The Family Life & Worship Arts teams always do a phenomenal job with this event.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Monday, October 5, 2009
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Summary of our All-Team Meeting
Hello Worship Family,
It’s been a couple weeks since our Fall Kickoff Luncheon and I wanted to sum up what was shared – both as a reminder to those who were there and to “clue in” those of you who weren’t. I also wanted to bring to your attention some upcoming events.
Planning Center Online
At our 9/13 mtg. I shared about the decision to shift our scheduling/planning to an online tool, Planning Center Online. By now all of you have your own accounts and should be getting familiar with the interface. The goal is to eventually go exclusively digital – not just scheduling but with distribution of charts and mp3s. However, we understand that, for the time being, some of you will prefer to still get a CD and hard copies of music. I asked those @ the mtg. to indicate their preference on getting/not getting a CD – so if you weren’t at the mtg. please let Carol know of your preference. We also had everyone jot down their preferred email address.
All of your accounts are set where you can view any plan, not just your week. THE BIGGEST THING we need everyone to do is to block out dates you will be unavailable for worship team when you sign-in to your account. This is extremely important as it will eliminate having to tweak the schedule once we finalize it. Of course we understand they’ll always be those unexpected things come up…
Focusing on the Fundamentals
The other main thing that I shared was the importance of going “back to the basics” (i.e. the fundamentals). There are 2 dimensions to this. The first has to with our spiritual lives – making sure we are attentive to our walk with Jesus and the spiritual rhythms & pathways that allow us to enjoy God. In order to be servants on Sundays we need to be “filled” during the week – and, speaking from personal experience, that requires intentionality!
The other dimension of focusing on the fundamentals concerns our skills as musicians. If our PRIMARY TASK is leading the congregation in singing, what we need to strive for is simplicity, clarity, and consistency. I’d like us all to consider – what areas do I want to grow in as a lead worshipper? What do I need to do on a regular basis to be the best that I can be as a _________?
Resources
We have a lot of great resources that can help in your skill development – all sorts of cool videos, CDs and articles. Please avail yourself of these! Also, we video record every Sunday service – these can be a great feedback tool.
Covenants
I shared briefly about how we are shifting the way we have you sign the team covenants. Instead of signing them “en masse” at a Sunday mtg. we’re going to invite each of you to meet with us one-on-one in Jan. ’10. We want to honor each of you by giving us time to talk about where you are at on the journey – spiritually, musically, just life in general. You matter to us!
Upcoming Events
· THIS FRIDAY – Oct. 2 – 7:30 pm – Encounter
We strongly encourage you to come out to this service – it will be an excellent opportunity for you to pause, reflect and worship – PLEASE PRAY for those participating
· Vocal Workshop – Nov. 7 – 9:30 am
More details forthcoming…
· David Crowder Band Concert – Nov. 8 in Lancaster
Please let Carol know if you would like to go – we can a group rate of $16.50 if 15 or more want to go
Thanks for being on the journey with us,
Chris
It’s been a couple weeks since our Fall Kickoff Luncheon and I wanted to sum up what was shared – both as a reminder to those who were there and to “clue in” those of you who weren’t. I also wanted to bring to your attention some upcoming events.
Planning Center Online
At our 9/13 mtg. I shared about the decision to shift our scheduling/planning to an online tool, Planning Center Online. By now all of you have your own accounts and should be getting familiar with the interface. The goal is to eventually go exclusively digital – not just scheduling but with distribution of charts and mp3s. However, we understand that, for the time being, some of you will prefer to still get a CD and hard copies of music. I asked those @ the mtg. to indicate their preference on getting/not getting a CD – so if you weren’t at the mtg. please let Carol know of your preference. We also had everyone jot down their preferred email address.
All of your accounts are set where you can view any plan, not just your week. THE BIGGEST THING we need everyone to do is to block out dates you will be unavailable for worship team when you sign-in to your account. This is extremely important as it will eliminate having to tweak the schedule once we finalize it. Of course we understand they’ll always be those unexpected things come up…
Focusing on the Fundamentals
The other main thing that I shared was the importance of going “back to the basics” (i.e. the fundamentals). There are 2 dimensions to this. The first has to with our spiritual lives – making sure we are attentive to our walk with Jesus and the spiritual rhythms & pathways that allow us to enjoy God. In order to be servants on Sundays we need to be “filled” during the week – and, speaking from personal experience, that requires intentionality!
