Honest Worship

Matt and Beth Redman in Blessed Be Your Name wrote, "Wholesome worship never minimizes the pain of this world. It could be all too easy to sing our victorious songs, forever sweeping the hardship of that life under the carpet. A far healthier approach is to acknowledge before God the pain of this life and then choose Him in the midst of it--not trying to deny or somehow superficially rise above our pain, but instead welcoming Him right into the reality of the situation."

When introducing the song "God of Wonders," I'd be inclined to read these four verses. They are encouraging, hopeful, powerful. Check out Psalm 77:11-14:

But then I recall all you have done, O Lord;

   I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago.

They are constantly in my thoughts.

   I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works.

O God, your ways are holy.

   Is there any god as mighty as you?

You are the God of great wonders!

   You demonstrate your awesome power among the nations.

If you read only this first set of words, you would think the ancient song writer was delighted in his relationship with God. But the Psalmist was more honest than we want to be. In fact, his honesty reveals that he was not feeling very encouraged at all.  He knew about a fuller, more honest worship. Now read a few of the lines of his song that went before those above:

I think of the good old days
   long since ended,
when my nights were filled with joyful songs.
   I search my soul and ponder the difference now.
Has the Lord rejected me forever?
   Will he never again be kind to me?
Is his unfailing love gone forever?
   Have his promises permanently failed?
Has God forgotten to be gracious?
   Has he slammed the door on his compassion? Interlude

And I said, “This is my fate;
   the Most High has turned his hand against me.”

This is key for honest worship. It's one of the reasons the song "Blessed Be Your Name" has been such a powerful song for so many. We must be careful not to "pretend worship," like nothing in life ever goes wrong. But neither can we worship like there is anything wrong with God. He really is the God of miracles and the God of wonders! 


www.worshipcoach.us

Celebration

During most of my lifetime, celebration is the spiritual discipline that Christians have least mastered. We don't celebrate Jesus very well.

We repent. We confess. We strive to be righteous. We try to have a "quiet time" most days. We pray. We read the Bible. We make an effort to care about other people. We even study some.

In Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster wrote, "Celebration is at the heart of the way of Christ... we are called into a perpetual Jubilee of the Spirit. God has turned our mourning into dancing. Celebration brings joy into life, and joy makes us strong... Far and away the most important benefit of celebration is that it saves us from taking ourselves too seriously... After all, Jesus rejoiced so fully in life that he was accused of being a wine-bibber and a glutton... In celebration the high and mighty regain their balance and the weak and lowly receive new stature... Joy begets joy. Laughter begets laughter... modern men and women have become so mechanized that we have snuffed out nearly all experiences of spontaneous joy... One sway to practice celebration is through singing, dancing, shouting... There is not a thing wrong with noise at the appropriate time, just as there is nothing wrong with silence when it is appropriate."

And Richard Foster is from the Quaker tradition.

It makes me wonder, when you think of a party-throwing organization, does the church make the 10 Best list? Does it even make the list?

If so, wonderful! The joy of the Lord really IS your strength, and you know it deeply.

If not, what's stopping you? Are you a leader in your church? How about shaping the culture to be one of greater joy?

Like Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD) said, "The Christian should be an alleluia from head to foot!"

And as the Apostle Paul wrote, "Don't live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants. Don't drink too much wine. That cheapens your life. Drink the Spirit of God, huge draughts of him. Sing hymns instead of drinking songs! Sing songs from your heart to Christ. Sing praises over everything, any excuse for a song to God the Father in the name of our Master, Jesus Christ." (Ephesians 5:17-19 MSG)


www.worshipcoach.us

Advent - Peace

“God…reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:18

Ya know that feeling you have deep in your gut when you get to spend time with someone special to you? Someone with whom there is no hint of angst in your relationship. Someone that brings a sense of warmth to your heart?

For some of you that is your parents. You have such an easy time talking with them. If the caller ID says their name, your heart feels a little sunnier.

For others it is your children. When you hear the sound of their voice it brings a sense of exhilaration to your spirit.

