me. I stayed with your family a few years back for a few days when I visited Houston with Jon Jordening and some other Concordia students. I have since graduated from Concordia and I am serving as the worship leader in Frisco at Water’s Edge with Mark Schaefer and Patrick Miller. I heard about Makenzie last week from Nathan Huse. I am continually lifting your family up in prayer as you continue through this incredibly hard season of life. Here is the reason for this letter.
As so many people have been expressing, your daughter was a very bright and special light for Jesus in this world. The few short nights I spent with your family I could see that there was something special about her. Today I watched her celebration service on the web. That was an amazing time of worship of what Jesus had done in Makenzie’s life. The stories and smiles shared were all testimonies to her victory over sin and death because of Jesus. I loved watching the part where you both got up to speak. I could see that you were hurting, but joyful all at the same time. It was a very moving moment for me.
Right after I watched it I was lead to pick up my guitar and continue worshipping. I started singing a song I had started writing the day before. Now, the story of how the song came to be is kind of important. I have been super sick the past few days with a bad sinus infection. The last thing I wanted to do was sing, let alone try to write. But yesterday afternoon I just felt the urge to pick up my guitar and this song came out. I was pretty happy with it, but I was not totally satisfied with the chorus. It went, “Hallelujah, hallelujah, I sing for you my king.” It was nothing special but I really liked the melody. I was messing around with different words in the place of “sing” all night but nothing made a lasting Impressions… tell now. Fast-forward 24 hours. I just finished watching the service and then picked up my guitar. I never really use my songs in personal worship time, so that is why this is so weird. But out came the song from the day before and out came the word I was looking for.

DANCE!

Bet you didn’t see that coming☺ I started singing, “Hallelujah, hallelujah, I’ll dance for you my king.” I just felt the spirit move through me and tell me that was it and to record it right away and send it to you. Seriously! And I don’t use the term “the spirit told me” lightly or often. As I look back on the past few days I see that God wrote this song in honor of your daughter. It is not much. It was recorded in about an hour in my bedroom with my guitar, my computer, and my sweet, sweet sinus infection. But for what it is worth I hope you enjoy the song. Feel free to share it, or keep it for your selves. I believe that God will/ is using Makenzie’s life in great ways even though she is now truly home. May I have your permission to use this song in public and share your daughter’s story if the occasion arises? My self and my church will continue to lift your family up in prayer. May you continue to cling to Jesus! Never let go! He is good, and he is faithful. Your daughter has inspired me to live my faith out in a more passionate way. I know I am not the only one she has inspired.

Blessings,

Anthony

So friends, I encourage you to dance. Dance however you have been gifted to. If you are good at art, use that art to glorify Jesus, if you are good with numbers, do it for Jesus, if you are good with people, do it for Jesus. Whatever you do, do it for an audience of One, Jesus Christ.

I have posted the song on my myspace and facebook pages. You can also go here to see a live version I did at Water's Edge a few weeks back. Please stop by and listen to it and pass it on, pass on Makenzie's story.

Blessings as you dance,

Anthony

John Week 5

Hello Friends,

I apologize for the lack of a blog last week. I was crazy busy getting services together for Holy Week at Water's Edge. I pray your Easter celebration was one of just that, a celebration! All of the services at Water's Edge where amazing! The 2004 Easter service had 35 souls in attendance. This year we had over 600!!! On top of that Good Friday was 460! Numbers are not the only thing we care about, but it is amazing to see how God's word does not return void. The band rocked it big time at all of the services. Anyways...

With all of that excitement over the weekend I laid low yesterday and worked on some new songs. They are turning out really good.

Today I am wrapping up my John study. Today I am looking at John 21: 15-25. This is the last section of the book of John. First, I love the title this section is given. In my Bible it reads, "Jesus talks with Peter." I want to emphasize the WITH. He does not yell at him, or talk down to him, but talks with him. With out understanding the past few chapters this idea does not make as much of an impact. A few short days before this, Jesus, had been brutally murdered. Not only had Peter witnessed the whole thing, Peter even denied that he ever knew Jesus to save his own butt. Imagine your best friend, the person you admired the most was being murdered in front of your very eyes. While this is all going on you are asked by the angry mob if you know the man they are killing. In fear and out of self interest you say, "No way, I have no idea who that guy is!" Not once, but three times!

After your friend's heart has stopped beating...
and while people are trying to wipe up his blood..
you are left there with the guilt of betraying your closest friend...
Imagine the guilt...
and shame that is eating you alive...

How can you ever be the same?

