i am an offering

I was going to blog on the difference between playing piano and playing keyboard, but frustration with designing this blog has led me to a different post.

 I’m decently average at quite a few things, including internet languages.  I can find my way around html code, can sort of decipher php code well enough to understand it a little bit, I can sort of do css code. I can run most computer applications fairly well, but….

I’m only great and well-skilled at a few things.  I am not skilled enough to tweak and design this blog on my own, as I found it after breaking a few things and having to reinstall a few things today, so I really need to ask for help from someone who’s really skilled at php and css.

So often we as leaders think that we can do everything ourselves.  We live in a society with D.I.Y. TV shows and magazines.  But we need to realize that we need to ask for help.  Asking for help shows that we posess a few things that leaders should have:

• Humility. We aren’t afraid to admit that we don’t know how to do something and can’t do it.
• Trust. We need to be able to empower others and let them know that we trust them with something important to us.
• Encouragement. We need to able to encourage others and help them use their skills whever they can.

 It is especially important for those of use who are young that we ask for help and never assume that we are smarter than those who are in authority over us.  It’s Biblical to submit to authority and as Peter writes

“Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
1 Peter 5:5

 I think it’s vitally important that we get help for things that we can’t do on our own.  So, when this blog is finally looking the way it’s supposed to, don’t credit me!

How often do we give second-hand goods to God? 

• Second-hand committment - I’ll give you part of my life;
• Second-hand offering - I’ll give you a little bit of my money, but not the 10% you call me to give because I just can’t do that right now;
• Second-hand worship - I’ll raise my hands and praise you with all my voice on Sunday, but when the rest of the week comes around, I’ll live in sin. 
• Or, in some cases, second-hand gifts - a used VCR instead of a brand new DVD player. 

 I came across a blog post from Media Ministry that said it so well and I think we really need to remember this:

The church is not a thrift or pawn shop or a dump. We have to think of our giving as an offering because that is what it is. Just like our service is an offering. Both deserve our best. We should be giving our very best. If you want to give to the church for some particular ministry then buy something brand, spanking new. If you don’t want to buy anything or don’t know what to buy then give monetarily or ask the leader of the ministry what they could use.

Wow.  So true.  And just this morning I was reminded that we really are called as Christians to give sacrifically.  We have SO much - more than we’ll ever need, and yet we say we don’t have enough to give even the 10% tithe to God.  I’m really getting convicted in this area, and hope God will change my attitude.  I want to give Him my firstfruits, and nothing second-hand.

You must be thinking, “What?? How can you have a title like that?”

I was challenged today.  A friend and co-worker shared devotions from Philippians.  Paul was talking to the church and asking that they would exalt and magnify Jesus in everything they do in life.  That leads to this question:  Is God just a priority?  In other words, does your “checklist of life” look like this:

1. God.  Check.
2. Family. Check.
3. Work. Check.
4. Etc…check.

How often do we as  followers of Christ make a list like this and then leave God at the top and forget about Him.  We should be challenged to make our “checklist of life” look like this instead:

1. God.
2. God.  Family.
3. God. Work.
4. God. Etc…

Our life should revolve around Him, He shouldn’t simply just be our top priority.  Everything we do; love, life, work, play, hobbies, spare time, everything should revolve around magnifying Him and making His name known.  We exist to make Him famous.

I’m glad I was challenged today.

One of the greatest challenges that worship leaders who oversee a team of church musicians have is the whole issue of quality vs. quantity.  Bob Kauflin just wrote a great answer to a question that was sent to him on this very issue.

 The first thing he says is “Don’t apologize for using the most gifted musicians to serve.”

I agree, but those musicians need to be humble and understand the purpose of the worship team or it won’t work.

Our job as worship leaders is to help use music and the Word to point people to Jesus without distraction.  One of those distractions can be someone always buried in their music, focusing so hard on making sure they know where they are.  One of those distractions can be someone who knows that they know the music, and lets everyone else know by not having a servant heart.

When you can get a combination of someone who is very gifted musically, and very humble and knows that they are on the platform to point people to Jesus, beautiful things can happen.  Distractions from not knowing the music are eliminated and distractions from arrogance are elimanated.  The people see a musician who is dedicated to glorifying God with his gifts and they are able to glorify God all the more through the music.

So, if you are a worship leader, teach how to be confident.  Don’t just be the only confident one on the team.  Train and equip.  If you are on the team, practice.  Get to know music so well that it comes natrually, and so that you can then just focus on worshipping Jesus with all your strength.

Hey all.  I’m starting to get back to working on writing music and it’s pretty exciting.  I’ve been getting several new ideas for songs and I’m excited to do some work on them this weekend.  Hopefully this summer I’ll be able to start recording!  Enjoy the weekend.