Derrick Logan

Why PVC for Me .:. Pt.1&2

noreply@blogger.com (Derrick Logan) — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 03:44:00 +0000

This month marks my second year at Palm Valley Church. I love it here. This place is special. Every time I turn my head or pan my eyes, I see something else that makes me thank God that He's placed me here. This series of posts will be a recollection of the past two years, blended with my favorite things that this church represents, and sprinkled with lots of love and hope for reaching the tens of thousands of people who live in my community and don't know who Jesus Christ is.

We have a growing understanding of the potential of music.

Since I first started (and even before I came) we've used all kinds of music in our services in hopes of relating to the people of our community. Anything from the latest Tomlin and Crowder to the Beatles and Rascal Flatts to St. Francis of Assisi, literally. We understand that God created music, not KLOVE. The spectrum of music here is bright, dark, vast, and narrow; depending on where you're sitting... or if you're walking out. One of my favorite memories of my first two years came a little over a year ago. The message that weekend centered around communicating with God through prayer. Just before the message, we ripped into Bon Jovi's Livin' on a Prayer. Within the first 48 seconds a family stood up from their seat and walked out the door.

"We aren't the church for everyone."

It was obvious they were Christians, the bible fanny packs gave them away (no knock on the Bible zipper pouch, if you have one :) ). This was a family that was visiting us for the first time and... bless their hearts... they had no idea what they were in for. I obviously don't know this family, but for me they represent the boat-loads of Christians who have walked through the doors of PVC only to march out moments later. For various reasons. We didn't play music they liked. They weren't "fed" during the message. The person sitting next to them had a neck tattoo. They got uncomfortable hearing truth. Whatever. See... the thing is... we're passionate about reaching lost people with knowledge of Jesus. No, seriously... we're PASSIONATE about it. I think it was Rick Warren who said "everyone wants to reach lost people until you start reaching lost people." I'd take it a step further: Christians stop reaching lost people when the necessary means of reaching people interfere with the unnecessary needs of the already Believer. The bottom line is we don't spend a lot of time trying to please Christians; our efforts are focused on discipling people (leading people to take that next step in their walk towards Christ).

It starts at the top. Our pastor is known for saying "we're not the church for everyone." This has been he most liberating statement of my first two years here. That statement if freedom for me. I'm free to plan and create without the need of contouring what I do to appease or pacify. I'm free to try new things and push the envelope. I'm free to pour into people and challenge them to lead. I'm free to loving send people away when they don't connect with the vision of our church. I'm free knowing that I'm trusted; my lead pastor and the staff have my back. Most importantly, I'm free to be me.

Prayer Needed

noreply@blogger.com (Derrick Logan) — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 19:54:00 +0000

Please keep Kim, Jude, and I in your prayers.

Kim came home after substitute teaching a week and half ago and brought with her a crazy cold. Now we all have it; Jude's even running a fever. I fought through it all this week but it's starting to hit me pretty tough. Kim's still battling it after a week.

Yes, sickness is just a part of life... but it's coming at a pretty bad time for us. We leave Monday for a week long vacation to see family in Tennessee. We've already been a little uneasy about the trip because it'll be Jude's first time flying and only our second time taking him anywhere for an overnight stay. We don't want to spread this sickness; we'll be around a ton of travelers on Monday and I'm not thrilled about bring this into my grandparents home either.

We've got a ton of stuff to do before we even get to Monday. I've got five services at church this weekend, Kim has photo shoots, cleaning, and packing to finish. It's just coming at a bad time!

Please pray that God heals us immediately. Thank you!

9.20-21

noreply@blogger.com (Derrick Logan) — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 22:09:00 +0000

Worship Set
Salvation's Chorus (listen) (buy) (Fields)
Marvelous Light (Hall, Stanfill version)
Happy Day (Hughes)
Create in Me a Clean Heart/My Chains Are Gone (Keith Green/Tomlin)

Caught Up

noreply@blogger.com (Derrick Logan) — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 18:22:00 +0000

I've backed posted the set lists I failed to post from late July to the present. You can check 'em here...

