i think i know who you're looking for...

My good friend Dustin (www.dustball.blogspot.com) has recently posted some job descriptions of various minstry positions he was searching for on the web. I am not looking to leave to the church I am currently serving with, but from time to time I like to check out what other ministry positions are available out there (usually on Monday mornings). I came across this one and thought you all might find it as absurd as I did. I'll let you know my thoughts after you read it:

Denomination: Non-Denominational
Worship Style: Blended
Church Size: 3001 to 4000
Job Status: Full Time

Job Description:
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
Responsible for ushering in an atmosphere of worship and devotion to God during all services. Establish an anointed and award-winning worship team that attracts people of all nations to proclaim Jesus as their Savior. Administer and oversee all aspects of the Music and Worship Ministry including singers, band and sound. Create song sets for services, oversees recruitment, scheduling and training of all team members, introduce new and original music, and sets planning goals and budget to bring a unique and beautiful sound for worship and excellent sound quality for the ministry teaching.

JOB DUTIES/WORK REQUIREMENTS:
• Organize an anointed music team
• Create and record original music for the ministry
• Recruit, develop and maintain a pool of trained musicians and singers
• Capture the vision in all aspects of the music ministry
• Oversee scheduling and reporting
• Develop and maintain a training and development program
• Create song sets for each service that work for that congregation and assigns song leaders to each song, musical keys, etc.
• Evaluate, recommend and implement improvements for all services
• Administer key communication, new song lyrics and CDs, monthly calendars and schedules to entire team
• Schedule and coordinate sound needs and musical needs for special conferences, weddings, funerals, and other misc. meetings
• Assist with special event planning for the church

SKILLS NEEDED:
• Trained and experienced musician and worship Leader
• Excellent administrative and organizational skills
• Producing and Recording experience preferred
• Willingness to flow with type of music and sound consistent with the vision of the ministry
• Understanding of Biblical worship
• Computer skills


First of all, I love that it would be my responsiblity to "usher in an atmosphere of worship and devotion to God during all services". What is this atmosphere you speak of? That seems a little vague. Is it one where people have their eyes closed and their hands raised? And how exactly does this ushering process work? Is it not the responsibility of all of us to be devoted to and worship God individually thoughout the week? And if the people of your church aren't already devoted and worshipping, how do I usher them into such an atmosphere in just one hour? Dim the lights? Play cool video backgrounds? Having the stage lighting wax and wane with the dynamics of the music? Yeah, I can do all that...but is that an atmosphere of worship and devotion?

My favorite part, was the "anointed and awarding winning worship team" that I would be responsible for establishing. Anointed? Can I establish that? Isn't that a Holy Spirit thing? I can lead our worship team in humbling ourselves and earnestly seeking the anointing of the Spirit. That is something we can do...asking and praying for the anointing. But I gotta think that it is the Holy Spirit who will be doing establishing. That is just completely out of our hands. Secondly, there is the award winning thing. Really? Seriously? Well, exactly whose award are we trying to win? I could probably get my buddy Gunnar to give us an award. A cool blue-ribbon that says, "First Place for Best Worship Team in the World". Would that suffice? And aren't awards for anything worship related a bit ironic and inappropriate in the first place? What about just focusing on bringing authentic praise that pleases the heart of God? Should we not be a little concerned with that. No? Its just got to be award winning? Okay.

Finally, I like that under "Skills Needed" having an understanding of Biblical worship is under producing and recording experience and just above computer skills. At least they have priorities.

Well, I believe I know who this church is looking for. And I think, I think she is already hired at another church. Somewhere in Australia maybe. Well, hey if you can't get Darlene...maybe Israel Houghton is available.

pop culture musings

My wife and I saw “End of the Spear” last week. I must admit, I was pleasantly surprised. It definitely was not the most technically sound movie I’ve ever seen (the editing was often awkward), but the acting was solid, and the story and scenery were quite compelling. I don’t cry a whole lot at movies (unless it involves a guy and a girl in the front of an imminently doomed boat kissing as the sun sets in the background), but I did cry during the final sequence of this movie. It was very powerful. And the real footage that rolls during the credits is incredibly moving having just watched what took place during the characters’ lives. This is a great story and a very good movie.

