Worship Fuels Worship

Steven Curtis Chapman came out with a fantastic song back in 2003 called "Moment Made for Worshipping." It's probably one of his lesser known tunes, but it's one of my favorites and is particularly speaking to me now. Here's the 1st verse and chorus:

6:30 Monday morning
I'm here hiding in my bed
A song plays on my alarm clock
As I cover up my head
But somewhere in the distance
I remember yesterday
Singing, "Hallelujah!"
Full of wonder, awe and praise
But now I'm must wondering
Why I don't feel anything at all

This is a moment made for worshipping
'Cause this is a moment I'm alive
This is a moment I was made to sing
A song of living sacrifice
For every moment that I live and breathe
This is a moment made for worshipping

It's funny how I so often associate worship with music. I understand that tendency, though. Worship music was the means God used to save me - wonderful moments of transcendence and awe, and radical desire to surrender my heart. This was my life as a young Christian. But, as we all know, the music eventually stops and we go about our daily lives. As I've had to learn over and over again (and am re-learning now), worship is not merely singing and lifting hands, but is clearly defined for us in Romans 12:1 - "...present your bodies as a living sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship."

Steven Curtis was on to something. In his song lyric, he reveals that he's like the rest of us, that though we all want those wonderful moments of transcendence to last, they don't. But what he says next is the best of all - "these moments are made for worship!" These moments are opportunities! So if worship is like what Paul is describing in Romans 12, then here's how I worship throughout the week:

• Doing the dishes
• Taking out the trash
• Waking up early with my 11-month old
• Cleaning the showers
• Sweeping and mopping the floors
• Changing diapers
• Opening up my home for a Bible study
• Giving my wife a back rub
• Getting in bed earlier than I want
• Choosing not to browse Facebook when I could watch television with my wife
• Giving the baby a bath and putting her to bed
• Taking the dog to the vet

Do you see a common denominator here? All of these are acts of self-sacrifice. I don't list these to pump myself up, because it's often that I don't do them with the best of motives. But the point is this: Jesus modeled this by washing the disciples' feet, and by doing the same, by serving and sacrificing our wills and wants, we are worshipping Him! Is this not what Jesus meant when He said, "He who loves his life loses it; and he who hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal"? Of course it is!

So to bring this full circle: I find in my own life that, when I am worshipping by sacrificing my wants and my life, my worship time at church is heightened. And the contrary is true when I'm not living this way. The reason Paul described worship as self-sacrifice is because that's how Jesus worshipped the Father. It's been modeled for us - the healings, the teaching, the patience with His disciples, the cross - what about Jesus' life was not self-sacrifice? Why should we lable worship as anything but self-sacrifice? And ultimately, the music portion in our church services is also an opportunity for self-sacrifice as well. It's in those times that the music and the lyrics can move us to surrender our wills, and hopefully, propel us to self-sacrifice during our week.

In the Same Way You Received Him...

"As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him..." Colossians 2:6

When I became a Christian around the age of 16, I listened to ALOT of Christian music. Passion, Hillsong, Paul Baloche, Clay Cross, Steven Curtis, you name it - I owned it. This was my milk: 3 ounces of Michael W. Smith, 3 ounces Caedmon's Call...full (can you tell I'm a new dad?). This is how I got my spiritual nourishment. Sure, I made attempts to read the Bible, but I didn't understand theology yet. Couldn't have told you what God's sovereignty was or how one sacrifice for sins was enough. Dare I say, I didn't need it just yet. The music I was listening to was enough.

I know some people might scoff at this and say, "If you can't communicate the gospel, then how could you be born again?" Sorry to disappoint, but I don't see it that way. As a matter of fact, I was more alive, more in awe, and more in love with God at that point in my life than ever before. Everything was new, everything was amazing. Even my poor attempts at reading the Bible left my heart overflowing. I look at my month-old baby girl now and think, "Does she know who her parents are? Could she communicate that we'll never leave or forsake her? Does she know that she belongs to us?" Of course not. I think God operates that way when we first become believers. He gives us life by the Spirit, and treats us like newborns for a time. He doesn't expect us to be able to communicate the meaning of life at that stage. We grasp it over time. But one thing we do know...we have new life and we're out of the womb.

I'm not downplaying the study of the Word. Let me be the first to say that Jesus is clear about our need for it (John 15:5). What I'm talking about is continuing to walk in the Lord Jesus in the same way you received Him. I need to keep listening to some of those songs I used to hear when I was a spiritual newborn. Not so I can backslide or get lazy, but so it can aid my current walk. Maybe some of you out there get a charge from reading and have to work harder at implementing the creative side of things like singing hymns or spiritual songs. Me? Listening to hymns and spiritual songs makes me want to read the Bible, so the more I implement those into my personal time with God, the sweeter the Words on the page sound.

