Closing the Gap
Recently I gathered a group of worship leaders from Living Stones together on a Friday evening. My purpose in doing so was simple. I wanted our hearts to be united together and focus on what God has called us to do which is to lead others in worship. I've often said this and heard it repeated with different variations; yet, the theme is the same - "you can't lead someone to a place you've not gone to on your own." The principle is simple. As worship leaders, we must learn to enter and remain in His presence before we can lead others there.
As I prepared for everyone to gather at my house that evening, I viewed a video that impacted me in many ways. There were a lot of great stories, but the following message stuck out to me and is still impacting me. Often times in worship we experience a "space" in worship. We've all experienced it. There are times when we do everything humanly possible in order to experience the closeness of God. Yet, try as we may, there is a space. The revelation for me was that this space isn't created by God but is created by us. God hasn't grown distant even though we feel as though He has. We have stepped back because of our own sin. It was our stepping away that created the space. He didn't move. We did.
So, how do we close the gap? The answer is simple and is found in the amazing gift of repentance. The key to closing the space is our repentance. Repentance is simply saying that my sin has caused a space between God and me, and I desire Him to come near again. The cry of my heart right now in worship is for a Him to come closer. No matter how near or far He may seem to you or me right now, He longs to come closer. Why not ask Him as you worship, "Jesus, would you come a little closer?" And remember when you think He's moving, it's actually your repentance and brokenness that narrows that space just a little more.
Assignment: Don’t Write About God, but Write About God
Here at the beginning of 2011, one of the things that I have felt compelled to do is to continue pouring into young, emerging artists and worship leaders. To that end, I have picked up three very talented young ladies (one of them being my daughter) who I am instructing in our Living Stones School of Worship Arts. This week one of those ladies' mom made a comment to me about her daughter's latest assignment. Julia came home and told her mom, "Pastor Jon told me I have to write a song, and it can't be about God." Jokingly, Julia's mom said something to me like, "What's up with our worship pastor telling my daughter to write a song that's not about God?"
Some people may have a problem with that assignment particularly in the context of the church. However, Julia's mom isn't one of those individuals. There were two main reasons for the assignment.
All of life is sacred. When you are a follower of Jesus Christ, there can never be a separation between the secular world and the sacred world. Everything is sacred. I shared this fact with my students when I gave this assignment. You see, when a Christian writes a song even if God is never mentioned, the song is completely about God. Why? Because God is central to all of our lives.
Get out of the box and be creative. Many times as Christian artists (writers, musicians, songwriters, performers, etc.) we default to our normal, trite, religious language. This assignment purposefully was intended to cause my young worshipers to think creatively about the language they use in their writing — to think creatively about beauty and what truly is beautiful. Sure, God is beautiful but instead of stating the obvious, find the hidden beauty that is all around in creation and in life.
Some of you may or may not agree with my approach. However, I am a firm believer that it is time for Christian artists to create great quality art that isn't blatantly religious but screams of the hidden glory of God throughout all of life.
Top Worship CD Picks, Part 3 of 3
Here is my final installment of my favorites worship CDs. Although I have lots of other that I love and listen to, these represent those that I enjoy most and actually pick music from to do at Living Stones.
The first is one that I must include because I'm very proud of the project, and that's Living Stones Worship.
LIVING STONES WORSHIP: Living Stones Worship LIVE!
BRIAN JOHNSON: Love Came Down
JAKE HAMILTON: Marked by Heaven
CASTING CROWNS: Until the Whole World Hears
Top Worship CD Picks, Part 2 of 3
This next installment of my favorite worship CDs are all by one of my favorite artists, Jesus Culture. Although I really do love all of them, I have put them in order of my favorites.
JESUS CULTURE: Consumed
JESUS CULTURE: Your Love Never Fails
JESUS CULTURE: We Cry Out
JESUS CULTURE: Come Away
JESUS CULTURE: Everything
Top Worship CD Picks, Part 1 of 3
I always have people asking me about worship CDs and which ones I would recommend. This week I sat down and made a short list of a few of my recent favorites. So here goes. You'll find links to iTunes to purchase those CDs if you're interested.
PASSION: Awakening
BETHEL LIVE: Here is Love
CHRIS TOMLIN: And If Our God is For Us
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