For still others it’s your wife or your husband. The sound of her voice or the sight of his face brings instant delight to your soul.

For a few of you there is one friend, somewhere in the world, who sends an email, or writes a letter. It is the first thing you open. It trumps all other, even more pressing issues.

Interesting, isn’t it, that in these descriptions are the Christmas feelings of hope, joy, and love?

But hope, joy, nor love can exist fully without peace. In any relationship, when there is a lack of peace, expectancy is replaced with anxiety. Pleasure is replaced with doldrums. And warmth is replaced with emptiness.

How about your relationship with Jesus? Do you open His word with anticipation? Is your ministry on behalf of our Master-turned-Servant filled with delight? When you pray, do you sometimes sit and simply enjoy the presence of your Savior? When we gather for worship, do you exchange moments of deep love with the Lover of our souls?

Consider how C. S. Lewis describes when the four children are first told about Aslan…

“At the name of Aslan each one of the children felt something jump in its inside. Edmund [who had been hanging out with the white witch] felt a sensation of mysterious horror. Peter felt suddenly brave and adventurous. Susan felt as if some delicious smell or some delightful strain of music had just floated by her. And Lucy got the feeling when you wake up in the morning and realize it is the beginning of the holidays or the beginning of summer.”

And later… at the first encounter of all but Edmund with Aslan…

“His voice was deep and rich and somehow took the fidgets out of them. They now felt glad and quiet and it didn’t seem awkward to them to stand and say nothing.”

My friends, pursue Shalom this Christmas. And allow the Shalom of God to pursue you.

“He (Jesus) came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.” Ephesians 2:17

Powerful Carol Text

In recent years I've been singing Christmas carols with an increased awareness of the powerful texts tucked away in their familiar melodies. The deeper I understand what Christmas means, the greater profundity I find in singing about that mysterious, magnificent event.

Maybe you've shared that part of my journey.

There's one carol that I'd never have understood had I not done some research into the archaic text. I think you may be just as surprised as I was when you read on.

It's the first line that opens up the rest.

"God rest ye merry gentlemen."

Sounds to me like a line that should encourage nap taking after a Christmas feast laden with Tryptophan.

Belly full... that crazy turkey hormone making us feel satiated.

And we sleep. 

But some study of the language more commonly used when this text was crafted--more than 500 years ago--reveals a totally different vibe.

The word we sing as "rest" would better be understood as "make." Isn't that cool? So we substitute a key word with better understanding and get:

"God make ye merry gentlemen."

Yes!

God is the one who brings joy. Merriment. God is the one who makes us merry. 

Not so fast.

The word merry didn't mean "happy" back in the day. It actually meant "mighty." 

"God make ye mighty, gentlemen." 

Really? Yes. Really. 

So how does that set of words come alive now?

God make you mighty, gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay.
Remember Christ our Savior
Was born on Christmas Day;
To save us all from Satan's pow'r 
When we were gone astray.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy!

So let nothing dismay you this Christmas season. Jesus was born to save us from Satan's power. We are the church! The gates of hell don't stand a chance against us. Christ was born to save us all from Satan's power. 

God make you mighty, ladies and gentlemen!


Have a merry [mighty] Christmas!

Be a Carrier

"The Father is not seeking worship but worshippers" said Helena McNeil in a presentation at Willow Creek's arts conference back in 2006.

When I heard that, it struck me just how powerfully worship and evangelism are linked.

Because God is seeking worshippers, part of our responsibility is to testify to the goodness of God. So consider--How does what we do in our churches, our worship ministries, as worship leaders, and as Christ followers help people get to the place of being a worshipper?

These responsibilities extend from both sides of the church walls.

We must be people who carry the Presence of God to our world. McNeil said it this way in that session: "A worshipper is a carier of the presence of God." Where we work, study, eat, shop, play, exercise... all of these places are made different because the presence of God is manifested through our presence.

The more dynamic our worship life is (both private and gathered), the more we are empowered to carry God's presence to the world.

