November 20, 2008

Nothing Less than Everything (pt. 1)

“Nothing Less than Everything” is my new project and I couldn’t be more excited about it.

NTLE has becore more than an album title to me. It’s a life mantra and a life message. As you know, the Lord works through our lives to encourage others using the very things that He has done in us.

God has been challenging me toward a deeper level of self denial. In Mark 8:34 Jesus said, “Anyone who would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Jesus calls us beyond mere belief in his existence and even beyond acknowledging Him as Savior.

The first Part of His Call bothers me the most. If my desire is to pursue Jesus I must practice denial of self. I am more self-centered than I want to fully tell you about. :) I don’t like saying “no” to Darrell.

I’m not talking just about issues of sin, it’s a daily struggle for me not to indulge myself in things that comfort or please me. Starbucks coffee is one of those things. It’s not a sin to enjoy coffee (I hope) but to feel that I need it every day to set things right is a problem. Would I deny myself of something like that today as an act of worship to the Lord? The more I say “yes” to every appetite in me - the easier it also becomes to say “yes” to harmful indulgences (sins).

Self denial is not about expressing self righteousness; I have no righteousness on my own. It’s about expressing love for God and developing the character of Christ in me. That’s one reason fasting can be powerful. Saying “no” to something we always say “yes” chips away the vail of the flesh that keeps us from seeing Jesus clearly. It’s about being more “kingdom” focused and less “me” focused.

There’s more I want to share with ya’ll about this - we’ve only touched the surface but I’ll pull up here for now - I have to (I’m in the Starbucks parking lot as I write this :D). Maybe I could say no to Starbucks tommorow. I live within 12 minutes of 5 of them. Please pray for me! :)

Darrell

Comments

24 Responses to “Nothing Less than Everything (pt. 1)”

  1. December 28th, 2008

    Wayne Armstrong

    There are so many levels of revelation to what it means to deny oneself and take up the cross and follow. I think it one of the most freeing and liberating things we can do you at times yet it can be one of the hardest.
    Good Word Darrell.

  2. January 6th, 2009

    Chuck Fenwick

    This blog resonates with what I have been reading and experiencing in my own life. Rob Bell’s “God Wants to Save Christians” echoes the same things. When we begin to forget who we are and from where we have come or from where God has brought us, it can be easy to forget others and get a little “self-impressed”. Thank you for your songs that put words to our feelings to articulate to the Lord those things in our hearts.
    P.S. I was listening to the old “Our Hearts” cd with you and others. Just as good now as over a decade ago. Keep it up.

  3. January 13th, 2009

    Ken Christianson

    Thanks Darrell for your openness to share in what is so common in all of us. May the Lord continue to lift you up!

  4. January 14th, 2009

    trent

    wondering how you’ve been. excited about your new CD

  5. January 24th, 2009

    J K

    I can totally relate to the Startbucks thing. Man, I used to make fun of Starbucks-Yuppies. Look at me now. It goes into other things, like gotta eat out to avoid cooking/cleaning/preparation. It is a kindof fasting to remove yourself from these indulgences–good for me I know. And check this out: caffeine is bad so now I have less of a selection in coffee now, but again it’s another fast. Praise God.

  6. February 13th, 2009

    Scott Carpenter

    hey, buddy Mary & I are very proud of you. We are blessed to see the picture of your wife & children. We are learning & Growing here in Mobile. You seem to be doing well. Contact us sometimes , it would bless us to here from you. You were a blessing to us & We want you to know we have not forgotten that . Thank you again! God bless you & your family.

  7. February 26th, 2009

    A L

    Evans, my brother in Christ, I was much encouraged by your song, Redeemer, Savior, Friend. Now I think there is no sin in enjoying or desiring a nice cup of coffee. There is however a potential spiritual danger(chink in the armor) when there exists a STRONG desire for that cup of coffee, that given the right circumstances might blossom into sin. According to my favorite teacher, Dallas Willard, temptation occurs with thought + inclination, but sin occurs with thought + inclination + will(conscious or unconscious choosing).

    Gal 5:22-25 “By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.”

