"Behold, He does a new thing!"

Thank you, Lord!  

Thank you to those of you who have supported me financially!  Your support means to much to me and I am truly greatful.  Please keep praying in the funds as I still have a long way to go before I can leave for Malaysia and Thailand.  But, He is so faithful and slowly, but steadily is providing the financing for me to go.  Thanks to those of you who have decided to take part in this adventure!  I am so very humbled and honored!

The Lord is so good!  Today we received an invitation to do an hour long service at a presbyterian church in Brooksville on March 18th.  Today, my classmate from Chile and I were asked to put a program together for this service.  Wtihin two hours, we and a dear classmate from Holland had the basci script written out.  It's a brand new musical/drama concept that uses common worship songs to tell a story.  This way, the congregation is inspired by drama while participating in worship through music.  We are so excited about this new concept.  Please be praying as we only have a week and half to pull this together.  We belive this is an idea from the Lord and there are many things He has brought together to make this work.  Please also be praying that Lord will have His way in all aspects of the service.

Thanks again to everyone who is supporting me at YWAM Tampa through both prayer and fincances!  God is doing amazing things here and I can't wait to share more and more with you all!

In His LOVE,
-Aaron

Weekend Outreach

This past weekend has been awesome!

Our DTS was able to do some outreach at a church in North Tampa this past Sunday.  We performed several of our skits we were working on and were able to lead worship using some of the songs we have been practicing, including on of my originals "Glory in My Eyes" (Thank you Chris Aussem for helping me write that.  In addition, we able to pray with many, many people afterwards.  This included a 14 year old boy who did not even want to come to church that day, yet his mother made him.  He ended up accepting the Jesus Christ as His Lord and Savior.  

We also were able to pray for a woman who was a Christian but had not stepped foot in church for over 30 years because she felt that she was a hypocrite.  We were able to speak the identity of Christ over her so she could know that as she spends time with Jesus and falls more and more in love with Him, He enable her to make the changes in her life that make her feel like a hypocrite.  She left with a new sense of who she is because she began to see herself as Christ saw her.

These are only a few of the people that we as a DTS were able to pray over.  I'm so excited to continue using our performing arts skills to touch the lives of so many people who are looking for answers and can be introduced to the love of Jesus.


Today (Monday, March 5th.) we will be leading worship for YWAM Orlando.  Please be praying for us as we are so excited to be sharing what we have been doing with the YWAM base there.  

Thank you all so much for your continued prayer and financial support!  Keep praying in the funds as I have a long way to go before I am able to go to Malaysia and Thailand!

A King without a Kingdom? Or a Kingdom without a King?

The week on the Kingdom of God was epic.  I mean literally-EPIC!  Here's what I mean...

All growing up and even adults now in Christian Culture (which needs Jesus as much as any other culture, if you ask me), have been taught "Get saved or you are going to hell."  You must "Get saved from your sins."  Ok, yeah.  I'll get saved, then I'll go back and party, go too far with my girlfriend, or whatever else I was doing before.

"Oh, no!" comes along the church.  "Now, that you are saved, you have given your life away!"  You have to do all of these rules, regulations and rituals to "stay on the right path."  Jesus loves you so much he died for you so you can have these lists to follow to get to heaven.  But, if you mess it up, you will have to go down and get saved again.  (This analogy is a little extreme on what some people actually say, but the mentality, on some level is still there.)

So, people get saved...then they go to church.  Church for most of them happens once per week.  They repent of their weekly sins, get sanctified, sing to God, pray to God, greet each other with a "holy hug in the Name of the Lord," then leave to overeat with extended family that they really can't even stand to be around.  (Again, a little extreme.  But, you can catch the point I'm trying to make.)

Monday comes around and we're right back into our daily routine, usually not even thinking about anything that happened on Sunday(usually because nothing DID happen on Sunday- at least nothing of great importance or significance).

