B l o g S p o t
 | Branon Dempsey of Worship Team Training Thoughts and Reflections on Worship, Life and Ministry. |
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November 17, 2008 The Fall of Change The Fall is my favorite time of the year. There’s something sweet about the colors of amber, mahogany, deep red and orange. There’s something refreshing about the cool wind and the crackling of leaves under your feet. Toasty fires, mocha coffee and a harvest moon seems to kindle my heart. Over the weekend, my wife and I went back to our favorite old town square. The streets are lined with antique black lampposts among old maple and oak trees. Early century small shop houses invite you for a visit and some window shopping. The brisk weather rustled through the leaves with the sounds of horse drawn carriages and the laughter of children. I asked my wife, “why do we enjoy the fall?” She replied, “the fall brings change as well as memories.” In amazement, I thought of how all the colors, smells and sounds appealed to my senses. Each association was coupled by a fond memory. Jumping into a pile of leaves with my friends, fire-side deserts with my family and long walks with my high school sweetheart (now my wife). These are great memories. If you can’t tell already, I love trees, particularly the branches and leaves. For me, the changing colors, shapes and sizes remind me of life. Leaves indicate the changing of time. Leaves also provide shelter, food, gardening and are a resource for other uses. I love the way leaves provide scenery: sunrises and sunsets, on top of mountains, through the river, along-side of oceans and even in the desert (well, at least there’s cactus). All of these environments bring a palate of inspirations and responses. I was amazed in connecting the dots between memories and events stemmed by one season. There were good memories as well as bad. Some days were my most difficult struggles, while others brought unspeakable joy. Each memory was tied to a relationship and/or person. Each thought was a reminder of how things change, like the passing of time seen from the leaves of trees. Change is not easy for some, while it is embraced by others. However, there are things in life, where we do not want to see change. Sometimes, we want to hang on to the moment and hope of its eternity. Letting go can be so hard, even when we can’t understand the winds of change. Looking down can feel so lonely, that you can’t even see through the trees. Trying to figure out our direction, where to go and what to do, can be like waiting for spring in the midst of winter. All in all, things must change. Jesus says "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” Jn. 15:1-4. The act of cutting and pruning of the branches is painful. Change involves the removal of old to bring forth new. He is not only our Father but our Gardener. Like a caretaker of crops, He know exactly how and where to prune in places we cannot see or know. He knows the right tools to use and the right time. He also knows what kind and how much pressure to use. All the while, He is cleaning, purifying and gently caring for us. He knows how much pain we can bear and how much we cannot. LIke the falling of leaves and the passing of branches, we witness the results of His pruning. Our comfort lies in how and what He is saving us from. At this point, our faith really is the evidence of things unseen. Think about how ginormous and frightening our problems would be if we can see all that God sees. “but God, can’t I have just a peek?!” Then the Lord whispers, “No, my child, because I know what is best for you,” It’s funny how a silent whisper can speak so clearly. God has to pass over us first before we can see what He is doing. Think about how God showed his glory to Moses. God had to pass by him first. Even when God passed, Moses could only see the backside of Him, and even this was more than enough. Our God, Father, Gardener and Gentle Shepherd, knows our needs even before we ask (Ps. 139:4; Matt. 6:32b). We can take comfort in the passing of change through the seasons. May we be forever plugged into His vine to feed on his faithfulness (Read Ps. 37:1-11). As you go through this fall of whatever change you are facing, hold on to the good memories, the good colors and the good that fills your senses. Let go of what is falling and passing. Our bodies are just a shell. May the comfort we find in this season be used to comfort others who maybe falling. The Lord breathes new life again into our souls. He refreshes our branches as a good Gardener. He desires to see us reap a harvest of righteousness - to never give up. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” - Gal. 6:9 |
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November 11, 2008 Veteran’s Day Happy Veteran’s Day! We commemorate all of you who have served and who are still serving our country today. This day is special to our family as both our sets of parents and extended family were in the armed forces. Each and everyday, beyond November 11th, is worth celebrating our freedom and celebrating the individuals who protect it. We would not be able to worship freely and have our homes and families safe without their love and loyalty to defend this great nation. We appreciate each of you and your families for your dedicated sacrifice and patriotism. We continue to pray for you as you remember, recover and help restore our United Sates of America. Thank you for protecting, preserving and empowering our liberty. We join with you in the continued efforts of sustaining our country’s freedom. May God’s blessings flow and His Spirit continue to guide. We love you. |
