Pure Praise Week 7

With this week 7 reflection I am entering territory that worship wars are fought over - STYLE.

I taught this several weeks ago in church, and I believe this to my core...that worship services should be God-Centered, God-Focused, and God-Exalting. But how does that play out practically?

I appreciate how Moore believes this too, stating, "If God's Word is not concerned about style, why should we be up in arms about it?" He also says, "Style is not the issue with God. He loves all kinds of music - as long as it honors him. What matters is not so much what we sing, but how we sing it."

But come on, at some point a church picks a style of music and goes with it. I do believe at Cherry Hills we do evaluate new music Scripturally and Theologically, before style ever enters into the mix, but style has to be a part of the conversation.

What I would argue is that we don't choose all up-beat cutting edge songs to be introduced, and we don't choose to sing all hymns all the time.

I frequently say, "A good song, is a good song is a good song." Of the thousands of songs written today, only a few are worth singing, just like there are only about 50 out of 900 hymns in the hymnal worth singing.

As I evalute my own thoughts about Sunday services and songs, I'm getting better at being able to worship through all kinds of songs and musical styles, but the bottom line is I still have my preferences - and that plays out in planning worship services. I really do try to serve the people that come on Sundays, and that means providing people opportunities to respond to God in a variety of ways, but I still have my own personal preferences.

I'm still working on this, but I have a lot of room to improve.

I'm hoping my friend Chuck Bosworth writes in and comments on his experiences with his band Chapter 6 as they toured the country and visited different churches each Sunday. It's a story that has impacted me a number of time.

What stood out to you in Week 7, and how does this STYLE issue play out for you in Sunday services?

Pure Praise - Week 6 Reflection

This week focused on qualities of leadership, and the day that impacted me the most was day 2 (Recognition is not required). I wonder if many of us in the arts, and serve in front of people struggle with this.

My story can be wrapped up in one visual - a key.

Sara and I served as volunteers at a church before coming to Cherry Hills, and we both held quite a few positions. Not only did we help out with the services, Sunday, and children's activities, but I was the Vice-Moderator of the Leadership Coordination Team. I was 25 years old, and basically the 2nd in charge on the leadership team. You can probably see where this is going, but I had such an attitude of entitlement. I thought all of my ideas were the best ideas, and should be followed. And if people didn't follow my ideas then the other people were just crazy! I didn't like what I was becoming, and looking back, I wish I could do some things over.

When we decided to come to Cherry Hills, I just wanted to be part of a church - not lead anything, just be part of something. I remember getting involved with some ministries at Cherry Hills and being offered a key from the staff (we pass out keys like candy around here), and I turned them down for some time. You see, for me, that key represented the worst about me. It gave me access to the church whenever I wanted it, and it gave me this spirit of entitlement that I was more important than other people. So I turned down a key for some time.

I now have a key to the church, but I always want to remember that it doesn't allow me special priviledges or value. I always need to check myself and remember why I'm doing what I'm doing, and rememeber that "Recognition is not required." I've actually gotten to the point now where I prefer to be behind the scenes working on service planning because it helps me not desire or require the recognition.

In addition, I think for the most part, the Arts Team at Cherry Hills does a good job of this. Churches are notorious for blow-ups in the arts of prima donnas needed recognition and stage time. That's why in our Worship Arts Guidelines we include this paragraph,

"Humility and Grace: We all agree and understand that there are no ‘stars’ on this team. Although there are varying degrees of giftedness and skill and as a result some team members may occasionally carry a larger leadership role, every person on this team is equally important and is committed to playing whatever role they are asked to play. No one is above singing back-up vocals, serving behind the scenes, aiming lights, hauling equipment, plugging in cords, pushing a broom or whatever it takes to help the entire team succeed. And no team is more important than another. We all exist to serve God and to serve one another, and we come together to do what none of us could do alone. Our focus is never on who gets the recognition or the opportunity. Our one desire is simply that the Kingdom of God goes forward, and to that end each of us will humbly serve in whatever capacity will allow us to accomplish that best."

Let's keep being a team that allow God to increase as we decrease.

Pure Praise - Week 5

This will be a short post because in Week 5 one thing stood out to me over and over again. Beginning in Day 1 with prayer, then Day 2 with planned spontaneity, and then Day 4 with the power of the Spirit I was reminded again and again how these are God's services.

Yes, we can and should plan and execute to the best of our ability, but these are God's services. I need to pray like crazy, and then humbly expect the Holy Spirit to work in the services, and if He wants to change something then let's change it.