I find it interesting, however, that if it weren’t for my wife, I wouldn’t have even known that this movie existed. Why is it that Christians felt the need to cause such a media storm over a horribly produced TV series that wasn’t worth the six episodes green lighted by NBC in the first place (“The Book of Daniel”) and did nothing to create publicity for a good movie with such a positive message (“End of the Spear”)? Why is that? I don’t have the answer, but I do think it is a shame.

Since I mentioned “The Book of Daniel”, I find it necessary to admit that I did watch the first two episodes. To be honest, I thought the scenes with Jesus were excellent. Now, the costume and beard that the actor who played Jesus wore were cheap and stereotypically silly. But the scenes were well written and I like the way Jesus was portrayed. Was it accurate? Probably not…I don’t know. But I thought its take on how Jesus responds and interacts with his screwed-up and confused children (which is every single one of us, in case we have forgotten) was refreshing. Beyond that, though, the show was a joke. No where near worth the hype and publicity it received.

Finally, I want to address Kanye West. As you can see from this Rolling Stones cover above, he is at it again. Is this offensive? Maybe if you are Mel Gibson. I don't think that it is. But I do think that Kanye West is a fool. Granted he is an ambitious and very talented fool, but a fool nonetheless. How can anyone take him seriously? His statements and actions are always ignorant, shallow, and completely self-promoting. They are more contrived than controversial. But, with that said, I must give kudos to the guy because he is definitely effective at creating a buzz for himself by stirring up controversy. Of course…so was that gay Teletubby, so I don’t know how impressive a feat that really is.

just one more example

Again, I have proven myself to be very inept at this whole blogging thing. I started the post 'gladness divine' on friday, but I didn't finish it until today. In the meantime, I posted 'wishful thinking' on Sunday. When I published 'gladness divine' today, it appeared below 'wishful thinking'. Why? I guess because I started it first. I don't think that should matter, but apparently it does. Oh well. So to those of you wondering if I've posted anything new today: the answer is yes, despite what my site tells you.

wishful thinking

This is a very insightful comment I recieved to one of my previous posts: 'where is the line'.

"I don't think Paul was satisfied with his churches. Christ often had to correct His followers. One of His disciples even got Him killed. If their churches weren't up to snuff, why should ours be any different?Maybe it's not up to us to change the church--even if we're pastors. Our calling is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourself...and that's more than enough to occupy our existence. Constantly shepherding our own wayward hearts back to the Father is the best we can do, and certainly seems to be more than I can accomplish. 'What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord!'"

"I'm talking to myself as much as you, when I say, "I think we should forget about trying to change anyone else, much less any institution." If we focus our attention constantly on the author and finisher of our faith, we will accomplish all that we are meant to in this life. The hard part, of course, is in constantly putting Christ at the center of our attention." - Cody


Great stuff. I am in full agreeance with these comments. I often feel like the issues I have with the church exist because I want it to be doing the things I know that I should be doing, but am not. As an individual, deep down I know that I don't care enough about the poor, so I am upset with the church, as an institution, for not doing more to help them. It is hypocritical and I acknowledge that. I'm sure this is wishful thinking, but maybe when I am calling for reform in the church the underlying truth is that I am really calling for it in me and that truth, though subconscious and unintentional, is what spurs me on and 'shepherds my wayward heart' back to God. Maybe. I hope so.

I believe it was Augustine that said, "The church is a whore, and she is my mother." She is my mother and the resemblance is remarkable.