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November 4, 2008 Election Day Election Day is here in America. A day of choosing. A time to serve our country in performing our reasonable act of service through voting. Election Day is also a time when we think of liberty, patriotism and sacrifice. We have all the icons to help remind us of our heritage. I tend to think of our country's flag, in what it represents and means. Remember the term "Old Glory,"? This famous name was coined by Captain William Driver, a shipmaster of Salem, Massachusetts, in 1831. As he was leaving on one of his many voyages aboard the brig CHARLES DOGGETT - and this one would climax with the rescue of the mutineers of the BOUNTY - some friends presented him with a beautiful flag of twenty four stars. As the banner opened to the ocean breeze for the first time, he exclaimed "Old Glory!" Through generations, words and phrases have different meanings to everyone. In the Church, we have a vocabulary that underscores what we acknowledge, believe and live. Even terms like "offering," have their own associations. One person may think of the time when the organ is played during the passing of the plate. Another may think of sacrifice, mercy and submission. I like to think of Paul's exhortation as he instructed us to offer our bodies to the Lord as living sacrifices (Rm12:1). The clincher for me is found at the end of verse 1: "this is your spiritual act of worship." (NIV). My personal favorite is found in the NKJV, "which is your reasonable service." When is the last time you thought of your offering as a reasonable service, rather than a special-extra point? Offering, sacrifice and obedience are three words that define our being and Christian heritage. As followers of Jesus, our reasonable service is to offer our daily lives to His will. We walk in His Spirit and choose the right ways of God to produce fruit. (Gal. 5:13-26). I am reminded of these truths even when I look at our own American flag. I see the red stripes of His offering and the white for His purity. The blue reminds me of His sacrifice and justice to save mankind. The stars help me remember that He is Maker and Creator of all life and the universe. In everything of who I am, He has made me to worship Him and to live as His sacrifice. Choose this day to offer yourself to His serivce on this election day and forever. (Jos. 24:15). |
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October 31, 2008 Choose Wisely - Forum Discussion I love the old Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Remember the part when the Grail Knight encouraged Indie to choose wisely? There is allot to be said about this statement. How is making the right choice involved when selecting your worship team? Read this week's Topic Forum and hear what others are saying. If you'd like, give us your response and join the conversation! Forum Question: Choose Wisely - enough said! There are many perspectives and standards in the selection process of worship team members. We have ministries who audition or choose individuals from inside the church, we also have some who borrow members from other churches in order to fill-in. How is the right choice made? What are the repercussions that happen afterward? This opens a big can of worms. Considering these individual team members are Christ followers, we place a high value and expectation that the leaders and upfront singers have a solid authentic walk in their relationship with God. What about selecting other participants and band members who may not have a churched background? Bob Kauflin Worship Pastor Ministry: www.sovgracemin.org Church: www.covlife.org Blog: www.worshipmatters.com The key issue for me is who is gathering on Sunday morning. If what we’re engaged in is a media production, drawing a crowd, or a motivational event, then it’s not as important who does what. But if we are the gathering of the church, the called out ones, those whom Jesus Christ has redeemed by his blood, who have professed faith in his substitutionary sacrifice, and are seeking to live for his glory, then it matters. In talking about the church Acts 5:13-14 says, “None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women.” I’d say that we’ve come a long way from “none of the rest dared join them” when we’re inviting non-Christians to be involved in leading/serving roles in the church. We may see people saved in the short run, but there are certainly other ways that can happen that don’t blur the distinction between the church and the world. In our sincere desire for the church to be a community where non-Christians feel welcome and see the gospel in action we can blur the distinction between those who are owned by Christ and those who aren’t, between those who have trusted in Christ and those who haven’t, between those who live for the kingdom of light and those who live for the kingdom of darkness. If that sounds polarizing, it’s because that’s the way God describes our position - inside or outside of Christ ( Rom. 12:4-5; 2 Cor. 5:17 2 Corinthians 5:17; Col. 1:13Colossians 1:13. Christians are those who have been reconciled, redeemed, restored, and made right with the Father. We gather as his people to celebrate and remember the grace we’ve received in Christ. Unbelievers are welcome