When we worship, serve, talk, or pray within the walls of our churches, we do so "as unto the Lord." (Col 3) When we sing, people who are still far from God can see the presence of God in our souls. When we listen for the word of God... when we offer our prayers... when we walk with one another in authentic relationships, all of these things carry the presence of God. 

And the more faithfully we carry His presence, the more God will choose us to partner with Him in His quest for worshippers.

So I wonder... how are you and I doing at being a carrier?

Strong Tower

When my younger brother was, well, younger, he used to find ways to get in trouble. Rich would taunt bigger kids. Actually, he would taunt just about anyone. Now that he is in his mid-forties, he pretty much does the same thing. But that's a tale for another time.

Rich has written a great short story based on one of those childhood times. In this case he is an eighth grader picking on a smaller and weaker seventh grader. Unfortunately for Rich, the little seventh grader has a "mean-as-snot" eight grade friend, Mike. Moments after picking on the skinny seventh grader, Rich gets hit by his nemesis. Hard. So he runs. I love how he ends the story...

"My brother hears or God tells him I'm coming home. He opens the door; I go inside. Mike is at the door, screaming, only to face Rod, 4,000 pounds of door-stopping eleventh grader."

Today I am convinced that when we have been punched hard by the devils of this world God yearns for us to run to our big Brother, our Strong Tower, or Refuge, our Defender.

It seems to me that unlike in Rich's real-life story, we too often run somewhere else: friend-ward, in-ward, or sin-ward. There is no real strength in any of those places.

But in God is One who is stronger.

"The LORD is a mighty tower where his people can run for safety." Proverbs 18:10 (CEV)

Perhaps you remember this song by Kutless from just a few years ago. It seems pertinent:

You are my strong tower

Shelter over me

Beautiful and mighty

Everlasting King

You are my strong tower

Fortress when I'm weak

Your name is true and holy

And Your face is all I seek

Breathe

Take a deep breath. No, really. Go ahead. In.... Out...

Do it one more time.

Now what would it look like if for one brief moment all of creation used its breath to praise the one true and living God? That too unlikely to even imagine? 

OK. What if everyone in your state took one great big breath at noon tomorrow and then breathed out something that would honor our Father?

Still too far outside the box? Then image this then: every person in your church, for one moment, put aside all preoccupation, all evaluation, all self-interest, all conflict, and breathed in air, then breathed out praise. 

Can you imagine what God would receive in that moment? How it would make our Father feel?

I can't either. But I'm sure it would be splendid.

Make it just a bit more tangible. What if everyone in your church was able to do that this Sunday? When you gather on Sunday and take in that big breath right before the opening line of a song--whether Holy, Holy, Holy or Holy Is the Lord or anything else? 

Imagine.

But let's go a step further. What would that mean for us, the worshipers? What might it do for the Kingdom? What impact could that have on our world?

Oh, the mysteries of God! 

"Let everything that breathes praise the Lord." Psalm 150

Sort of gives a different perspective for the classic worship song, "Breathe" eh?

Where it all began

I talked to one of my good friends shortly after I knew my previous worship pastor job would come to an end. He was gracious and said something like, "Hey, the first Sunday you're off I want you to come to my church and tell me what you experience." That was it. I don't think he expected more than a few minutes to talk at lunch, but my creative juices got flowing as I imagined how I might serve his ministry.

So I went. It was a curious experience for me, being a worshiper and an observer at the same time. It wasn't until I sat down and started writing that it hit me what a powerful ministry this could be. I ended up sending them an 8 page summary of observations and recommendations.

Here's what Mickey wrote about that experience:

Bringing in a worship coach is something which I never, EVER, thought I would do. But I can tell already it is making an impact on how our church does ministry on Sundays and beyond. I invited Rod to worship with us, evaluate what we do and how we do it, and offer critiques and suggestions in written form for our staff to review, consider, and implement according to God's leadership to minister to His people and our community more effectively.  I was already aware of quite a few things that needed to be addressed and was encouraged by the affirmation of what we were doing well.  Even more importantly, I was challenged by ideas I had never considered.  Rod was sensitive to a minister's needs and sensitivities but was candid and thoughtful in his evaluation. With his years of ministry experience in the trenches, his wisdom and insight in worship leadership, and service in churches of various sizes, he brought a wealth of knowledge and sensitivity to the evaluation process. He is truly gifted as a consultant/advisor/coach/encourager. The value he adds to ministry is invaluable!  