The other dimension of focusing on the fundamentals concerns our skills as musicians. If our PRIMARY TASK is leading the congregation in singing, what we need to strive for is simplicity, clarity, and consistency. I’d like us all to consider – what areas do I want to grow in as a lead worshipper? What do I need to do on a regular basis to be the best that I can be as a _________?
Resources
We have a lot of great resources that can help in your skill development – all sorts of cool videos, CDs and articles. Please avail yourself of these! Also, we video record every Sunday service – these can be a great feedback tool.
Covenants
I shared briefly about how we are shifting the way we have you sign the team covenants. Instead of signing them “en masse” at a Sunday mtg. we’re going to invite each of you to meet with us one-on-one in Jan. ’10. We want to honor each of you by giving us time to talk about where you are at on the journey – spiritually, musically, just life in general. You matter to us!
Upcoming Events
· THIS FRIDAY – Oct. 2 – 7:30 pm – Encounter
We strongly encourage you to come out to this service – it will be an excellent opportunity for you to pause, reflect and worship – PLEASE PRAY for those participating
· Vocal Workshop – Nov. 7 – 9:30 am
More details forthcoming…
· David Crowder Band Concert – Nov. 8 in Lancaster
Please let Carol know if you would like to go – we can a group rate of $16.50 if 15 or more want to go
Thanks for being on the journey with us,
Chris
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
How to Be Confident as a Vocalist
Hello Vocalists!
Came across a basic but helpful article on "How to Be a Confident Singer" over at the WorshipCommunity website (they have lots of great articles for us worship musicians). If you have a chance check it out -
http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/how-to-be-a-confident-singer/
In my opinion the most important thing we can do as vocalists is to regularly warm-up and exercise our voices. You've all heard the analogies of the runner who attempts to run a marathon without proper preparation and training - well, it's cliched but true - we can't sing for a couple hours on Sunday (when you count rehearsal) and hope to be in peak form without warming and stretching our vocal chords and the supporting muscles.
As vocalists we are in it for the long haul - so let's do everything we can to keep our voices strong and healthy!
Came across a basic but helpful article on "How to Be a Confident Singer" over at the WorshipCommunity website (they have lots of great articles for us worship musicians). If you have a chance check it out -
http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/how-to-be-a-confident-singer/
In my opinion the most important thing we can do as vocalists is to regularly warm-up and exercise our voices. You've all heard the analogies of the runner who attempts to run a marathon without proper preparation and training - well, it's cliched but true - we can't sing for a couple hours on Sunday (when you count rehearsal) and hope to be in peak form without warming and stretching our vocal chords and the supporting muscles.
As vocalists we are in it for the long haul - so let's do everything we can to keep our voices strong and healthy!
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Worship & Sendafa
As most of you know, I (Chris) had the incredible privilege and opportunity of being a part of a team from Living Word that went to Sendafa, Ethiopia from July 11th to the 19th. Being invited onto the team was a surprise and blessing. Being able to see, firsthand, what God is doing through His church universal was humbling and inspiring. The kingdom of God reaches beyond borders, be they ethnic, racial, political, social. So many stories, memories and highlights that I will no doubt be processing for weeks to come.
One of the highlights for me was the opportunity I had to bring a guitar donated by a member of the Living Word community. I used the guitar primarily to teach kids songs about handwashing. I found out that Michael Jackson is very popular in Sendafa (I adapted his song "Beat It" to help the kids say "goodbye" to Mr. Germ). But probably the best part about bringing the guitar was the fact that we were able to give it to a pastor/evangelist/church planter in Sendafa. This brother in Christ was overwhelmed by the gift, and at a pastor's lunch he led everyone in a rather spontaneous time of worship through song. I captured a part of this worship time below and thought you might enjoy hearing our brothers & sisters in Ethiopia worshipping our great God.
