The Release

My sister, Joy, took some footage last night of the CD release. So here ya go. This song is called "Send Us Out" - track 14 on the CD. The night went really well. I felt really good about the whole thing. Following up Jarrett Steven's awesome challenge about maintaining a biblical perspective on reaching out to the poor, the widow and the orphan, we played "The Wonder of This Sight" which vamps the chorus "You're the hope of every nation. Perfecter of salvation." It was a great moment where application of the message happened and worship followed as a natural impulse. People were shouting the chorus with every bit of passion they could muster. It was pretty incredible. Thanks for all of you who came out to support us, and thanks for not making it a "stare-fest", but for genuinely engaging with God and worshiping your hearts out. Dave Hickman, thanks for allowing us the privilege of using C1 as an avenue for this worship project. We love all of you. If you get a chance, read the comment under my last post from my brother-in-law, Andrew Litke, about God's latter rain on our ministry. It's pretty phenomenal. Thanks for the kind words, Andrew. Love ya.

By the way, the CD is available for download on Digstation, and will soon be available on iTunes. Stay posted.

Also, in other news, (and I'm not all about numbers, but this is amazing) last night while we were having our CD release in Charlotte, my Dad was preaching the Gospel at a youth event in Chesapeake, Virginia. Out of the 150 in attendance, 25 students came to faith in Christ! Hallelujah! Those kids were serious about bringing their lost friends to hear the Gospel. Thank you, Lord! And thanks Dad, for being obedient to the Lord and His calling on your life. I believe in you!

Last night we played:
1. Send Us Out
2. Immanuel
3. O, How I Love Jesus/He Loves Me
4. How He Loves (John Mark McMillan)
5. The Wonder of This Sight
6. Be Thou My Vision/Now and Forever

Skills

This verse really spoke to me this morning. "...Sing praises with a skillful psalm." (Psalm 47:7) And I was reminded of the duty that we have as Christian musicians, worship leaders, etc. to sing skillful psalms to the Lord--to give Him our best--not give Him our leftovers--but give Him the firstfruits of our talents, of our songs, of our worship. It should be our duty, our joy, our desire and the expectation of the body of Christ to sing with skillful songs. Certainly and primarily they must come from the overflow of our hearts and be Spirit-driven, Scripture-saturated, and Gospel-centered; but they must also be done skillfully. They must be crafted in such a way as to reflect and express quality, passion, beauty, and excellence, all of which flow from God Himself.

The obvious question becomes: "What is the standard for something being 'skillful?'" I love what Paul Baloche and Mia Fieldes said during the Integrity Conference last week that applies to this. They said that there is nothing wrong with anyone being a learner or a novice or a beginner when it comes to leading worship. The problem comes when you're not moving forward. The problem comes if you're staying there. If you're not moving on. If you're not giving yourself to study, training and practice, seeking to become better. And really, that applies to anything we do in life. If we ever get to the point where we think we have arrived in song-writing or preaching or teaching or Biblical understanding or whatever the case may be ... then we have a problem. But let's make it our goal to bring glory to God in whatever we set our hands to do and to do so with the skill that God has given us while being careful to foster and grow that skill as good stewards.

The Healing is Here

What a great week!  Tasha and I just finished out a 3-day worship conference with Integrity Worship - (we didn't lead it!  just a part of it!)  But it was awesome to just sit back and soak up the wisdom from great men and women of God, songwriters and worship leaders such as Paul Baloche, Mia Fieldes, Glenn Packiam and the New Life Worship team, Dr. Pete Sanchez, and many others.  I learned a ton, and I'm fired up to lead worship this weekend.  Conferences like these reignite me and help to stir up the fire that the Lord put there a long time ago - a passion for Him, for His Word, and to see His church become passionate for Him.

And some big news for the week:  Our CD "The Healing" is finally here! I'm pumped.  I'm really happy with the way it turned out and thankful to God for the opportunity to do something like this that will hopefully help to advance His Kingdom, not ours.  (May it be so, Lord.) It should be available online in just a couple of days through CD Baby, and then available on iTunes in about a month.  ITunes is a bit slow when it comes to new albums, but understandably so with the demand the way it is.  

Pray for us this weekend as we lead worship at Carmel Baptist on Sunday and then at CharlotteONE on Tuesday night.  

At Least 5 Reasons

Today was a great day for several reasons:

1. I just got back from a planning meeting for the live recording at our home church, Southbrook Church, with Return Worship that will take place on Sunday, Nov. 9th. It's gonna be great. It's gonna have a Hillsong feel with about 5 different worship leaders who are also writers. Mark your calendar to be there if you can make it! It's gonna be sweet!

2. Got a call from Disc Makers. Our CD is on the way via UPS! Hallelujah! I was starting to wonder if they'd be here in time for the release next Tuesday. I can breathe a little easier now.

