Ever since I was ten, I’ve found songwriting to be a great place to vent my emotions, whether that’s joy, anger, depression, praise, or anything really. I jot down it all. At first, my entire goal was to write songs that explicitly mentioned God. In fact, one of the main reasons I started writing was because I had gotten into a debate with my friends (who were a lot older and more mature then me, a very bad idea…) about Christian music. I was determined to write Christian songs that had just as much quality as the popular secular ones.
It’s certainly safe to say that, well, this task wasn’t exactly easy for my ten year old self. I hadn’t listened to much music in my life past what they played on K-love, and, even then I barely even paid attention. I had written maybe three short poems in my life. But still, I though I could be up there with the big guys.
Now, years later, I think I write…moderately mediocre songs. I try to use more then 4 or 5 chords in a song, sometimes it happens; other times it doesn’t. But, the biggest thing that has changed in these years is that I found a little nugget of truth that’s changed my outlook on songwriting, and lyrics in general. In the younger years, I thought that any band or artist, or any song, including those I wrote, if they didn’t mention God extremely plainly, like GOD IS MINE//I AM HIS//HE IS MY ROCK//HE DIED FOR THIS//SINNER!!!! I’VE COME TO THIS PLACE//LOOKING FOR GRACE//LORD, SHOW ME YOUR FACE//ALL MY DAYS….
Er, well, you get the idea. If a song didn’t have those kinda words, it was inherently evil. That was my firm believe deep down in my heart for so long. Friends tried to set me straight. “Why don’t you fill your mind with ‘I love my baby so much sexy baby’ 24/7???? You listen to all that Chris Tomlin junk? You’re so dumb!” Well, yes…and no…
One song I enjoy a lot is the Jonas Brother’s “A Little Bit Longer.” Now, I don’t really listen to these boys often, but I do have one or two rotating around in my playlist. It could easily be argued that the song mentions heaven in the last verse, and that would make sense because they are Christians. However, that’s not really the point. The point is this: “A Little Bit Longer” was written for people who have on going troubles that only time will take away. One of the specific groups was diabetics. That concept, that song, has got me through a lot. Even though the song didn’t just come right out and say it (because 100 years from now, I’ll be with My Jesus a lot longer then 100 years, and no diabetes will creep up on me then) (and no I don’t have diabetes) it got me thinking. Yes there is a whole other discussion about Christian artists writing vague songs to appeal to secular listeners, again, that’s not the point. I was lifted to God, without the Jonas Brother’s saying ‘be lifted to God.’ Simple as that.
The lyrics of a song can glorify God easily, easily without trying. Think about it. Even if they aren’t Christians like Kevin, Nick and Joe are, the words can still be used for the glory of God. Another example I like to use is the song “Stop and Stare” by Onerepublic. I couldn’t understand what this song meant for the life of me, that is, until I read the book “Do Hard Things.” Yeah, kinda random, I know but listen. If you haven’t read Do Hard Things, I highly encourage it. In this book, Brett and Alex Harris talk about teens held down in very prime years by expectations. It challenges kids to break out of this mold we’ve been shoved into by the rest of the world.
Now, look at the lyrics to Stop and Stare:
This town is colder now, I think it's sick of us
It's time to make our move, I'm shakin off the rust
I've got my heart set on anywhere but here
I'm staring down myself, counting up the years
Steady hands, just take the wheel...
And every glance is killing me
Time to make one last appeal... for the life I lead
Stop and stare
I think I'm moving but I go nowhere
Yeah I know that everyone gets scared
But I've become what I can't be, oh
Stop and stare
You start to wonder why you're 'here' not there
And you'd give anything to get what's fair
But fair ain't what you really need
Oh, can u see what I see
They're tryin to come back, all my senses push
Un-tie the weight bags, I never thought I could...
Steady feet, don't fail me now
Gonna run till you can't walk
But something pulls my focus out
And I'm standing down...
Stop and stare
I think I'm moving but I go nowhere
Yeah I know that everyone gets scared
But I've become what I can't be, oh
Stop and stare
You start to wonder why you're here not there
And you'd give anything to get what's fair
But fair ain't what you really need
Oh, you don't need
What you need, what you need
Stop and stare
I think I'm moving but I go nowhere
Yeah I know that everyone gets scared
But I've become what I can't be
Oh, do you see what I see...
