Beyond Sunday Worship

Worship Podcast & Blog

Archives for August 2008

Do You Give What You Got?

Recording an album has taught me many things. I have felt weak and inadequate most of the time. The thought has even crossed my mind to do something else with my life. Why is this? When you put your heart on display for people to see, hurt is inevitable.

Anytime you speak, lead worship, sing an original song, perform, lead a small group, witness, basically do anything publicly, the possibility arises for hurt. Does this mean we isolate ourselves to avoid pain? Absolutely not.

Give what you got. Many times we can look at people more gifted than us and despair…give up. Why should I use my gift if [fill in the blank] can do it better?

We’re not all called to have a global ministry, or for artists, a fan base across the world. But we all need to give what we have to make the world a better place. Some artists only have a small following because their music does not appeal to a wide, general audience. This is OK. Give what you have to bless the world, whether its to 5 or 5,000,000. Maybe you need to raise up a small group of 5 to be mature disciples of Christ.

I have chosen to give what I have to reach as many people as I can. In the same way, God wants to use you…but you have step out.

Song Story: "Willing"

‘Willing’ is a song that was crafted over a couple of years. I had the chorus going and I really liked it, but could never seem to find a verse that felt right. After writing and re-writing, it seemed to fit. I also wanted the intensity of the music to match the intensity of the lyrics. I’m happy with the energy this track evokes.

I wanted ‘Willing’ to be very challenging. I felt that a lot of worship songs at the time were somewhat shallow and not expressing all that needed to be said. I wanted to personally follow the example and command of Jesus to go, intercede, preach… and the boldest line in the song – ‘willing to bear the martyrs call’. As the verses say, we are called out of darkness, gripped by Christ’s love, filled with His Spirit, and sent out to reach the lost. I remember being in tears as I was writing this. The call of God felt so strong and I wanted to be willing to pay the price.

I think we need to live our lives in this way: Willing to go wherever Jesus says and do whatever he calls us to, no matter what the cost…even if it involves giving our very lives. Thousands of Christians have gone before us and given their lives for the Gospel. Don’t allow the culture to conform you to its ways. That is an easy, wasted life. Live a God-centered life full of the Word, full of worship, and full of obedience to Christ. Live for something more. Ponder these lyrics:

Called from darkness into light
Gripped by love to live this life
Filled with power to testify
Sent to answer desperate cries

We must go
We must all be

Willing to weep, to go, to preach
Willing to spend life on our knees
Willing to bear the martyrs call
Living for what matters most of all

I’m living for something more
Than what my generation settles for

Check out a rough mix at my myspace.

Is Your Ministry A Mask?

This morning I was reflecting a bit on the importance of a personal life in God. What I mean by that is, ‘Who are you apart from public ministry settings?”

When you have a noticeable gift, people compliment. It blesses them and they want you to know about it. This feels good. Though their compliments are strengthening and encouraging, we must not let it go too far.

Back in the summer of 2004, I was part of a traveling band from North Central University, called One Accord. We traveled all over the US ministering in churches, youth camps, and high schools. It was a blast. One of the reasons it felt so good is that we were important…at least in our small bubble we were.

Kids clamoring for our attention.

Constant signings of t-shirts and CDs.

Traveling the nation.

Seeing people blessed by our ministry.

Awesome.

My friend and a mentor of the team, Nate Ruch, spoke a powerful word to us at a Michigan camp that I will never forget – ‘They are only loving the mask’. What he was teaching us was that who we were was so much deeper than what all these people on tour could see. Yes, we had a CD, t-shirts, were a ‘premier’ traveling group, and were good-looking (well, some of us).

What mattered was not so much what they said, but what God said of us. Man sees the outward appearance…

Here’s my question for you: Who are you when you step off your public ministry platform? Do you love and serve your wife? Are you honest? Do you worship God with intensity when you are all alone? Are you pursuing a life that glorifies God? This is what matters.

What are your masks?

Song Story – "Forever Near"

“Forever Near” is a song that took a while to craft. I am not a huge fan of fast food songs – songs that need prefaced with: “God gave me this song in 45 seconds and I’m keeping it just as it is.” While I do believe God gives me inspiration, I still want to craft my songs theologically, thematically, melodically, and musically. I once heard David Ruis say songwriting is a sacred trust (read a powerful article here). In other words, if this is something people are going to sing, I want it to be true.

This song was the result of prayer and study. I was really overcome by the love of God to draw me close to Himself. This song is my testimony, and captures the theme of the whole record.

  • Verse 1 speaks of the work of Christ in drawing me close to Himself.
  • The Chorus speaks of the majesty of this Truth. Near the Source of perfect love, yet also near the glory so beyond us. What an amazing paradox.
  • Verse 2 is my response to catching this revelation. Passion for Jesus. The more I lose in this world the more I gain in knowing Christ.

This is probably my favorite track on the album. I love the direction we took this one musically because it enhances the lyrics with a ‘contemplative’ feel. At the beginning I quote Psalm 65:4 (ESV), and at the end I quote Psalm 73:28 (ESV). What I love about this is listening becomes meditation on Scripture (check it out on myspace).

Jesus, You have redeemed my life from sin
Tore the veil and called me in
Opened my eyes to see and fear
Appointed me to be forever near

Forever near the Source of perfect love
Near the Glory so beyond
Open my heart to this revelation, this truth
Forever near to You

Passion for You has overtaken my heart
Now all I want is all You are
The closer I’m drawn the more I change
The more I lose the more I truly gain

Why I love complexity

What place does cool music have in worshiping the King of kings? What place does excellent artistry have in worship? Does the utilization of drum loops and click tracks cause God to focus more on our worship? Is the Holy Spirit waiting to show Himself strong on behalf of those who have the hippest hair style? Newest Chuck Taylor’s (or most destroyed)? Will the glory fall on those who consistently sing Chris Tomlin’s top 5?

Not exactly.

I don’t believe God is drawn to any particular sound or quality of music. But I do believe God is the most creative being in the universe and He has created us to do the same. That is why I love complexity in worship.

I believe Christian musicians, hearts rooted in the glory of God, should make the coolest music this world has ever seen. ‘Worship music’, in the truest sense of the term, should be the best because of Who we worship.

We should strive to be complex and creative for the sole purpose of Christ’s glory. We need to carry our styles, our instruments, our artistic endeavors, ALL OUR PLANS, into the presence of God and create so as to reflect the glory of our Creator.

So I love the simplicity of worship…but I also love the complexity.

What are your thoughts?

ds