Many nights I’m the last one awake in my house. The last thing I do before going to bed is shut the light out. I’m not sure how the science of it works, but for a few seconds afterwards I can still “see” and remember everything’s place and walk to bed without hitting anything, even though it’s pitch black.
Whenever we lose our intimacy with God — well, it’s like shutting out the light. If we’re not walking in the light He’s given, we may remember how to fake it for a while and feel our way around in the dark, but we’ll inevitably lose sense of what’s up/down/forward/backward/right/wrong. The second we turn the light back on, everything comes into focus.
So stay close to Jesus. Keep the light on.
Filed under: Devotional, Theology, worship | Tags: church, philosophical, sacrifice, spiritual, worship, worship arts
Hey guys. This post won’t appeal to everyone, but I’m interested to get your feedback anyway. What you’ll read below is a product of me thinking about things related to my current job. I was trying to come up with a name for an imaginary worship band, which got me thinking about the roles of the worship band, which led me to thinking about the guys who brought their friend to Jesus on a stretcher, lowering him through the roof. That story is found in Mark 2. As I began to look closer at the whole chapter, I found that there were principles you could derive from the stories there and apply to leading worship.
Please feel free to comment and/or correct and/or make addendums to it. It may or may not be helpful to some of you, but I thought I’d pass it along anyway. 
Go read Mark 2 first, then come back here and check these out.
Story #1 – Jesus heals a paralytic
4 friends bring the man to Jesus and lower him through a roof. The band’s role isn’t just to perform, but to bring people to Jesus. He does the work, we are the vessels.
Principle #1 – we are servants in worship to bring people to Jesus
Story #2 – Jesus calls Levi, the tax collector
Jesus told Levi, “Follow me.” When questioned about his company, Jesus replies, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners”. The band’s role is to present the radical call of Jesus and to minister to the broken, realizing we are all in need of healing.
Principle #2 – we are catalysts in worship for hearts to respond to Jesus’ call
Story #3 – Jesus questioned over fasting
The Pharisees were concerned with forms of worship more than the Spirit of worship. Jesus replies that new wine requires new wineskins. The band’s role is to listen to the creative voice of the Holy Spirit and seek new ways to express that voice in worship, not content with “that’s how we’ve always done it”.
Principle #3 – we are creative artists in worship, listening for God’s voice
Story #4 – Jesus, Lord of the Sabbath
Jesus sets the record straight, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.” God is good and gives to His children from His goodness. The band’s role is to encourage God’s children to enjoy Him and worship Him from a place of thankfulness rather than duty.
Principle #4 – we are responders in worship, underscoring God’s goodness
Filed under: Music, Theology, worship | Tags: demos, free music, New song
Hey guys, thanks for the positive feedback on the first song in the series. Remember, these are just demos.
Next up is a song called, “Well Done”. I wrote this song after watching a program called “Mistaken Identity” about a girl that was the lone survivor of an accident involving a busload of college girls. You can check out the book and synopsis of the story here. In the TV special I was watching, the interviewer asked the girl at the end of the program about two words she had on her wall and the significance of them. The words were “Well Done”, words she hopes Jesus says to her when she gets to heaven. I was so touched by the story that I immediately went to my guitar and wrote this song. Enjoy…
Well Done
There is a reason for me to be here
There is a purpose that You have made clear
Jesus, I love You and I want my life
To be lived for Your glory
To be good in Your sight
“Well done”
I wanna hear You say, “Well done”
At the end of my days
All I want is Your praise
And to hear You say, “Well done”
I wanna hear You say, “Well done”
When I come to Your place
To see Your glorious face
And to hear You say, “Well done”
(words & music © 2008 Phil Laeger)
