What a quick 2 months it has been...2 Months Wednesday Meghan and I celebrated 2 months! Yes, of course...me being the romantic that I am, her day began with flowers at her school...Her co-teachers apparently think I am quite the Cassanova...Anyway, that is beside the point. We are incredibly happy and feel blessed by God to have each other! Loveya freck!
Now...to business.
We are T minus 48 hours exactly from the beginning of our Christmas Musical here at North Davis. IF you had asked me last Friday if I thought we would pull it off, I probably would have said no...but today, I update the "Collapse Warning," to borrow a phrase from Randy Galloway, to MAYBE! We had a good rehearsal with both groups of Kids and the Adult Choirs on Wednesday night and spent last night doing essentially a tech rehearsal...got two great tech guys! Have new lighting system in Worship center for this show...It will be...[gulp] "cute!"
Come see us on Sunday if you are close here at North Davis for "Operation Baby-King!"
Happy Holidays!
12.16.2005
11.23.2005
Happy Turkey Day
Well...happy turkeyday eve everyone! Had to post an update today, so here goes!
Short and sweet...
9am this morning...GULP!
"What is significant about that," you may ask? It was the last time until Sunday evening sometime that I will see my Meghan. She met her parents in Tulsa for thanksgiving! Happy Thanksgiving Freck (and Andersons!)
Swiftly approaching two months in our relationship and I "couldn't be happier." Life is Good, God is Good, Life is God, God is Life, ITS ALL GOOD!
Maybe your thanksgiving, like mine, will be truly filled with the stark realization of how truly blessed we really are!
Short and sweet...
9am this morning...GULP!
"What is significant about that," you may ask? It was the last time until Sunday evening sometime that I will see my Meghan. She met her parents in Tulsa for thanksgiving! Happy Thanksgiving Freck (and Andersons!)
Swiftly approaching two months in our relationship and I "couldn't be happier." Life is Good, God is Good, Life is God, God is Life, ITS ALL GOOD!
Maybe your thanksgiving, like mine, will be truly filled with the stark realization of how truly blessed we really are!
11.08.2005
Happiness is...
Well,
Here we are again!
23 Days into a most wonderful relationship with Meghan, I can still proudly say I am happier than I have been in who knows how long! She has a wonderful personality, her heart for hurting people and kids in difficult circumstances cuts me to the core, and what a Christ-like example she sets for me! I am a very blessed man! As my friend Gil Peters would say, "I am BLESSED by the BEST!" School, UNT, very busy..Things at church, improving--going well, and life is...as they say...simply "maahvelous!"
Here we are again!
23 Days into a most wonderful relationship with Meghan, I can still proudly say I am happier than I have been in who knows how long! She has a wonderful personality, her heart for hurting people and kids in difficult circumstances cuts me to the core, and what a Christ-like example she sets for me! I am a very blessed man! As my friend Gil Peters would say, "I am BLESSED by the BEST!" School, UNT, very busy..Things at church, improving--going well, and life is...as they say...simply "maahvelous!"
10.23.2005
Ah...to be Happy!
Well...
I won't make this a long one. But I just have to say...that this special lady in my life, Meghan, is UNBELIEVABLE!
It is so wonderful, no, it is absolute bliss, to have someone who appreciates me for who I am and does not expect me to be someone else...Someone who appreciates chivalry, and just genuine care! She is amazing! And I am very happy...Hard to believe it hasnt even been 3 weeks yet! This is easily the best relationship, healthiest relationship, and genuinely cared-for relationship ever for me! YAY! Who knew something could be this wonderful...wow, do I sound mushy!
More to come...
I won't make this a long one. But I just have to say...that this special lady in my life, Meghan, is UNBELIEVABLE!
It is so wonderful, no, it is absolute bliss, to have someone who appreciates me for who I am and does not expect me to be someone else...Someone who appreciates chivalry, and just genuine care! She is amazing! And I am very happy...Hard to believe it hasnt even been 3 weeks yet! This is easily the best relationship, healthiest relationship, and genuinely cared-for relationship ever for me! YAY! Who knew something could be this wonderful...wow, do I sound mushy!
More to come...
10.18.2005
Day 5
Well...
I am now five days into utter and supreme happiness! Meghan continues to amaze me...Her sense of humor, smile, and just sweet disposition simply makes me smile from ear to ear...I don't know that I have ever been this happy in a relationship of this sort! I can't wait to see what lies ahead. Last night we prayed that God would be the author of our relationship and it feels wonderful to have a relationship based on those kinds of principles. Whoever you may be reading this blog, I can't wait for you to meet her! She is just flat out special!
On a ligher note, I am thrilled at how our worship planning team came back from the ZOE conference in Nashville last week, all 15 of them, completely inspired to worship at a different level. We have had two really incredible planning and vision sessions and again, I can't wait to see where God is taking our church.
To borrow a phrase from someone pretty special...
"Life is Good!"
I am now five days into utter and supreme happiness! Meghan continues to amaze me...Her sense of humor, smile, and just sweet disposition simply makes me smile from ear to ear...I don't know that I have ever been this happy in a relationship of this sort! I can't wait to see what lies ahead. Last night we prayed that God would be the author of our relationship and it feels wonderful to have a relationship based on those kinds of principles. Whoever you may be reading this blog, I can't wait for you to meet her! She is just flat out special!
On a ligher note, I am thrilled at how our worship planning team came back from the ZOE conference in Nashville last week, all 15 of them, completely inspired to worship at a different level. We have had two really incredible planning and vision sessions and again, I can't wait to see where God is taking our church.
To borrow a phrase from someone pretty special...
"Life is Good!"
10.17.2005
Finally...
Well,
I couldn't let it go a whole month without a post...so how about 1 day shy of one month? Life is good...busy, but good. Lots developing, more to come later.
But for now, only a tidbit.
I have not ever been a true proponent of the blind date...never really seen one that worked out...I am sure that Dr. Neil Clarke Warren of eharmony.com has some stat or some profile or test that proves that blind dates dont work out, or at least it's rare when they do. But I'm here to tell you, that if the right person sets you up and knows both people whom she is intending to set up, it could work! And it does! OR at least thats the case for me. Now before you rush to judgment, no, we arent getting married after the first date nor are we rushing into things, I am just saying, that this particular blind date was the best date...period...I have ever been on! Perfect in every way...Gotta love it! So, thanks to Beth for doing the dirty work on the set up...Maybe we will get you a t-shirt or something! (wink, nudge...)
More Later...
Her name...Meghan! Did I mention she is awesome!
Oh, and Ryan, we now have a conversation that runs two ways...You talk about Claudia, I will tell you about Meghan!
Heck Yessssss!
I couldn't let it go a whole month without a post...so how about 1 day shy of one month? Life is good...busy, but good. Lots developing, more to come later.
But for now, only a tidbit.
