Hmm...

This sign was posted at a DRIVE THROUGH ATM.

Northview

This is a photo of part of the build-out for our new building. Peace.

Silence

Elisha stood on the mountain waiting to hear from God. I can imagine Elisha’s heart jumping as he heard the mighty windstorm approach. The wind was so harsh that the scriptures say rocks were torn loose. I can also imagine Elisha’s heart sinking as he realizes that God is not to be found in this violent gale. Then an earthquake makes an approach. Elisha’s heart jumps at the thought that God may be in this earthquake. The anticipation of an encounter with his creator must have been nerve-racking. After the earthquake was over…Elisha stood alone. Suddenly there was a fire. At this point, he had to believe that the fire must be God. God had used fire many times before to speak, so clearly it was him, right? After the smoke cleared the area Elisha stood--alone. Then a whisper. The scriptures describe this whisper as “gentle”, so gentle in fact that Elisha had to move towards it to understand it. This is when Elisha met God.

This story is full of truth. Not just a principle to live by, not just a compass to guide, but a truth to shape us. We are to be silent. We are to wait. We are to listen. It is hard as a human to do this. This is not just a 21st century problem. This is a problem that we find time and again through the living story we call the Bible. We can’t blame our inability to decipher the whisper of God on TV, cell phones, internet, etc. That is the easy way out. The problem is internal, not external. We must shape our inner core to be silent at all times. This is when we are worshipping him most fully---when we are silent on the inside.



Silence is the very presence of God---always there. But activity hides it. We need to leave activity long enough to discover the Presence---then we can return to activity with it.
-M. Basil Pennington


Tommy

A Really Cool Spiritual Site

www.sacredspace.ie

You must check out this website. It is a "daily devotional" (I hate that term), and it is very cool. Over 11 million people have prayed daily at this website. To check it out click on the title of this post. God bless!

The World Series and Politics

We are heading into a monster two weeks. We have the World Series (which will be won by the Cardinals), and we have something on the side called the PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. Two big games to win. I'm positive the Cardinals will win, but I'm not sure about the election. If I was to make an educated guess, I would say that President Bush will win. My gut feeling is that he will win with a wide margin, but obviously some of the news media is not saying that. You all should vote. Peace, and enjoy God this week.

Tommy

NCC Stage

This is the stage set-up at NCC if you've never seen it. God bless!

Here Is An Old Song of Mine

This is an old song of mine that I recorded in Nashville. It's been a long time since I've heard it, and I thought I would just pop it up on for your listening enjoyment. Click on the title of this post to hear it. God bless.

The New U2 CD

The new U2 album is coming in November, and I am totally excited about it. I am a HUGE U2 fan. Bono calls the whole album a journey from "fear to faith". Every objective review of the album says that is
their best, even better than Joshua Tree (we will see). I am very
pumped. And this picture is pretty cool. Look at the Edge's shirt, I
want one. God bless.

OKC'S NEW LIBRARY

Incredible.

Interesting Thought of the Day

I was reading in Leonard Sweet's new book "Out of the Question...Into
The Mystery" (quickly becoming one of my all time favorite's), and he
brought up an interesting way of looking at our life-of-worship. He
suggests that we should view living not just as another human
experience, but as a "third testament". He concludes that the Living
Word of God (the scripture) is just that, living! And we as humans
have always been a part of God's living story. I thought it was
interesting. God bless!

Tommy

WOW- The Memories

My friend Thad just sent me a CD of music that I recorded a long time
ago, and it brings back many good memories. Most of the stuff is
pretty funny listening to in now. Today was a great day, busy, but
great. It's kinda funny that I just got a whole bunch of old music
today, because I am currently working on some new music in my studio
now. Life is grand. Oh, and this picture is a picture from my first
CD that I made when I was 16. Funny. God bless.

A New Week

Today is the start of a brand new week. A wonderful week full of
surprises and joys that I really won't know about until they happen.
My prayer is that this week will be another time where I can
experience, not just learn about, God in new and exciting ways.

