Just a little tease :)

The new YWAM Denver School of Worship album is out and Erika and I were blessed to be able to sing one of the tracks. Here is a little ghetto video from the CD release party of us singing "Lost in Love." Hope you enjoy!!!

We are currently still working on our own personal EP (cd of 6 songs) and will hopefully be releasing, "Threshing Floor" sometime around the new year. If you are interested in donating to help us duplicate please let me know! It will cost us at least around $700 for us to finish up this process, but we're excited to see God work and provide for us!

Love to you all!! and a VERY VERY Merry Christmas! I'm off to ALABAMA!! WOOHOO!

Do you hear bells?!

It started just outside of Vail with a little hike

We were happy to be out from the city


Just soaked in the outdoors

Made it to the top (the falls are just right behind us)

Took some pics and ate lunch

We like taking pictures ;)

Ate some Kvikk Lunsj (A Norwegian hiking tradition!)

My personal Kvikk Lunsj model ;)

The Turtles came with.... of course
(Erika takes these guys EVERYWHERE she goes)

After a few gifts at the top for our 1 year anniversary (they were just decoys) we hiked down and stopped along the way. I washed her feet, read a letter, and seamlessly popped out a little box with a shiny ring!

Through her tears and sobs she managed out a faint YES!



We're Engaged!!!

Take Time

I'm learning to take time....Time is a strange fellow. He is around all the time, but usually tends to be a cruel ruler over our lives, dictating our actions. My life in the past two weeks has gone from having a decent amount of free time to a more rigid schedule of events, but I am realizing that if I take a hold of Time and make him my servant instead of my dictator then there can be a freedom within that. It's a process....learning what's priority and what isn't....who is priority in my life and who can I wait to talk to later. I don't have it down. I'm DEFINITELY still learning and fighting with this old man Time... He's been around a bit longer than I and knows his way around; so I'm trying to learn my own ways or tactics to beat him into submission :)

The School of Worship just started last week, October 5th. I'm so excited to finally have met the students as I have been praying for over the past month. We split the 16 students up into 3 bands. I have 5 students that are so excited to be in a band and are hungry for what God is going to speak to them and how He will be challenging them in this time! Their first songs were due this past Monday and we were able to gather at my house for them to share them with the rest of the band. (I just received a beautiful upright piano on Monday afternoon at my house!! Praise the LORD) They were nervous but excited. It is such a joy to be able to see the life and talent that God has placed inside these students and I can't wait to start to transform these songs from just an acoustic feel to a full band! Our first song presentations as a band are next Friday where we will be able to hear what the other 2 bands have been working on and get an idea of what the album for this school may start to sound like.

From Left to Right:
Cory, Rebecca, Kevin, Katrina, and Mary
(they affectionately call themselves "The Will Strickland Project")

This is the beginning of a great 3 month journey with so many challenges of my own within that time... I am moving... hopefully towards the goals that God has set before me...and with a grace that encourages those along my way.

A thought for today

"You can only multiply the quality of your own life; and if the quality of your life is needy then what you create will then follow that." Patrick Dodson

Not a new concept, but just a good reminder and challenge for me to be checking up on my own quality of life.

This guy has TONS of podcasts... and he has SUCH amazing wisdom.. check him out.... just click on his name.

These times... They are a changin'

In 2 days I will be helping to lead the School of Worship here at YWAM Denver. We have 16 students that are coming to dig deep into the reasons of why their heart beats so strongly to the rhythm of leading people into the presence of God. I hope to be a part of that process as I personally lead a band of 6 students; coaching them, encouraging them, challenging them, and pushing them forward in their gifts, talents, and desires. We have students from the U.S., Nepal, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Albania, England, and Canada. It's going to be a fun next 3 months!

Over the past several weeks God has been challenging me about the word "Expect." There are two different realities that I am seeking to plunder into my heart and figure out. The first being that of the expectations that are put on our lives... either by other people or ourselves... but mainly how those expectations affect us. I make certain decisions, be it positive or negative, because of what is expected of me. Seeking to find out what those expectations are can be as simple as noticing how someone greets you with a hug (expecting that you will reciprocate) or maybe more personal, like how you react to certain stressful stimuli. The challenge for me currently is that I would not let any expectations dictate how I act or who I am. When I feel as though I "should" be something, but know that maybe that's not the true "Will" that I want to be, I am now trying to respond, react, or be the reflection of Christ that I know I am... rather than what is just simply expected of me.

