What is "Worship" Part 3 : Where...?? Why there??

Where is it in your 'week day' schedule or routine that you find it the hardest to worship God? I'm not speaking about singing or playing music here... but worshiping him as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1) in our life.

How does a living sacrifice act like....

at home?

alone?

at work?

at school?

at play?

These are hard questions for me to answer - and through the course of this series I hope to personally be able to answer these at more depth. Something that I am starting to understand to a greater extent... we are called to worship God as a living sacrifice in the areas above because it takes us being intentinal in following the Holy Spirit through our week. We become more like Christ when we imitate the example of a life of a living sacrifice as Jesus displayed in his life on Earth.

I encourage you to join with me in diving into the answers of the questions above.

Romans 12:1-2

¹Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

²And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Music in the Church : Take the Survey!

I've posted this on facebook already (and have had a great response) - if you still have yet to take it, please participate! I would love to get as broad of a perspective on this as possible!! If you know someone that might participate please forward this to them, or send it around your congregations!!

Take the Survey Here:

Thanks for your time and responses - I'll share them as soon as I see the survey's stop coming in (give it a week).

What is "Worship" Part 2 : Style of Music

When I think of how passionate some are about a particular "Style" of Worship (mainly speaking to Music) I wonder what King David would say in response (I include myself in this reflection)... or further more how God receives this...?

Currently I'm on a Search Committee for a senior pastor and a couple weeks ago I was mulling over some prospective profiles of Senior Pastors and one of the questions that was asked was: "What style of worship do you prefer?" One candidate answered "anything but all hymns". In all honesty I have the same preference, but what does this say about our (my) purpose of worship at times? When worship becomes anything but to extol, exalt, and adore God, then it is simply not worship.

What if God would (I know that he wouldn't) mandate that every church in all the world sing songs just like the Levites did. Would anyone even know how to play some of those instruments...? The majority of people wouldn't even know how to pronounce some of those words / lyrics!! In all seriousness, I understand that God takes joy in different varieties of Worship (different styles if you will), but when we start to think we can only worship with a certain style of music (or not with a specific style) then, well.... we've (I've) missed the point of true Spirit filled worship. I include myself in all of this because I'm guilty of these thoughts at one point or another.


Next Part: "Where...?? Why there??"

What is "Worship" Part 1 : Thankfulness

Trying something new! Rather than just my personal observations. Here is Part 1 of 5 (at this point) As I studying 'worship' at Vanguard Bible College a couple years ago, I formed my phylosphy of worship and I beleive it fits with Part 1...

Worship can be defined as “A reply of gratitude to God’s majesty”. We find through the scriptures that God’s everlasting covenant is his idea. He came to us and proclaimed that we were his people (Lev 26:12). And even though we continually turn from Him in all His splendor, he persistently renews the covenant first made with us. A very rushed recap of history... He makes a covenant with Moses in Leviticus 26:12, then he sends his Son, Jesus Christ, and then finally he says in Revelation 21:3 ""Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.”. All we can do in response to this awesome act of pursuant ransom is reply by saying “Thank you God”. And then make ourselves available (Romans 12:1) for all that he has planed for us (Eph 2:10 & Jer 29:11). This can be done in many avenues (work, prayer, service, song, bowing, lifting the hands, solemn procession, dance, stillness, etc...).

When someone does something for you in an act of kindness, the natural reaction is gratitude. God commands us to love and worship him only, but when people understand the extent that God has gone to pursue us, the result is a desire to worship, and thank him. Giving a “reply of Gratitude because of God’s Majesty” by no means adds to how glorious and awesome He is. However, when done with a pure heart, it does cause us to submit, serve, and revere who He is because of what he has done. Acknowledging this while exercising free will is true worship.

all that work...

My son Levi has started to climb the stairs. He is 9 months old and loves to do anything his brother does. This afternoon Levi climbed about 12 stairs to reach the top of them all... only for me to carry him back down stairs (nothing good would have come from him being up there...) - the parallel to my relationship with God, I realized as I was carrying him down the steps was this: God often lets me crawl up the steps that I shouldn't, then when I get to the top he simply carries me back down to where I should be dwelling and living and playing.... you name it. What I learned from Levi tonight, was that he didn't care one bit (and I shouldn't either when God directs me back to where I should be...) it is for my good and his glory..... Carry me back down God, one more time, you'll probably do it again tomorrow.......

Life Critic

You know how there are movie critics, food critics, city critics.....? Well I've realized that there are a couple other types of critics... life critics, and a people critics -- and it is absolutely amazing how quickly a critical spirit can tear things apart, things like people, ministry, marriages, sons, daughters, businesses, colleagues..... you name it. If there are people involved with any aspect - you can be critical. I'm asking that we all, anyone who reads this, make a commitment to NOT be critical of anything or anyone (yes including the weather -- because with the weather you are being critical of God.... and that is a scary thing) I have seen how making a point to be non-critical in my thoughts, and spirit have changed me and the people around me - granted I have a lot of room to grow in this, but it is exciting!
http://gangwish.blogspot.com

Busy, Busy, Busy...

My default is that my 'to do' list gets very long, very quickly - can any one relate??

What I have observed is that this takes quite a toll on my effectiveness and ministry to others (e.i. Family, Neighbors, Colleagues, but most importantly to God and his Son Jesus. I am bombarded with thoughts through out the day that I have to get very minuscule tasks done, but the problem with this is that each little minuscule task leads to another non-important issue to work on.... My 2nd observation is that this effects my WORSHIP - I find my mind constantly working to compile lists of "to do's" whether merited or not, they hinder my focus on Christ. Granted, we all (especially me) need lists but not to the extent that they overwhelm our mind's and hearts to blind us from the Most Important.

fire pit - future

had a great time last night around our fire pit roasting mallows and smores with some great people!

in one of the many conversations that unfolded some of us talked about the moments that seem to creep up on you - when you desire time to stop. As I sat pondering this and continue to think on the subject, I ask myself "why, why would I want time to stop?" Why not enjoy the moment, and look forward to the next 'thin space' and be expectant that God would grant some more times like this, and look forward to when the 'thin space' is for eternity. I look and live too much (and too often) for the "good times" here on earth.

Revelation 21:10-11 (and chapter)

Best "underplayed" Worship Songs (in my opinion)

Picture taken by my best photography friend: Quinn Nisley

I am drawn to music... Recently have I have had a couple people ask for some fresh worship songs (that maybe haven't been played as much as they should have, and that you don't hear on the Radio too much) so here is my top "underplayed" songs for Worship.

...in no particular order...

• Pslam 62 by Aaron Keys
• If you Say Go by Diane Theil
• Invitacion Fountain by Michael J. Pritzl
• Mystery by Charlie Hal
• Enter The Worship Circle (Chair and Microphone, Vol's 1,2,3)
  
• Shepherd of My Thankful Heart by Paul Oakley