When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people
to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another
and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal
station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a
decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should
declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
My friends at Kansas City Baptist Temple are hosting a worship night with Laura Story. I'm all about great live worship events...especially free ones! I wanted to pass this along. What better way to kick off the week of the upcoming National Worship Leader Conference on Sunday, July 19? You can visit the KCBT website here for more info.
This week Ben and Wisdom talk to Jeff Berg from PlanningCenterOnline
about this administrative worship planning tool during our Toolbox
segment. Special thanks once again to Jason Henderson (podcaster in
training) for the entertaining intros and voices….keep working on that
Sean Connery impersonation.
Our featured interview this month is with worship leader/songwriter Carl Cartee. You’ll hear about Carl’s heart to help other worship leaders along with his songwriting process.
Show Links
You can listen to this episode of the podcast online here. Or go subscribe here.
Check out the video montage...watch for me almost catching Sr. Pastor Tim Howey singing one of the tunes in the office (1:28 on the video)...almost had him!!!! Special thanks to my wife for catching the music on my Flip! Amazing week!!!
It comes once a year at Grace Church. It's that time of year where over 300 kids from Grace and our community storm the building to hear about Jesus Christ. Every year the team of volunteers in the children's ministry at Grace seem to outdo themselves...and this year they've done it again. They do a homegrown curriculum and this year they chose to do something teaching the kids on the life of Paul...challenging them all to go make history. What better theme than "Night at the Museum"? Actors portraying various people from Paul's life and ministry stood frozen throughout the building and came to life telling their story when the kids would come and sit at their feet. Awesome job SBO volunteers!!!!
I got to do a few worship tunes each day with Mindy and Brad. Great job everyone!
Learn more about Summer Breakout at Grace.
Check out the Grace Church Flickr account to see some snapshots.
Check out the video from Day 1:
This week was Summer Breakout Jr for 3-5 year olds. I had the privilege of leading the Grace youth worship team...and they were great! Kevin Theriot made it easy on me! Thanks to you Kevin for investing so much time in these guys...it shows! Enjoy the video!
Here are some tunes that I've been finding myself listening to on my iPod lately. Click the title to check 'em out on iTunes and purchase if you feel led. What's got your ear lately?
Check out the recap video below with Jason and Scott. More recaps on Fred's site here.
This week Ben and Wisdom (AKA Worship Moon) interview Jason Henderson, a friend of the AAW podcast. Jason shares his role as Worship Director at Grace Church in Overland Park, KS.
Our featured interview this month is with worship leader/songwriter Tommy Walker. You’ll hear about Tommy’s recent trips to the middle east and his heart for worship around the world.
Show Links
You can listen to this episode of the podcast online here. Or go subscribe here.
This past Sunday in our fourth week of the current series "Walking with God", Tim made reference to a story regarding him, a bike and a Big Gulp. Watch the video below. If you have a "Big Gulp" story, would you email it to us at Stories@graceks.org?
Over the past week I've taken time devoted to creating a bit of space in my life. Spending time away from both blogging, Facebook, Twitter and worship leading in order to give myself a chance to rest. It's been a good exercise for me. I knew this post was coming....and I knew it wouldn't be accurate if I didn't experience it for myself.
Make Some White Space
It happens. It catches many of us off guard if we aren't aware of it. Fatigue and burnout are the greatest enemies to anyone involved in doing something they enjoy. You may be saying, "Really Ben, the GREATEST enemy?" When we become fatigued, our guard is down. We begin to lose focus on why we invest in the mission we're called to and we begin finding ourselves in situations that ultimately lead to sin. We also begin to experience problems in our relationships with the people we love the most. Recently I made a decision to create that "White Space" in my life weekly in order to protect my family, myself and the ministry God's called me to lead.
Since this is a series devoted to "Worship Leading Lessons", these thoughts are specific to the role of worship leaders and team members. But in reality, this is a principle I believe everyone needs in order to strengthen their walk with Christ.
In the role of helping connect people to Christ through corporate worship each week, I've discovered that it's extremely important that I spend personal time worshiping God. Carving away an hour completely devoted to reflecting on what God's been doing in my life personally and in ministry, thanking Him and silencing the noise around me to give complete attention to personal reflection. A tip I picked up from a fellow worship leader (can't remember where I got this from so consider this an anonymous Hat Tip if you're reading this). I spend time with my journal devoted to asking these four questions:
I've also created some white space in my life where my family knows it is given complete and full attention. On my weekly day off Mondays, I committed to letting all phone calls go to voicemail. I turn on my auto reply on email informing folks that I will be replying to them the next day. Everyone in my world knows Mondays are pretty much my disconnect day. Apart from my fellow Grace pastors, I don't return the calls until the next day. This might be considered bold, irresponsible or quite possibly even lazy by some in todays business world. I've determined in the world of full time pastoral ministry, there is a huge need for the health of myself and my family to have this dedicated time. I've tried this now for a couple of months and I think it's been successful....I should let my wife comment on this. A principle I picked up from other pastors and full time ministry folks.