Well, I saw a little similarity, didn’t you?
The thing is, the moajority of my music playlist is Christian music. My absolute favorite artist is Chris Tomlin, a close second would be Leeland. I don’t like listening to most of the songs by the Jonas brothers, because most of them are saying the same thing.
“I’m speechless
Over the edge, I’m just restless
I never thought that I’d catch this
Lovebug again…”
It’s not like I don’t have enough hormones, and stuff like that just makes them dance more furiously. Filling my head with it…over….and over……and….over…again…just makes me want it more in real life. It’s not just the songs and the quality I want, it’s the love I want in real people around me. And, well, I don’t want that.
But that doesn’t mean a secular artist should be dismissed as trash.
Think about it like Joseph did:
“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”
Genesis 50:20
Even if the song doesn’t say “Jesus died for me”, is the song like “A Little bit Longer”, one that will help you to look to God anyway?
Friday, October 31, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
A Bias Against...Music Packed with Truth?
(Slight intro: Because it's a fifth week, we are doing a few more posts then usual. The theme is contemporary music, which we'll be looking at through a lot of different lenses over the course of the next 4 days. Now the post: )
If a middle aged man walked up to you one day, out of the blue, declaring that your hair was just to simple. Those short brown curls were doing nothing for him. Where is the variety? Where is the style? Where’s the creativity? You probably didn’t even touch your hair from when you woke up to this afternoon besides washing it. You didn’t style it, you didn’t brush it, you didn’t use a blow drier, you didn’t even add gel. What kind of person in their right mind would even enjoy that bland…plain…stale…boring hair? He stomps off in a huff, barely even giving you a chance to say a word. Although…as he walks off, you can’t help notice his hair…or rather not notice it, because there is none. This guy is bald.
Well, that is a slightly odd story, but it’s happened to many times to me, and many other Christian teens of today. Almost every single kid I know over the age of fifteen claims that Christian music is bland, plain and stale, and, well…just more and more and more and more of the same. The instrumentals aspect of it all involves no creativity, no Christian Contemporary song uses more then 4 chords (either it’s the C-F-C-G pattern or the C-Amin-F-G, or a combination of the four chords in some other order) and the vocalists are nothing special. Christian music stinks.
Yes, that’s all I’ve heard from kids I know, and yes, they are Christians. Yet they choose to stuff their faces with the love-songs of today. Constantly. Over and Over. What’s wrong with this picture?
You know that old saying, jumping from the frying pan to the fire? Well, that’s what kids are doing when they deny Christian music and say secular music is so much way more like betterer and only dolts and old fogeys listen to Christian Music. Honestly, I can enjoy Christian music…and I’m certainly what you would call a ‘musical person.’ Some of my favorite bands to listen to are Leeland, Mat Kearney, Jason Gray, the New Frontiers, Lecrae, Chris Tomlin, Switchfoot, Sara Groves, Brandon Heath, and many others. Now, there’s a lot of different styles embedded in all the bands/artists I just mentioned, however, according to the kids I know, every single one of those bands is extremely low quality. Why? I really don’t even know. All of them (you might be able to pick a bone with me about Chris Tomlin, but honestly, I need that kind of music, often. What is so bad about praise to God lifted up to the same level as the other music you listen to?) use more then four chords in every song. I love their voices, more then a lot of secular artists (and a lot of Christian artists too, I’m not saying all of CCM is angelic, of course) and their music is very creative, to say the least. I’m really underplaying these people’s quality.
Now, let’s take a look at some non-Christian music. Just for kicks, I turned a secular station on that that plays a lot of hit songs of many different genres but mostly rock, Pop and a little Hip Hop (that rhymed :D ) The first song that came on? Broken – Lifehouse. I like this guys voice, though on the gravely side. Musicality? About as creative as your average Philips Craig and Dean song. Melody? Well, there are all of….3 chords in that song. Guess what. Chris Tomlin’s recent hit, “God Almighty” has 5. Oh, and the words are a lot better in the latter, let me tell you. A few hip hop songs played, and if anyone would like to contest Christian Rap’s quality, I have about a kajillion artists I would like you to take a listen to.
