Aug/101
Doing What You’re Called to Do
Many of you may know that at Living Stones Church, our Worship Arts department has a ministry known the School of Worship Arts (SOWA). The goal of SOWA is train up worshipers and worship leaders. We’ve been doing this for several years now and have seen some incredible fruit as many past students are now involved in our worship teams. Having said that, last night I was teaching one of my students piano. Her desire is to become good enough to be able to lead worship from the piano. She has been involved in music her entire life and feels called to this.
Here’s where the discussion began. Her reason for getting back involved in lessons was to help motivate her to develop her skill. Immediately I was reminded of a similar discussion that I had with an incredible mentor in the area of worship, Rory Noland. Rory has written several books including The Heart of the Artist, The Worshiping Artist, and The Thriving Artist. I had the opportunity to sit down with him for lunch this last summer in Chicago. In our discussion, I told him that I had asked my wife, Charlene, to help encourage and motivate me to begin writing more regularly. He stopped me right after making that statement. What he told me has remained engraved upon my mind (after I wrote it in my Moleskine). He said, “You have to have enough will power and motivation to do this on your own without anyone including the encouragement of your wife.”
From these two experiences, here’s what I am learning about myself and those around me. We MUST determine in our hearts and minds what we’re called to do. From there, if we truly believe what God has called us to do, we MUST do whatever it takes to make it happen. Every single one of us have a long list of excuses why it can’t happen. They range from the lack of time, lack of finances, lack of . . . you name it.
I can remember thinking the same thing at the beginning of this year when I knew we were supposed to pursue recording a live worship album at Living Stones. However, as we began to think differently and creatively, we came up with a plan that would allow us to record the entire project without costing Living Stones a dime (not even a penny!). You see, we didn’t allow the limitations of finances to keep us from doing what God had called us to do. Did we have to think in ways that we had never before. ABSOLUTELY! Did we have to be very creative to make it happen. FOR SURE! But we didn’t allow the typical excuses that limited us from the past to keep us from doing what we knew we were supposed to do presently.
Today is the day to settle this issue in your heart. What were you created to do? Are you doing it? If not, find a way to take simple steps toward achieving your dream. If you don’t, next year at this time you’ll be one year older with the dream still burning in your heart and the level of frustration increase as time ticks away. Don’t wait for tomorrow!
Jul/101
LIVE! Album Available on Amazon and iTunes
You can download our newest album, Living Stones Worship LIVE! on iTunes and Amazon.com.
If you want a physical copy with all the cool album art with pictures from the night of recording, you can buy it from CD Baby.
AND if you need chord charts, go on over to LSWorship.com for those.
Jun/101
Ordinary but Recognized
Acts 4:13 (NLTse) — The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.
As I was reading this passage this morning, two things struck me. First of all, Peter and John were ORDINARY men. There was nothing super special about them that made them noticeable except for one thing — they were bold. It actually says that the members of the council were amazed at their boldness. What further amazed them was that these two men were without any special training in Bible theology. They didn’t spend weeks or even years being taught in Bible training school.
What was the characteristic that made them so unique being merely ordinary men? I believe the second thing is the key — “they also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.” When we’ve been with Jesus, we don’t come across as ordinary men and women. Those having been with Jesus cross over from the ordinary to the extraordinary. They aren’t the “normal” people at work or school. They are the individuals who don’t blend in with society but rather, boldly stand out. Are people amazed at your boldness as an ordinary person? Do you stand out in the crowd? Are you identified by others as one who has “been with Jesus?” The key is having been with this man, Jesus. Let’s devote our lives to one thing as David did when he said in Psalm 27:4:
The one thing I ask of the Lord—the thing I seek most—is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his Temple.
Jun/101
Living in God’s House
Psalm 84:4 — What joy for those who can live in your house, always singing your praises.
Often when we read this verse, we can get the impression that this it is in reference to those you have the luxury of constantly living in God’s presence singing and worshiping. For the rest of that actually have jobs, families, and other varying responsibilities, we can’t afford that luxury.
However, I don’t believe that the heart behind this scripture due to our new covenant. It’s not that we should live inside the church building or inside our prayer closet. If we are the temple of Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19), then we are constantly living in God’s house. Actually, we ARE God’s house.
If our spirit is constantly activated, then our lives are filled with worship which includes singing praises. Therefore, as you live your life today, remember that as a believer in Jesus Christ, you are the dwelling place of God. Remember that you live in that place. Remember to keep your spirit activated so that your life is filled with and IS worship.
Jun/104
Worship — A Musical Style?
Tonight while driving with the family and listening to some good mainstream, Christian contemporary Christian music, I had a thought. I came to a realization while listening to the songs, music, and lyrics from the band, Sevenglory, on their CD Atmosphere. In the midst of pondering the lyrics and enjoying the music, I realized that I was worshiping. But wait a minute . . . this music isn’t music that we would do on a typical Sunday morning at Living Stones or any other “typical” American church for that matter. It would be viewed by most religious people as unacceptable for a “worship service.”