    I struggle with STRONG desires for many things currently, and I think the Lord taught me through Willard and Paul’s words above. Notice that one fruit of the spirit is self-control. YES! Fasting is a spiritual discipline/exercise that works in concert with God’s grace to diminish these STRONG desires. It works. This is the season of cleaning the inside of the cup for me, a part of my vision to be a worthy vessel for the Spirit of God. Vision is key. Spiritual disciplines like fasting require a strong vision of God’s goodness and genius. Strong vision may be nurtured from scripture memorization of meaty passages like Col 3: 1-17 as well as, in my case, a lingering taste of sweet Christian community/fellowship growing up in a child-care centre run by the Salvation Army. I have experimented with fasting for one week and have seen improvements though not perfection as yet. Specifically, I find that fasting works most smoothly when I have a breakfast, then skip lunch and supper. (it certainly gives new meaning to the word break–fast =p). I think Richard Foster was the one who gave me this specific tip on fasting in his book called The Celebration of Discipline.

    For those of you who are still reading this(bless your patience), I heartily recommend Dallas Willard’s books. In particular, The Great Omission(as a general introduction) and The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives (for the role of spiritual ‘weight-training’ in the bigger scheme of discipleship to Jesus)…. but ALL his books are TREASURE. May we successfully learn how to wholly avoid sin, obey Jesus’s instructions, and become the kind of trees that bear good fruit in season and out.

    Love, Peace, Joy, Faith, Hope,

    A.L

  8. February 27th, 2009

    A L

    I confess that my recommended ’smooth fasting’ of having breakfast then skipping lunch and supper goes against the advice of Dallas Willard, my Uncle in Christ, to NOT be heroic when it comes to spiritual exercises. Since I am a relative novice to mastering fasting as a means of nourishing the spiritual life, I shall stick to Uncle Willard’s advice, and let the progress come gradually– fasting one meal a day with consistent frequency seems good for now. With one more day’s experience, I am learning that fasting has many parallels to weight training; likewise, spiritual growth parallels muscle growth in some ways. In this regard, learning about nutrition and body-building aids my understanding of spiritual disciplines like fasting. I shall attentively watch/evaluate/reflect to see how fasting nurtures the bearing of fruits of the Spirit. Spiritual muscles anyone? =p Thank you Brother Evans for mentioning fasting and creating this nifty blog site.

  9. March 22nd, 2009

    Ron

    Just heard the new CD recently. Glad you got it out. Looking forward to seeing you on the 29th. Shawn is so excited you’re coming.

    See you there,

    Ron & Anna

  10. March 24th, 2009

    Julie Himes

    I have never written you before but just wanted you to know how much your music has meant to me over these past 10 plus years! I can’t wait to check out your new CD! My all time favorite that I listen to all the time on my iPod is “When I pray”. The music and lyrics are incredible!
    I’m sure there are lots of others out there like me who have not told you but will be nonetheless very excited to meet you one day in heaven!
    Thanks for being so transparent and letting God’s grace be so evident in your life and music. May God richly bless you!
    Julie Himes

  11. April 18th, 2009

    Joel Weinstock

    Hi Darrell , here in Tulsa , have been following your music from the church in Jenks , how is Andre doing these days , your music changed my life and my sons as well , Bongo Dave is in Texas i think , glad you have a family now , look forward to some more of your deep flowing music, never could find the old guitar with the hole , searched all over the Arkansas area and found who got it , but they would not let it go , oh well I will just have to make my own ,
    God Bless
    Joel

  12. April 19th, 2009

    Ric Peterson

    The revelation of the Cross is I believe one of the central revelations going out in the spiritual realm today. “Those that have ears to hear, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches.” We have known for decades the preaching of the Cross for salvation, the Old Rugged Cross - but now it is the Cross for sanctification, the Cross for full salvation, the Cross as the central factor in true discipleship. Jesus says that the one who does not take up the Cross is not worthy of Him. That we deny self and take up the Cross to be truly His disciple.
    This is revelation stuff. Skipping Starbucks and meals and other pleasureable bodily comforts is definitely an important part of self denial - I have to “love not the world or the things of the world”. But the full knowing of the Cross as an instrument of death to my very heart and soul is something that the Holy Spirit must reveal and apply. As we join together in denial of our selves and enter “the fellowship of His sufferings and conformity to His death” we set ourselves in line to know the Resurrection from the dead in the power of the Holy Spirit.
    Blessings on you Darrel and other disciples. I was considering these things this morning and have been thinking of you in the past few days for some reason :) and then saw that by golly you are contemplating the same things! The Spirit must be speaking this Truth out into the spiritual atmosphere for those who have ears to hear. I am encouraged!
    I have always loved and fed off your music.

