Encouragement

Encouragement is good.
I think more than any other profession, artists tend to be the most prone to depression and self-loathing. It's true athletes are tough on themselves too. They work vigorously, train constantly, and are never satisfied with their game, but athletes tend to take adversity or negativity as motivation to play harder and be better. For artists, who are trying to create something beautiful or interesting or provoking, negative feedback on their art is taken very personally.

As a worship leader, I have noticed that we are under the most meticulous scrutiny by every person I lead. Every person in a community has an opinion about something related to the music. I have received comments about music being too loud, or a musician wearing a hat, or how they don't like that song, or you don't play enough hymns, or you don't play enough rock, worship is too long, too short, too old, too new... etc. Each comment tells me that the people we are leading are more concerned with the "show" of worship than actual interaction with God. I understand the need for evaluation and improvement, but this should not come at the cost of encouragement.

Worship leading is one of the highest callings, and in, often under constant attack. You can ask my wife, each time I lead worship, I am under attack from the enemy. I start to loath myself; I hear lies about my abilities; I fear I too bad a person to lead worship; I want to run away... It's encouragement that brings me back. The words of believers who say "Gordon, you are a great worship leader... lead on". There is always time for criticism. But encouraging a worship leader will do far more than telling them they were slightly out of tune on your favorite song...

...fight the calf

What we worship... Why we worship

In Christianese, the word "worship" is always used to describe the music part of the service. But most of us realize there's a lot more to the concepts of worship than a few simple sing-a-longs.

How do we in America express our worship, our love and adoration, our commitment and passion... Well for one we put money in it. Let me use myself as an example so i dont start sounding all "holier-than-thou". I subscribe monthly to Netflix. I researched and bought a nice TV. I go out to eat at restaurants and buy expensive food. We also worship with time. I spend time on my multiple computers, plying with fun gadgets, showing off my cool iPhone, and looking for great add-ons to make them all work better. I watch football "religiously" and have often found myself more excited to get home to watch the Lions play than stay a few more minutes after church service to chat with the community. And yes indeed, we sing songs. I sing along with the radio to songs that I know. I buy CDs and albums of music and go to concerts where I throw my hands up and yell and sing along. And I can't tell you how many times I have sung along with Faith Hill as she intros Sunday Night Football.

I find myself wondering, if I really cared bout God and his Kingdom, then I would be able to look at those things, money, time, and song, and say yes, I do all those things for God more than I do for myself or this world. Sometimes that can be true... But I have to admit, more often than not, I express my worship more towards this world than towards my God. I pray I can do better at this. I pray the same for you...

...fight the calf

Identity

I have been reflecting a lot on Israel Houthton's song, "Identity" as we are playing it this week at Vanguard church in Kalamazoo. The basic premise of the song is finding your identity first in Christ. Not first in what you do, or the gifts you have, or who you know... But first knowing that you are a child of the Father. I think this is far easier said than done in a world that finds value in ability. Movie stars, athletes, musicians... And really anyone who is in a job that is even the slightest bit performance based... When we fail at what we do, we often feel like we are worthless. Or perhaps that's just me. What does it mean to find your value in Christ before anything else? I guess it would start with not letting your failures dictate who you are. Doesn't Paul tell us that in our weakness Christ's power is made perfect? If Christ only loved us when we did something right, that wouldn't be all that amazing... However, if he loves us even in our failures, that is something uniquely powerful.

"You are my father, You hold my future and destiny
You are my father, in You I find my identity
Lay Your hands on me, tell me who I am
I can do all things if You say I can
Show me I am free... Free to accomplish Your plans for me" - Israel and New Breed

...fight the calf

What it takes

Many churches are so blessed by the people they have leading them in worship. Often times worship leaders think that the most important qualification they need is a good voice, or a guitar skills, or professional training in music of some kind. But the most important thing a worship leader needs is the heart for people and a desire to see them connect with God. I have seen so many worship leaders that can make some great music but really didn't care much about the experience being had between the people they are leading and the God they are worshiping. Heck I have been one of them! When the music becomes more important than the worship experience, the music just needs to stop and focus needs to be rearranged. Music skills can be honed, but the heart must be the foundation.

There is nothing wrong with musicians making great music with the gifts they have. There are some tremendous touring bands out there that put on an awesome show and I love seeing them do it. But if you call yourself a worship leader, then the music takes second fiddle to leading people into interaction with God. Even when the music may not be satisfying to me as a musician, I need to make sure that the music I am leading is in some way leading the people closer to the object of their worship, the giver of gifts, and the creator of creativity. As Worship leaders, we must always remember what it is we are trying to do.

...fight the calf

Fight the Calf

Once upon a time, a nation called Israel was freed from slavery by a God simply known as “I Am”. This one true God spoke to a man named Moses up on a mountainside giving him a new vision for his people. While he was there, this nation decided to build a golden calf to worship as their god. Knowing what they were doing, “I Am” gave Moses this idea:

“See, I have chosen Bezalel… and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts- to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship…to make everything I have commanded you.”(Exodus 31:1-11 excerpts)

God gave man the gift of creativity: art, music, beauty... Many people want to worship the gift of their hands; they want to worship their intrinsic golden calf. But God has beckoned us to something different. He wants to use the amazing beauty we create to build His dwelling place… to build His kingdom… to build the house where He can interact with mankind. 


...fight the calf