to buy or not to buy

...this is the question:


Should I buy the new Chris Tomlin album or not?

On one hand, I truly appreciate what he has done for the Church. I really do. His gift for writing accessible melodies is undeniable. And he has used that gift to bless the Church time and again with great congregational choruses. Taking a page out of songwriter Andy Gullahorn's playbook, here is my hiaku about Chris Tomlin:

No one has done more
For the Lord
with four chords

And I know that within six months, I am going to have to be familiar with every song on this record because every worship leader at every church in the country is going to be introducing them to their congregations. So I feel like I should probably buy it.

But here is my dilemma:

1). I am too poor to buy every worship CD that the posters inside of Christian Bookstores tell me I should buy. I have to be picky.

2). My worship leading quiver is already over-stocked with gigantic, over-the-top choruses written by Tomlin. Do I really need any more?

3). One word: "Paaar-tay". Seriously, that song put me in a bad mood that took weeks to overcome. I almost gave up leading worship because of it.

4). I figure soon enough Michael W. Smith and Third Day will be on the radio covering the best songs off of this CD and by that time I'll know them by heart...for free.

So...there it is. It's not a big dilemma...but a dilemma it is nonetheless.

Should I buy the new Tomlin CD? I don't know.

(note: by the way, no disunity or denominationalism was intended in the writing of this post...just wanted to make that clear upfront.)

the times...they are a changin'

As I have posted about before, Betsy and I accepted a position with a church plant here in Knoxville. Consequently, this Sunday will be our last at our current church.

And, as if that alone wasn't eventful enough, Betsy and I will also be moving out of our apartment...this weekend.

These are a few of my LEAST favorite things...

...packing

...moving

...unpacking

This move, however, is very much a blessing. Actually, it is just one more in a long series of events, that some would have every right to call "coincidence", but I believe are evidence of God's hand being behind this next chapter of our lives. It is a long story, and I'm not sure I can divulge all the details, so just take my word for it: this move is absolutely a blessing.

But, it will also be quite sad to say good-bye to our apartment. Betsy and I have enjoyed living there the last 2 years. Why? Well, one reason is that picture in the upper right-hand corner. I took it from my deck about a week ago when the fleeting sun put an end to my evening enjoyment of Thomas Merton's Seven Storey Mountain.

I took this picture the next night. I really am going to miss that deck.

Actually, it is kind of a metaphor (albeit a very small one) for the church I am also moving away from. God has used both to reveal Himself to me in new and beautiful ways. And because of that I have grown immeasurably in both places. I have prayed, worshipped, and wrestled with God. I have spent invaluable time with friends. I've worked through many frustrations in both places and I've shared many laughs. I have been humbled. I have been overjoyed. I have learned new things and I have rediscovered old things. Both have shaped me. Both have moved me. Both are as comfortable and as familiar to me as an old friend.

And both are going to be incredibly hard to walk away from.

I thank God for my deck. Yeah, I may have another one in my future. But it will never replace my love for this one.

are you ready for some...church?

(note: This was e-mailed to me yesterday. It is from Acts 29 Network's blog. I thought it was amazing and wanted to share it with you. Enjoy.)

FANTASY CHURCH is a game in which players moderate imaginary denominations based on the real-life performance of churches and pastors, and compete against one another using those churches' statistics to score points. The most recent addition to the long list of fantasy activities (fantasy baseball, fantasy football, fantasy hockey, etc.), it is surely also the most exciting and the most edifying.

So why not form a league today and become President of your very own denomination!

RULES:
Each league will be overseen by a Presbyter who will act as commissioner and will form a league of between 8 and 14 players. At the beginning of the season each league will hold a draft. The Presbyter will provide to the players a list of churches which will serve as the pool of available churches. Players will choose churches from the available pool, taking into account a wide range of factors. Each team will draft a denomination of 8 churches. Each player must draft a denomination consisting of at least 2 Baptist churches, 2 Presbyterian churches, 2 Charismatic churches, 1 non-denominational church and 1 flex church (any denomination).

Each week teams will face off against each other in head-to-head match-ups. The team that collects the greatest number of wins at the end of the season will be declared the winner.

Points will be scored as per the chart below. At the conclusion of each Sunday, the league Presbyter will be responsible for collecting statistics from each church and providing these to the players. The Presbyter will tally the points and declare a winner in each of the games.