I really am not sure why so many Christian kids today are so eager to grab the closest O.A.R. album over the closest Jars of Clay CD, Caedmon’s Call or Clear. Truly, the quality difference is not even existent. Every Christian artist you call junky or bland, there is an equally junky/bland secular artist to pair up with it. Why are we so biased against the music singing God’s Word?
If a middle aged man walked up to you one day, out of the blue, declaring that your hair was just to simple. Those short brown curls were doing nothing for him. Where is the variety? Where is the style? Where’s the creativity? You probably didn’t even touch your hair from when you woke up to this afternoon besides washing it. You didn’t style it, you didn’t brush it, you didn’t use a blow drier, you didn’t even add gel. What kind of person in their right mind would even enjoy that bland…plain…stale…boring hair? He stomps off in a huff, barely even giving you a chance to say a word. Although…as he walks off, you can’t help notice his hair…or rather not notice it, because there is none. This guy is bald.
Well, that is a slightly odd story, but it’s happened to many times to me, and many other Christian teens of today. Almost every single kid I know over the age of fifteen claims that Christian music is bland, plain and stale, and, well…just more and more and more and more of the same. The instrumentals aspect of it all involves no creativity, no Christian Contemporary song uses more then 4 chords (either it’s the C-F-C-G pattern or the C-Amin-F-G, or a combination of the four chords in some other order) and the vocalists are nothing special. Christian music stinks.
Yes, that’s all I’ve heard from kids I know, and yes, they are Christians. Yet they choose to stuff their faces with the love-songs of today. Constantly. Over and Over. What’s wrong with this picture?
You know that old saying, jumping from the frying pan to the fire? Well, that’s what kids are doing when they deny Christian music and say secular music is so much way more like betterer and only dolts and old fogeys listen to Christian Music. Honestly, I can enjoy Christian music…and I’m certainly what you would call a ‘musical person.’ Some of my favorite bands to listen to are Leeland, Mat Kearney, Jason Gray, the New Frontiers, Lecrae, Chris Tomlin, Switchfoot, Sara Groves, Brandon Heath, and many others. Now, there’s a lot of different styles embedded in all the bands/artists I just mentioned, however, according to the kids I know, every single one of those bands is extremely low quality. Why? I really don’t even know. All of them (you might be able to pick a bone with me about Chris Tomlin, but honestly, I need that kind of music, often. What is so bad about praise to God lifted up to the same level as the other music you listen to?) use more then four chords in every song. I love their voices, more then a lot of secular artists (and a lot of Christian artists too, I’m not saying all of CCM is angelic, of course) and their music is very creative, to say the least. I’m really underplaying these people’s quality.
Now, let’s take a look at some non-Christian music. Just for kicks, I turned a secular station on that that plays a lot of hit songs of many different genres but mostly rock, Pop and a little Hip Hop (that rhymed :D ) The first song that came on? Broken – Lifehouse. I like this guys voice, though on the gravely side. Musicality? About as creative as your average Philips Craig and Dean song. Melody? Well, there are all of….3 chords in that song. Guess what. Chris Tomlin’s recent hit, “God Almighty” has 5. Oh, and the words are a lot better in the latter, let me tell you. A few hip hop songs played, and if anyone would like to contest Christian Rap’s quality, I have about a kajillion artists I would like you to take a listen to.
I really am not sure why so many Christian kids today are so eager to grab the closest O.A.R. album over the closest Jars of Clay CD, Caedmon’s Call or Clear. Truly, the quality difference is not even existent. Every Christian artist you call junky or bland, there is an equally junky/bland secular artist to pair up with it. Why are we so biased against the music singing God’s Word?
The effects of music!
The Bible states clearly that "What you reap is what you sow.". With secular music you fill your mind with some very dangerous things such as the following: Women are objects, cursing is good or cool, drugs and illegal drugs are good for you both physically and mentally. Also alcohol is a good thing especially when you get drunk or get crunk. The word crunk by the way means to get high and drunk. If we fill are minds with these things we will eventually do those things or similar things that are mentioned in secular music.
Now not all secular music is wrong because they do not speak of such things that are sinful.