The picture I had in my mind as I was listening to these beautiful songs of praise was of every tribe and tongue gathering before the throne of the Lamb, worshipping as the redeemed only can. I shared this thought this past Sunday in our worship services before introducing a new song that speaks of the scene in Revelation 9: "Now unto the Lamb, who sits on the throne/Be glory and honor and praise/All of eternity echoes the song/Worship and praise Him, the Lord of lords". The lyrics are from Brooke Fraser's "Lord of Lords" off Hillsong's Saviour King.
Hearing and seeing people worship in Sendafa gave me a glimpse of what worship will look like on that day when heaven comes to earth.
One of the highlights for me was the opportunity I had to bring a guitar donated by a member of the Living Word community. I used the guitar primarily to teach kids songs about handwashing. I found out that Michael Jackson is very popular in Sendafa (I adapted his song "Beat It" to help the kids say "goodbye" to Mr. Germ). But probably the best part about bringing the guitar was the fact that we were able to give it to a pastor/evangelist/church planter in Sendafa. This brother in Christ was overwhelmed by the gift, and at a pastor's lunch he led everyone in a rather spontaneous time of worship through song. I captured a part of this worship time below and thought you might enjoy hearing our brothers & sisters in Ethiopia worshipping our great God.
The picture I had in my mind as I was listening to these beautiful songs of praise was of every tribe and tongue gathering before the throne of the Lamb, worshipping as the redeemed only can. I shared this thought this past Sunday in our worship services before introducing a new song that speaks of the scene in Revelation 9: "Now unto the Lamb, who sits on the throne/Be glory and honor and praise/All of eternity echoes the song/Worship and praise Him, the Lord of lords". The lyrics are from Brooke Fraser's "Lord of Lords" off Hillsong's Saviour King.
Hearing and seeing people worship in Sendafa gave me a glimpse of what worship will look like on that day when heaven comes to earth.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Reflections on Christ's Suffering
Last night we had our Good Friday service - the passion with which people were singing was an awesome sight to behold. Pastor Steve shared from Hebrews and explained why and how Jesus' blood secured our eternal REDEMPTION. As I was reading this morning I came across this quote from J.C. Ryle (Commentary on Matthew):
...We must not be content with a vague general belief that Christ's sufferings on the cross were vicarious. We are intended to see this truth in every part of his passion. We may follow him all through, from the bar of Pilate to the minute of his death, and see him at every step as our mighty substitute, our representative, our head, our surety, our proxy - the divine friend who undertook to stand in our place and, by the priceless merit of his sufferings, to purchase our REDEMPTION. Was he flogged? It was done so that "by his wounds we are healed" (Isa. 53:5). Was he condemned, though innocent? It was done so that we might be acquitted, though guilty. Did he wear a crown of thorns? It was done so that we might wear the crown of glory. Was he stripped of his clothes? It was done so that we might be clothed in everlasting righteousness. Was he mocked and reviled? It was done so that we might be honored and blessed...
Friday, April 10, 2009
"The Power of the Cross" by Gettys
One of the songs we are using at our Good Friday service is "The Power of the Cross," composed by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend (they also co-wrote "In Christ Alone"). Check out this live performance:
Thursday, March 26, 2009
"Let Your Kingdom Come"
This Sunday concludes our three-week Global Missions focus at Living Word. I know I have personally been encouraged, challenged and convicted as I have heard "kingdom" stories from Peter Greer (Hope International) and Jeff Phillips, serving God in Chile. This week we will hear from Paul Borthwick concerning the biblical basis for missions - I am looking forward to hearing from God's Word as it concerns His heart for all people.
In tandem with this 3-week Global Focus we have been singing a song called "Let Your Kingdom Come" - a prayer of expectation that finds its biblical inspiration in the Lord's Prayer. Bob Kauflin, whose blog I frequent quite a bit (worshipmatters.com), is the composer, and if you want to know more about the full story behind the song check out this entry of his. Bob is Director of Worship for Sovereign Grace Ministries.
Not only is "Let Your Kingdcome Come" a prayer but it's also a song of commitment, as verse two says "Lord, use us as You want/whatever the test..." Whenever we sing songs that have such words of commitment I almost want to back up and say, whoa, wait a second...got to think this through. It's easy for me to sing this rather glibly without counting the cost of what it's really communicating - mainly, Lord, wherever, whenever, however, use me. USE me. I am Yours. I am not my own. Worth thinking this point through, and I know when we introduced it a couple weeks ago I mentioned this to the congregation.
