March Worship Madness

Just an FYI.  I’ll be leading worship for the first four Sundays in March at Allen Memorial Church in Salisbury.  I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know the worship team and staff.  Looks like good things are happening there.  I’m excited to be apart of it…if only for a season.  Contemporary service times are 9:30 and 11am.  Pastor Bill is starting a series called “Divorce-proof Your Marriage.”  Visit www.allenmemorial.org for more info.

The question I’ve been asked “Did you ever think you’d be leading worship at a Baptist church?”  The answer: “I never thought they’d cancel the Cosby Show…but they did”  Essentially…what I think doesn’t matter in the scope of what God is doing.  I want my desire to be His desire.  And He has always been faithful to speak to my heart.  God is doing some really cool things in all denominations across the board.  If He is no respecter of persons…then the same might apply to denominations as well.  I’m honestly looking to be apart of something that still has some sort of tradition left to it.  It seems so many churches are making radical intentional steps to tear out the old wooden altar for a cool mocha bar….which is all good and well…I just personally imagine a scenario where tradition, media and the Holy Spirit can peacefully exist.  Of course I’m not talking about the kind of tradition that makes the word of God “null & void”, I mean the kind that enhances ones experience and draws us into the presence of God.  I’m not even sure what that looks like, but I’d like to find out.  See you at the pot luck dinner!!

Life Update

Just thought I’d write a “catch-all” about what I’ve been up to these past few weeks.  I just finished a busy week.  Saturday night I played at a Valentines event.  I was joined by a friend (Aaron Hearn) who played keyboard with me.  I’ve always loved strings and keys…so I’m excited about writing some songs with Aaron. These new songs aren’t going to be your typical “Corey Franklin” songs. Not even sure what that means…but there going to sound different.  I’m not playing guitar on these songs, which is a big deal.  I wanted to be free to focus on vocals.

Sunday I co-led worship at Bay Shore Community Church.  It’s always a blessing to go back there and see so many people that I miss and love.  A good friend, Paul Donovan, also came back to play guitar.  It was a very special Sunday.

Be praying for me.  I’m at a bit of a crossroad in life.  I’ll have some decisions to pray through and I need wisdom.  The Lord has been so gracious to grant me favor with so many people.  I have truly been blessed.  The other night when I was playing at the Gala…I looked out into the audience and I saw people from every part of my life over the past 15 years.  At one table was Carlton Jones, he was the farmer that I worked three summers for when I was younger.  When he heard I was doing a CD he gave me $100.00 to help.  At another table was Pastor Joe Lecates.  He was associate pastor at the first church I attended after I got married.  He was always so encouraging.  And then I saw Al Hook.  He was my junior high leader when I was youth pastor at Bay Shore.  His passion for the Lord was contagious.  Then there was Bev. She worked with me at the Dukes Lumber.  She always kept me in-line.  I saw Mary Hildebrand.  Her son “Jake” was in my youth group.  She has cancer and the doctors have told her that they can’t get all the cancer.  The look in her eyes still spoke of hope.  I could go on and on about the people I got to see.  At first I complained because as far as the music went…it didn’t go all that well.  But the Lord showed me something more important.  He gave me a glimpse of the past and the people who helped shape me.  I am truly blessed.

Classic Bay Shore

Found these little treasures. This is me leading worship in 2005 at Bay Shore Community Church. I’ll post a few more from time to time. Don’t mind the bad lighting. I look evil!!