A Worshipful Heart

Service Starts With Your Attitude: Sunday Setlist 8/16/09

Today at The Brook Brian preached on another one of our core values, service. He made a great point that service really begins with our attitude, our heart. We must desire to serve for the right reasons, with the heart Christ had (as noted in Philippians 2) in order to serve in love. Humility is needful in order to serve as Christ served.

Today was a bit of a challenge for our team. I had been gone all week. Several of our musicians were not regulars in their spot and we did not get to rehearse together on Wednesday night so rehearsal this morning, to be kind, was hard. Trying to smile and lead when you have a knot in your stomach is always interesting. I was a nervous wreck but it's always funny to me to see how God moves in spite of our weakness. I made mistakes, I'm sure the band made mistakes, but we saw people worship enthusiastically. When I got home my husband said "Ya'll sounded great today!" and I just looked at him and started laughing. Sometimes it is when we know we don't have a clue that God moves in big ways! This morning was humbling in many ways, but it was also comforting. Thankfully God does not need me to be perfect in order to have His way in our hearts.

Here's what we did today:

1. Majestic - Lincoln Brewster (I still struggle to not hear Sandi Patti singing the old tune with the same name when we do this)

2. Holy is the Lord - Tomlin (we interspersed a reading of Isaiah 6 in with this song. Powerful.)

Greeting and Welcome

Video - My Calling (Sermon Spice)

Sermon

3. Hosanna - Hillsong

4. I Stand Amazed - Kristian Stanfill

5. Sing to the King - Billy James Foote

The last set was very effective. The songs moved us along in worship in a very natural progression that gave the congregation space to reflect and then respond in worship.

So thankful for the powerful movement of the Holy Spirit in our midst....

**This post is a part of Sunday Setlists over at www.fredmckinnon.com**

So how was your Sunday?

The Question of Alcohol for Christians

To drink or not to drink alcohol has been a question for Christians that still seems far from settled. I used to think it was a given that Christians simply did not drink. In my limited experience, growing up in a small Southern Baptist church in the deep south in a family where liquor was never touched, this seemed to be the gospel truth. 

In my family, we heard whispers of alcoholic horror stories from a branch of my mother's family that included stealing, murder, and prison. And when I grew up and was ordained as a minister, the largest space on my questionnaire was left open for me to elaborate on my views on alcohol. It seemed like that was THE pass/fail question for ordination!

However, as the years have gone by, I've met many deeply faithful believers that drink wine, have a beer and don't equate alcohol with sin nor drink to excess. In fact they seem confused by all the fuss!

The latest issue of Leadership magazine includes the article "Trouble Brewing" where they note that the view of alcohol use as a sin is fading. There seems to be a shift in attitudes concerning drinking in moderation.

A few weeks ago some of our staff was gathered in my office and this topic came up, but in a different way. For those of us gathered that day the main question was this:

Is is wise for a minister - or even a believer - to drink alcohol? Not "is it wrong?", but is it the best choice? How will it affect those around us? We had a great discussion about it. I thought it would be a good topic for us to grapple with together.

So I'd love to ask you to chime in on this today. What do you think? I'll ask several questions to get you to think:

 - PASTORS: In the context and culture you serve in, would it be wise for you to have a beer or a glass of wine? Share with us how your church would respond.

 - ALL BELIEVERS: What about you? Would it be wise? Do you think your pastors should be held to a different standard on this issue?

 - For all of us - should culture and context matter? Do you believe alcohol is a black and white issue? Why or why not?

Can't wait to hear from you! Should be interesting! I'll share my decision later this week.

Playing Catch Up

Well it's the end of the week and here's what's been happening this week:

1) I spent the first part of the week in Memphis with Phil, walking on Beale Street, listening to Jazz, eating ribs and seafood, finding some great pottery by a local artist for my collection and even being treated to a massage at The Peabody Hotel's Day Spa! (no, we did NOT get to stay there but it is beautiful!) I wouldn't recommend walking around by yourself due to numerous panhandlers EVERYWHERE but Phil and I had a great time together.