Is this the "Christian Life" we are all trying to "scare" or convert people into?  I hope not.  I'm not buying that that is best way to live.  After all, Jesus said, "He came that we might have and enjoy life in abundance, to the full, till it overflows." (John 10:10)

The Kingdom of God is the subject most talked about by Jesus in the four gospels.  The Kingdom is NOT the church (as in the building or a certain body of believers that gather at a particular time at a particular place).  That kind of church is a part of the Kingdom.  Yet, so are all the other elements of society- Education, Science, Technology, Business, Art, Media, Sports, Government, Family, etc. The Kingdom is God's people (the global church).  As we fall more and more in love with Him on a daily basis, we tell others the good news.  The good news NOT that they get to go to heaven, but that they are invited to be a part of a Kingdom and live with the King Himself!

Our King loves His children and wants every single person to come eat with Him at His table, fellowship in His hall, dance with Him on the dance floor, sing with Him in His theater, and to honor hug Him in His throne room.

This King also invites us to fight for his Kingdom.  He wants to "Knight" us into His courts and share with us the honor of fighting alongside Him for His glory.

We have an enemy, and he is alive and well.  Satan and his demons are out to destroy the Kingdom.  They are seeking to take down and destroy as many of God's people as possible.  They are even trying to build strongholds in the minds of so many people of the church, and have succeeded.

I say all of this in hopes of us realizing that God has called us to be involved in an incredible story, of romance, battle, honor and glory!  We love all of the great epic tales because it stirs something up inside of us.  From The Lion King, to the Matrix, to the Lord of the Rings, to Star Wars, to Braveheart, to Indiana Jones, etc.  All of these stories have adventure, romance, excitement, a sense of good vs. evil and we all cheer in the end because in some way, the world is how it should be.

The stories are a reflection of what is real!  We are in a battle, a part of a kingdom, in a romance with the King Himself who rules in love, mercy, grace and justice!  And He calls us to guide us in our own adventure!  The Christian life is anything but boring.  It is hard, tiresome, dirty, painful and sometimes just plain aggravating.  But, we are not called to sit in church on Sundays to fall asleep, and Monday to live like we are zombies going through the daily routine.

He came that we may have life!  Live, Bride of Christ!  Live for the glory of God.  Fall more and more in love with the King everyday and know that you are part of a Kingdom that will never fade away, and it will stand in righteousness, honor and glory for all eternity.  Rise up and fight for the Kingdom, church.  It is worth fighting for!

So, are you doing what all the other Christians are doing?  Are you part of a Kingdom without a King? Or are you serving God just to get something out of it without blessing Him in return?  Are you making Him a King without a Kingdom?  Either way, I hope not!  I serve a King who rules over the greatest Kingdom the world has ever known!  Will you accept the invitation to join the Kingdom and serve Him?

Whoa! We're halfway there, and definitely living on many, many prayers!

Hey friends and family!  

It has been a beautiful 6 weeks here at YWAM Tampa and God has been amazing! 

We started hearing about the adventures of the Sanborns and their ministries with YWAM in Southeast Asia.  The miracles and stories are unbelievable.  There are too many to tell.  But, I will say they are true and God has been faithful to them every step of the way.  I have realized that spiritual warfare is REAL and NOT to be taken with a half-attitude or lightly.  Yet, God makes it so simple.  Simply to be impressed with Him and not with anything else that tries to get in the way of His glory.  We went more in depth with this the second week.

The third week, we talked about our dreams and they vision we believe God has given us.  We talked about how we were each individually, intricately and uniquely made.  God has designed every person for a specific purpose that he wants to fulfill in them.  We discussed different personality types and how we each function as an individual and how we can function together with others who are like us, and different, in a group and on a team.

The fourth week was heavy- talking about the crucifixion, sin and the cross.  We discussed the depravity of man and how God was not able to receive us back into relationship with Him without making a sacrifice.  What an incredible week!  To realize how much God loves us to send His only Son to die that kind of death, and to suffer that kind of torture is painful, and is a process.  But, in the end, it is worth it to see the love that He has for every person, and how important His glory is to Himself.