May YOUR Kingdom come, May YOUR will be done...on earth as it is in heaven. In whatever way you want to use me to extend Your kingdom, Lord, find in me a heart that is yielded and humble. May this song be more than just words and music on a page, but it may it become a conduit for authentic desire, prayer and anticipation.
In tandem with this 3-week Global Focus we have been singing a song called "Let Your Kingdom Come" - a prayer of expectation that finds its biblical inspiration in the Lord's Prayer. Bob Kauflin, whose blog I frequent quite a bit (worshipmatters.com), is the composer, and if you want to know more about the full story behind the song check out this entry of his. Bob is Director of Worship for Sovereign Grace Ministries.
Not only is "Let Your Kingdcome Come" a prayer but it's also a song of commitment, as verse two says "Lord, use us as You want/whatever the test..." Whenever we sing songs that have such words of commitment I almost want to back up and say, whoa, wait a second...got to think this through. It's easy for me to sing this rather glibly without counting the cost of what it's really communicating - mainly, Lord, wherever, whenever, however, use me. USE me. I am Yours. I am not my own. Worth thinking this point through, and I know when we introduced it a couple weeks ago I mentioned this to the congregation.
May YOUR Kingdom come, May YOUR will be done...on earth as it is in heaven. In whatever way you want to use me to extend Your kingdom, Lord, find in me a heart that is yielded and humble. May this song be more than just words and music on a page, but it may it become a conduit for authentic desire, prayer and anticipation.
Friday, March 13, 2009
The Words of Thomas a Kempis on Praise
I have been reading the Lent devotional Bread and Wine and came across an entry from Thomas a Kempis that addresses the idea of "praising God" without self-interest. In light of what I shared this past Sunday this quote challenged and deepened my own convictions:
Many love Him (Christ) as long as they encounter no hardship; many praise and bless Him as long as they receive some comfort from Him. But if Jesus hides Himself and leaves them for a while, they fall either into complaints or into deep dejection. Those, on the contrary, who love Him for His own sake and not for any comfort of their own, bless Him in all trial and anguish of heart as well as in the bliss of consolation. Even if He should never give them consolation, yet they would continue to praise Him and wish always to give Him thanks. What power there is in pure love for Jesus—love that is free from all self-interest and self-love!
You can read Thomas a Kempis' 11th entry in The Imitation of Christ here.
Monday, March 9, 2009
What I Shared Yesterday about Praise
Yesterday Pastor Steve asked me to share a few brief thoughts on praise...he was speaking from Deut. 8, where Moses is speaking the words of God to His people Israel concering their need to praise, not forget and remember God and His saving deeds and provision. I really wrestled with what to share, but ultimately I wanted to make it more personal than abstract. Well, Gordon encouraged me with that as well....thanks bro!
So below is what I shared...apparently I left out (unintentionally, believe me!) the part about my wife & kids in the 2nd service. So here is the full enchilada...
What does “praising God” look like for me? More to the point, how does “praising God” work itself out in my daily life? What does it mean for me to praise the Lord at all times and in all seasons, to have His praise continually on my lips, as David says in Psalm 34:1? These things have been fresh on my mind this past week as Pastor Steve asked me to share some brief thoughts on praise. Let me share with you where I’m at this morning.
It is natural for a lot of us to associate PRAISE with singing during a Sunday morning service. After all the Bible talks a good deal about “singing praises” to God in the assembly of His people. Indeed it is commanded. But PRAISE goes well beyond an hour or so on Sunday morning and is meant to encompass all of our life.
When I consider what it means to praise God in my daily life, I think of those moments when God’s goodness, greatness and presence demand a response from the deepest part of my being. As I respond in praise I find that He draws near to me, and, as a result, I am transformed. But, for me, praise also becomes a test of my obedience – will I choose to praise God even when the circumstances of my life are difficult, burdensome and (from a human standpoint) unfair? Do I allow my circumstances to determine whether God is still worthy of my praise? That’s where praise goes way beyond saying the right words and singing the right songs. It’s praising God with tears in your eyes and an ache in your heart.
