What is a worship leader

What does the term worship leader mean to you? Think about it for a second. Ok you got it. I bet your answer was the person who leads the songs in a church. Which that answer is true that is probably the actual definition of it and what we most commonly associate with the term "worship leader". I think you could classify a worship leader as anyone who leads people into an attitude or act of worship. That doesn't necessarily have to be the person who is singing on stage. I know at my church I feel the most important people are the people that you see as soon as you arrive(parking lot attendants, greeters, coffee makers, ushers we call them guest services). They make the job of the people on stage easy. Matthew 20:28 says Christ came to serve and not be served and pay the the ransom for many. The old saying you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Too many times I feel we focus so much on just the service that we sometimes might leave a bad impression because someone could not find a parking spot or a chair/pew to sit in. Leading worship could mean you have to serve in one of these areas or it could mean you clean or put out chairs or just be available (on call might be a good term). I thank God for the people who serve in this capacity and if you are not serving in your church find your place ask God to reveal where you need to serve and "just do it"(thanks Nike).

Mickey

10:45-12:15 Christian

It's really funny when I talk to people about church and when I tell them I'm a worship leader how their demeanor changes and it's like they need to act differently. For instance I was talking with someone about "the church" and how I think as a whole we have diverted people from what it really means to be a Christ follower. The person I was talking to took it as if I was bashing the church. I had to explain myself a little better and when I mentioned I was a worship leader they asked me "how can you say that the church is not doing there job if people are getting saved". I told the problem is the church is developing 10:45-12:15 Christians(that's the time of our church service, so fill in what ever time you go to church). What I meant by that is people that are proclaiming the name of Jesus as their Savior are not living like Christ saved them from hell. They are living like hell and then proclaiming the Jesus to forgive them. I have to admit I have been one of those people. There was a time in my life where if you wanted to find me you needed to look at the nearest beer store and you would find me, but yet I would still tell anyone and everyone that I'm a Christian young man. I heard a testimony this past Sunday and the one line that has stuck with me is "good 'ole boys go to hell". How many people are going to die and stand before the Lord and He will say "depart from me I never knew you" and it will be too late. Don't wait until it is too late. Get it nailed down today. Paul said "daily he had to die to himself". It's a daily process taken "one step at a time". My prayer is that "church goers" will understand and strive to be 24:7 Christ follower. Read Amos 5:21-24

Mickey

What's in your Heart

This past week has been an eventful week. I took part in a wild wedding on Saturday that I can't describe in words because it does not do it justice. Then Sunday I led worship at my dad's church in Albany, GA. and although most of the songs were too low for me to sing I think God showed up and as always He did awesome. Monday it was back to work and that night our church had a softball game and unfortunately we lost in extra innings but more importantly we lost our composure when some calls did not go our way. I know competition and the heat of battle is a tough place to keep your cool and it is hard not to react in the flesh and lash out at someone when something does not go our way. Most people don't look at a simple softball game as a platform to show Jesus to someone, but I feel as a Christ follower we are to show the love and compassion of Jesus no matter where we are. The Bible says in Matthew that the things of the heart are wicked and that's what comes out of the mouth. So I have to ask what's in our heart. Proverbs 4:23 "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life". Everything in our life comes from our heart and if we are putting garbage in our heart garbage will come out of our mouth. As Christ followers we are going to face trials. James 1:2-3 "Consider is pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." Our faith is tested everyday how will you react when the trials come.

Mickey

What a Story

This evening when I got home from work I was briefly watching ESPN and heard a story that absolutely blew me away. A girl from Western Oregon University softball team hit her 1st ever home run and missed first base when going back to 1st she blew her knee out and two girls from the opposing team carried her around the bases for the home run to count. The most amazing thing is that the home run won the game and that is the only way for the home run to count as a home run and the other team(Central Washington University) was eliminated from the playoffs. Wow that is amazing. What an incredible act of sportsmanship. I can't help but think about how as Christ followers we can learn from this. Much like the Good Samaritan we are to love our opponents or our enemies because that is what the Bible commands us to do, to love one another. It does not matter their race, gender, background, sexual origin or anything else. If we claim that Jesus lives inside of us we are called to show each and every person Jesus by the way we act. I pray that I can learn from these two girls that were willing to sacrifice a win for their team to help someone who was in need. To read the whole story and understand it better the link is right here http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/05/01/earlyshow/main4061276.shtml

Mickey