Shannon Chapman

Love is...Recap

Today at Ethos Bryant Underwood spoke and did a fantastic job.  We were in between series and to be honest I needed a break from speaking.  The idea was very simple...we all have a misconception of what love should be.  He said we view love like it's pain but in reality the bible says God is love.  The problem we deal with is we take the love we experience here on earth (full of pain, hurt, regrets, depression, failure) and we view Gods love the same way.  The reality is there is a HUGE problem when we do this.  Gods love is full of mercy and grace.

At the end of the message today Bryant lead us to understand that love is...healing.  It was a very special moment for me and the community at Ethos.  When I left today I knew that God has touched many there and that Bryant did what God asked him to do.  Also, the band today rocked like crazy.

We opened with a song by Tenth Avenue called, Love is here, and also did a song in the middle of Bryant's talk by Sanctus Real called, Whatever you're doing.  The band worked really hard to get these songs down this week.  During the worship set they did Marvelous light, Till I see you, Healer, and a few more at the end. 

Tonight as I turn the page from today I am thinking about my message for next week.  We start a new series called, He will be called.  We will spend the next 4 weeks digging in to this text from Isaiah 9:6,  For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

I can't wait to start this next series.  For some crazy reason I really feel like God is going to show us some great things during this series about the gift of Christmas.  Also, no one knows about this yet but I am going to issue a challenge to Ethos this Sunday as we enter the Christmas season.  So, you better be ready!  

A Day to be Thankful

As I sit in the spare bedroom at Mande's parents house many thoughts run through my mind of things I am thankful for...

• God grace
• My wonderful wife 
• My 3 amazing boys 
• Friends 
• The community at Ethos that believes in what we are doing for the Kingdom 
•  Clean water  

You see the reality is I have SO much to be thankful for that I cant list them all.  But today has been a day for me to remember what God has given me.  The problem is we live too many days with out taking time to remember.  Remembering what, you might ask...remembering who God is and what He has done for all humanity.

My hope is that you take some time soon and just remember what God has done in your life and those around you.  Busyness forces us to not remember!  When we fail to remember the cross of Christ and new humanity that we are called to live I believe we fail to live.  

The more we take time to remember I believe the more we will help others.  It again forces you to understand how much we have in light of others around us.  When I read Acts in the New Testament I see a movement of people for the Kingdom of God.  It's more than religious rituals its about remembering that God has called all people unto himself Jew and Gentile.  

We need to let our thankfulness move us to help others around us.  There are so many in need around us.  They live on our streets, work on our floors, their kids go to our kids school but for some reason we miss them.  The reality is you forget God when you forget those around you.  

We can't allow a day of being thankful for our blessings of the things we have to over shadow our desperate need for God!  We have what we have because of God and now it's time to take what we have and change the world.

--

Not really sure why all this came out of my heart tonight but it did.  :)

Spoke Word - written form

I’ve fallen in Love with you past any depth conceivable We share a love that old folks warned you about, One that teenage puppies seek out in pounds to hugs to kisses. Their disposable love to capture proms and promises to keep in touch while away at college… But in the end proving to be blurry exposures as hollow as the piece of circular steel that is placed on a finger. Your love is so much greater… In me You have placed something strong and beautiful something that I can barely speak of… so I wear it in smiles, sing it in songs, cry it in tears as I sit at your feet. This I give back to You in my worship. I give my all to You, Stripping down to nothing for You, For I never had to put on for You, Never had to pretend for You, Never had to be strong for You, Just play my heart’s song for You, admit all my wrongs to You. You in return replied that “it was all good” with You And ever since my life has been renewed Finally understanding love, that it only comes through knowing You Knowing what makes You smile, what stirs up Your wrath… Loving You for who You are… it’s more than chapters in a book… praying three times a day… fasting for forty days and forty nights, It’s a companionship we take on every day. When I wake up by Your touch gently calling me from sleep It’s me smiling from the sweet fragrance that lingers after our worship encounters. It me not being able to go a second, minute, much less an hour without knowing that You’re by my side. I’m sprung and it’s ok, My love for You never makes me ashamed, It’s one that I must share, Testify of to those that seek fulfillment of their broken hearts- chasing something that would never be able to put the pieces back together. Showing them that it’s hard to put the pieces back together when you never knew what a heart was suppose to look like in the first place. And that where You come in The Master mind behind all this The Creator First Love Maker You taught me more- that love was more than feelings and emotions It’s in fact devotion, stepping out on faith and leaving my heart at Your footstool. Knowing that I am nothing without You, cant do nothing without You Will totally self- destruct without You So from what you speak and teach to me I will re- educate them about True Worship.