There are many things that naturally call me to praise my Savior and my God. In these moments the command to praise God seems a rather easy one to obey. I read of His love for me in the Bible, how Jesus’ death has bought me life, and my heart is moved to thank Him with a song. Lord, your love is amazing! Jesus, through your sacrifice I can offer up these praises to my Father – because of Your love I can draw near to the living, holy, sovereign God of the universe. I think about His protection (Lord, deliver me from evil), His provision (give me this day my daily bread) and His guidance & strength (lead me not into temptation). Lord, thank You for giving me the strength to fight that battle, to love that person as You would have me love him. I marvel at the beauty of freshly fallen snow, feel the warmth of a March breeze, am dazzled by the brilliant colors of a rare bird in my front yard (SEE BELOW!) – and my heart is full of thanksgiving for the God of creation. Then I consider my wife, how she loves me and our children, and I praise Him for how He has blessed me with such a beautiful, life-giving friend and partner. I see the image of God reflected in my son and daughter as they play, laugh and create – and I turn it back to Him in joyful, awestruck praise. These things move me to praise the Giver of all good things through prayer, song and deed.
What is much more difficult, and where I have struggled and continue to struggle the most, is praising God when His presence doesn’t seem so near, or when my prayers go unanswered. A few years ago my wife and I experienced an intense period of loss, heartache and confusion. My wife was involved in an accident that totaled our one car, my son was hospitalized with a serious illness and my father-in-law, a pastor, was diagnosed with and quickly succumbed to an aggressive form of melanoma cancer. The last circumstance shook us to the core, and every raw emotion imaginable was expressed to God. Why would God allow this to happen to a man who had so much life ahead of him, who had a heart for the broken and had just begun to enjoy being a granddad? But through the tears and the sorrow we were able to sing, “You give and take away,/You give and take away,/My heart will choose to say,/ Lord blessed be Your name.” We look back and see that God was using that experience to refine us and to shape us, according to His purposes.
Some of you know, and some of you do not, that my wife and I are still in the process of trying to sell our house in AZ. You all have seen the news, the statistics, what is happening with the housing market. It hasn't been an easy journey for us, and there have been dark moments. The question for us is, will we praise You God even when things look so bleak from a human perspective? When the housing market is going down the tubes? We have felt Him draw close as he teaching about us contentment, patience, faith and what is eternal.
It seems that God is constantly asking me the question, “Am I still worthy of your praise?” even when you are walking in the wilderness. To quote from another Matt Redman song, “Let Everything That Has Breath,” can I “Praise Him when I am laughing…(and) when I am grieving”? It can be so easy for me to sing these songs but to live them out is an entirely different story. PRAISE is a daily sacrifice that acknowledges that God is the One in control and ALL that is good is from Him. We can see the moments He has tested us and disciplined us and how He has used those experiences to refine us and strip us bare of all our false dependencies and instead cling to Him.
In closing, I want to say, it is an honor, privilege and blessing to serve as a worship leader here at Living Word. Music is a wonderful aid in praising God – it has a unique ability to help our hearts and minds to encounter God. But praising God is meant to be a 24/7 activity. As a worship leader I am constantly reminded – sometimes painfully – that God is calling me to PRAISE him in every situation, Sunday to Sunday.
So below is what I shared...apparently I left out (unintentionally, believe me!) the part about my wife & kids in the 2nd service. So here is the full enchilada...
What does “praising God” look like for me? More to the point, how does “praising God” work itself out in my daily life? What does it mean for me to praise the Lord at all times and in all seasons, to have His praise continually on my lips, as David says in Psalm 34:1? These things have been fresh on my mind this past week as Pastor Steve asked me to share some brief thoughts on praise. Let me share with you where I’m at this morning.
It is natural for a lot of us to associate PRAISE with singing during a Sunday morning service. After all the Bible talks a good deal about “singing praises” to God in the assembly of His people. Indeed it is commanded. But PRAISE goes well beyond an hour or so on Sunday morning and is meant to encompass all of our life.
