Hey guys again! Sorry for springing another blog entry on you so soon...but hey!! Something to grab you out of your average everyday lives for 2 minutes, yeah? I just went to this awesome site by Reuben Morgan: http://www.fivelines.com/
I had a poke around and came across this article...very relevant to me and a few other people I know...You know who you are, anyway...awesome stuff. Very inspirational.
Servanthood and your worship team
Serving well through worship
Peter Wilson serves alongside Pastor Gary Clarke at the Hillsong Church in London. It is a dynamic fast growing church reaching and impacting the city with the gospel of Jesus Christ. He is a great asset to their team and truly has laid his life down to see the kingdom advanced.
LEADING A WORSHIP TEAM
Obviously there's loads of different subjects that I could talk about when it comes to running a worship team, however I’d like to look at just one of them. This is something that has really been on my heart lately and in my experience it is one of the biggest issues in worship teams.
If I had to sum it up in one word it would probably best be described as Servanthood. As a Worship Pastor, I really believe that something incredibly powerful can come out of a strong relationship between us and our Senior Pastors, however it must be based on us as Worship Pastors recognizing that we are 'serving' the Pastor’s vision, not building our own. If you think about it, the Worship pastor and Senior pastor share the platform almost 50/50 in most churches, so we are by default one of the most public representatives of the church. It is therefore imperative that we share the same vision.
Our motive must also be pure. We must die to self, or in other words give up on our own desires and learn to serve someone else's desires. It is often easy to say we are serving the church or serving the Pastor, but in actual fact we are building our own little empire; a worship team full of people that will play the style of music I like, at the volume I like, with a sound system, lighting and staging that I like etc etc. It’s actually not about what we like, it’s what our Pastor wants. That's what we’re there for.
Here's the amazing thing though, when you approach this servanthood thing without your own agenda and without looking for what you might get out of it, it's amazing what you actually do get out of it. The story of Daniel in the bible is a great example of this. The King of Babylon sent his men to look for intelligent, good-looking Israelites who had the ability to learn the culture of Babylon. Once he’d found them he brought them in and trained them in the culture of his kingdom. There isn't a lot recorded about these years of training, however as there were no significant events recorded, we can presume that Daniel faithfully studied and learned the culture of this foreign, God-less land. In fact he studied it so well that he stood out head and shoulders above everybody else, to the point where the King trusted him. At that point Daniel was allowed the freedom to express his opinion and style things the way he liked.
This is the same with us as Worship Pastors. When you begin to serve wholeheartedly, with no ulterior motives (which are very obvious, might I add), you begin to build trust, to the point where eventually your pastor will say, why don’t you do what you want to do, because I trust that everything you do now will represent me well.
I’ve experienced this in the relationship with my Senior Pastor and it's an incredible thing. I’m still serving and still dying to self but at the same time I'm living out my dream. Just remember God placed those dreams in your heart and He knows what He’s doing. He didn’t place them there for no reason. He also knows what a powerful thing it is to learn to die to self and to learn to serve, because out of that foundation of servanthood, He can build something great that brings glory to Him alone.
Please be encouraged by this and make the decision to build a healthy, productive, servant-based relationship with your Senior Pastor. It will undoubtedly produce the best results.
Cheers, D-Man
Tuesday 30 August 2005
My Life today
Well, these last few weeks have been a helluva learning period. God's really been (and still is) teaching me to put my complete trust in Him. I look back even two months ago and can barely recognize myself anymore.
Haha, God's a friggin' gun! So good. I've been thinking way too much lately, a bunch of headaches have cropped up, and for me that's kinda bad, since I never get headaches. But anyway, my whole perception of God is slowly changing. I think Connect 1 was the very start of this period in my life..in fact I can guarantee that it is.
Sunday night was fun though :) Absolutely smashed off my face all day from lack of sleep and to much V...uh huh...ask anyone that was there, they'll tell you ;) ...
Got 3 new CD's on Monday...Day of Fire - Day Of Fire, Underground - Replenish, and You Can't Trust a Ladder - The Myriad....I can't say that I have really gotten into the other two yet, but Replenish are a friggin' awesome band.
You ever notice how music can really set your mood? I've been really noticing lately, good and bad. A lot of music which is cool has been really making me depressed which means I can't listen to it much anymore...erk.
No music practice yesterday or Illuminus either...kinda sucked. I can accept, but I don't really understand why other people a relieved when there is a day off that kinda stuff. Me, I hate it when there isn't anything on...so boring!
Anyway...my proverb: "Those who deny that they are wrong the most, are probably the most wrong."
Cheerio, lads...and lad..esses?
Haha, God's a friggin' gun! So good. I've been thinking way too much lately, a bunch of headaches have cropped up, and for me that's kinda bad, since I never get headaches. But anyway, my whole perception of God is slowly changing. I think Connect 1 was the very start of this period in my life..in fact I can guarantee that it is.