Week five we talked about Biblical counseling and helping people work through their struggles and problems, yet with a Biblical answer and an actual cure-Jesus.  This week was great!  It was so practical, not in just talking about how to help others, but it was revelational in discovering how God made us in His image and what we were all made for-love.  It brought to light how situations can damage someone and the healing process that takes place in someones life- and how to walk them through that process.

However, this past week has probably been the MOST impactful.  We were led into the father-heart of God and the restoration work He wants to do in us, as His people.  I was reminded how much God really loves us and He wants us to rise up out of our hurt, pain, offenses and unforgiveness.  This was transformational, as we gathered around each other and prayed that forgiveness would be released into situations dating back to our elementary school years.  Afterward, right before dinner we took sheets of paper with situations and people that we had bitterness, resentment and unforgiveness toward and through it in a bond fire, representing our freedom from the sin we were committing against ourselves and God.  It was powerful, and there is a sense of healing and soul cleanliness throughout the school.

The next 6 weeks will be focused on outreach and ministering together to let others in the similar processes we have been through.  It's so exciting.

We have a program already assembled that the staff have put together for us.  We will be learning and practicing the bits and pieces of it over the next several weeks in preparation for outreach.

This brings me to an extremely important prayer request(which I know God will answer in His own time and way.)  Outreach fee due date has moved up to March First.  I did not realize that fees would be due so soon.  Please be praying to bring this money in and about what you can be giving.  I know so many of you have given so much already, and for that I am grateful.  I know that God wants me to go and that He will provide the finances.  He has already been so faithful.  I know it will be in His way and in His timing.  

As a praise, the Lord has rearranged some things and my car has been paid off and I officially own it!  Praise the Lord and thank you mom and dad for listening to the Lord on that and helping with that.  God is so good!  He always provides.

For those of you waiting for that CD I promised, please believe me-it is coming!  I have had to remaster some of the tracks on my own and there is some re-recording that I need to do, as well as finish some tracks before I send it out.  It most likely will not be ready to send until I get back from DTS and I have access to all of my recording equipment in St. Augustine!  It is coming though.  I have NOT forgotten, and have actually found some time to work a little bit on it, despite my busy schedule.

God is so good, everyone!  He is amazing and I am falling more and more in love with Him everyday as I see His goodness and glory in more and more situations.  I can't wait to tell you all more and more about what God is doing.  But, right now, I need to rest.  It has been a mind-blowing and extremely emotional day for many of us.  But I wanted to leave you with a few pictures.  But, don't worry, there is plenty more to come!  Enjoy and be blessed, my friend and family!

EGGS FOR BREAKFAST

MY ROOMMATES JEREMY(WORKING IN THE RAFTERS) AND CAMERON(SITTING ON THE CHAIR) WITH SEAN SANBORN (YWAM TRAINING DIRECTOR AND ELDEST SON OF ART AND ELLEN SANBORN)

MY INTRODUCTION TO PUFFCORN WITH ALMOND BARK

 STUDENTS: DARCIE(MY PERSONALITY TWIN) AND HER ROOMMATE EMMA(MY PLANNING TWIN)

THE LIVING ROOM IN THE 'THAI HOUSE': WHERE COMMUNITY HAPPENS

Be blessed my friends and family,

In His love always,

-Aaron

Three weeks in...

WOW!  Three weeks in to DTS and so much has happened so far!  I am so sorry I have not been able to keep up with this blog as often as I thought!  There is so much going on and very little time to make personal calls and such.  But here we go on the recap....

Saturday, January 7th, 2012 I left Saint Augustine on the Greyhound heading for Orlando, where I wasw met by two staff members, Roger and Marion, who completed their DTS last year and were worship leaders.  We headed to the airport where we picked up a very good new friend of mine, Nicolas, from France.   After about an hour and a half drive, we arrived at our house where we met my other two roommates and the rest of the guys: Jeremy, from Calgary, Canada, and Cameron from Oregon, USA.  We also met our house mom, Helen, her son, Blake (who is a 20 year old trapped inside a 14 year old's body, well, sometimes...) and Helen's dad, Jim, whom we affectionately call Grampa.

It's a great house and we all love each other and really try to go out of each other's way to help each other feel at home.