to come and observe our common bond in the gospel, and hopefully be affected by it. That’s always our prayer. But for the sake of the Gospel and the purity of the church let’s encourage them to put their trust in the Savior through our example, witness, speech, love, and proclamation—not by asking them to participate in worship that is only possible through the regenerating work of the Spirit. We don’t want to potentially lead them and the church to believe they’re already part of the redeemed community before they’ve been redeemed. - Bob K. John Telman Worship Pastor Musicians in a worship band are no different from the singers. They are people of deep relationship with Jesus. It is expected that they also sing and even more, live a lifestyle of worship. This is paramount otherwise we would be better off singing to a recording. Musicians, most often are seen by the congregation. They are people who exhibit all emotions. Just because they play an instrument does not make them an exception to the criteria that we hold for singers. Skills are important. Spiritual maturity is also important. That does not mean that the musician selected for ministry needs to have an M.Div but he needs to be equally in love with Jesus. My father had only one criteria for ministry when he lead worship 30 plus years ago. "Does he have a song in his heart for the Lord." - John T. Terri Welch Worship Programming Assistant i used to attend a church that had paid soloists. there was always a debate around budget time whether we should be paying people to sing. but they were awesome to hear. God-centered music played well can lift the congregation's spirits up to feel the presence of God, and God can use any vessel He wants to communicate His presence. God-centered music played badly but earnestly by believers can also lift the congregation's spirits up, but it may have a tougher path. On the other hand, what if a new Christian sees someone that he recognizes from the worship band drunk in a bar or something? i think if a church makes the decision to use non-Christian musicians, then the church has to talk to the musicians they are considering hiring, and talk to them about the musician's lifestyle -- no judgment involved of course -- not every non-Christian out there is doing drugs or drinking to excess. i hope regular exposure to the gospel and to followers of Jesus would have a positive effect on them, and God would grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth. but i would also hope that if there are members of the congregation who wanted to play, that they could be trained, and encouraged to sharpen their skills. perhaps have several worship teams, and let the B and C team play every 4 to 6 weeks. - Terri W. Ryan Dahl PraiseCharts CEO This is a tough issue to answer emphatically, one way or the other. To me, this issue brings out more than just dichotomy of "Christian" vs. "not-Christian." What about the entire span in-between? At what point does a person's character and lifestyle exclude them from being able to participate in the worship band? You could have someone who has publically declared their faith in Christ, but during the week, they are hanging out in the bars and having an affair. On the other hand, you could have someone who is brand new to the whole idea of church, but they have a background in music, and they would love to get involved to experience more of what church is all about. All that to say, this whole issue is very complex. There is no Bible verse that gives a clear answer. So, this is how I would answer it. Somewhere down the line, the leadership of the church has to determine what direction they are going to go. Then, they should make it very clear, up front. Then, anyone on the team or in the church should support that decision without making a big theological issue of it. I think the theological issue at stake here is the ability for people in the church to submit to leadership and authority in the church. Some decisions don't have clear, Bible-verse answers - they just need to be made through wisdom and integrity. This is one of those issues. It is not wrong to have a non-Christian play guitar on a church stage. It is also not wrong to refrain from having a non-Christian play guitar on a church stage. It is wrong to have strife and unsubmissive attitudes by people in the church in response to whatever decision is made. - Ryan D. |
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October 23, 2008 As We Are Over this past weekend, my wife and I participated in a community volunteer work-day near downtown Houston. We began the day with indoor and outdoor painting as well as landscaping. About 40 people arrived to roll up their sleeves and put in some hard work for Fonwood Elementary School. You may wonder why this school, which is funded by the state is in need of assistance. There are many schools in Houston and in the greater areas that are under funded. It is truly unfortunate; schools in this situation must rely on the community for help. Later that morning, we were about to roll paint on the exterior walls of the courtyard. I was trying to organize and determine the painting areas. Something/someone tugged on to the loose end of my shirt. I turned around and found a 7 year old boy named Stefan. He was bright-eyed and quick to help. Stefan asked me if i knew what I was doing. I chuckled and replied, “I’m just learning, and I can use your help.” He quickly grabbed a paint roller and a bucket, while