Times of searching...times of wonder.

Life is a mystery and along the way we are granted clues that will enable us to discover once again our direction, even if it is only for the moment. I love to discover new things, whether it is technology, music, knowledge, or God's ever-changing glory. Like a young child, I position myself for learning, seeking and growing, all the while energized by my discoveries. That is why mystery is a good place to be.

However, the lessons we learn from wonder and mystery are not always easy. During the past four years the mystery of God has taken me to places that are often times uncomfortable. Places where the answers were not always easy and the way difficult to traverse. I find that through these challenging lessons, along with the uncertainties of life, a crisis can occur. While we seek to avoid any type of difficulty, conflict and yes, crisis, our decisions, and sometimes circumstances thrust us into these difficult and even painful situations.

The book of James has been very helpful to me and allowed me to be reminded to "Consider if joy...when you encounter trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance..." I know difficulties do not produce joy; however, the writer says to "consider it joy." I have to chuckle at this thought of considering something to be joy even though in reality it reeks of a root canal! James wants us to keep our minds on what God is producing in us...i.e. endurance. That which gives us power to hang in there...not quit...be tenacious, and yes, even be joyful.

So mystery drives me to wonder and curiosity, which leads to a place of searching. Searching can often times open a difficult can of worms; however, I hope this journey will bring me to a place where I gain endurance and in the end will see God working to produce something in me that only He can do.

This past June I had the wonderful priviledge to attend the "Worship and the Arts Conference" at Willow Creek Church. This was my first experience at Willow Creek and I went feeling some reservation about the style and scope of their ministry. I must admit how pleased and surprised I was by what I encountered and left feeling much admiration for this church and their vision of the Kingdom of God.

There were several key ingredients from the conference that I left chewing on and really evoked in me a strong desire to view life differently. The first from Dewitt Jones, a National Geographic photographer, who in a very unassuming style transported my mind into images of God’s creation and our ability to see God in a multiplicity of ways. I also heard from Erwin McManus who really challenged me in a presentation that was so unorthodox and fresh that I was confused and unaware as to what was happening for most of the presentation. In a combination of proclamation, narrative, rap, dance, melodrama, music, and visual art, we were led along a path that encouraged us to scribble outside the lines.

I left Willow with a renewed passion for moving into a new direction as an artist and worship pastor. I was reminded that transformation must begin in me. As I emerge as a spiritual leader with a new and ever changing perspective of the Kingdom of God, the opportunities for transformation are limitless.

Come on...let's WORSHIP!!

There is a revolution in how we worship sweeping across Christian churches. This is leading congregations, denominations and clergy to face new and powerful forces of change—forces that bring renewal to some churches and fear to others. Churches are carefully examining what they are doing in worship hoping to somehow create an atmosphere of worship.

During recent years at First Baptist Church we have progressed in the use of new elements of worship and different genres of music. While these changes do not automatically elicit the response we might all hope, it has allowed us to experience different facets of worship. We have sought to be a multi-generational body of believers worshipping together using a blend of various types of music, drama, and multi-media.

We are once again embarking on an expansion in how we prepare for worship. There are many changes taking place in our society that are transitioning us from worship as an “event” to worship as a “lifestyle.” During the “40 Days of Purpose” we learned that worship is carried out and experienced in all of life. No longer is worship just a weekly service but is represented in a life surrendered to the Lord in the praise of His glory. If worship is not happening for you on Sunday, there is a good chance it is not happening during the daily routine of living.

So how do we make the transition, as a congregation, to daily live a life of worship? Christians are already inundated with devotional books, discipling materials, and other necessary information so now what more must we do to live a life of worship. We are able to see in King David a life of worship that brings honor to God and is fully given to His lordship. We also see in David a culmination of his daily worship in the corporate event we typically call the “worship service.” David begins his worship in the places where he lives his life, outside the local sanctuary, walking with God. He exclaims, “Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O Lord.” (Ps. 89:15).

We also see in David’s life a worship that was uncompromising. He held nothing back and was willing to wholeheartedly express his devotion to the Lord. It was David who removed his outer royal garments so he could dance before the Lord as he led the Ark of the Covenant back to the temple. This was not the typical worship format of the day and his unabated expressions certainly ruffled some royal feathers.

Finally we see in David his desire for worship to be a witness of the transforming power of Almighty God. When David worshipped it was authentic. We have all benefited from someone we observed in church who was clearly worshipping the Lord. What a witness this was to the power of the one true God as David proclaimed, “I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples” (Ps. 57:9).

David’s life is a wonderful picture of worship. Despite his failures and sinful ways we find a heart seeking to glorify the Lord. My desire is for you to also come to the place where your worship will bring honor to the Lord and you will want to wholeheartedly express your devotion to the God. The outcome of this “life-worship” will be a clear demonstration to others as they see a genuine heart, offering genuine worship, unto the Lord. Worship is not a spectator activity you must become involved. Robert Weber says, “Worship is a verb. It is not something done to us or for us, but by us.” Let’s worship the Lord!