You Can't Move Forward Standing Still

Today a HUGE goal has been reached in my life—please read on...

Casey Neistat, a YouTube vlogger who boasts an excess of 3.5 million subscribers to his channel, made a profound observation in a recent video. A frequent viewer wrote in to ask Neistat how a person might best realize their dreams and move ahead in life. The answer seemed prudent beyond his thirty-five years when he replied:

"The best advice I can give…is to keep very, very busy, and for some people it means going to college. [Figuring out what to do next in life] manifests itself in a million different ways, but sitting around trying to figure it out will never yield results."

Although Neistat dropped out of high school in the 10th grade, he understands the value of education and that you can't figure out your future while standing still. My philosophy is similar.

Education was rarely encouraged in my blue-collar, southern California upbringing. There were at least two attempts to attend college after high school graduation in 1978. The final effort—following a six-year period of time on the road as a touring musician, then the blessing of my marriage and children—led to a BA degree in religion and music from Mobile College in 1989. After ten years of more touring, songwriting and seminar teaching, in 1999 I started the Masters degree program in worship at Liberty. Because of many life circumstances the degree stalled, but was finally resumed fourteen years later in 2014. I just turned in the final assignment toward my Master of Arts degree in Worship Studies—Leadership from Liberty University!

Plans to begin a DWS (Doctorate) program at Liberty are immediate, pending God-funding and acceptance into the program. The plan while accomplishing this goal, as well as afterward, is to continue writing books, blogs and magazine articles on worship and artistry, teaching worship, songwriting and artistry in a university setting, and to continue writing songs and leading worship in a local church. After obtaining the DWS degree, there is a high possibility of attaining a Ph.D. in worship.

Those who have been following the progress in my studies know that for a 56-year-old dude, it was a challenge. But I boast in Christ that I kept a 3.9 average all the way through (one "B" killed the 4.0!).

Thank you for your prayers—I assure you, if you are standing still (not the meditative God-inspired stillness—but due to fear) the future will continue to be elusive; Pray, read, study the Word—get busy!

If I can do it, maybe you can, too!