My question for you is why support a artist who in other songs speaks and does things that are sinful? Now you may say that everyone one sins so I guess listening to christian artist and people is sinful. The truth is it isn't sinful. The reason why it isn't sinful to listen to christian music even though they sin too is because they are striving to serve God. Are primary purpose is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. Christian artist are sinners to but they are in their music glorifying God and are enjoying it.
A secular artist is wrapped up in their pride and so is living in sin and does not care about God or maybe doesn't think that God exist.
A christian artist is trying to help those who listen to their music and give advice. They also show that God is their for His people.
So you should listen to Christian artist and listen to christian people as long as it isn't going against God's Word.
You can also listen to secular music as long as it is not against God's Word But keep in mind "What you reap is what you sow."
Your Brother in Christ for all who are believers in the One True God.
Written by Daniel N.
Now not all secular music is wrong because they do not speak of such things that are sinful.
My question for you is why support a artist who in other songs speaks and does things that are sinful? Now you may say that everyone one sins so I guess listening to christian artist and people is sinful. The truth is it isn't sinful. The reason why it isn't sinful to listen to christian music even though they sin too is because they are striving to serve God. Are primary purpose is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. Christian artist are sinners to but they are in their music glorifying God and are enjoying it.
A secular artist is wrapped up in their pride and so is living in sin and does not care about God or maybe doesn't think that God exist.
A christian artist is trying to help those who listen to their music and give advice. They also show that God is their for His people.
So you should listen to Christian artist and listen to christian people as long as it isn't going against God's Word.
You can also listen to secular music as long as it is not against God's Word But keep in mind "What you reap is what you sow."
Your Brother in Christ for all who are believers in the One True God.
Written by Daniel N.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Guys Rappin for the Lamb (Saturday Stuff, October 25th
After you get over that pathetically cheesy title, here's some videos of some guys freestyling for God:
Friday, October 24, 2008
Aunt Sue
I, a new poster and contributor to this site, live in eastern Washington in an awesome community of strong believers and co-laborers in Christ. Recently we, as a church (a.k.a. community, everyone in the community is in the church), went through a very trying experience that tested our faith to its limit. This post is about the situation, the pain, the turmoil god brought us through and how we, by the grace of god, chose to praise him through it. Bear with me if this seems long but please read it all, this is very inspiring.
It all began nearly three years ago when Mrs. Sue Chambers a dearly beloved sister in the Lord and English teacher we had learned to respect for years collapsed in the church basement. I remember running to tell somebody and quickly masses of helpful people were gathered around her. Mrs. Johnson, another great woman of God, cradled Mrs. Chambers head until help could arrive. Her brave husband, Dave Chambers then came to take her to the hospital where they would find out what had happened. Thankfully, Sue came to consciousness quickly and they were able to make it to the hospital with no incident.
The now alert Sue and Dave were directed down to Santa Rosa for a final diagnosis and it was shocking. Sue Chambers, our beloved sister had unerringly terminal brain cancer and was given 6 months to live. Our community was no less effected by it and quickly got on the wall in prayer, fasting… you name it, we did it.
During this time the normally strong and silent Dave Chambers underwent a massive transformation. He was still strong, no, stronger but the Dave that went down to Santa Rosa came back a different man. He was outgoing, outspoken and not afraid to share his faith and beyond that, unwilling not to share. Mrs. Chambers was the same way and together the dynamic duo decided to call on God to help them brave this experience. “God is good”, they would say. Questions came to my mind. How can they say God is good when he lets this happen? Over time those seemingly insurmountable questions were answered above and beyond. The way they pressed through and took hold of Gods word. As Mrs. Chambers got worse and worse, losing some of her hair to chemo therapy. The way she sung in worship when her speech could hardly function and the way Dave, her husband, held her hand all the way, trusting in God with the pain just as evident on his face as hers.
This couple effected our community in a way I am be proud to say I was a part of, whatever the emotional hurt. Revival dominated our church, you know something is different when you jump up and start dancing around the room during worship (yes this actually happened but I was one of over 50 doing it!). A man I had hardly known, despite him being my neighbor, started 24 hour prayer for a week and from then on at 6:30 every morning and 8:00 every night specifically over Sue but now this prayer time continues and God shows up morning and night. He and his family have transformed along with the rest of the community and he is now the principle prayer warrior for our church. The list goes on and you can contact me if you want to hear more (which I highly recommend. It is a very inspirational story!).