2) Wednesday night our team worked on music for Christmas along with the new music we're learning for January, "Sweetly Broken" and "Invitation", a song I wrote last spring about my own spiritual journey. You can read about it here and hear a very simple recording of it here. We capped off rehearsal by recording another original song I co-wrote, "I Give You Everything". I'll be posting it soon so you can hear it. It was a great rehearsal.

3) We're working hard on our upcoming Advent Conspiracy series, building staging, planning elements, etc. and praying through how God would have us celebrate Christmas this year. If you attend The Brook, please visit our series blogsite and share the things you'll be doing to celebrate Christmas differently this year in the comments! Since we've decided to simplify things, I have virtually no shopping to do this year! Instead I'm focusing on "relational" gifts so I can spend time with those I love and reaching out to others.

4) Our GiveWorship Project is up and running and we've had some notable donations this week. I hope you'll check out the website here and watch the video and take a few minutes to make a donation. If you are a worship leader, this would be a GREAT Christmas project for your team. I can't wait to hear about the worship leaders receiving a guitar and with it, encouragement.

5) This weekend I'll be doing something I normally NEVER do - beginning to decorate for Christmas prior to Thanksgiving! However, the Christmas season will be different for us this year as our family will leave on Dec. 16th for a week in DISNEYWORLD! Spending time together is our real gift this year. Since we'll have a short Christmas season here at home, I've got to begin now!

6) This Sunday is Vision Day at The Brook! Our Ministry Staff will be sharing their vision for the coming year so if you are a part of The Brook family, make sure you come join us!

Here's a picture of the souvenir that made me laugh - but I didn't buy!

So how was your week?

Wrapping It Up: Why I Care So Much

Some of you might read these posts and wonder why this whole issue of women in ministry is such a big deal to me. You may assume I am simply an advocate for women's rights. You may wonder if I am embittered by past hurts. As a woman, I am of course concerned about any issue that affects us. I have obviously been shaped by my experiences, but it's not all been a negative thing. I continue to serve with so many godly, wonderful men and I truly thank God for them and love serving alongside them. They are a great gift in my life and dear friends. They've shaped me and been the hand of God to me in more ways than I can count. All along the way, God has taught me much on this journey. As I have sought the heart of God, I can honestly say that He has birthed a dream in my heart of what could be for the church at large. You might say I am simply hungry for more.

I care so much about this issue because I love the church that Jesus died to save and I believe this is an issue that impacts it's future deeply.

I wrote about my dream for the church in a previous post entitled "I Have a Dream". As you read this, may God speak to your heart and give you the courage and love for your brothers and sisters that it will require for us to walk into the reality of this dream together:

I have a dream.

I dream of a church whose love and passion shines as a light to the world around it. A church where believers live out the words of Jesus, "They will know you are my disciples by your love for one another". I have a dream of a church where race, income, background, education and gender no longer TRULY matter - in deed and not just in word.

I dream of a church that humbly lives out "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." I dream of a church where we serve and love one another with humble hearts.

I dream of a church where we can rejoice with one another, pray for one another, be for one another - without reservation. I dream of a church that preaches the gospel by how we treat one another - where there is no jealousy or gossip or envy, but simply encouragement, patience, grace and partnership and of course - LOVE.

I dream of a church where the relationships between men and women are marked by mutual respect and mutual submission and love and are not marred by sexual innuendo, manipulation, control issues, power trips, aggression, sexism, or biting sarcasm. I dream of a church where we rejoice in how others are made and gifted by God. I dream of a church where we can truly treat one another with the grace and gentleness and joy of true brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus.

I dream of a church where we treat one another with reverence because Christ is in all of us. I dream of a church where we look at one another and we no longer see race or gender or any other outward sign, but only Jesus Christ.

I have a dream. I believe this dream would preach the good news loudly and vividly.

This is why I care.....because I have a dream. And that dream will take us all.

Rocking Your Boat - Some Things to Think About

First of all, let me clear up a few things:
1) I would never use the word "genderless" to describe any belief I have or support. I simply do not believe that God gifts and calls people according to gender. There is a huge difference.