whisking me away to a section of the wall. He wanted to show me what he can do. He also wanted me to help him do it better. In watching my every move, he was a quick study as we painted the tile sections. He kept saying, “you know allot about painting.” I mentioned that my dad was a contractor for more than 20 years. I just learned how to watch and listen, just as Stefan was already doing. Stefan was a huge help! Full of energy, determination and spunk. We finished all the sections and later went to lunch. He sat right beside me and showed me pictures of his family. We laughed and laughed about our morning work. He looked like the most happiest kid around town. Before we left for the day I shared a few encouragements with Stefan. I reminded him about our painting job: just as easy as you have a talent, you can be anything you want to be with that gift. I encouraged him not to let anyone tell him otherwise, but to follow his dreams. Stefan had nothing to prove; he simply came seeking a friend - just as he was. That day God gave me a gift in using Stefan. He showed me another glimpse of the Father’s love. You see, Stefan was not interested in painting more than having a friend. He needed a friend that he could believe in. He cared about being cared for in having validation, esteem and acceptance. This is exactly who we are before our heavenly Father. He accepts us just as we are. He is the one who comes and finds us. He is the one who loves to give us the desires of our hearts as they are connected to the Father. As God found Adam in the Garden, he daily walks through and around our lives seeking us. I am thankful for Stefan and our friendship. It is so good to be reminded of how God feels about us and what he says: “The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: "Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.” Jer. 31:3  |
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October 21, 2008 Running Where are you running: to or from? It seems in this day in age that this question has become standard and accepted reality. All of us are too busy. More than what we are able to control. And I guess that’s it. For me at least. Control. We either want it, need it or wonder if we are losing it. A very good friend of mine in the biz reminded me of this valuable fact. When I’m in a hurry, I miss it. When I spend more time on something, I can cover more of the details. I do not have to always run or hit it so hard. But that’s just it - when do we have time for that?! It seems like we are always running. This can be from anything or to anything. Rest and patience have become my two greatest teachers over this year. When I am at rest, I have no reason to run. When I am patient, I have no reason to worry. Simple to say, hard to do. Think about the areas of your life. What keeps you running and where to. There was a man who was afraid for his life. This man was a thief. Stole something that was not his. He had the ambition to take life into his own hands for the sake of control. Away from God, away from his family and away from people. His fear caught up with him and woke him from his sleep. A ladder appeared towards heaven. The voice of God spoke and said “I will give you this land. I am with you. I will watch over you where ever you go.” (Gn. 28.13-15 surmised) Trust is a serious issue. It takes faith and belief to grant the permission of trust. Many of us have been betrayed and trust is not easy to recover. Only the power of God can slow our run to a walk. Only the power of God can cause us to rest. Only the power of God can help us trust in order to live again. For me, I know he already has me right where he wants me. Even though I cannot see the other side of this mountain - He can. My trust in Him depends on my ability to fully believe. He already has promised us what he will do. He will never leave us nor forsake us (Matt. 28.20). It is this kind of promise that calls us into rest - His rest. |
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October 16, 2008 Joe The Plumber, Joe Sixpack and Joe Schmoe After watching the presidential candidate debate, I was struck by the enormity of our ever increasing family unit issues in our country. The economic state, health care and education are the top issues we face as a nation. We also see alarming issues in the Church in view of our congregations and their family units. Recently, my wife and I decided to get back to the basics for our family. We enjoy watching TV during dinner, but we have realized that this environment drowns out daily discussions and quality face time. We have a set schedule every day, which includes daily exercise at the gym (as a family) before coming home. By the time dinner is over, and chores are done, we wonder where our time has gone. We are now back at the table. So how does this all affect our daily worship with God and worship in the Body? As you may be aware the decline of church attendance and the incline of divorce/immoral rates are staggering. This is not coincidental, neither is this reality-parallel anything new. However, these findings are alarming as they do affect our outlook on God, relationships and community. As morality and the family unit shifts, so do we see the wakes in our churches and in our neighborhoods. Maybe like you, I have seen more and more people disinterested in engaging in cooperate worship. People are not as open in discussions. People are far too busy and in a rush. Last but not least, we