This past Sunday morning, Trust Quartet sang at a church that reminded me of my younger days growing up in southern Georgia. It was in a rural area of central Florida and although many would consider it a small, country church, the Lord met with us in a very special way.
I don't know how many people were crammed in that auditorium, but there wasn't many more people who would have come in and found a seat. Those who were there laughed a little, cried a little, clapped a little ~ but worshipped a lot! There were even a few shouts across the room.
People have long worshipped in different ways. Some believe that unless a preacher hacks his way up and down the aisles of a church, true worship has not taken place. Some believe that worship is more dignified and quiet, reflecting upon God's holiness and purity. Still others are not comfortable expressing worship unless there is hands-raising, eyes heavenward singing of choruses while following words on a screen at the front of the building. The style of worship is as much cultural as it is biblical. The core of worship, however, is at the heart of the individual.
The woman at the well in John 4 was challenged by Christ to worship sincerely in spirit and truth. It would be impossible to convince me that the leper who was healed didn't worship as he returned to thank Jesus. Likewise, when Abraham and Isaac went to Mt. Moriah to sacrifice, both worshipped as never before when they heard the ram that was caught in the thicket.
God does not demand our worship. It would cease to be worship if it were the result of a demand. He does, however, desire our worship. In an evaulation of your worship, what word could describe your worship? Is your worship defined by a style or your heart? Those who worship HIM must worship HIM in spirit and truth.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Coffee and Fog
Drinking a cup of coffee in the morning and watching the fog roll in provides opportunity for reflection and thought. Frankly, even as I re-read that sentence, I can't help but reflect on the irony there.
A morning cup of coffee is typically intended to help rejuvenate us and wake us up. We drink that morning coffee to jump-start us into the day. (Actually, since I work midnights, and sleep during the day ~ mine is decaf, thank you very much!) But the fog that has rolled in during the wee hours of the morning generally is seen as mystifying. Yet, the coffee should work to clear the morning fog from our brain.
In the New Testament, Paul admonishes our thoughts to be about things that are pure, lovely, of good report. While this is only a partial list of Paul's (who's wasn't exhaustive), we should remember that spiritual battles are fought daily, beginning with the mind. Our thoughts should be guarded carefully, so as not to cause us to stumble.
Satan would much rather have us focus on the morning fog in our brain, rather than thinking clearly about the principles found in Scripture. His preference would be to sidetrack us with things that are not really important.
As you spend quiet time reflecting on God's thoughts and plan for your life today, be certain that your thoughts are consistent with God's. As you pray today, pray that God's protection would guard your heart and mind against the fog with which Satan would use to envelope you.
Embrace your day with God!
A morning cup of coffee is typically intended to help rejuvenate us and wake us up. We drink that morning coffee to jump-start us into the day. (Actually, since I work midnights, and sleep during the day ~ mine is decaf, thank you very much!) But the fog that has rolled in during the wee hours of the morning generally is seen as mystifying. Yet, the coffee should work to clear the morning fog from our brain.
In the New Testament, Paul admonishes our thoughts to be about things that are pure, lovely, of good report. While this is only a partial list of Paul's (who's wasn't exhaustive), we should remember that spiritual battles are fought daily, beginning with the mind. Our thoughts should be guarded carefully, so as not to cause us to stumble.
Satan would much rather have us focus on the morning fog in our brain, rather than thinking clearly about the principles found in Scripture. His preference would be to sidetrack us with things that are not really important.
As you spend quiet time reflecting on God's thoughts and plan for your life today, be certain that your thoughts are consistent with God's. As you pray today, pray that God's protection would guard your heart and mind against the fog with which Satan would use to envelope you.
Embrace your day with God!
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Musically Me
I have always loved music. I took piano lessons as a young boy. By the time I arrived at junior high, the piano lessons quickly gave way to band instruments. First it was trombone, although I had always wanted to learn to play the trumpet. So, in my sophomore year, a friend taught me a scale on a trumpet. I bought a used trumpet from a pawn shop and taught myself the rest. When I got to college, the concert band needed a French horn player. I did that for a semester, and gratefully laid it to rest. I also played tuba and found that I really enjoyed it.