7.26-27
8.2-3
8.9-10
8.16-17
8.23-24
8.30-31
9.6-7
9.13-14

Creative Chaos // 1

noreply@blogger.com (Derrick Logan) — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 06:06:00 +0000

Every Thursday, Ragamuffin Soul hosts a "blog carnival" where bloggers can share creative things they're doing at their church to reach people for Christ. I'm jumpin into the chaos...

This coming weekend at Palm Valley Church will be the third week of a five week teaching series called Ultimate Fighter. It's been a killer series thus far. Not because of cool videos, music, graphics, or staging (that you'll get a glimpse at in a moment) but because men in our community are waking up to who Christ is, what He has to offer them, and what He's calling them to. Killer stuff.

First off, if you're not familiar with Palm Valley, we're portable. When meet at a high school in a southwest suburb of Phoenix. We run five identical services each weekend, utilizing the school's auditorium as our worship center.

For this series, we transformed our stage to resemble a UFC "octagon". The large set created a space dilemma for our band so we found space on stage we hadn't used before. Although I was involved with conceptualizing the set design, Sean Smith (our Pastor of Creative Arts) is to credit for pulling it off. There's nothing this guy can't make happen on a stage.

Enjoy the pics!

Dealing with Dealers

noreply@blogger.com (Derrick Logan) — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 06:06:00 +0000

Back in July, Kim and I spent in a week in Durango, CO leading worship for Palm Valley's summer high school camp. As we headed home, we hit a run of road construction that actually had us at a stand still for about 20 minutes. While driving through that construction, we drove over a stretch of very loose gravel for about two miles. At some point, as the tiny rocks were kicking the underbelly of my SUV, one of those little boogers lodged itself in one of my wheels. I would’ve never guessed that such a tiny object could cause such an awful noise. We noticed the sound once we got into town and promptly called On-Star to locate the nearest GM dealer. Kim and I both drive Saturn vehicles (a GM make); I drive a Vue and she drives an Outlook. We took the Outlook on the trip since it’s roomier. On-Star helped us locate the nearest Chevy dealer just a few miles away. Every car and pedestrian within an ear shot stared at every stop light on the way there, it was that loud. I pulled up to the Chevy service station and walked in to get some help.

They wouldn’t help me. At all. Under any circumstance… even one that involves a family w/ a young child trying to get home to another state. First off, they’re not certified to do work on Saturn’s under warranty. Yes, you heard right; the company that makes my vehicles doesn’t certify their own employees to service them. To have a certified mechanic service my vehicle, I would have to take it to a Saturn dealership. Since there isn’t a Saturn dealership in Durango, GM is telling their Saturn customers that they’re screwed if they live there… or travel through there, as in this case. Thanks GM. [sarcastic thumbs up] Secondly, the Chevy service department manager was a jerk and did everything she could to wash her hands of me.

There was another GM dealer across the street… which serviced every GM make… except Saturn. Fortunately, these guys were a little more understanding, worked us in very quickly, and were very understanding and courteous. They told me upfront that they weren’t certified to work on my vehicle but they offered to take a look at it and see if it was something simple. It was, so they took care of it for a small service charge. While our vehicle was being serviced, we were updated frequently as to the status and what they were doing to the car. They were very sensitive to our situation and eager to help us.

I realized that Christian churches suffer the same dilemma. There’s very little consistency from church to church. How confusing and disheartening it must be for a new follower or seeker to find a new church after they’ve moved to a new city. We’ll never see a perfectly unified church around the world or find a certified Saturn mechanic at another GM dealership. But we can be that other GM dealer across the street; by meeting the real needs of real people that come in our doors. At Palm Valley, a mantra that’s heard often is “where people matter." If people are our priority, we can know that we’re being that other dealership. We might not be able to change the world but we can change our world… and just maybe it’ll rub off on others.

Phil Wickham | singalong

noreply@blogger.com (Derrick Logan) — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 22:32:00 +0000

If Phil Wickham isn't on your iPod, he should be. Killer vocals, killer writting... the best word I could use to describe his music is piercing. I absolutely love his stuff.