This is what Peter had experienced. This is why the fact that Jesus talked WITH Peter amazes me. This section of scripture occurs after Jesus had resurrected. Jesus is appearing to his followers after they had all left him for dead. I think it would have been really easy for Jesus to bring the beat down. I imagine Jesus, God, had a pretty good and fair reason to be pretty disappointed with his friends. I know I would have. But, in the true Jesus fashion Jesus decides to show mercy, compassion, even forgiveness to Peter.

Jesus asks Peter if he loves him. Could you imagine the pain this must have brought Peter? Really Jesus, you know that I denied you, not once but three times. Rub it in why don't you. Not once, but three times Jesus asks Peter if he loves him! This part of scripture always confused me. I use to think Jesus was just rubbing Peter's mistake in his face. But this is not what he is doing at all. Jesus knows what Peter has done. The forgiveness and freedom come in Jesus' response to Peters answer. Peter says, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love love." Then Jesus says this, "Then feed my sheep." Peter, must have looked pretty confused at this point. He was probably thinking, "Jesus, I just failed you. When the hard stuff came at me, I ran away. Now you are asking me to take care of your people?" I would have said something like, "Jesus, you have been through a lot the past few days. You might want to take a nap then re-consider what you are asking me to do."

Jesus tells him three times, "Feed my sheep." Are you catching on to the three theme? Three times Peter denied Jesus, three times Jesus has asked Peter to feed his sheep. Jesus is actively showing Peter that his betrayal is washed away. He is saying, Peter, you are forgiven, not only that, but now I am asking you to continue the work I have created you to do in my name." Jesus knows that Peter messed up big time, that when things got tough Peter's first instinct was to watch out for his own butt. But Jesus sees past that and encourages Peter to move on and continue serving him.

This is amazing to me. How many times in our own life do we feel we are not worthy to go to church, let alone think we are good enough to do Jesus' work? We are all Peter at times. We all think about our selves more than Jesus or others, but Jesus is continually coming to us and saying, it is ok, feed my sheep.

Forgiveness is great. But Jesus doesn't just stop there, he always encourages us as well. With forgiveness comes freedom to be who you were truly created to be. With forgiveness Jesus showed Peter who he really is and what he was suppose to do in the name of Jesus. With forgiveness you and I are being shown we are more then selfish lazy jerks. We are loved by Jesus. He is asking you to feed his sheep. Please, believe that. Believe that you are loved and made for a purpose. May you find that love and purpose in the resurrected savior Jesus. Please join with me in feeding his sheep.

John Week 4

Hello Friends,

Thank you to all of you who have been reading so faithfully. As I continue to read through John many things are hitting me in deep ways. This week I was hit by John 8:54-56. Jesus says, "If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad." Right before this the Jews accused Jesus of being demon possessed. Jesus says in verse 49 that he is not demon possessed but rather is here to bring glory to his Father. This shows such an interesting relationship in the trinity. My head is still spinning a little bit (Ok like crazy). Jesus is God, but while on earth he is distinctly man and was here to do the will of his Father. But by calling God his Father he is stating that he is in fact God in the flesh. AHHH. Despite my head wanting to explode I am hit by how much Jesus relies on his Father. I went back through John up to chapter 9 (this is almost half way through the book) and started to compile a list of all the times Jesus spoke about relying on his Father. Here is the list so far:

2:16
3:36
4:34
5:16-18
5:19-28 (really good stuff here)
5:36-38
5:43
6:9
6:29
6:37-38
6:44
6:65
7:16-18
8:16
8:19
8:42

This is a pretty good sized list. Basically he mentions his tie to his Father at least once a chapter in a very straight forward way. I have had conversations with people where they claim that Jesus never said that we are to worship him. This would make a good argument for the "Jesus was just a nice enlightened dude" argument. If you read only these verses out of context you may be able to support that. But what we all need to understand that in that day Jesus calling God his father was the same claim as saying "I Am God." With that aside, back to what I was hit with.

Jesus was completely obedient and submitted to his Father. He knew he was on the earth to do his Father's will and he was willing to do what ever it took to accomplish it. Ultimately, that led him to being tortured and murdered on a tree by the very souls he came to save. Could you imagine being that submitted and dedicated to the will of God in your life?

Thankfully none of us will ever be asked to die for the sins of the world. But I am certain that there are many things in our lives that God has or is calling us to that we are simply saying "No" to.

Why?

Why don't we listen?

Do we think that our plan is really better than the one who made the stars?

Do we think that our desires for our selves will really make us happy for eternity?

If I am honest with my self most of the time I would answer yes, I do think my plans are better. I can control them and I can make things happen for my self. I like being safe. I like knowing my next move. If I even take the time to ask God what he wants of me (rather then spouting off my usual spiritual Christmas list every night) I am really good at picking the easy things and ignoring the hard things.