I hope that each of you might remember what stirred up your affections for Jesus when you first believed, and that you might continue to implement it into your lives.

Being Like a Bride

It's pretty hard to miss all the bridal shows on television these days. My wife watches alot of them for fun. Unfortunately, I think alot of them are all about the event itself and not about what it should be - the union of a husband and a wife.

That being said, I do think there is something to be said about the way a bride is as she anticipates her wedding day. When Stacy and I were engaged, someone gave her a countdown timer that ticked away the days, hours and minutes. She spent hours looking at magazines and websites seeking to find the perfect flowers and bridesmaids dresses. She labored over the guest list and what kind of food was to be served at the reception. She even gave herself to reading and study of the Word so she could set her heart on God's will for marriage. From the time I popped the question until the day of our ceremony, Stacy's heart was set on the wedding. There was no doubting it. Her behavior showed it. Her heart showed it.

The wedding day was the best of all. Stacy spent hours putting on the finest makeup, fixing her hair, and putting on jewelry. The feast was prepared. The music was playing. The guests were present. When the doors to the back of the church flung open and all eyes were on her, there was no doubt in my mind that Stacy was ready for this day.

Don't you think when Jesus says, "Be on the alert...be ready," he's speaking in these terms? Isn't John on to something when he says in Revelation, "let us rejoice for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready"? The Church, the Bride of Christ, is called to "get ready" for the wedding day. Our salvation is the engagement ring. Our Christian life is the preparation for the wedding day. Shouldn't the reality of our engagement to the Perfect Husband leave us excited? Shouldn't we be hastening the day of His coming in our hearts? Shouldn't the reality of our engagement move us to gladly share it with others?

I pray God will help me to see my life in this way.

Don't Just Stare at the Words

The week before Stacy and I moved to Florida (January 2009), I had the neat opportunity to play piano for CJ Blount. Here's a great video of him doing a familiar tune "Hear Us From Heaven":



CJ was asked to assemble a worship band and lead music for a college-aged outreach event in Birmingham (more recent than the video above). If I wanted to make this post even longer, I would fill up some space ranting about how amazing the musicians in this band were, but I'll stick to my point. What was striking to me was that the students knew EVERY WORD of the songs we sang. As far as I can remember, there weren't any powerpoint lyrics, and there certainly weren't any bulletins. The students simply gathered around the stage area and sang every last word from memory. They seemed to all of a sudden forget their surroundings, or who might be watching - they lifted their hands, closed their eyes and enjoyed God.

This is my prayer for St. Andrews - that we enjoy God in our worship. One of the goals of our music team is to help create an "atmosphere" of worship, meaning that we want to prepare our music in such a way that it feels effortless for the congregation to enter in to worship. I want us to be able to worship God freely without worrying about what's proper or safe. I want each person in the pew to feel the freedom to sing for joy to God. Isn't that how David described his worship experience? "How lovely are they dwelling places, O Lord of hosts. My soul longs and even yearns for the courts of the Lord. My heart and flesh SING FOR JOY to the living God" (Psalm 84). Oh, how much more ready our hearts will be to hear the preaching of God's Word if we have entered into His presence from the very first note.

Don't worry - we won't force you to memorize all the lyrics or learn all new songs every week. But consider this: if you know the song...is there really a need to stare at the words? Don't be ashamed! Let your heart be captured by God in worship and let Him minister to you as you meditate on the lyrics. I promise you...it's a lot better than trying to be safe.

Isn't The Gospel Beautiful?

Lump from Emi Gheorghe on Vimeo.

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Karma vs. Grace

The following is a conversation that was recently shared between my pastor, TJ Campo, and a woman in Starbucks:

WOMAN: "Ah, I see you're reading a spiritual book. I'm really into spiritual things, especially karma."

TJ: "Actually, what I'm into is the opposite of karma."

WOMAN: "Oh really? What's that?"

TJ: "Grace."

Below is a note that TJ wrote on Facebook as a follow up to that conversation:

Comments on Karma, Grace and Sow OnShare. Today at 3:47pm
Beloved,

Karma is very different from the basic law of “every action has an equal and opposite reaction” – sure, Christians believe that if you eat too much, you’ll get fat and if you lie to people, you’ll lose your friends and if you care about people and help them, you’ll probably find friends and if you work hard you’ll probably get more money than people who don’t or can’t. That’s not Karma; it’s cause and effect. And there’s even a place in our thinking about God rewarding us (though, even that is all about grace). A few years ago I preached on the “sowing and reaping” passage and wondered if there was a connection to the previous verse (CONTEXT!!)
“And let the one who is taught the word share all good things with him who teaches. Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh shall from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit shall from the Spirit reap eternal life” Galatians 6.6-9

The idea is: you need someone to tell you the Good News over and over again (“him who teaches”) so take care of that person. If you invest your time in the Good News - hearing it, learning it, receiving it and believing it - it will bear fruit in your life. This isn’t Karma it’s grace received by faith.

