pointe of worship

Car Talk

I am a huge fan of the NPR program "Car Talk". In the past, I have purposely taken the long route to my destination just so I could listen to the entire program. However, recently I discovered Car Talk on iTunes and now the shows are automatically downloaded to my iPod and ready to restart wherever I leave off. Technology is a beautiful thing!

Speaking of cars and new things, what I drive is arguably classified as neither. My 1994 Chevy S-10 has had nearly every part replaced, including the engine. But now things are beginning to break at record pace and, as she ages less and less gracefully, I am less inclined to fix that which I can simply put up with. This results in car repair people coming back out into the waiting room to ask me things like "how do I release your emergency brake?" or "where is the hood latch?" (the cables for both of these items have long since broke and require special operating knowledge). So, for those of you wondering why I'm too lazy to properly maintain my vehicle... let's create a list of items yet to be repaired and see if I have good reasoning as to why they remain in this condition:

Air Conditioning: This went out a couple years ago, but it's only painful for a short time during the summer months (albeit a bit more so during summer rainstorms when the windows have to be rolled up). So drive fast, keep the windows down and pray for an early fall... problem solved. 

Power Steering: It's really only hard to turn when you are moving slowly, i.e. rounding slow and tight corners, moving in or out of parking spaces, backing up or dodging slow squirrels. So I just put my back (arms, legs, hips and toes) into it and take fulfillment in the knowledge that I'm getting a great workout every time I drive. 

Driver Side Window Crank: This is "mostly" there... with the exception of the round spinning knob. I can still raise and lower the window, it just takes a bit more time. Nuisance? I like to think of it as a good finger dexterity exercise.

 

Spare Tire Hanger: Some time last year while driving in downtown New Haven CT, my wife and I heard and felt a tremendous bump. My wife mentioned she thought I lost a wheel. I somewhat sarcastically replied, "of course not, I'm still driving aren't I?" To which she emphatically stated "but I just saw a tire rolling across the street behind your truck!" She was right... my spare tire hanger cable had broken and the spare tire was making a desperate run for a better vehicle! Should I repair this? Of course not - that's why they made pickup truck beds... to haul tools, chairs, dogs, washing machines and spare tires!  

Hood and Emergency Brake Releases:  Again, they are still "there"... just a little further back. A small pair of pliers can still grab what's left of the hood release cable.  The location of the emergency brake release is so far back, for those who don't know where it is... it's a theft deterrent device. Who needs a car alarm? 

Horn Cover, Turn Signals and Wiper Controls: Two weeks ago my horn cover, which had already been somewhat loose, fell off as I was negotiating a left turn. Because it was still connected by a small wire, the cover wrapped over the turn signal arm as I turned and snapped the entire assembly right off.  Now, I can still honk my horn... I just touch the end of the wire to the metal plate. I can still signal turns... I just hold the turn signal in the slot while I prepare to turn. However, I cannot operate my wipers... but hey, there's always Rain-X. 

 

Key Operation for the Passenger Side Door Lock: If you have been paying attention thus far, you can guess how many people are willing to ride in my truck with me. Problem solved.  

  

 

I Will Bring Praise

Driving home last week I was listening to the new Hillsong United album "Tear Down the Walls."  As I listened, the chorus of "Desert Song" rang out with the words "I will bring praise..."  This hit me like a brick wall and I began to ponder how I bring praise to God on Sunday mornings.  My primary job is to assist in the creation and leading of a weekly worship service that will reach people through music, multimedia and word. I try to choose music that is relevant to the culture, exciting and uplifting. We use special lighting and develop multimedia presentations that enhance the worship setting to further excite and connect people to the message our pastor will present. Nearly everything within the worship service, from the moment the doors are opened to the time they are locked, is planned and refined to help those who attend experience something that will draw them closer to God and encourage them to return to our worship setting in the weeks to follow.  