Here's the prayer I wrote on Day 3, "God, I have honestly never considered veering from the plan a good thing, especially in worship services. Help me remember that these services are yours, not mine and you can change your plans any time you want."

In my love of planning, the quote on page 86 nailed me, "To be filled with the Holy Spirit is really more about getting unfilled with ourselves."

What spoke to you this week?

Pure Praise Week 4

Sorry this is a little later than usual, but better late than never.

Man, week 4 spoke to me and addressed one of my biggest weaknesses. Truth be told, I'm just not very good at listening TO God or FOR God. I think a lot of that stems from being a type A personality that likes being in control; coupled with the fact that I love to figure things out on my own.

Yesterday at church, Pastor Lee talked about Rehoboam and how he sought advice from other places instead of going to God first, and I can identify with that. I'll look in books, ask the wise advice of friends, and try to figure things out myself and then realize I haven't even asked what God would want me to do.

I loved The Contents of His Words on Page 65:
1. God's voice is consistent with the Bible.
2. God's voice might conflict with human wisdom.
3. God's voice will likely clash with our fleshly nature.
4. God's voice may challenge our faith.
5. God's voice will often require us to be courageous.

God, help me listen for your voice and act on it when I hear it. I need your help on this because this is not natural for me. I don't just want to talk to you, I want to hear from you.

Pure Praise - Week 3

This was such an important week in this study. The first two weeks were foundational material to begin to understand what praise really is: A RESPONSE to what we value most, and different ways we can praise God.

It is crucial that Moore now turns to talk about the object of our praise - God. Worship is always God-centered.

I'll admit up front that I need to work on a better balance in my life between viewing God with the reverance and awe he deserves, yet at the same time understanding that his is a personal God who longs to have a relationship with us.

In theological terms, God is transcendent (He is above, beyond, outside, all that He has made); and at the same time God is immanent (God exists is His creation, and he is still actively involved in our lives).

My life has been a roller coaster in terms of how I view God. Growing up I probably had more of a fearful/reverant view of God, thinking he was the great punisher in the sky just waiting for me to mess up. I knew very little of a God who wanted a relationship.

Then in my 20's the pendulum swung about as far back as it could, and I considered God as my buddy (as in the movie Darma), or like the t-shirts "Jesus is my homeboy." I lost almost all reverance, awe and fear of a transendent God.

I now have a better balance of the two views of God. I probably still find it easier to see God as personal rather than the all-powerful (from what I read this is very common for people to err on the side of immanence).

However, I'm working on focusing on God's attributes, and reading books (Tozer's "The Pursuit of God", J.I. Packer's "Knowing God") that help me see the whole picture of God.

Pure Praise - Week 2

Hey everyone. Lots of ground to cover this week, so I'll keep it relatively short and give you my two biggest take-aways from the week.

1. Praise is prevalent. What a great reminder that we were created to praise God and glorify him. As Moore said on page 25, "it is every believer's most natural response to God's power and grace."

Think about it, we're all wired to worship right. We go to concerts, ball games, broadway plays, and we stand and cheer, clap, shout, sometimes cry. We're just wired with an innate sense of worship. However, what happens to us is that we trade worship of the Creator for worship of created things. (Don't hear me say going to those things and cheering is bad, we just have to have priorities in place)

I said it last week, and I'll say it again, the best definition of worship is that it is a RESPONSE. Worship is our response to what we value most. That’s why worship is that thing that we all do. It’s what we’re all about on any given day. Because worship is about saying, “This person, this thing, this experience, this whatever is what matters most to me…it’s the thing I put first in my life.”

We were all created to worship, and we all worship something.

And this is why this is so important for us to get right…we become what we worship. Whatever you worship, whatever you put first, you become obsessed with. Whatever you become obsessed with, you imitate. And whatever you imitate you become. In other words, whatever you value most will ultimately determine who you are.

I pray that as a team, we put Jesus first. I pray that he becomes our obsession.


2. I had never heard about Perfect Praise before this week, and I still need to do some more thinking about it, but I truly appreciated his requirements for perfect praise: a worshipful and passionate heart, approach Him as little children, and have total dependence on God.

My confession is that every day I struggle to give God perfect praise, including days when I have to stand on stage and lead other people. I need to work on this, and want to come to a place where I worship him with a full heart, and a dependence, humility, wonder and awe that I see in children's eyes.

