Be Quiet

This morning as I look out the window of my office (I can see everything from the second story), I can’t help but notice how quiet it is. Not only is there no discernable traffic, construction, or even wind from the other side of the window, the building is even quiet on the inside.

It is 7:40am – and I am alone in this amazing building. I love being here early. There is something so nice about being quiet, in a church, before the crazy world begins to buzz.

If you know me, you know I love people…and talking. My cell phone minutes are usually double or triple that of my wife. I’m not good at sitting still – and I’m not good at being quiet – especially when I know there are people around to talk to.

The balance for me is this time by myself. I enjoy my morning routine of getting my girls off to school– and coming into work around 7:30, before everyone else arrives. I can think – and sit in the middle of my music books, devotionals, and perch above Springfield to just look, be quiet, and think.

There is something about quiet that also brings gratitude. It’s hard to look out of a window and not see something in Creation (if not all of it) and breathe a quiet “thank you” to God. Psalm 46: 10a says, “Be still and know that I am God.” I think we often overuse that passage to talk about patience or perhaps we misinterpret it to mean idleness --- but the instruction to “be still” is still a good one. Reframing it as a question may be helpful. Can I know God if I am not still?

Can I listen if I am not still?

Maybe – but I know it is a lot easier to hear and focus when I still and prepare myself.

I have to admit that I am not always ready to listen. I like things my way. (I’m certain this revelation is shocking to absolutely no one.) In this season, I'm learning to be still and quiet…and grateful. 

There used to be an amazing tree outside of my office window. It was huge, with winding branches, a massive trunk, and picturesque moss hanging nearly to the ground. The tree was so “Savannah” that Katie and I were quite taken with it when we first visited the church. Once I was hired – and Katie saw my office – she described it as a “tree house” since it was nearly in the branches.

Every day I could look through the shade of this tree – and see all sorts of birds and squirrels – as well as the rest of the world framed through distinct bark, moss, and leaves.

The tree was removed a few months ago. Apparently it was dead on the inside (a metaphor for another time). It occurs to me this morning that I never really thanked God for that tree, or the unique view through my window. Perhaps I should have been still…

The thing I am aware of this morning – is that God is listening. My solitude and pause gives both of us a time to listen to one another – and just be.

Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know that He is faithful
Consider all that he has done
Stand in awe and be amazed
And know that He will never change
Be still
-          Steven Curtis Chapman

I wonder what is outside your window this morning. Write to me in the comment box below – and let me know about your picture into God’s world.
-Tommy

Be Still Music Video

Little Church....Big Heart

Yesterday, as with every Sunday, I had the opportunity to be part of two worship services.  And, as always, both were very different.  I led a blended style service at my church (Springfield UMC) and then I was invited to participate at the 225th Anniversary of Turkey Branch UMC (a church that years ago was part of a charge with Springfield UMC).  Both services were awesome.  Both were very different.

While I love Springfield UMC, being at Turkey Branch UMC made me miss the community and fellowship of a small church.  There is something to be said for a smaller church, a church where everyone helps out. It is hard to be pretentious when there are regularly 25 in the congregation. The goal, when your church is tucked away and comprised of a few families, is less about mimicking the movement of big churches – or riding the trends of popular Christianity – and more about nurture, depth of spiritual maturity, and honesty in worship. At Turkey Branch, there doesn’t seem to be anyone on “show” – or who is trying to use words that will impress – instead of edify, insult or belittle – instead of encourage.

Turkey Branch is full of people who are simply showing up, serving God, and worshipping simply week after week.

I have to admit that sometimes I like to be on show.  I love to play the piano and then have people clap or tell me how much they loved it.  It is a boost.  But is it the right boost?  Is it the kind of boost that I really need?

I’ll answer the question for you. No.

Applause and compliments are empty – if they do anything more than affirm our God-giftedness and rightness in calling. I have a longing to be “right” and “talented” and “important” in my work – and all of those desperate hopes point to my flesh.

Affirmation is important. We need to affirm one another in our work. God is pleased when we use our talents, positions, words, and opportunities to glorify him. We should see that in one another and speak to it. But the goal of our work should be to please God.

Conceit and position is a plague in the church. There will never be true revival until the blowhards in the church get out of the way.

I can be a blowhard. You probably can too. We need to get out of one another’s way – and mostly we need to stop hindering the work God is doing. We need to stop attracting people to us – but rather attract people to Christ.