Sorry to get all verbose on you but it really is THE big deal. All religion and human systems of morality are forms of Karma, quid-pro-quo (this for that – you do for God and then God responds by blessing you, saving you, protecting you). The Gospel turns that upside down – God raises you from the dead, gives you new life, a new destiny and you respond by walking toward that new destiny.

Hey, sometime read Martin Luther’s introduction to his commentary on Galatians; it’ll blow you away. Written 500 years ago, it still sounds so contemporary and relevant and LIBERATING! I guess that’s the thing: liberation. Karma imprisons people. In Hinduism people are imprisoned to the endless cycles of death and rebirth in reincarnation – the fruit of Karma. In all other religion people are trapped in fear (“If I’m honest I must admit that I don’t measure up to God’s expectations…I’ll be judged!”) or flight (“Forget God and morality – I’m my own judge – I live by my own standards – don’t judge me and I won’t judge you!”). Grace leads to liberation: “Cheer up – you’re more screwed up than you know and yet in trusting the doing and dying of Jesus, you’re more cherished, embraced and secure than you’ll ever imagine!”

TJ

(Here’s the commentary, Luther’s Introduction starts on p. xv -- http://books.google.com/books?id=ABjfNE4HzsIC&dq=luther+introduction+to+galatians&printsec=frontcover&source=bn&hl=en&ei=usFRTMjDBsSAlAfv5o3oBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CCQQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=luther%20introduction%20to%20galatians&f=false

(Here’s the topic addressed by a less-than-famous, modern theologian:
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/music/interviews/2005/bono-0805.html )

Have You Had Your Quiet Time Yet?

Seven years ago, I was sitting down with a group of men who were interviewing me to come on staff with their church as a part-time worship leader. I was a 20-year-old college student at the time. Due to the demands of being a music major, I turned down the offer, but one moment from that interview has stayed with me these past 7 years. A moment that has slowly evoled in my mind. During the interview, the pastor looked at me and said, "One thing we expect from you is that you be spending time with God." "Perfect!", I thought. "I'm a pro at that. I spend time with God every single day!" The pastor continued, "This can look several different ways, Rick. It can be anything from reading the Bible, spending time in prayer, or even listening to a few Christian songs that mean something to you." "WHAT! How dare he take personal devotions so lightly! There is one way and one way only to spend time with God! That's Bible and notebook open, mister! You can't spend time with God by just praying or listening to music! You gotta have the WORD!!!"

Fast-forward a few years. I'm tired of the same ol' routine of getting out my notebook and Bible. It's beginning to feel like homework. I'm struggling to believe that God isn't just a little frustrated with me because I missed a day or two. I want to revive my quiet time but am afraid to change my system. Was that pastor on to something?

As a church staff member, I spend 5 days a week in an environment where the Bible is constantly talked about. Every bit of work I do is centered around it. It's no wonder that after 4 1/2 years of being staffed in a church that my personal devotions begin to feel like an extension of my office hours. It's no wonder that my mind is looking to escape theology for a day or two. I think about it alot. I've found myself pondering that pastor's words more and more and more over the past few years, and I think I'm beginning to understand why he listed more than one option for spending time with God - you gotta keep it fresh.

I've always been a stickler about things. I find a system that works, and I stick with it. Yet, as I've stayed with the same system of quiet time over the years, I've found more and more that I wanted to change my approach, but was too afraid to do so. Why? Because when I was first shown how to have a quiet time, it was a 1-2-3 process, and it worked for me. Like I said, I'm a stickler, and you show me a system that works, and I'll stay with it. Yet over time, I grew bored with that method, but I stuck with it because "that's the way you're supposed to have your quiet time." But by God's grace, I'm beginning to see the benefit of switching things up a little. On those days where reading the Bible feels like pulling teeth, I can make a 5-song playlist on my iPod, close my eyes and listen. I'm much better off doing that then hurrying through a Bible passage and being frustrated the rest of the day. Oft times, worship/Christian songs help me desire God's Word again. Even fellowship with other believers can help me desire the Word. Jesus simply said, "Abide in me." While I still beleive that God's Word is the best way to abide in Jesus, I think He's also given us prayer, music and fellowship to help aid in that process.

Currently, I'm reading through 1 Samuel - no notebook or pencil. I love it.