I'll finish with a quote from a guy named Bob Kaughlin. I'm reading his book right now, and he makes this statement that blew me away:

"I don't ever want people who see me lead worship publicly to be surprised by the way I live privately. It's not my songs that define my worship; it's my life." Amen.

Sunday, July 5

Corporate set for July 5:

Let God Arise
Marvelous Light
I Stand Amazed

Special Song Before Communion: Forgive Me by Rebecca St. James

Closing Sonng After Communion: Jesus Messiah

I thought the instrumentalists played great today. I have to admit though, the room felt pretty dead all morning. I don't know if it was because Sunday was the day after the 4th of July, or the gray rainy weather contributed, but it didn't seem like people showed up to worship? Just my take. I freely admit I could be wrong.

Pure Praise - Week 1

First, thanks for doing this study as a team. As I said at our meeting last week, my prayer is that we can all get into God's Word together so what we do in private flows out of us on Sunday mornings. In addition, I pray that we get to know each other better through this study.

Week 1 of this study is some pretty basic material that some of you may have heard many times. But it's always a good reminder to go back to what worship really is.

I think a lot of times we get caught up thinking that worship is music or singing, or what happens on Sunday morning. But it's so much more than that, and as we saw this week, worship is our whole lives - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Above all else, the definition that I would love for everyone to remember is that WORSHIP IS A RESPONSE TO GOD. I love Louie Giglio's definition of worship: "Worship is a whole-life response to God's greatness and glory."

So if worship is bigger than just Sunday mornings where we all help lead worship, then it is important that we're worshipping during the week too. We can't just show up Sunday morning and turn on a switch and begin to worship the God of the universe. It actually might work for a little while, but I think people would figure out that we're pretty fake.

One verse that stood out to me in the story of Jehoshaphat was 2 Chronicles 20:12, "We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you."

That's probably the biggest lesson the Lord is teaching me right now is to keep my eyes on Him. In the midst of everything going on in my life, my home, my work and the world, I need to keep my eyes on Him - which coincidentally is worship.

Let me know what stood out to you this week.

Sunday, June 28, 2009

I thought the song sets and creative elements really came alongside the message today on Balaam, and enhanced the services.

Chuck led a great song set:

A Mighty Fortress
Better is One Day
Psalm 62 (we introduced this for the first time today)
Come Thou Fount (with Sing Praise chorus)
Psalm 62 tag


After Jeff had taught on Balaam, he asked, "Do we really want to do God's will, or do we want God to bless our plans?"

We showed the following video, which I think opened people's hearts to the question of the day - "who is sitting on the chair of your life?"

Pure Praise Starts Monday

Team,

Remember that our summer Bible study start on Monday, June 29th. I'll post my thoughts/reflections on Wednesday, and then you can comment any time after that.

The one and only Eddie Ebeling found this video intro for the study. It might help give you a feel for where we're going.

I'm really looking forward to doing this together, and learning what it means to be lead worshippers at Cherry Hills. Blessing.

Stripped

I just finished reading another one of Jud Wilhite's books. This one is called Stripped: Uncensored Grace on the Streets of Vegas. You can buy it here. This book is absolutely worth your time to read.

One of the main things that stuck out to me in the book, and that I am still wrestling with revolve around three words, Belong, Believe, Behave.

So many times in our churches we expect people to follow the progression of needing to believe and/or behave before we accept them.

But Jud turns this idea on its head and says, "Many churches are more or less reversing this order out of live for people far from God. Their philosophy is first you belong (you're loved), then you believe, and finally you behave.

Why should se expect people who are far from God to behave like a follower of Jesus should behave. Shouldn't we simply love people where they are, love them and disciple them to a place where they can cross the line of faith, and once they are a follower of Jesus they are challenged that their behavior should match the talk.

I pray that Cherry Hills can be a church where people feel like they can belong before they are expected to believe and behave.

Just finished reading another book on the blog tour. This one was "Eyes Wide Open" by Jud Wilhite. I had the opportunity to meet Jud in Washington D.C. last summer at a small conference at National Community Church. Since then I have run into Jud at Catalyst in Atlanta and at the Willow Arts Conference last week in Chicago. I really admire Jud as a young leader navigating the huge responsibility of leading Central Christian in Las Vegas.

This is a great book. Particularly for young believers, but also a good reminder for those who have followed Jesus for some time. In Eyes Wide Open, Jud invites you to discover the real you. Not the you who pretends to be perfect to satisfy everyone’s expectations. Not the you who always feels guilty before God. Not the you who secretly feels God forgives everyone else but only tolerates you. Not the you who looks in the mirror and sees a failure. The real you, loved and forgiven by God, living out of your identity in Christ.

