Reflections on Obedience

Hey guys,
Hope everyone had a great weekend. Just wanted to reflect on the sermon from Sunday taught by my good friend Brad LaBass. Obedience is a tough concept to grasp. Especially when it comes to obeying God. Let me expound on that thought. I don't want to say "we all know," so I'll just use "I know." I know that it is hard for me to obey God sometimes. How bout you? What are some areas that you struggle with obeying and listening to God? I learned yesterday that "True obedience is spending time with God." No wonder it is so hard for me to obey him! I often find myself lost in the day's work, that I neglect my quiet time with him. In my walk and relationship with God, I must constantly pursue Him. Think about this statement, question rather: How can we become more like Christ, if we never pick up His word? Let that question sink in. Write it down. Type it out, print it off, and hang it on your bathroom mirror and read it while you are brushing your teeth. Att: All Worship Leaders. If we cannot answer this question, we are in big trouble. It is our job to lead people in the truth and Gospel of Christ through songs that we sing. If we are not spending time in His Word, there is absolutely no way possible that we are reflecting a life of Christ. Put down the "How To Become A Better Worship Pastor" and "Ten Ways to Tell If You Should Make The Switch From Keys to Guitar" and Rob Bell, Louie Giglio, Mark Driscol books, and study the one book that will teach you how to lead worship effectively. Please note, I've read all of these books before, I'm not trying to be a jerk. Let me ask this question one more time. Please let it sink in. How can we become more like Christ, if we never pick up His word?

File Sharing

Just thought I had to share this because I deal with music files all of the time. I just read that a Minnesota jury handed down a 1.92 million dollar judgment to a lady accused of sharing over 24 files. Hey everybody, make sure that you are buying from itunes or some place like that. The only problem that I have is that, since I'm a video gamer, I subscribe to game informer, and read that Lars Ulrich, the drummer for Metallica, asked for a free copy of Guitar Hero: Metallica. Are you serious? Dude, you were the guy to brought filesharing to litigation, because you weren't being paid for your songs? Thanks Lars. Not only are more people still not interested in your music, but you now have a few double standards. Sorry I had to vent.

For any pastor or worship leader

10 Questions to Ask of Sunday Worship

Bob Kauflin, worship leader for Covenant Life Church, has compiled a checklist for Sunday worship services. The worship leaders ask these questions in preparation for Sunday and as a way of evaluating their work. Would that more churches ask these kinds of questions of their worship!

1. Is our Savior’s substitutionary sacrifice on the Cross clearly and repeatedly presented through song lyrics and exhortations as central to our worship and the means by which we approach God?

2. Is it evident to the church and guests that all we do is rooted in Scripture and in response to Scripture?

3. Do we devote sufficient time to preparation and practice prior to Sunday, and encouragement and evaluation after Sunday?

4. Is there a recognizable theme for our corporate worship which is clearly communicated and grounded in objective truth about God?

5. Are we listening for and responsive to the spontaneous direction of the Holy Spirit during corporate worship?

6. Do our spoken and musical transitions serve to connect different elements of corporate worship in a natural and meaningful way?

7. Has our song selection and presentation become predictable? Does our song repertoire reflect songs of different styles, emphases, and lengths?

8. Are the pastors and worship team an example to the church of passionate, expressive, and responsive worship?

9. Are we aware of and appropriately sensitive to guests who may not be familiar with our terminology, style and practice?

10. Does our description and expression of corporate worship reinforce the understanding that it complements, rather than replaces, a lifestyle of worship?

David Crowder Rockumentary Parts 1 and 2

Can't wait until the new Crowder record comes out "Church Music." Here are some videos from his YouTube Channel

Currently Reading "The Dust Off of Their Feet"

I've always wanted to know what it would have been like to experience the first church. The Holy Spirit has come down, giving men the Spirit of God and the desire to go and tell the world. This is something that I have to confess, that I've never had passion like they did. As I read this book, which is basically the story of Acts with chapter summaries by Brain McLaren, I've stumbled upon a verse in Acts that I've always overlooked. Peter and John are walking past the Beautiful Gate at 3 in the afternoon, a time when people were very spiritual. They approach a man who is always brought there to beg. The man, of course, just as I might if I were crippled and unable to work for a living, asks them for money. Peter says to the man, "Look at us." As the man looks up, thinking that he will be getting money, looks at them intently. Peter then says this, "I want to give you something, but I don't have any silver or gold. Here is what I can offer you: stand up and walk, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the Liberating King." Woah! I've heard Jesus described as Savior, Redeemer, Messiah, Rescuer, Father, but I've always overlooked this verse where He is called Liberator. God has freed me from sins that I will commit in the next day, week, month, year...He is a Liberator. We are people in captivity. He frees us. Jesus=Liberation=Freedom from Sin=Life apart from sin.

Thoughts?