Unless you are a worship leader, musician, or church tech person, you may not completely appreciate them.  If you fit into one of those groups, as you read them,  will either cringe, laugh, or slyly smile.

We hosted them at our church last summer and I had the opportunity spend a little time with them.  They are the real deal…buy their music (you can even download a few songs for free before buying all three of their Hymn albums) and, if you are in a position, host them at your church or group – you will be blessed!

Enjoy!

worship headlines: local worship band plays Mumford and Sons song. Congregation does not complain.—
  (@PageCXVI) April 03, 2011

worship headlines: local sound volunteer confused when the keyboard comes out the channel labelled acoustic guitar.—
  (@PageCXVI) April 03, 2011

worship headlines: local church band's 3 acoustic guitar players are at home sick. band sounds awesome.—
  (@PageCXVI) April 03, 2011

@PageCXVI worship headlines: congregation's heads turn towards back as powerpoint guy doesn't advance slide quickly enough—
Mark Walley (@sparticus) April 03, 2011

worship headlines: holy spirit leads local worship leader to not repeat bridge 20 times.—
  (@PageCXVI) April 03, 2011

worship headlines: local churches electric guitar player told to turn his amp down. does, then secretely turns it back up.—
  (@PageCXVI) April 03, 2011

worship headlines: local church plugs everything into the same electrical circuit. spends $50k on nicer gear to try to to fix that "buzz."—
  (@PageCXVI) April 03, 2011

worship headlines: local worship leaders craves chik-fil-a. realizes, once again, it's Sunday.—
  (@PageCXVI) April 03, 2011

worship headlines: local worship leader doesn't report his CCLI playlist. God still let's him into heaven.—
  (@PageCXVI) April 03, 2011

worship headlines: local worship pastor declares he doesn't care about making money on his album, has to ask his church to fund another.—
  (@PageCXVI) April 03, 2011

worship headlines: local worship leader found hiding in a corner after he lost his capo.—
  (@PageCXVI) April 03, 2011

worship headlines: national worship band releases music anonymously. teenage girls trying to find a way to crush on their guitar player.—
  (@PageCXVI) April 03, 2011

worship headlines: area worship band decides not to have a bass player because no one will hear him anyways.—
  (@PageCXVI) April 04, 2011

worship headlines: local worship leader asks congregation to sit down, plays epic ballad, people slowly standup one by one.—
  (@PageCXVI) April 04, 2011

worship headlines: local worship pastors pedal board worth more than entire church sound system.—
  (@PageCXVI) April 04, 2011

worship headlines: local worship pastor loses self confidence after no one "gets into" my redeemer lives.—
  (@PageCXVI) April 04, 2011

worship headlines: local Presbyterian worship pastor reprimanded after churchgoer raises hands during worship.—
  (@PageCXVI) April 04, 2011

worship headlines: area worship leader seen buying skinny jeans. when confronted he says he likes the way the fit.—
  (@PageCXVI) April 04, 2011

worship headlines: local worship band opens up for national act. plays original songs, nothing. plays blessed be your name, huge applause.—
  (@PageCXVI) April 04, 2011

worship headlines: area worship leader takes music theory class. realizes every song he plays has the same progression but in different keys—
  (@PageCXVI) April 04, 2011

worship headlines: IT guy who attends local church plant suddenly promoted to director of everything that happens on Sunday.—
  (@PageCXVI) April 04, 2011

worship headlines: fearing that they might turn worship into a concert, local church decides to "just do a bad job at running everything."—
  (@PageCXVI) April 04, 2011

worship headlines: local church piano player realizes he doesnt come off as cool as the guitar player. buys a Rhodes.—
  (@PageCXVI) April 04, 2011

…and the headlines are probably still going!

So I posted my weekly Service Set list, Recap, and Confessional last night – including a whine (or waa!) in the confessional portion.  It felt good to write about it and get it off my chest.  Sunday AM was rough – I felt rushed and didn’t like not have things under control…

THE SKADOOSH*:

Fast forward to this morning.  I’ve been listening to Andy Stanley’s podcast series, Defining Moments and this morning I was on episode 8, Playing God.  The text was from John 18:28 to 19:16…it’s about Jesus before Pilate.  The key being that while Pilate thought he was in control – he wasn’t.

From chapter 19:

⁹…”Where do you come from?” he [Pilate] asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. ¹⁰“Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?”

¹¹Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”

¹²From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free…

Some key thoughts from the podcast:

To respond to events with the attitude of “if I don’t, it won’t” [or I am or I have to be in control] is to assume a position, a power, or an authority in the universe that I don’t hold.

Can we live life with this attitude: “If I were absolutely confident that God is in control, what would I do or how should I respond in this circumstance?”

Jesus said in Matthew 28:18, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”  Implication…it’s not been given to you/me.  Therefore, live your life as if He is sovereign and in control.

Do we live as if God’s hands are shackled or bound and that we have to jump in and help Him?

The things we have “control” over are temproary, short-lived, and given by God.  We are merely stewards.

x

Kinda puts my whine or “waa” in a little different light.

Umm, not much more to say…

. . . . . .

me: waa!

GOD: SKADOOSH!*

*If you’re not familiar with this word, it is from the movie, Kung Fu Panda and is the word said when you preform the mushi finger hold.  See below:

I was in chapter eight where the people, after they have re-built the walls, gather to hear Ezra read the Law. He is assisted by many, but I focused on the Levites (who were appointed, under David, to a ministry of music and praise – specifically as, “ministers before the ark of the Lord, to invoke, to thank, and to praise the Lord.”) I focused on the Levites because they are basically what we call worship leaders today…just like me!

From Nehemiah 8:

2 – So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard

5 – Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people [on a box], and as he opened it all the people stood.

7 & 8 – …the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places. They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.

Verses seven and eight hit me like a ton of bricks – a lump even formed in my throat. I am firm in the knowledge of my responsibilities as a worship leader (first) before the Lord and (second) to those I lead/serve; but what a profound and challenging reminder! Thank you Lord!

Check it out. What an example and model to imitate as a worship leader:

“…the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law” – They didn’t just lead singing, they facilitated understanding of God’s Law/Word.

“while the people remained in their places.” – They went where the people were…they didn’t minister or serve from Ezra’s side. It wasn’t just a “stage” thing – it’s an “in the trenches” thing.

“They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, they gave the sense…” – They didn’t just focus on singing or playing instruments with skill. They had an understanding of the Law themselves so they could impart its meaning.

“…so that the people understood the reading.” – Their involvement was active and equipped people to worship the Lord with a clear understanding of Him and His precepts.

A common plea from worship leaders to those they lead is that worship is more than just singing or what we do on Sundays – I know I try to message and model this regularly. To me, this short verse was the equivalent of the phrase “one finger pointing at you and three at me” we’ve heard when someone is preaching or teaching.  As a worship leader, my ministry must be more than leading in a traditional worship format. Being just a “song leader”, in light of this verse, just isn’t biblical.  Certainly leading corporate worship is part of this ministry, but modeling a life of worship and seeking to help others “understand” who they are worshiping are also key.  I knew this, but I always appreciate the one-two punch the Holy Spirit uses as I read the Bible!

So, what am I doing writing this blog?

Aside from being a space to share random thoughts on life, I guess I see this forum as just one of the extensions of my leading worship in the traditional format at church.  I’m just someone dependently following Christ, surrendering (although imperfectly at times) my life to His purposes, and following the example of those who came long before me.  BTW, all my posts probably won’t have a heavy, biblical message; but, as a follower of Christ, its hard not to see God in all the areas of my life.

Amen!