No, this story does not have the typical “happy ending” that she was healed or brought hundreds to Christ. Sue Imrie Chambers died on August 31st 2008 after a two and a half year battle with cancer. That in itself incredible that she lived two years longer than the doctors predicted, but the real miracle happened in the hearts of this community. This tiny gathering of people out in the mountains will never be the same as is the case with me. I believe that her work and main message she wanted to communicate to us was this. She summed it up in her final words here on earth. Holding her husbands hand and barely gaining the strength to speak she whispered, “Be king to one another.” I think of this everyday and it inspires me with the passion to strive to have just a fraction of the faith it took to say those parting words. To not focus on myself in my time of dire need, but others. Sue’s immortal life is a humbling and moving story, or in my case, experience for us all. Let us honor that and persevere to become a living memorial for all those who have prepared the way and gone before us.
In Christ Alone,
Solo deo gloria,
-Josiah-
(You can contact Josiah to learn more or comment at blackmail.Josiah@gmail.com).
It all began nearly three years ago when Mrs. Sue Chambers a dearly beloved sister in the Lord and English teacher we had learned to respect for years collapsed in the church basement. I remember running to tell somebody and quickly masses of helpful people were gathered around her. Mrs. Johnson, another great woman of God, cradled Mrs. Chambers head until help could arrive. Her brave husband, Dave Chambers then came to take her to the hospital where they would find out what had happened. Thankfully, Sue came to consciousness quickly and they were able to make it to the hospital with no incident.
The now alert Sue and Dave were directed down to Santa Rosa for a final diagnosis and it was shocking. Sue Chambers, our beloved sister had unerringly terminal brain cancer and was given 6 months to live. Our community was no less effected by it and quickly got on the wall in prayer, fasting… you name it, we did it.
During this time the normally strong and silent Dave Chambers underwent a massive transformation. He was still strong, no, stronger but the Dave that went down to Santa Rosa came back a different man. He was outgoing, outspoken and not afraid to share his faith and beyond that, unwilling not to share. Mrs. Chambers was the same way and together the dynamic duo decided to call on God to help them brave this experience. “God is good”, they would say. Questions came to my mind. How can they say God is good when he lets this happen? Over time those seemingly insurmountable questions were answered above and beyond. The way they pressed through and took hold of Gods word. As Mrs. Chambers got worse and worse, losing some of her hair to chemo therapy. The way she sung in worship when her speech could hardly function and the way Dave, her husband, held her hand all the way, trusting in God with the pain just as evident on his face as hers.
This couple effected our community in a way I am be proud to say I was a part of, whatever the emotional hurt. Revival dominated our church, you know something is different when you jump up and start dancing around the room during worship (yes this actually happened but I was one of over 50 doing it!). A man I had hardly known, despite him being my neighbor, started 24 hour prayer for a week and from then on at 6:30 every morning and 8:00 every night specifically over Sue but now this prayer time continues and God shows up morning and night. He and his family have transformed along with the rest of the community and he is now the principle prayer warrior for our church. The list goes on and you can contact me if you want to hear more (which I highly recommend. It is a very inspirational story!).
No, this story does not have the typical “happy ending” that she was healed or brought hundreds to Christ. Sue Imrie Chambers died on August 31st 2008 after a two and a half year battle with cancer. That in itself incredible that she lived two years longer than the doctors predicted, but the real miracle happened in the hearts of this community. This tiny gathering of people out in the mountains will never be the same as is the case with me. I believe that her work and main message she wanted to communicate to us was this. She summed it up in her final words here on earth. Holding her husbands hand and barely gaining the strength to speak she whispered, “Be king to one another.” I think of this everyday and it inspires me with the passion to strive to have just a fraction of the faith it took to say those parting words. To not focus on myself in my time of dire need, but others. Sue’s immortal life is a humbling and moving story, or in my case, experience for us all. Let us honor that and persevere to become a living memorial for all those who have prepared the way and gone before us.
In Christ Alone,
Solo deo gloria,
-Josiah-
(You can contact Josiah to learn more or comment at blackmail.Josiah@gmail.com).
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
The hardest things of all!