2) Ministry is difficult. It's not the path I would have chosen for my life. It is the path God chose for me. At one time it was hugely painful to be a woman in ministry. I preferred the safety and anonymity of the pew. I hold my beliefs after much searching, prayer and time on my face before God. Please respect that as you comment.

Now for my post. There are many things that you may not have ever considered about this topic of women in ministry. Here are a few items to give you "food for thought". These facts were eye opening for me.

1) 2/3 of all Bible-believing Christians are women. Fredrik Franson said "When 2/3 of the Christians are excluded from the work of evangelizing, the loss for God's cause is so great that it can hardly be described." We don't need fewer workers, we need MORE!

2) The truth is that there is gender bias - and it exists in deep and unspeakable ways around the world. Many times the key issue is not that women are not allowed to teach or lead, the issue is WHY. If we are simply covering sexism with the respectable blanket of religiosity then that is wrong. As a friend said, "you must be willing to face your own prejudices." We must lay these aside as all are created by God IN HIS IMAGE. In Dan Kimball's book "They love Jesus but hate the Church" one of the key perceptions non-believers had of the church is that we are "sexist". If believers don't speak up against this, we send the message that this is an injustice and prejudice that is not only acceptable, but one that reflects the heart of God. Is this what we want others to think?

4) If it is an absolute truth and command of God it must be true at all times and in all places. If we say it is wrong for women to lead here, it must be wrong in all other parts of the world. Additionally, if it is wrong, would we see God moving? We cannot deny that God has used women throughout history and across the world to plant, pastor, and lead churches. People were reached and saved. God's movement is obvious. How can we call that "wrong" and "sinful"? Here are examples:

 - Our family had a friend that went to the rainforest and served her entire adult life - to an unreached people group who did not have the Bible in their language. She translated the Bible, planted a church in that village and served there until she had health issues and had to return home. She was in fact a pastor. She was called Reverend. Her home church rejoiced in all she did, but she would not have been allowed to hand out a bulletin, much less lead had she stayed here. Did her service as a planting pastor honor God? Were His purposes served? 

 - In the underground Chinese church there are millions of Christians and the church is growing in ways we as Americans cannot comprehend. It is growing exponentially. At least 70% of the leaders of these churches are women, about 50% of those are women between the ages of 18-25. That blows our "pastor box" all to bits! Most have been to prison at least once for their service. I dare not criticize them.

- You should know that women have played a major role in the current evangelization of the world. More females than males serve as missionaries. Twice as many women than men marched into China as missionaries. Women missionaries were the first to translate the Bible for people groups all over the globe and in the most remote places. One writer observed, "The more difficult and dangerous the work, the higher the ratio of women." When they were turned down by missionary societies, they went on their own, some even selling themselves into slavery to reach slaves. That is dedication! Can they be faulted in their service?

 - I grew up in a Southern Baptist Church and we would take up the "Lottie Moon Christmas Offering" EVERY Christmas of my childhood to benefit foreign missionaries. Do you know what Lottie Moon did? She went to China where she was an evangelist, she planted churches and trained indigenous pastors. She died of starvation while there! I find it problematic that we will send women around the world AS PASTORS and celebrate them as "faith heroes", but we limit and restrict them here. This is not only incongruent and illogical, it is hypocritical in the extreme. It simply makes no sense.

This is just some food for thought. My goal is not argument, but simply that you would read what I have written with an open heart, that you would lay aside your defenses and see if perhaps there is room for growth in your attitude and beliefs. Consider if you will, that God could work outside the box we have built for Him.

John Wesley said "Since God uses women in the conversion of sinners, who am I that I should withstand God?". This is a question I would urge each of you to consider. Would you oppose the move of God? Would you tell God whom He can and cannot use?

As a woman in ministry leadership I don't want to serve ABOVE men, I just want to be welcomed to serve BESIDE them.............