But I've always loved to sing. As a really young boy, even before the piano lessons mentioned previously, I sang with the kids at our church. We had an awesome kids group! Singing the songs with all my little buddies set the standard for what I wanted to do with my life. As I grew older, our family relocated ~ seemingly again and again. In the seven years of band while in school, I was in five different school bands with six different band directors. Needless to say, I struggled with any kind of consistency in methods. Through all the relocating, singing was something we did at home around the piano.
My dad, sister, and I sang quite often in church. The 'voice change' year or so was awkward, but otherwise, we continually sang together. Then came college.
Auditioning and singing in the College Choir was something I really wanted to do. I was one of only five freshman to make the traveling choir. My dreams were beginning to come true. I worked hard to do well in choir. In fact, I would tell people I worked harder in choir than I did in English. And it showed. Grades in other classes suffered. After the first year, I had to give up that dream.
The family of a college friend of mine had a quartet. They needed a bass singer, and they offered to let me audition. I did, and they asked me to sing with them. My dream was resurfacing and I was excited about the possibilities. After discussing the opportunities with my parents, the dream was squelched again. I needed to go home and work to save money for college.
Over time, the grades slowly got to the point where I was able to travel with the College Choir again. Other activities and events in college led me down a path of ministry ~ for which I'm thankful. Still, the thought of singing southern gospel music never left my mind. It was always back there, sometimes suppressed by the more urgent, current needs, yet still present.
No matter what ministry I've been involved in, music has played a part. There are parts of music ministry that I like more than others. (Now that's a profound statement!) If I've been pastoring a church, there have been sermons that included songs. While serving on our church denomination's media commission, we produced a music CD / Video to capture some of our music heritage. What an opportunity! I've been able to lead choirs, coach teen quartets in music / arts competitions (they won, too!), and do a few small concerts for various groups.
The diversity of music grew proportionately with the avenues of opportunities. I began to listen to and enjoy some of the milder contemporary and worship style music. Hymns have always played a part of my music heritage, also. Through it all, I have always leaned toward my southern gospel roots.
Music ministry is so varied. I'm not a pianist. I'm not a guitarist. I'm not much of a brass or band instrumentalist anymore. I have the ability to lead a choir, although it isn't at all what I enjoy doing. I have the ability to organize and administer a church's music program, but again, I struggle with being passionate about it.
I do enjoy developing and leading a group of people in worship. I do enjoy leading people to a greater height of joy in their walk with Christ. I crave the opportunity to pass along a sense of urgency in growing a relationship with Christ. If this is done through music, fine. If it is done through sharing from God's Word, super. If it is through writing, fantastic. The format being used is not as important to me as being able to accomplish this calling.
God has been so good to me in blessing me with opportunities to accomplish this task. Not long ago, I was given an opportunity that shifts my focus in where I am able to minister. While I'm still able to have a part in a local church's music ministry, I'm also able to sing in a quartet. I questioned my ability and have wondered if I could do it.
The Trust Quartet family has graciously accepted me and allowed me to fulfill a life-long dream. They are also enabling me to learn still more lessons about music ministry. Each time we sing, we are leading a group of people in worship to our Savior. We are able to encourage those in the service to grow in a relationship with Christ, encouraging them to share their faith.
Where are you in fulfilling God's plan for your life? What are you doing to see to it that God's Kingdom is continually being built? Proverbs 3:5-6, Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.
Trust ~ and obey.
But I've always loved to sing. As a really young boy, even before the piano lessons mentioned previously, I sang with the kids at our church. We had an awesome kids group! Singing the songs with all my little buddies set the standard for what I wanted to do with my life. As I grew older, our family relocated ~ seemingly again and again. In the seven years of band while in school, I was in five different school bands with six different band directors. Needless to say, I struggled with any kind of consistency in methods. Through all the relocating, singing was something we did at home around the piano.