The hardest things of all is accepting change, understanding your worth, and understanding who God is.Its anything but easy to do as what one says that he or she will do. Most people blame God when something goes wrong or they blame some one else. What they don't realize is its all apart of God's plan for you, me, and everyone else. Its a good plan for those who love God but for thoughs who don't love God it means punishment or it can mean thoughs who don't love God will learn to love God later on. When 9/11 happened alot of people panicked and alot of people prayed. After 9/11 things slowly started to change to people no longer praying and panicking when really people should still be praying even though the problem has been taken care of. Why God allowed 9/11 is because it was apart of His will. I myself say that it is also because He used 9/11 to change peoples lives. God is loving but He is also serves justice. To understand God you must seek Him in prayer and by reading the Bible. Also going to church is helpful and is of great importance to help you understand God. Understanding your worth you must realize that you are made by God and no one is like you. If anyone has questions I am here to help you understand your worth, who God is and how to accept change. I am also here to help you with whatever I can but before you come to me come to God in prayer and remmeber to seek Him first.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Saturday Stuff (October 18th 2008)
I love Bob Kauflin...nuff said...
(I'd reccomend looking up DGconferences on youtube and just looking at all of the videos that you can)
(I'd reccomend looking up DGconferences on youtube and just looking at all of the videos that you can)
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
God's Role in Worship?
God’s Role in Worship
Sometimes God works in ways that are not as apparent as you would like them to be.
I’m the pianist/keyboardist in the worship band at my school. So far, the year has been rough. Sound difficulties, lack of practice time, and not-so-great organizational skills has made for a disappointing year of chapel worship.
I’ve realized, though, that we have had an attitude which was completely wrong.
For the first few weeks, we relied solely on our talent to get us through. We never prayed before or after practice, and we didn’t call on the Lord for blessing during worship. In fact, it was quite ironic that a worship band had their faces almost completely turned from God.
Sound problems arose. The monitors kept giving terrible feedback. The levels in the house could never quite be worked out. The electric guitar was too loud, the vocals were too soft, the piano couldn’t be heard, and the bass made an awful buzzing sound that was a constant, resonant reminder of our need for the Lord’s guidance—because really, we were doing everything right, and there was no reason for things to be going haywire.
We felt that we had refocused our minds and attitudes. With God on our side, we were going to be the most amazing sounding band the school had seen yet. Right?
Wrong. Very wrong.
Because many of the members of the band had sports and obligations, practice was neglected. We failed to get songs together before the day of chapel. We also did not have the sound settings worked out, for every time we got them just right, an elementary or middle school teacher would go back to the soundboard and mess with them in order to benefit the services for the grades below high school. Although we began and ended every practice with prayer, our hearts were still not in the right place. We figured that because we looked to God for guidance, we must sound amazing. Yet week after week, many people would come to us and tell us that chapel worship did not sound good at all. We were perplexed, really. We’ve had God by our sides through this entire process, we thought. Why are things STILL not working the way that they should be?
It took a most difficult chapel today to change our minds and attitudes.
Last week, the Bible teacher approached the band and asked us to play for the entire duration of the chapel service. He asked us to make sure that we had a PowerPoint slide with all of the songs ready, and we told him that we would be able to get enough practices in to do it the following week.
The past week, we practiced once. We were supposed to practice Friday and Saturday, but no one was so dedicated that they would miss their sports and other activities for practice. Also, no one bothered to work up a PowerPoint. When the time to play rolled around, none of us had a clue what we were doing.
It took humiliation served to us by our peers on a silver platter, along with a stern scolding from the Bible teacher, to get our attitudes finally in the right place.
Although Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ who give me strength,” the scripture did not mean that we should use God as a crutch and neglect the responsibilities he entrusted with us.
God gave talent to every member of the band. He expected us to be good stewards of our talents, as is demonstrated in the parable of the talents in Matthew 25 and Luke 19. Instead of using what God had given us, we asked Him to do all of the work for us, essentially.
Whatever God has given you, whatever he has blessed you with, praise him to the end of your days and never ask him to do for you what he gave you the ability to do for yourself.
When a worship leader keeps his eyes focused on God and prays for guidance rather than assistance, they are able to lead others into worship with the fullest potential.
I cannot wait to see the day that God uses our band to spark a revival within the student body. Although it is a cliché prayer, praying for God to move your peers in big ways is a great and powerful thing.