The second "expect" part is that of an expectancy. I woke up a few weeks ago on a normal Monday morning and was just having a chat with God. After the typical greetings and salutations I sensed that He was asking me what I was expecting from worship at the base that morning. Slowly I began to realize that I expected nothing.... I expected that we would sing some songs, maybe someone would give a Scripture or a word of exhortation/ encouragement, there would be a few announcements, and then I would leave and begin to prepare lunch for the base. In that moment, I had this sense of broken heartedness come over me. How could I go into the presence of God and not expect one single thing from Him? Why don't I walk in hoping, praying, and expecting God for miracles, for chains to be broken off peoples lives, for relationships to be restored, for His manifest presence to be so thick that we have to fall on our faces in humble adoration and holy fear?!

So here I am, seeking to identify the expectations that are on my life that hold me back from being the man of God I truly desire to be, and desiring to live in an everyday expectancy that God is going to miraculously transform lives. These next three months are going to be intense and I am expecting God to do GREAT things.

How long is too long?

Do you know those seasons of life where you keep wanting to do something and then before you know it 6 months goes by? That's me.... with my blog. :( It took me a while to get re-acclimated to life here in the states and I jumped right into life at YWAM Denver again. The transition has been interesting, exciting, new, and routine all at once.
When I got back from Norway, I dove into meetings with leadership, friends, and pastors in an attempt to get my life back in order here in Denver. Unfortunately my desire to get organized and focused made me so busy that I didn't make time for simple things like updating my blog. For that.... I am sorry and as of now is changing!

So here's the scoop in a few short sentences....I'm loving being back in Denver. Erika and I are doing great and I can't wait for her to come join me out here for her Phase 2 starting October 5th. I am the assistant director for the School of Worship starting October 5th, and will be taking over the school for next year!! and... I have started a youth band at my church.

Now that I've got this all out of the way I can start giving more regular updates. Just having the large monster of me not writing anything in SOOO long has kept me from doing it, so now that won't be a problem!

Unfortunately, I won't be able to grace my blog with any more pictures as my one and only camera bit the dust my last week in Norway :( I'm praying for a new Digital SLR so that I can continue to capture life as I see it. Thankfully I still have some awesome pictures from all the travels to choose from!

Give me a few days and I'll let you know more details of what I'm up to in my life and what God is teaching me.

On the way up!

WOW! What to say.....I feel as though my whole life has turned into something different since I last posted several weeks ago. God has been revealing Himself to me in new ways and just really showing Himself faithful to bring good gifts.
Since I last updated, Wellspring went back on a short tour to the east coast of Norway to a town called, Hamar. Where I actually led worship one night in Norwegian, we played a concert in a local cafe, and led worship for a Sunday Norwegian confirmation service. The last two weeks we've been back in Skien working on the base doing practical work. I've done everything from putting up walls of sheet rock to grinding out mortar from in between bricks. Its been a great two weeks of work and fellowship with the YWAM Skien staff.

A cafe in Hamar where we had a concert

God has really been giving me personal breakthrough with all the spiritual strongholds in the area and as well blessing me with friendships that are encouraging and life giving. I am leaving this place in only 6 days and I am happy to say that I am honestly sad to go. I never wanted to leave Norway with the attitude of not liking it here. It was important for me to see victory while I was still in the midst of the place of struggle.... to have life in a place that so easily brought death to my spirit... and now I believe that I truly have!! Also, I realize that I have made some great friends here in this place and have learned so much about my own heart, leadership style, and the authority that God has given me as a man of God.
I am daily crying out for God's wisdom and He continues to teach me how to fear Him. :) This time here in Norway has brought about a breaking in my spirit and an opening in my heart that could never have come without the catalyst of this country and these people.

Visiting my friend Karen that I met during her SOW in Denver

we led worship for the confirmation service in Hamar... you can see Helga has her national costume on, on the far left.

Hard times

Life has been good over the past few months for me..... however within these weeks it has been some of the more challenging times of my life. I feel drained, weak, and heavy hearted. The strongholds that are in Norway (and more specifically Skien) are depression and apathy, which has definitely affected me. I often times want to hide in my room and do nothing for no reason; and coming here to Poland I have felt an increased loneliness and worthlessness. I know all these things are lies and I'm praying against them daily and replacing them with the Truth of the Word, but I am weary. I want to come home; somewhere that is familiar, where I actually have friends instead of strangers with names that I can't pronounce. This has not been easy for me.... to be dealing with so many thoughts, questions, and wonderings all in one very jamp packed, fast paced several months.

