Remembing...

Today has been a day of remembering for me. One year ago today my friend, Mark, went home to Heaven. It's been a day filled with old memories, lots of smiles, and the occasional shake of my head as I remember some weird or funny thing Mark said or did. Mark was always the first one to laugh at himself! I've thought a lot about Mark's legacy - his life of worship - and how that has affected me. I am much more aware of how I live my life because of knowing Mark Houghton and having the privilege of walking alongside him as he lived his life of worship. I came to the realization this week that I used to think Mark legacy was somehow "tied" to SoulFire. I guess because, as SoulFire, we shared so much beyond our music. And we knew that music was not what defined us as a band...contrary to what people thought and, to some extent, still think. What defined us was worship...and more specifically...how we lived our lives of worship on-stage and off. I think Mark did more to define that for us than anyone, or anything, else. And I think that's why, when God brought SoulFire to an end even though it was very clear this from from Him, it struck a little fear in me. I didn't want Mark's legacy to die. But God has patiently shown me that Mark's legacy is not tied up in a band...it's tied up in me, and Tim, and AJ, and Geoffrey, and Mike, and all the others whose lives were impacted by Mark. And the greatest way to keep that legacy alive is to continue to live out our lives of worship before a world who largely does not yet know that they were also made to worship.

So, it's been a day of remembering for me...but it's also been a day of worship as I thank God for what He has shown me and continues to show me on this journey.

I still miss Mark very much. It's true that "I've never been more homesick than now" and I can't wait to get a tour of Heaven someday from my friend...