I have not ever been a true proponent of the blind date...never really seen one that worked out...I am sure that Dr. Neil Clarke Warren of eharmony.com has some stat or some profile or test that proves that blind dates dont work out, or at least it's rare when they do. But I'm here to tell you, that if the right person sets you up and knows both people whom she is intending to set up, it could work! And it does! OR at least thats the case for me. Now before you rush to judgment, no, we arent getting married after the first date nor are we rushing into things, I am just saying, that this particular blind date was the best date...period...I have ever been on! Perfect in every way...Gotta love it! So, thanks to Beth for doing the dirty work on the set up...Maybe we will get you a t-shirt or something! (wink, nudge...)
More Later...
Her name...Meghan! Did I mention she is awesome!
Oh, and Ryan, we now have a conversation that runs two ways...You talk about Claudia, I will tell you about Meghan!
Heck Yessssss!
9.18.2005
The Still, Small Voice...
Ah...peace, stillness...the quiet!
Last night I went to bed listening to the masterful music of Mendelssohn's oratorio, Elijah, Op. 70. And even though I have performed this piece, and heard it countless additional times, something sticks out new each time I listen to it...Last night, it was the section of music representing the "still, small voice of God," coming to Elijah in the wake of the earthquake and fire. Amazing how such might and power can come in that "still, small voice." I went to sleep thinking about that, with that portion of music re-playing over and over in my head...It was with a purpose, I found out this morning.
Our church building talks, speaks, creaks, moves...all of the above. And just a few minutes ago, slightly before 6am, as I was walking from the A/V booth back to my office in the large, dark, worship center, I was reminded of just the power God speaks to us with in that still small voice. May we all remember that God's voice doesn't come in the loud roars always...we need to often just stop and listen for the "still, small voice" of God.
"When the oceans rise and thunders roar...
I will soar with you above the storm.
Father, You are king over the flood.
I will be still, and know you are God..."
Last night I went to bed listening to the masterful music of Mendelssohn's oratorio, Elijah, Op. 70. And even though I have performed this piece, and heard it countless additional times, something sticks out new each time I listen to it...Last night, it was the section of music representing the "still, small voice of God," coming to Elijah in the wake of the earthquake and fire. Amazing how such might and power can come in that "still, small voice." I went to sleep thinking about that, with that portion of music re-playing over and over in my head...It was with a purpose, I found out this morning.
Our church building talks, speaks, creaks, moves...all of the above. And just a few minutes ago, slightly before 6am, as I was walking from the A/V booth back to my office in the large, dark, worship center, I was reminded of just the power God speaks to us with in that still small voice. May we all remember that God's voice doesn't come in the loud roars always...we need to often just stop and listen for the "still, small voice" of God.
"When the oceans rise and thunders roar...
I will soar with you above the storm.
Father, You are king over the flood.
I will be still, and know you are God..."
9.06.2005
Church...People.
Early in life i was addicted to a vocal group called AVB. They sang a song called "You Cant Go to Church..." The song lyrics went like this:
You can't go "to church," as some people say...
The common terminology they use every day.
You can go to a chapel, you can sit on a pew...
But You can't go "to church," becuase the church is you!
I know now what that looks like! Our Church, our community of faith, here has been unbelievably awesome the last few days. We minister-types often in moments of frustration (that do come often in some cases) tend to say that church would be great if it weren't for the people! Well, I am proud to say that the North Davis Church is an exception. If it weren't for the people being the clay lamps of God, the beautiful hands and feet of Jesus, this church just wouldn't amoung to very much at all...God is breathing breaths of fresh life into these guests, and into our people, but moreso, our church! God is Good all the time!
You can't go "to church," as some people say...
The common terminology they use every day.
You can go to a chapel, you can sit on a pew...
But You can't go "to church," becuase the church is you!
I know now what that looks like! Our Church, our community of faith, here has been unbelievably awesome the last few days. We minister-types often in moments of frustration (that do come often in some cases) tend to say that church would be great if it weren't for the people! Well, I am proud to say that the North Davis Church is an exception. If it weren't for the people being the clay lamps of God, the beautiful hands and feet of Jesus, this church just wouldn't amoung to very much at all...God is breathing breaths of fresh life into these guests, and into our people, but moreso, our church! God is Good all the time!
9.05.2005
Finally Doing Church
I know it has been a long while since I have posted...
But I have to brag!
The North Davis Church found out some time friday afternoon that we had been selected and approved by the Red Cross to house hurricane victims...Well, less than 30 hours after that call came, so came 131 displaced New Orleans Citizens. Words are not enough to say what began to happen from Abilene, to Tyler, and from people across Arlington, people, to the tune of about 500 volunteers in addition to our church family, began to come out of the woodwork. From Doctors, to an unemployed Chef (You Go Eddie!), to social workers to paramedics to countless others...you have been Jesus! You have answered the call of God! You have all said "Here am I, Send me!"
Finally, so many of us feel like we are actually doing church! Lives have changed, and by that I mean not just those who are now members of our quite large North Davis Famiily, I mean mine, ours those of us who have been touched by people like Melvin Taylor, and Chef Eddie, Rashard (who i just got demolished by on Playstation2), Allen and Allen, Lettie, and many many others whose attitudes have been unbelievable! My life will never be the same! I will try to update daily!
In the meantime, we are in need! We need towels, sheets, washcloths, clothes for extra large (3 4 5 and 5x and 6x) for Large men and women...Socks!!! Toiletries, you name it--and we need it! Pray for us that we would be the missional church God is using us to be right now and that it would change the hearts of our church family forever!
The North Davis Church are beinx exactly what God calls the church on earth, the kingdom on earth to be! The Hands and Feet of Jesus...Reaching people from Jerusalem, from Judea to Samaria to the ends of the earth!
But I have to brag!
The North Davis Church found out some time friday afternoon that we had been selected and approved by the Red Cross to house hurricane victims...Well, less than 30 hours after that call came, so came 131 displaced New Orleans Citizens. Words are not enough to say what began to happen from Abilene, to Tyler, and from people across Arlington, people, to the tune of about 500 volunteers in addition to our church family, began to come out of the woodwork. From Doctors, to an unemployed Chef (You Go Eddie!), to social workers to paramedics to countless others...you have been Jesus! You have answered the call of God! You have all said "Here am I, Send me!"
Finally, so many of us feel like we are actually doing church! Lives have changed, and by that I mean not just those who are now members of our quite large North Davis Famiily, I mean mine, ours those of us who have been touched by people like Melvin Taylor, and Chef Eddie, Rashard (who i just got demolished by on Playstation2), Allen and Allen, Lettie, and many many others whose attitudes have been unbelievable! My life will never be the same! I will try to update daily!
