BabuLife

A Worship Wars Story

A regular visitor to this site and commentor here has an interesting story to tell on his experience of worship wars at his local church.  Derek has recently left his worship leading role at his church and has been documenting his story on his blog at Show Me the Mooneys.  It's an interesting read and one that folks who are dealing with a transition from traditional music to music that is actually relatable to this current generation might find helpful.  He's broken his story out in three parts:

Worship Wars Part 1: My Background
Worship Wars Part 2: Compromise and the Excitment Factor
Worship Wars Part 3: Why it Shouldn't be a War Anymore

Superman Gets a Makeover

I read this story on the DrudgeReport about the disappointing first day for the new Superman movie.  It's funny how a $19 million opening is considered a disappointment.  I guess in the context of budget, money spent and upcoming competition like Pirates of the Caribbean 2, it doesn't look good for the man in blue tights.

It would appear that one reason attributed to Superman's uneventful opening is the constant whispering about Supe's sexuality.  The director's homosexual life has bled into the movies release over the TV news, internet and radio which Warner Brothers has decided to combat.  They're going to do a commercial makeover and try to eliminate some of Supe's "feminine" soft side look and include some "manly" type of commercials with louder music.  Replacing the techno "thumpa thumpa" music with louder screaming guitars and what not.  Interesting approach.

I wonder if it'll make any difference.

Lunch With a Fellow Worship Leader

I had a great second lunch today with Brandon (fellow worship leader from Raytown, MO) at our local Chili's in Overland Park Kansas.  We tried to meet up in Raytown, Missouri but there really isn't much there.  I think he wanted to come over to my side of the state line.

We got to follow up on how things are going since our first meeting.  Brandon's church is going through some possible changes that might "stir the pot" a bit for some of the old timers in the church.  Being that Grace has been through several changes and "pot stirring" sessions, we talked about the challenges of going through rough transitions.  He asked how our pastor handled the many changes we've gone through over the last 6 years.

For Tim, my pastor, the main thing that I think helped in our transitions was how he just would not go against what God was telling him was the right thing to do.  That's not to say he didn't seek counsel from others, but when the changes were confirmed, he didn't waver.  It's always better to be in the will of God then the will of man.  If you do what man wants, you will be fine for awhile, but eventually it comes back to bite you.  This is the type of leadership that's needed when you're making major changes.

We talked about how people like to lump churches into conservative and liberal based on where they invest their money.  He was saying that some of the "traditional" folks in his church would classify Grace as "liberal" because we have lights and a nice audio system without having ever heard the teaching or read the statement of faith. Silly people.

It was again very refreshing to talk about successes and struggles with a fellow worship leader.  We're going to hook up again at the end of July.

Gaza Update - Note from my Folks

Thanks to all of you for praying for my folks and the situation in Gaza and Israel.  Here's a note from my parents that was sent to all of their supporters:

Dear Precious Prayer Partners,

We are asking you to pray urgently and fervently for the situation in the Gaza Strip. Tass and I are in Israel. It was surely God’s providence that we came out a few days before all of this took place and that we decided not to go back in last Saturday, as scheduled, but rather to complete our work in Israel before we move completely. The situation is very serious. The following excerpt of information is a good, concise timeline of events from our friends, ______ and ______, Jewish believers who live here in Ashdod, and their prayer request sent out earlier today:

By a daring operation of digging a long tunnel from the Gaza Strip to directly under an Israeli military unit guarding the southern border, a terrorist Palestinian group succeeded Sunday to attack the Israeli soldiers, killing two, wounding five and kidnapping one, who is being held by the Hamas's military wing. The whole country is following the event with much prayer for the safe return of the kidnapped solder. Meanwhile it was reported by the Palestinians that they have kidnapped another youth from the settlers in the west bank. There is the danger that the solder will be moved out of Gaza into Sinai where, according to a spokesman for the Popular Resistance the "Zionist enemy cannot reach."

PM Olmert has promised today to focus all effort in bringing the kidnapped soldier back and to fight terror without negotiations, promising a "broad and ongoing" military offensive in the Gaza Strip. "Our efforts are not intended to punish the Palestinian people, but to bring kidnapped IDF soldier Shalit home. We don't want to harm innocent people, but we won't let the Palestinians harm us." The IDF (Israeli Defense Force) completed massive forces mobilization along the Gaza border overnight Monday, to put pressure on the Hamas's armed faction, which was believed to be holding Shalit. Nevertheless, IDF officials said they were still pursuing a diplomatic solution to avoid, if possible a broad attack that could threaten the soldier's life.

Spokesmen for Hamas and Fattah militiamen said they had deployed thousands of their men in the streets to repel any Israeli attack, vowing to turn the Gaza Strip into a "graveyard for the Israeli army." Many Palestinians in the Gaza Strip began preparing for the coming Israeli military operation by planting roadside bombs and car bombs along major routes. Gunmen belonging to various groups took strategic positions and others barricaded themselves behind sandbags and concrete slabs.  