But, It seems that it's the way the entire school works!  All the staff and students are full of grace for each other.  We all have our quirks and differences, but we all understand where we come from.  We have one French student, two Canadians, two Brazilians, one Dutch, and a student from chile.  From the USA we have  Minnesota, Oregon, Virginia, Ohio, and Hawaii/California/Virginia/Florida (Take a guess on who that one is).  There are 13 students in all- nine girls and four guys.

The staff are incredible!  Art and Ellen Sanborn are the directors.  Art suffered an injury to his spinal chord back in 1999 and was made a quadriplegic because of it.  It's great to see him up and moving around, laying hands on people.  Yup, God healed him.  He's completely mobile.  He wrote a book about it called "Walking Miracle" which the class just finished reading.  It's absolutely amazing!

His wife, Ellen is a vocalist, writer and off broadway actress, not so much of a big deal.  She only opened for Ella Fitzgerald, wrote a few off-broadway musicals, mentored Paul Baloche and worked with Darlene Zschech.  Yeah, you're right.  It's absolutely incredible.

Their sons, David and Sean, are also on staff, and they are just as awesome!  David received raving reviews for his one man, off-broadway show, "King David," which he co-wrote with his mother.  Unfortunately he has fibromyalgia (a degenerative muscle disease which my dad also has).  This limits his mobility and ability to perform.  However, he is still bringing tons of joy and laughs to the group with all of his impersonations.  They are amazing!  Yet, he brings great wisdom, as well.

Sean is the "Indiana Jones" of the group.  He is all about spiritual warfare.  He actually takes joy in hunting demons and torturing them.  He likes to trap them and then sings worship songs when they can't go anywhere.  You might think it's weird.  But I think it's pretty awesome.  I'm pretty sure he's role model and inspiration...well David too.  And Art.  And Ellen.  Ok, they all are my role model's/ inspiration.  But anyway, now that we have dubbed Sean the "Indiana Jones" of DTS 2012, every time he walks in the room, we all have the Indiana Jones theme songs running through our minds.  Sometimes I get my iPhone out and play it for a real laugh.

His wife, Anne, is helping with administration.  She's from Australia and is such a hoot.  She says that Australians only like you if they pick on you.  We have grown to really appreciate each other if you know what I mean.

MeeGee is a Malaysian Chinese and is so much fun!  She, also helps with administration.  We have a good time being the only two asian ethnicities in the group.

Cynthia is our intercessory leader.  A few months ago she got run over by her car in the drive-way and pretty much died.  She felt the Lord literally "breathe" life back into her and now she only has a minor spinal injury.  She walks around in a shell to help keep her back straight.  But, she is no joke.  She has a direct communication line to God and is a powerful intercessor and communicator.  She's totally a spiritual ninja turtle.  We are learning from here every day.

Lisa is an awesome designer and plans all of our meals.  She has designed many sets and stages, but also has a real talent for cooking.  Her heat is for design, though.  And it shows in both her food and her stage sets.

Her husband, Kevin, taught Biblical Studies in YWAM Kona for five years and is also an actor and writer.

So, as you can see, I am in a very good place to help advance my dream of doing worldwide music ministry.  The staff here are incredibly talented and very qualified.  But, more importantly, they have a deep relationship with God and understand what Christ is really doing in the church and around the world.  But, I will have to tell you about what God is doing in my next post.  It's off to meet with the class again.

And, if any of you still would like to support me financially for my outreach phase, you can click on the link above.  I would be so grateful to you!  I need $4,000 for outreach.  And February bills are also approaching.  Thanks for your prayers and support!

In Christ's love,
Aaron

Holy Moly!

Well, today is the BIG DAY!

I am leaving for YWAM Tampa today at 2:30p.m.  The bus will take me to Orlando where I will meet up with one of the team members.  We will then head to the airport to pick up one of my roommates from FRANCE!  WHOA!  CRAZINESS!

So, I was almost packed....but now that I'm thinking about it, I don't think I'm close.  It's extremely difficult for a guy who usually packs one bag for every day he's on vacation to fit 5 months of life into one bag and a half.  It's very trying for me.  I might not make it.  (Just kidding of course.)