In the meantime, we are in need! We need towels, sheets, washcloths, clothes for extra large (3 4 5 and 5x and 6x) for Large men and women...Socks!!! Toiletries, you name it--and we need it! Pray for us that we would be the missional church God is using us to be right now and that it would change the hearts of our church family forever!
The North Davis Church are beinx exactly what God calls the church on earth, the kingdom on earth to be! The Hands and Feet of Jesus...Reaching people from Jerusalem, from Judea to Samaria to the ends of the earth!
8.03.2005
7.07.2005
Back to normal life...If my life is "normal"...
Well,
The last few weeks have been intense, but fulfilling, educational, and inspiring. My first class, Advnaced Choral Techniques: Becoming the Choral Poet, was absolutely awesome...It was such a confirmation that UNT was where I needed to be for schooling right now. And not only that, but getting to work with not just one, but two of the most well-respected Choral Conductors and masters of their craft in the world, Simon Carrington and Jerry McCoy (Click the link above to go to Simon's Website). We were exposed to some 22 pieces of choral literature and we were responsible for being able to conduct all of them...I was fortunate enough to conduct on the concert that was the conclusion of the class/workshop...Overall rating, A++...Looking forward to the next one.
Now, if I can get through performing my first wedding this weekend, all will be even more normal...LIke the songwriter said..."Come Monday, it'll be alright!"
PEACE!
The last few weeks have been intense, but fulfilling, educational, and inspiring. My first class, Advnaced Choral Techniques: Becoming the Choral Poet, was absolutely awesome...It was such a confirmation that UNT was where I needed to be for schooling right now. And not only that, but getting to work with not just one, but two of the most well-respected Choral Conductors and masters of their craft in the world, Simon Carrington and Jerry McCoy (Click the link above to go to Simon's Website). We were exposed to some 22 pieces of choral literature and we were responsible for being able to conduct all of them...I was fortunate enough to conduct on the concert that was the conclusion of the class/workshop...Overall rating, A++...Looking forward to the next one.
Now, if I can get through performing my first wedding this weekend, all will be even more normal...LIke the songwriter said..."Come Monday, it'll be alright!"
PEACE!
6.01.2005
A Day that will live in infamy...
To quote the words from the immortal speech of one Franklin Delano Roosevelt from D-Day, June 6, 1944, "Today is a day that will live in infamy..."
Today, I begin preparing for my course with Dr. McCoy(my major professor at UNT) and Simon Carrington, choral conductor from Yale and founder of the King's Singers (WHOOOAAHHH!!!), the first class in my masters program in choral conducting at UNT. I also am beginning today to prepare for my placement exams in theory and music history...Eee-Gads...Having to re-learn some stuff that I should have learned once before, but didnt do a very good job of, all over again! That's OKAY, I suppose...maybe I have learned my lesson, and this time, I will remember at least half of it...maybe???
Today, I begin preparing for my course with Dr. McCoy(my major professor at UNT) and Simon Carrington, choral conductor from Yale and founder of the King's Singers (WHOOOAAHHH!!!), the first class in my masters program in choral conducting at UNT. I also am beginning today to prepare for my placement exams in theory and music history...Eee-Gads...Having to re-learn some stuff that I should have learned once before, but didnt do a very good job of, all over again! That's OKAY, I suppose...maybe I have learned my lesson, and this time, I will remember at least half of it...maybe???
5.23.2005
Yahweh Yireh...The Lord Who provides
Yesterday was a great, GREAT, day of worship at ND! Here is what it looked like...
GATHERING SONG
Doxology
WELCOME & CALL TO WORSHIP
WORSHIP IN PRAISE-D.J. Bulls
Lord Reign in Me
Standing on the Promises
Let Every Heart Rejoice and Sing
Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
DISMISSAL TO KIDS’ CROSSING & SPANISH WORSHIP
Blessed Assurance
Blessed Be Your Name
MESSAGE – “Yahweh Yireh: The Lord Who Provides"
Doug Peters
GARDEN OF PRAYER
He Is Able
No Not One
All Who Are Thirsty
WORSHIP AT THE TABLE & IN OUR GIVING--djb
During the Sharing of the Bread
All Who Are Thirsty (reprise)
During the Sharing of the Cup
Who Can Satisfy My Soul/There Is A Fountain
SHEPHERD’S PRAYER
Offering and Family News
Lord Reign in Me (reprise)
Being an "upfront" lead worshipper is one of the greatest jobs in the world...Or So I continue to be convicted that this is true. I can't imagine how God must feel when he sees his people become "so lost in wonder, love and praise..." One thing I do know is that it makes me want to be lost in praise as well...It shows me that God's spirit is alive and well, and that it can work even through a bunch of cracked pots, dirty, grace-covered Christians...thirsty, but quenched with the Living Water of the Spirit of God!
GATHERING SONG
Doxology
WELCOME & CALL TO WORSHIP
WORSHIP IN PRAISE-D.J. Bulls
Lord Reign in Me
Standing on the Promises
Let Every Heart Rejoice and Sing
Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
DISMISSAL TO KIDS’ CROSSING & SPANISH WORSHIP
Blessed Assurance
Blessed Be Your Name
MESSAGE – “Yahweh Yireh: The Lord Who Provides"
Doug Peters
GARDEN OF PRAYER
He Is Able
No Not One
All Who Are Thirsty
WORSHIP AT THE TABLE & IN OUR GIVING--djb
During the Sharing of the Bread
All Who Are Thirsty (reprise)
During the Sharing of the Cup
Who Can Satisfy My Soul/There Is A Fountain
SHEPHERD’S PRAYER
Offering and Family News
Lord Reign in Me (reprise)
Being an "upfront" lead worshipper is one of the greatest jobs in the world...Or So I continue to be convicted that this is true. I can't imagine how God must feel when he sees his people become "so lost in wonder, love and praise..." One thing I do know is that it makes me want to be lost in praise as well...It shows me that God's spirit is alive and well, and that it can work even through a bunch of cracked pots, dirty, grace-covered Christians...thirsty, but quenched with the Living Water of the Spirit of God!
5.12.2005
The Four Pages of the Sermon...
If the way I prepare sermons is in any way like what most full-time preachers got through, there is no way they could fit it all in four pages...
Today, I am sermon writing...Preaching on Sunday night to our little special Sunday evening crowd at ND. I think I am going to come out of a text that is becoming very popular and central in the misisonal church "movement," (if you can call it that...) 2 Corinthians 3:17 through the end of 2 Corinthians 4 is a text that is jam packed with "preachable" material...I look forward to spending the majority in that text, listening to God, and discerning his will with the opportunity...
If you have any ideas, thoughts, or just a comment to make about this text, please, DO IT!!!
Here is that text...
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.
Treasure in Clay Jars
Therefore, since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart. We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God’s word; but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies. For while we live, we are always being given up to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.
