ZOE FEARLESS

As I get ready for bed tonight I am struck by the way God has worked over time in our lives through the ZOE ministry. Our first ZOE conference was in 1997. Over time we have invested much of our lives into this ministry. However, I feel we have gained so MUCH more than we ever gave. The ZOE singers have been family to us. We've grown up together, gotten married, raised kids, traveled, sung at weddings and funerals, laughed, cried and lived life together. What a tremendous gift that has been.

Then I am struck by the people we've met and fallen in love with over the years through traveling with ZOE...people like Eric Noah Wilson (our Executive director), Lex and Sandra Henderson, Jeff Walling, Tim Castle, Josh and Kara Graves, Julie Danley, Bruce and Taylor Morgan, Lee Smith, Brian McLaren, Leonard Sweet and others. Each one has touched and changed our lives.

I can't forget Joe Smith. Joe was a huge ZOE supporter from Arizona. He fought a very hard battle against cancer. I still miss him. There have been times I have wanted to pick up the phone to call Joe and had to stop myself. Honestly, he's still in my address book after 5 years. I can't bring myself to delete him. I won't forget that last time we were together when we sang out there. We both knew we wouldn't see each other again in this life. Joe was such a blessing to me and so MANY others.

Tonight and tomorrow men and women are flying into Nashville from all over the country to share a weekend together and worship. Stephen is here. Mike Cope is here. We have family driving in from Minnesota (Gail and Chris and kids). There will be guest speakers, special music, art displays, powerful messages, CD releases, and lots of great times. But the best part of all of it will be the people. Friends will reunite, new friendships will be formed, hearts will be encouraged and community will break out. What an awesome thing!

I remember back in early 2001 when we chose "Deep Calls to Deep" (an exercise in lament) as our CD title and conference theme that year. Little did we know that only a few weeks before that conference 9/11 would hit. I had a similar feeling this month watching the chaos of the economy, gas prices, and our political craziness and remembering our theme this year... "Fearless". We have a lot of fear around us right now. People are losing money, jobs, marriages--you name it. I think God knew what He was doing when this theme emerged last winter. We need this word. I cannot wait!