I'd encourage you to pick this book up and be reminded of your real identity in Christ. You can click here to find out more about the book, or go to Amazon.

Willow Arts - Session 1 Reflection

Nancy Beach opened the 2009 Willow Arts conference by talking about Wonder. Nancy gave several memorable soundbites in this session, including:

As artists, we are called to be agents of wonder and hope.

And to be those types of people, we need to be grateful. We need to look around and be grateful for what God has given us.

Through the arts in church, we need to show people the wonder of God, and the hope of His Son Jesus Christ. We can do this through cretion, relationships, and God's grace.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Each week I'm going to start posting what took place at CH the previous Sunday. I always appreciate hearing what other churches are doing, so I'm joining the party.

Our team had just gotten back from the Willow Arts Conference, so we stripped everything down, and led corporate singing with just an acoustic guitar. Al, did a great job, and Sara joined us on vocals.

The set was: Great is thy faithfulness; Corporate reading (see below); Let us Adore; How Great is our God (chorus and bridge); How deep the Father's Love; and Grace Flows Down.

The Responsive Reading during the set was actually written by Tim Hughes, and went like this:

You shaped the heavens and the earth revealed Your splendour
You spoke Your life into our hearts
And we belong to You

You are the Maker of all things,
First and the last
Creation sings praise to You God


And Your people join with heaven declaring Your glory
Proclaiming the works of Your hands


We started a new series this past week called Heart Check, and we're using the Scripture Proverbs 4:23, "Above all else guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life."

We're looking a different characters in the Bible all summer, all of whom had a heart problem. This past Sunday we looked at Cain (Genesis 4).

I have included our series graphic for you to check out. Thanks Tamiko for creating another graphic for us!

The Disappearance of God

I'm part of this blog tour thing where I get asked to read books, and then eveluate them here. This is one of those books.

Dr. Albert Mohler Jr., President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary has written a new book called "The Disappearance of God," where he talks about the foundations of the Christian faith that are disappearing in this post-modern, pluralistic, relativistic world we are living in. If you would like to read more about the book, click here.

Surprisingly, as an academic writer, Mohler was pretty easy to read and understand. I have to admit that I was a bit surprised at some of the "core" truths Mohler decided to write about. I understand writing about the doctrine of perseverance; salvation by grace through faith; sin; the reality of hell; the emerging church; pluralism; and church discipline. But is "A Christian View of Beauty" really one of the most pressing issues?

Probably my biggest beef with the book was Mohler's argument against the emerging church. While I agree with almost every point he makes, and his reasons are biblical and solid, he needs to expand his resources against the emerging church past D.A. Carson's Becoming Conversant with the Emerging Church.

In spite of this criticism, I would encourage people to pick this book up. If you are concerned about the church and how the church relates to culture this would be a good read for you. In the age-old battle to preserve the foundations of faith, it's up to a new generation to confront and disarm the contemporary shams and fight for the truth.

Rejoice & Celebrate

I was reading Luke 15:1-32 yesterday, and was struck by how many times the words rejoice and celebrate are used.

This section of Scripture contains the parable of the lost sheep, the parable of the lost coin, and the parable of the prodigal son. In 32 verses the word rejoice is used 4 times, and the word celebrate is used 3 times.

I was struck again by God's concern for those who do not yet follow him. And I was amazed by how much rejoicing and celebrating goes on in heaven when one person decides to follow Jesus.

I love how Brennan Manning describes the scene of the prodigal son and father. (Verse 20) But while he was a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with love for him; he ran to his son and threw his arms around him. He couldn't stop hugging and kissing him!

You Gotta See This

My buddy Gavin sent me this link, and it's so bad I have to pass it on. Enjoy this video!

Holy Week

Just a quick post...I'm reading The Ancient Christian Devotional by Thomas Oden, and one of the readings for this week struck me.

Cyril of Alexandria made this comment around the year 400, "He became like us that we might become like him."

That's a quote that will stop and make you think for a while.

Hot Off The Press

I wanted to share with you our Easter morning title and title slide for April 12, 2009. Our services are at 7:45; 9:15 and 10:45 that morning. Hope you can make it.

Stand Firm

We are in the middle of a teaching series on 1 Peter, and I thougth I would share our title slide graphic with you. Steal it if you like:

U2's "No Line on the Horizon"

U2's new album "No Line on the Horizon" dropped on Tuesday, March 3rd, but I've been listening to it for about two weeks now because the band streamed the album on their website before the official release.

