I Forget How Much I Like To Write

Haven't had much time to write over the last year. Seems like quite a change of pace to the previous 5 years, and if any part of that is cogent it's change.

I told someone today that I have probably lost my voice -- that is I don't think I have much to say these days. I wouldn't waste anyone's time.

Mostly, I just don't have the time to think, and have far less meaningful conversations in which to fertilize thoughts. This season leaves me quiet, and pressing to get through it.

Further, I write out of the flow of what I am taking in. Vocational ministry allows me the opportunity to read and listen to others, and this site has been a place where I can share my thoughts and perspectives. Recently the flow of learning has been primarily in the area of accounting and tax preparation which, believe me, would not make edifying blog posts. :-)

So for now I'll probably just be quiet for a while. At some point the page will turn and this chapter will be over. Here's looking forward to the next adventure that lies ahead.

--Ben

Worship Leadership (Part 2)

For an introduction to this series of posts CLICK HERE.


Here is the second guideline for worship leadership: Worship leading is leading others to worship.

This is the leadership aspect of worship leadership. If you are not leading people somewhere then you are not leading. Leadership has everything to do with movement from one place to another. As a worship leader I am entrusted to lead people from the place they are spiritually when they come into the worship experience to a place of renewal and refreshment, a place of safety in the presence of God where He can write His word on the tablets of our heart. We cannot perform our way to this leadership. Leadership is a reaction of trust. When people trust their leader they are willing to follow.

Too often we can lose site of our leadership of others. We can become so connected in our worship, that we ignore the leadership of others in their worship. As a worship leader I'm responsible not just for demonstration but for instruction. The members of your worship team both band members and singers are demonstrators and instructors, and at times (regularly) they'll need to be reminded. That as people sing along, they should be able to watch us to lead them to worship. For instance, if we want people to raise their hands in worship we take the first step by raising our hands. If we want people to clap then we clap. (*Note: for worship leaders that lead from an instrument -- you have to rehearse these demonstrations with your singers.)

One more note here: Building trust with the congregation doesn't just happen through your competence on the platform. It also is built on your character (previously addressed) and your relationship with the congregation off stage. If you are not connecting in the halls of the church, or the homes of congregation, then you stand a slim chance of connecting on the platform. And without that trust, you won't be leading. You'll just be singing.

--Ben

Worship Leadership (Part 1)

A lot has changed in churches over the last half century especially in the area of music, probably more than has been given credit. Even amid the worship wars of local churches there has likely never been a time of greater contribution and access to the artistic expression of worship music. I'm not saying it's the finest quality in history, but by volume and access unparalelled. This change has led us from "song services" and "song leaders" to "worship experiences" and "worship leaders". There is, of course, great debate over that and what those terms mean, but in my experience over the last 15 years a few guidelines of worship leadership have emerged that I wanted to share.

My own journey into worship leading was as a freshman at Valley Forge Christian College. I wanted to tour with a ministry team from the school, and was a fairly good singer. I auditioned for the role of backup singer. I have always had a preference for harmony lines, and preferred to offer my voice to back up the front man. I made the team and was informed that I would be the leader. I knew very little at that time and had the instruction of a gifted musician in N.J. I dealt with the insecurity of not having the kind of "cool" voice that many worship leaders of the 90's had. But genuinely I wanted to worship well, and help others express to God the honor and glory He deserves.

Here is the first guideline for worship leadership: Worship leading starts in the heart of the worship leader.

Unlike music performance worship leading is not about drawing attention to yourself and your gift, and is all about drawing attention to God and offering your gifts to Him. It starts from a heart of selflessness that seeks to honor Him.

I have not always understood this, and have not always practiced it. Sometimes the temptation of having fun or showing off trumps the true act of worship. However, while you may end up with a good show, you will not have truly led the people to worship.

I do not believe our spirit gets tuned up in a short prayer held during rehearsal or a last minute hand hold before the service. Prayer is important, but the heart of the worshipper should be seeking purity and holiness off stage if one wants to worship that way onstage.

Worship leading starts in the heart of the worship leader.

--Ben

Things I'm Learning In Transition: (Part 6 of 6)

6. Hard work is worth it. For some reason in life it seems the better, more valuable things are always things that require extra work, pain, and patience. In transition hard work brings stability. In my case it turned a two week temp job into full-time, permanent employment. Three months ago my boss was looking for other employers for me. Yesterday she told me about a job but said that she wouldn't let them have me, didn't want to lose me. And then there's the effect on your coworkers that see you as a resource of help and teamwork because they know you work hard. Finally there is a very personal satisfaction in knowing that you're doing your best. It is an investment in yourself that honors the Lord. We were designed to work, so work hard.

