Blog Archives
An Interesting Take on The Lord’s Prayer
I found it rummaging through a rack of used books. Rather surprised to see it there, I quickly picked it up. I thought to myself, “How often will one run across an obscure book like this?” After perusing through it for a few moments, I turned to The Lord’s Prayer, and the deal was closed.
This unique and thought-provoking version of The Lord’s Prayer is found in “A New Zealand Prayer Book”. We hope Read the rest of this entry
Worship Leader Make-Over: Defining the Goal of a Worship Leader
The clock on the wall says it’s 9:55. People are hurriedly making their way into the sanctuary from classrooms, conversations, the coffee bar, or the parking lot. If the service has a band, the musicians are tuning up, and everyone on the team is making sure their songs are in order. The sound team is running last-minute checks and putting a battery into the one mic that is dying, The video team is making sure everything is ready. It’s 10:00am and the time has come. It is time to worship.
What happens next? All kinds of things. It depends on your church tradition and background. It has a LOT to do with the worship leaders themselves and what they think should happen.
Let me phrase today’s discussion this way: If you are a worship leader, what is your goal when you lead the congregation in worship? Where is it you are leading the congregation? How do you know when you get there? Put another way: What is the point of corporate worship? Why have we gathered in the first place? What does God expect from us as we gather to worship Him?
I have been to many worship services and have led some myself, where there was no lofty goal guiding the service. Henry David Thoreau once said
“In the long run men hit only what they aim at. Therefore, though they should fail immediately, they had better aim at something high.”
We only hit what we aim at. Isn’t that the truth! As worship leaders, we should be aiming very high when we stand before God’s people to lead them in worshipping Him. So, my worship leading friend, what are you aiming at when you lead the congregation? Allow me to share what I believe the scriptures teach us we SHOULD be aiming at when we lead worship. To understand this, we will briefly look at the three common terms used to describe worship in the Bible. We will wrap up with a definition.
The Most Rewarding Exercise / Training Program of 2011
A new year has arrived and it has brung with it the promise of improvement! Of course, I am talking about the resolutions many of us make. I like the idea of regularly reflecting on one’s course in life. Where am I going? What am I doing? What am I building my life upon? Do I need to change course or am I on the right track?
The number one New Years resolution is all about getting in shape or losing weight. If you made any resolutions, the odds are that you made one in this general area. I don’t think this surprises anyone. Our culture values, almost more than anything else, good-looking bodies. January is the most crowded month at the gym. EVERYONE comes in January because of the vows they made in December. But come, mid-February, things are generally back to normal.
Don’t get me wrong, I am not dissing getting in shape…. Read the rest of this entry
What is Your Life Centered On?
C.J. Mahaney writes in his book “Living The Cross-Centered Life: Keeping the Gospel THE Main Thing”
“Each of our lives is centered on something. What’s at the center of yours? Think about it for a moment. What’s really the main thing in your life? Only one thing can truly be first in priority; so what’s at the top of your list, second to none? What are you most passionate about? What do you love to talk about? What do you think about most when your mind is free?
Or try this, what is it that defines you? Is it your career? A relationship? Maybe it’s your family or your ministry? It could be some cause or movement or some political affiliation. Or perhaps your main thing is a hobby or talent you have or even your house and possessions… Read the rest of this entry
Not For Itching Ears 