Spoken Word - audio

Download Spoken Word

Yesterday at Ethos we did a Urban Spoken Word.  Here is the audio from the reading.  Enjoy!

Sunday Review

Man oh man oh man today at Ethos was pretty great.  We had a lot of different elements but they all come together just fine.  Today was baby dedication and we dedicated 4 children which was a beautiful thing.  

I ended our series called Air as we looked at worship as a lifestyle.  There were so many things spoken in this series but some how today I feel like we ended the series with a huge exclamation point!

One of the best parts of our experience today was we had someone named Billie do a Urban Spoken word.  Let me just tell you --- she ROCKED the house!  Here is a wordle of  what she said, but don't worry tomorrow I am going to actually load the audio here to you can get the full experience of what she did.

I just want to tell the Ethos community that I am so honored to be apart.  God is really showing us what it means live with a mission.  My prayer is we will not stop now but keep on dreaming bigger dreams and that people will continue to come to Christ.  

Next week at Ethos one of my best friends will be speaking, Bryant Underwood.  You better be ready Ethos cause he is going to bring it!  

Art

Tomorrow morning when people arrive at Ethos this will welcome them.  This art was done by our Creative Guru, she is absolutely amazing at what she does.  This form of art is called spill art and by far is one of my favorite types of art.  Enjoy! 

My Saturday Morning...

Well my morning started at 445 am.  For some reason Mande and I both woke up wide awake and could not go back to sleep.  I got up and went to the den and watched infomercials until like 6 and then I watched the news.  Then the next thing I remember Jacob came down from up stairs and it was time to get up.  

Mande and I had decided that we were going to cook a breakfast for the family last night.  So, we got up and started cooking and making a big mess.  We made cinnamon chocolate french toast with power sugar.  Let me just tell you it was AMAZING and the best thing was all the boys loved it.  

Then we planned on doing a thankful tree and then we changed our mind and decided to do a thankful window.  What we did was we cut paper in the shape of a leaf and asked the boys what they were thankful for and then glued them to our french door windows.  It was a blast!  We got everything from family, friends, our beds, milk, pullups, to our compassion kid Paulo, to God.  Here is how it turned out...

After we finished I did a little family devotion.  I read this passage, Psalms 138:1-3  

1 I give you thanks, O Lord, with all my heart; I will sing your praises before the gods.

2 I bow before your holy Temple as I worship.I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness; for your promises are backed by all the honor of your name.  

3 As soon as I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me strength.

It was a great Saturday morning with the family.  I wish we had more days like this.  Hope you had a great morning!  Can't wait to be at Ethos tomorrow!

Fun with all my boys!

Shalom

Shalom is the hebrew word for Peace.  The last 2 weeks in the Chapman home have been crazy.  We have all been sick and just when we think things are getting better it's like things get bad again.  I was reading a book by Rob Bell and in it I was reminded that our God is a God of peace or shalom.  

My prayer for my family is that a spirit of Shalom will come into my house.  That not only will we since it but when other come to our house that they will feel it.  I pray for you tonight whatever your situation you are in that you will feel shalom in your spirit. Also, I pray that we will be people of Shalom, that everywhere we go we will spread peace.   

Tonight for me has been a night to read, meditate, and just being with my family.  Now I think I am calling it a night. 

Blankets

Blankets
We are helping Matt Holland, our drummer at Ethos, to collect blankets in order to help keep the homeless warm in Chattanooga.  He needs all donations by November 28.  You can bring them to Ethos this Sunday and if you need more information, go to www.myspace.com/blanketstn.  Let's come together and make a difference!