The Mission Project What we are doing, and how you can help.
About The Ancient Path
“I listen to The Ancient Path in the morning before I start the day and it keeps me focused on the ‘who’ and ‘why.’ In a world that distracts and demands, Psalm 23 centers and draws me to the Shepherd I long to follow.”
–Pastor Carl Keyes
Manhattan, New York
“The Ancient Path project applies the healing balm of God’s presence. Nothing is more needed today than to reconnect with the Father. Thank you Craig, for pointing us through God’s word to the ancient path.”
–Dr. David Shibley
President, Global Advance
Dallas, Texas
About This Project
My desk lamp remains the sole light source this quiet Friday evening. I am the only one still awake in our house. My wife fell asleep earlier on the living room couch and our youngest son Benjamin, the only one of our three sons still living with us, retired to his room upstairs sometime ago. This is my favorite place to read and write. The desk is a small one, a replica of an old World War II field desk, and it sits in the sunroom on the west side of our home. Three of the walls in the sunroom are covered by large floor to ceiling windows designed to open wide, which is how they are currently positioned, allowing all the sounds and scents of the surrounding woodlands to enter into the room.
The south side overlooks a sloping front yard, joining a meadow of approximately ten acres before reaching a tree-covered hillside bordering the far side of the field, and the north and west sides look out into the natural surroundings of a wooded landscape.
In the morning hours or at dusk it is not uncommon to see deer, fox squirrels, gray squirrels, rabbits, a dozen or so variety of birds or catch a glance of a opossum, raccoon, fox, or even coyote.
On the desk before me, is my favorite Bible, its black bonded leather cover, worn and ragged from years of use, and its pages now open to the Psalms. There is also a plain brown spiral notebook, a comfortable easy flowing writing pen and about eighteen inches away; resting on a wooden coaster with a cork center is a steaming hot mug of coffee.
The only sound I hear from outside are those created by a breeze lightly stirring leaves on the trees and from the various nocturnal creatures inhabiting the surrounding woods. Inside are the faint sounds of my pen gliding across the paper as I write and the second hand of a small cast metal battery operated clock on the opposite side of the desk from the lamp. My day began in this room early this morning and I have spent the entire time in worship, reading, writing, praying and occasionally strumming my guitar. Peaceful…yes very, very peaceful indeed.
At this point you might be thinking, “This guy has an incredibly peaceful, simple, stress free life.” Unfortunately, you would be wrong. Oh sure, it appears that way from what I have written thus far, but the truth is, I seldom get to enjoy this room or the God centered stress free environment. The peaceful, restful day I just described is actually a rare one indeed. You see, I reside in the same battleground as the rest of Christendom within the western hemisphere.
Overload caused by concerning world events, improper prioritizing, lack of self-discipline and short sightedness in placing time and resources on the truly valuable eternal things, those things bringing meaning and health to the heart. As a result, I get distracted by the multiple information bytes thrown at me during the course of any given day via the speed and marvel of the numerous technological advances developed to enhance my lifestyle. I once read an excerpt from a study done in the sixties, concerning how computers would eventually shorten the workweek, increase productivity and greatly decrease stress within our society by the early nineties. I wonder just how much more time and technology is required before we reach this technologically provided nirvana? Brennan Manning writes, “Our lives in the global village have grown overly complex and crowded. New obligations grow overnight like Jack’s beanstalk. Our days become a never-ending succession of appointments, committee meetings, burdens, and responsibilities.” Jesus promises peace and joy, but I think few within the western church consistently enjoy these bountiful gifts from God.
Meanwhile, we face bulging day-timers, increased activity and a host of other life juggling distractions. How many times have you asked someone how they’re doing and received a response something like this, “I’m busier than I have ever been.” Now “Busy” can be good when it is truly kingdom oriented, but there is probably much more wood, hay and stubble cluttering our lives than we are willing to admit or more importantly, bold enough to discard and change.