(Cody is a fellow blogger and his site is definately worth checking out: cblair.blogspot.com)

gladness divine

(listen to this song at www.myspace.com/billwolfworship)

O Great Delight
God's lone Son, my blessed Christ
Gladness Divine
The Risen Victor enthroned on high ... O Great Delight

I've found Treasure, I've found Truth
O the sweet pleasure I've found in You
The Royalty of the universe
The Mystery of my heart's searching
O Great Delight ... Gladness Divine

O Great Delight
God's lone Son, forever reigning
Gladness Divine
The Father's joy never waning ... O Great Delight

I've found Treasure, I've found Truth
O the sweet pleasure I've found in You
The Royalty of the universe
The Mystery of my heart's searching
O Great Delight ... Gladness Divine

O Blessed Ecstasy
Holy Felicity
Great Delight, Gladness Divine
O Jesus Christ, my joy in Thee

The pursuit of our own pleasure is the motivation for which we do all we do in life. Blaise Pascal puts it this way, "All men seek happiness. This is without exception. Whatever different means they employ, they all tend to this end...The will never takes the least step but with this object. This is the motive of every action of every man, even those who hang themselves."

We were made to know the intimate and infinite joy of an unhindered, unfiltered relationship with our God. The beauty and perfection that we would know in Him would be the satisfaction of our souls. Our unquenchable thirst for pleasure was designed to glorify God as our unending source of delight and gladness. But when sin entered the picture, we lost our ability to fully see and savor God for Who He is.

We lost our ability, but we did not lose our appetite.

Ever since that day, our hearts have been searching for the Great Delight, the Divine Gladness we were created for. And the amazing truth is that God, as Jesus Christ, has offered Himself that we might find Him again, our Fount of eternal joy. But too often we prefer the glittering gold and painted beauties of this world. C.S. Lewis stated, "We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at sea. We are far too easily pleased."

'Gladness Divine' is a celebration of the immeasurable and eternal pleasure found in knowing Christ. He is His Father's prized Jewel, and our Great Delight.

Jonathan Edwards wrote in 1755, "God is glorified not only by His glory's being seen, but by its being rejoiced in. When those that see it delight in it, God is more glorified than if they only see it. His glory is then received by the whole soul, both by the understanding and by the heart. God made the world that He might communicate, and the creature receive, His glory; and that it might be received both by the mind and the heart. He that testifies his idea of God's glory doesn't glorify God so much as he that testifies also his delight in it."

We've lost a bit of this in the church today, haven't we. We often speak of the joy found in Christ's blessings, but rarely the delight found in Christ, Himself. So, let's sing again with the twelfth century hymnist, Bernard of Clairvaux: "Jesus, the very thought of Thee with sweetness fills my breast. But sweeter far Thy face to see and in Thy presence rest."

moving on up

Well check me out...I figured out how to get a site meter on my webpage (scroll to the bottom). I am moving up in the world of computers. I've gone from totally illiterate to slightly retarded. I do want to apologize to those of you who have links to me on your site. I would love to have links back to your sites, I just don't know how to do it with out screwing up my entire layout. I tried for a while to figure it out, I really did. But I kept getting more and more frustrated, and soon became unbearable to live with (ask my wife). So to save what was left of my marriage, I vowed to give up my struggle with html and be satisfied with a side bar that offers no more options than recent posts and archives. So...sorry. But there is still hope that one day I may learn to do it, I mean...I do have site meter now.

a good and faithful servant

(this is based on a true story, though some facts have been changed)

The thing about Wes is his passion. Wes is certainly intelligent and hands down, the funniest person I’ve ever known. But what will absolutely amaze you about Wes is his passion.

He was primed to be a missionary, or a minister. Either way, his potential for achieving great things for the glory of God could never be over estimated. He could’ve change the world. I believe that.

But Wes never made it to ministry, at least ‘vocational’ ministry. Wes learned early in his senior year at bible college that his mother had brain cancer and was going to die. Wes never had a father. He never had anyone who took care of him, except his mother. But now the roles had been reversed. Now, she looked out from her bald head to him. It was his turn to be the caretaker. No one could have guessed how long she would survive. As his classmates graduated and went on to take ministry positions all over the world, Wes was living at home in a small, rural town in Indiana. As the years past and his classmates climbed the church ladder, Wes barely ventured outside the walls of his house, existing solely to help his mother live, and live well. And today, this remains to be his existence.

