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so.. We know Summer isn't over. BUT, the SUMMER BLOG IS. We've been working hard on a new site and we finally have it up. There's more stuff we have to put on there, but it's pretty close. Our blogs will now be on there NOT HERE. So please start directing all your "looking" at www.branchmusic.org

Steven

Rooftops

Rooftops from Steven Patterson on Vimeo.

Victory from Steven Patterson on Vimeo.

We've been looking forward to this camp all Summer- actually since last Summer. We love getting to be a part of what God does in all these DFW area church's! This year was even better than last! We got to reconnect with an old friend Wes Hamilton who spoke all week. He has a 4yr old daughter named Ellie as well (he had to have taken that from us...oh wait). Ha. Also, last time I saw his boy Jake was like 6 yrs ago. He's getting so big. Anyway, we saw alot of students from last year and it was cool seeing how they've grown up a little and how they were still strongly pursuing God. The camp theme this week was "Surrender" and what a powerful message God had each night for the students. Stop trying harder- surrender. Every night this week we saw countless decisions. I think there were about 30 baptized in the camp pool! And Kent (flight coordinator) said there were over 180 decisions made this week. It never gets old to be a part of eternal change and we thank God for His movement here in Dallas.

Caleb Smith and Jayce Barbee (from pinkgoosemedia.com) were doing video's and they are some of our closest friends! Lex Smith (Caleb's sister-in-law) came and was our camp Nanny all week and it was such a blessing.

The production at this camp is AMAZING so we'll have alot of cool videos and pics to show soon from Flight WEEK.

Right now I'm finishing mix's on all the Summer stuff and we'll post "the best of" to iTunes. All the songs should be available for download at the beginning of August.

LIVE CD TRACK LIST:
1. Did You Feel the Mnts
2. Rooftops
3. Nothing To Lose
4. Victory
5. Mighty To Save
6. PLEA (our only live version)
7. I Surrender All

Thursday night we passed out a bunch of giant shoes and these students gave over $2000 to Orphans through Buckner. That makes the grand total money raised for Buckner orphans around $6200!! We can't wait to go on the next shoe trip and deliver these shoes and the gospel to orphans across the world.

Okay. We'll here's some video from us and our FLIPCam... enjoy



Steven

It was a fast and furious set up this week because we started on Sunday and could get to camp till after church. We made it though and from that point on the camp was awesome. It has been so long since I've been to Highland Lakes and the new Conference room was huge. The lake was down a bit but it didn't stop students from blobbing and stuff. They also gave us a stretch limo golf cart to ride around in all week. It was fun cruising all week and I was proud of the guys for not breaking it. Tuesday night was an amazing night. Jeffrey Dean was our speaker and it was great getting to know him (www.jeffreydean.com). You should check him out and his books if you get a chance. I loved how practical he was when he spoke to the teens. So Jeffrey was speaking Tuesday night and at the end, as we came back up to stage, he gave an invitation and no lie- half the room got up and went outside. Now I know some were going with friends and stuff but there were over 80 decisions made that night!!! It is so amazing when the Spirit of GOd moves and we get a front row seat. I don't think I've ever led worship when half the room was missing- BUT I liked it. Students were turning their lives over to Jesus and the rest of us where just praising God.

Also, our good friend Matt Roberson was with us this week helping to lead worship and as always it was good just to be around Matt. He's a very gifted worship leader you can check out at (www.mattrobersononline.com)

We got to know the PR folks of Highland lakes pretty well all week so we'll just give a shout out to Natalie, Sarah, Ashley, and the others that I can't remember the names. They hooked us up with some pictures and movies so we'll have to post those ASAP!

Anyway, we're on to camp 5 and we're rested and refreshed and ready to go! Keep praying for us.

Steven

So we led worship this morning at our home church (FBC athens) and then had to be in Austin by 4pm! Seeing that Athens is 4 hours from the camp it was pretty tricky. Originally we thought we were supposed to be on Monday afternoon, but then I got a phone call yesterday and found out it started Sunday! We rushed, but didn't speed. I will say, I'm not trying to be a rebel or anything but I've been free from traffic tickets for a year and just got 3 within 2 days. NOT speeding. The first came when I crossed a solid white line after my lane ended and a bored cop saw it. Who get's pulled over for just driving over a solid white line. Really? Then I didn't have my insurance card with me! So then today we were pulled over because our license plate on the TRAILER was expired... didn't even know trailer license plates expire. Basically we're a band of rebels. So I've got some legal problems- sorry for going in to all that but we have to vent a little. We did have a week off this past week and it was so nice. Everyone was with family and enjoying our Independence weekend.