The one breath of fresh air that I have had was recording week. Though it was hard work and draining in its own way, it was wonderful. Why? Because I was with two American's that I felt I had known for a long time, even though I just met them the same week. It was amazing to be around musicians with the same heart and the same understanding of the Norwegian culture.
I'm reminded of my outreach to Egypt 8 years ago and how that was one of the hardest times of my life but also the most fruitful.... I'm clinging on to that and praying that this will bear much fruit as well. I can tell you this... when I get home... I will not take it for granted! Not that I did before actually, because in reality I've basically been away from home since December, so the little moments I had there in between I cherished.

Please pray that God will continue to give me the wisdom and strength to finish well here in Norway. I really want to make an impact here at the base in Skien, Norway. Right now.... I'm still in Warsaw, Poland but we fly out tomorrow morning at 12:40. I'll give more details on that tomorrow or the next day once I get my pictures uploaded.

The Threshing Floor

the fantastic four

This past week Erika and I undertook the ambitious task of recording 5 songs in 5 days with our two dear friends Caleb and Erin Paxton. I have been fans of their music ever since Erika sent me their album but getting to meet them.... record with them.... spend 16 hour days with them.... laugh my head off with them....and talk about our lives together has been one of the most memorable times in my life to date. Getting to write music and record it is a birthing process that takes time, pain, labor, and hopefully results in great joy; they have been through this as a couple and were an amazing encouragement to Erika and I individually and as a couple. I can't recall myself ever feeling so connected to someone so quickly...it was truly a great joy to get to know them.

The music for our little EP, if you will, won't be done for a little bit longer since we have to mix all the tracks, get it mastered, and figure out a way distributing it. I want to thank you for any prayers that you may have lifted up on our behalf this past week, it was an intense time. There is a growing excitement within my heart as we begin to make this idea of music into a reality and I'm eager for you all to be able to let it speak to you. When we get closer to being done with the final product I'll be sure to let you know more details.

ME!..... Vocals, piano, guitar, drums and a shaker!
(and as you can see in the background... we spent a LOT of time playing speed scrabble)

Our beautiful piano at the Methodist church where we did a lot of recording

Erika!.....Vocals, violin, piano, and cello

Erin!....Glockenspiel, accordian, and vocals

The last day!! almost there!!


There was Caleb as well who played the mandolin and did 90% of the recording!
What a trooper!

Italia

If you don't already know, Erika and I found $25 flights to Italy and were able to visit my wonderful new cousin (she married into the family) Sarah! We were blessed beyond belief by her wonderful southern hospitality and knowledge of Venice. It was everything we hoped it would be and was such a great time of rest and rejuvenation for us, as we had just come off the tour around the west coast of Norway with the Wellspring band.

I actually have been talking to a guy named Georg Kivijarvi who was at one of our concerts at a cafe in Kopervik, NO. He wrote me on facebook and told me about how when he heard our music it made something in his heart change and he suddenly had an urge to read the Bible. It's amazing to see this 16 year old kid that isn't from a Christian family begin to search for answers simply from hearing a concert and hanging out with a few believers. We weren't sharing the Gospel, but simply let our hearts be known and the music speak. I love it when we are able to see such obvious fruit from our labors! Please pray with me as I continue to stay in contact with him that the Lord speaks to his heart and he joins the family!!

Before I get back to talking about wonderful Italy, I just wanted to let you guys know that I'm not done with my traveling. I'm joining YWAM Skien in their vision for an outreach called RISK. From here in Skien, Norway we are sending out teams to be in every European nation from May 20-25 to do strategic evangelism and simulataneous intercession and worship! It's a sweet opportunity to really bring the continent of Europe up in prayer and to plant seeds in the process. Erika and I are taking a team to Warsaw, Poland and are so excited to see what God will do through us while we're there! It's costing us about $300 to get there and I'm not sure about food and such while we are actually there, but we'll probably fasting some of the time... so that will help :) If you're interested in helping to specifically support me in this please contact me via my email (bihoasis@gmail.com) or send a tax deductible check to YWAM Denver, 12750 W. 63rd Ave, Denver, CO 80004.

Alright.... NOW to the good stuff...

THE ALPS!!!

Downtown Sacile, Italy, where my cousin lives and works with the Air Force

Sarah (my new cousin and our most gracious host)

A castle near Trieste, Italy

We made it to VENICE!!
From our view here we're looking at St. Marks Basilica

Enjoying some FABULOUS gelato!

Around every corner was another beautiful picture!

This week Erika and I are working on a recording project of our own original material and have been blessed to be joined by two of her friends Erin and Caleb Paxton who are amazing musicians of their own. They are here to help us with the actual recording and to put in their own artistic flair to our work. We're so excited to see this happen and hope that many of you will be blessed by the fruits of our labors. This process does take a lot of time and some money, so if you want to donate to the "Threshing Floor Project" then feel free to let me know. Thanks again for all the prayer and support that I receive to help make my ministry and life possible! I can't do it without you!