Think of the multitudes he could have baptized. Think of the lives that he would have touched and the lives that they, in turn, would have touched. His mother’s cancer wasn’t confined to her brain; it has spread through out the world, through eternity, killing along the way the opportunity for millions to come to know Christ. Wes’s gifts and talents have gone unused and his humor has slowly faded. His passion, that could’ve have changed the world, has its only outlet in the life of one woman.

This seems to be a horrible waste.

But Wes, I applaud you. To a God who couldn’t care less about our numbers and statistics, you are the minister that your fellow-classmates pretend to be. We may claim the title, but you live the life. What you are doing is more than just honorable, or noble. You are Christ to your mother, everyday and every night. You don’t collect the benefits, but you have earned the heavenly honor. Your hands are dirty and your feet are tired, while we get fat sitting in comfy office chairs. I respect you more than you will ever know. My logic cannot make sense of it, but I believe in the truest realm of reality, the realm that we cannot see or touch (yet), that you have achieved every bit as much as Billy Graham and Rick Warren put together. God is not concerned with our productivity; he is concerned with our hearts. He is concerned with the way we treat his children. One day your mother will breathe out her last breath, and in that moment she will let go of your hand and grab onto the hand of Christ. And a voice will whisper, loud enough to shake the mountains, but so soft that only you will hear, “Well done, you good and faithful servant. Well done.”

christian hedonism

"Do you feel loved by God because you believe He makes much of you, or because you believe He frees you and empowers you to enjoy making much of Him? It is the difference between the modern world where all terminates on self, and the biblical world where all terminates on God."

"...This is the test of whether our craving for the love of God is a craving for the blood-bought, Spirit-wrought capacity to see and glorify God by enjoying Him forever, or whether it is a craving for Him to make us the center and give us the pleasures of esteeming ourselves. Who in the end, is the all-satisfying Treasure that we are given by the love of God: self or God?"

-John Piper (from Desiring God and Brothers, We Are Not Professionals)

I don't know if I always agree with everything Piper has to say. And he has a tendency to go on long doctrinal tangents that I don't feel are always completely relevant to the topic of the book. But, the man has such an unmistakably high view of God. It permeates every page of every book. If he does err, it is always to the side of God increasing and man decreasing...and I am okay with that. Everything he writes, everything he believes, is so God-entranced and Christ-exalting, that he is by far my favorite contemporary author. His voice is radical and much needed in today's Church.

if the church looked like Christ

If the church looked like Christ…

We would be poor and quite unimpressive. But we would be real, authentic, and unpretentious. We would be strong, with callused hands, yet we would reek of vulnerability. We wouldn’t look sleek and attractive; certainly, we would not attract every one that we came across. And a lot of those that we did attract at first may not stay with us for long, for our message would be too difficult for many people to swallow. But we wouldn’t shy away from it…oh no, we would preach the truth, the hard, confusing, completely illogical truth, the truth that deeply convicts and seriously challenges, and yes, the truth that makes many run for the door. We would piss off some and turn off others. We would be misunderstood and mocked; targeted by the political and powerful. But we would be fearless and driven. Because we know that that truth, the truth of the gospel, is the only thing that can truly bring the dead to life.

And we would operate almost entirely for the cause of those in need: to feed the hungry, to take care of the sick, to love the unlovable, to grieve with the mourning, to stand up for the cause of the oppressed and overlooked. We would drink with the drunkards and befriend the whores. Love would be our name.

We wouldn’t claim to know the answers - in fact, we would produce more questions than answers - but we would love, and serve, and give…everything. Let me say that again: EVERYTHING. We wouldn’t try to figure out the most strategic way to spend “the church’s” money. We’d give it all. And when we were taken advantage of, when we were manipulated and used…we would continue to give. We would turn the other cheek…and give, even to those who had just taken advantage of us. We would take the chance of becoming a door mat to the poor in our community, letting them walk all over us, wiping their muddy feet every step of the way. Because we would know that we’re not called to be stewards of God’s money…but stewards of His generosity, stewards of His mercy and grace.