Yesterday, at Northview, we had a beautiful worship experience. It was
such a joy to sing songs as a congregation, and express our prayers of
love! The Body of Christ is growing, and spiritual renewal is taking
place. That is exciting. God bless you!

Tommy

This is breakfast

This is breakfast at my grandparents house. Biscuits and gravy. :)

This Is Where I Work

This is a photo of my office. As you can see there are many things
stuffed into a little corner. Unfortunatley, my camera couldn't get a
bigger image (its my cell phone camera) so you could see the rest of
the office. Anyway, I'm working today, and enjoying it very much. The
life of a person in the creative/GOD industry (is that politically
correct) is one that is full of life! God bless!

Second living room

Do you need any explanation?

Today Is A Great Day

I'm very excited about today. The Cardinals won last night!!
President Bush won last night! Today is going to be an incredible day
of wonderful weather. Its going to be beautiful. I'm still reading
the book "Out of the Question... Into The Mystery". I would recommend
it to anyone who would like a deeper more intimate relationship with
their creator. Check it out. Well, time for work. God bless!

Tommy

Please Pray

One of my best friends named Cathy had a tragedy in her family today. Even though you may or may not know her, could you please breathe a prayer for her and her family as they try to wade through a tragicevent in their life.

Tommy

This is my prayer room

This is where I go for morning prayer and meditation. Its amazing how Gods creation gives us a glimpse of Him. Its beautiful! Peace.

I Talked To Leonard Sweet Today!

It was a very cool day for me. I got to talk to Leonard Sweet today
via email. I first had to talk to his assistant about a question I had
on "Relational Theology". Then after I talked to his assistant he
emailed me back. Very very cool, if you are me. I've been a huge fan
of his writings for a long long time. What are your thoughts on
"relational theology"?

Tommy

A DAY OFF

Monday's are my day off, and they are wonderful. I watched a movie,
did laundry, worked on my budget, and ate some pizza. It was
wonderful. Monday is my personal Sabbath day.

Tommy

Church was beautiful

This morning's worship experience was beautiful. We worshipped in a variety of ways today, and I believe that God was dwelling in our worship to him. It was incredible. If you haven't you should check out our church's website God bless!

Tommy

Today is a great day

Today was just a wonderful day. It was a nice temperature outside, and it just seemed like a day to carpe diem. I'm learning a lot lately about the "kingdom of God" through my Bible reading, and I'm really starting to understand that the kingdom of God is NOW, not in the future, not some distant time, but right this second. In Luke 17:20-21 Christ beckons me to live out my grace each day by passing around the aroma and beauty of this kingdom that I am part of. Love it. God bless!

OKC's new theater

This is the new OKC Harkin Theater. It is amazing, never seen anything like it.

This is the logo for a new worship gathering/website

This is the logo for a new worship gathering/website, originally uploaded by tommybailey.

En Theos is a gathering that has been on my heart for a long time to start. The idea is to create a worship experience that happens at many locations at the same time. These worship gatherings will not be a "worship concert", but an actual worship experience, by using ancient methods of imagery, and multi-sensory elements. Also, along with this worship gathering will be a time to journal privatley as well as publicly. You will be encouraged to write a prayer, poem, draw a picture, etc to express your worship. Those words and images will then be posted to the entheos website so that everyone at all locations can see expressions of worship. The entheos website will also be a breeding ground for ideas on worship and living all brought by readers of the site. Its a cool idea, and I don't believe its being done yet. I believe Christ will be thrilled with new forms of worship expression.

My favorite eatery

Sweets new book

Picture(14)

Picture(14), originally uploaded by tommybailey.

This is my new hat. cool? well, considering it was only $5 at American Eagle, I felt it was cool. :)

Today is A Work Day

I started off the day reading a new chapter of Leonard Sweet's new book "Out of the Question... Into the Mystery", great read. I am working on a couple new video today (to advertisments). I also have some new ideas about a hybrid worship/web community that I want to create. It's going to be called EN THEOS. It is the latin root for "enthusiasm", but also means "in God". I'll share more ideas later. I also bought a new hat. cool. God bless.