 

All of that is good and it is what I am supposed to be doing, but let's get back to "I will bring praise." God has always has been the purpose in what I do, the underlying reason, but my efforts are focused first on creating an environment where people can draw closer to God... people are my first priority. I am not saying this is a bad thing as it is a form of servant ministry, but now, as the words "I will bring praise" replay over and over in my head, ponder if it is somewhat misguided. I begin to wonder what would happen if I turned my sole motivation and purpose to bringing praise to God. Instead of building song arrangements with the thought "this will really take the congregation somewhere," I should build song arrangements that are simply the best I have to offer God. No longer should I worry about how or if the congregation will be moved, but if God is pleased. My tasks do not change, only my motivation. No longer is my work for people (primarily), but for God... a small but significant change that has an immense affect on my relationship with Christ and how I perform my job. Does this mean I no longer care what people think about worship? Absolutely not! I care very deeply, and now if I can only get out of their way...

 

During a worship service my goal has always been to worship first and lead second. However, because my primary motivation is to lead others to Christ, concern for how they are feeling or reacting often finds its way to the forefront of my mind and affects my own ability to worship. How I worship becomes dependant upon how the congregation is worshiping.  However, if I alter my motivation fully towards God, the development of a worship service becomes an "if you build it they will come" mindset. If I bring everything I have to worship to God, where He is my primary motivation and inspiration, then leading the congregation becomes the Holy Spirit's work through me rather than of me. Worship is about bringing our selves to God, not about how we are lifted up. What we receive in worship (spiritual and emotional uplifting) is a byproduct of what we give. Such as it is with leading worship... if I focus solely on bringing an offering to God that suits His purpose, the byproduct is an environment where others are led by the Spirit to worship. I am no longer a worship leader, but simply a lead worshiper.

This is so simple, it is almost embarrassing to admit I haven't fully considered the nature of leading worship in this light yet. But as I look at worship services and Christian concerts around the world (via video), I realize what has bothered me for years about the worship industry... it is often built to satisfy people first with the glory of God second. The task is worthy, but the motivation is misguided. I don't think this is intentional in most cases, but it happens all the time. 

New Beginnings

November 2nd, the date that everything has suddenly begun to revolve around. The date when our lives will change and our child is expected to arrive into this world. So many things to think about, so many things to anticipate, to worry over. My sister's comforting words of wisdom "you will be amazed at how dangerous the world is when your child is born" (thanks sis for those future sleepless nights of worry). We spent the last two weekends at Babies-R-Us trying to decipher the plethora of "future-junk" (that which will be discarded in 6-24mos) that we need to accumulate and reading Consumer Reports to determine which is the best and safest. We opened a new savings account, plan to meet with a financial counselor, began tracking down daycares, making plans to write a will, gave up caffeine (ugh!), began eating healthier, and on and on and on! Overwhelming is a vast understatement. Don't get me wrong, I cannot wait for our miracle to show its face.  I am on my toes waiting to find out if it is a boy or girl. I cannot begin to imagine the emotions of that day in November. The words to describe what will happen and what we will feel do not exist. But, interestingly, our minds are so filled with preparation and anticipation at this moment... at times the process feels more academic, preparatory, rather than emotional. I suppose that is ok right now as we really do have to logically think through all that is necessary to ensure we have created a safe environment for our child. But does that mean we are going to be less loving or emotionally attached to our child? Absolutely not - don't forget, even Spock wrote great children's books! :)  All these things are acts of love. If we did not care we would not act, we would not worry, we would not pray. This is similar to what my parents used to tell me; "we wouldn't be disciplining you if we didn't love you"... my parents loved me a lot. In fact, just this past weekend my parents discovered how much school I skipped in High School... some 22 years ago and I still felt that jittery nervousness and began trying to edge my way out of potential discipline! Excuse me, I meant to say "love". 