Other nations, including Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak are urging PL authorities to exert heavy pressure on Hamas and other armed groups to release the soldier to avoid an Israeli military response, which in his words "would complicate matters and endanger the soldier's life". The Hamas government blames Israel for the latest escalation, noting that several civilians had been killed in recent weeks by Israel, but ignoring the constant barrage of Kassam missiles on Israeli towns close to Gaza.

We are asking you to pray for the SAFE RETURN OF THE TWO KIDNAPPED ISRAELIS, WISDOM FOR THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT AND ARMY AS TO THE OPERATION IN GAZA TO AVOID ESCALATION AND MANY CASUALTIES. 

There is much going on very near the area where we have taken a house and, of course our friend S.  and Pastor ________ and his family are there as well. Please pray for the new believers in Gaza and that this will only strengthen them and not discourage them. Pray that through this God will cause the church in Gaza to be strengthened and that they will not be discouraged.

Thank you for your prayers and concern,

In His steps,

Prayer Please - Gaza & the Folks

Hey everybody.  I just wanted to drop a quick update on my folks.  With recent events in Israel and Gaza, things are a little tense there.  Mom and Dad happen to be in Israel this week and won't be able to get back into Gaza for awhile.  Their house in Gaza is almost ready for them, however, with the rising tensions, their new home and the work will be delayed until they can cross the border.

Thanks guys!

Israel demands Hamas releases 19 year old Israeli soldier...or else.

Learn more about Hope for Ishmael

It's the End of the World as We Know it...

...And I Feel Fine!   Here's where the clickwheel landed this weekend.  I think this Cd actually melted from continuous play when I was 15.  I learned guitar listening to these songs picking out chords and trying to sing with that Michael Stipe-ish voice.  When I met my wife I learned that she could sing all of the lyrics to "It's the End of the World as We Know it", I fell in love immediately.  That's true amore'.

The wife and I had this song blaring on the minivan speakers Saturday with our daughters.  I think we had one of those moments where the kids are sitting there thinking "my parents are soooo uncool". The middle child notified us that "this was NOT her favorite song and demanded that hers be played."  Mommy and I ignored her and continued singing loudly.  For a brief moment we were 16 again.

Check out R.E.M.'s Document on iTunes.
Ever wondered what those lyrics are to that song?  Click here.

What's your favorite album?

Carys - L Turns 3!

Happy Birthday to my second born!  She's my little Carys - L!

Worshipy Question - When Do You...

When do you take up offering during worship service?  Or do you even take up an offering during your worship services?

We've done a few different things at Grace and are currently "passing the plates" at the close of our services.  In the past, we would collect during the begining of the service within the first 15-20 minutes while in the midst of the music/praise time of the service or even in the middle of a message (maybe once or twice).  In the current slot of doing it at the close, the thinking is that it gives people an opportunity to respond to what God may have been doing in their heart during the service.  One other issue about our offering time is that it not only is our time to "give back to God" but it also serves as the time where people can submit a completed "Connect Card" also known in many churches as "Welcome Cards" (I've included a pic of the front and back of the card to the right). Having the offering at the end helps us to also receive more cards once people have heard the message, participated in the worship and have decided to reach out to Grace by allowing us to help them get connnected.

Here's our current service order:

• 5 Minute Countdown Clock
• Song (5 mins)
• Welcome/greeting (talk about the Connect Card) (2 mins)
• Song (5 mins)
• Song (5 mins)
• Baptisms (5 mins)
• Song (5 mins)
• Message (35 mins)
• Song (offering) (5 mins)
• Closing announcements (5 mins)

So what do you guys think?  Does your church designate a time for giving during the services? If so, when do you guys do it?  Where do you Gracers like the offering during service?  Or do you not like taking offering at all during a service?

AOL Cancellation Recorded

I used to work for a telemarketing company as my first "real job".  From the age of 16 - 19 (1990 - 93)I worked my way up to a training rep.  I was a masterful telemarketer.  Of course the dudes upstairs would always encourage us to say we are an "800 answering service".  We worked for several companies as a clearing house for mail orders, account cancellations, seminar registrations and yes, we even called people at home during dinner hours to ask if they would be interested in a free hearing test provided by the makers of "Miracle Ear".  And most of them could never hear me on the phone so I'd just hang up on the senior citizens after several "What's that sonny?  Who is this?  Why are you calling me?"

One of the things we were always trained to do was help people see that they didn't really want to cancel their account, they just needed to be offered something special to stay.  You know every company does it.  So this guy tries to cancel his AOL account and the customer service rep is putting all that "friendly service" training to use by helping the customer realize what a pain in the tookis (sp?) it really is to cancel the AOL account.  I actually remember cancelling an account with them like 8 years ago and having a similar situation.  They really struggled with just cancelling the account.

Check out the link here.

Princess Layla Turns 1

One year ago today our third gift entered our family.  She's almost ready to start walking.  I feel bad for her as she will be the follower of her two older sisters for the rest of her life.  But she'll always be my baby girl.  Happy birthday my Princess Layla!