SCORING BREAKDOWN:
1. Teaching
Sermon length:
Under 15 minutes: 2 points
15 - 29 minutes: 3 points
30 - 44 minutes: 4 points
45 - 59 minutes: 5 points
60 - 89 minutes: 6 points
over 90 minutes (and people are still present): 10 points

Number of Bible translations used in the sermon:
0: -5 points
1: 10 points
2-4: 1 point
Over 5: -10 points

Original Languages:
1 point for each word provided in the original language
1 Bonus point if pronounced correctly

Sermon was previously preached by Rick Warren or Bill Hybels: -50 points
Sermon was previously preached by John MacArthur or John Piper: -3 points
Sermon was previously preached by Charles Spurgeon: +10 points

Sermon style:
Referring to "The Message" as a translation -100 points
Actually expositing a complete verse +5
Using the verse as a proof text -5
Using the verse as a launching pad -10
Using the verse incorrectly/out of context -15
Not using Scripture at all -100
Preaching about a nursery book -30
Preaching about a song -40
Preaching about a movie -50
Every time the pastor calls Jesus "dude" or "buddy" -50 points
-50 points if the pastor is wearing a Hawaiian shirt or shorts
-25 points if the pastor is sitting down while preaching

Multi-Media:
Sermon available online as free audio download: 2 points
Sermon available as a podcast: 3 points
Sermon available as a Vodcast: 5 points
-2 points each time the PowerPoint falls behind the song or sermon

2. Handouts:
Pastor provides a basic sermon outline: 2 points
Pastor provides a fill-in-the-blanks outline: -5 points
For every bulletin left over: -2 points
For every bulletin short: -1 point
Perfect bulletin count: priceless

3. Worship
Number of songs:
Under 4 songs: 2 points
5-7 songs: 5 points
8-11 songs: 0 points
Over 12 songs: -3 points

Number of instruments used:
Zero: 5 points
One: 2 points
Two to Four: 3 points
Five to Ten: 4 points
more than 10: -5 points

Ratio of hymns to contemporary songs:
1:1 = 4 points
2:1 = 3 points
1:3 = 2 points
1:4 = 1 point
0:1 = -2 points

Other:
-5 points for each time the worship pastor moans, "Mmmmmm. Thank you, Jesus."
-3 points for every time the worship leader says, “Can we get a hand clap for Jesus?”
-2 points for each use of a song currently on the Christian top-40
-4 points for each use of a song on the mainstream top-40
+6 points for each use of a U2 song
-50 points for use of the song "I Could Sing of Your Love Forever"
-10 points for making announcements in the middle of the worship service
+25 points Offers both wine & grape juice at communion

4. Decisions
Conversions:
4 points per conversion (as marked on an official communication card, indicated by a raised hand, or confirmed during an altar call)

Recommitments:
2 points per recommitment (as marked on an official communication card, indicated by a raised hand, or confirmed during an altar call)

Baptisms:
5 points per baptism

Ratio of Offering to Attendance:
Over $50:1 = 4 points
$25:1 = 2 points
$10:1 = 1 points
Under $1:1 = - 4 points (consider contacting the police)

5. Disqualification
A team may be disqualified for the week if either the church sells “You Best Life Now” books in the lobby or the Pastor makes an emotional reference to Joel Osteen!

o blessed fount

(click here to listen or download)

O blessed Fount of goodness and light
O blessed Sovereign, just and so right
O blessed Lord, reign over this life
O blessed God, O blessed King, O blessed Christ

Your mercy, like dew
falls fresh and new every morn
The sun, like Your grace
shines forth its rays, bright and warm

So my heart blooms and opens to You

O blessed Fount of goodness and light
O blessed Sovereign, just and so right
O blessed Lord, reign over this life
O blessed God, O blessed King, O blessed Christ

God, we seek Thee
for we need Thee
because in Thee
is all life and being

O blessed Fount of goodness and light
O blessed Sovereign, just and so right
O blessed Lord, reign over this life
O blessed God, O blessed King, O blessed Christ

Most songs have stories that run deeper than the lyrics and melody. Stories of the inspiration that gave life to the song. I find it important that we share those stories, which is one reason I created this blog.

I wrote this song last March. I had been wanting to write a song that was simple in thought, but rich in poetry (at least by my standards and abilities). I was reading A.W. Tozer's Knowledge of the Holy, which is quite heavy in its theology. And because of that, the last few songs I had written were very wordy and informative. They had decent melodies and they even rhymed. But they lacked the rhythm and imagery that makes poetry...poetry.

