Mirror, Mirror

The quote is as iconic as any in American film: "Mirror, mirror, on the wall — who is the fairest of them all?”

What little girl hasn’t stood in front of a mirror, hoping to discover that she is—indeed—the prettiest princess in the world? 

Here’s the thing about mirrors: they are truth tellers. When I stand in front of the mirror, it doesn’t tell me how fit I am, but how unfit. It doesn’t tell me how beautiful my hair is, but that I don’t have any left. It doesn’t tell me how young I am, but it shows me wrinkles that prove otherwise.

I wonder if we could think about stage presence as worship leaders like a mirror. And perhaps in two ways.

First, what you see from those you lead is a pretty good representation of what they see from you. Human behavior, especially in North America, is to reflect what you see. Try it some time. Sit across from someone and scratch your ear. Chances are, they’ll suddenly have an itch on their ear. Or sit up taller. Watch them respond. It may take a few minutes. And it may happen with increasing dependability the longer you sit across from them.

If this is true, and my experience has been that it is, what you are seeing from the congregation you lead is likely a whole lot like what they see from you as you lead. Not just you individually, but you as a team.

A few years ago, our church hosted a week long revival with Life Action Ministries. The band was very, very good. The songs were typical of what we do on Sunday mornings. But the musical-worship time was extreme. The joy? Extreme. The celebration? Extreme. The tenderness? Extreme. The surrender? Extreme.

The point leader of their worship team was not so “emotive,” but the others on stage were. The bass player got on his knees when they sang “I Surrender.” The keyboard player had a smile that would brighten the depths of Mammoth Cave. The violin player radiated joy.

And our congregation did what they saw.

I’m guessing yours does too.

But there’s another way I’d like us to think about mirrors. Psalm 34:5 says, “Those who look to Him are radiant with joy.” And 2 Corinthians 3:18 brings that ancient song to mind when Paul writes: “All of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord.” 

When we stand before our people, those we lead can see us radiant with joy. They can see us reflecting the glory of the Lord. They can have something worth mirroring, because of Whom we mirror.

Look at music, you’ll reflect musicianship.

Look at people, you’ll reflect their spiritual condition.

Look at the wall, you’ll reflect emptiness.

Look at Jesus, you’ll reflect the Light of the world.

A Checklist for Leading Great Meetings

Meetings can be boring, scattered, awful. The bane of church work.

Meetings can be fun, focused, productive. The energizer of Kingdom work.

Here are some things I’ve found exceedingly helpful in preparing to lead good meetings:

   1. Plan ahead. Give at least 7-10 days notice.

   2. Get everyone there. Communicate the best date and time and location for everyone to attend. (I sometimes have meetings at church, at my home, at a restaurant, or another neutral location.)

   3. Ask those who will be in the meeting what they know of that needs to be discussed. Do this early on.

   4. Divide the meeting into 4 sections:

       a) Devotion/Prayer

       b) Quick updates

       c) One big thing

       d) Wrap up

   5. Assemble an agenda based on the best flow of those items in “b", and send it out at least 24 hours before the meeting.

   6. Pray for the people who will attend, and for the content to be covered.

   7. Set up the room for that particular meeting. (Tables, chairs, something to write on and with, whiteboard and expo markers, etc.)

   8. Arrive early. Be first. Welcome people as they enter. Ask about their day, and if appropriate ask about the things you’ve been praying with them for God to do.

   9. Start on time. If you know a team member is running late, use discretion in whether or not to wait or start without them.

   10. Go as fast as you can on the stuff that doesn’t need much time. (Praying for discernment as you go.)

   11. Ask questions. Lots of questions. If someone isn’t speaking up, invite their participation. Every voice matters. Often those slow to speak have the best input to give.

   12. Relax. Laugh and cry. Play and work. Have fun and help others have fun.

What would you add?

God with a Kleenex

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” (Revelation 21:4)

Most of us are, understandably, drawn to “these things” that will be gone forever. 

After all, it’s nearly impossible to imagine a day without sorrow, yet we’re promised a sorrowless eternity.

We can’t fathom a week without pain, but one day nothing will ache. Not a tooth, a back, or a head.