Quit church? No.

Recommit ourselves to serving – and doing church simply – whether we are big or small, urban or suburban – or even in the middle of the words in rural South Georgia.

Let’s attract people because of our authenticity.

Turkey Branch has it right in many ways.  They are not showing off.  They are committed to serving God, their church, and others.  They are committed even with 15 or 20 people each week because they get it.  They get that it doesn't take programs or the best music or flashy new gimmicks - it takes heart...a big heart.  A heart with service. A heart with compassion.  A heart for Christ. 

I want to get it.  I want to be in a simple place (spiritually) where I am not consumed with how many folks I can impress today.  It's hard.  We measure our church success with how many attended today.  How many people are coming to programs and how can we fill our church before the others fill theirs.  How many big words can we say? How many big gimmicks can we use to lure people in? What is my title and do other people recognize my importance?

Our mission is to attract people to Christ – and that means that our churches should be growing. As Bishop King said today in his sermon at Turkey Branch’s celebration, “We need to keep moving.”

As we move – we just need to check the reflection of our movement and make sure it isn’t only ourselves we are seeing in the picture.

Congratulations to the people of Turkey Branch for 225 years of ministry. Who knows how many lives have been changed because of your ministry? Thanks for including me in the celebration. I am humbled – and look forward to seeing all that you accomplish for Christ in the next 225 years…

Personal Challenge:

Accept affirmation – and genuinely work to be an authentic Christian leader.

Leading Coporate Worship

Below is an article from theworshipcommunity.com. I've selected several of the top ten tips for worship leaders that I think pertain to all of us. What do you think? I would love to hear your reaction by commenting below. (This article especially pertains to the Praise Band, but could also apply to the other choirs in many ways.)

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If you’ve ever seen a group of children perform a song for a gathering of parents and spectators, you’ve seen the teacher or leader who places his or herself directly in their line of vision and proceeds to mouth (very clearly and expressively) every word and indicate every gesture at the appropriate time so that the children can follow along and all look like they know what their doing.


That is exactly our “job” as worship leaders! We’re the coaches, the cue card holders, the kind gentleman in Pretty Woman who discreetly aids a befuddled Julia Roberts’ character in choosing the right fork for the dinner course at a fancy restaurant.

As worship leaders (or lead worshippers, if you prefer), our purpose is not to model a personal worship experience on stage. It’s not even most importantly to perform well. It is to facilitate corporate worship—to enable all present to participate and engage in what is going on and to point them to the truth of the Gospel. When we remember that our role on stage is primarily one of servant leadership, that it is not about us and what we do but about the people of God gathered, we are freed to serve and lead well.

So, here are some general tips for those of us who serve and lead from the stage:

1) Watch what you do. Be (or become) aware of your body language and gestures. If you can, have someone take a video of you leading worship so that you can observe yourself and see what you might be doing, consciously or unconsciously, that is awkward, distracting or helpful. Our body language and gestures should be natural, relaxed and appropriate. Remember that you are seeking to invite and enable the congregation as a whole to engage and participate in what is going on, not to be the poster child for how a person “should” look when worshipping. Carefully consider whether what you would normally do in private worship or as a participant in the congregation–or even what you do naturally when you hear music–will be more helpful or distracting when leading from the stage.

2) Keep your eyes open. Watch the congregation. Shocking, I know. In order to lead well, however, you need to know what’s going on around you. You may notice that people aren’t singing along, but rather look confused or perplexed (or bored). Hmm…maybe they don’t know the song? Maybe they don’t know they’re supposed to be singing? You can invite them to sing with a statement like, “Now that you know it, let’s sing that again together,” or simply ”Let’s sing that truth/prayer together again.” You have not only let them know that participation is encouraged and expected, but you’ve pointed them to the content and substance of what is going on.

3) Sing it like you mean it. Sing clearly and in such a way that people can easily sing along with you. We’re not being good leaders if people can’t follow! Reflect on and give an appropriate facial or bodily response to the words we sing. The intent is not that we “act out” each song we sing, but rather show, by our expressions and actions, that we understand and agree with what we’re singing. If a song is joyful, smile! When singing a true statement about God, I will often affirm and agree with the statement by nodding my head as I sing that line.  When singing a truth about our hearts, I often indicate that by placing my hand over my heart. When we lead songs, we are proclaiming that truth (telling that “story”) to everyone there gathered, inviting them in to sing it and realize what we’re saying with us. You can do this well without being overly emotional, dramatic or distracting.

