Looking like a worship leader

Last night I was reading Luke. I came accross somthig, amoung others things, that has really had me thinking about the way we all do worship.

So what is a worship leader, or a musician at church, supposed to look like? I think if God had something to say about it, he wouldn’t really care what we do on stage-the style or any of that- I think God would really care how we live. He has a history of only caring about how we live.

But in Luke a group of people come up to John claiming righteousness because they were  ’children of Abraham.’ But he tells them to repent, and they ask him what to do. John the baptist says:

“Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food should do the same” (Luke 3:11).

This should hit us all to the core. So many times we forget the sin of coveting and greed. I do. I think as worship leaders we have flipped it; I think we have missed it sometimes. It is not about looking supper cool so that people will come watch us. It’s about ”living our lives as a living sacrifice, for this is our spiritual act of worship” (Romans 12:1).  John goes on to say that one day someone will come to help us with this, and he will baptize us in the Holy Spirit, and change us from the inside out. We sing that all the time, it’s a lot harder to live it.

Applying this is challenging. Recently I have been convicted by numorous verses that show how the  early Christians kept what they needed and gave in their excess – this is very contrary to the American culture. But specifically with clothes, in order to attempt to live my life for true worship leading, I have made a commitment to only buy clothes from thrift stores, and hopefully buy no clothes at all. So just to let everyone know, if I don’t look as “trendy” anymore, that’s why – if I ever even did at all.  

But a good example is my best friend Darren. He has walked around for the past 2 months in a pair of Levi’s with a patch on the back. That’s awesome. Clothes are clothes, and there are some people without them; and when we clothe them, we clothe Jesus (Matthew 25). 

 This idea of giving is a lot deeper than just clothes, but hopefully this is a step in the right direction. But I just need everyone to keep me accountable on this, that is why I write about it, and I need pray that I wouldn’t make this a legalestic issue, but that it would just be another way to obey Jesus command to love our neighbors as ourselves.  

 

It’s better to give than to receive. It’s better to give, than look like Journey. 

Also, I found this quiz bellow online, which I found very funny. Take the quiz to see if your a metro worship leader.

1. Has a faux hawk hair style = +1

2. Has more product in his hair than your wife = +1

3. Has Rob Bell, black rimmed glasses = +1

4. They are not prescription, but just for effect = +2

5. Attends the Catalyst Conference = +3

6. Performs at the Catalyst Conference = +10

7. Owns Puma, Vans or Diesel sneakers = +2 per each pair

8. Wears jeans on stage = +1

9. Wears designer jeans on stage = +2

10. Wears Wrangler or Rustler jeans on stage = -3

11. Has a goatee = +2

12. Wears one of those Castro revolution looking hats = +2

13. Drinks coffee on stage = +1

14. Drinks some kind of coffee you did not know existed = +2

15. Brings a French Press on stage and makes his own coffee during service = +5

16. Has a handlebar mustache = -3

17. Good at Frisbee but hates getting all “sweaty” = +1

18. Has a haircut that covers one of his eyes while singing = +1

19. Owns a white belt = +2

20. Owns suspenders = -3

21. Wears a scarf with a t-shirt = +1

22. Wears a winter knit hat even in the summer = +2

23. You think he covered a My Chemical Romance song last week = +3

24. Drives an Audi or VW, silver of course = +2

25. Uses the words, “postmodern, relevant” or “emergent” nonstop = +2

26. Cringes a little when people say the “H word.” (Hymnal) = +3

27. Has ever said some form of the phrase, “That song is so 1990s” = +1

28. Owns a Grizzly Adams red and black flannel shirt = -2

29. Named his kid after a color or a number = +2

30. References Norwegian punk bands you’ve never heard of = +2

31. Wears a tie = -1

32. Wears a tie as a belt = +2

33. Looks as if he might exfoliate = +2

34. Has a man bag or European Carry All = +2

35. Brings said bag on stage with him = +2

36. Has a tattoo = +2

37. Has a visible tattoo = +4

38. Wife accompanies him on stage and plays tambourine = -4

39. Was formerly in a punk new wave band = +2

40. Knows the names of all the people on the scripted MTV show, “the Hills” = +3

41. Refuses to drink anything but Vitamin Water = +2

42. Your wife ever says, “he needs a barrette for his hair.” = +2

43. Has a nickname with “the” in it, as in “the edge,” = +2

44. Owns every Nooma video = +2

45. Has a soul patch = +3

46. Won’t play barefoot on stage until he gets a pedicure = +2

47. Refers to California as “the left coast” = +2

48. Currently subscribes to Dwell or Details magazine = +2

49. Owns a pair of lady jeans = +2

50. Twitters you from his iPhone = +2

51. His toddler dresses cooler than you = +2

52. He wears graphic t-shirts over button down, long sleeve shirts = +2

53. Ever says “we got a hot mic here” = -4

54. Shops at the Gap = 0

55. Shops at Urban Outfitters = +2

Grace

God is telling me: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness”

So I will be proud of the fact that I’m a weak, because Jesus power is made perfect in weakness, and  his power  will make  me like Christ if I only believe He can do it – and I do.

The words we speak

“But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for EVERY CARELESS WORD they have spoken” Matthew 12:36

Our words mean so much to God.

Every mean word, hateful word, frustrated word, angry word, sarcastic word, irritable word, prideful word, rude word, judging word, gossiping word we say, we are accountable for it… Whether we are alone or with others, our words are important, and what we say is important to God.

Let us encourage, love, and build-up every person we talk to.

Let us be patient, kind, caring, thoughtful, and merciful with our words.

Let us not taunt others with irony, or make fun of them to make ourselves feel better.

Let us not talk to people with raised voices or argue to try to prove our points.

We are accountable for every word that leaves our mouths. I think I’ll start to choose my words more wisely.

Word over Feelings

This is something God has constantly been bringing me back to: my feelings lie, but God’s Word does not!

As sad as it is, I think the Enemy’s main tool with me lately has been to get me to focus on my feelings, and to make me loose my trust in the bible. The bible, in context, is the complete Word of the Living God. It is God speaking into the lives of people; it is not just a book. It is the Word of Jesus Christ spoken through the mouth of the prophets and the apostles.

Lately for me, I have been being attacked – my feelings specifically – with lies about my uselessness. But I can sum my troubles up to disobeying God’s Word.

I have been fearful, but God’s Word says, “Fear only God” Matthew 10:28

I have been anxious, but God’s Word says, “Do not be anxious about anything” Philippians 4:6

I haven’t been joyful, but God’s Word says “Be joyful always!” 1 Thessalonians 5:16

I haven’t been thankful, but God’s Word says “Give thanks in all circumstance” 1 Thessalonians 5:17

I have not been hopeful, But God’s Word says “be joyful in hope” Romans 12:12

I will fear God only and not be anxious. I will be joyful and thankful in every circumstance. Colossians 1:5 says, “We have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people, WHICH COMES FROM YOUR CONFIDENT HOPE of what God has reserved for you in heaven” I must believe that God loves me, and I must hope in what he is doing in order to love others!

My trust is in what God’s word says and I will obey his Word! God help me to overcome my feelings with Truth!

How much it cost

Take the time to read this!! It will change your easter! And your life!

“”The face that Moses had begged to see—was forbidden to see—was slapped bloody. The thorns that God had sent to curse the earth’s rebellion now twisted around his own brow…
“On your back with you!” One raises a mallet to sink in the spike. But the soldier’s heart must continue pumping as he readies the prisoner’s wrist. Someone must sustain the soldier’s life minute by minute, for no man has this power on his own. Who supplies breath to his lungs? Who gives energy to his cells? Who holds his molecules together? Only by the Son do “all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17). The victim will that the soldier live on—he grants the warriors continued existence. The man swings.

As the man swings, the Son recalls how he and the Father first designed the medial never of the human forearm—the sensations it would be capable of. The design proves flawless—the nerves perform exquisitely. “Up you go!” They lift the cross. God is on display in his underwear and can scarcely breathe.

But these pains are a mere warm-up to his other and growing dread. He begins to feel a foreign sensation. Somewhere during this day an unearthly foul odor began to waft, not around his nose, but his heart. He feels dirty. Human wickedness starts to craw upon his spotless being—the living excrement from our souls. The apple of his Father’s eye turns brown with rot.

His Father! He must face his Father like this!
From heaven the Father now rouses himself like a lion disturbed, shakes his mane, and roars against the shriveling remnant of a man hanging on a cross. Never has the Son seen the Father look at him so, never felt even the least of his hot breath. But the roar shakes the unseen world and darkens the visible sky. The son does not recognize there eyes.

“Son of Man! Why have you behaved so? You have cheated, lusted, stolen, gossiped—murdered, envied, hated, lied. You have cursed, robbed, overspent, overeaten—fornicated, disobeyed, embezzled, and blasphemed. Oh, the duties you have shirked, the children you have abandoned! Who has ever so ignored the poor, so played the coward, so belittled my name? Have you ever held your razor tongue? What a self-righteous, pitiful drunk—you, who molest young boys, peddle killer drugs, travel in cliques, and mock your parents. Who gave you the boldness to rig elections, foment revolutions, torture animals, and worship demons? Does the list never end! Splitting families, raping virgins, acting smugly, playing the pimp—buying politicians, practicing exhortation, filming pornography, accepting bribes. You have burned down buildings, perfected terrorists tactics, founded false religions, traded in slaves—relishing each morsel and bragging about it all. I hate, loath these things in you! Disgust for everything about you consumes me! Can you not feel my wrath?”

Of course the Son is innocent. He is blamelessness itself. The Father knows this. But the divine pair have an agreement, and the unthinkable must now take place. Jesus will be treated as if personally responsible for every sin ever committed.
The Father watches as his heart’s treasure, the mirror image of himself, sinks drowning into raw, liquid sin. Jehovah’s stored rage against humankind from every century explodes in a single direction.

“Father! Father! Why have you forsaken me?!”
But heaven stops it’s ears. The Son stares up at the One who cannot, who will not, reach down or reply. The Trinity had planned it. The Son endured it. The Spirit enabled him. The Father rejected the Son whom he loved. Jesus, the God-man from Nazareth, perished. The Father accepted his sacrifice for sin and was satisfied. The rescue was accomplished. “”

From: When God Weeps, Steven Estes and Joni Eareckson Tada.

Overflow of His Presence

Lives are changed when we encounter God.

Recently I feel like I have been trying to act on God’s principles and the teachings of Jesus without actually encountering Jesus Himself.

It’s funny because it seems like in the church it has been the opposite; many people are hearing His Word but are not acting on it. Obviously this is important, Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it” Luke 11:28.

But I have been doing the opposite. I have been trying to obey the Word without encountering The Word who is Jesus. I have often specifically looked through the bible lately with the intention of finding words to obey, but have come up empty.

The apostles encountered Jesus, and their lives had evidence of this. If anyone stepped into the presence of the Christ they were never the same! Their lives were radically different! Not because they decided to start following his teachings, but because they encountered the most intoxicating person to every step foot on this planet!

When we are in the presence of Jesus there is an overflow of the Spirit; an overflow that will change your life!

My only focus now is too encounter Jesus, and let His presence overflow into my actions from the inside out! Being a Christ follower is about constant relationship with God; not praying, or acting, or going to church, or serving, but a relationship with God. And when we have this relationship, this encounter we have with God changes us.

We cannot encounter God without being changed! If we are not changed we have not encountered God! He is intoxicating! He can’t help it! The more time we spend with God, the more we become like Him! His greatness will start to make us great as we become less ourselves and more of Him. This is the opportunity God gives us by gracing us with His presence! He knows if He is around us, we will become more like Him, it’s inevitable.

My life will not be changed by my efforts anymore, but by encountering the living God!

The Noise of our Music

This will blow your mind:

“I hate, I despise your religious feasts;
I cannot stand your assemblies. 22 Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings,
I will not accept them.
Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, ^[a]
I will have no regard for them.

23 Away with the noise of your songs!
I will not listen to the music of your harps.

24 But let justice roll on like a river,
righteousness like a never-failing stream!” Amos 5:20-24

This is crazy.. How about a modern day translation?

1-24“I can’t stand your religious meetings.
I’m fed up with your conferences and conventions.
I want nothing to do with your religion projects,
your pretentious slogans and goals.
I’m sick of your fund-raising schemes,
your public relations and image making.
I’ve had all I can take of your noisy ego-music.
When was the last time you sang to me?
Do you know what I want?
I want justice—oceans of it.
I want fairness—rivers of it.
That’s what I want. That’s all I want” The message.

Crazy. God wants justice, love, fairness, and righteousness in each one of our lives more than anything else.

I often fall SOOO short of this, but I just pray that I will be a light of fairness, love, and justice, in the world of worship music!

Following God in Marriage

Hey guys, this is my first blog here on wordpress.

Anyway I have some big things happening in my life. As some of you may know, I will be a married man in less than a month! I am very excited about that, but just getting married is not what I’m most excited about. This is what I am most excited about:

In less than a month, I will be joined in a covenant of two people who are following God with all of their heart. That is what I am most excited about; I am most excited about God – my Savior – and the huge plans He has for us in this story of redemption for the world. Marriage is going to be great, but I think Megan and I both know that God is the greatest! I’m so lucky to be joined with a girl that is sold out for the cause Jesus Christ. I’m so lucky to spend my life perusing God with a girl who I know will trust me, and God!

The world thinks of marriage as settling down, I think of it as an opportunity to become more radical for God.

The world sees a wife as a ball and chain, I see a wife as a partner in the pursuit of God’s kingdom.

For us, we will not stop following God because we are married, and we will not give into the lukewarm norm of our culture. We will make hard decisions. We will go places we do not want to go. We will love people we do not want to love. We will forgive people we don’t want to forgive. We will step out in faith even when the goal looks impossible. We will radically follow Jesus Christ, and radically be set-apart for the cause of our God.

I’m a lucky man. I have been forgiven, set free, and made alive by God, and He has given me a partner that can’t be matched.