Are You Lukewarm?

Over the last few weeks we at APEX have been talking a lot on the subject of being lukewarm.

As leaders in the church, I feel we can have the tendency to shy away from hard teachings. How do you preach on being lukewarm? “Welcome to my church, lukewarm and lazy Christians!” Yea, not the easiest message to deliver.

You have to confront. You have to convict. You have to be more faithful to the text of Scripture than you are to making friends.

But you also have to say things in a proper tone – with Biblical clarity, with respect, and in love.

When I stand before God at the last day I don’t just want to show Him my long list of facebook friends. I want to have lived unashamed of the Gospel, preached the full Gospel with all my heart, and enter into Heaven with thousands of true disciples that I’ve given my life for.

How about you? What are some hard things you have to teach in ministry?

Brad & Rebekah CD Release Concert

Really looking forward to being a part of Brad & Rebekah’s release of their new CD, “The One We Love”. Brad and I are friends from college and have spent some time writing a few songs together. On November 8th it will release. We have written two songs, “Amazed” and “Surrender” that appear on the album.

In a couple weeks I’ll be heading out to New York to be a part of the band for this event.

Brad & Rebekah both are amazing worship leaders who love God and love serving the local church.

Check out the details on the concert and go download a free track.

Drive-Thru

Hilarious.

Weekend Worship Songs 9.26-27.09

This weekend’s worship was powerful. Before he hit the stage I shared with my team some worship truths. As a leader it is essential that you direct the hearts of your team to eternal, spiritual matters. Don’t expect them to lead you. Remind them of God’ Word. Remind them what congregational worship is. Remind them why they are here ministering.

I shared how we never know the intensity of individual’s personal trials. I know of some members in our church who have been hit with devastating losses recently, and I’m sure there are others we don’t even know. As a worship team, we are called to care about our people and lift their eyes to a higher truth than their circumstances. We want them to declare the promises of God’s Word and be transformed in the tangible presence of Jesus as we worship.

As a leader, if you don’t remind your team of Biblical truth, they will gauge success by a tight musical set. That is good, but it is not good enough for worship ministry. Direct their hearts into what God is presently doing, and into what He has definitively done.

1. Glory to God Forever (Steve Fee & Vicky Beeching)
2. All Because of Jesus (Steve Fee)
3. I Have Found (Kim Walker)
4. With Everything (Joel Houston) – this was a new one for us. I simply wanted to build on the truth of God’s glory. We only did the bridge on this one and it was a powerful close. I’m not sure if we’ll do the entire song due to the complex song structure. Could be difficult for a congregation to follow. We’ll see.

Marks of A Professional Musician (Part 4)

Mark #3 – Does your attitude contribute?

Not only do professional musicians listen, watch, and feel the music, they have good attitudes. They have focused attitudes. Part of being professional is that you want opportunities to play and you know you’ll get them if your attitude contributes, rather than detracts from a band environment. Attitude is everything when you are playing with other musicians.

A bad attitude on stage is like gangrene in the body. It spreads. It does not just affect you but the entire team. I’ve had the privilege of playing with some incredible musicians over the years. Here are some ‘attitude’ items I’ve noticed, while playing in rehearsal settings:

• Take notes on your sheet music! This lets the leader know you care and he won’t have to repeat himself a thousand times. It also aids in not making careless mistakes.
• Don’t practice your scales/rudiments/licks at rehearsals in-between songs. Very frustrating to a leader. Focus your attention on what is trying to be accomplished.
• Don’t cry when your ideas get shot down. Someone probably knows more than you do.
• Laugh. Smile. Joke around. This contributes to a fun atmosphere.
• Don’t ever speak out of frustration. If you are frustrated about something, zip your lips until you can say it with kindness and cool.
• Invest all your passion, energy, and heart into the simplest licks & grooves. Don’t act like you are above simplicity. There’s no faster way out the door.
• Compliment other musicians on stage! Believe it or not, this is hard to do if you are a musician. Why? Because we love ourselves too much. Our identities can be wrapped up in what we do. Break that by encouraging others around you.
• Don’t act bored. Professional, enduring musicians play the same songs in the same way for more years than you’ve been alive. Get over your boredom.

Worship Leaders: Don’t Listen to Too Much Worship Music

Is it possible to listen to too much worship music? Why would I even address such an issue? Am I one of those indie listening types who enjoy taking shots at Christian music because it is bland and lacks creativity? Sometimes. But that is not what I’m trying to do here.

I’m writing to my own heart. I hope this challenges you as well.

In the last 20 years, worship music has risen to the top of all Christian music. I don’t have facts, but I guarantee you it makes the most money. It is accessible. It is encouraging. A lot of it is very good and good for your walk with God today. I’m a worship leader. I listen to a lot of it. I even write my own songs and sell them.

