11/30/08
11/24/08
MISTAKES, Part I
Unfortunately, I'm not talking about 'flubs,' those innocent mistakes that worship leaders make from time-to-time (or all the time, depending on what kind of season you're in, right?)
No, I've been thinking about bigger things. I've been looking and listening an pondering on what sort of "big mistakes" that worship leaders make. Please understand, I know that our God is gracious and merciful and able to forgive...but I also know that mistakes often bring consequences. We learn from them, and hopefully, learn to avoid repeating them.
So that's why I'm writing about mistakes. I'd like to examine some situations where a worship leader has messed up. Some of these situations are hypothetical, some will be true, and some will be (sadly) biographical!
Trey is 23 years old. He's wrapping up college, actively involved in his church, dating a great girl and doing a pretty good job of being a Godly young man in the world today. Like most 23-year olds, he's got his favorite bands. Since the line between sacred and secular disappears with each new CD release, his iPod is likely to be filled with every single genre and form of music you can imagine.
On Tuesday night, Trey is at dinner with his girlfriend and he spots the worship leader from his church. This excites Trey because Trey just got back from a fantastic retreat sponsored by a campus ministry. As an added bonus, the retreat planners booked one of Trey's favorite worship bands.
Trey walks over to his worship pastor and they talk for a few minutes. Trey then tells his worship leader about this great retreat. He's bragging on the planning, the study guide and application and then he hits the band. Can't stop talking about the band.
The worship leader, actually, is familiar with the band. And he doesn't really like them all that much. It's nothing theological, mind you...it's just a preference thing. The worship guy doesn't dig Trey's band because the pastor thinks the band uses too many programmed drum loops in their sets. So, as Trey wraps up his story, the worship guy starts talking abut the band. And within two minutes, he tells Trey that the drum loops are annoying. Not content to leave it there, the worship leader makes it another minute or two before he starts giving examples - singing snippets of popular worship songs and then trying to beatbox them. Then laughing uncontrollably.
And Trey...doesn't know what to do. So, he smiles at the worship leader's joking, and then leaves the guy beatboxing over the chips and salsa.
It's a sad thing, and almost all of us have done it. I'm not sure why we do it. I know what we tell ourselves, though. We tell ourselves that we were just kidding or that "music matters" as if we're somehow responsible for giving a college-level music course to each and every congregant. And for some of us, it's pure musical snobbery.
But whatever the reason, none of it works. That worship leader didn't do anything uplifting by slamming Trey's band. Not only did the worship leader quickly "reveal" that Trey's band is dumb, he also showed himself to be a very poor conversationalist.
Listen, worship leaders...preferences are fine. Making wise musical choices based on your congregation is fine. Heck, it's required! But disrespecting those that would come to you to engage in discussion or debate about worship - your field of expertise - is one of the most idiotic things you could do. That amateur hour stuff, right there.
If you've got valid concerns about a CD or artist, trust me, you'll get the chance to explain yourself on those.
But sometimes you gotta' keep your big mouth shut and be honored that a guy would even want to talk worship with you instead of eating fajitas with his girlfriend.
Let's remember that we are pastors on stage and off. Let's remember to use our words to uplift and to humble ourselves constantly. It's not enough to maintain the appearance of humility on stage if you're not able to truly walk humbly in every day life. Fix the every day stuff and the stage will take care of itself.
11/18/08
11/17/08
I Need "Jesus"
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, there's just something about that name
Master, Savior, Jesus, like the fragrance after the rain
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Let all Heaven and Earth proclaim
Kings and kingdoms will all pass away
But there's something about that name!
Bill and Gloria Gaither (William J. Gaither, Inc.)
___________________________________________
This song by the Gaithers is one of my favorite hymns. If I'm being honest, I'd have to say that my first love for this song is musical...in other words, I love all the "7th chord sounds" and descending chords in the tune. As a kid, I used to love to sing this song in church.
But this song means a bit more to me, now.
Because I need more "Jesus."
I'm using quotation marks because I'm actually talking about the word "Jesus." You see, I use words like "Father" and "God" and "Lord" all the time. But for some reason, I don't speak the name of Jesus very often.
I'm not sure why.