My dad, sister, and I sang quite often in church. The 'voice change' year or so was awkward, but otherwise, we continually sang together. Then came college.
Auditioning and singing in the College Choir was something I really wanted to do. I was one of only five freshman to make the traveling choir. My dreams were beginning to come true. I worked hard to do well in choir. In fact, I would tell people I worked harder in choir than I did in English. And it showed. Grades in other classes suffered. After the first year, I had to give up that dream.
The family of a college friend of mine had a quartet. They needed a bass singer, and they offered to let me audition. I did, and they asked me to sing with them. My dream was resurfacing and I was excited about the possibilities. After discussing the opportunities with my parents, the dream was squelched again. I needed to go home and work to save money for college.
Over time, the grades slowly got to the point where I was able to travel with the College Choir again. Other activities and events in college led me down a path of ministry ~ for which I'm thankful. Still, the thought of singing southern gospel music never left my mind. It was always back there, sometimes suppressed by the more urgent, current needs, yet still present.
No matter what ministry I've been involved in, music has played a part. There are parts of music ministry that I like more than others. (Now that's a profound statement!) If I've been pastoring a church, there have been sermons that included songs. While serving on our church denomination's media commission, we produced a music CD / Video to capture some of our music heritage. What an opportunity! I've been able to lead choirs, coach teen quartets in music / arts competitions (they won, too!), and do a few small concerts for various groups.
The diversity of music grew proportionately with the avenues of opportunities. I began to listen to and enjoy some of the milder contemporary and worship style music. Hymns have always played a part of my music heritage, also. Through it all, I have always leaned toward my southern gospel roots.
Music ministry is so varied. I'm not a pianist. I'm not a guitarist. I'm not much of a brass or band instrumentalist anymore. I have the ability to lead a choir, although it isn't at all what I enjoy doing. I have the ability to organize and administer a church's music program, but again, I struggle with being passionate about it.
I do enjoy developing and leading a group of people in worship. I do enjoy leading people to a greater height of joy in their walk with Christ. I crave the opportunity to pass along a sense of urgency in growing a relationship with Christ. If this is done through music, fine. If it is done through sharing from God's Word, super. If it is through writing, fantastic. The format being used is not as important to me as being able to accomplish this calling.
God has been so good to me in blessing me with opportunities to accomplish this task. Not long ago, I was given an opportunity that shifts my focus in where I am able to minister. While I'm still able to have a part in a local church's music ministry, I'm also able to sing in a quartet. I questioned my ability and have wondered if I could do it.
The Trust Quartet family has graciously accepted me and allowed me to fulfill a life-long dream. They are also enabling me to learn still more lessons about music ministry. Each time we sing, we are leading a group of people in worship to our Savior. We are able to encourage those in the service to grow in a relationship with Christ, encouraging them to share their faith.
Where are you in fulfilling God's plan for your life? What are you doing to see to it that God's Kingdom is continually being built? Proverbs 3:5-6, Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.
Trust ~ and obey.
I wish I had the self discipline to blog on a more regular basis. I admit I go through spurts that I blog quite regularly, but at other times, I may go weeks without ever writing anything at all.
As I was reflecting about what to write about to try to jumpstart this blog ~ again ~ I thought of a person who has done a magnificent job being an example of a good blogger. With that in mind, I want to recommend to you my friend, Pam. She does a tremendous job with her blog, and as long as you promise to continue to monitor my blogging efforts, visit her blog often.
Read, and enjoy ~ then come back and read mine, and enjoy!
As I was reflecting about what to write about to try to jumpstart this blog ~ again ~ I thought of a person who has done a magnificent job being an example of a good blogger. With that in mind, I want to recommend to you my friend, Pam. She does a tremendous job with her blog, and as long as you promise to continue to monitor my blogging efforts, visit her blog often.
Read, and enjoy ~ then come back and read mine, and enjoy!
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