One only needs to scan a few shelves in the local Christian bookstore, listen to Christian radio, or some other form of Christian media to discover the foundation of our stress and worry stems from one primary root. The lack of carving out proper quiet time with God, the necessary quality time that restores our level of trust in Him and prepares us for all of life’s confrontations. Genuine trust leads us to peace, rest, hope, and joy, leading to mental, spiritual, and physical wholeness. As always, trusting in God leads to real life, “Zoe” life, the life flowing only from God according to the book of John.
The purpose of this project is narrow; to use the truth within Psalm Twenty Three to increase our level of trust in the Shepherd of our souls, lead us into His presence, and experience more of His peace and His rest.
I recently read a journal entry I had recorded during a prayer retreat, “Lord, I seek your presence, the place your glory dwells. Please help me have the wisdom to forsake the world’s system, the scurry, the busyness and vanity of this world for the treasure of your presence. Here is my home, the place I will be renewed and refreshed.” It seemed so easy to write, why so difficult to attain.
I hope this project will lead you to more time in stillness with the Father, with Jesus the Shepherd of our souls. May it bring restoration and renewal some of the treasures found within the Ancient Path.
I find myself somewhat of an odd emissary, for the very message I bring is also the one I seek.
–Craig Smith
Biographies
CRAIG SMITH
Craig has been involved in the Christian music industry since the mid-1970’s as a recording artist and worship leader, selling nearly one half million units. Spending from 1976-1981 touring and recording, and serving as worship leader for David Wilkerson Ministries for almost four years. His gift has brought him both commercial success and a respected place in the Body of Christ as a psalmist whose work has echoed the heartbeat of God throughout the changing seasons of the last three decades.
Craig has written and produced several national top 10 releases. His 1988 album, Worship, was nominated for a Dove Award and he was named Sesac’s Inspirational Songwriter of the year in 1989. Released in 2000, Your Kingdom Come combined themes found in the Lord’s Prayer and became a chart-topping CD in the fall of that year.
In May of 1996, Craig became the pastor of his home church in Fort Smith, Arkansas and since then has spent less time traveling and more time involved at the local level, ministering from the “inside out.” As a pastor, Craig uses his musical gifts to minister to his home church, going out from there to share his gifts and love for Christ and His Kingdom with many thousands of others.
Discography
The Grand Arrival—Star Song Records (1978)
Maker—Star Song Records (1981)
Scepter—Star Song Records (1982)
Hymns—Star Song Records (1983)
Spin 180—Benson Records coop (1987)
Worship—Benson Records (1988)
Songs to the Father of Life—Benson Records (1989)
Echoes of Innocence—Star Song Records (1992)
Quest for Freedom—Star Song Records (1994)
Behind the Veil—Brentwood Records (1996)
Your Kingdom Come—Integrity Music (2000)
Sing for Joy, Integrity Songwriters—Integrity Music (2001)
The Ancient Path—(2008)
PAUL MILLS
Paul Mills is a gold and platinum award-winning producer, engineer and composer living in Franklin, Tennessee, responsible for the sale of over 8 million units so far in his career. He works primarily with Contemporary Christian artists like Twila Paris, Jason Morant, Robin Mark, Darrell Evans, Phillips Craig and Dean, Newsong, Darrell Evans, and numerous Hosanna Integrity projects. He has been nominated for 9 Dove Awards, including Producer of the Year, and has won twice. American Songwriter Magazine named him Christian Producer of the Year for 1998.
Paul also works as a film composer. He has written scores for programs shown on NBC, The Disney Channel, the Discovery Channel, and Public Television, as well as four feature films including Kill the Man and Still Breathing for October Films.
Recently Paul has been working with BLUETREE, a worship band from Belfast, N. Ireland who wrote the song “God Of This City” and whose record will be released in March of 2009. He is also finishing up a new live worship record for Robin Mark (“Days Of Elijah”, Revival In Belfast).