Sunday night was fun though :) Absolutely smashed off my face all day from lack of sleep and to much V...uh huh...ask anyone that was there, they'll tell you ;) ...
Got 3 new CD's on Monday...Day of Fire - Day Of Fire, Underground - Replenish, and You Can't Trust a Ladder - The Myriad....I can't say that I have really gotten into the other two yet, but Replenish are a friggin' awesome band.
You ever notice how music can really set your mood? I've been really noticing lately, good and bad. A lot of music which is cool has been really making me depressed which means I can't listen to it much anymore...erk.
No music practice yesterday or Illuminus either...kinda sucked. I can accept, but I don't really understand why other people a relieved when there is a day off that kinda stuff. Me, I hate it when there isn't anything on...so boring!
Anyway...my proverb: "Those who deny that they are wrong the most, are probably the most wrong."
Cheerio, lads...and lad..esses?
Monday 22 August 2005
Nothing to say
...
And now for my proverb... "Yesterday is history, tomorrows a mystery, today is a gift, that's why they call it the present." - Thanks Wally :P
And now for my proverb... "Yesterday is history, tomorrows a mystery, today is a gift, that's why they call it the present." - Thanks Wally :P
Tuesday 16 August 2005
Planetshakers & proverbs
Hey guys, another random update for y'all...Hmm, well reluctantly, I went and brought the new Planetshakers album a few weeks ago, and didn't really like it at first, but it kinda grows on you. Now I think it's awesome! Songs like Great And Mighty, Evermore (best song on the album), and Always and Forever. I was never really into Planetshakers that much, (being a United Live fan) and liked them even less after they released Rain Down (the studio album just after My King), but this new album has fired me up, and now I can't believe I didn't like them, lol. I still like United better, but the last two live Planetshaker albums are awesome...awww yeah, anyways now I have that ranting plug out of the way... I've decided to leave you all with a weird and wonderful proverb each blog entry...
"A strong head and a hard heart never go together..." hmmm double/triple meanings in that one.
Catch!
"A strong head and a hard heart never go together..." hmmm double/triple meanings in that one.
Catch!
Trusting in God
Hmm, a lot of things have been happening lately. Connect 1 was over the weekend and was awesome but extremely tiring. Missed a presentation on Monday because I didn't know about it until Sunday arvo...le sigh...10% :) .
Anyways. I've been really trying to get into God a lot over the last few weeks, mainly prayer over the day every day, Bible reading every day, that sort of thing, as well as speaking Godly things over my life.
With all that has been happening, I have been learning to rely on Him a lot more than I used to. It seems that He has been slowing taking away a lot that I've simply taken for truth and left me without answers especially in the area of relationships, not just b/g relationships but even friendships. Thus the trusting thing :) I need to rely more of Him than ever before because of it.
Hmm..anyway sorry to bog you down in my mundane thoughts once again...
Leave you on a good note:
1 John 3: 1 - 3
The Father has loved us so much that we are called children of God. And we really are His children. The reason the people in the world do not know us is that they have not known Him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and we have not yet been shown what we will be in the future. But we know that when Christ comes again, we will be like Him, because we will see Him as He really is. Christ is pure, and all who have this hope in Christ keep themselves pure like Christ.
I don't know about you, but that for me is a real encouragement at the moment.
Cheerio, D-Man
Anyways. I've been really trying to get into God a lot over the last few weeks, mainly prayer over the day every day, Bible reading every day, that sort of thing, as well as speaking Godly things over my life.
With all that has been happening, I have been learning to rely on Him a lot more than I used to. It seems that He has been slowing taking away a lot that I've simply taken for truth and left me without answers especially in the area of relationships, not just b/g relationships but even friendships. Thus the trusting thing :) I need to rely more of Him than ever before because of it.
Hmm..anyway sorry to bog you down in my mundane thoughts once again...
Leave you on a good note:
1 John 3: 1 - 3
The Father has loved us so much that we are called children of God. And we really are His children. The reason the people in the world do not know us is that they have not known Him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and we have not yet been shown what we will be in the future. But we know that when Christ comes again, we will be like Him, because we will see Him as He really is. Christ is pure, and all who have this hope in Christ keep themselves pure like Christ.
I don't know about you, but that for me is a real encouragement at the moment.
Cheerio, D-Man
Tuesday 9 August 2005
Differences between men and women
Haha, these are awesome...and so true!!!!!
got them from this blog.
1. NAMES
If Mark, Chris, Eric and Tom go out, they will affectionately refer to each other as Fat Boy, Godzilla, Peanut-Head and Scrappy.
If Laurie, Linda, Elizabeth and Barbara go out for lunch, they will call each other Laurie, Linda, Elizabeth and Barbara.
2. EATING OUT
When the bill arrives, Mark, Chris, Eric and Tom will each throw in $20,even though it's only for $32.50. None of them will have anything smaller and none will actually admit they want change back.