Today, those of us who are coming in today will just settle in the rooms and hang out.  Tomorrow we have a dinner after the rest of the students arrive, where we will meet the rest of the team and fellowship with each other.  There are 9 girls and 4 guys.  The guys will all be staying in one room together.  I'm an only child....this will be quite interesting.

Classes will begin on Monday and will continue through March.  I'm so excited to learn and I'm hoping to receive a bit more clarity on the vision the Lord wants for the music He's put inside me.

I'm hoping to do some recording there, as well.  They have a few keyboards and guitars, as well as some recording equipment.

I cannot express to you all how grateful I am to everyone who has supported me so far!  I now can pay for the first 3 months of my school in full with enough to take care of bills and living costs for January.  Now, we are looking at paying for February-May, paying the $2,500 for the rest of tuition, and paying for airfare to Malaysia and Thailand.  Overall we are looking at roughly another $5,000.  Please be praying in this amount of funds and if you do feel compelled to give you can click the link at the top of the page or SIMPLY CLICK HERE!!

Also, for those of you who will donate, or have already done so, I have been putting together a CD that I'm hoping to send out to everyone when I'm done.  So, if you do give, please send me your mailing address so I can get that to you when I get back.

Thanks to all of you again for your prayers and support in this adventure.  I can't wait to share with you all the God will be doing in me over the course of these next 5 months.

Be blessed with grace and peace multiplied to you,
-Aaron

Happy Christmas! Merry New Year!

Between moving my things back to St. Augustine to get ready for YWAM, Christmas, birthdays, New Years, recording new songs, weddings and family hospital visits, I have found very little time to blog since Thanksgiving.  For that I am so sorry to those of you following me.  I just found out that I will have about 2 hours of internet time per week.  I'm hoping to update this blog as well as my Youcaring.com site and facebook pages during that time.  So, you can expect weekly updates.  The next blog post is probably going to come from Webster, FL at the YWAM base.  My bus leaves at 2:30p.m. Saturday January 7th from Saint Augustine.  After a little over 2 hours I will arrive in Orlando where the YWAM will pick me up with another student getting in from the airport.  We'll then drive to Webster and settle in the rooms.

But let me catch everyone up on what has been going on for a little over the past month:

Life has been crazy busy.  Dad has had a kidney stone since the Friday before Christmas and it still has not passed.  We have made two E.R. visits in the past week and he is still in a lot of pain.  Please be praying for him as this Holiday season has been quite painful in the physical sense for him.

My fantastic roommate and one of best friends, Caleb Randall, married the love of his live, Lauren, on January 1, 2012.  What a great way to start off the New Year!  It was a great wedding, filled with laughter and celebration as the two joined together as husband and wife.  Congratulations Caleb and Lauren!

I am currently in St. Augustine trying to help my parents with whatever I can before I leave.  Thank you so much to all of you who have pledged donations to me.  I now have enough finances to officially start the lecture phase of school, along with just enough to pay bills for January!  HOWEVER, ANY SUPPORT IS STILL ACCEPTED AND APPRECIATED!  I now have to concentrate on being able to pay bills for February-May($200 per month), raise the money for Outreach Phase ($2500) and pay for airfare ($1500-$1800).  There is also the transition back to that states once DTS is over to consider.  So, as you can see, there are still a lot of finances to raise and things to consider as school starts.

Working at Best Buy, I was able to to purchase some recording equipment with money my parents gave me for Christmas and have been working on a CD that I will send out to those of you who have donated or will be contributing in the future as a "thank you" for your support.  It's not a lot but I'm hoping you will be blessed by it.  Be sure to email me your home address if you are contributing financially to me so I can send you one.  It's a glimpse into the next steps of my music ministry.

Thank you all again for both your prayer and financial support.  I could not have gotten this far without each and every one of you praying and supporting me in all of this.  I can't wait to share with you all the things that God is teaching me.

In Christ's Abundant Love,
-Aaron