Throughout the week, keep your mind and heart focused on God. Also, be sure to look at every talent and ability He has blessed you with, and examine your life. Are you using your talents to their fullest potential? No? Well…
Get Motivated.
God Bless!
Hands+Tears
Sometimes God works in ways that are not as apparent as you would like them to be.
I’m the pianist/keyboardist in the worship band at my school. So far, the year has been rough. Sound difficulties, lack of practice time, and not-so-great organizational skills has made for a disappointing year of chapel worship.
I’ve realized, though, that we have had an attitude which was completely wrong.
For the first few weeks, we relied solely on our talent to get us through. We never prayed before or after practice, and we didn’t call on the Lord for blessing during worship. In fact, it was quite ironic that a worship band had their faces almost completely turned from God.
Sound problems arose. The monitors kept giving terrible feedback. The levels in the house could never quite be worked out. The electric guitar was too loud, the vocals were too soft, the piano couldn’t be heard, and the bass made an awful buzzing sound that was a constant, resonant reminder of our need for the Lord’s guidance—because really, we were doing everything right, and there was no reason for things to be going haywire.
We felt that we had refocused our minds and attitudes. With God on our side, we were going to be the most amazing sounding band the school had seen yet. Right?
Wrong. Very wrong.
Because many of the members of the band had sports and obligations, practice was neglected. We failed to get songs together before the day of chapel. We also did not have the sound settings worked out, for every time we got them just right, an elementary or middle school teacher would go back to the soundboard and mess with them in order to benefit the services for the grades below high school. Although we began and ended every practice with prayer, our hearts were still not in the right place. We figured that because we looked to God for guidance, we must sound amazing. Yet week after week, many people would come to us and tell us that chapel worship did not sound good at all. We were perplexed, really. We’ve had God by our sides through this entire process, we thought. Why are things STILL not working the way that they should be?
It took a most difficult chapel today to change our minds and attitudes.
Last week, the Bible teacher approached the band and asked us to play for the entire duration of the chapel service. He asked us to make sure that we had a PowerPoint slide with all of the songs ready, and we told him that we would be able to get enough practices in to do it the following week.
The past week, we practiced once. We were supposed to practice Friday and Saturday, but no one was so dedicated that they would miss their sports and other activities for practice. Also, no one bothered to work up a PowerPoint. When the time to play rolled around, none of us had a clue what we were doing.
It took humiliation served to us by our peers on a silver platter, along with a stern scolding from the Bible teacher, to get our attitudes finally in the right place.
Although Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ who give me strength,” the scripture did not mean that we should use God as a crutch and neglect the responsibilities he entrusted with us.
God gave talent to every member of the band. He expected us to be good stewards of our talents, as is demonstrated in the parable of the talents in Matthew 25 and Luke 19. Instead of using what God had given us, we asked Him to do all of the work for us, essentially.
Whatever God has given you, whatever he has blessed you with, praise him to the end of your days and never ask him to do for you what he gave you the ability to do for yourself.
When a worship leader keeps his eyes focused on God and prays for guidance rather than assistance, they are able to lead others into worship with the fullest potential.
I cannot wait to see the day that God uses our band to spark a revival within the student body. Although it is a cliché prayer, praying for God to move your peers in big ways is a great and powerful thing.
Throughout the week, keep your mind and heart focused on God. Also, be sure to look at every talent and ability He has blessed you with, and examine your life. Are you using your talents to their fullest potential? No? Well…
Get Motivated.
God Bless!
Hands+Tears
Monday, October 13, 2008
Saturday Stuff (October 11)
I don’t think I have to say much…this video embodies everything this blog is about.
It’s powerful.
(this may seem a odd title, understanding that it's not Saturday, but I'll probably be posting stuff on Saturday's too, that aren't really 'posts,' just fun stuff)
It’s powerful.
(this may seem a odd title, understanding that it's not Saturday, but I'll probably be posting stuff on Saturday's too, that aren't really 'posts,' just fun stuff)
Sunday, October 5, 2008
A vacation of some type...
Hey guys, for the following Wednesday there won't be a blog post because we the authors are figuring some things out, like what the posts are going to be about, so, sit tight and check back often!
Tell your friends too. :)
Jo
Tell your friends too. :)
Jo
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)