When I consider what it means to praise God in my daily life, I think of those moments when God’s goodness, greatness and presence demand a response from the deepest part of my being. As I respond in praise I find that He draws near to me, and, as a result, I am transformed. But, for me, praise also becomes a test of my obedience – will I choose to praise God even when the circumstances of my life are difficult, burdensome and (from a human standpoint) unfair? Do I allow my circumstances to determine whether God is still worthy of my praise? That’s where praise goes way beyond saying the right words and singing the right songs. It’s praising God with tears in your eyes and an ache in your heart.
There are many things that naturally call me to praise my Savior and my God. In these moments the command to praise God seems a rather easy one to obey. I read of His love for me in the Bible, how Jesus’ death has bought me life, and my heart is moved to thank Him with a song. Lord, your love is amazing! Jesus, through your sacrifice I can offer up these praises to my Father – because of Your love I can draw near to the living, holy, sovereign God of the universe. I think about His protection (Lord, deliver me from evil), His provision (give me this day my daily bread) and His guidance & strength (lead me not into temptation). Lord, thank You for giving me the strength to fight that battle, to love that person as You would have me love him. I marvel at the beauty of freshly fallen snow, feel the warmth of a March breeze, am dazzled by the brilliant colors of a rare bird in my front yard (SEE BELOW!) – and my heart is full of thanksgiving for the God of creation. Then I consider my wife, how she loves me and our children, and I praise Him for how He has blessed me with such a beautiful, life-giving friend and partner. I see the image of God reflected in my son and daughter as they play, laugh and create – and I turn it back to Him in joyful, awestruck praise. These things move me to praise the Giver of all good things through prayer, song and deed.
What is much more difficult, and where I have struggled and continue to struggle the most, is praising God when His presence doesn’t seem so near, or when my prayers go unanswered. A few years ago my wife and I experienced an intense period of loss, heartache and confusion. My wife was involved in an accident that totaled our one car, my son was hospitalized with a serious illness and my father-in-law, a pastor, was diagnosed with and quickly succumbed to an aggressive form of melanoma cancer. The last circumstance shook us to the core, and every raw emotion imaginable was expressed to God. Why would God allow this to happen to a man who had so much life ahead of him, who had a heart for the broken and had just begun to enjoy being a granddad? But through the tears and the sorrow we were able to sing, “You give and take away,/You give and take away,/My heart will choose to say,/ Lord blessed be Your name.” We look back and see that God was using that experience to refine us and to shape us, according to His purposes.
Some of you know, and some of you do not, that my wife and I are still in the process of trying to sell our house in AZ. You all have seen the news, the statistics, what is happening with the housing market. It hasn't been an easy journey for us, and there have been dark moments. The question for us is, will we praise You God even when things look so bleak from a human perspective? When the housing market is going down the tubes? We have felt Him draw close as he teaching about us contentment, patience, faith and what is eternal.
It seems that God is constantly asking me the question, “Am I still worthy of your praise?” even when you are walking in the wilderness. To quote from another Matt Redman song, “Let Everything That Has Breath,” can I “Praise Him when I am laughing…(and) when I am grieving”? It can be so easy for me to sing these songs but to live them out is an entirely different story. PRAISE is a daily sacrifice that acknowledges that God is the One in control and ALL that is good is from Him. We can see the moments He has tested us and disciplined us and how He has used those experiences to refine us and strip us bare of all our false dependencies and instead cling to Him.
In closing, I want to say, it is an honor, privilege and blessing to serve as a worship leader here at Living Word. Music is a wonderful aid in praising God – it has a unique ability to help our hearts and minds to encounter God. But praising God is meant to be a 24/7 activity. As a worship leader I am constantly reminded – sometimes painfully – that God is calling me to PRAISE him in every situation, Sunday to Sunday.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Keith Getty on the Substance of Worship Songs
Nothing to add to this...just had to laugh!
"If I've got non-Christian friends coming to church, I'd rather give them four verses of comparatively heavy theology with some theological words which explains the gospel, than give them twenty repeated words that could be said to your pet horse or girlfriend." - Keith Getty, co-writer of In Christ Alone
Monday, February 23, 2009
Coldplay, Excellence and Ultimate Things
A few weeks ago 60 Minutes ran a fascinating story on the band Coldplay as a sort of lead-in to the Grammy Awards on CBS. I've been meaning to post about the last couple weeks but a bout with asthmatic bronchitis shelved a lot of good intetions.