Could you imagine if Jesus was picky about what he wanted to do? I bet he would have just run around on lakes while turning them into wine so everyone would think he was the cool kid on the block. But he didn't. He did a lot of hard things because he knew that is what it would take to make us healthy again. Not many people liked him, not many people thought what he was doing was of any importance. But he did what was asked of him. And he knew and trusted 100% that what his Father was asking him to do was only possible because it was his Father's will. He knew that apart from the trinity he was just a man.

Apart from our heavenly Father we are just dirty and wrecked people. We can't do anything he asks us to with out him working through us. First, he pours his salvation upon us, then he asks us to go help him pour it out upon others.

What?!

The God of the universe wants us to help him?

I want to end with this. How great do you feel when you accomplish something that at first presented it self as a challenge? I know that I feel accomplished. Like what I did mattered. God is challenging us. Apart from him his will in our lives is impossible. He has saved us by Jesus' work first. If we step up to the challenge or not we are redeemed. Nothing we do can ever earn that for us. But I know I am getting tired of saying no. In my life I am going to start asking our Father how he wants to challenge me. I believe that by his Spirit I will have the strength and courage to stand up and accomplish his will in my life. I invite you to join me in the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ.

John Week 3

Hello World Wide Web Friends,

I am currently at a nice little coffee shop in Frisco, TX. The weather here is just plain dumb. It is cold then hot, then rainy, then sunny then cloudy with no rain the 80 degrees then 45 degrees. Really?! Oh well. That is what I get for living in Southern California for 23 years. On to much more important things. The book of John.

This week I have been looking at John 5:31-40. Up to this point John has been writing about miracle after miracle that Jesus had been performing. Around 5:16 the Jewish religious leaders call Jesus out for healing a man on the Sabbath, or the day of rest. They basically say who are you to do this on the day we are not suppose to dedicate to God. in verse 17 Jesus says he is simply doing his father's work. When Jesus calls God his father he is claiming to be equal with God, there for being God himself. When Jesus made this claim verse 18 says, "For this reason the Jews tried even harder to kill him." The religious guys are simply pissed and are out for blood.

Around verse 19 Jesus finally comes out and supports his claim that he is God. Up to this point others had testified about who he was, but Jesus finally comes out and says it. This all leads up to John 5:31-40. The part I love the most is in verse 39. Jesus is saying to the religious leaders, "You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you posses eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life."

This is a huge slam to the religious people of the time. The people he is speaking to are some of the smartest and best trained people around. They have the first five books of the Old Testament memorized inside and out. They know exactly what not to do to make God angry and how to fix it when they do make him angry. Jesus comes to them and calls them out. He says all of your studying and clean little laws mean nothing with out me! Everything you read points to me. Everything you tell people to do is suppose to lead them to me! But you have totally missed the mark. I am here to free you, yet you continue to trap your selves in your little religious boxes. I am here to give you life, but if you want to be dead, fine, rot away. Deny me if you want too, but I am the Messiah.

Our high school group was wrestling with this Sunday night. What is Jesus saying here? How does his apply to us? We know Jesus is God and the only way to eternal life . We know and live in the grace that is freely given to us through Jesus. We know that no matter how much or how little we read the Scriptures, it does not ultimately effect our salvation. So, what can we take from this?

One idea that came up was that Jesus was calling them out for attaining knowledge for knowledges sake. So, I decided to llok up what knowledge is.

Knowledge: the fact or condition of knowing something with familiarity gained through experience or association.

With this definition in place, knowledge for knowledge's sake doesn't really add up. Knowledge is more than understanding. It is understanding through experience with familiarity. The religious leaders were not familiar with God. They understood his Word on paper. They had a tight contract with God. But had they experienced him? I would say no. In this verse Jesus comes to them, an us, and says, "Leave your nice little neat contract on the table, come experience me, come enjoy life with me."

The best analogy I can think of is a quarter back. A QB can study his plays all week before the game. He can know them inside and out, but they don't mean anything until he is in the game and applying them in the moment. That is when he will know if he had simply memorized a bunch of patterns or if he really knows them intimately.

Have we just memorized who Jesus is? Have we just made a contract with him? Or do we know him with a sense of familiarity through experiencing him? I challenge you to wrestle with this. I am. This is the whole point of me writing these blogs. I long to truly know Jesus. I have spent to many years memorizing facts about him. My soul longs to experience him. I thank him for his word. I pray that for all of us we read his story with an expectation of encountering the living God who is Jesus. May we put our contracts and note cards down and take part in life with our savior. May we eat and drink tell we are full so we may invite other to enjoy his grace.