But just as we have the same spirit of faith that is in accordance with scripture—“I believed, and so I spoke”—we also believe, and so we speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus, and will bring us with you into his presence. Yes, everything is for your sake, so that grace, as it extends to more and more people, may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
Living by Faith
So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.
The Holy Bible : New Revised Standard Version, 2 Co 3:17. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989.
Today, I am sermon writing...Preaching on Sunday night to our little special Sunday evening crowd at ND. I think I am going to come out of a text that is becoming very popular and central in the misisonal church "movement," (if you can call it that...) 2 Corinthians 3:17 through the end of 2 Corinthians 4 is a text that is jam packed with "preachable" material...I look forward to spending the majority in that text, listening to God, and discerning his will with the opportunity...
If you have any ideas, thoughts, or just a comment to make about this text, please, DO IT!!!
Here is that text...
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.
Treasure in Clay Jars
Therefore, since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart. We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God’s word; but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies. For while we live, we are always being given up to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.
But just as we have the same spirit of faith that is in accordance with scripture—“I believed, and so I spoke”—we also believe, and so we speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus, and will bring us with you into his presence. Yes, everything is for your sake, so that grace, as it extends to more and more people, may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
Living by Faith
So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.
The Holy Bible : New Revised Standard Version, 2 Co 3:17. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989.
5.04.2005
The Changing Face of Worship in Missional Churches
After yet another extended hiatus, today I return with the goal of beginning a dialogue and extended study of what worship looks like in churches that are striving to be missional. I want to begin this study with where worship often begins: "the call to worhsip." My good friend Jeff Christian, on ACU's newest missional church resourse website "Salt and Light" (See link to right or at top of this posting) has written an excellent article that I hope will spark much discussion on the subject...I will paste it below for your perusing! More later...
THE CALL TO WORSHIP AS THE LOCATION OF MISSIONAL FAITHFULNESS BY JEFF CHRISTIAN
"The main area I want to emphasize as a location of missional faithfulness is a subcategory of worship: The call to worship. This has to be more than a time to silence people in order to get them ready to sing, or what is worse, announcement time. It needs to weave together the threads of what we do, what we say, and why we are a church. It has been my experience in churches I have served—including the Glenwood Church of Christ where I currently serve—that the call to worship is usually a time to transition people from visiting with one another into singing the first song. Often the preacher or worship leader will stand quietly on stage waiting for the people in the pews to notice him and settle down. When they begin to quiet he will say, “Good morning.” The words that follow are typically harmless expressions of greeting followed by a reading of Scripture. The move is made. People are finished visiting for the moment. Let the songs begin.
While this transition is necessary, I wonder whether or not it can be more theologically responsible. The call to worship is oftentimes a jarring shift from the everyday world to a very different set of activities, such as singing as a group. Few other organizations sing together, at least in the United States. What other gathering goes from friendly conversation between such diverse strands of people into corporate singing of mostly familiar songs? From daily concerns to shared worship? From “I love the world” to “Hallelujah”? The call to worship time bridges an almost impossible divide. But can it be done more effectively than “Good morning”? Is there a way to call people to worship God and say something about God simultaneously as a moment of calling and teaching, and perhaps even an occasion to shift worldview(s)? Or is that even necessary?
One of the reasons I think this is a critical question for contemporary worship has to do with what I perceive to be a rather anemic view of the place of God in worship. The supposed turn away from scientific worldviews has bred a culture no longer as concerned with worship as an information-gathering time. (I say this neither as a good or bad thing, but rather as an observation of what used to be versus what is today, at least in many circles.) Moreover, the evangelical scene has developed a hymnody whereby Christians have come to expect the worship hour to be a weekly burning-bush experience. But I suspect that the next turn in worship style will eventually have to account for the questions of many who did not feel a flood of emotion Sunday after Sunday, wondering why God chose to leave them out of the ballgame. So, can the call to worship time help alleviate some of the need to experience, and move toward the example of the early Christian letters that often began with statements about the identity of God, i.e. 2 Corinthians. Not to mention, the Psalms usually begin with—or at least contain—some statement about the identity of God, which is likely where the New Testament letters got their inspiration.
Then to the bigger questions: How can we articulate among our people a sense of mission by calling them into the presence of God with one another for the sake of the world, as preparation to go out into the world, not as church people, but as the church, where the church is more than the place we go, but the place from whence we are sent out. Since this is still in the experimental stage, I am not sure what place the call to worship will have in the long term. Still, I have a feeling it will play a big role in Glenwood’s life, mainly because it is receiving attention and intentionality, and furthermore because it has the potential to set a tone for something beyond the worship hour, but even the culture of our church.
The most important reason to shift the call to worship from a quieting time to a true “calling” time originates with the ways Scripture and tradition calls us to be an “inside-out” church. The Gospel of Mark sets up Jesus as the model disciple in order to invite others to be faithful to the mission of calling others to his model discipleship. Luke-Acts shows one who took a mission to the poor seriously who established a small group singularly concerned with caring for those who had taken on the mantel of Christianity, and eventually the larger group of outcasts who formed an underground movement unconcerned with temporal things, but things unseen. Such an approach is a far cry from contemporary Christianity oftentimes overwhelmed by church politics, church growth, and church programs. What if the call to worship could be a time where we help remind one another of our original calling, a call to the mission of God where we are sent into the world? What if church could exist for a mission bigger than merely maintaining church life? And what better place to name this reorientation than with the opening words of the church’s worship service?
Many churches see the need to give serious attention to the call to worship for any number of reasons. What strategies and approaches might deepen these opening moments on Sunday mornings?
---First, we decided at Glenwood to say something about God as the opening line of worship. No “Good mornings.” No “Will everyone be seated.” We simply open with a line about God or a move preparing us to declare some aspect of God. Any such change takes time to get used to in the majority of churches. But the move was a way for us to state something of first importance first. We even began one Sunday by opening with the line, “We believe in God.”
--Second, we chose to be intentional about writing the call to worship, rather than winging it as an off-the-cuff statement of welcome mixed with Scripture. When we began this initiative on January 16 and January 23 of 2005, I put the call in the order of worship word-for-word because of the nature of the sermons from Mark 13. The first week was Mark 13:1-31, the second week was Mark 13:32-37. The two calls to worship were similarly structured, but different in the ways they emphasize the contrasting messages of the text(s). (See below.)
--Third, we wanted to be creative and not allow ourselves to be handicapped by formula. While the calls will often contain something about God coupled with a reading of Scripture, at times we may include responsive sayings and/or readings of Scripture; at other times we may include co-calls alongside members as a dialogue-based call to worship; still at other times we may invite people into periods of silence to prepare for worship. Whatever the case, we wanted the form of the call to mimic the often jarring shift from world to worship.
From here, each church must consider her own culture and how her words echo the call of Scripture to consider who God is in light of who He calls us to be and become. These things said—both why this is important and how to do it—the following appendices highlight some of the specific aspects of this ongoing set of initiatives that have now become a part of the culture of the Glenwood Church of Christ.
Call to Worship” Samples
(Note: We were in the middle of a year-long series through the book of Mark when I began this initiative seeking ways to better use our “call to worship” time. )
January 16 (Sermon Text: Mark 13:1-31)
Come to worship God today where for the moment we can live without warning.
Come to worship God today in a place where we refuse the world’s need to be afraid.
Come to worship God today when for an hour you can participate in giving glory to the Lord.
Come to worship God today in a place where the fear of our culture is exchanged for the peace of Jesus Christ.
Come to worship God today as we live in love, joy, and patience with one another.
Come to worship God today as we hear Jesus speak a harsh truth with wonderful hope: “All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.”
Come and worship God.
January 23 (Sermon Text: Mark 13:32-37)
Come to worship God today where we must always be on guard.
Come to worship God today in a place where we are assigned the task to keep watch.
Come to worship God today when for an hour you can hear the Lord invite you to His mission.
Come to worship God today in a place where we repent together, for the kingdom is near.
Come to worship God today as we live in love, joy, and patience.
Come to worship God today as we hear Jesus speak a harsh truth with wonderful hope: “All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.”
Come and worship God.
January 30 (Sermon Text: Mark 14:1-11)
Here we are Lord, as an act of remembrance. We remember that you are the good shepherd. We remember how you go before us. We remember the Cross of Christ. You are the Lord. We are the people of your pasture. Lead us into the world, even as you set your table before us. Give us all the peace through the name of Jesus Christ that passes understanding. You are too good to be unkind, too merciful to leave us wandering in the fields alone. You are the shepherd, and we shall never be in want. You are the shepherd. Amen.
Responsive reading of Psalm 23
February 6 (Sermon Text: Mark 14:12-26)
Jesus welcomes us all to the table this morning, for there is always room at the table for one more. And as he welcomes us, we take our places in the name of Jesus. The table prepares us for ministry, prepares us for the world. Not only does Jesus redeem us all over again at the table week after week, but he sends us out to do everything else in remembrance of him. As we gather at the table we hear him say, “Do this in remembrance of me.” And as we offer those around us water, bread, and perhaps even our body and our blood, we do so in remembrance of him. We are a covenant people. Jesus welcomes us all to the table this morning, for there is always room at the table.
1 Cor 11:23-26 teaches us to say, “For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.”
Jesus welcomes us all to the table this morning, for there is always room at the table for one more.
March 6 (Sermon Text: Mark 15:22-37)
The world tells you to take up your wallet and follow the latest fashions. Jesus tells you to take up your cross. The world tells you to deny yourself nothing. Jesus tells you to deny yourself. The world hands you a crown of gold. Jesus wears a crown of thorns. As we come to worship this morning in the name of Jesus, we will hear some difficult words from the very mouth of our Lord and Savior who teaches us to speak to God out of our own pain. And yet, God is near. We come to hear what Jesus told the crowd and his disciples in Mark 8:34-35—“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.”
Our God and our king, we offer ourselves to you as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to you because of what you make us through your Son Jesus. He is our model disciple. He is the one who followed his own invitation. We pray that you give us the strength and the weakness to follow as we long to empty ourselves of what this world values in exchange for what You value. You are our God, and our king. For each of us here, make your presence known. This morning, among all our concerns, we deny ourselves, we take up our cross, and we wait to see where you will lead. Where you lead, we will follow. This is our promise in Jesus’ name, Amen.
March 13 (Sermon Text: Mark 15:15-47)
There stands the man in the Gospel who places his hope in things seen instead of things unseen, and Jesus is there to meet him at the cross, calling him to a life less ordinary. There stands the woman in the Gospel who thinks her good looks and charm will account for the lack of fulfillment that she has let define her, and Jesus is there to meet her at the cross, calling her to a life less ordinary. There lays the homeless woman in the storefront who long ago decided to agree with those who warned her that hope is a dangerous thing, and Jesus is there to meet her at the cross, calling her to a life of hope. There sits the man in the restaurant by himself who smells of old clothes, whose face is red and intermittently spotted with remnants of shaving cream he missed earlier in the day, and Jesus is there to meet him at the cross, calling him into his presence where he is not alone. The world is filled with all kinds of people. But the are all invited to meet the one. Jesus dies on the cross today, because only there can we learn what it means to be whole, full of hope, and no longer alone. Jesus shows us how to take up his own invitation from Mark 8:34-35—“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.”
Our God and our king, we offer ourselves to you as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to you because of what you make us through your Son Jesus. We are ambiguous people without you, defined by the weak categories the world puts before us as meaningful, but so devoid of meaning. We pray that you give us the strength and the weakness to follow as we long to empty ourselves of what this world values in exchange for what You value. Make us whole. Give us hope. Make your presence known. This morning, among all our concerns, we deny ourselves, we take up our cross, and we wait to see where you will lead. Together we stand to say, where you lead, we will follow. This is our promise in Jesus’ name, Amen.
March 27, Easter Sunday (Sermon Text: Mark 15:42 – 16:8)
Christ is risen! Today we celebrate, for Christ is risen! He lives. He bears our humanity. He walks among us, and His Spirit gives us all that we need. He is Lord, King, Messiah, Son of God. Christ is risen!
Hebrews 13:20-21 proclaims in light of the risen Jesus, “May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
This is a great day, a great morning to proclaim the glory of God in Christ Jesus. Christ is risen! Let us give thanks.
Our Father, the one who holds the joy of resurrection in your right hand, there is no God like you, the one who frees us from our sins, the one who celebrates abundant life, the risen life we live in Christ. There is no more death in you, Father, for you are the one true God Almighty. Rejoice with us today, God, as we rejoice with You. Worthy is your name, Father. All glory and honor and praise be unto you through our risen Savior, Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Amen."
THE CALL TO WORSHIP AS THE LOCATION OF MISSIONAL FAITHFULNESS BY JEFF CHRISTIAN
"The main area I want to emphasize as a location of missional faithfulness is a subcategory of worship: The call to worship. This has to be more than a time to silence people in order to get them ready to sing, or what is worse, announcement time. It needs to weave together the threads of what we do, what we say, and why we are a church. It has been my experience in churches I have served—including the Glenwood Church of Christ where I currently serve—that the call to worship is usually a time to transition people from visiting with one another into singing the first song. Often the preacher or worship leader will stand quietly on stage waiting for the people in the pews to notice him and settle down. When they begin to quiet he will say, “Good morning.” The words that follow are typically harmless expressions of greeting followed by a reading of Scripture. The move is made. People are finished visiting for the moment. Let the songs begin.
While this transition is necessary, I wonder whether or not it can be more theologically responsible. The call to worship is oftentimes a jarring shift from the everyday world to a very different set of activities, such as singing as a group. Few other organizations sing together, at least in the United States. What other gathering goes from friendly conversation between such diverse strands of people into corporate singing of mostly familiar songs? From daily concerns to shared worship? From “I love the world” to “Hallelujah”? The call to worship time bridges an almost impossible divide. But can it be done more effectively than “Good morning”? Is there a way to call people to worship God and say something about God simultaneously as a moment of calling and teaching, and perhaps even an occasion to shift worldview(s)? Or is that even necessary?
One of the reasons I think this is a critical question for contemporary worship has to do with what I perceive to be a rather anemic view of the place of God in worship. The supposed turn away from scientific worldviews has bred a culture no longer as concerned with worship as an information-gathering time. (I say this neither as a good or bad thing, but rather as an observation of what used to be versus what is today, at least in many circles.) Moreover, the evangelical scene has developed a hymnody whereby Christians have come to expect the worship hour to be a weekly burning-bush experience. But I suspect that the next turn in worship style will eventually have to account for the questions of many who did not feel a flood of emotion Sunday after Sunday, wondering why God chose to leave them out of the ballgame. So, can the call to worship time help alleviate some of the need to experience, and move toward the example of the early Christian letters that often began with statements about the identity of God, i.e. 2 Corinthians. Not to mention, the Psalms usually begin with—or at least contain—some statement about the identity of God, which is likely where the New Testament letters got their inspiration.
Then to the bigger questions: How can we articulate among our people a sense of mission by calling them into the presence of God with one another for the sake of the world, as preparation to go out into the world, not as church people, but as the church, where the church is more than the place we go, but the place from whence we are sent out. Since this is still in the experimental stage, I am not sure what place the call to worship will have in the long term. Still, I have a feeling it will play a big role in Glenwood’s life, mainly because it is receiving attention and intentionality, and furthermore because it has the potential to set a tone for something beyond the worship hour, but even the culture of our church.
The most important reason to shift the call to worship from a quieting time to a true “calling” time originates with the ways Scripture and tradition calls us to be an “inside-out” church. The Gospel of Mark sets up Jesus as the model disciple in order to invite others to be faithful to the mission of calling others to his model discipleship. Luke-Acts shows one who took a mission to the poor seriously who established a small group singularly concerned with caring for those who had taken on the mantel of Christianity, and eventually the larger group of outcasts who formed an underground movement unconcerned with temporal things, but things unseen. Such an approach is a far cry from contemporary Christianity oftentimes overwhelmed by church politics, church growth, and church programs. What if the call to worship could be a time where we help remind one another of our original calling, a call to the mission of God where we are sent into the world? What if church could exist for a mission bigger than merely maintaining church life? And what better place to name this reorientation than with the opening words of the church’s worship service?
Many churches see the need to give serious attention to the call to worship for any number of reasons. What strategies and approaches might deepen these opening moments on Sunday mornings?
---First, we decided at Glenwood to say something about God as the opening line of worship. No “Good mornings.” No “Will everyone be seated.” We simply open with a line about God or a move preparing us to declare some aspect of God. Any such change takes time to get used to in the majority of churches. But the move was a way for us to state something of first importance first. We even began one Sunday by opening with the line, “We believe in God.”
--Second, we chose to be intentional about writing the call to worship, rather than winging it as an off-the-cuff statement of welcome mixed with Scripture. When we began this initiative on January 16 and January 23 of 2005, I put the call in the order of worship word-for-word because of the nature of the sermons from Mark 13. The first week was Mark 13:1-31, the second week was Mark 13:32-37. The two calls to worship were similarly structured, but different in the ways they emphasize the contrasting messages of the text(s). (See below.)
--Third, we wanted to be creative and not allow ourselves to be handicapped by formula. While the calls will often contain something about God coupled with a reading of Scripture, at times we may include responsive sayings and/or readings of Scripture; at other times we may include co-calls alongside members as a dialogue-based call to worship; still at other times we may invite people into periods of silence to prepare for worship. Whatever the case, we wanted the form of the call to mimic the often jarring shift from world to worship.
From here, each church must consider her own culture and how her words echo the call of Scripture to consider who God is in light of who He calls us to be and become. These things said—both why this is important and how to do it—the following appendices highlight some of the specific aspects of this ongoing set of initiatives that have now become a part of the culture of the Glenwood Church of Christ.
Call to Worship” Samples
(Note: We were in the middle of a year-long series through the book of Mark when I began this initiative seeking ways to better use our “call to worship” time. )
January 16 (Sermon Text: Mark 13:1-31)
Come to worship God today where for the moment we can live without warning.
Come to worship God today in a place where we refuse the world’s need to be afraid.
Come to worship God today when for an hour you can participate in giving glory to the Lord.
Come to worship God today in a place where the fear of our culture is exchanged for the peace of Jesus Christ.
Come to worship God today as we live in love, joy, and patience with one another.
Come to worship God today as we hear Jesus speak a harsh truth with wonderful hope: “All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.”
Come and worship God.
January 23 (Sermon Text: Mark 13:32-37)
Come to worship God today where we must always be on guard.
Come to worship God today in a place where we are assigned the task to keep watch.
Come to worship God today when for an hour you can hear the Lord invite you to His mission.
Come to worship God today in a place where we repent together, for the kingdom is near.
Come to worship God today as we live in love, joy, and patience.
Come to worship God today as we hear Jesus speak a harsh truth with wonderful hope: “All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.”
Come and worship God.
January 30 (Sermon Text: Mark 14:1-11)
Here we are Lord, as an act of remembrance. We remember that you are the good shepherd. We remember how you go before us. We remember the Cross of Christ. You are the Lord. We are the people of your pasture. Lead us into the world, even as you set your table before us. Give us all the peace through the name of Jesus Christ that passes understanding. You are too good to be unkind, too merciful to leave us wandering in the fields alone. You are the shepherd, and we shall never be in want. You are the shepherd. Amen.
Responsive reading of Psalm 23
February 6 (Sermon Text: Mark 14:12-26)
Jesus welcomes us all to the table this morning, for there is always room at the table for one more. And as he welcomes us, we take our places in the name of Jesus. The table prepares us for ministry, prepares us for the world. Not only does Jesus redeem us all over again at the table week after week, but he sends us out to do everything else in remembrance of him. As we gather at the table we hear him say, “Do this in remembrance of me.” And as we offer those around us water, bread, and perhaps even our body and our blood, we do so in remembrance of him. We are a covenant people. Jesus welcomes us all to the table this morning, for there is always room at the table.
1 Cor 11:23-26 teaches us to say, “For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.”
Jesus welcomes us all to the table this morning, for there is always room at the table for one more.
March 6 (Sermon Text: Mark 15:22-37)
The world tells you to take up your wallet and follow the latest fashions. Jesus tells you to take up your cross. The world tells you to deny yourself nothing. Jesus tells you to deny yourself. The world hands you a crown of gold. Jesus wears a crown of thorns. As we come to worship this morning in the name of Jesus, we will hear some difficult words from the very mouth of our Lord and Savior who teaches us to speak to God out of our own pain. And yet, God is near. We come to hear what Jesus told the crowd and his disciples in Mark 8:34-35—“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.”
Our God and our king, we offer ourselves to you as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to you because of what you make us through your Son Jesus. He is our model disciple. He is the one who followed his own invitation. We pray that you give us the strength and the weakness to follow as we long to empty ourselves of what this world values in exchange for what You value. You are our God, and our king. For each of us here, make your presence known. This morning, among all our concerns, we deny ourselves, we take up our cross, and we wait to see where you will lead. Where you lead, we will follow. This is our promise in Jesus’ name, Amen.
March 13 (Sermon Text: Mark 15:15-47)
There stands the man in the Gospel who places his hope in things seen instead of things unseen, and Jesus is there to meet him at the cross, calling him to a life less ordinary. There stands the woman in the Gospel who thinks her good looks and charm will account for the lack of fulfillment that she has let define her, and Jesus is there to meet her at the cross, calling her to a life less ordinary. There lays the homeless woman in the storefront who long ago decided to agree with those who warned her that hope is a dangerous thing, and Jesus is there to meet her at the cross, calling her to a life of hope. There sits the man in the restaurant by himself who smells of old clothes, whose face is red and intermittently spotted with remnants of shaving cream he missed earlier in the day, and Jesus is there to meet him at the cross, calling him into his presence where he is not alone. The world is filled with all kinds of people. But the are all invited to meet the one. Jesus dies on the cross today, because only there can we learn what it means to be whole, full of hope, and no longer alone. Jesus shows us how to take up his own invitation from Mark 8:34-35—“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.”
Our God and our king, we offer ourselves to you as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to you because of what you make us through your Son Jesus. We are ambiguous people without you, defined by the weak categories the world puts before us as meaningful, but so devoid of meaning. We pray that you give us the strength and the weakness to follow as we long to empty ourselves of what this world values in exchange for what You value. Make us whole. Give us hope. Make your presence known. This morning, among all our concerns, we deny ourselves, we take up our cross, and we wait to see where you will lead. Together we stand to say, where you lead, we will follow. This is our promise in Jesus’ name, Amen.
March 27, Easter Sunday (Sermon Text: Mark 15:42 – 16:8)
Christ is risen! Today we celebrate, for Christ is risen! He lives. He bears our humanity. He walks among us, and His Spirit gives us all that we need. He is Lord, King, Messiah, Son of God. Christ is risen!
Hebrews 13:20-21 proclaims in light of the risen Jesus, “May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
This is a great day, a great morning to proclaim the glory of God in Christ Jesus. Christ is risen! Let us give thanks.
Our Father, the one who holds the joy of resurrection in your right hand, there is no God like you, the one who frees us from our sins, the one who celebrates abundant life, the risen life we live in Christ. There is no more death in you, Father, for you are the one true God Almighty. Rejoice with us today, God, as we rejoice with You. Worthy is your name, Father. All glory and honor and praise be unto you through our risen Savior, Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Amen."
4.13.2005
Happy Wednesday!
So, about 3 years ago, as I was on a spring break trip to Seattle, same trip I met Sarah on as a matter of fact, I heard one of the most deep impacting sermons I have ever heard by Milton Jones at the Northwest Church. He was kicking off a series on "The Seven Deadly Sins." And he was talking about pride...and how convicting it was! Tonight, we begin that same series here at North Davis in OASIS, our Wednesday evening worship time, I stole the title from Highland...sorry Mike! I hope and pray that it will help bring some things to the surface that we often refuse to talk or even think about! I rarely do something like this, I guess its the ACU influence shining through, but here is a quote from Ed Young Jr. of Fellowship Church in Grapevine...
"The temptation to sin exists at every turn of our lives. The seven deadly sins are part of our interior landscape becuase of our 'fallen' human nature! If these sins are allowed to exist and grow in us, they can overtake us, overwhelm us, and destroy us from the inside out!"
Pride, anger, envy, slothfulness, lust, gluttony and greed!
"The temptation to sin exists at every turn of our lives. The seven deadly sins are part of our interior landscape becuase of our 'fallen' human nature! If these sins are allowed to exist and grow in us, they can overtake us, overwhelm us, and destroy us from the inside out!"
Pride, anger, envy, slothfulness, lust, gluttony and greed!
4.06.2005
God is Good!!
Well,
It has been beautiful weather-wise the last few days here in Arlington! I was lucky to be outside playing in a Golf tournament on Monday and got to soak some of it in! Just absolutely in awe of God's creation!
From Psalm 8...
"O LORD , our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory
above the heavens.
From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise
because of your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.
When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?..."
God's creation is amazing!
Second...
I've been meaning to post this for some time now, but have been too busy to think about it. The ZOE group, the best acappella worship group on the face of the earth today, is recording one of my arrangements on their upcoming CD, due out late September/early October. The song is "In Christ Alone." I am pumped and can't wait to hear what they do with it! You should check out their website at http://zoegroup.faithsite.com
More later...Same Bat-Time, Same Bat-channel!
It has been beautiful weather-wise the last few days here in Arlington! I was lucky to be outside playing in a Golf tournament on Monday and got to soak some of it in! Just absolutely in awe of God's creation!
From Psalm 8...
"O LORD , our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory
above the heavens.
From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise
because of your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.
When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?..."
God's creation is amazing!
Second...
I've been meaning to post this for some time now, but have been too busy to think about it. The ZOE group, the best acappella worship group on the face of the earth today, is recording one of my arrangements on their upcoming CD, due out late September/early October. The song is "In Christ Alone." I am pumped and can't wait to hear what they do with it! You should check out their website at http://zoegroup.faithsite.com
More later...Same Bat-Time, Same Bat-channel!
4.01.2005
Gotta love Friday...
After researching for many years, after much in-depth study, I have come to a major discovery: (Drum roll please...) FRIDAY IS THE BEST DAY OF THE WEEK!!!
It is the wrap-up of the week, the anachrusis (go ahead...look it up in your musical dictionary) into the weekend! Beautiful weather, no pressing engagements, only cleaning up the apartment, a little baseball perhaps, and who knows, perhaps a little golf tune-up for the tournament on Monday! I know my church choir is looking forward to a rehearsal-free Saturday! As am I!!! Well, enjoy the weekend! Hopefully stress-free!
Can you count the number of hyphenated words?
It is the wrap-up of the week, the anachrusis (go ahead...look it up in your musical dictionary) into the weekend! Beautiful weather, no pressing engagements, only cleaning up the apartment, a little baseball perhaps, and who knows, perhaps a little golf tune-up for the tournament on Monday! I know my church choir is looking forward to a rehearsal-free Saturday! As am I!!! Well, enjoy the weekend! Hopefully stress-free!
Can you count the number of hyphenated words?
3.31.2005
Just Another Not-So Tequila Thursday...
I dont know what prompted me to title today's entry as I did...I just did! Live with it! I have just finished doing an overhaul on the old blog this morning! You will notice some links of interest to the left and I would definitely encourage you to check them out! My friend Matt just recently joined the world of blogging and his link is the newest to the bunch...If I know Matt as well as I think, and I dont, then you can be sure that there will be some interesting eminations coming forth from his blog! more later...
2.27.2005
A Modern Creed... A Statement of Faith
I know, I know...For some of you, my lengthy absence in blogging may seem to indicate an absence in brain activity...While for part of this time of sabbatical that may very well be the case, I can assure that life has just been flat hectic! But nevertheless, the long awaited ramblings continue to this end...
There is a song that has been on the worship scene for a while now called "In Christ Alone..." One that our church has come to know and love. Yet, I know as I sing the words, I cant help but ask myself if I really mean, really and truly believe and what it is I am singing...You ever had those moments? Those moments when you found yourself perhaps singing right along those words like "All to Jesus I surrender..." and then like lightning, it strikes you and you realize just what it is you are saying? This song does it to me every time. What do such powerful statements like the ones Keith Getty and Stuart Townsend have so craftily scripted in "In Christ Alone" lead your mind to think? Can you sing this along with many other songs and honestly believe and live out the words you sing?
Paul talks about this just a bit in the context of the Lord's Supper meal in I Corinthians 11 when he says that when you come to the table you should "look deep within yourself..." When you come to the throne of God in worship, I believe that the same applies. If you aren't looking deep within yourself, if you aren't actively seeking out the transforming power of God, the active work of His Holy Spirit, if you aren't looking to place yourselves facedown before God and be "lost in wonder, love and praise," then you have to ask also the question "Have I really offered God the best I can offer?"
Just something to think about...Here are the lyrics.
In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my Light my strength my song
This Cornerstone this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love what depths of peace
When fears are stilled when strivings cease
My Comforter my all in all
Here in the love of Christ I stand
In Christ alone who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless Babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
'Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For ev'ry sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ
No guilt in life no fear in death
This is the pow'r of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No pow'r of hell no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
'Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand
CCLI Song No. 3350395
© 2001 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
For use solely in accordance with the SongSelect Basic Terms of Agreement. All rights Reserved.
CCLI License No. 480296
There is a song that has been on the worship scene for a while now called "In Christ Alone..." One that our church has come to know and love. Yet, I know as I sing the words, I cant help but ask myself if I really mean, really and truly believe and what it is I am singing...You ever had those moments? Those moments when you found yourself perhaps singing right along those words like "All to Jesus I surrender..." and then like lightning, it strikes you and you realize just what it is you are saying? This song does it to me every time. What do such powerful statements like the ones Keith Getty and Stuart Townsend have so craftily scripted in "In Christ Alone" lead your mind to think? Can you sing this along with many other songs and honestly believe and live out the words you sing?
Paul talks about this just a bit in the context of the Lord's Supper meal in I Corinthians 11 when he says that when you come to the table you should "look deep within yourself..." When you come to the throne of God in worship, I believe that the same applies. If you aren't looking deep within yourself, if you aren't actively seeking out the transforming power of God, the active work of His Holy Spirit, if you aren't looking to place yourselves facedown before God and be "lost in wonder, love and praise," then you have to ask also the question "Have I really offered God the best I can offer?"
Just something to think about...Here are the lyrics.
In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my Light my strength my song
This Cornerstone this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love what depths of peace
When fears are stilled when strivings cease
My Comforter my all in all
Here in the love of Christ I stand
In Christ alone who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless Babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
'Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For ev'ry sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ
No guilt in life no fear in death
This is the pow'r of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No pow'r of hell no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
'Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand
CCLI Song No. 3350395
© 2001 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
For use solely in accordance with the SongSelect Basic Terms of Agreement. All rights Reserved.
CCLI License No. 480296
1.10.2005
He's Back!!!
Excellence...
To acheive to do one's best...
To set lofty goals and pursuit of one's best...
What is excellence to you? Do you seek after excellence in all you do? Job? Family? Relationships? Fill in the blank...
I have been thinking about a lot of things these last few months since I last posted...Yeah, I know, go ahead and say it...Yes, my brain DOES have the capacity to think.
My training is in two areas. One--classical voice and choral music, and two--worship and music ministry. Two areas that have been separated historically by a chasm that has been for the most part un-travelled. Why is that? They each have similar ideals, but why do they remain so polarized?
This is a question I have, and am struggling with. How can I, a classical musician in constant pursuit of excellence, help bleed over into church music and worship a desire for excellence?
If God requires no less than our absolute best, and I am not saying that people aren't offering their best to God, than why do we far too often settle for mediocrity? Mediocrity in Christian living? Mediocrity in Chrsitian relationships? Mediocrity in worship? Mediocrity in our levels of commitment? Mediocrity in bible study?
How can I help my parishoners see the need to set a higher level of excellence for our faith commuunity, specifically in reference to worship?
We need to be about God's business, we need to be about the ever-incresing reign of God in this world. And as we do that, God deserves all of our attention, all of our hearts, souls, minds and strength. May we seek excellence in all areas of our devotion to God as he deserves no less than perfect!
To acheive to do one's best...
To set lofty goals and pursuit of one's best...
What is excellence to you? Do you seek after excellence in all you do? Job? Family? Relationships? Fill in the blank...
I have been thinking about a lot of things these last few months since I last posted...Yeah, I know, go ahead and say it...Yes, my brain DOES have the capacity to think.
My training is in two areas. One--classical voice and choral music, and two--worship and music ministry. Two areas that have been separated historically by a chasm that has been for the most part un-travelled. Why is that? They each have similar ideals, but why do they remain so polarized?
This is a question I have, and am struggling with. How can I, a classical musician in constant pursuit of excellence, help bleed over into church music and worship a desire for excellence?
If God requires no less than our absolute best, and I am not saying that people aren't offering their best to God, than why do we far too often settle for mediocrity? Mediocrity in Christian living? Mediocrity in Chrsitian relationships? Mediocrity in worship? Mediocrity in our levels of commitment? Mediocrity in bible study?
How can I help my parishoners see the need to set a higher level of excellence for our faith commuunity, specifically in reference to worship?
We need to be about God's business, we need to be about the ever-incresing reign of God in this world. And as we do that, God deserves all of our attention, all of our hearts, souls, minds and strength. May we seek excellence in all areas of our devotion to God as he deserves no less than perfect!
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