  13. April 30th, 2009

    Andy Weinstock

    Hey, Darrell, my dad said he found you on here. I just wanted to tell you that your music delivered me from drugs and cigarettes, and really drew me into Gods presence at Open Bible Fellowship in Jenks. I miss you! “Those were the days”.

    I’m going on 9 years free from tobacco! Praise the Lord!

    My dad made me go to Church to see you, I didn’t want to, but he practically forced me. I’m so glad he did because I got ZAPPED! Ha Ha Ha Ha I am FREE and winning the lost every chance I get!

  14. April 30th, 2009

    Andy Weinstock

    Ps. I really miss you!
    Love Andy

  15. May 21st, 2009

    J

    I loved seeing you tonight. I have loved your songs for many years. I swapped the Starbucks card for a couple of your cd’s. You can freely savour each cup on that card as it was Father’s idea! I will be enjoying worship with the cd’s. Blessings!

  16. June 10th, 2009

    Rajan

    hi, i heard the song trading my sorrow today, its a great song. i hope one day you come to India and we can meet.

  17. July 2nd, 2009

    Karen Crosby

    WOW, just saw a poster at my church for your July 17, 2009 doings at Cornerstone church in Chariton at 7pm. I mean I just did a double take.
    When the Lord was leading me towards him before 1999 when I believed, I bought a CD of yours. After Aug. 15, 1999, i went home listened again and then understood what you were singing about. : )
    God does work in mysterious ways. Holy Spirit worked on me, and His word. Church going then came into it. I asked God where He wanted me to attend (who does THAT these days of church hopping?) so am learning & growing at First Baptist. But I hope to get a ride to hear you. But I am 50 now and pretty forgetful!
    There are NO starbucks coffee houses in Chariton so you will have to just do without unless they read this post and buy a bag of it for you…. I read the self denial stuff with interest. I’ve got a lot to learn yet. Thanks for working for the Lord and what a neat surprise to see you with your family picture online. May the Lord watch over you all in your traveling.

  18. July 21st, 2009

    Tony Dunnick

    Wow. We had Such an Awesome time with you on July 17th.(MorningSide AOG)
    I Love the New Album.
    You and Brandon rock.
    I can’t wait to see you again. Thanks to the mic cables… :-)
    Thanks for talking about the secret place.
    Keep it up.

  19. July 21st, 2009

    Tony Dunnick

    I meant the 19th.

  20. July 26th, 2009

    john wegner

    THANK YOU FOR COMING TO POPLAR CREEK ON JULY 26 IT WAS SO AWESOME TO WORSHIP LIKE THAT IN AM AND PM SERVICE.GOD BLESS

  21. September 15th, 2009

    Anthony Foster

    I know what you mean!!! giving up starbucks for a day to worship God is a major discipline. more challenging than journaling at times.

  22. October 14th, 2009

    Anonymous

    Hey! Just bought your new cd. Love your old stuff like ‘My God Reigns’ off the Let the River flow album. I’ve spent many hours worshiping along with those songs. Thank you for being an influence in my life!

  23. November 12th, 2009

    Bill G.

    Nice blog, Darrell. I’ve been running out of things to give up. But “fasting” is only temporary, right? I mean I’ve permantly got rid of the things in my life that brought me down, but I guess I could go without my morning muffin and coffee for a few days. Lately I’ve been listening to “Consuming Fire”. Great worship album. Thanks and God bless.

  24. December 12th, 2009

    Sisomidestatt

    I am often looking for brand-new informations in the world wide web about this theme. Thx!

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