Well, he's recently recorded a live record featuring him, his guitar, and few hundred friends... and it's free! Download it here!

Can you pick out your favorite worship leader on the cover?

Saddened

noreply@blogger.com (Derrick Logan) — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 05:59:00 +0000

Like everyone else, I was shocked to hear about Ray Boltz's lifelong secret. One of the most successful Christian recording artists of all-time is gay. You can read the article here; very well written.

After reading it, I was saddened. Not because Ray Boltz is gay (although the news is troubling). Not because the enemy is rearing his ugly face, once again, in the life of a very public Christian. I was saddened for homosexuals.

More than likely, Ray Boltz will be banished from "Christian culture." His music will be pulled off the shelves by Christian retailers. Churches, who once sang his songs, will disassociate themselves from him. Mentioning his name in "Christian" circles will provoke slow head shakes and looks of great disappointment.

You see... for Christians... homosexuality is like the plague. We stay so far from it, like we'll get Satan coodies if we actually meet a gay person. The thought of having gay friends makes us feel dirty... kinda like listening to a "secular" song and liking it. Frankly, there is not another sect in our society that is more alienated by Christianity than the homosexual community... and it's infuriating to me.

We jump at the chance to feed starving children in Africa, provide clean water for those who don't have it, and even set aside a few hours on the weekend to feed the homeless... all in the spirit of Matthew 25:40.

Have you ever considered who "the least" are in the eyes of God? I think that they'd be those who are furthest from Him. Consider the story of Jesus and the woman at the well (read it here). Jesus himself said, "Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again.” (John 4:13-14)

It's estimated that 1% of the American population consists of homosexuals. That's more than 3,000,000 people that, by in large, we care nothing for.

Many Christians think that the greatest need for homosexuals is to be freed from homosexuality. In reality, their greatest need is Jesus. And it's our obligation to bring Him to them.

Dear Christianity,

We've shunned the homosexual community for far too long. In their eyes, we're nothing more than judgmental, hypocritical people who know nothing about "loving thy neighbor." We're a joke to them. A really bad, dirty joke.

Let's change. Let's engage them. Let's be a friend to them when they need to talk, a shoulder to cry on when life hurts. Let's show them that, despite our differences, we love them anyway. Let's ask Jesus to allow His light to shine through us to them, and trust Him with the results.

Yes. Homosexuality is a sin. Like every other sin, it separates people from God. Let us not be sinful by turning a deaf ear and a blind eye to those who need Christ so desperately.

Let's not throw Ray Boltz under the bus. Let's love him. Let's pray for him. He's no different than you and me; a sinner who desperately needs Jesus.

I hope you consider this.

Wholeheartedly,
A Saddened Christ-follower

Blogtirement

noreply@blogger.com (Derrick Logan) — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 00:41:00 +0000

It wasn't intentional. I never would've guessed that I would go nearly two months without posting. To be honest, I've gone two months without hardly venturing into the blogosphere. Kim has to literally hold my face to a computer screen to get me to read her blog.

Reason? Fatherhood.

No other reason. The time I would use to write and to read other's stuff has quickly translated into late night feedings and walks around the house to keep Jude from crying. After he's in bed, I can barely muster a blank stare... until I fall asleep.

Everything at home has changed.

Kim and I's time together consists of diaper changing and bath time. She's no longer working at the school, but instead she's taking pictures, tutoring, and being a stay-at-home mom. We used to eat out all the time, now we have a calendar telling us what we're eating everyday this month. Instead of debating over a new wall decoration or Wii game, we're shopping for a second car seat 'cause our kid is a beast.

I love it all.

I'm tired all the time. I don't have time for anything. And I'm at an incredible moment in my life. I have a wife who loves me... I mean REALLY loves me. I have a little boy that lives at my house; he's my son... MY SON! He's the most amazing gift I've ever been given. I go to work everyday with one agenda: lead people to become fully devoted followers of Christ. I've had dozens of jobs, all of which required me to do things that didn't matter. There's nothing I do at Palm Valley that doesn't matter. My life is absolutely amazing.

