What a Day!

We opened the services yesterday with a Darius Rucker (Hootie and the Blowfish) tune called "Learn To Live". Jay Strauss was our guest vocalist on the song and he did a great job. It was my big debut on the banjo... even though that is the first instrument that I ever learned how to play (when I was a little boy). My dad played the banjo and sang on a radio show in West Tennessee when he was a little boy. As I was growing up... we would visit my grandparents... and I would mess around with his old banjo. The first song that I ever learned how to play was Steve Martin's "King Tut". Is that funny... or what? Hey... Steve Martin wasn't just a "funny funny guy"... the dude could play a banjo!

OK... back to yesterday's services...

Soon after Dwight started his message... we had a little surprise for the crowd. Dwight was talking about God's power and he wanted to demonstrate what real power looks like... so we invited a couple of friends to help us out:

Now THAT'S what I'm talkin' about!!! WOW... when these guys jumped the stage... we had EVERYONE'S attention!

The band was rockin' out to Steppenwolf's "Born To Be Wild" as these guys rode wheelies and stoppies across the front of the auditorium... and circled the audience.

After that... Dwight talked about his own bike (You know... the kind with pedals and narrow tires) and how we just need to ditch our own power (our little bike with pedals) and take advantage of God's power (a motorcycle) instead. Trust me... it was a very STICKY moment at NewPointe.

Maybe it's a little selfish... but my favorite moment of the morning came when my son, Brandon sang the closer. You see... Brandon has "anxiety disorder"... and at times... it can really control his life. Well... yesterday... Brandon walked out on that stage and gave "fear and anxiety" a big ol' black eye! He sang the Brandon Heath song, "I'm Not Who I Was" and did a fantastic job with it. In a little different context than the lyrics of the song... that is my son's story. Brandon Bunnelle is definitely not who he used to be. God is giving him the courage to face his challenge head-on every day... and I am so proud of the man, the student, the artist, the musician, the friend and the worshiper that he is becoming. Brandon definitely traded in his bike yesterday!

Here's the video:



It was a great day at NewPointe! God is up to something amazing here. I can't wait to see what He has planned for us next!