So often we live as if to expect that the move of God, the voice of God, the power of God in our lives will just happen to us.  We get frustrated saying, “God is silent.” or “God is absent.” or “God doesn’t seen to care.”  But the issue, almost always, is us.

We must be intentional about our relationship with God.  It’s about choices.  It’s about the right priorities.  If we choose to make time for scripture, prayer, and worship.  We are in position to hear God, feel His presence, and be refreshed to walk in His power.

How can you create some space in your life this week to be intentional with God?  What items need to go down the totem pole so God can be at the top?

One of the books on worship (aside from scripture) that has had the most impact on me as a worship leader has been “Facing the Wall” by Don Potter.  Below is a link to the the message I shared this past Sunday at church on the subject of worship entitled “Facing the Wall”.

Why do we worship? What should it look, sound, and feel like? What are the results of worship?

Sermon Audio

Sermon Notes

Here’s a couple of albums I’ve picked up recently.

Joy – Allen Levi, Bebo Norman, and Ed Cash

Beautiful You – Rita Springer

Jesus Culture: Everything – Kim Walker, Chris Quilala, Melissa Wise

The Writer’s Collection – Paul Baloche

I stole this video from my fellow Star Wars geek Chip.  Thanks buddy.

Just for fun!

Here are the notes from the message I gave at church today regarding worship.  The title is drawn from Don Potter’s book and his story of how he learned who worship is really for.  I also drew some insights and quotes from Matt Redman, John Mark McMillan, Richard Foster, Bob Kauflin and Mark Driscoll.

Facing the Wall – 11-01-09

We’ve been talking about things (vitamins) we need in our relationships over the last few weeks.   One of the key things we need in our relationships as a body and in our relationship with God is worship.

God is so serious about it that the first two commandments are to Serve and Worship God only.

This is a vast and sometimes divisive subject and I want to deal with the heart of the issue.

• Don Potter intro and story
  • Book “Facing the Wall”
  • His story
    • Pro Musician – Judds
    • Saved and decided to serve God with gift because he was good at it
    • God kept him from that for 15 yrs
    • During that time God had him “face the wall” – spending alone time in worship to learn who worship is for and what it is all about.
    • We have specific images that come to mind when we hear the word worship
      • Music, lifestyle, expressions, lack of expressions, etc.
      • I want us to take a look at some questions today regarding worship and prayerfully make some discoveries as people who are called to worship

1. Why do we worship?
   1. Why did you get out of bed and come to church today? You didn’t have to.
      1. i.      Is it routine? Is it the cultural norm?
      2. ii.      Is it fear? Is it pride?
2. 6 people in 3 situations
   1. i.      Habakkuk 3:17-18 – He is distraught over the evil in his day among his people and wants God to do something about it. God is going to raise up the Babylonians who were more wicked than they to bring judgment upon them. It’s going to be rough, but he knows it will be God’s mercy upon them for their good. So, he gives this worship/praise to God.
   2. ii.      Acts 16:16-40 – Paul and Silas deliver fortune teller girl from spirit and shut the business down.  Owners complain and they are beaten and thrown in jail.  At midnight in prison, in stocks, they are worshipping.  The other prisoners were listening.  God moves in power, brings salvation, and sets them free all bringing glory to Himself.
   3. iii.      Daniel 3 – Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego – In the face of Death would not worship an idol, but God alone.  God saved them from death brought glory to himself.
3. What is it that they understood that drove them to live sacrificial lives of worship even when it was hard, painful, costly?  THEY UNDERSTOOD THE WHY
   1. i.      It wasn’t about their circumstances, their personal ideas of what God should or shouldn’t do for them.
   2. ii.      It was about God – It was about His nature
      1. Matt Redman says, “Worship is about God, to God, and for God.”
   3. iii.      GOD WAS THEIR GOD – First Commandment. There was no other option because nothing else was God!
4. Why? He is God!
   1. i.      Talk about our idol problems  – what is your God? What drives your decisions? Who are you seeking approval from? What’s your goal in life? What’s your savior?
5. Why? Because of mercy!
   1. i.      Romans 12:1 – “Because of mercy”
   2. ii.      Romans 5:8 – “While we were yet sinners Christ died for us”
   3. iii.      We were lost, hopeless, no future, no way out and He came and had mercy on us!
   4. iv.      Bob Kauflin’s perspective – nothing about our worship is acceptable, but in Christ God receives it as if His own Son is offering it.
   5. What should worship look, sound, and feel like?
      1. Define Worship
         1. i.      Greek word – proskuneo – to kiss the hand
         2. ii.      Hebrew word – shachah – to fall or bow down
         3. iii.      Psalm 95:6 – Subject to the king!
         4. iv.      English word literally means – worth-ship to ascribe worth to
6. We all worship – the question is what.
   1. i.      Examples car, church, church methods, person, money
   2. ii.      Story of my panic about flying with Joe guitar
      1. Stewardship versus idol
      2. Fear or freedom
   3. iii.      What do you sacrifice for and what are you sacrificing for it?
      1. Family for job? God for girl? Offering of praise for dignity?
7. If worship is giving or ascribing worth to – then worship costs.
   1. i.      2 Samuel 24 – David and altar
      1. God was angry with Israel and David and punishes them
      2. David goes to worship God after realizing his mess, he comes to the realization that he is sinful and he has to give God all
      3. Read 21-24
   2. ii.      It’s about sacrificial giving “Living Sacrifice”, “giving a sacrifice of praise”
      1. Singing is important and part of it, but it’s about your whole life
      2. That will impact our time, talents, finances, physical expressions, relationships
      3. It’s not about how much do I have to, it’s about first.  Give first – the upmost.
      4. It’s obedience even when it’s costly.
8. We all have preferences. That’s a great thing!
   1. i.      Problem is when we decide our preferences are God’s
   2. ii.      Tell Pharaoh Pharaoh story
   3. iii.      John Mark McMillan quote “Our common expressions (of worship), even the most traditional, still look relatively nothing like those of the bible . . . and that’s ok because “it” (the way of worship). . . seems to be more about the level of our authenticity not the precision of our mimicry”
9. God’s not after our ritual and repetition he’s after the authentic based on His word lived out in community.
   1. i.      A.B.C.
      1. Authentic – overflow of private
      2. Biblical – scriptures are our guide (psalms, Jesus “rejoice”)
      3. Community – cooperate expression – gathers, teaches, encourages