I need "Jesus." I need that word - need to speak it, sing it, and keep it on my mind. I need the word because I need to remember Him. I need to remember that the name of Jesus represents His coming. When Mary and Joseph obeyed the command of God and called the child, "Jesus," my whole life changed. He came. He came to die. He came to beat death. He came to justify the sin-debt, and to forget His name is a travesty.
My encouragement to you this week is simply this:
Say, "Jesus."
Find a time this week to focus on His name. Speak it, sing it...maybe even SHOUT it! (His name is victorious!)
11/13/08
11/6/08
Anything Else?
Rob found this online posting recently for a worship leader position:
Specific Responsibilities:
1. Provide spiritual leadership to the church at large as part of the Leadership Team.
*Participate fully in the life of our church through membership.
*Take part in shaping the future of The Gathering through leadership events and staff meetings.
*Invest yourself relationally in the lives of the people within and beyond worship arts.
2. Design weekend services that create unforgettable experiences with God.
*Develop service plans and schedules in conjunction with Lead Pastor.
*Develop a sense of unity and camaraderie among all the artists of our church.
*Involve various arts such as video, painting/sculpture, acting, and spoken word in services.
*Schedule guest speakers, bands, and artists at various times of the year.
3. Lead a team of musicians that inspire people to live passionately for God.
*Recruit and develop a consistently improving team of musicians who have a passion for Jesus Christ.
*Mentor a growing number of competent worship leaders for adults, youth, and children.
*Practice a minimum of every Sunday before service and 3 times per month outside of Sunday nights.
*Collaborate in writing original worship music and creating a unique sound/voice for The Gathering.
*Style of music to be modern, high energy, and led by multiple vocalists.
4. Provide leadership and oversight for all worship-related technology.
*Make continual improvements to lighting, sound, and media.
*Responsible to oversee the technical production team leader.
5. Assist Lead Pastor with additional projects and tasks as assigned.
Anybody else overwhelmed by a job description like this?
What stands out to you?
What's right or wrong with this job description?
I've decided to leave this post up for a couple of days in an effort to encourage some discussion. But here's the deal...I don't want you to comment. I want you to email me. That's right - email me your 100 % honest opinion...what's great or horrible about this job description. I'm posting this over at my blog and on my SongDiscovery page, too. In a few days, I'll try to collect all the comments and let everybody take a look. Be honest...
Email me at toddwrightband@gmail.com.
11/5/08
One of the best parts about being a worship leader is spending time with students/young adults who share that same calling. Most of us (30's and above) probably remember being young and interested in worship and having few, if any, mentors in worship.
When I was 15 years old, the worship movement was just starting to hit my little hometown and my church was a long way from joining the revolution. That's why I love hanging out with young worship leaders now. I am encouraged by their passion for worship and I get to share what little knowledge I have with them.
Lately, though, I've been noticing the absence of a critical component in my worship discussions with young leaders – PRAYER.
We have a whole generation of young worship leaders that now have access to resources (DVDs, CD, web YouTube tutorials, etc.) and yet still lack when it comes to prayer. And I'm not talking about the short, but sincere prayers we throw up to the sky just before rehearsals or before church on Sunday. (Although those are good, too.)
Lately, I've been encouraging young worship leaders to spend time, on their own, praying for the "x-factor." They look at me weird when I say things like this. But that's okay…because now I have their attention!
What am I talking about when I say "the x-factor?" I'm not quite sure. (Hence the name.)
But I think it's that special thing, that mysterious connection that happens between a worship leader and a congregation. Some call it the "anointing" or a "real gift," and maybe those are better words for it. I'm not sure. I just know that from time-to-time I sit under a worship leader who has something going for him or her that's more than training; more than study; more than experience.
It's this unnamed something that draws me in to what they are doing. I pray for that something…I pray that God will somehow, in His power and grace, allow me to "connect" with my crowd in a way that's different; in a way that's real and honest and filled with his power.
I want young worship leaders to hear me pray those types of prayers – to know that, in the end, it's God who empowers us to even breathe a breath or voice a song. I want those who watch me lead or serve alongside me to know that I'm always have that "X-factor," desperate for God to ignite worship in a way that only he can.
Thoughts on the "X-Factor?" What about young worship leaders? What do you try to share with those your mentoring?
