so far, so good.

This update is coming to you from the booming metropolis of Douglas, Ga. Me and the guys are down here leading worship for a summer camp for FBC Douglas. We came down last year and had a blast and they invited us to come back, pretty cool! Anyways, it's been a really long time since I've posted an update...sorry.

As we were preparing for this trip, the main scripture that we were focusing on was from Romans 12: 1,2.

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-His good, pleasing and perfect will."

Our prayers were focused on what God's will was for this camp [and for these kids] and how we could all experience Him. Personally, I was praying that we would all get past our fears of living up to the expectations that are put on us by our families, friends, and others, and just find a place where we are so comfortable in who are are in the LORD that He would then begin to show us truly who He wants us to be. Grace is not about being good enough. In fact, it seems to me that we focus so much on earning grace that it's hard for us to just accept it and take it for what it really is... amazing, unconditional, perfect, etc,.

It was super cool when we got here and started really talking through the way the week was going to progress, and found out that we're studying in Malachi this week. We learn in Malachi that the priests we not offering perfect sacrifices to the Lord. The people would bring a perfectly good lamb to the priests to offer and the priest would keep the good lamb for himself and take one of his gimp lambs and offer that one instead. Isn't that kind of what we [I] do? Jesus is the spotless lamb and He [and only He] could and did take away our sins. He was the perfect sacrifice and through Him the wrath of God was sufficed. But in our daily lives, how often do we give less that what we really should to God? And I'm guilty of this too. I think it comes down to us just not trusting God enough to really take care of us. We think we need to do things on our own. And why? When have I ever been able to do anything on my own without completely screwing it up? Let me think...never! If it really were up to me, I'd probably lying in some ditch somewhere shriveled up because of all the stupid decisions I've made over the course of my life. Praise the God of the universe that it's not up to me and that my life is NOT in my hands! I'll sing a million "hallelujahs" because of that!

At one point last night, Mike [the speaker] quoted a line from a John Mark McMillan song. The basic premise of the line was that, in the old testament, the priests were offering up the equivalent of rent each time they made a sacrifice. They were paying rent. Now, by the amazing Grace and Love of the Father, the house has been paid for IN FULL! No more paying rent, the mortgage has been covered; totally, completely, finally.

So, let's stop trying to do things to earn God's love. Let's stop trying to do things on our own. Let's give God all that we have [not blemished offerings but OUR WHOLE LIVES] and trust Him completely to take care of us. I am praying that this week we can leave here with a whole new perspective of who God is; that we could encounter Him and experience Him so much this week that we'd even look like different people by the time this week is over.

More to come...

-Andy-

CD Release Party!!!

Well, the time has finally come for you guys to come and hang out with us as we release our new EP "Falling!" We have an AWESOME show planned with the great Scott England and featuring the wonderfully talented Anna Houston. Here are the details:

What: Scott England/Seven Stories Up CD Release Party; feat. Anna Houston

When: Sunday May 17th. Doors open at 5pm

Where: The Murray Arts Center; 2250 Stilesboro Road Kennesaw, GA

Cost: $7 in advance; $10 at the door.

It's so easy. Just follow the link below to purchase your tickets. They'll be mailed directly to you! We look forward to seeing everyone there! Oh, and if you're bringing a group of 15 or more, the cost is only $5!

Select:

1 $7.00 15 or more $5.00

crazy beautiful

good day friends. i'm writing from the safe confines of my favorite starbucks here in good ole' alpharetta, ga. i'm in a good place today; i've got a great family, great friends, and most of all, a God who truly does care about me and wants desperately for me to spend as much time in His presence as possible. i'm still learning to understand that it really is for my good that i spend time daily in His presence.

my life continues to be a whirlwind of emotions and busyness, that i don't often get time to sit and journal on here. what with putting a band together, recording our first album, coming up with a name for said band, and also trying to manage my week-to-week schedule, i'm a bit overwhelmed. however, i believe i'm on a back swing right now waiting for things to get really crazy.

we finally got a name for our band. the official name is... drum roll please... Seven Stories Up. moving forward, i'm super stoked to see where God takes this new approach to doing ministry . what i mean by that is, for 3 years now, i've operated under the umbrella of 'andy rocker music.' that has been what has kind of defined who i am as a worship leader and has been my brand. now, i'm moving into a totally new direction, but obviously with the same goals. my purpose on this earth is still to help people first understand a bit better who God is and how He wants for them to have a relationship with His son Jesus, and to help people to worship God through music; our expression of love and adoration of our King.

now, seven stories up is the vessel God will use to hopefully reach tons more people and place us on a much larger platform for ministry. the label already has quite a few things in store for us and those things will be unfolding as the year progresses. our debut album is scheduled to 'drop' 4.21.09, so be on the lookout for that! it will be a six-song 'ep' type of a album but will have full art work and all of the works that a full-length album will have. i'm still a bit in the dark on how all of this will work, except that i'm really stoked about it! more info on that later... :)

as for now, we are all really excited to get this thing rolling and to get on the road touring our new songs. we ask for your prayers as we move into this because only by the grace and guidance of God can we accomplish anything. Colossians 1:16 says, "For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him."

we have nothing except for the love and grace of God and if we hold firmly to that, all of the riches in the world cannot compare to how immensely God will pour His favor upon us... if we could only trust...

thanks so much for your love and support and prayers!
-andy-

what do ya do?

yesterday was a day filled with happiness and enjoyment as i was able to spend some relaxing time with my family. we had a great dinner (feast really) shared a bit with opening some gifts... nothing much really, but it was just enough. there were a few times yesterday that i was quite sad though.

as most of you know, my sister Beth lives in Johannesburg, South Africa serving with campus outreach. she's been there just over 4 years now, but it is still hard to not be able to spend such a meaningful holiday with her. we did get to talk with her on the phone for about a half an hour and that was amazing, i love technology. but i still would have loved to give her a big hug and actually say the words, "merry Christmas" to her face. she's expected to come home sometime in February and i know those will be some good times!

also, around 1:30 yesterday, my mom and i went to visit my grandmother at her nursing home where she is being very well cared for as she has fallen ill to Alzheimers. i've made my peace with the fact that i'll never really spend a Christmas with my grandmother again since the disease has pretty much put her in a state of unconsiousness most of the time. i mean, she's there sort of, but it's just not her. i miss her sense of humor and they way she'd say, "hey suga!" everytime she'd see me. my grandfather is a champion. he spends at least 5 hours a day at the nursing home sitting with her, helping her eat, and just keeping her company. they (well, he) celebrated their 60th anniversary this year!

what saddens me the most though is to see all of the people in the nursing home just sitting there with no one to visit them or to care for them, other than the nurses, and they are just spending the rest of their days there in that home. now, i'm no philosopher or wise man by any means, but i just don't see how there is justice in that. why don't the majority of us care for older people better? we put them away in homes and forget about them because it's easier than having to take time out of our busy days to simply go and sit with them and love on them and, whether they know it or not, care for them. of course i realize that some people brought the lonliness upon themselves and may have treated others poorly, but still, i just don't see how it's right for someone to sit in a chair staring blankly into a world that has all but forgotten about them.

if you know me then you know that i am one who stands against injustice and i'm making it a point in my own life that i will not allow this to happen to those in my family. there, now i'm off my soap box. many thanks for letting me vent... comments?

-ar-