--Ben

Things I'm Learning In Transition: (Part 5 of 6)

5. The path to sin is easy to find. I am confronted daily with opportunities to sin. Not big sins, just little ones. Each day what I will think about, how I will speak to others, what I will imagine doing or saying. These little sins lead to bigger ones. I know how the process works, but sometimes that just becomes academic. I have to remind myself that it's more. I have to remain vigilant to look not only for the grace that forgives me when I fall, but for the grace that keeps me from falling. I've known people that have gone from the protected life within the boundaries of Christian community and have turned to a completely different life of great sin. I've wondered if they had to be given lessons on how to sin so greatly. But I know the answer, simply they wandered into little sins and when sufficiently practiced, they became experienced in greater sin, until ultimately they are expert sinners. I suppose we're all expert at sin at some level, but I want to be an expert at crucifying myself daily so I'm not held in the grip of sin, rather in the grip of grace. When people stop calling you pastor, and the public stops paying attention to your choices and life it is very tempting to believe that he stakes have been lowered. In fact, the stakes have never changed the penalty for sin is death, but God's gift is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

--Ben

Things I'm Learning In Transition: (Part 4 of 6)

4. Pastoring is a spiritual gift not a career or paid position. Now, I already knew this, but haven't experienced it in over a decade because I was working as a pastor. But when I get to use my pastoring gift then and now it is really very rewarding. It is a joy to know that the Holy Spirit is working through me when I offer counsel, care, or leadership. It's nice to preach, I love it actually, but I find it more difficult when I'm preaching to a congregation that I don't know. I prefer to know the people, and what they're facing in their lives. While a number of people have stopped calling me "Pastor Ben" preferring just "Ben" I was never a pastor for a paycheck, always because that's the gift God imparted to me in my calling. One day people will call me pastor again, I look forward to that. But it will always be done in the gifting He has given me. He called me pastor first.

--Ben

Things I'm Learning In Transition: (Part 3 of 6)

3. Tighten the boundaries and lean into routine. During this transistion there have been so many things that are outside of my control it can become quite a whir. Pulling in the boundaries really helps keep your sanity and provides stability. Creating a new routine can be a crutch to help you through the period of adjustment. Over the years my family has spent a lot of time together, I've rarely felt that I was absent. That came from some boundary moves about six years ago in my life. But with extended family so close we spend a lot of time with them as well. Over the last couple months we have really dialed into protecting a couple nights( T/Th) a week as family nights at home. Suddenly we have time to take care of a lot of little things that could always just kind of slide. These little things left undone are stressors that we were carrying. The routine's not perfect, and will need to be tweaked and rearranged from time to time, but when things are moving in new directions all around me I find it a helpful friend to lean on.

--Ben

Things I'm Learning From Transition: (Part 2 of 6)

2. No one can rest for me. It seems funny, but when I started this job I went to bed by 8:30 every night exhausted. I was learning a new commute, databases, office systems, people, etc. and that is very taxing. Over the last couple months I've adjusted to a much more normal sleep schedule. Rest keeps me sharp at work, and keeps me from being "too sharp" at home. Stress overwhelms my desire to show love to my family if I'm not rested. Instead I become focused only on myself and that leads to anger and selfish behavior.

--Ben

Things I'm Learning In Transition: (Part 1 of 6)

1. Spiritual growth is a daily choice, and the only one able to make it is me. I choose to make the scripture and prayer first priority in my life. I have formed new habits. One of them is incorporating listening to scripture. It keeps me thinking about God's interest in me; not deserved, but greatly appreciated.

--Ben

Archive Repost: Thirty Warriors...Deepest Treachery

I’ve been reading 2 Samuel over the last several days. I got to an interesting passage I had never reflected on before. In 2 Samuel 23 a list is given of David’s “Thirty Warriors”. There are two distinctions among the 600 men that were David’s Band of Brothers; the “Three Warriors” and the “Thirty Warriors”. Both groups were highly esteemed and famous throughout Israel.

Each that is listed, is as an act of honor and Respect for their part in serving David. (He was referred to by his men as the “Light of Israel”. They fought so that his flame would not go out.)

Near the end of the Hall of Fame, is the name of a guy that I didn’t expect to see. Uriah the Hittite. Uriah was one of the top fighters in the nation, one of David’s, “Thirty Warriors”. He was a man among men, a hero to the boys of Jerusalem, close friend and defender of David, and (oh, by the way) husband of Bathsheba.

Bathsheba, you may recall, was the woman that King David saw bathing herself. He lusted after her and had her brought to the palace so that he could commit adultery with her, while Uriah the Hittite was out fighting for the “light of Israel”. David’s sin was on the verge of becoming public because she became pregnant, so David had Uriah killed. David told his commander Joab to put Uriah in the front, where the fighting was worst., then to withdraw from him so that he would be killed. It happened just that way.

A couple random observations:
1. David cheated with one of his best supporter’s wives. Probably the reason that they lived so close to the palace was because of Uriah’s high position in the Army.
2. David set up one of his most devout fighters.
3. David killed him in a way the Uriah was not expecting. It was no surprise to him that he would lead the battle in the fiercest area of the battlefield. He was one of the “Thirty Warriors”.
4. This story has always seemed treacherous to me, but seeing that it was against Uriah the Hittite, worthy of being recorded by name in scripture, one of the greatest warriors in the army, and the kicker…He had his life taken by a friend he would have willingly given his life for. –Ouch

Jesus willingly offered his life for me. Do I deal with Him treacherously?

--Ben