My concern for worship leaders is that we spend so much time listening to professional worship albums that we feel pressure to mimic that sound/experience in our churches. Let’s be honest. You probably don’t have a David Crowder/Chris Tomlin/Hillsong quality band every Sunday. You work with volunteers. You work with the young inexperienced and the older over-experienced. You work with the 13 year old with his Mel Bay chord book and the old 70s rocker who can shred better than you can talk.

I think there is a beautiful value in that.

Yea, it would be nice to have the same team of professional musicians that you travel the world with and crank out songs with your eyes closed. I’m not saying we should disregard improvement. We have a lot to learn from the pros, but becoming Hillsong should not be your goal. Your goal should be to invest in the people God has given you today. Be a spiritual leader. Pray for them. Teach them. Love them. Laugh with them. Care for them.

Don’t be discouraged if your band doesn’t sound exactly like the new United album that just came out 15 seconds ago. Work on improving the quality of your band but don’t use them as a means to your self-glorifying goals. See their need. Bring them higher. Love them. There is more to what we are doing than click-track tight music and emotional sounds. The Holy Spirit wants to connect with His people through your worship leading.

God has given you an amazing opportunity. Be faithful.

The Atmosphere of Coffee

Call me a little artsy. Maybe too introspective. Definitely a nerd, but I love the atmosphere of coffee. On my Twitter yesterday I made this statement that I’d like to expound on for all your sanctification and growth.

I THINK I LIKE COFFEE MORE FOR THE ATMOSPHERE IT CREATES THAN THE ACTUAL DRINK.

I’m not just talking about sweet locations like Starbucks, Crazy Mocha, or your favorite local coffee shop. I’m talking about everywhere you hold in your hands a good cup of joe. It’s transformative to me on a number of levels:

• Coffee assists me in ‘enjoying the moment’. Slow down and take it all in.
• True, meaningful conversation does not happen without coffee.
• Very helpful for the morning devo’s.
• Visiting a Starbucks makes any routine outing worth it.
• The smell of freshly ground coffee is like being on vacation.

Collision Documentary

Looks like an interesting film. A defender of Christianity vs. one of the most popular atheists.

Be a Wreader

If you see the title of this post and are confused (or are wondering if I ever graduated high school), than good. My desire with this post is to challenge you to be a reader and a writer; more specifically, to write when you read. With life as it is today, information is on overload. We watch the news, read the paper, watch movies, watch youtube, read blogs, read twitters, process information at our jobs, listen to podcasts, listen to a sermon on Sunday, listen to music, and the list could continue.

WE ARE CONSTANTLY PROCESSING NEW INFORMATION.

How much of this actually sticks in your brain and challenges you to become better?

My conviction is that our reading/study of the Bible and our reading of great books should take precedence over other sources of information. If you watch youtube videos more than you read the Bible, I hope this post will challenge you to use your best mental energies for eternal purposes.

The best way I have found to do this is to be a wreader – reading with pen in hand. I actually feel quite naked when I’m reading a book without a pen (if I am without pen, I even go up to the Starbucks counter and ask to borrow one. Don’t worry, I return it). Here’s a short list of why I use a pen while I read:

• To keep an index of thoughts I like in the front flap, with page numbers.
• To underline the author’s main thoughts (and thoughts I want to re-read). This is EXTREMELY helpful in processing information. Who remembers everything after one read? After I finish a book I’ll leaf through and read everything I underlined. Love it. Also, instead of re-reading an entire book, I can just read the underlined portions.
• To keep me engaged in what I’m reading. For some reason, a pen helps me do this.
• To prove to everyone in the coffee shop that what I’m doing is important…(arrogant, I know).

So, I challenge you: Be a Wreader.

Four Steps to Getting a Great Reward

We all love to get stuff. We love to be recognized. We love to be applauded for our performances and achievements. I mean, who wouldn’t? The Bible’s teaching on rewards is bit different than our culture portrays. Simply put, you won’t learn this anywhere but from God.

God says:

1. Be poor
2. Be hungry
3. Weep
4. Be hated

Before you stone me, let me explain what these four statements mean (taken from Luke 6:20-35). There is a ‘biblical’ way and a wrong way to interpret them. Underlying these statements (from Jesus Himself) is an underlying Biblical truth:

SEEK YOUR REWARDS IN HEAVEN

There is no innate virtue in poverty. There is, though, in humbly trusting Christ rather than your personal wealth. There is no innate virtue in starving yourself. There is, though, in seeking after righteousness and longing for the day when you will be truly satisfied in eternity. there is no innate virtue in weeping. There is, though, in recognizing the suffering you experience will not be forever and longing for the day when Christ will ‘wipe away every tear’. There is no innate virtue in being hated, especially for your own stupidity. There is, though, in being hated for your allegiance to Jesus Christ.

Do these things, and your reward will be great in Heaven. Looking forward to it.