3. Tasha is just pulling back in the driveway from the grocery store. No doubt she saved us like $300 thanks to her frugality bordering insanity!

4. It finally feels like Fall!

5. I built a fire in the fireplace this morning.

10.19.08

Yesterday at Weddington Community Church:

1. Sing, Sing, Sing (Tomlin)
2. Glorious One (Steve Fee)
3. Freedom Song (Charlie Hall)
4. He Loves Us (John Mark McMillan)
5. How Great is Our God
6. Hope Now (Addison Road)

Will You Be Busy?

Last Friday I spent the morning at Rainy's preschool enjoying "Donuts with Dad." I'm amazed at how fast my little princess is growing up. And I'm reminded almost daily at how quickly our time on this earth passes--that I am just a vapor. My prayer lately has echoed the Psalmist, "Lord, make me to know my end and what is the extent of my days; let me know how frail I am." (Psalm 39:4). I want every moment of my life to count for His kingdom. I want to redeem the time because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:16). I want to spend quality time with my kids and I want them to know that I love them and care about them. And when I'm spending time with them, I want them to know that I am all theirs during that time. That mentally I am not somewhere else thinking about the list of things I need to get done.

Yesterday I had lunch with a Pastor friend whom I greatly respect. He told me that he took his family of 6 camping a few weeks ago. When they arrived at the campsite, his oldest son asked him, "Dad, are you going to be busy this weekend?" In other words, "Are you bringing work with you, or will you be here both physically and mentally?" He told me that in that moment he turned his phone off and never turned it back on the entire weekend.

And why shouldn't we live that way? Because our time is short. Our families are our number one priority--not ministry. And they need us. They need us dads to be there for them both physically and mentally. So, dads, are you with me?

The Medicine

Here's what's in my ipod right now: John Mark McMillan's "The Medicine." Wow! One blogger I found described John Mark's music as, "The Counting Crows meets Bruce Springsteen, Rich Mullins, Mark Heard, Mark Knopler, Derek Webb and Keith Green at a bar out west in the desert. And after a long night, they end up singing worship songs together." I couldn't agree more. The depth and honesty of McMillan's lyrics speak to the fact that he's a typical guy living out the Christian life the best way he knows how, following Christ every step of the way, unafraid to ruffle feathers and present the Gospel through his ever-increasing creative juices. This is a great album. Check it out.

By the way, in case you're wondering "The Healing" is in no way a spin-off or subtle plaguerism of "The Medicine." It was purely coincidental. Since "The Medicine" was just released, hopefully the timing in relation to "The Healing" will speak for itself. That's the truth!

Camp Tekoa, etc.

The Weekend Update:

In one word: Fulfilling and God-honoring! We had a great weekend as we traversed from one side of the state of NC to the other in just 3 short days. Friday we loaded up our Trooper and headed for Hendersonville, NC just shy of Ashville where we led worship for Parkwood Baptist Church's high school fall retreat. Andy Cherry and Skylar Mcnabb came along with us and did an amazing job as usual. Parkwood students are a rare and dying breed. These kids know the Word of God. They love the Word of God. They are passionate for Jesus. And they worship from their hearts unlike any student ministry I've ever been a part of. No doubt their maturity level in regard to spiritual things is due wholly or at least in part to the incredible leadership and biblical teaching they sit under every week.

Brian Lowe, the youth pastor there for the last 8 years taught them God's Word expositorally and unapologetically. He resigned this summer feeling the call of God on his life to plant Exodus Church in Belmont, NC which will be launching a few short months from now. All of that to say, these kids have been fed deeply from the Word, and continue to do so on their own as they grow in maturity in the Gospel.


Saturday night, following the last session, Tasha and I packed up our things and our kids and headed across the state to Henderson, NC, 45 minutes northeast of Raleigh/Durham. I was asked to preach for the Homecoming service Sunday morning at New Sandy Creek Baptist Church where I served on staff for 4 years from '02 - '06. It was awesome to be back there and see the awesome things that God is doing there. There is a definite sense of God's presence in that place, and a sense of the Spirit of God moving and working in the hearts of people.

I preached 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13, Paul's prayer for the church of Thessalonica. I made it my prayer for New Sandy Creek and encouraged them to:

1. Let Christ increase your love for one another (v. 12),
2. Let Christ establish you blameless (v. 13), and
3. Let Christ establish you in holiness (v. 13).

Thank you for your prayers for us over the weekend.

