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Blog Archive - February 2012

The archives of The Sun Will Rise, organized by month.

Posted on February 22, 2012
Intimacy with God
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Poetry, friendship, and Jesus

In our day, some parts of the church are experiencing a resurgence of interest in the book of the Song of Solomon. Instead of bearing the stigma of an obscure book about love and marriage from the Old Testament, the book is increasingly being understood as an allegory between Jesus and His bride. Though this was probably not the primary reason for its inclusion in the canon of Scripture, the wisdom of the Holy Spirit is evidently seen in its resurgence as it undergirds the New Testament truths of Jesus as a bridegroom and His body as His bride (Matthew 9:15, Ephesians 5:32, Revelation 19:7).

The Song can be enthralling for some because the short phrases and affectionate language can be mined for meaning. Though there is enormous devotional value in the words of the Song, we must remember to hold it in its rightful place as we grow in friendship with Jesus.

Because friendship is based on relational knowledge, we can never grow in friendship with someone solely by reading an elaborate poem written about them. Once we get to know our friend, poetry may bring to remembrance the words and actions of our friend and help us appreciate them more. But the poem itself is not what made us be their friend initially, nor do the words of the poem come to mean more to us than the words from their own lips. No matter how beautifully expressive the writing is, a poem can never replace the presence of the person when it is a person we actually love.

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Posted on February 18, 2012
Music and prophecy
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Interview with David Whitworth, part 2

Today I'll be continuing my interview with David Whitworth, a drummer at IHOP-KC. If you have not yet read part 1 of David's interview, be sure to read it here.

Josh: Hi David, good to have you back for a few more questions! I know the first round of your answers really encouraged some people. Let's jump right in and hit a somewhat controversial topic for Christian musicians - secular music. Do you have any thoughts on it? What is your personal experience?

whitworth-1.jpgDavid: I remember when I was back in Texas playing drums for my church, I would always find myself in a paradox. I would spend most of my week listening to anything and everything. Then I would come into church to play and my spirit would feel dull. It never occurred to me that I was feeling this way because of what I was listening to. When I came to IHOP I felt the Lord invite me into a season of consecrating my ears. I remember so clearly my "iTunes D-Day" 4 years ago. I deleted all of my secular music from my computer and immediately felt something lift. I felt a nearness from the Lord. From that point on I have experienced so much more of the Lord's heart while playing. I feel so much more clarity and boldness when I play. It has enabled me to prophesy with confidence. I know that the Lord is raising up singers and musicians who are doing the same thing - consecrating their eyes and ears. They are ones that would cultivate their gifts before the Lord, ones that would commune with the Holy Spirit and not get influence from the world but from Heaven.

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Posted on February 10, 2012
Music and prophecy
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Interview with David Whitworth, drummer

It's been several years since I've interviewed some of the other musicians here at IHOP-KC. In the past I've had the privilege of hearing from Jordan Vanderplate, electric guitarist, Cassie Campbell, bassist, Francisco "Paco" Arteaga, drummer, and Gabriel Hancock, also a drummer. Today's interview is with David Whitworth, the drummer for Cory Asbury's worship team at IHOP-KC. I hope David's answers encourage and provoke you musicians and singers!

Josh: Hey David, I really appreciate you sharing with us! Before I jump into some questions, give us a little bit of your story.

whitworth-5.jpgDavid: Hey Josh! Well, a little about myself… I grew up in the small farming town of Bastrop, Texas. It's about 20 minutes from Austin. I was raised in a Christian home. I lived on a farm with goats, cows, dogs, chickens… the whole deal. Drumming for me started at a fairly young age. When I was a little 6 year old I would run around banging on tables, counters, pots, pans, basically anything and everything. My mom got me a small drum kit so I would stop taking the kitchenware. I never took drum lessons growing up, I just started and figured stuff out. I found myself in my room practicing for 4-5 hours a day. I would figure out the drum parts for all the Hillsong United albums. I was so drawn to worship music early in life because I would always encounter the presence of the Lord listening and practicing to those albums. At that point in my life all I wanted to do was play in Hillsong United or be in the NBA! I started playing full time with my church at the age of 12. After high school I went to the University of Texas at San Antonio for two years studying music technology. At the Christmas break in 2006 my friend invited me to a Onething Conference in Kansas City. I had a life changing encounter with God and have been on full-time staff at IHOP for almost 5 years now.

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Posted on February 2, 2012
The gospel
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On boasting only in the cross

In Galatians 6:14, The Apostle Paul boldly asserted that his only boasting should be in the cross of Jesus. In Philippians 3, he proclaimed that everything he had used for his own gain had been counted as loss for the sake of Christ. It does not take much to see that such confessions from a believer have a prerequisite of heart surgery from the Holy Spirit.

In our sin, we use our God-given breath, strength, finance, or wisdom in order to make much of ourselves. But the fruit of the Spirit in the life of a believer is evident when what was once used for selfish gain is now used to make much of Christ and His cross.

Along these lines, I wanted to share a provoking excerpt from the January 22nd entry from Charles Spurgeon's Morning and Evening devotional (my emphases added). May the Holy Spirit help us to see how foolish it is to boast in anything else but the cross of Christ!

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