I've now done this for a handful of churches, and the reports have gotten longer and more practical. If you know of a church I could visit on a Sunday and offer feedback to, for a very affordable fee, have them shoot me an email (RodEEllis@aol.com) or let me know and I'll get in touch with them.

I'm so grateful for the chance to help churches do Sunday mornings better!

See more at my website.

Come, Holy Spirit

Perhaps you can use this as a personal devotional, with your worship team, or as a reading in your service.

Come, Holy Spirit.

We are open… our hearts are open.

Renew us.

Make us whole.

Expand our faith.

Deepen our passion.

Come…

Holy Spirit, come.

Come, Holy Spirit.

Dwell deep in our souls.

from there, broadcast joy.

from there, broadcast love.

from our souls, broadcast

kindness

gentleness

grace.

Broadcast Jesus.

Come…

Holy Spirit, come.

Come, Holy Spirit.

Just as you brooded over our earth

awaiting and assisting in creation…

Brood here

as we await the unleashing of Your power

bringing new life

releasing potent prayers

enabling complete sacrifice…

So all will see Jesus.

Come.

Oh come,

Holy Spirit, come.

-- Inspired by “Holy Spirit” by Keith and Kristyn Getty

Also, check it out on YouTube 

And learn more from Keith Getty

Conviction or Opinion?

Let's think of the planning part of worship ministry when pairing these two words: conviction and opinion.

Is your opinion that this is the right song for the right slot on the right Sunday? Or do you feel a sense of conviction--compelled by Christ-in-you--that it is the best song for the best slot on the right Sunday? 

I wish I could say I've always (or even mostly) chosen by conviction, but very many times I've picked songs because I wanted to. My opinion was that we should use it. 

This distinction is especially important for churches walking through "conversations" about worship style. It is impossible to please everyone with a scorecard of songs. For example: from the hymnal vs. those from elsewhere. Some would prefer 5-0, others 4-1, others 3-2, or 2-3, or 1-4, or 0-5. And some would actually find a different opinion, though it seems there can be none. Song choices can't be based on the scorecard of what keeps others happy. Indulging preference won't cultivate deference.

But there is a place where choosing content for worship can be done with a sense of Shalom. It's the place Christ's love compels us to choose. (click on the link to read 2 Cor 5:14 ff)

Key in this whole idea is Christ's love, specifically His love is for the church. He loves His Bride. And He wants His Bride to be able to sing from Her heart to His heart. So when we choose songs, we want to give voice to the Bride of Christ. Part of that requires that we learn the heart-song of our congregation--how we can use the texts, the melodies, and the sounds that unleash the love of the church.

Also key is that Christ's love compels. We don't live in the past. Jesus is not compelling us backwards. He is doing a new thing! He wants to reach new people in your community. He died for them, remember, just like He died for us. So each church needs to, in its uniqueness as a faith community, determine how the language of those they are reaching will be part of the worship gathering. Compelled by the love of Christ to reach those far from Him, each church should decide how to speak the language of her town--which texts, melodies, and sounds can connect with the hearts of those they want to reach.

When we begin to choose music based on those two aspects of Christ's love--for His Bride and for the lost--the scorecard becomes totally different from a "hymnal vs. non-hymnal" one. 

A word of caution--knowing this in your office at church is inadequate. Taking it to the worship teams and choir is stopping short. The church needs to know this. They don't just need to be told. They don't simply need to hear. They need to KNOW. 

And that's a process, a journey. It requires conversations. Most reasonable Christ-followers can embrace the love Christ has for His Bride and for the lost. When we use that context as a way to talk about how to choose songs, and how to include other worship elements, we take the emphasis away from our preferences and move toward the heart of Jesus. 