Well, one morning while walking to my car, I noticed my shoes were soaked. Now, my shoes getting wet or dirty is one of my biggest pet peeves in life. Don't ask me why, because I don't know why. But its true. After my initial rage cooled down, I began to wonder to myself, "what in the heck is up with dew." All day long, I was either sitting at my desk or driving my car, off in my own little world thinking, "It is never there when I get home at night. Yet it is always there when leave in the morning. It doesn't come from rain or snow or sleet or hail...yet it has to be some form of precipitation."

That night, my wife had just gone to bed and I was sitting on the couch still pondering the mystery that is dew. By this point I had moved away from trying to understand the "what" of dew and was now contemplating the "why" of dew. See, we get a lot it here in East Tennessee. And I think that is a big reason why everything is so green and lush. That morning dew, even though it often angers me by getting my shoes wet, is vital to the beauty and abundance of the natural life here in Knoxville. I soon made the leap over to what is vital to the beauty and abundance of our spiritual lives, grabbed my guitar and began writing this song.

It is a simple song of praise to our good and Sovereign God.

want to win $500?

As I have previously mentioned, Betsy and I are going to be part of a church plant that is launching this February here in Knoxville. Last week, the plant's lead team finally settled on a name. However, now we need a logo.

This is where you (...and the $500) come in.

We are having a contest to see who can design the best logo. We are accepting submissions for the next few weeks and the winning entry will receive $500 cash.

Here are a few good things to know:

1) the name of the church is Crossings
2) this is why we choose the name Crossings
3) we are looking for something simple, clean...think Apple computers
4) well...I can't really think of a fourth point, but there is some legal lingo that you might want to peruse. The language is foreign to me, but I'm sure you graphic design people will understand it...so here you go:

JPGs and PDFs (no larger than 1M please) will be accepted for initial concepts, but winning logo will need to be submitted in EPS vector file format which permits usage of elements separately. Submissions must include both color and black and white versions. $500 award will be paid directly to the selected artist, upon which time Crossings will own unlimited usage rights ad infinitum. Award will be paid after delivery of final artwork on CD and usability of said artwork has been confirmed. Any similarity between selected design and other submitted designs is coincidental; only the winning artist will be paid for their submission, regardless of how similar another artist's submission may be. By submitting a design, the submitter agrees to these stipulations in their entirety.

Send your submissions to markrobertnelson@gmail.com. The deadline is October 4th, so you've got a couple weeks to play around. Have fun.

simple math

boredom + iphotobooth + really late at night = this

...and this and this and this and this.

(Is it just me, or does that last guy look like the jerk everybody pretended to like because he was popular but secretly hated in highschool?)

these are a few of my favorite things

...thunderstorms

...sweet tea

...country roads

...empty interstates

...disc golf

...old books

...those sugary, colored mint things at wedding receptions

...fall colors

...the smell of pipe tobacco

...a great melody

...my deck

...sunsets

...watching highschool football

...watching college football

...watching professional football

...Starbucks (a lot of milk, a lot of sugar, a little coffee...perfect)

...my wife's laugh

...grilling any kind of meat

...eating the meat I just grilled

...story songs

...playing games (dominos, cards, darts, foosball...the list goes on)

...Diet Mountain Dew

...playing old, slightly out-of-tune, upright pianos

...smart little kids

...rooting for the under-dog

...spending time with my family

...Tennessee Orange

...a really great quote

...getting up early

...staying up late

...being with my wife and having nothing to do

...cheese

...friends

...realizing I went a whole day without watching tv

...the wisdom of grandparents

...traveling

...remembering awkward moments

...watching deer, birds, rabbits, etc. from my office window

...the sound of lawnmowers

...the smell of rain

...people with accents

...butterscotch anything

...laughter

God, thank you for the all Your little blessings. All that we take for granted, look past, forget, or miss because we are too busy. You have breathed Your life into the world around us. You have made every inch of earth sacred and every moment of life holy. It is we who screw it up. We are the ones bathing in your beauty and grace, yet wondering aloud where You might be. You are here. You are now. And You are good. May we remember that. And may we never cease in giving you thanks and praise.

and the dance goes on

This past Sunday I officially resigned from my position as Worship Minister at church (which, by the way, has nothing to do with my previous post). The reason being I have the opportunity to be a part of a church plant that will be launching this February here in Knoxville.