Another way to find that white space is to identify something that helps you recharge. Whether it's going to a movie, playing a video game, taking long walks...whatever....identify what helps you completely disengage from the work and recharges your battery. Don't have a hobby? Get one. Find something. I'm a movie goer. Periodcially I catch a flick with a friend on Sunday evenings.
So to you worship leaders out there, are you spending enough time creating "White Space" in your life? Are you covering your life with too much noise never giving yourself a place to hear from God? Do you spend time reflecting at all on the victories God has given in your life? Are you unwisely devoting so much time to your ministry and work that you aren't anticipating the day your body shuts down due to fatigue? You've got to find that time and make it a priority.
Big day today! I took a day off from the stage! Woohoo!!! Needed a rest and enjoyed seeing Preston Morris lead worship. Check out the video below as I recap the service with Preston. Don't forget, you can purchase the songs in iTunes by clicking the titles. Visit Fred's site for more worship recaps here.
Anyone who's been in a band at any level, has probably known someone like Jack in this David Crowder* Band video. If you don't recall ever knowing anyone like this you've ever played with....chances are....it was probably you. Enjoy this hillarious video:
Some of the best
lessons I've learned in life are through trying, failing, trying,
failing, failing, trying and succeeding every once in awhile. I'm not
foolish enough to think I've got it all figured out, but I do have some
things that I hope can be an encouragement to anyone willing to read.
If anything, these "Worship Leading Lessons" will be an open book journal revealing how God is
molding me into a true worshiper of Christ.
In 2005 I began this blog with the intent of hopefully finding other people in a similar position in life. As a worship leader I was thirsting for a network of fellow worship leaders steeped in looking for ways to improve personal worship, worship teams and how to effectively lead the body of Christ in worship each week. At that time, the well was pretty dry and then it began to explode in 2006. I've been able to meet some amazing fellow worship leaders through blogging and some I've had the privilege of meeting face to face.
Get a Friend
To my ministry leading friends, and really anyone at all, let me just say this...."GET A FRIEND". Seriously. It's probably not fair to say that all folks with an artistic bent are naturally this way, but it does dwell within me. I'm naturally a person who can be introspective, easily withdrawn and tends to separate myself from others. Not a typical personality trait for someone who stands on a stage each week...but my guess is most of my fellow worship leads out there might be the same way. That's not necessarily a bad trait...however, it can become a problem when we find ourselves in situations where wise counsel is needed.
Recently I had the privilege of hooking up with Troy Kennedy at Westside Family Church here in Kansas. Through Twitter, Troy and I got together for lunch to talk ministry, worship leading, and life. Here at Grace I know I can talk to my fellow pastors about anything and have a friendship with my fellow co-labourers that I can't get anywhere else. While I can bounce things off them, there are times I find myself needing a perspective from a fellow worship leader who has been in the trenches of worship ministry longer than myself and can offer some advice. Through blogging, Twitter, Facebook and other local churches...I've found that. If you're needing to get a friend, here are a few resources to get you started. Peruse their blogrolls and find other worship leader connections:
These are just a few of the paths I've taken in my networking with worship leaders. I could list a lot more, but that's why I have a blogroll in the sidebar. So check them out. Seeking counsel is an important aspect of leading any ministry. Do it! Where do you go to get a friend?
Week 3 of our current series con Walking with God. This week Tim brought a message to us on how to Listen to God. At times we need to be reminded to shut our pie holes and simply sit quietly listening for the voice of God to speak into our lives. Great reminder.
Visit Fred's site here to see other worship recaps.
Here's the worship set list:
Enjoy the video! I cut it in half and you also get a chance to hear from my daughters.
It happens. Folks are led to leave a church. In many cases, it's okay. In fact, it's a very healthy thing for individuals to pursue what God is doing in their lives. I've left a church before, and before I did, there were questions that I had to answer personally for myself and for my family.
The article below was forwarded to me and it had some fantastic points every person should consider before making the final call on leaving a church family. You can check it out directly at the Building Church Leaders blog here.
Is it really time for a ministry change?
Should I stay or should I go? At some point, every ministry leader asks the question, sometimes at weekly intervals. The answer isn't always clear. But whether you're asking it because of the Monday-morning blahs, the post-conference buzz, or the deacon-meeting blues, here are five reasons not to leave your current situation.