Weekend Update 10.3-5.08

This past weekend was awesome. We were in Wake Forest, NC Friday through Saturday night leading a Discipleship Now Weekend Event for Richland Creek Community Church. We had an awesome time with their students. You never know what to expect with D-Now weekends, and this was the first one we've done with Richland Creek; but if there was ever a church to do one right, it was Richland. They nailed it. They had plenty of adult volunteers and small group leaders. They made the atmosphere exciting and inviting for the
students (and the band), and they went out of their way to make us feel totally at home. We had a blast. Student Pastor Dave Miller preached each session out of Psalm 119 and did a fantastic job communicating God's Word. We brought the entire band this time, Andy Cherry on lead guitar, Skylar Mcnabb on drums, Scott Spruill on keys, Nate Proczak on bass, and of course Tasha and myself. Chad Lister ran sound and helped with loops and programming. My brother, Baikes, took care of all of the video and lighting.
The Saturday night session went really well. There was a really sweet sense of the Lord's presence in the room, and there were kids praying and weeping at the altar for quite a while. It was a cool time and awesome for us to be a part of it.

We pulled back into Charlotte really late Saturday night, and then had to be up bright and early for Ridge Church Sunday morning. But it all turned out well. Tasha and I were able to grab a really long nap on Saturday afternoon in Wake Forest, so that helped.

Our sets for the weekend included:
Friday night:
1. Happy Day (Tim Hughes)
2. All Because of Jesus (Steve Fee)
3. Immanuel (J & T Via)
4. Jesus Paid It All (Passion version)
5. Jesus Messiah (Tomlin)




Sat. AM:
1. Let God Arise (Tomlin)
2. Tell the World (Hillsong)
3. Sweetly Broken (Jeremy Riddle)
4. Be Thou My Vision/Now and Forever (J & T version)
5. How Great is Our God (Tomlin)




Sat. PM:
1. Salvation is Here (Hillsong)
2. Everything Glorious (Crowder)
3. Immanuel (J & T)
4. Jesus Messiah (Tomlin)
5. Be Thou My Vision (J & T version)
6. Oh, How I Love Jesus (J & T version)




Ridge Church:
1. Let God Arise (Tomlin)
2. Oh, Praise Him (Crowder)
3. He Is Exalted (Shane and Shane)

D-Now Video

Check out this highlight video my brother made from this weekend.

Prayers and Sardines

If you think about it, pray for us this weekend. Starting tonight we'll be leading a Disciple Now Weekend Retreat for Richland Creek Baptist Church in Wake Forest, NC. We're taking the whole band (Andy Cherry, Skylar McNabb, Scott Spruill, and Nate Proczak) and our kids. It should be a great weekend. We're all riding together in a 15-passenger van with our gear and luggage. Good times will definitely be had. And especially pray for the hundred or so students that we'll be ministering to, that the Lord will work in their lives in a great way this weekend. Thanks.

Free MP3 Download

Here's a chance for you to grab a free MP3 called "Immanuel" from our new CD. Right click the image over on the left of the screen and "save link as." And then let us know what you think!

Today in Via History

Today is my Dad's birthday. He and my Mom and my sister, Joy, came in for the weekend and we celebrated he and Joy's birthdays together. Good times.

My Dad is my hero. He lives what he preaches in the pulpit. He's real. He's sincere. He's contagiously in love with Jesus. Everyone he meets sees that there's something different about him. As a college student, he was radically saved by Jesus and has not stopped sharing with people the incredible gospel of Christ that saved him, changed him and made him a totally new person.

I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be a follower of Christ today if it were not for the influence of my Dad. I saw that his relationship with Jesus was real and thriving, and I wanted the same in my life. I remember countless mornings when I would creep downstairs earlier than anyone else in the house and find him on his knees in prayer praising his Savior with old-school Hosanna worship cassette tapes playing in the background. Seeing him in those holy moments before God made such a huge impact on me. Thanks, Dad, for being the realest Christian I've ever met!

Magic Motion Monday: The Coat Technique

Rainy figures out a way to put her coat on by herself ... albeit, it takes some patience on the part of Mom & Dad to wait it out!

9.28.08

Had a great day today back at Weddington Community Church.
We played:
1. Everything Glorious (Crowder)
2. Jesus Messiah (Tomlin)
3. God is Great (Hillsong) - we performed this one with the children's choir, and it was awesome.
4. Amazing Grace/Chains Gone (Tomlin, Todd Fields version)
5. Happy Day (Tim Hughes)

I'm pumped about this week. Right now my parents and my sister Joy are all in town for us to celebrate Joy's and my Dad's birthdays together. We'll gobble down some cake and spend some quality time together. Also, I just got a call from Jake Hunter at the studio and he is finishing the mastering as I write this. So, I should be able to send it off early in the week. Almost at the same time, I got an e-mail from my brother Baikes with the almost finished artwork. It looks amazing! Then we get to finish the week out leading a Disciple Now Weekend retreat in Raleigh. I'm stoked!