New Music

Hello Friends,

I just heard the first mix of one of the new songs we recorded two months back. All I can say is... "Wow!" I cannot wait to share it with you all!

Blessings,

A

John: Week 2

I apologize for letting the ball drop last week. If you look at my last post you will hopefully understand why I did not get around to posting a blog. I am getting freaking married!!!! AHHHHHHHHHH!!! More on that to come soon.

This post is all about Jesus and his word. First, I want to give huge props to the high school group at Water's Edge. about two weeks ago I challenged them all to read scripture everyday so they can get to know Jesus more. I have to be honest, I didn't think they would do it. But much to my amazement they all exchanged numbers and picked partners to encourage each other to read. Several of them call each other each night. It is crazy. God is good. If high school students can find the time and DESIRE to read God's word for a few minutes each day I think the rest of us can. This coming weekend we will meet again to talk about how it has been effecting their life. My prayer is that I have some sweet stories to share with you all next week form it.

I have been conitueing my journey through John. I really thought I would right a blog on John 2 where Jesus gets pissed in the temple and pulls out a whip and lays down the law on the people who are selling stuff in his Father's house. It is a great scripture. Put that on a flannel graph in Sunday school class; Jesus throwing over tables with a whip in his hand. After that make sure the kids sing "Jesus Loves Me." Not that there is anything wrong with that song. That passage just made me realize that Jesus meant business. He got angry and passionate in a holy and righteous way. That is a whole different blog entry that I don't think I am ready to write yet, but it will come some day.

This week I was hit by John 3:12-14. Right before this passage a Jewish religious leader named Nicodemus approached Jesus at night to clarify who Jesus was. Nicodemus was one of the few Jewish leaders that actually believed who Jesus was, God himself. They have a great dialogue where Jesus tells Nicodemus that one must be born again to see the kingdom of God. I love how Nicodemus responds. He says in John 3: 4, "Surely he cannot be enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" Come on Nicodemus, really! This is a highly educated Jewish leader. This guy knows his religion, yet he is stumped. Jesus goes on to explain some more but he still doesn't get it. Then Jesus goes on to say, "I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life."

This passage made me think a lot. How many times do we go to Jesus asking him to reveal many unknowns to us? Where will the economy go, will I have a job next week, who is my soul mate, where will I go to school, why did my mom or dad die. Jesus is trying to explain him self in worldly terms to Nicodemus, maybe so he can understand better. Yet, Nicodemus is still trying to grasp who Jesus really is. And Jesus says, "Buddy, I have told you about things that you can see and tangibly experience, but you still don't get it. How in the world will you understand who I really am? Jesus then goes on to say that "the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone that who ever believes in him may have eternal life."

I think that the beginning of this challenge is answered for us in the latter passage. Jesus had to be lifted up on our behalf. He had to die to show who he is and God's love for us. The next section in scripture is John 3:16. This is probably on of the most famous passages in scripture. I thin it is ironic that Jesus first says that people will struggle with understanding who he is, then the next passage is super famous and describes who he is.

Before we can start asking Jesus to reveal the great unknowns in our lives, we need to wrestle with who Jesus really is. He is more than a teacher, he is more than a nice guy, he is more than a revolutionary The true Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of Man, the messiah, God in flesh. We don't have to necessarily fully understand how the trinity works, or how his blood saved humanity. We need to have a measure of faith that humbly cries, 'Jesus, I will trust you, even when I doubt, I believe you are who you say you are. Please reveal your self to me."

This is where his Word is so crucial. Jesus promises that through his Word he will show you who he is. I challenge you to read his story. It is so easy in our world today to go to other people and sources to try and figure out who Jesus is. Satan loves that. He will turn people to the media outlet that focuses on the "Christian" group that is condemning gay people to hell before they can get to the Bible. Next thing you know you have a false view of Jesus. You have written him off before you ever actually went to the real source of who he is. Go to the source. I challenge you to read his Word. He promises that he will not return it void.

As we continue living life I pray that Jesus gives you a desire and hunger for his story. That is my prayer for my self as well. I struggle with finding time and the desire to sit with Jesus and get to know him more. But the more I do it the more my vision is starting to shift from my self and more on him and others. God bless your week.

On a side note the new U2 record is good and so is the new Kelly Clarkson... hey stop laughing. Go to the source... it is good I promise!

She Said Yes!

On Saturday March, 14 2009 I purposed to the love of my life, Tanya. She said yes!!! Here are some pictures. I will post "the story" soon.







To those we have not called yet, I apologize:) But you know now!