JTTurner.Net

Well, the Spring semester is upon us (or at least me). The school year is back in full-swing and my schedule just stepped up two notches at least. That being said my responsibilities to the music at conVerge are still in full-swing and to be quite honest, are becoming very productive. James, Nate, Roger, Tyler, and I have been hard at work at organizing the music for next weekend (next weekend!!!) and it is really taking a nice sounding shape. I am so incredibly thankful that God has allowed this team to come together so quickly and that everyone has been so on task and accommodating to the needed time for song writing. So far we have the following:

Phos Hilaron - This is a 1st century hymn to be sung at night (which is very cool since conVerge’s first meeting is at night). There have been a couple of renditions of this hymn through the centuries and ours is another addition.

Psalm 16 - We’ve taken the ESV version of this Psalm and put it to some pretty rockin’ music. I’m hoping everyone will find the lyrics of this song motivation to worship.

Holy, Holy, Holy - We needed to have at least one familiar song so people could identify easily with the music being played. This won’t be a typical version, but I’m hopeful that people will easily be able to pick up the tune and will enjoy worshiping God through the classic beauty of this song.

I really cannot tell you how excited I am about all of it. James, our singer, comes from a largely different musical background than I, Nate, Roger, or Tyler comes from and to see James’ face get excited and to hear that he legitimately thinks that the music is good for praise makes me think we’re on the right track.

In other news, conVerge had a leadership meeting last night and it was very encouraging. Steve Gentry and Nate Schlomann really have their stuff together and it’s really remarkable how on point and exciting their vision is. I am hopeful (and really…certain) that others are going to catch on in a big way. I can really say that I believe that this movement is (to speak in Christianese) of God. There is just so much possibility I see and that I hear in their larger goals that I and my wife Bethany are excited and blessed to be a part of it. We’ll be meeting on Sunday so that they can go over a variety of things that conVerge needs from some of the first “members” for next Sunday’s service…and I think that tomorrows meeting will be a great time of encouragement as well.

Speaking of the meeting last night; Steve said something so obvious that it shocked me that I have overlooked it in all of my preparation for next Sunday. People might get saved. Whoa, that is ridiculously huge. I am ashamed to say that I’ve never been a part of something where I honestly believed that someone’s salvation was going to be genuinely effected. But, wow, I really believe that it will happen in the next couple of weeks and may just happen next Sunday. I’m also ashamed to say that it wasn’t something I had been thinking about. I had been thinking about the church living missionally and seeing people get saved on the outside but I hadn’t thought (well, more accurately I suppose I hadn’t been expecting it) about people who were coming to conVerge as unbelievers leaving with their lives radically changed and on mission for Jesus. Now, however, I am expecting it (not in the ridiculous “positive confession” sense) but I am going to pray that God keeps me prepared to lead someone to Christ should I be asked to do so come next Sunday. My heart is shaking in excitement at that thought.

8 days away…

-JT