I watched this video recently and was reminded of why Shane Hipps has so intrigued me. Shane raises some interesting questions that provoked and I am looking forward to reading his books. Also, since he is here in Phoenix, I am looking forward to connecting with Shane at some point in the future. Check out the video and comment away with your thoughts. (sorry I couldn’t embed the video here…Vimeo and YouTube are hating on WordPress right now).
-Scott
I remember a time when I was a kid running around in my Mr. T underwear wondering why our family had no electricity and the air conditioner wasn’t on. My parents managed a smile underneath what must have been an overwhelming amount of stress. My parents had a million jobs to fix the problem we were in. We experienced an economy that was really bad back then but apparently is nothing compared to what is going on now.
So I was in a meeting last week going over the woes of this sweet new economy and how it relates to this non-profit I am involved with. The revenue forecast was, in economic technical terms, lame-o. So inevitably we said “what should we do?…what is our plan?” The leader of our group said that “we will pause right now and wait on God.” However, an idea was put forward, that to me sounded like the “Silver Bullet” that would fix all sorts of problems. I was actually relieved for a second thinking that if we implement this idea, I wouldn’t have to worry or stress out about the near future of our non-profit. Then a “stirring” or that bizarre feeling you get after taking too many vitamins on an empty stomach took over. This feeling is usually God telling me “yea right!!!”
God always works in a counter-intuitive way with me. I realize that in all of my difficulties, I look for a cure, efficient response, an action plan or some other hip college sounding solution. I am always implementing or looking for a “silver bullet.” God is telling me there is no simple solution or quick fix for our non-profit’s financial woes. This is God writing the story of our lives and this is bigger than financial difficulties, and quick fixes. God is building our character; our need to rely on Him right now and it feels slow, painful and bummerish (which is a new word I invented). I have to really dig into what Jesus said:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
So my parents now live a pretty good life and I no longer wear Mr. T undees (not by choice…wife has an issue with it). They have been wise with their money since the 80′s. That period built their character and their understanding of fiscal responsibility. My parents got to experience a slow transformative process that God took them through. A new dependence on him. Not a quick fix like the lottery or a great story of a neighbor paying our bills as we like to hear. One night when we were sleeping by the candle light in our home without electricity and AC, my dad gave over his life to Jesus. That was the beginning of the story that God was writing for him. He gave up on an earthly silver bullet to fix “it” and began waiting on God.
-Danny Ortega
I am always careful to use the words ‘worship leader’. What if I lead someone to worship something or someone other than The Almighty God? I prefer ‘song leader’. I think I prefer the latter to the former because the former is too vague. Song leader describes exactly what I’m doing…and I like it that way. I started leading songs when I was in college out of a need that arose in our college group. The need was for our group to be able to express our love and worship to Christ through song when we gathered corporately. Traditionally, that requires someone leading the songs being sung. What the group got was a spiritual infant leading poorly. A lot of times, I wonder if that is what people are still getting from me. I admit I can be quite harsh, and my own worst critic; but this past Friday night made me wonder.
I have had the privilege of leading songs for large and small groups. It is my passion. I get so much joy out of it. However, I have often wondered if I get joy out of it because of the ‘feeling’ I get when I’m playing music. It’s no different than the feeling anyone gets when they do something they love doing. It’s not a bad feeling to have, but that feeling can take over and it gives me a false sense of purpose sometimes. I have wrestled with the idea of being a ‘full-time Christian music star’. I use the word star lightly…but in all seriousness…and this is embarrassing…I’ve wondered if I have the chops to do what Tomlin or Robbie Seay do…play music full time, leading others in the worship of the Almighty God…becoming a ‘house-hold name’, being played on Christian radio, and having people inquire about why I wrote certain songs and telling me that they are good. It’s that feeling of having a significant impact and purpose.
