What does "I Shall Be Released" Mean?

The title of my blog is "I Shall Be Released". Perhaps my first ever post back in February should have addressed this. I was sitting with some friends, one of whom, was helping me set up my blog. The first thing that came to mind was a song by Bob Dylan that I had been listening to. On the album "The Last Waltz" by "The Band", there is a compilation including Dylan, The Band, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Ron Wood, Ringo Starr, Van Morrison and Eric Clapton to name a few. The song that closes out the last performance was Bob Dylan's "I Shall Be Released". About a year and a half ago, I was listening to the album almost constantly. Recently, I examined the lyrics, and I found as I have with many a Dylan song, I am not quite sure what the heck he was talking about. But the greatest songs transcend time and space, and for me, "I Shall Be Released" just speaks of the freedom from the bondage that Christ offers. I am blown away by the victories He has won in my life! And the lyrics seem to point to a time "any day now" that the freedom will be apparent. The old self falls away. It has for me, and sometimes I'm not quite sure how. So that day, when my friend Jason asked me to come up with a title, that was what rolled off my tongue. Check out the entire album, or the DVD which was brilliantly directed by Martin Scorsese. The musicianship is something to behold. Blessings my friends.

Humorous, Followup Details to My Baptism

Here are some details I haven't told you regarding my baptism on Sunday: there was a young man who was baptized just before me who almost slipped and fell on his way into the baptismal. So I decided to be extra careful upon my entrance. In my caution, my foot rubbed against the back of the baptismal, making a very loud and awkward noise that could be heard easily as far back as the sound booth. Of course, I decided to say the first thing that came to mind which was, "excuse me!", which I said with a volume that could also be heard throughout the church. So at that point, there were at least some in the congregation who questioned whether or not I had actually just had a nervous bodily function. Any way, I muttered under my breath to Rich and the elder present in a somewhat frustrated tone, "That would happen to me on the day I get baptized!" They seemed to find this relatively humorous, and since they did, I did as well, because anybody who knows me knows I find laughter hard to avoid. So they lowered me under the water three times. The first time I emerged from the water I noticed Rich trying not to laugh. So of course I had a smirk on my face. The second time, I was actually holding back the laughter as were they. And by the third time, we were all laughing. I figured at that point, the Lord knows me, and understands that he created me in such a way that I will laugh just about any time any place, even as I publicly proclaim my life in Him! It was great!
Later that day, we had an awesome youth event at our church where several area youth ministries joined us for an evening of fellowship, worship, and teaching. It was really something to behold.
And then last night I got together with the guys I do music with on Sunday mornings, and we had a really cool practice (which is rare because practice can be a grind). But I am so blessed by the people the Lord has placed in my life in my nine months here. I love the hearts, and I love the passion I see in so many. So today, I am sitting here in my office wasting exuberant amounts of time blogging. I love God and I love days like this one.
Working here at Conway is wonderful. I feel like myself. And we can never really be alive until we are ourselves. So go and do what makes you feel alive, because what the world really needs is to see people who are truly alive. Until next time. Boom.