7) Get engaged. As I’ve mentioned, our primary role is to facilitate and enable people to engage and participate in what is going on in the corporate worship service. We’ve talked about a few ways to do (and not do) this when leading songs and readings. One big factor in on-stage presence is what we’re doing when the focus is not on us. People can still see you, and they are watching you if you’re on stage. At our church, we often have a liturgist do the readings in between songs. During those times, it’s crucial that those who are on stage, even if they’re not talking or playing, model what it means to be engaged in what is going on. If someone else on stage is talking or reading, turn your body and your head towards them. Listen to what they are saying. React appropriately. You are leading even in those moments.   

8) Listen to your mom. And what did she always say? “Practice, practice, practice,” right? Yep. One of the best ways to look and feel comfortable and relaxed and engaging on stage is to know what you’re doing. Learn the words and music to the songs so you can look up from the page and establish eye contact with the congregation. Practice your readings out loud several times so that you are familiar with all the words before the service. Run through the order of the set and service as a team before going up on stage so that everyone knows what’s happening when and where. 

9) Embrace imperfection. Whoa! That caught your attention, huh? What I mean is that, when it comes to worship leadership and serving the Church–much like anything else we attempt to do–perfection is rarely possible and certainly not our ultimate goal. The unexpected and unfortunate will happen. No matter how much we practice, we will forget lyrics. We will stumble over phrases. We will feel and look awkward. But, you know what? More often than not, those imperfections can serve as a gentle reminder to us and everyone else that what we’re doing is not a performance to entertain and wow, but rather the people of the Lord living and worshipping together as family. Our congregations are not crowds and audiences to be impressed. Be humbled by that. Be freed by that!

10) Pray. If it’s a day ending in “y”, then it’s a day in which you’ve experienced the pervasive power of sin in your own heart and mind. We customarily and easily fall into thinking more about ourselves than those we serve. We want to be admired and respected and affirmed and praised for what we do and how we do it. We want to shine. We want things to go smoothly, to feel in control, to avoid conflict and evade embarrassment. We are obsessive and fearful and insecure and prideful. So we must pray. Grow ever quicker to acknowledge and confess your sin before the Lord and those who hold you accountable. Ask the Lord to make you useful to Him in ministry. Ask Him for wisdom and guidance in how to love and lead His people well. Pray for and cultivate a humble, teachable heart to learn from those who give you feedback and serve as mentors. Pray for those you serve, and those with whom you lead. Pray together faithfully as a team.

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Which of these resonates the most with you? Is one your tendency or pet peeve?

What are some other tips or suggestions you would offer to your fellow worship leaders?

Post your thoughts below!
-Tommy

I Like To Be Naked

Do I have your attention? 
I bet I do. 

Well, it's not what you think.  But, I have found out that I do enjoy being naked....before God.  It has been a long process for me.  I have never really tried to be naked (vulnerable) before God.  As I stated in my last post, I have become an expert at playing church. I didn't realize what real living was until I became naked before God, someone with all my faults, failures, and craziness hanging out before a God that already knows what they are.

It is crazy - and unbelievably prideful - for us to think that we can fool God. To play church (in and out of the sanctuary) does damage to our relationship with God. More than that, scripture tells us that God will harshly deal with Christian leaders who misuse their positions. I don't think that warning is just for pastors or church employees. Anyone who is a Christian, is a minister - and when we misuse our positions within the church - or we stand on our Christian soapboxes to do anything but point people to God - we are in danger. Miracles were performed by Jesus in many cities where people were unrepenant. "Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. 'Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida'" (Matthew 2:11:20-21).

We have received grace; we have been forgiven by God (and probably man) - so we have received a miracle - and yet we continue in behaviors that do not glorify God -- but rather us.

“Under the plan God has ordained for the church, leadership is a position of humble, loving service. Church leadership is ministry, not management. Those whom God designates as leaders are called not to be governing monarchs, but humble slaves; not slick celebrities, but laboring servants. Those who would lead God's people must above all exemplify sacrifice, devotion, submission, and lowliness. Jesus Himself gave us the pattern when He stooped to wash His disciples' feet, a task that was customarily done by the lowest of slaves (John 13). If the Lord of the universe would do that, no church leader has a right to think of himself as a bigwig” (Wanted: A Few Good Shepherds (Must Know How to Wash Feet) by John MacArthur).