To a very young Mitchel III or Erin Elaine: Even now I love you, though I have not yet met you. Even now I feel my heart race at the very thought of you, though I do not yet know what you look like. Even now I am awestruck by your daily accomplishments, though they are as simple as a heartbeat that quickens my own at its very sound. My prayers for your life are daily, they are sincere, and they are loving. Though my life is for God, it is in Him whose trust I place all that I have for yours. Whatever your life becomes, I pray it is His - for if you follow this path I know it will be filled with beauty, awe and wonder. Pain and sorrow does not cease to exist, but in their midst you have the ability to grow closer to God through the choices that you make. You will enter this world as a child of humans, may you grow into a child of God. For always in all ways, I love you. Dad.      

Come Home

This morning I heard a song called "Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling".  I'm sure there are many of you who recognize the hymn - it was written by Will Thompson in 1880 and sung at the funeral of Martin Luther King. Even though I may have heard this song before... I heard it for the first time today on New Spring Church's worship webcast. The beauty of the words stopped me in my tracks and quickly faded out everything else around me

"Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, calling for you and for me. See on the portals He's waiting and watching, watching for you and for me. Come home, come home - you who are weary come home. Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling - calling oh sinner, come home" 

There was a time in my life when I walked away from family. Not completely, but the lifestyle I chose was in direct contrast to the values I had been taught in a pretty significant way. While my parent's love and acceptance (of me, not the lifestyle) never wavered, the tension of knowing my life was not right kept me from fully accepting the love they offered. At the moment that lifestyle changed and I came home, broken and empty, the first thing they did was stand by my side and reaffirm that their love for me was as strong as the day I was born. It cannot be more simple - Jesus is that parent waiting, patiently, never ceasing to love and anticipating the day we come home to Him. That day can be right now - release your sin and take hold of Jesus. 

I can tell that this will be one of those weeks where a single song will remain in my mind... helping me to think about what I have yet to release to Jesus, what I am holding back and what steps I can take to come closer to being truly home. I hear you Jesus, and I'm coming... 

future-junk

Over the last few weeks Amber and I have been cleaning out closets. During this time I have hauled no less than 6-7 boxes (mostly of my PhD-wife's old school work) and 4 large trash bags to the street as well as 2 fairly impressive loads to goodwill. What I cannot figure out is how we accumulated all this junk. At some point we bought or created these once prized possessions, at some point they were "needed" and likely hunted via sale papers, saving accounts and credit cards. To be certain, we are by no means rich and able to buy new stuff whenever we please, so I can promise you that we do not buy whimsically (ok, sometimes I do). I can promise you that we are not hoarders... over the last five years Amber & I have moved five times, and every time we have downsized via garage sales, goodwill and trash (I wonder if the debunked theory of spontaneous generation is not so far off, or maybe somewhere in the walls of houses, escaped socks have secret ceremonies where they create cities of new junk from lint, spider webs and cat hair). Not surprisingly, as I sit here today, my mind has already wandered to thoughts of new golf bags, guitar effects and iPods. More stuff that will someday be trash... my treasured future-junk. 

We are a race of dreamers, accomplishers and acquisitionists. We traversed the Atlantic, the West and the limits of our atmosphere on the way to the moon.  We've moved from sundials to cell phones that automatically change time as you drive through time zones. From lighting on a kite to computers performing lifesaving operations... we will never stop working towards our next accomplishment. However, along with that our society tells us... change that... we tell ourselves that we must purchase the new lounge chair, motorcycle, car, computer, iPod... putting ourselves into debt for something new that we do not need. What is it that drives us so hard to do this?  I'm sure there's a more complex answer, but I think a lot of it can be found in your downtime. What do you do when it's quiet? When there is nothing you have to do? Is the tv on? Are you linked-in via your computer or iPhone? Are you shopping for something to make you feel better? What fills your gaps? Think about this - God created us to be next to Him, and because of the fall we cannot have that same relationship that Adam & Eve did. What results is an emptiness where God was designed to be, but in our attempt to fill this void we layer it with pieces of future-junk... short term happiness that will soon find its way to the street corner. God is the ONLY long-term happiness. So, what is your next piece of future-junk?

p.s. -  My Pastor said it best yesterday... "Jesus wants a relationship with you, but He doesn't want to date you, He wants a marriage". Just as your marriage would not last on one our per week, nor should you attempt the same with Jesus Christ. Give Him more. Junk the junk that keeps you away from God.