After the first listen, I didn't know what to think - it was definately a departure from All That You Can't Leave Behind and How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb.

I have now listened to it about 10 times and here is the verdict: I think this is the second best album U2 has made, behind 1991's Auchtung Baby. I know, I know, all you fundamentalists will argue for The Joshua Tree as the best album. And while this album may not be as seminal as Joshua Tree, it is a deep, layered work that will take many listens to hear all of the intracacies.

Two more quick things. I think it's U2's most overtly Christian album, with songs like Magnificent, Unknown Caller, White As Snow, Fez-Being Born, and Breathe.

Finally, the second track on the album is titled Magnificent and I believe is already, and will go down as the second best U2 song of all time behind Bad.

I can't wait to hear the new stuff live.

Sacrifices, Sacrifices

So I'm reading through Leviticus right now - I know, exciting right.
and I got to thinking about all of the sacrifices that were necessary to make things right between the people and God (provide atonement for the people's sins).

Here is one small example of the many rules and regulations, taken from Leviticus 10:12-15, "Take the grain offering left over from the offerings made to the Lord by fire and eat it prepared without yeast beside the altar, for it is most holy. Eat it in a holy place, because it is your share and your sons' share of the offerings made to the Lord by fire; for so I have been commanded. But you and your sons and your daughters may eat the breast that was waved and the thigh that was presented. Eat them in a cermonially clean place; they have been given to you and your children as your share of the Israelites' fellowship offering. The thigh that was presented and the breast that was waved must be brought with the fat portions of the offerings made by fire, to be waved before the Lord as a wave offering. Thsi will be the regular share for you and your children, as the Lord has commanded."

I can't imagine living under these laws. I don't know how Moses, Aaron and the people remembered all they had to do. And an example of the seriousness is the immediate death of Aaron's sons (Nadab and Abihu) for lighting incense at the wrong time. I think some of the reason Nadab and Abihu did this is they simply forgot when/where they were supposed to offer incense.

I'm so thankful I live on this side of the cross, and I don't live under the sacrificial system. I'm grateful for Hebrew's 10:10, "For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time."

He fulfilled the law perfectly so I don't have to!

U2

The new U2 album drops on March 3rd in the U.S., but the album is available for free download at U2's website www.u2.com.In the meantime, below is a video from the band's performance in London of what I think is the best song on the album - Magnificent.

I've listened to the album 5 or 6 times and it keeps getting better and better. U2 continaully reinvents themselves so the sound on "No Line on the Horizon" isn't similar to a lot of U2 songs, although a lot of the signature hooks and riffs can be heard. If I had to pinpoint the sound, it reminds me of a lot of early stuff from Boy and October. Anyway, enjoy the video!

Willow Arts Conference 2009

Whatever you might think of Willow Creek, they value the role of the church, and want to train people to lead others and make the church all it can be. I love Bill Hybel's quote, "The local church is the hope of the world." I believe that to the core of my being, and believe we have the best news on earth in the good news of Jesus Christ. So to that end:

We are taking a team of 10 to the Arts Conference this year. I encourage you to check out their website, and if you can make it up to Chicago, it would be worth your time.

http://www.willowcreek.com/events/arts/2009/index.html

MLK Day

In honor of MLK day, thought I'd share one of Martin Luther King's quotes.

“If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the host of heaven will pause to say, 'There lived a great street sweeper who did his job well'."

New Creation

As the New Year begins I want to remind you that if you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you are a New Creation.

The Apostle Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:17-21:

17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Do you know what this means? This means that when you follow Jesus, you are a new person. The Holy Spirit lives inside of you and guides you. You are not a lowly sinner saved by grace (that's what we used to be), but you are a saint that sometimes sins.

As you begin this New Year, know that you are a New Creation. Know that when you decided to follow Jesus, you took on the following characteristics (compiled by Bob Warren in his Romans study):

• Crucified with Christ
• Not condemned
• Sealed in Him
• Holy and blameless before Him
• Raised up with Christ
• Forgiven
• Justified
• Glorified
• Perfected
• Complete
• In Christ
• Made a saint
• Washed
• Member of God's Household
• Citizen of Heaven
• Holy and beloved


In 2009, live knowing you are a New Creation. In Philippians 3:16, Paul tells us to "live up to what we have already attained." He is saying, you are a new creation, live like it!