When the girls get their bill, out come the pocket calculators.
3. MONEY
A man will pay $2 for a $1 item he needs.
A woman will pay $1 for a $2 item that she doesn't need but it's on sale.
4. BATHROOMS
A man has five items in his bathroom: a toothbrush, shaving cream, razor, a bar of soap, and a towel from the Marriott.
The average number of items in the typical woman's bathroom is 337. A man would not be able to identify most of these items.
5. ARGUMENTS
A woman has the last word in any argument.
Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.
6. CATS
Women love cats.
Men say they love cats, but when women aren't looking, men kick cats.
7. FUTURE
A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband.
A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.
8. SUCCESS
A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend.
A successful woman is one who can find such a man.
9. MARRIAGE
A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn't.
A man marries a woman expecting that she won't change and she does.
10. DRESSING UP
A woman will dress up to go shopping, water the plants, empty the garbage, answer the phone, read a book, and get the mail.
A man will dress up for weddings and funerals.
11. NATURAL
Men wake up as good-looking as they went to bed.
Women somehow deteriorate during the night.
12. OFFSPRING
A woman knows all about her children. She knows about dentist appointments and romances, best friends, favorite foods, secret fears and hopes and dreams.
A man is vaguely aware of some short people living in the house.
Cheerio, D-Man
got them from this blog.
1. NAMES
If Mark, Chris, Eric and Tom go out, they will affectionately refer to each other as Fat Boy, Godzilla, Peanut-Head and Scrappy.
If Laurie, Linda, Elizabeth and Barbara go out for lunch, they will call each other Laurie, Linda, Elizabeth and Barbara.
2. EATING OUT
When the bill arrives, Mark, Chris, Eric and Tom will each throw in $20,even though it's only for $32.50. None of them will have anything smaller and none will actually admit they want change back.
When the girls get their bill, out come the pocket calculators.
3. MONEY
A man will pay $2 for a $1 item he needs.
A woman will pay $1 for a $2 item that she doesn't need but it's on sale.
4. BATHROOMS
A man has five items in his bathroom: a toothbrush, shaving cream, razor, a bar of soap, and a towel from the Marriott.
The average number of items in the typical woman's bathroom is 337. A man would not be able to identify most of these items.
5. ARGUMENTS
A woman has the last word in any argument.
Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.
6. CATS
Women love cats.
Men say they love cats, but when women aren't looking, men kick cats.
7. FUTURE
A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband.
A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.
8. SUCCESS
A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend.
A successful woman is one who can find such a man.
9. MARRIAGE
A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn't.
A man marries a woman expecting that she won't change and she does.
10. DRESSING UP
A woman will dress up to go shopping, water the plants, empty the garbage, answer the phone, read a book, and get the mail.
A man will dress up for weddings and funerals.
11. NATURAL
Men wake up as good-looking as they went to bed.
Women somehow deteriorate during the night.
12. OFFSPRING
A woman knows all about her children. She knows about dentist appointments and romances, best friends, favorite foods, secret fears and hopes and dreams.
A man is vaguely aware of some short people living in the house.
Cheerio, D-Man
Monday 1 August 2005
Bored...this and that
Haha I'm bored...
Some amusing little games to play:
Hapland
Hapland 2
Isn't it interesting the way expenses go way up when you start getting money? Hmm....(It's a conspiracy!!) Anyways, lets see, $105 for camp, $200 for Reload, $40 for Momentum, $20 for Exo, $700 for India....ack...ah well, at least they are a once off thing. I'm actually looking forward to Momentum, it's on Saturday, get up at 6:30 and get home at 6:30...and the good part, Alan Meyer is speaking, he's a champ...oh yeah!
And now I'll leave you with some facets of God.....Hebrew 4:15 (Perfect), Psalm 45:6(Righteous King), Matthew 11:29 (Gentle), Isaiah 9:6 (Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace)
Oh, and check out the awesome new United page...just up!
Hillsong United
PS: To anyone whom I know who has pics of me, send 'em to me will ya? I so need to update my photo album.
Some amusing little games to play:
Hapland
Hapland 2
Isn't it interesting the way expenses go way up when you start getting money? Hmm....(It's a conspiracy!!) Anyways, lets see, $105 for camp, $200 for Reload, $40 for Momentum, $20 for Exo, $700 for India....ack...ah well, at least they are a once off thing. I'm actually looking forward to Momentum, it's on Saturday, get up at 6:30 and get home at 6:30...and the good part, Alan Meyer is speaking, he's a champ...oh yeah!
And now I'll leave you with some facets of God.....Hebrew 4:15 (Perfect), Psalm 45:6(Righteous King), Matthew 11:29 (Gentle), Isaiah 9:6 (Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace)
Oh, and check out the awesome new United page...just up!
Hillsong United
PS: To anyone whom I know who has pics of me, send 'em to me will ya? I so need to update my photo album.
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