Coldplay has become one of the biggest bands on the planet - their signature sound has been imitated by other artists and bands, including those who produce worship music for the church. They've sold millions of records (and a few more since the Grammys). On their MySpace page Chris Martin, the lead singer, describes the band's sound as "very heavy soft rock". At the church where I used to lead worship my drummer would know what I meant when I said "give me a Coldplay beat" - that instantly recognizable drum riff. Or, sometimes when I play piano I find myself grativating towards the Chris Martin riff (check out their song "Clocks").
I was struck by two things in particular when watching the 60 Minutes feature (you'll find the YouTube videos below if you want to check it out):
1) The band's commitment to excellence
The four guys in Coldplay take their music seriously - it was fascinating to see inside their "studio" and the list of rules they have when creating albums. As a band they take regular time to write and work out ideas. Their commitment to their craft has paid dividends. Martin puts it this way: "We can do the best with what we've got". He admits that he is not as talented as other performers or musicians (although I think he is being modest) but that what he lacks in ability he makes up for in passion and perseverance.
The excellence and diligence with which Coldplay pursues their craft is worthy of emulation, especially for those of us who serve on worship teams in the church. Coldplay is motivated by a desire to be the best they can be, to create something that is sonically interesting, to gain the respect of their peers, and, well, making a profit. As lead worshippers our motivation is to glorify God through the use of our talents so as to help others encounter and enjoy His greatness and presence. Therefore, how much more should we seek to honor God by offering Him our best? How we could not want to GROW FORWARD when God has endowed us with talents we'll one day be accountable for? (Matt. 25:14-30 & 1 Cor. 3:10-15).
Paul had this to say about giving God our best:
Coldplay has become one of the biggest bands on the planet - their signature sound has been imitated by other artists and bands, including those who produce worship music for the church. They've sold millions of records (and a few more since the Grammys). On their MySpace page Chris Martin, the lead singer, describes the band's sound as "very heavy soft rock". At the church where I used to lead worship my drummer would know what I meant when I said "give me a Coldplay beat" - that instantly recognizable drum riff. Or, sometimes when I play piano I find myself grativating towards the Chris Martin riff (check out their song "Clocks").
I was struck by two things in particular when watching the 60 Minutes feature (you'll find the YouTube videos below if you want to check it out):
1) The band's commitment to excellence
The four guys in Coldplay take their music seriously - it was fascinating to see inside their "studio" and the list of rules they have when creating albums. As a band they take regular time to write and work out ideas. Their commitment to their craft has paid dividends. Martin puts it this way: "We can do the best with what we've got". He admits that he is not as talented as other performers or musicians (although I think he is being modest) but that what he lacks in ability he makes up for in passion and perseverance.
The excellence and diligence with which Coldplay pursues their craft is worthy of emulation, especially for those of us who serve on worship teams in the church. Coldplay is motivated by a desire to be the best they can be, to create something that is sonically interesting, to gain the respect of their peers, and, well, making a profit. As lead worshippers our motivation is to glorify God through the use of our talents so as to help others encounter and enjoy His greatness and presence. Therefore, how much more should we seek to honor God by offering Him our best? How we could not want to GROW FORWARD when God has endowed us with talents we'll one day be accountable for? (Matt. 25:14-30 & 1 Cor. 3:10-15).
Paul had this to say about giving God our best:
"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." - Col. 3:17
A few verses later,
In everything we do we look to honor God by offering Him our very best - as my pastor use to say, "How we can offer anything less than our best when God offered His best - His Son?" Now, we all know excellence can become an idol at the expense of authenticity, heart and the like. But the ideal is to offer the best of both our HEART and ART - it shouldn't be an either/or but and/both."Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not
for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a
reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." - Col. 3:23-24
2) Their undying quest for the "perfect song"
In the interview Chris Martin shares that he and his bandmates are ultimately looking to write the "perfect song." Again their singleminded focus is commendable in one respect, however elusive their goal might be! There is a sense that Martin's first joy and passion is THE song, THE music. Finding that perfect combination of melody, chords and lyrics. It's what drives him.