As I’ve progressed in the years, music has even become a second job for me. I’ve gone on the road on several occasions because others have deemed me valuable enough to lead others in song…what a rush…but what a responsibility. I must admit…I’ve failed horribly so many times. You see, I’ve been plagued with this idea that I must leave my mark on this world musically. I’m a teacher by trade…but I strongly feel it needs to be in the area of music. I struggle with whether or not that need is my own want or God’s calling on my life. Most of the time I fear it’s my own desire. I think it might have to do with the fact that my only view of ‘significant impact’ is whether or not people outside of Arizona hear my songs…know the sound of my band…can sing the lyrics that I penned. It’s this insecurity in my purpose that muddies what God might be trying to do in me.
So this past Friday night I had the opportunity of a lifetime. I was asked to go to Tucson to help lead music for 300+ college kids on the University of Arizona campus. It was outdoors…the weather was beautiful. I was on cloud nine because I was deemed ‘good enough’ to lead other college kids in worship. And believe me, college kids can be picky…downright prejudiced about the music they like. So I was stoked to say the least. Everything was going well until the first song. That’s right…the first song. The sound system blew. Right there…in the middle of the first song…my chance to make an impression was literally blown by wattage, amps…electrical jargon that I don’t even know. I played it off well. I smiled…said ‘no big deal’…did all the right things on the outside…but on the inside I couldn’t believe that a sound issue was going to ruin this. Wow…how embarrassing to admit…but I failed on the attitude test. Everything was restored to perfection, and we went on with the concert…but I felt crummy. I knew that my attitude had destroyed my heart. No one else knew…but I did. I acted like an infant. I felt like I’d made no progress since I had started leading. I started doubting myself.
So what does the big, long title about Sound have to do with anything? Well…I actually wrote a song about it a couple of years ago. The gist of it is this: We all will make some sort of noise or sound while we’re on this earth. It will be how we live, what we do, who we love, etc. But really, the sound we’re making while doing all of this is the sound of God himself, in us, being sung. The quality of our song is directly related to the quality of our relationship/reliance/dependence/love/reverence for the Creator. Everyone in the world is singing…its God singing through them whether they know it or not. The sound we hear is God himself. He’s sweeping through the world. It’s Him and only him. It’s heard through the lives that we live. The song we sing will be heard.
My song this Friday night was a song of disappointment in the circumstances. Christ was not glorified through my song. The sound emanating from my heart was not pleasant. If people could have seen my heart, they would have been able to tell how I viewed God. The blown sound system was a perfect example that God does not need our songs…although they have meaning; they are not what he desires…he needs us. We are his song. He desires us. Its crappy news for a song leader…someone passionate about the musical aspect…passionate about the songs being sung…but it’s such a relief and a fear knowing that my songs will always be heard…and the critic is Christ…the Risen One.
So, please help me stay accountable to what matters. The praise from the world is always great…but it doesn’t matter. The song people should hear from my life is that Christ is in me. I am not perfect, but they see and hear Christ no matter what. Please remind me that my purpose with leading songs might not be what I think it should be…but that someone very important is listening…that the sound coming from my life is the most beautiful sound in the world. Please remind me that one great songwriter once wrote that “When the music fades, and all is stripped away…that I long to bring something that’s of worth”…that, “I’ll bring Him more than songs because songs in themselves are not what he requires”. I struggle with knowing that, someday, people will see me as washed up and will want the next great song leader to step in and lead them. That will be a tough day. So help me stay accountable to the fact that my purpose will remain forever…that I must take the sound of Christ to the world.
How does our life sound as followers? Is the sound people hear only noise, or Christ in us?
-Dave Ellis
I am writing a paper today – it’s due tomorrow. It’s not a term paper – don’t worry…I didn’t procrastinate that bad!