(note: If you are like me, you are probably thinking to yourself, "Does Knoxville really need another church?" The answer: No. Absolutely not. But I do believe that Knoxville needs another kind of church...and that is what we are striving for with this plant. There is a gaping hole in the Church right now. You could put numbers around it and say it is the 18-35 year olds, but I don't think it is that clearly defined. Simply, there are people who are open to Jesus and faith and spirituality and all that Christianity truly stands for...but who are turned off by everything they perceive about the Church. We are hoping to connect these people.)

Saying good-bye is always hard (and...cue Boyz II Men). Especially when stepping into something so unknown. I never saw myself planting a church. I never saw myself having to raise my own support. I never saw myself doing something that took this much...faith. There are so many unknowns, so many things completely out of my hands. The one thing I do know, however, is that my wife and I have prayed a lot about this and we are confident, not only that we are currently being called to this church plant, but also we are confident that much of what we have experienced and done as a couple thus far in our marriage has been preparing for this move.

This story comes to mind:

My wife and I have a friend who recently began taking swing-dancing classes. She showed up to her first class nervous and unsure of why she was even there in the first place. Immediately the class broke off into pairs, one guy and one girl. Not knowing any of the men in the class, she watched everyone else laughing and pairing up while she stood to the side hoping someone would soon approach her. Sure enough, a young man walked up and asked her if she wanted to dance. She responded, “Okay. But this is my first time here and I have no clue how to swing dance.” He said, “Don’t worry. You’re going do great, trust me.” She then asked him, “How? I don’t know any of the steps.” He replied, “You don’t have to know the steps. Just follow me and enjoy the dance.”

We don’t know why God has led us along each of the steps He has. Some of the steps have felt awkward and uncomfortable, while others have felt so right that we’d have been okay if the dance just ended there. But this dance is bigger than any of us can comprehend. And while we are in many ways unsure of what this next step will become, we trust absolutely the One who is leading.

acoustic guitar for sale

Sometimes I wish I worked at a non-instrumental church. There you just pick up the hymnals and sing. No guitars or drums or complicated sound systems with the potential for distraction. Just our hearts and our voices joining together in word and melody to bring pleasure and honor to God.

Excellence would certainly be an easier pursuit in that environment.

Would it get boring? Yeah. Probably just about as boring as I often think all the hip and rocking worship stuff gets.

I don't know. I just feel like Bon Jovi sometimes.

"No...guys, the chorus needs to be WAY bigger. And the hook has to be more prominent." "Maybe we drop out on the third chorus and have just voices and hand-clapping, then come back in with an even bigger chorus."

It can feel so manufactured and produced...like Monster Worship Ballads.

But despite all of that, I know that leading contemporary worship with a band is no different than leading traditional music at a non-instrumental church. The goal is authenticity. To lead the congregation past "Sunday Morning Sing-a-long Time" and help them wrap their hearts around the Truth expressed in each song. For them to take the words on screen (or in print) and make them the prayer of their hearts. To lift high the Name of Christ, which is the salvation of the world. To adore, fear and be consumed by an awesome God. And to seek a real and holy encounter with Him, through His Holy Spirit, Who takes our songs to the throne of the Father and interprets our tiny, little melodies as songs of worship and praise.

To find our collective and individual joy and identity in making a big deal about God.

That is why I lead worship.

And however we go about doing that...as long as that is the goal...is fine. Guitars and sound systems are not inherently good or bad. They are neutral. And quite frankly, I rather enjoy leading worship using all of that extra stuff. When it is with a band that clicks well together and I'm not constantly thinking, "If I repeat this chorus instead of going to the bridge are they going to follow?" or "I sure hope so-and-so nails the intro hook to the next song." or "Why isn't so-and-so building up to that last chorus?"

When I can focus on actually leading worship instead of a band...well yeah, I absolutely love that.

So, ultimately, do I really want to abandon my trusty acoustic for a more minimalist approach to leading worship?

On days when I break a string in the middle of the first song of the set...yes.

On days when one of the musicians cancels last minute and I'm stuck searching for a drummer at 11:30 on a Saturday night...yes.

On days when the electric player starts the song in 6/8 and the drummer comes in in 4/4...yes.

And on the days when every one of these things happens (as it did yesterday) within the same service...absolutely.

The rest of the time...nah, not so much.

So, please forgive me. I guess I just needed to express my frustrations, give voice to my cynicism and openly pine for greener pastures, in order to get back to the reason of why I do what I do.

Oh...God bless blogs, huh?

my new favorite picture

This picture was in the New York Times:


Yes...if you are wondering...that is rap diva Lil' Kim.

And yes, that is a copy of Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Life in her hands.