drive too fast and cut people off in the church parking lot. We are simply consumed by life’s responsibilities. I catch myself often when my time with God, family and/or friends ebbs away due to business. He then reminds me of what is truly important in what I value and prioritize. For example, in my relationship and engagement with my family, there is something strong and solid about coming together at the table. There is also a strongpoint of connection when I am active in my wife’s life from simple texting or facebooking to listening and asking questions about her day. There is a strongpoint of connection when we do things together as a family. We build community with one another. This is very much like our worship to God when we are engaged with Him in a sincere relationship. In church worship, we all come from different home/time/family arrangements. I believe that our family unit shaping begins at home and needs to be encouraged by our local churches. Unfortunately, there are families who have experienced a shattering of relationships and may no longer be the unit they once were. This is sensitive to my heart, as my parents divorced when I was five. The family unit can be rekindled as our worship-relationship with God can be revitalized. It comes back to re-prioritizing our values, sincerity, relationships and responsibilities. You may have your own methods for resolve, but one thing is clear, all of our households are in need of community with God and with people. We are living in the days of Joe the Plumber and Sixpack, but what about their families? It starts with us, our households and our communities to reclaim the significance of family rather than the focus on individualism. |
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October 14, 2008 To Audition Or Not To Audition? There is a question that has been rattling in my brain since last week. You see, a friend of mine is in the process of creating another worship service. Currently, the attendances in both services are at 80%. The consensus was to create a service that was younger and hip, which would help identify to the new growing portions of their demographic. In order to be different, this added service was going to be more of an alternative rock sound as apart from the 1990's contemporary and the 1920's traditional. The challenge was the selection process of band members and singers who would help create the music/style of this service. The objective is two-fold: (1.) Auditioning members from both contemporary and traditional teams in order to create a new sound. (2.) Finding/auditioning members from outside the worship ministry and/or church to create a new sound. The problem: is the auditioning process the best way to go, rather than picking who you want and forming the group? Because of the relational and emotional ties in the current teams, my friend explained that he was cautious in the following concerns: those who are loyal and may feel that their toes were getting stepped on; those who may experience hurt feelings if they are not chosen; those who may fear rejection because they are inferior to auditions; and those who may form the perception that the chosen group is for the elite. If this were you, how would you handle these concerns? |
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October 7, 2008 Patience Computers, Computers, Computers! How do you spell relief? M-a-c. Okay, so maybe computers aren't the real issue but humans are. I started my day with a great morning, typed a few notes, took care of loose ends and bam! No sound from my pc. I usually work in Mac, but I have another computer for different tasks. Even as I type now, I am still waiting on my friendly team of tech supporters. It's amazing how dependent we have become on technology, yet I (we) get in patient in our system slows down by 7.5 seconds (for you speedsters .5). In any case, it is plausible to see these responses in our spiritual life. Right? How about when we are to lead worship and technology fails? A moment like this happened about a year ago. All the lights went out, system gone and total blackness draped the worship center. I was at the piano, already enclosed in the worship and bam! An instance like this can prompt us to A.) Stop worship all together; B.) Freak out along with choosing option A; or C.) let God take residence as we worship Him power or not. My flesh wanted to choose somewhere between A and B, but my heart chose the better part of C. In fact, this day turned out to be one of the greatest worship experiences as we allowed God to lead through us with patience and focus. It really does come down to what is important and what truly isn't. A good friend of min always reminds me: "Branon, is this issue really of any eternal significance?" No matter how we may spell relief, choosing what is eternal, pure and right according to His pleasure, enables us to have patience and focus. All of this life is simply passing. |