So let's lead by conviction, not opinion. Sound right to you?

If it can be better...

One of my dear friends is the whole reason there is a "Worship Coach" ministry, blog, web site, etc. He is passionate about helping churches do church better. About leaders leading better. As he says, if it can be better, it should be. Dave saw in me something other have alluded to but not necessarily pointed out. He said to me: "You can help churches do worship better. Within driving distance, you could help hundreds and hundreds of churches."

I'm still trying to figure all of that out. But as I do, God is giving me some chances to serve churches. One of those is Horse Cave Baptist Church in western Kentucky. My dear friend, Matthew Bone, is the Worship Pastor there. I spent a day with his folks and here's what he wrote about that experience. 

In recent months my church invited Rod Ellis to be a “secret shopper” and “worship coach.”  In just a few short weeks, our church has received many benefits from our time with Rod.  In a business world, I would say that Rod was “well worth the money.”  

Our weekend began with a meeting with me and my wife, my pastor and his wife, and Rod.  Rod took the time to get to know us personally, our church, and our community.  He then molded his ministry based on what he knew about us.  The results have been astounding.

After promptly receiving an 11 page report from Rod, my pastor and I were able to discuss and evaluate Rod’s suggestions.  Many of Rod’s observations and suggestions were things that we were able to adjust and implement immediately.

Since Rod’s visit, I have a tech team that is passionate about their work and is doing everything possible to make worship great. I also have a choir that is more passionate and better understands their role in leading in worship. 

Perhaps the most significant advantage of Rod’s visit was the personal time that my pastor and I got to spend with him.  Not only was I encouraged but I was able to be coached personally on things that I am going through with my church.  My pastor also has a better understanding for my role in the church.  My pastor’s mindset has been completely changed since our meeting. He is now intentional about everything that goes on in the worship service.  I already had support from him, but since Rod came, I have even more support and encouragement from my pastor.  We are working as a team. 

I would highly recommend any church to make the investment into Rod Ellis as a worship coach.  It has blessed me and my church significantly.

If you think I could serve your church, or the church of a friend, please let me (or them) know.

Distracted?

I don't have a lot of fears.

But as I was reading in Genesis 28 I nearly shivered.

Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I wasn’t even aware of it!”

As a worshiper, that concerns me. I have been so easily distracted by things--including worship--that I have sometimes been unaware of God's Presence.

As a Christ-follower, that concerns me. I have been so busily distracted by things--even Christian activity--that I have often missed God's Presence.

As a writer, that concerns me. I have been so consumed with generating something worth reading on your part--because I want to encourage and strengthen you--that I know I have missed God's Presence.

But as a worship leader, that terrifies me. I know there have been times that I have been so consumed with music, with logistics, with transitions, etc. that I know I have missed God's Presence.

And, tragically, I can recall times when my distracting leadership has caused others to miss the Presence of God as well.

Let's commit to do better, you and I. Let's live our days, our hours, our moments in such a way that we are aware of God's presence. And as worshipers, as worship leaders, let's find ways to whisper and shout about the Presence of God in our midst.

Authenticity and Enthusiasm

Can you imagine a coin imprinted on only one side not being recognized as counterfeit? 

Me either.

That's why I've coupled these two words--authenticity and enthusiasm. A coin needs two sides. And so do worship leaders. (Of course I'm not commended anyone for being two-sided--as in two-faced, or hypocritical.) I'm talking about being fully authentic and fully enthusiastic.

When it comes to the platform part of worship ministry, fake enthusiasm will not only turn off seekers and frustrate believers, it will disgust God. (Isaiah 29:13)

Another word for authentic is sincere. It's one of my favorite words because of the etymology of the word. I think it's worth a couple of paragraphs.

In ancient days, coins were the primary currency. Gold. Silver. Bronze. Whatever. The way counterfeiters worked was to take a coin, hollow out the precious metal, and then fill it with wax. Of course wax has a different mass/weight than those metals, so to authenticate a coin, it was placed on a scale across from a standard of measurement.