1. Conflict.
Whether it's criticism, opposition, or differences in philosophy or
personality, as a leader you can expect conflict. It's inevitable
wherever two or more sinners are gathered, even in Christ's name.
Leaving because of conflict often demonstrates the schoolyard value,
"If you don't play the game my way, I'm taking my ball and going home."
But you win some battles just by surviving them. Live to fight another
day.
2. Slow progress.
Many of us in ministry have been conditioned to believe that more and
faster are better. We want maximum impact with minimum resistance. Time
is short, we say; the Kingdom is coming. But sometimes the King wants
us to slow down and listen. Stuckness may frustrate your grand ministry
plans, but it may also be the best thing for your spiritual growth.
3. Frustrations with leadership.
The thought, "If I were in charge, I'd do things differently" is not
necessarily a call from God to leave your current situation. You may be
right, and your church may be filled with horrible leaders. Perhaps
that means you're the good leader they need to help them reach their
full potential.
4. Uncertainty or transition.
Some leaders bolt as soon as they feel their organization is in crisis.
Whether your church is looking for a new senior pastor, working through
a change in philosophy, or facing a budget crunch, sometimes the best
move may be to stay put, and to help your community weather the
transition.
5. The lure of greener pastures.
A fellow leader once heard me questioning whether I should stay in a
particular position. He asked, "Did God call you here?" I answered
affirmatively, but his next question was the kicker: "Did God call you
away?" I had been so focused on where I felt I wanted to go, I hadn't
asked whether God had released me from my current assignment. The
minute you look longingly at the fescue on the other side of the fence,
you diminish your effectiveness in your current setting—the one God has
called you to.
Some of the best
lessons I've learned in life are through trying, failing, trying,
failing, failing, trying and succeeding every once in awhile. I'm not
foolish enough to think I've got it all figured out, but I do have some
things that I hope can be an encouragement to anyone willing to read.
If anything, these "Worship Leading Lessons" will be an open book journal revealing how God is
molding me into a true worshiper of Christ.
Dumping of Gear = Dumping of Pride
In January, 1993 I received Christ as my savior at the age of 18 years old. Leading up to that moment I found myself getting steeped in music. I had begun playing in bars surrounding myself with influences that would ultimately lead to a lifestyle that could be harmful to my health. Thankfully, God interceded and completely changed my heart.
It didn't happen overnight. The salvation happened instantly...but the transformation of someone desiring to be a "rock star", center of attention....to one who knew he was a child of God didn't happen instantly. It came over time.
Soon after I became a Christian, I realized my desires were shifting from pursuing music, to pursuing a relationship with God. I was convicted about where my affections were being drawn to and decided a radical change needed to happen. I donated all of my electric guitar gear to my local church for a missions cause. I believe in my walk with God, this was a huge moment of growth.
What I began to learn was nothing I did mattered if I didn't give it all to the Lord. That meant my money, my talents, my abilities, my desires....everything. After a year of not being involved with music, I was invited to be a part of the worship ministry in my College and Career Class I was a part of at the time. This is where I began cutting my teeth on what it meant to do music for a completely different cause.
It's Not YOUR Ministry
I love being a part of ministry, especially being able to use the talent God has blessed me with. Every once in a while I need to be reminded that the ministry I'm a part of is not MINE...it's God's. When I hear musicians use the term "my ministry", it makes me cringe. It's an indicator for me that communicates the heart of someone who is in it to bring their talent/skill to the team and may not give much care to the other team members or the church-wide vision. Essentially every Christ follower needs to answer this one question:
Are you willing to give up what you love the most in order to let God make you a true worshiper?
In Psalm 51 we read the story of a repentant David who realizes it makes no difference what sacrifice he brings to the Lord, but that God is simply concerned with a broken heart. For worship leaders and team members, you may feel that you're bringing the very best of what you have in your skill to the Lord, but if you don't have the heart of a true worshiper of God...it doesn't matter.
Many times we wrap our identities up in the things we do. Whether a job, a ministry we're a part of, a ministry we lead. Eventually we begin to place our hope in our skills and in these roles we play. When those roles or that job is gone, we then become hopeless. God wants our hope and strength to rest completely and solely on Jesus Christ.
So here's a challenge to you worship leaders and team members. Redirect your focus. It's not about YOUR skill, it's not about YOUR talent. Are you truly worshiping Christ with your talent? Or are you deceiving yourself thinking your sacrifice has been acceptable to the Lord when all along, you've been carrying bitterness and a heart that is tainted by an attitude that this is YOUR ministry not God's?
16 For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it;
You do not delight in burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart—
These, O God, You will not despise.
Psalm 51:16-17 (NKJV)
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