Prophetic painting

Today we were sort of "commissioned" to do some prophetic painting at this non Christian University campus in Stavanger, Norway by a christian organization that is present on the campus. Tomorrow we're playing 3 shows at 3 different locations during the day, so that will be sweet to be able to sing and worship all over campus!
But today we got out our paints, easels, and canvases and went to work in this big hall of one of the main buildings. 4 of us just standing there.... painting...praying.... singing.... talking... thinking.... stopping to talk to passers by. It was great! I actually had an idea of what I was to paint and why as I was painting it, but wasn't sure who it was for (we paint the paintings and then pray for God to show us who to give them to and what they mean for them specifically). After an hour we had to move on and get some food, so I finished up and waited.
Several hours later Erika headed up teaching a course to about 15 very eager students about prophetic painting: the heart behind it, the usefulness of it, how to express God's heart within your own abilities, as well as simple techniques and painting structures. While she was teaching I had a sense that recipient of my painting was there in the room, so I began to scan and see who it might be. AHA! There he is....!! .... but then I waited. We began to paint again and I started a new painting and just waited for the right time to give him his painting. Finally at the end we had a chance to share about what God was speaking to us in our paintings and his painting was derived from some inspiration from Proverbs 4:23... which is one of my life verses! Recently God has been teaching me about what exactly "guarding my heart" means and how I have instead put up a wall around my heart in the past years; so I am currently working on tearing down that wall!! Anyway, he began to share and everything he said made me want to jump up and down and scream "YES, YES!" It was so amazing! He was speaking what my heart had been learning about this verse and I KNEW that this painting was for him because we were both coming from similar places.
Here is the painting that I gave him.

It is a picture of a flame that is a powerful, white hot, but needs to purpose itself to be around other similar flames (you can see the "other flame" in the top left corner) in order to guard itself from the darkness that so eagerly wants to overcome it. There was more, but I'll spare you any more details.... just know that it was a word for him that spoke right to his heart! I felt so blessed to be able to serve God in such a fun and exciting way. If you're an artist... I HIGHLY suggest you step out and try it sometime in a downtown area or maybe on your front porch.. and if you're not an artist.... go for it anyway!

Covering ground

Since the last post that I made in Alesund, Norway; I have made it much further down the west coast of Norway. Sandane, Bergen, Haugesund, and Stavanger. Go ahead... see if you can find them.

At each stop we've able to do so many different things from speak in schools, play in coffee shops, have times of prophetic painting, and lead worship at many churches! It has been an amazing adventure, and I can't believe that I'm able to get SOO much of Norway while I'm here and really experience the culture.
The culture here is very religious and steeped in tradition, which does not really leave much room for the Holy Spirit and we have felt the affects of it. At each stop we try to really pray and seek the Lord for what His heart is for the people and how we can personally minister to them where they are at. Erika has a huge heart for worship as well as ministry directly for the congregation, so many meetings lead into times of us praying over individuals and giving prophetic words for them. It has really been such a joy!! Here are some more pics of our travels.

This is Sandane, Norway! completely surrounded by mountains on 3 sides and the beautiful fjord on the fourth!

Yesterday we decided to go to Preikestolen (which means "The Pulpit" in English). Its a very famous natural wonder in Norway and the world. A beautiful view and just a shear cliff dropping FOREVER into the fjord! We were about an hour or so away from the top at this point in the journey.

This is a bit of a funny view, but it continues to go down even further!!

"Hanging" off the edge :)


A Norwegian camping lunch! Hot dogs, disposable grill, oranges, and kvikk lunsj for dessert!
Seriously.... the WHOLE country eats then when they go camping/ hiking.. especially at Easter.

at the top!


Erika and I


a beautiful view.... and Helga on the bottom right


back at the bottom!~! We conquered!


Wellspring leading worship with a church's youth band here in Randaberg. Such a great group of kids!! Later that night after the meeting we did a little concert and were able to just spend some time with the youth.

On the Way to Alesund, Norway

Yesterday we drove 777 Kilometers, went through approximately 27 tunnels, and saw over 100 waterfalls, in 11 hours of driving from Skien, Norway to the west coast of the country.... Alesund! Here are a few shots that I was able to snap off while we were driving by. It s times like these that my heart grew weary of not having a proper camera to truly capture the glory of God's creation. I know that these shots are beautiful... but I couldn't even capture some of the most breathtaking scenes! Absolutely STUNNING!

This is the view from the back porch of the house where we're staying at!