an artistic tapestry

Following the waves of thunderstorms that ran through the southeast last week, I started thinking about a moment from my childhood. It had begun as a typical summer day, spending several hours sitting on the bank of a local farmer's pond fishing. Sometime late in the afternoon I noticed a line of large clouds rolling in. Then, something began to happen that I had never seen before - for at least 30 minutes I watched as the thunderheads moved forward, then back, forward and back over and over again as they built themselves up like a bull dragging his hooves in the ground before the charge. With each cycle the clouds rose higher and intensified their ever-darkening tone. Suddenly, it became VERY apparent I needed to get home... fast. Walking quickly at first and then running, I barely made it home before one of the more severe thunderstorms of my childhood memory hit. 

Thunderstorms are just one act of nature that reminds me of the awesome power that surrounds us. The uniqueness of our world is so amazing we don't even have to leave our yards to see the untouchable artistic tapestry of God's creation. For example, did you know that we could not survive without the moon, and the fact that our planet has a single moon is extraordinarily rare? The moon stabilizes our planets rotation, keeping our poles in place and allowing for predictable seasons in which we can grow crops and countless climate-specific animal species can survive.

So I'm curious, where do you see God's work in your life and in the world that surrounds you? I'll give you a hint - it's everywhere.

iWant

I'm starting to believe that the folks at Apple are pretty smart. If you haven't noticed, and I'm sure you have, the products they market are as eye appealing as they are technologically brilliant. The iMac, iPod, iPhone, iTouch... my eyes literally burn when I watch the ads. Recently, as I prepared to purchase a new cell phone, I spent months researching (yearning, craving, coveting) the iPhone. In the end I needed a phone with better call quality, couldn't justify the extra $30/month required data plan, and Verizon sweet-talked me with a hefty discount. My heart still aches. I'm still quite happy with the phone I chose (the Dare), but cannot shake a growing desire to purchase the iTouch (the iPhone without the phone). Of course, my obsession doesn't stop with Apple. Yesterday I found myself reading about the new Kindle2, a small, portable, wireless electronic book-reader thingy. Even though 95% of the books I read are for seminary, I began wondering... how much does this cost? ($350... ouch!) Could we afford this? ("absolutely not" says my wife's subconscious brain transponder).  And what does it matter? I don't read so many books that I need a small, portable, wireless electronic book-reader thingy. But, and the guys will back me up here, it's a new form of technology (really, it is quite impressive) and we (men) must acquire all things of this nature. If we do not, we are not real men and have failed at achieving what is written in our genetic code. 

I'm starting to wonder if marketing strategies are built around the sin of envy. When I think about it, how many of the things I want are simply a desire of having what someone else has?  Envy...iWant.  

p.s. - this was written on an iMac.

Biblish

One of my professors, Dr. Sandy Richter, coined this term: "Biblish - biblical words that have been so overused we have forgotten the content that they communicate." Her concern is that we often canonize our own culture into biblical culture. Rather than attempt to understand biblical society, we infer our norms as the norms of Abraham, Moses, David, etc. Additionally, she reminded us that Biblical history is not World history. It is not meant as an exhaustive recount, a claim of all that happened. Rather, it is a specific story told by a select group of authors for a definitive purpose. Hearing all this peaked my interest, so I started thinking about what forms of "biblish" I might be using. What am I talking about without really understanding the socio-context behind the words? The answer to that is surely "a lot", and one that accompanies a lifetime goal to reduce. 