I'm finding a pace.

That's so important for me. Honing in on the right tempo for my life is so important for me. With all of the changes that came with Jude, I'm now starting to find my new pace and it's energizing. Time is still at a premium but I'm finding ways to be more efficient with the 1440 minutes I'm given everyday.

So that's what's been up with me lately.

9.13-14

noreply@blogger.com (Derrick Logan) — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 05:00:00 +0000

Worship Set
Holding Onto You (Colman)
Salvation's Chorus (listen) (buy) (Fields)
Mighty to Save/The Stand (Hillsong United)
Savin' Me (Nickelback)

9.6-7

noreply@blogger.com (Derrick Logan) — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 05:00:00 +0000

Worship Set
All Because of Jesus (Fee)
Jesus Paid it All (Stanfill)
What the World Will Never Take (Hillsong United)
Hanging by a Moment (Lifehouse)

8.30-31

noreply@blogger.com (Derrick Logan) — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 05:00:00 +0000

Worship Set
The Noise We Make (Tomlin)
You Lifted Me Out (Tomlin)
Breathe On Me (listen) (buy) (Fields)
How Great is Our God (Tomlin)

8.23-24

noreply@blogger.com (Derrick Logan) — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 05:00:00 +0000

Worship Set
You Lifted Me Out (Tomlin)
Unchanging (Tomlin)
Let Me Sing (listen) (buy) (Fields)
Let the Praises Ring (Brewster)

8.16-17

noreply@blogger.com (Derrick Logan) — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 05:00:00 +0000

Worship Set
All Because of Jesus (Fee)
Let Me Sing (listen) (buy) (Fields)
Your Grace is Enough (Maher, Tomlin version)
My Hero (Foo Fighters)
Signature of Divine (Yahweh) (needtobreathe)

8.9-10

noreply@blogger.com (Derrick Logan) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 05:00:00 +0000

Worship Set
The Time Has Come (Hillsong United)
Not to Us (Tomlin)
Marvelous Light (Hall, Stanfill version)
Signature of Divine (Yahweh) (needtobreathe)

8.2-3

noreply@blogger.com (Derrick Logan) — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 05:00:00 +0000

Worship Set
Love the Lord (Brewster)
Here I Am to Worship (Hughes)
Everlasting God (Brown, Brewster version)
Meant to Live (Switchfoot)

7.26-27

noreply@blogger.com (Derrick Logan) — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 05:00:00 +0000

Worship Set
Your Grace is Enough (Maher, Tomlin version)
Holding Onto You (Colman)
*God of this City (Tomiln version)
*Mighty to Save/The Stand/Shout Unto God (Hillsong United)

*performed with a 30 voice choir

Crashing Durango

noreply@blogger.com (Derrick Logan) — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 06:10:00 +0000

For the past week, Kim, Jude, and I have been Crashing the Rohlinger Vacation with about 60 high school students and sponsors up in Durango, Colorado. Very, very cool stuff. Here are some highlights:

We weren’t real sure how Jude would do on a nine hour road trip but he stinkin rocked it! He slept the entire way there and has slept the trip back thus far (I’m bloggin on the road). To top it off, it hasn’t thrown off his nighttime schedule either. These are some rockin stats for any parent!
The drive up was absolutely beautiful. It’s been a long time since I’ve gone past Flagstaff and I had forgotten how beautiful it is. It’s so sweet to go from desert to pine trees back to desert and then to forests again. Where else in the world can you get that?! Monument Valley is the jam. The drive has motivated Kim and I to plan an Arizona road trip for later this year. We’ve both seen most of the state but haven’t seen much of it together. Any stops you highly recommend?
Darius and his team did a great job putting together a memorable experience for all of us.
The students blew us away this week. Over the past year or so, I’ve gotten to know some the students a little. But this week, Kim and I really got to connect with some of them. So many of them are so dedicated in their walks with Christ and it shows once you get to hang with them.
Late afternoon on Thursday, I got to jam with some the students, singing a ton of their favorite worship tunes. It’s so cool to see them guys connect so personally in worship; you can see it’s a part of who they are, not something they’re a part of. That was easily my favorite moment of the trip.
The evening worship and talks (Family Meetings… since we were crashing their vacation) were incredible. Most of the students are more accustomed to upbeat worship songs. We did some of those but we also slowed it down a bit for a more intimate, heart felt time of worship to God. These students laid their hearts out for Jesus and it was a blessing of mine to lead them.
Pastor Greg gave some incredible talks to the students each night (and captured some highlights each day on his blog), even opening up for some Q and A sessions. I love that my pastor is an open book and these kids took advantage of it, asking a ton of insight-seeking questions.
All in all, Kim and I felt so fortunate to be a part of this week. I hope we are asked back next year!

7.19-20

noreply@blogger.com (Derrick Logan) — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 03:57:00 +0000

Worship Set
Love the Lord (Brewster)
Salvation is Here (Hillsong United)
Breathe On Me (listen/buy) (Fields)
All Because of Jesus (Fee)
Should I Tell Them (Shaun Groves)
Tell the World (Hillsong United)

Should I Tell Them is easily my favorite song on evangelism. The openess and authenticity of the song is gripping and relatable. From top to bottom, Invitation to Eavesdrop is a solid record, you should check it out.

Bonus Question: What other song from Shaun Grove's first album have we covered at Palm Valley?

7.12-13

noreply@blogger.com (Derrick Logan) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 06:04:00 +0000

Worship Set
Message in a Bottle (instrumental intro)/Tell the World (The Police/Hillsong United)
Indescribable (Laura Story, Tomlin version)
You Never Let Go (Redman)
Everlasting God (Brown, Brewster version)

7.5-6

noreply@blogger.com (Derrick Logan) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 17:56:00 +0000

Worship Set
God Bless America (original arrangement)
Happy Day (Hughes)
Let Me Sing (listen/watch/buy) (Fields)
God of Wonders (Third Day/Caedmon's Call)
Let the Praises Ring (Brewster)

Early Weekend Getaway

noreply@blogger.com (Derrick Logan) — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 02:13:00 +0000

Kim, Jude, and I are up in Sedona with my parents, brother, sister, and their spouses for a little 4th of July getaway. Over the past few years, these trips have become known as our 7th Heaven vacations. I always look forward to them and hate that this year's will be so short. It's getting tougher and tougher to do these with kidos around now but I'm holding out hope that we'll still find a way to get away every now and then.

My dad, Jerrod, and I played 18 holes at a little executive course on the south end of town today. It was the first time the three of us had played golf in at least 10 years. We had an absolute blast! I'm also proud to say that I shot the low round and had the day's only birdie! I also had a couple freak shots... on back to back par threes, my tee shot buried itself on the green. There was absolutely no way I could hit it out, it was buried deep! Crazy stuff! It was crazy enough that my shots actually landed on the green from the tee box but I had never seen a ball bury itself like that before... and it happened on back to back holes!

Well, the steaks are done so it's dinner time! Sweet potatoes too, yum!

Hope to get some pics up soon!

The Gift...

noreply@blogger.com (Derrick Logan) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 02:52:00 +0000

...of interpretive drumming.

Hat's off to Mr. Frank for this find.

Enjoy.

6.28-29

noreply@blogger.com (Derrick Logan) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 02:20:00 +0000

Worship Set
The Time Has Come (Hillsong United)
What the World Will Never Take (Hillsong United)
Mighty is the Power of the Cross (Tomlin)
Holy is the Lord (Tomlin)
He Reigns (Newsboys)

Great Post on Goal Setting and Leadership

noreply@blogger.com (Derrick Logan) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 11:34:00 +0000

If you consider yourself a leader or if you've ever set a goal in your life, you need to take a few minutes and read this post my dad wrote.

I think that covers all of you. :)