While some may argue the ability to worship to any music, I would argue that you would have to have been inside my heart to make that determination. And since you can’t get inside my heart, you’ll either have to take my word for it or call me crazy. This whole point reaffirms a message that has burned inside of me for quite some time. Life is worship. If we are living life filled by the glory of God as evidenced by the power of Holy Spirit working in us, then everything we do is worship. Driving my newly purchased Mustang convertible with the top fully down and my full head of hair blowing in the wind, for me is worship. Why? . . . because while doing so it causes me to focus my attention on the greatness of God and the wonder of His beautiful creation. That beautiful creation includes me. When I am joyful because of anything connected with God, it’s worship.
Now back to my original point. I contend that we can worship just as fully while listening to contemporary Christian music as much as we can to the typical worship genre. I contend that we can worship while viewing art created by a secular artist. Why? Because the God of all creation still is at the source of all creative ability. It causes me to worship. I contend that you can even listen to a completely secular song (pure in its lyrics and spirit) and the message and the music can direct you toward God and cause you to worship. You see worship isn’t a style and isn’t even about music. Worship, at the very core, is that which we hold as most important.
Jul/092
Worship is a Response
So many times when we consider the word “worship” in the context of most contemporary churches, music is at the forefront of our minds. However, are they one in the same? When teaching about worship, I many times use the analogy I heard some time ago from a seasoned teacher in the field of worship leadership. Here is the analogy.
Let’s use the example of an airplane and a runway. For any of us that have flown on an airplane, we wouldn’t be too pleased with our chosen airline, if we boarded the plane, taxied up and down the runway, and then returned to the gate from which we boarded the airplane. We would look at the flight attendants in disbelief and would demand a refund. Now let’s take this and relate it to worship. In the above example, the music is like a runway; worship is the atmosphere. Just like the runway is only a tool that enables the plane to fly, music is only a tool that allows us to “fly” into the atmosphere of God’s presence. True worship isn’t about music. Music is just a tool that assists us in enabling us to worship.
With this in mind, we must remember that music is a very emotional experience. When we hear music and the sounds, tones, and rhythms that go along with it, it evokes an emotional response in humans. We must remember that this emotional experience as well isn’t worship. Rick Warrens makes this clear when he says,
“Today many equate being emotionally moved by music as being moved by the Spirit, but these are not the same. Real worship happens when your spirit responds to God, not to some musical tone.”
So, what is worship if it isn’t just about music and isn’t just emotional? Here is the key: true worship requires a response. The music, and the emotions that come along with it, should stir in our spirits and cause us to respond.
How do we respond? And to whom or to what are we responding? The Bible is filled with instructions on how we should respond in worship. In the coming posts, we’ll explore those responses.
Jul/092
Preparing Yourself for Worship
As I was reading earlier in the week, I began to ponder the following question: “What am I doing to prepare myself for worship?” Some may look at that question and respond in dumbfounded bewilderment. Those with that response seem to think that corporate worship isn’t something for which we can prepare. Instead, we just come, and we worship. Although it is accurate that we can show up tomorrow morning at our churches and “simply worship,” the question is, “Is there more?”
King David obviously thought there was. He says in 2 Samuel 24:24 —
“But the king said to Araunah, “No. I’ve got to buy it from you for a good price; I’m not going to offer GOD, my God, sacrifices that are no sacrifice.” (MSG)
David wasn’t willing to sacrifice something that didn’t cost something. My challenge to all of us is this. As we think about joining our brothers and sisters in Christ tomorrow morning to worship together, let’s think about what we can bring. True worship requires sacrifice. In the Old Testament, that sacrifice was the blood of an animal. Today, true worship still requires sacrifice. However, a blood sacrifice for our worship has already been given through the gift of Jesus on the cross. However, God asks us to sacrifice something – something that costs us.
What is God asking you to sacrifice in preparation for worship today and in the days and weeks to come?
Jul/090
Worship at the Beach
I had to get away with my guitar today for a little worship at the beach. 
Jun/091
Short Update
Hello from Darkhan, Mongolia. We are having an incredible time. Yesterday, we went to the countryside and rode camels and horses and chased sheep. Yes, chased sheep. I tried to catch one — but that’s an entire story for another post. There’s even video to prove it!
The Internet is very slow here and our schedule VERY busy so it’s a bit hard to do updates. I’ll try to make short posts throughout the week as I’m able. This morning (Tuesday), we start about six days straight of ministry. Today, our team starts the construction project, vacation Bible school, medical clinic, and the worship seminar. Charlene and the girls are doing vacation Bible school in the mornings, I’ll obviously conducting the worship seminars along with John Staub and a few others helping me.
Please continue to keep us in your prayers. We’re hoping to post some really COOL pictures in the days ahead.
Love you all . . .
Jon for the entire family