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October 2, 2008 Bill Maher on Christianity You may remember all the pointed jokes, comments and perspectives from this comedian. He stance on Christianity and belief in God was shared on last night's Jon Stewart Show. If you are not aware, Bill Maher made a move that will be premiered this Friday. He is asking questions to understand the reasoning of people's faith. For some, this video may be hard to sit through, but give it a try and listen to what is being said. It is vital that we as Christians do understand what and why we believe about the Bible. Believing in what others tell us to believe is not enough; we must all stand on our own two feet in our reading and trust in God's Word alone. There are some interesting points that are raised in this video. If we are to share and live the Good News, do we really understand and positively demonstrate and communicate the authentic love for Christ? In the views represented in this video, we must come face-to-face in our understanding to listen and dialogue to a world who does not embrace Jesus Christ. It is great that he is asking questions because this leads to conclusions that hopefully will lead to salvation. I have tossed this over in my mind all day to figure why a person would spend such great time, resources and financial means only to make a career that never satisfies founded answers. This brings to mind the apostle Paul on his relentless pursuit to kill Christians, only to be stopped and held by the love of God. My only conclusion: questions will still remain, life will continue in loneliness until the veil of skepticism is lifted and the eyes of faith are open by the help of God. What are your thoughts? Link to Video |
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September 30, 2008 Responses: From "Back To The Basics of Worship Leading." Here's the Forum Question Again Worship Organic: Back To The Basics of Worship Leading. Does this phrase resonate with you? Does it seem that we have moved away from the organics of worship and the simplicity of worship leading? We have seen a plethora of worship music, leaders and artists with a rise that has never been seen before - a more stronger emergence since the 1970's Jesus Movement. We now have an overwhelming stock of tools, technology and an ever increasing list of new songs and ways to facilitate worship services. Some classify worship leading or worship itself by a style, genre, song and artist. When was the last time that your discussion revolved more around "Who" we worship rather than "what" your worship sounds like? Like you, even the more well known, respected and responsible worship leader will genuinely tell you that their focus-point of worship is on the Lord himself. Here's the case in question: in where we are today, how do we get back to the basics of worship and worship leading? |
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September 29, 2008 John Chisum PraiseCharts Live Contributor Worship Leader, Doxa 360. I am voting for a return to worship organic. It is disheartening to see the flash of worship performance, that seems to erode the song from the people. There is the sense that we have models in the church that suggest a worship-as-church-growth-tool. In addition, we have church leaders that have become disenfranchised with the reality of biblical worship, the reality of lament, and the reality of people who are struggling in their souls. Another point in question are worship leaders that are more concerned with imitating well-known and established worship leaders rather than being true to themselves and to their local places of worship. There is a danger about presenting a platform in the Church to satisfy an artist itch before the congregation. Where is reality? Where is the full-throated song of the people in the ears of God? Cory Alstad PraiseCharts Live Contributor Worship Pastor I hear you about this, John. I think you're correct in some of your assertions about inauthentic worship, incorrect motivation, etc. I think, though, that part of the answer to this lies in your question "Where is reality?". I think that the answer is: right here. This is reality. Part of the problem is that we live on a broken earth and we are broken people. Do I always have the right motivation when I get up on our stage at church to lead worship? Nope. Does God, in his mercy, still choose to use me? Thankfully, yes! I agree with you that we need to be holding each other accountable in who we are as worshippers and as leaders. No question - this is a high calling and it needs to be taken seriously. Worship is not about the top 10 ccli songs. The only problem, unfortunately, is - who decides what the 'song of the people' is? Do I get to, as a worship pastor? If so, what if I pick a top 10 ccli song, simply because it puts into words the prayer that I feel our people need to sing? I don't think that's a bad thing. Worship is about the heart. I have a friend who is always saying "Cory, sing a NEW song! Not the latest greatest worship song on the charts - a NEW song!" And I agree with him - but, if part of our goal when we gather, is to encourage each other - we have to be sensitive to our congregation's needs. Bringing in 6 new songs every Sunday might not be the most sensitive thing I could do! I think that it is extremely important for worship leaders to be very discerning in the songs they pick for their congregations. Is this song true? Is this song something that our people could sing authentically? Is this song something that we NEED to be singing because we're SO not there yet? But you're right that we need to move away from the temptation to always pick what's popular, or try to imitate someone that we're not. Just some thoughts! Bob Kauflin PraiseCharts Live Contributor & Worship Pastor Ministry: www.sovgracemin.org Church: www.covlife.org Blog: www.worshipmatters.com I think John is highlighting one of the unfortunate tensions between congregational worship