Lovingly Agree to Disagree

**In this series of posts I represent no one's opinion but my own. I also am not trying to convince anyone else to hold my point of view although I will happily discuss it with you. I want to encourage you to simply think about how the issue of gender roles might be negatively impacting the church at large today. Keep your comments respectful please!**

I have always been baffled by one thing in as a woman in ministry leadership.

Why couldn't people within the church have differing opinions on this issue and still act in a loving and respectful manner towards one another? Why the need to "bash" and be disrespectful to women who serve in roles some may not approve of?

I've been insulted by "friends" and total strangers alike who acted as if I, as a woman in ministry, was A) immoral or B) set on taking over the church for my own purposes or C) trying to diminish the manhood of my pastor or husband. None of these is true.

I just want to follow and obey God's calling on my life. I take it VERY seriously.

I promise you I could tell you stories that would made you shudder with horror and disbelief. Church, there must be a better way! I have always appreciated those who just simply took the time to sit down with me and ask me about my views, to understand that it is an intensely personal issue for me, and to respect me enough to know that my desire is to honor and obey God with the totality of my life. I've appreciated that they took the time to truly listen. I've appreciated those who tried to see my heart. It seems to be a hugely emotional issue for people, which I can appreciate. However, I don't think it gives any of us the right to be hateful in the name of Christ. This is an issue that can be construed to be very gray. We must take the time to study the whole of the Bible, the culture of the Biblical times in which words were written and to consider why we hold our points of view. We must have the courage to face our own desires and our own prejudices and to call it for what it is and deal with it. Instead, what I've found is that many people I have encountered have truly never studied this issue. They've never bothered to ask the hard questions. They've never looked at their own hearts and seen the truth about how culture and prejudice and fear can greatly impact any of our views of this matter. And in their ignorance they have deeply wounded many and caused much heartache and division. We fool ourselves if we think this is an easy issue for the church. It is not. And it is an issue we must begin to address.

I've greatly admired those who not only take the time to study, but who can respectully agree to disagree. Craig Blomberg, one of the complementarian authors of "Two Views on Women in Ministry" writes these sobering words:

"All of us who speak and write on gender roles would do well to begin and end every address with the caveats, "I could be wrong" and "I respect the right of fellow evangelicals and evangelical churches to come to different conclusions, and I will cooperate with them rather than combat them for the larger cause of Christ and His kingdom, which so desperately needs such unity."

I am not a complementarian. My views are most closely aligned with those who are egalitarian. But I so agree with Mr. Blomberg's words! It is possible to sit and discuss this respectfully, or to treat others with respect when they disagree. I would never break fellowship with someone because their view on this topic differed from mine. I might set boundaries on a relationship if I felt their words were abusive and as a consumer, I might stop shopping at their store if I felt their corporate actions lacked integrity and love. But person to person, I would not break fellowship. I would hope we could choose to display grace and respect as we address this issue.

I have a blogging friend. His name is Tyler Braun. He is 24 and lives in Portland, Oregon. He's a worship leader like myself. As Tyler studied this issue for himself, he and I came to two different conclusions on where women should and should not serve. On other parts of ths dilemma, we agreed wholeheartedly. But I really admire Tyler because he has treated me with the utmost respect in our relationship despite our differing points of view. That spoke love to me. I urge you to read his thoughts here. It links to his two other posts where he presents the two basic views on this quite well. I urge you to read and to become more informed!

So I ask that as you meet women in ministry and try to form your own views on this topic you act in a loving manner. Remember that to these women this is their life. They have given their life to spread the gospel and to serve the church and their Savior. They deserve the encouragement and respect of their fellow believers.

The church needs to look at this issue with understanding and love, not with prejudice, fear and hate. Name calling, gender bashing, and prejudice are not Christ-like and should not be tolerated - either way. Yet it is tolerated and even done in the name of Christ. So we fight and we argue and we hurt one another.

And while we argue about who should and should not lead the charge to proclaim the gospel, the world Jesus died to save is going to hell all around us.

Which are we more concerned with?

An Encouraging Place for Women to Serve!