So, do we all need to be theologians to read Scripture? I don't think so. However, ALL of us can increase our prayer surrounding the reading of scripture. The Bible is the Living word; it is text that God continues to speak to us through. But if we do not approach God with reverence and openness, how can we hear Him? Listen to this brief excerpt from John Wesley's thoughts on how to read scripture: "Serious and earnest prayer should be constantly used, before we consult the oracles of God, seeing 'scripture can only be understood through the same Spirit whereby it was given.' Our reading should likewise be closed with prayer, that what we read may be written on our hearts." (read more)

There is a story from my preschool/kindergarten years that my Mom likes to tell. Often I would escape from Sunday School and wander the church halls, apparently looking for something more interesting. Caught, sitting in the hallway and not wanting to go back inside, I said, "I already know everything I need to know about Jesus." Funny, here I am some 35 years later in seminary trying to learn more.

in Christ,

Remember letters? (the explosion of social networking)

We all know about myspace and facebook. Adults (a term I am now strangely forced to consider myself classified under) used to think these were social websites for teenagers. Parents would participate only to keep an eye on what their children were doing... that was just a few years ago. Now these sites have evolved into social tools. Through Facebook I stay connected with friends from all over the country, friends that I would have easily lost touch with years ago. Our church has even started a facebook group to bring the congregation closer to each other - a beautiful way of showcasing our image as "the body of Christ", rather than the ministers and staff as "Christ's head" (what an incredibly silly and pretentious idea!). Now we have sites like "Twitter" that continue the social evolution in ways that I am just now starting to grasp. To glance at Twitter from the surface I can put it very simply this way: as email was to letters, Twitter is to email. But there is so much more! For example, you can get twitter text-updates on your phone (i.e. I now have twitters from CNN Breaking News sent to my phone). Some churches are even starting to use Twitter as a way of communicating to their congregation! Amazing. 

I am still a social network novice, so I've placed a couple blog-links that I highly suggest you read to better understand this phenomenon... it is not going away. 

Tony Morgan - "Is Twitter Replacing Blogging?" 

Jack Fisher - "Social Networking"  

The 5 Most Useful Twitter Apps and Clients

 

p.s. - I am still a fan of writing and receiving letters. I believe they carry a personal touch that technology will never replace. For a long time now I have wanted to start a routine of sending brief (maybe a paragraph at most) prayer letters or cards to various people each week. I have yet to begin.  But as my new goal of blogging once a week has begun to take fruit, maybe I'll just finish this and begin a quick "hand-written" note card to someone...  

in Christ, Mitch 

amos continued

Here is a great example for the continuing Amos discussion (see previous two posts). A friend of mine loves the song "Days of Elijah" ("...behold He comes, riding on the clouds..."), and I'm not a fan. This has resulted in an ongoing back and forth (all in fun) of when and if we'll play this song. Now I can sit here and tell you all the reasons I think this song is dated and misses the mark of our musical and seeker-oriented vision, but is this an acceptable measure of choosing songs? I'm not sure, so let me hash out a couple points and hopefully you can offer me some thoughts.

1) I believe that keeping up with music style is important for a seeker-driven church. It is our job as worship leaders to help direct that style, but am I being driven by personal preference or a desire to lead others more effectively in worshiping God? Every worship leader I've known, including myself, has a style that they lean towards. We all have favorite artists that we use more frequently. To worship is to approach God with honesty, so we cannot attempt to be something we are not for the sake of a "performance". However, worshiping God is also about giving our entire selves to him... all of me for all of God. The primary focus is about God, not us... not me. 

2) I state this loosely - this particular song is filled with Old Testament language referencing Moses, Elijah, Ezekiel and the dry bones, David and the temple, etc. OT references are fine, but in my humble opinion, this song is a little deep for seekers. A seeker service is a delicate and unusual thing. We are creating an atmosphere that feels safe and comfortable for the unchurched. At the same time we are worshiping in a way that will elicit strong, curious emotions to the seeker that attracts them to the unknown. We are there for God, but we are also there for the seeker. If we filled them with layers of theology that only strong believers could understand, are they (and hence God) served?

So, where is my heart? I am here to serve God and His church. If I don't like a song but it serves His purpose... I need to sing it. I must sing it and sing it with everything I have. So it seems the greater question in this is; have I asked God if we should play this song?  Curious - have you ever asked God a question with the answer you want to hear already playing in your mind? It's REALLY hard to hear His answer.  

in Christ,