If there was no wax in the coin, it was declared sin (without) cere (wax). 

Another word with great etymology is enthusiasm: God-in-us.

Does what's on the inside of us as worship leaders qualify as real? Are we sincere? Can we be authenticated? I sure hope so.

And what is on the inside?

Power.

Let's look at some verses from the scriptures?

Juxtapose 1 Corinthians 6:19 (the Holy Spirit... lives in you and was given to you by God) with Zechariah 4:6, (This is the word of the Lord...: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.)

Do you lead with an awareness of the power of the Spirit living in you?

Another?

Pair Galatians 2:20 (It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God) with Hebrews 13:20-22:
   Now may the God of peace—
         who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus...
²¹    ...equip you with all you need
         for doing his will.
   May he produce in you,
         through the power of Jesus Christ,
   every good thing that is pleasing to him.
         All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.

The all-powerful God is alive in you, worship leader. No wax. Just Christ-in-you. 

So be--and lead--authentically and enthusiastically.

It can change everything.


www.worshipcoach.us

Psalm 8

(Feel free to use this as a spoken intro for "God of Wonders," "The Majesty and Glory of Your Name," or other creation oriented songs.)

Psalm 8 for Three Voices

(adapted from the TNIV)

Reader 1 - Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Reader 2 - You have set your glory above the heavens.

Reader 3 - Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies,

Reader 1 - to silence the foe and the avenger.

(pause)

Reader 2 - When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers

Reader 1 - The moon and the stars, which you have set in place

Reader 3 – Who are we that you are mindful of us, human beings that you care for us?

(pause)

Reader 2 - You have made us a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned us with glory and honor.

Reader 3 - You made us rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under our feet:

Reader 1 - all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, 

Reader 2 - the birds in the sky,

Reader 3 - and the fish in the sea

Reader 1 - all that swim the paths of the seas.

(pause, then slowly—with awe) 

(intro to “God of Wonders” begins)

Reader 2 - Lord

Reader 3 - our Lord

Reader 1 - how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Human Doings

After 12 weeks of in-between-employment, I really, really, REALLY miss leading worship. I miss musical aspects. I miss the relationships with those on the platform. I miss encouraging those in the rows out front. I miss the spiritual energy.

There are some wonderfully healthy reasons I miss it.

And there are some lingering, broken parts of me that miss it for less healthy reasons.

Let's have fun with the unhealthy ones. (I only offer to do that because I'm pretty sure it's the same for about 99% of us. And because I know you won't tell anyone about this; it'll be our secret.)

I miss leading worship because it's what I do. And what I do seems to determine who I am.

That's broken, right? I know. It's backwards.

It should be who I am that determines what I do.

And who I am is not a worship leader.

Who I am is a precious child of The Most High God. I am a friend of Jesus. I am a temple, in-dwelt by the Holy Spirit.

Not only that, I am husband to Jackie. As her husband, I am to love her outrageously and give myself up for her just like Jesus did for the church. (Ephesians 5:25)

Beyond that, I am daddy to Catherine and Emily. As their dad I am to love them outrageously. I am to "bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord." (Ephesians 6:4b)

But there's more. I am a member of the body of Christ. Chosen by God. Rescued by Jesus. Gifted by the Spirit.

I am not what I do.

I do what I am.

Yet I still miss leading worship. It's what God crafted me to do, gifted me to do, and anointed me to do. So I'm incomplete if I'm not doing what God "planned in advance for me to do." (Eph 2:10)

It just doesn't have to determine who I am.

Feel the tension? Feel like your swinging back and forth?

Me too.

The great news, and the news of which I need to keep reminding myself is that regardless of what I do I am God's son.

This all feels very human. Fallen. Broken. Beautiful. Fragile. Powerful. Emotional.

Yep. Human.

So I remember that I'm a human being, not a human doing.

And I try to remember that being without doing is about as useless as a screen door on a submarine. Thanks, Rich Mullins, for the indelible image and song.

Faith without works is like being without doing. It doesn't define us, it reveals us.

So be. Then do.

With God.