And we would pray, oh…would we pray, because we would actually believe that our only source of strength and power came from our Father. We would actually believe that…can you imagine? We would pray all-night, agonizing and crying, seeking the will of God. Ugh, the will of God. If we actually did catch a glimpse, it would be far too difficult for us to comprehend. We would throw our hands up and say, “No way, God…let this part of Your will pass by me and on to someone…anyone but me. I can’t do it, I’m not able, God. I’m not good enough, I’m not smart enough, and doggone it, people don’t like me.” Seriously, if the church prayed like Christ and sought the will of our Father, like Christ, than I believe we would receive promptings and leadings by the Holy Spirit that absolutely scared the crap out of us. But…if the church prayed like Christ we would have the strength and we would be able. Not that we would always know it. No, we’d still be crapping in our drawers, but we would have the faith in God to go for it anyway.

And our main concern would not be our church. The bulk of our budget, the focus of our time and our energy would not be to make our church bigger or better. In fact, our church would not be all that important to our church. We would, of course, evangelize. But we wouldn’t do it by inviting them to our Sunday morning services. Our gospel would be the redemptive work of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, not the subculture of Christianity or membership in our church. And our only real tools of evangelism would be our life and our love. We would certainly teach and disciple those who choose to go with us as we continued to move forward. But we wouldn’t try to do it all in one hour a week. And we wouldn’t try to do it through programs or classes. We would do it through our lives with each individual. It would be a journey, a long, every day journey. And because of that, we would surely not be a large church. I don’t think we could be.

Our congregation’s fellowship would be deep. We would need one another because our vision of God’s will would be so large and so imposing that we would know we couldn’t make it on our own. We would be disgustingly aware of our individual inadequacy. And because of that we wouldn’t be afraid of transparency or vulnerability. We would only be afraid of attempting life and ministry on our own. We wouldn’t fear going about our lives unmasked and unveiled, because we would know that we were not alone. Our love would be humble and authentic. And it would be unnaturally strong because our bond would not be a bond of affinity or convenience…it would be a supernatural, Holy Spirit bond that is far deeper than our understanding; a bond of mutual dependency and unconditional love. It would be that bond that serves as the veins in the body of Christ in which the blood is constantly spread to each limb and member, none being forgotten.

Our worship would be united and unceasing. Worship would be the sole motivation for doing all that we do. Prayer, ministry, fellowship, it would all have the ultimate and final purpose of bring glory, honor and pleasure to God. Simply put: we would be obsessed with our Father. Because we would understand fully His worth. Publicly, we would appear as fools, for our worship would be holistic and illogical. Our reverence, our joy, our unbound passion would seems like nonsense to those who operate with the mind disconnected from the heart. Worship would not be a verb. Worship would not be a noun. Worship would be a life. It would be our life, as individuals and as a congregation.

If the church looked like Christ…hmmm…

where is the line?

I fear I’m a bit too naïve. Or maybe its that I’m too idealistic. I haven’t lived long, and I certainly haven't ministered for long. 6 years of vocational ministry just doesn’t produce a deep well of experience. I’ve read some books, even a lot of books considering I didn’t start reading…really reading…until I was 19. But still, a few C.S. Lewis books here, a couple of A.W. Tozer books there, throw in some John Piper, Brennan Manning, Donald Miller, Doug Banister, and still, I’m no scholar. What I’m saying is…I’m most likely very lacking in wisdom. I’m probably incredibly naïve. And I know that I’m way too idealistic. But, of course, I can’t really put my finger on any of it because…I lack the wisdom.

This is frustrating…really frustrating, actually. Because as soon as I see the church, my church, missing it, whatever “it” may be, I wonder if I should say something, push for change, strive to make Christ’s bride more presentable for the coming wedding day. Or…am I being too naïve…too idealistic. Has this problem, that seems to shine like a neon light to me, gone unnoticed until now. Until I, in all my lack of wisdom and experience, have caught an unsettling glimpse? Could the elders have missed it? Could the minister have missed it? Surely not. They must have caught on long ago and fought the battle already, and in their experience and in their wisdom have decided that it was the lesser of two evils, or middle ground between two extremes, or…or something. But maybe they haven’t. Maybe they really did overlook it.

The problem is that I don’t know where the line, between myself expecting too much and the church not being enough, is. Cause we aren’t. That is all I do know. The church looks nothing like Christ. NOTHING…and it kills me. But again, I fear I’m too naïve…too idealistic. Christ was perfect, sinless; he was freakin' God incarnate. And the church is made up of broken, incomplete, sinful men and women who haven’t got a clue. But still we can be more. Right? We need to be more. But where is the line? Somebody please tell me, where is that line? Because I don’t want to be so foolish as to blow past it. I really don’t. But I also don’t want to be so fearful as to never approach it.

ever notice?

Is it just me or have you ever noticed that the companies that come up with porno movie titles and the companies that come up with christian t-shirt designs actually have the exact same job? One takes popular movie titles, changes a couple letters or words, and makes it overtly sexual. The other takes popular brand name logos or slogans, changes a couple letters or words, and makes it overtly christian. Both are silly and annoying. Neither is very clever.

Maybe its just one company. Everybody walks into the board room on Monday morning and the boss says, "Alright guys, for the porn people we got these movie titles: 'Dukes of Hazzard', 'Kong', and 'The Family Stone'. And for the christian t-shirt people we've got these brand names: 'Jolly Ranchers', 'Farm and Fleet', and 'Tang'. Okay...go."

Maybe not.

But either way, I find it funny.

behold my weary soul

(listen to this song at www.myspace.com/billwolfworship)

Behold, my weary soul
Rest your searching eyes
in the King's betrothing heart alone
Your glory You will find

Behold and know that You are greatly desired
Yes, You are desired ... my soul is singing

Hallelujah, glory to You, God ... my soul is singing
Hallelujah, glory to You, God
Heaven touches earth
and my soul feels its worth
Hallelujah, glory to You, God

Behold, my weary soul
Loosen thy hands' grasp
Of the fleeting praise of earthly kings
and cling to what will last

Behold and know that You are greatly desired
Yes, You are desired ... my soul is singing

Hallelujah, glory to You, God ... my soul is singing
Hallelujah, glory to You, God
Heaven touches earth
and my soul feels its worth
Hallelujah, glory to You, God

I wrote this song almost exactly one year ago. One of the interesting parts of songwriting is the strange combination of bits and pieces taken from books, songs, prayers, conversations, bible studies, etc. that stir around inside your head or heart for awhile and eventually pour out and take shape as a song. Matt Redman calls them "the seeds of songwriting" (I suggest reading that again, only this time out loud and with your best British accent...its fun). With 'Behold My Weary Soul' there were two main influences: Donald Miller's 'Searching for God Knows What' and the Christmas carol 'O Holy Night'.

I am a part of a book club that meets every Tuesday morning at a Panera Bread in town, and through November and December of 2004 we were reading Miller's 'Searching for God Knows What'. If you have not read this book, you really should...its excellent. I personally think it is a much better book than 'Blue Like Jazz', even though I loved that book as well. The book explores the idea that we were all made to know and be known fully by our God. We were made so that every ounce of our identity and self-worth would come from that relationship and only from that relationship. However, man sinned and that relationship was broken and torn apart. And since then, every person ever born has been on a journey to seek out, earn and receive their glory and honor from anything or anyone that is willing to offer it. It is an interesting concept and the Truth of it pierced right to my heart. So much of my life has been spent trying to impress other people. The way I dress, the way I talk, the people I hang out with, everything...it is all aimed at gaining the respect and adoration of anyone I come in contact with. It is an endless and tiring affair, but my soul has a need to know it is worth something. When I'm putting together a worship service, many times I've thought, "People will think I am hip and cool if I do this song". Even when I'm praying there have been those moments when my mind begins wondering if everyone else is amazed at my incredible depth and spirituality. It is so sad, but it is so true. Miller's book highlighted and addressed so many of my darkest areas.

While reading 'Searching For God Knows What' and discussing all of these issues, I was also planning and putting together our Christmas services at church. I was reading the lyrics to some of the songs when I came across this line from 'O Holy Night':

"Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth."

What beautiful words. The picture became clear to me. Christ's incarnation is like a man getting down on one knee and asking his loved one for her hand in marriage. Now, I'm not a woman but I do know a lot of them, and the beauty of that sacred moment is that the woman finally knows she is valued and honored and loved. She knows she is worth something to someone. Christ's life, death, burial and resurrection carries with it the same weight for us only infinitely more meaningful. Because we did nothing to earn it and can do nothing to lose it. Our God made Himself low and held out His hand and is now longing for us to accept His proposal. That is why I used the word 'betrothing' in the first verse. Our God and King longs to be engaged, betrothed, united with us. And it is only in that union, which is the restoration of the original relationship, that our lasting glory and worth will be found.

So this song was my way of reminding my soul that it is valued, it is worth something to someone. The wearying pursuit can end. Hallelujah and Glory to God.

the stories behind the songs

As I stated in the previous blog, one of the reasons I started doing this was to be able to tell the stories behind my songs. This is because it is my belief that one of the major flaws of modern worship music, in comparison to ancient hymns, is that many of the songs seem to be too simple, too universal, too trite. It is as if the song simply plopped down out of nowhere, completely un-rooted in any real life circumstance or thought. The themes are often very common and the lyrics, worn and overused. It is like the writer sat down and said, "Hmm, well God certainly is good. I guess I'll just say that for the chorus. And the verses...umm...I'm sure David wrote something somewhere that rhymed. We'll just repeat that a few times." I know that this is not the case, but if often seems to be. Now, let me clarify...I am a minister who leads worship congregationally using many modern worship songs. I am also a songwriter who tries to write some. So, I am in no way demeaning the songs or the people who write them, nor am I overlooking the blessing that these songs can be to the Church. Everything under the sun contains many good aspects and some bad. Congregational church music is no different. While most hymns are beautifully poetic and rich in theology, the melodies are often not easy to grab onto unless you were raised in the church. Many good aspects and some bad. So this is not a discussion about one side verses another (and really...I believe that discussion actually ended sometime in the late 1990's, but people are just slow). Rather, I am simply sharing my belief that we, as songwriters in the church, need to make sure that our songs are rooted in something personal, something real. If God wanted to drop a song out of the sky that was completely disconnected from any human touch, He would. And it would be infinitely better than the stuff we are writing. But that is not the way God works. For some odd reason, God likes to accomplish things by working along side of us. Like a father, who could hammer in a nail with one blow, patiently holding the weight of the tool as his son slowly taps, taps, taps away. God chooses to use us. He chose to use real people, in real places and real times, with real thoughts and real ideas about real things to pen the books and letters that make up our Bible. If He wanted to make a cut and dry 'how-to' book that told us all about Him and His ways, and needed no human fingerprint to do so, He would have. And I'm positive it would have been a whole lot easier understand. But I don't know if it would have moved us, I don't know if it would have spoken to our souls. The gospel is the story of a God who is infinite, yet chooses to also be intimate; a God who doesn't need us, yet....for some reason...desires us. It is the story of God and man. So let us write songs only as we are stirred and inspired by our God. Let us work hard at making them the best pieces of poetry, art, and theology that we are capable of. And let us be sure we tell our stories. Because as we do these things, God will be there holding our hammer...making sure our every tap connects to the nail-head and thunders deep into eternity.

my mom, tivo, and the bandwagon

hello. my guess is only a few people will read this blog once...only a couple will read it regularly...and probably only my mom will read it on a daily basis. but i'll try and post often. and i'll try to keep it interesting. one thing i would love to do is to post some mp3s of songs that i have written and tell you the stories behind them. i don't know if that is possible, but it'd be cool. honestly, i feel like a poser having a blog because i know nothing about computers, i'm not at all technologically advanced and i'm incredibly behind most fads. facts: i got my first cell phone in 2004, my first pc in 2005, i've never owned anything mac, i've only actually seen 3 ipods in real life and i still don't really understand what tivo is. but i recently got a myspace page and i enjoy that. maybe i'm the guy that finally jumps on the bandwagon and makes everyone realize that the fad is no longer cool. i don't know. if i am...sorry about myspace and now, blogs. but hey...at least you've still got ipods and tivo.