This week I'm beginning a series of blogs on women in ministry leadership, gender issues in the church, and how we should respond to one another through all the divergent perspectives I'm sure we hold. I hope you will not only chime in, but pass these posts along to your friends - especially any women who may serve in ministry.

Before I do that I wanted to say that I am very thankful to serve at The Brook. I want to be very clear as I speak on these topics that I have not felt disrespected as a woman in leadership in any way by those in leadership at The Brook. They have been overwhelmingly loving, supportive, and respectful - and better yet they are encouraging and cheer our female staff members on all the time! We presently have three female ministerial staff members and two male, so I'm sure we're an unusual case. I have been particularly pleased that our management team has sought to educate themselves and study the issue of women in ministry leadership very seriously, seeking to have EVERY member at The Brook serve to their fullest gifting and capacity and calling. The Pastor Search Team has taken this very seriously as they have researched candidates as well. At The Brook you will find men and women working side by side, teaching side by side, serving one another in mutual submission and joyous encouragement. It makes my heart so happy to see communion served by male and female, young and old. It thrills me to see Mary, our children's minister, baptize these children she has led to a relationship with Christ Jesus. I am proud to serve in a church where gender is not an issue we deal with often.

I want to thank all the wonderful friends in my life who have lovingly supported me in my journey in ministry. I have not always been supported - I have walked through many painful experiences as a woman in my position and role. This has birthed a dream in my heart for the church at large that I hope to share as this week goes by. But despite those who have opposed me - and other women - saying "yes" to God's calling, there have been many, many more who have encouraged and loved. To all the men on the praise team, technical teams, creative team, staff, management team and ministry heads - thank you for lovingly and respectfully supporting and encouraging me.

And to my dad and my husband and my boys - who always believed I could do anything God desired - I appreciate you so much.

So, on with the discussion.......check in all this week to see what issues and questions we discuss!

To my family at The Brook - I love serving with you!

Worship Meets Justice

God's really been messing with my heart lately as I've been reading "The Dangerous Act of Worship:Living God's Call to Justice" by Mark Labberton. I promise that if you read it you will be messed up too! It's challenging me in some areas and confirming things for me in others. I've underlined lines and lines and am only now beginning Chapter 3, but my favorite quote so far that has haunted me and followed me for several weeks is this: "Worship turns out to be the dangerous act of waking up to God and to the purposes of God in the world, and then living lives that actually show it." That's rockin' my world!

As you might be able to tell from some of my posts, this is something God has spoken to me about lately. In worship, I feel God compelling me to move as my heart becomes more and more aligned with the passions of His heart.

One thing that has always disturbed me is that idea that we can substitute service for worship, that we can spend our times doing FOR God and never focus on being with God. As a worship pastor this saddens me because I fully believe that the chief end of worship is obedience....and we know from scripture that God desires our obedient hearts rather than our sacrifice. My goal on any given Sunday is that we will encounter God and be propelled by that revelatory encounter out into a dying world to live out the hope of Christ.

Dan Wilt of The Institute of Contemporary and Emerging Worship Studies does a great job explaining how worship meets justice in 240 seconds. Watch it and be challenged!

When you enter into worship, what is God calling you to do?

What is breaking your heart?

Vote with Dignity - and Love and Thanksgiving.

This post is the first post I've ever written that I think will probably make someone mad.

I wish we - as Christians - could vote with dignity, love and thanksgiving and avoid the traps of bashing others and being so judgmental and mean-spirited. I am very tired of hearing believers bash others who disagree with them - on either side. I don't understand this as the right to vote is one of the greatest rights we enjoy as citizens of the United States of America. Being allowed to freely vote is something we should celebrate and thank God for. Instead, many have become hateful as they defend their choice. This is sad to me.

So here's my take on all of this......I wonder if the world around us could be more impacted by us acting in a loving, caring, dignified manner towards one another as we vote than by how we actually cast our ballots?

In other words, could how we act be AT LEAST as important as how we vote?