Dedication of The Healing

Last night we dedicated our new CD The Healing to the Lord with our church family at Southbrook Church. Pastor Geoffrey, my friend and accountability partner, allowed me the privilege to share briefly the concept behind the CD and what I expect and hope God to do with it and through it as a tool to bring people into the kingdom of God as well as to act as a clarion call to beckon wayward followers back to Christ. It was a cool time of prayer as we asked God to have His way with it as He sees fit.

Save the Date: Tuesday, October 28th is the official release date for the CD. We'll have a release party at CharlotteONE in uptown Charlotte that night at First United Methodist Church. My friend Dave Hickman has graciously allowed us to use the platform of C1 that night to perform some of the songs off of the CD and to lift high the name of Jesus with these new worship songs that He's given us. If you're in the Charlotte area that night, please come and worship with us as we seek to make the name of Jesus famous in this city, the only name that can bring spiritual healing to our nation.

Keep checking back here in the next few weeks for several free downloads of some of the new songs from The Healing.

Last night at Southbrook we played:
1. Let God Arise (Tomlin)
2. Just Fall (J & T)
3. Be Thou My Vision (J & T)

Busy Weekend/Called to Travel

What a great weekend! Thursday and Friday morning we led worship for a small mission conference of about 30 missionaries from all around the world who are currently on furlough. We gathered at Parkwood Baptist Church in Gastonia. It was awesome to hear their stories and to share in some prayer time and fellowship together. Our friends Scott and Stefanie Spruill came with us to help lead. Scott is the worship pastor at Crosspoint Church, and is becoming a great friend and mentor. We always have a blast with them.


Sunday we led worship for the first time at Forest Pointe Church in Belmont, NC. Pastor Ray Hardee and I met just about three weeks ago for lunch, and I immediately knew that there was something special about him and that God had indeed allowed our paths to cross for a reason. Forest Point is a fairly new church in the Belmont/Mt. Holly area of NC and they currently meet at the YMCA in Belmont where they go through the rigorous routine of setting up and tearing down every week. They transform the gym of the YMCA into a worship center in about 1 hour on Saturday night with the help of several dozen volunteers. They've got a great thing going on. People are being saved, baptized and discipled. Tasha and I had a great time with them yesterday. They made us feel right at home, they took great care of our kids with a first-class children's ministry and they graciously entrusted me with their people, allowing me the freedom to lead as God so directed me. Thanks so much, Forest Pointe.

We played:
1. Revolutionary Love (David Crowder)
2. Filled With Your Glory (Starfield)
3. Inside My Praises (Jason Waller/Jason Hoard/Chrystina Fincher)
4. All Because of Jesus (Steve Fee)

More than once I was asked if I was interviewing for the worship pastor position at Forest Pointe, (and more than once in any given week I am asked if I would consider a position at fill-in-the-blank church) and I was pleased to be able to say with confidence that at this point in our lives, God has called us to intinerant ministry. I am convinced of that, and I'm proud of that. The Lord has been so good to us during this phase of life. The kids travel well and they seem to love it. My wife loves it. She believes in it. And the Lord has given us a passion for His church, as a whole -- to see His body unified in America and all over the world. So, I'm encouraged when I visit churches like Forest Pointe, and Ridge, and Southbrook, and New Sandy Creek, and Weddington Community, and Journey, and ... the list goes on. I'm excited because I see God doing a mighty work all across this nation. As dark and as oppressive as it can be at times, there are remnants of His people and examples of His grace all around us.

1st Morning

Here's a sweet video that Ridge Church put together of their first morning worship service that we got to be a part of.

It and Godplex

Well, I need to recap here a bit.

Sunday at Southbrook Church. A great day. Attendance was up. Began the "It" series. The Lord was present and surely among us. Good stuff. I had Andy Cherry on lead, Nate Procak on bass, Ryan York on drums and of course my beautiful bride on violin!

We played:
1. Happy Day (Tim Hughes)
2. Immanuel (Josh and Tasha Via, to be released on "The Healing" next month)
3. From the Inside Out (Hillsongs)

Then last night we kicked off the Fall season at CharlotteONE with our good friend Dave Hickman and had the privilege to share the stage with Stuart Hall. He did a phenomenal job tackling a tough subject about the wrath of God - the first of a three-part series called "Godplex." Loved it! You gotta come check out part two next week.

The band was terrific. Nathanael Bryan on drums. Gil Gatch on lead guitar. Nate Procak on bass. Scott Spruill on keys. Tasha on violin. It was a great night.

We played:
1. O, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing (Crowder version)
2. O, Praise Him (Crowder)
3. Come Thou Fount
4. Be Thou My Vision (Josh and Tasha version - will also be on "The Healing")
5. From the Inside Out

Magic Motion Monday: "Preying" Mantis