Working for the church, I often hear people say to me, "Now, I 'm not complaining, but...," or "I'm living in the will, or I'm doing the work of God, I can't understand why these others don't get it." Others? Gosh, why are we looking at others with such disdain and not looking inside us? I am guilty of this too. My Christian platform has often been misused to simply get what I want. My guess is that the same goes for you.

Looking around, I fear that there are many of us who shouldn't be spokespeople for God in our current condition. If anger, retribution, judgment, negative energy, and gossip are our responses to not getting something "our" way in the church --- then I think we are missing the mark. If our response to one negative comment, or one person who makes a suggestion we dislike, or one person doing church a different way than we do --- is to blow our horn loud enough and long enough that other people give in - then we are missing the mark. How dare we blow our horns for any other purpose than to glorify a God who has made us, chosen us, forgiven us, and strengthened us --- despite ourselves. How dare we?

We do have differences in the church. Some of our disagreements are on big social issues that make the news and what scripture has to say, some of our disagreements are about smaller things like what worship should look like at SUMC -- including the furniture! :-) But in all things we should agree on a few "non-negotiables" as my wife would say. She often asks her small group members at the end of an intense discussion or study, "What do we know for sure?" The answers almost always have to do with the essense of who God is - and who he says we are. And that is unifying. We are allowed to disagree, to challenge, and to be challenged - but all of it should be done while assuming the best about one another - and recognizing the work God is doing through other people too.

We need to not get angry and pull away from or mistreat God - or the people he has placed us with.

I feel myself growing and changing through this season. I'm seeing myself for who I am --- probably for the first time in my life. I'm learning to get naked before a God - who has seen it all in the first place. The difference now - is that my offering of nakedness before God doesn't involve shame or fear -- but the simple reality that this is who I am -- and I need help. Maybe we should all be like Naaman in Second Kings 5, and dip in the Jordan seven times. Maybe just maybe that would help us really be cleansed and reflect ho

w much more life can be if we strip off the old and put on a new attitude.

My naked challenge this week:

Get rid of sorrow and put on joy.

                                                                         

                      

 

Because I Have Been Given Much

What is it that makes us worship?  Is it the need to give love in response to how loved we feel? Vice versa? Do we worship because that's what we do in our culture? Nice, good people go to church, and serve on committees - and so you do too? I Chronicles 16 states in verse 29a,  "Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name." Do you notice the usage of the words? "Due" means what he already deserves; it is what He is worthy of and nothing less.

I am very guilty of coming to worship with a sour taste in my mouth.  I have often "done" church - instead of "lived" it. But worship is not a concert or a performance. I strongly dislike when choir or praise band members refer to our work as a "performance." I understand the idea - but our offering is no different that that of committee leaders, ushers, or Sunday School teachers. We are all using our gifts as offerings to God. When we are doing what we do for the glory of God - the attitude should be that of gratitude, respect, and joy. We worship because we are commanded to.  God has given us so much and yet we return little.  There is a hymn called "Because I Have Been Given Much." The first stanza says: "Because I have been given much I too must give.  Because of Thy great bounty Lord, each day I Live. I shall divide my gifts from Thee with every brother (sister) that I see who has the need of help from me." What beautiful and humbling words. I want to be that help to someone. I want my worship to be the help someone needs -- and my music is simply the vehicle that helps them to see my heart. I want my life to be someone's help - not because I am great or my words/talent are great, but because my attitude and actions reflect the greatness of God.

I am a guy on a journey. A journey to somewhere great. I hope you are too. We worship each week because we are on that journey to find and know better the heart and mind of Christ. Let your life give much back to God, your family, friends, and others that you see.  Here are the rest of the words to that great hymn: 

Because I have been sheltered, fed by Thy good care
I cannot see anothers lack and I not share.
My glowing fire, my loaf of bread-my roof's safe shelter over head,
that he too may be comforted.

Because I have been blessed by thy great love dear Lord,
I'll share Thy love again according to Thy word.
I shall give love to those in need, I'll show that love by word and deed,
thus shall my thanks be thanks indeed.