If the world is supposed to know we are believers in Jesus Christ by our love for one another, then what does it mean when we badmouth one another and write nasty blog entries? Let's respectfully express our opinions, vote as is our wonderful right as American citizens, and then get on our knees and pray for our country, our leaders, and dare I say it, the state of our own hearts.

Which is most righteous: to vote for someone we believe to be righteous but to bash everyone else who does not or to act in a righteous manner start to finish? Speaking up for truth does not excuse nastiness........

When we allow someone the same freedom to vote as their conscience dictates that we ourselves enjoy without resorting to being ugly and hateful, we are lending dignity to what has been - quite frankly - a sordid and demeaning election.

God is still God. He will still be God tomorrow night after the polls close. He is still on the throne.

Don't get me wrong - I have a very definite opinion about who I pray will be elected the next President of the United States of America. I don't mind sharing it with you. I have an even more definite opinion about how I believe we, as Christians, should conduct ourselves as we vote.

Sometimes I think we are more passionate about political candidates than we are about sharing Jesus!!! As yourself: Am I more political than evangelical? That is a tough question.

So tomorrow, be kind and loving and THANKFUL as you vote. Vote with dignity, treat others with respect. Show the love of Christ even to those who disagree with you. Share the Good News of Jesus Christ by how you ACT and SPEAK.

See you at the polls!

Things Worship Leaders Should Talk to Their Pastors About

I wanted to share an interesting part of our teaching today. According to Dr. Pete Sanchez, us worship leaders should be openly dialoging with our pastors about the following topics. For all you worship leaders, I encourage you to take an opportunity to share some of this with your pastor if it's been on your heart. Please understand this is not in any way a critique of pastors. We just sometimes don't say aloud what is on our hearts. Pete has been both a worship leader and a senior pastor and he said "We pastors WANT to know these things!". So - here you have it - the best from Dr. Pete Sanchez of Integrity Worship and The University of Mobile Worship Renewal Dept.........

What should we talk with our pastors about?

1)      “Team” is more important to us than "titles" - please value my input, give me responsibility and the authority to carry it out. I love it when you communicate your vision regularly in a compelling manner - this inspires creative gifts in me! Please bless me and release me to do what I do best - don't lean over my shoulder and micromanage me.

  2)      Demonstrate Public Confidence in Me – Give Me Room to Lead -

Trust me but teach me. Protect me by honoring me publicly and correcting me privately.

Please lead us in worship - Don’t work on your sermon during worship; if you must let it be the exception. I want you to set an example of being the chief worshiper at our church.

3)      Build Sabbath into my schedules; then insist I honor it – even a sabbatical as needed. Do it for my emotional and spiritual health, for the health of my family and the continuing health of our church. This will also help me express my gifts in a healthy way. Insist on this regardless of my excuses to the contrary!

4)      Champion the Necessary Resources for Our Success (help us do well) Please help provide the financial and  administrative help as well as the technical equipment I need to do my job well. Give me space and time to be creative and allow me to be in places that I can be inspired. I find it difficult to create and work in a church office.

      Continue my education and training – send me to the best training and conferences and help me get there! Encourage me to grow and not to remain complacent where I am. Help me know what I’m doing well, help me know how I can improve and grow. Give me a clear job description and expectations. Finally, I need your spiritual input and guidance. I need you to be my pastor. 

 5)      Don’t Ever Lower the Biblical Bar for Us. Insist that we live as disciples of Christ. Remind us – we don’t worship “worship”, we worship God. Survey and strengthen our theological foundations. Hold us accountable for sin but stand by us and for us in every season. Lead us courageously and passionately

6) Please give me enough TIME to lead worship. Honor the moment, worship should be a narrative, make sure it’s all connected. Honor the move of God among us!!!!! Don’t trample on the move of the Spirit!

7) Please teach the congregation about worship!!!!!! Help us as a cogregation to take the next step and go to the next level. What are the biblical foundations of worship? Teach us all about it so worship grows in our midst.

I am happy to say that many of these have been done very well at The Brook.

For all you worship leaders, which one of these really stand out to you?

What would you add?