and the Christian music industry. There’s no question that God is behind the proliferation of worship songs over the last few decades, but there have been some unfortunate side effects in many, not all, churches. Our focus has changed in a number of ways. We’ve allowed a concern for numbers and technological excellence to highjack a concern for ministry and the work of the Spirit. We’re more concerned about singing songs that are popular and have a groove than singing songs that pastor people’s hearts. Our congregations have become audiences. We put less focus on being faithful and more on being successful, whatever that means. Obviously the reasons for the shifts are rooted in our struggle against the world, our flesh, and the devil. But I think there are more specific reasons. We’ve substituted the power of therapy for the power of the Gospel, the authority of “what works” for the authority of the Word, and the work of our planning for the work of the the Spirit. It’s a bad trade in each circumstance. Worship isn’t a mystery. It’s loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. It’s making much of God’s glory in Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit, so that he becomes bigger in our minds, our hearts, and our lives. Music is a tool to those ends, not the end itself. In spite of some of the wayward paths we’ve pursued in our churches, God is still on his throne and is seeking and producing worshipers who worship him in spirit and truth. He will have a people who are committed to proclaiming the excellencies of him who called them out of darkness into his marvelous light (1 Pet. 2:9). There will come a day in the new heavens and the new earth when every creature will join in one song, with unhindered passion: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing” (Rev. 5:12)! May our churches reflect that scene more and more, for the glory of the Savior. Ric Flauding PraiseCharts Live Contributor Music Composer I read the post from John Chisum...Amen & Amen. I have been saying this for years, after coming from places that are more focused on flash rather than God’s heart. As for myself? I have been returning to more traditional (may I say "timeless") forms of music worship, and I think there will be a trend that way (not that I care about "trends" per se). People want the truth, people want sincerity, people want the meat of things. This is why for me, after many years in the more cont. - seeker churches, I have been moving elsewhere. I have been in the Christian music community for over 30 years now, and have seen it all regarding irrelevancy. Let’s return to the Truth. Terri Welch PraiseCharts Live Contributor Worship Programming Assistant i agree. one church i attended -- the praise teams attended a worship seminar where they said "The singers on the right side of the stage hold the mike in their right hands. The singers on the left side of the stage hold the mikes in their left hands." My friends who were on praise teams at the time were just incredulous -- talk about focusing on the inessentials. to me, worship is about fervency, not about going thru the motions, and making it performance based. worship needs to be people coming together and sharing their hearts with God. their clothes don't need to match, their singing doesn't need to be perfect. it needs to be from the heart. it is irrelevant of worship services where everything -- the sound, the lighting, the harmonies, etc -- is perfect, but there's no underlying passion. that's why i love that song "heart of worship" the pastor of that church had no singing or music for weeks until everyone realized worship was about God. when they started back with worship, the guy sang that song --.."I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it, when it's all about You." Kevin Pledger PraiseCharts Live Contributor Worship Leader I believe that Matt Redman's Pastor was on to something when he called his church to kick music to the curb for a period of time. Of course that time period birthed a new song in Matt's heart as a result, "Heart of Worship." But God calls us to bring more than a song to Him. He wants our very lives! Our dependence should be on the freely given grace of God and the arms that can hold the whole universe or a single hurting child equally as tight. This mainly goes to the heart of the leader. His or her heart MUST be in direct tune with God's. There must be an ongoing relationship that involves personal worship on behalf of the worship leader. One in which songs (whether original or written by someone else) come from the leader's heart poured out to the Lord in worship from a place of humility and awe. Then those whom the leader leads in weekly worship will follow. But as worship leaders, we should not fool ourselves into thinking we are fooling others into thinking we are something we're not. Worship is transparent by nature and definition. Not only to the God of our worship, but to others as well. It makes us somewhat vulnerable, yet strong at the same time. But what a privilege! Ryan Dahl PraiseCharts Live Contributor PraiseCharts CEO I think that worship music is a very localized experience. Each contributor is speaking out of his/her own experience, which may or may not match my own. One guy might be trying to pull off a “Christian/Worship Artist” mimic stunt on stage. The next guy might be genuinely engaged in heart felt worship. One church might be really targeting totally unchurched people who are