As lead worshippers our ultimate passion should be for knowing Christ and for making Him known. Music is a means to that end, but music can't replace the joy of knowing Jesus. Music is a wonderful gift from God, and His Word tells us that it can aid us in worshipping Him. However, the danger for any of us involved in leading corporate worship is that the music can subtly become the end rather than the means. Or, we see the music as a quasi-magical mediator of God's presence - like we need the "perfect" songs to conjure up God's presence. We all know better than to think that but sometimes our (my) attitudes and decisions say otherwise.
We should strive to write and use the songs that best help our congregations worship God in spirit and truth. But our ultimate passion is to know and enjoy God.
Here's the 60 Minutes video:
Some have noted Christian overtones (implicit rather than explicit) in Coldplay's latest album Viva La Vida - I found the following comment on these overtones helpful:
http://www.protestantpontifications.com/?p=650#comment-871
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Chris Tomlin live
This past Thursday a group of us went to see Chris Tomlin at the Giant Center in Hershey. He was accompanied by Israel Houghton and New Breed. For those of us who decided to grab dinner before the concert...well, let's just say it was an experience that will not soon be forgotten (and that's not a good thing). But at least we could laugh about it and still enjoy an incredible time of worship through music.
The unique thing about seeing someone like Chris Tomlin in concert is that it really isn't so much a concert as it is a worship service with several thousand other worshippers. Sure, there are plenty of lights, the obligatory smoke machines, and great musicianship - but at its core its about all of us singing to our great God and Savior. I relished the opportunity to just sing and worship - this image of Jesus smiling over us kept coming into my mind's eye.
Chris did a fair number of songs off his latest album, Hello Love - to be expected since this was the "Hello Love" tour after all (and artists are always pushing the new material!). I'll be honest, my initial impression was that this latest batch of Tomlin songs felt a little recycled, overproduced and not quite as memorable. Upon further review - and having heard them live - I do think there are some solid songs on the album that could potentially find their way into our repertoire. I particularly like "Jesus Messiah" (great communion song), "I Will Rise" and "Praise the Father, Praise the Son". In the case of Tomlin and worship songs, more of the same is not necessarily a bad thing.
Along with the new tunes we sang songs like "Indescribable," "How Great is Our God" and "Forever". A special treat was the presence of Christy Nockels (previously of Watermark), who has been singing with Tomlin for years and is on just about every Passion worship release. Of course, if you have ever been to a Christian concert you know they'll be a point where the artist makes a pitch to give money for some charitable organization - it's a given! And sure enough Tomlin did, put I have to say, his cause - One Million Can - is pretty compelling stuff.
After two plus hours of worship it was time to call it a night. I appreciated being able to spend time with some of you outside of our regular worship practices!
The unique thing about seeing someone like Chris Tomlin in concert is that it really isn't so much a concert as it is a worship service with several thousand other worshippers. Sure, there are plenty of lights, the obligatory smoke machines, and great musicianship - but at its core its about all of us singing to our great God and Savior. I relished the opportunity to just sing and worship - this image of Jesus smiling over us kept coming into my mind's eye.
Chris did a fair number of songs off his latest album, Hello Love - to be expected since this was the "Hello Love" tour after all (and artists are always pushing the new material!). I'll be honest, my initial impression was that this latest batch of Tomlin songs felt a little recycled, overproduced and not quite as memorable. Upon further review - and having heard them live - I do think there are some solid songs on the album that could potentially find their way into our repertoire. I particularly like "Jesus Messiah" (great communion song), "I Will Rise" and "Praise the Father, Praise the Son". In the case of Tomlin and worship songs, more of the same is not necessarily a bad thing.
Along with the new tunes we sang songs like "Indescribable," "How Great is Our God" and "Forever". A special treat was the presence of Christy Nockels (previously of Watermark), who has been singing with Tomlin for years and is on just about every Passion worship release. Of course, if you have ever been to a Christian concert you know they'll be a point where the artist makes a pitch to give money for some charitable organization - it's a given! And sure enough Tomlin did, put I have to say, his cause - One Million Can - is pretty compelling stuff.
After two plus hours of worship it was time to call it a night. I appreciated being able to spend time with some of you outside of our regular worship practices!
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