1. What are the results?
   1. Worship Declares – 1 Peter 2:9
      1. i.      We are His, He is our God, We Declare – this involves every area of our life
         1. How you living out there?
         2. How you living in here?
   2. ii.      He is glorified on the earth
      1. The world will see
2. Worship encourages and teaches – Colossians 3:16
   1. i.      Want to know God more?  Then do it!
   2. ii.      You will grow more by practicing what you know, not just hearing more of it  – James – “Be doers”
3. Worship transforms lives
   1. i.      We are changed by what we declare, are encouraged about, and teach. The presence of God changes us
   2. ii.      Isaiah encountered the presence of God and discovered his true self
   3. iii.      We discover the love of an adoptive Father – we discover our identity
   4. iv.      Richard Foster, author of Celebration of Discipline, “If worship does not change us, it has not been worship.  To stand before the Holy One of eternity is to change.  Worship begins in holy expectation and ends in holy obedience.”
   5. Close
      1. Habakkuk worships because he sees the mercy in God’s correction
      2. Paul and Silas worship because they know God, God moves in power in their lives, saving people and setting people free
      3. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego have no fear, even of death, because they know their God and He is faithful
      4. We worship because He is our God, because He has shown us mercy
      5. It will cost us everything but we gain everything

It declares God to a lost and dying world that needs him desperately, draws us together, and never

Jesus Christ is the One Most Important Thing

“Christians don’t follow Christianity; Christians follow Christ.

Christians don’t preach themselves; Christians proclaim Christ.

Christians don’t point people to core values; Christians point people to the cross.

Christians don’t preach about Christ: Christians preach Christ.” ~ Quoted from A Jesus Manifesto

Take a few minutes, drop by http://ajesusmanifesto.wordpress.com/ and read.

I came across this quote by John Mark McMillan today while I was studying and praying through the idea of worship.

“I’m not at all against traditional expressions of worship (btw I consider most “contemporary” expressions still to be incredibly traditional), but I am against the stupid idea that these expressions are any more “correct” or “Biblical”. Our common expressions, even the most traditional, still look relatively nothing like those of the bible… and that’s OK because “it” (whatever “it” is) seems to be more about the level of our authenticity, not the precision of our mimicry.” ~ John Mark McMillan

Being a worship pastor, I am often confronted not only by people in churches but also in my own heart with our perceptions of what worship is and how we practice it in our modern construct.  I get so frustrated sometimes and the level of conviction we develop over styles of music and worship expressions and how we wound one another in the process.  Let’s remember that God is looking for “whatever we do” (Colossians 3:17) that we do it with an authentic heart to glorify His name, not that we mimic perfectly some other churches method.  We can look like the highest and best but be just as lost on the inside.  God’s looking at our hearts (I Samuel 16:7).

I just linked my blog to my Twitter which was already linked to my Reverbnation page which also posts on Facebook.  It’s nice that we’re finally getting to where we can consolidate these tools so that the things that are supposed to save us time don’t consume so much of it.

The truth is these things are inert, no power or bias of their own.  It’s all in how we leverage it.  A few thousand years ago, the gospel flourished with sheer conviction of heart and commitment of will under the direction of the Holy Spirit.  No big buildings, no projectors, no amplifiers, no hymnals, and certainly no Twitter.  Some churches are shunning technology and they are losing out on the language of modern American culture.  Some churches are in the midst of technology orgy and are being led by the promises of ease and speed.  I’m crying out for the middle ground!  We must be lead by the Holy Spirit, driven by a love for God and a love for people, and leverage technology for the Kingdom.  Remember, technology isn’t needed (God doesn’t need anything, not me, not you, and not a smart phone), but it can be useful.

Just remember nothing can replace time with God, without faith it is impossible to please Him.  Be careful that what is good doesn’t consume so much of your time that it robs you of the best – time with God, face to face time with people, and a sheer commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Be creative this week with your “technologies” and see how you can use them for the Kingdom in ways that allow more time with God, Family, Friends, and the Mission Field you find yourself in.

Today is Joseph’s 5th Birthday.  It’s really hard to believe that much time has passed and he’s growing so quickly.  Victoria just had her 11th birthday and that one is even scarier because she is pre-teening already.  I was thinking today how much these dates mean to me and how we celebrate them so much out of love for our children.

When is your spiritual birthday?  Can you remember when you met Jesus?  All of heaven celebrated.  It means more to your heavenly Father than you could possibly imagine.  If you don’t remember a date, just make sure you know Him and celebrate the gift of everlasting life you’ve been given!  Happy Birthday.

I’ve been a little slow on blog updates in recent weeks and I was reflecting tonight on why that was.  Some of it is busyness.  Some of it is being lazy. But, some of it is the fight to have something to say.  There is a pressure to always have an answer or some kind of insight.

Today, I had the opportunity to get beyond my need to have something to say and spend some quality time re-learning how to listen.  To listen to a friend, to the sound of the rain and wind (there is a nor-easter storm going on here), to the sound of my children playing, and the sound of quiet as the house settles down for sleep.

It is a blessing to listen – He still speaks in a still small voice.