not comfortable with congregational singing (so the performance approach is has a strategic ministry mind set), and another church might be full of "churched" people who want to sing, but just can't follow the latest and greatest new songs being presented every week. The bottom line is, I think we need to be very careful not to take broad brush strokes of criticism across the "worship music landscape" of the world. I love all the music of modern and popular worship songs and artists. If you write a great song that is sung all over the world, there will be rewards for that. What we really need is people that will lead worship by living the worship life. There is no worship other than the worship life. Music and songs are all peripheral to the worship life. The world is full of hypocrites. If you focus on them, you'll get depressed and exasperated very quickly. Focus on yourself, and your own local world where you have a very tangible responsibility to make a difference based on the passion that God has put on your heart. Daniel Collison PraiseCharts Live Contributor Worship Pastor At the point Sally Morgnathaler wrote Worship Evangelism in 1995 the praise and worship movement that began in the 1960’s and 1970’s was bourgeoning. The Charismatic and Contemporary Driven music streams were peaking in growth. The Worship Evangelism paradigm resonated with many evangelical churches because they were intrinsically passionate about evangelism, the praise and worship movement was successful at drawing larger numbers of people into church buildings, and the seeker model was difficult to transfer to many settings around the United States. Hundreds of churches across America began to view corporate worship as the new frontier for church evangelism. The misinterpretation of Worship Evangelism became a problem in two ways. First, for the more savvy churches, the attendance in worship services grew enormously; however, as David Olson reveals in “The American Church in Crisis” the people coming to the large attractional worship experiences were transfer Christians. Second, the spiritual culture of the United States was rapidly changing. Unlike the 1980’s and early 1990’s non-Christians were no longer taking the initiative to visit churches. The modes of evangelism had changed without the worship driven churches taking notice. If summed up in one phrase the Worship Evangelism movement could be called “a numerical success and a Kingdom failure”. In Like 13:18-21 Jesus compared the Kingdom of God to the mustard seed and the work of flour in bread dough. In both cases the core elements expand outward to produce fruit that far exceeds their original size. The fruit of Kingdom work is new conversions to Christianity not merely the reorganization of Christians. This topic reminds me of a quote that I read by Micheal Frost and Alan Hirsch in their book "The Shaping of things to come". They wrote: "...the relationship between the traditional Christendom mode of church and the world around it can best be described as being fundamentally attractional. The church bids people to come and hear the gospel in the holy confines of the church and its community. Evangelism therefore is primarily about mobilizing church members to attract unbelievers into church where they can experience God. Rather than being genuine 'outreach,' it effectively becomes something more like an 'in-drag'. Now, we are not suggesting that people can't experience God in a church service. Of course they can, for in the preaching of God's Word and the worship of God's people his true voice can be heard. But if the church limits God's agency in this world to particular times and places that the vast majority of not-yet-Christians have no access to, or no desire to attend, then the gospel is effectively hobbled...If they won't come to us, we have to go to them. This approach, being incarnational, is the opposite of being attractional." |
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September 26, 2008 Back in the Saddle Again! Wow. Those are the main three letters I have been saying since Hurricane Ike. I've also made derivatives from the letters to help me find diversity in the every day vernacular. Like: wow-cow, wow-cow-tow and wow-cow-tow-real-good. Original? No. Why? Because I was bored. What's the point? There is none. Just good old fashioned jibberish to make time go by a little faster during the storm. Well, our household has spent countless hours cleaning up after Ike's going away party. We footed the bill, while this guy took a hike and left us with power outage and a bad case of an allergy infection. Gee, after all we've done for him! Anyway. It's great to be back on WTT. I've missed all of you. Thank you so very much for the countless emails and phone calls of support and prayers. Thank you for your prayers for the great people of Southeast Texas and other communities who were affected. This week we will be discussing the authenticity and organic makeup of worship. What does it really mean to be authentic? How does this affect our ministry, teams and personal lives? For the past 2 weeks, this question has been raised between my good friends John Chisum and Dennis Jernigan. Check back tomorrow to read more on this subject and to hear the responses from others. Until then, may the Lord be with you. Want More Blogs? Visit the Archived Blogs Copyright 2008, Worship Team Training: Workshops and Resources to Inspire, Create and Transform the Leading of Worship. |