The subject of the paper is a man named Othniel. Fun name, huh? Othniel is the first judge mentioned in the book of Judges, within the Old Testament. Othniel’s uncle is a man named Caleb. Caleb was one of two men who refused to give in to fear when faced with a land full of strong people and giants. He and another man named Joshua grabbed ahold of hope and chose to trust that God was moving on their behalf. Their legacy is one of strength, courage, hope and faith. (For more on these stories, check out the Crash podcast series “The Joshua Generation” at www.rhinocrash.org.)
As I am reading about how God used Othniel to rescue the people of Israel, I discovered something. Othniel is not a young dude. By the time he becomes a judge, he is in his late-60s. Not exactly Chuck Norris-in-his-prime, right? One commentary I am reading entitled this section of Scripture – “salvation through an old man”.
I am a part of a church that struggles like many other churches – the generations often do not treat each other with respect and honor. The younger can be mavericks, at times rebellious, and indignant. The older can be frustrated, skeptical, and closed-off. The younger yearn for a chance to lead and the older wonder if they still have something to contribute.
The story of Othniel – an old man that rescues a people with courage and hope – this story can be written again in our time. What would it mean for a community to come together across generational lines? What would it mean for twenty-somethings and AARP members to unite around common values and vision? What could be shared and learned through mentoring and honest dialogue? What if both sides spoke to listen before they spoke, to understand before being understood?
If Othniel can go Chuck Norris on a city in Canaan at the ripe old age of 68, then I think there are some awesome opportunities ahead for an older generation to continue to guide and mentor a younger generation.
I took my first test of my last semester of seminary today…I feel really good saying that! I had four different study sessions for this test. I spent time with a friend comparing notes and reviewing content. We discussed what we thought this professor would explore. We thought back to his testing methods last semester and made plans. I got up this morning to do my last studying, and to be honest, I wanted to wait until later tonight or tomorrow afternoon to take it. I wanted more study time.
But I just felt like I needed to go for it. That I was probably more ready that I realized…so I took it. And although I brainfarted on a couple of names, I got the test. There wasn’t any question that was asked that I did not already understand how to answer. I had overhyped it – I was more ready than I thought I was.
This problem not only plagues me in school, but also in life. I often hesitate and become passive, letting an opportunity pass me by because I feel like I am not ready enough. I need more time. I need more preparation. Problem…I am not sure there will be another opportunity or moment like that again. And I did not lead courageously in that moment because I was uncertain and maybe a bit fearful. I have a conversation looming on the near horizon that I have been delaying and deferring for months – it needs to happen, but I have kept making the excuse “I am not ready to have that conversation yet.” Well, now, life has decided that its happening – ready or not.
Regardless of how the present crises we find ourselves encountering unfolds (in our towns and cities and around the world), we would be wise to flee from passivity and move towards action that drips with courage and hope. Your challenge may not be a take home test on the Old Testament; it may be something much larger and more pivotal. But most of us fall back because we do not think we are ready…when in reality, we are more ready than we realize…
So, what will we choose – Fear or Hope?
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” -Joshua 1:9
Since I graduated college and moved into my part-time position at North Phoenix, I have met some very successful people within the realm of church leadership. Famous people. You would know their names. They command large appearance fees, they write popular books, their blogs have thousands of followers.
All of these people have been intelligent and articulate when they spoke or were interviewed. Many of them left me with pages and pages of ideas that I reflected on for weeks and months to come.
You want to know what the most surprising part of these experiences has been? Occasionally, I will meet a leader who has encountered unexpected success that should make them over-confident, bordering on hubris. They have found success that others long for and envy. Yet, they are humble and make me feel like a friend.
I still have those experiences when I get close to someone I have watched from afar and I find their shine dimming a bit. Maybe I caught them on a bad day or at a moment where they were at less than their best. But something is lost in that moment.
My conclusion in all of this?
1) I want to be like Jesus, not Don Miller, Andy Stanley, or Rob Bell.
2) I need to continue to search for my own voice and not mimmic some person I enjoy listening to on my iPod.
3) I must humble myself continually because I am closer to what I disdain than I think.