We're so pumped about this camp this week! We're at Lake Travis at Highland Lakes camp and tonight was an awesome Start! We'll keep you filled in this week because we actually have cell service and internet! yea!

steven

Bigger isn’t better. I’ve been thinking about this American idea that getting bigger things is better. Preachers being called to bigger church’s with more money and bands playing bigger camps and tours and stadiums ect. Man that always sounded good to me, but I’m not sure that’s in the bible much. I was listening to Mike (last camp speaker) talk about John the Baptist and his ministry was only 6 months long. Jesus said of him, “there is NO man born of a woman who is greater than John.” That would include, Moses, Elijah, David, ect. What an amazing thing for Jesus to say of someone. What was John’s ministry? He said, that he would decrease so that God would increase (Jn 3:30). John was all about pointing others to Jesus the Messiah. That in it’s simplest way was the whole of his ministry in 6 months before he was beheaded. No huge stage rather a wilderness. No cool clothes and elegant dining. He didn't have time for that stuff, he only has 6 months of ministry. Then I thought about Jesus’ way. He didn’t walk with a huge group. He took twelve people of whom were misfits and the outcast of society at best. With just twelve men (one who replaced Judas) Jesus changed the world. These twelve spread Jesus across the world. Paul would leave a place as things started to grow so he could go to the next place and disciple more.
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t desire my ministry, my songs, my life to on a bigger platform. In my flesh I desire to be at a huge church, leading worship at all the big camps and our songs being sung by the world. BUT God spoke to me this week. We were at a camp of 150 students and God told me, “is this not how I will use you to spread my fame through the world. DO not limit what I will do”. Who would ever know what these students are capable of? I have big hope and have interceded all week that THIS group of students would be SO set on fire with a joy and passion for GOD that it would spread like a wild fire through their towns, schools, and families. Instead of me feeling like we could make God “more” famous with more people, maybe I should invest more love and truth and my life in those He’s given me NOW. Same goes for you. DOn't wait till the bigger platform. Proclaim Christ now, where you are, with who you're with.T he less we are the GREATER He is. Our speaker this week (mike- who is a total God send to us) said EGO stands for Etching God Out. I never want to have an EGO, but I know it lurks in the dark corners of my heart. But I am resting today in the fact that God has me right where HE wants me. He doesn’t need me at SUPER youth camp or Six Flags over JESUS church. HE wants me to be faithful right where I am. GIVING all I have to those God has put in our charge. God rid me of the desire to be famous FOR that is the COMPLETE opposite attitude of a WORSHIP LEADER. I am totally content if for the rest of my days You pour your Spirit out through me to audiences of 2-20- so long as they catch Your fire and change the world. That’s much BIGGER and last much longer!

MAY YOU EVER INCREASE AS I GET LOWER AND LOWER. teach me how to serve

s

For the record- all the TEXAS Panhandle folks are awesome. These students were from towns we had never heard of, but we were so pumped to be them for a week and meet them all. Matt Koen (ym for FBC Wheeler) asked us to come lead at this camp over a year ago and I know it was God ordained! The name "Pan"fork insinuates a frying pan which was about right on the heat_BUT we are in a season of no complaining and we really didn't have much to complain about. God was moving in amazing ways literally every day. Ellie wasn't with us this week so we were a little more freed up. We got to know the camp speaker pretty well this week- His name is Mike Satterfield and if he's got a podcast YOU HAVE to subscribe and hear him! His ministry is here: www.fieldofgraceministries.org We were so spiritually refreshed and challenged this week by Mike's passion for God's word. He left the pulpit of his church in Birmingham to travel full time in evangelism - so lift him and his family up! What a great ministry he has.

We hung out at the pool a lot this week. We made up a couple games, but the main one was basically you couldn't leave till you made a shot on the pool basketball goal from across the pool. Some days were quicker than others. Rec time was some more dodgeball action. What's with the dodgeball game- could there be a more violent game to play with each other? Anyway, I know everyone was gunning for me. The camp staff came to worship each night and it was awesome getting to know a bunch of them. Congrats to Brett and Brandi who are about to get married.

Here's some video from this week at CAMP: