. . . two prophets pricked the conscience of all the people on earth, made it impossible for them to enjoy their sins. - Rev 11:10

Among a ton of imagery that I have yet to understand, this jumped at me this morning.  Evidently there were two prophets, two guys who represented God.  They stung the conscious of people and made their actions unenjoyable.

It is interesting that when we don’t talk about things, it is easier to convince ourselves that it is not such a bad thing.  That is, until someone brings those things up.  I can remember instances where someone said something to me, kind of digging in my life a bit.  In the back of my mind, I knew what I was doing was not quite right, but I had buried it so well.  Once it was brought up, it was not possible for me to enjoy my actions and continue.  Something had to change.  Sometimes it was a face-to-face apology.

I think part of the job of the church is to prick the conscious of people.  I believe some people take this WAY too far.  Seeing people picket with signs that say “God Hates Queers” and other stuff like that makes me want to scream.

Gentle reminders.  I think that is what Christ wants.  Loving people and gently living a life that stings the conscious.  I’m not sure I want to pick up a picket sign in someone’s life when my conscious gets stained every day.

Technorati Tags: devotions, church, God, conscious, guilt

One from the archives (2004), but these guys are breakdancing in front of the Pope and received his blessings.  Two things stand out to me about this encounter.

1. These guys know what worship is about.  Some would say that there dancing is their primary form of worship.  Not so.  Jesus says that “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (James 1:27).  The real scoop is that these guys use their talents to help the poor and marginalized of Poland.   
2. Creativity is to be celebrated.  According to Pope John Paul, ”Artistic talent is a gift from God and whoever discovers it in himself has a certain obligation: to know that he cannot waste this talent, but must develop it.” 

Serve well and develop what you have!

Technorati Tags: Pope John Paul, worship, dancing, break dancing, blessing, poor, creativity

Tim Hughes, worship leader and author of Here I am to Worship and other worship songs, has posted some great info on his blog. Below are the notes from a seminar Tim did on band arrangements.

Band Arrangements:

“Do not only prepare your choice of songs but also how you will lead them. Never repeat a song for no reason. We are singing songs for too long at the moment. It is boring and pointless. If you are going to repeat a song then think what you meant to emphasis the second time. You can change the emphasis by changing the instrumentation. To repeat a song with the same musical backing, tempo and vocal emphasis is just laziness. Don’t do it anymore.”

Mike Pilavachi

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All the best to you from The God Who Is, The God Who Was, and The God About to Arrive . . . - Rev 1:4 (Message)

I like how the message put this: “the God about to arrive.”

We have family coming over at the end of the week for a late Christmas gathering. They will arrive in a few days. They are “about to arrive.” Seems like when guests come, one of 2 things happen:

1. We scramble like crazy getting things cleaned and put in order, wash the dog, dress the kids nice, use the real plates, put on a happy face, and generally give the impression that life is always like this.
2. We invite people into a house that we live in. They might as well have dropped in unannounced. We bring them into a life that we are already living.

I don’t think that God is real impressed when we get our lives all dressed up just for a show. He is more interested in how we are living life. He is the one about to arrive. Will I dress up my life knowing that he is coming soon, or live an honest life that needs no window dressing.

God, I desire to be honest and please you. I don’t want to live a life that is inconsistent. May you drop in on my life at any time and find it no different than if you made an appointment. Failures and all, I desire to live honestly before you. I welcome your arrival.

Technorati Tags: revelation, journal, devotions, Bible, church, God

Andy Mckee once again rocks my face off.  I’m currently looking for some lumber and duct tape to make my guitar like this.  Enjoy!

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I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5

We men seem to measure our life by the things we do, the things we have, and the people we know. Listen in on any conversation, and they will usually hit on some of these areas? Why? Because we want to know that our life matters, that we are doing something, anything.

Since I am sentenced to indoor running during the winter, I watch movies while I am on the treadmill. Yesterday I finished watching “Saving Private Ryan.” I had seen it before. Great and gory movie. Made me again want to thank all US military personnel. There is a scene at the end of the movie where an older Private James Ryan is staring at the tombstone of Army Captain John Miller (played by Tom Hanks). Miller died saving Private Ryan. Here stands an older Ryan, alive because of the death of Miller. As he is taking stock of his entire life, Ryan’s wife walks up. Ryan looks at his wife. “Tell me I am a good man. Tell me I am a good man.”

We all want to be good men. But, how?

I seem to get hung up in doing God’s will. Like there is a specific thing that I have to do to be in his will. If I can figure out that one thing, I am golden. Other times I figure if I can just have the right things, or know the right people, my life will have significance.

Jesus again states a principle of the upside-down kingdom. To produce good things, remain in him. It is in listening to the Spirit of God that we find life. It is in Christ that we find the significance of life and our role in it. Success and significance are not found in the things that I do or have. Success and significance are measured in one thing: Remaining in Christ. Everything else, EVERYTHING ELSE, is just gravy.

At the end of my life, I want to look at my days, take stock of my life with my Creator and be able to say with all humility and sincerity “I am a good man.”

Technorati Tags: Bible, journal, Saving-Private-Ryan, devotions, God’s-will, success

Matt Redman is set to release his new project next week. I am looking forward to this. The guy constantly delivers. I have seen Matt several times and had the opportunity to be in a 2-day training session with him and 100 attendees. It was very cool. He is the real deal.

Along with the project, Matt has started a new blog.

Special thanks to Matt Morgan for the head’s up!

Technorati Tags: matt-Redman, beautiful-news, worship, matt-Morgan

Jerry at Worship Guitar Guy just posted some good thoughts on monitors.  Beyond the technical aspects of setting monitors, Jerry offers some great thoughts on getting a basic understanding of what the sound guys deal with.  Check out Jerry’s post HERE.

Technorati Tags: worship-guitar-guy, worship-leading, worship, monitors, sound

He must increase, but I must decrease. - John 3:30 (NASB)

“Part of your job is to be invisible.” I tell that to our worship teams from time to time. Our role as worship leaders and band members is to make God more visible and ourselves less.

How is it that we can be an invisible worship leader? Hmm. Let’s have some fun. Here are my top 10 ways to be a VISIBLE worship leader:

1. Use many solos. I have to watch this. I am a sucker for electric solos. I was watching Clapton last night just ripping it up (like always). I could listen to a guitar solo for a looooooong time. I could pray and worship to it. Most cannot. When we rip a solo in a song on into or ending, I am very careful. If it calls too much attention to the man with the axe, it calls attention away from God.
2. Frown. People will look at you. You are on stage. You are facing them. You are holding an instrument. It makes noise. When people look at you leading worship (which is natural) a smile can move the attention from you and to the object of your smile. If you’re happy and you know it, tell your face.
3. When you are not playing, stick your hands in your pockets and don’t move. Just last Sunday I saw Michael, our electric player for the evening, with hands stretched wide, eyes closed and looking up. He was visibly invisible.
4. Give instructions before each song. Sometimes I hear leaders say “This song is about blah, blah, blah and it really means a lot because.” I find myself wanting to stand up and scream “Shut up! Shut! Up! Lead us in worship.” But then I would become visible, and embarrassed.
5. Act bored. If you don’t enjoy what you are doing, it will show. The best worship leaders convey that the only place they want to be at that moment is where they are. Be present.
6. Play poorly. If it all falls apart and is second rate, you will become visible in a hurry. Play skillfully or not at all.
7. Shake your money maker. Too much movement on stage and people will be drawn to your moves. I have to watch this one. I can get pretty charged up and I don’t mean to brag but I have been known to cut a little rug. Yea, like Napoleon Dynamite, I got skills. Note: if you know me, you know this is so untrue.
8. Be tied to your music. I stink at this. The more I am tied to my music, the more I have to direct my attention and energy there.
9. Dress like a rock star. I’m all cool with looking your best, but let’s be modest. If your clothes get more attention than your God, we gots issues. I will quote one of our drummers, Chris Austin, when I say “Ladies, don’t cause a brotha to stumble.”
10. Give too many instructions. A worship leader needs to be a gentle leader. I have been in sessions where leaders say things like “Everybody raise your hands.” “Everybody dance around.” “Lift your eyes up to the heavens.” “Stand up, sit down, turn around, praise my Lord.” There is a place for direction but too much and it is a giant Simon Says session where everyone is looking at you for the next command.

Simon says “drop in for the next article as we explore another worship leading essential.” Keep reading. You are out. I didn’t say “Simon says.” Geeze.

Check out what my new friend, Eric Herron has to say about being an Invisible Worship Leader here:

Technorati Tags: worship-leading, Eric-Herron, church, invisible

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31

Freedom. I have conversations every week with people who are not free. They struggle with a prison of addictions and lack of discipline. We all do. We look around and wonder why we are not free. Why am I not financially free? The Bible says that the borrower is slave to the lender. To many trips to the lender and I am not free. Same with any other addiction. We don’t follow the teachings of Jesus and we end up with little freedom.

The teachings of Jesus are not to restrict me, they are to give me freedom. My quest for the truth is not so that my life is limited, it is so that my life can live at full freedom and effectiveness.

Maybe that is why I am so sold on daily devotions and Life Journaling. It allows me to see some truths, and become a free disciple. And freedom is good.

Are you doing daily devotions? Life journaling? Freedom is just around the corner. Go get it.

Technorati Tags: freedom, John, Bible, devotions