We cannot begin to dream of a year with no crying. None. Not over skinned knees, broken friendships, or ended marriages.

Our brains can’t comprehend a season with no death. Old people live forever. Children are never to be buried by their parents.

Indeed, “All of these things are gone forever” in heaven.

Hallelujah!

Yet in the beauty and glory of that image, I wonder if we miss the most staggering thing about that verse. And it is the very first word.

He.

He = God.

God will wipe every tear from your eye.

The King eternal will step from His majestic throne with a heavenly Kleenex and wipe your eyes.

Oh, the intimacy! The tenderness. The touch of the Father’s hand.

My heart aches for that kind of Heavenly Father.

And in the staggering provision of a loving God, we don’t have to wait for heaven.

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

We can do that today. Right now.

Just have to take our own tissues.

If You Can't Sing, Please Do!

I love to hear great choral music, a tight women’s trio, or a gifted solo performer. Seriously, I could sit and listen for hours. Often, especially in live performances, the hair on my arms will stand up, a chill will run down my spine, or tears will moisten my eyes. There is nothing like beautiful music from those gifted to sing!

You have that experience too?

But there’s another beauty I hope to evoke today.

I love to hear, in church services above all, people who are terrible singers belting out the truths of the songs we sing.

Every time this happens, it’s like my soul smiles from ear to ear. (Wait, is that possible?)

I think there are at least five reasons for this unusual treat:

1. Their love for Jesus obviously trumps their fear of what others will think. Not sure about you, but for me this indicates that they are the same way in the world as they are in the church service. Their love for Jesus will trump their fear of what others think.
2. Their love for Jesus inspires people around them. This may seem counter-intuitive. How can bad singing inspire people? In addition to the above, it testifies to fellow worshipers that the gathering is about Jesus, not refined singing. This is a built-in win!
3. Their love for Jesus gets expressed, which fuels their love for Jesus. You’ve experienced this, yes? When you sing—out loud, not under your breath—the profound truths of song lyrics about who Jesus is and what He has done, it makes you fall more in love with Him. I love that this happens for “non-singers” and singers alike.
4. It is counter-cultural. In our specialized society, we expect people to be good at whatever they do and leave the rest for another specialist. But in following Jesus there’s no specialty. There’s just family. We love it when our brother or sister sings because of who they are, not because of what they do. This is not the way of the world, but it is the way of Jesus.
5. Non-singer, it makes your life better. There is scientific evidence that the commands of God to SING are good for you! It will cheer your heart. It will do things in you, physiologically, that nothing else can do. So as much as I love this for what the rest of us get out of it, I want you to sing most of all because of what you will get out of it.

The world says, “Sing, if you’re good enough.” the Bible says, “Sing, because God is good.”

So if you can’t sing, please do!

Loving Church Musicians

The longer I walk with Jesus, the more I love the Christian scriptures. They resonate more deeply, they challenge me more profoundly, and they comfort me more and more.

When using these scriptures in worship gatherings, I will often compare several translations to see which serves both the people and the moment best. I find the short sentences in the New Living Translation to be great for public worship, but sometimes a more familiar rendering helps--NIV or (especially in the Psalms) the KJV. If I want to be more of a storyteller or bring folks to an extremely familiar passage, The Message is a treasure.

There are some times I will adapt the pronouns or other words to contextualize the passage. I always want to do this in a way that make the passage come alive for the particular setting, and I never want to do it in a way that distorts or minimizes the truth of God's word.

For example, I'll take Ephesians 2:10 -- "For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." -- and send it to members of my worship ministry like this:

Nathan, you are God's masterpiece. He has created you anew in Christ Jesus, so you can do the good things He planned for you long ago. (based on Eph 2:10)
In a recent talk for worship leaders in our region, talking about how to love the members of our teams, I was drawn to 1 Corinthians 13. I hope it serves you well.

If I could speak all the languages of musicians and theologians, but didn’t love others, I would be a noisy gong or clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of song-writing, and if I understood all music theory and could play every instrument, and if I had a voice that could move first time guests and long time critics, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave all proceeds from CD sales to the poor and even gave up fame and fortune, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.

With every decision, let's aim to be known more as great lovers of our people than great musicians or great leaders.