05-27-2009 08:26

Forum: MIND

Ike, do you think there might be something to the fact that the mission statements from God that you listed were all given to individuals, not groups? Taking up the cross and following looks different for different people. It's hard to whittle that down into a short statement that is equally challenging to all.

In fact, maybe a good one would simply be, "Taking up our crosses and following Him".

I agree, though...something like that is still not as "feel-good" as you normally hear.

01-12-2009 09:51

Forum: TEMPLE

It's tedious, isn't it, Joe?

I also send out midis to my team to help them practice. But I haven't come up with any better way, but since I'm typically entering the music into Finale anyway (for sheet music or slides or both), it isn't any extra burden to me.

Just tedious.

Planning Question 08-13-2008 11:53

Forum: TEMPLE

I am interested in your thoughts...

What do you think is the place for including "favorites" in your worship sets? Your favorites, your preaching minister's favorites, requests from the congregation, etc.

04-21-2008 08:04

Forum: PRAYER

Congrats on the new position, Steven! I know it will be good to be closer to family, especially for your kids' sake.

May God bless your move with ease (i.e. sell your house quickly!), and guard the transitions that will take place at both Central and Highland.

Baby Blessing 01-04-2008 07:15

Forum: TEMPLE

We have our annual Baby Blessing coming up the first Sunday in February.

I'm on the hunt for some creative ideas to help it be special. Can you help?

10-12-2007 09:50

Forum: PRAYER

Joe, I am sorry for your struggles. I am sorry that you have been misunderstood and ignored. I am sorry that peripheral issues such as software and microphone selections are sabotaging your ministry. It makes me sick to my stomach to even think about it.

God, your servant is struggling. He needs Your protection so that he will not become disillusioned, negative, and bitter in the face of opposition. I ask that You fill Him with Your Spirit even more this week. May love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control ooze out of him and be noticed by all he comes into contact with today, tomorrow, Sunday, and in the days and weeks to come. Such responses will only come from you, for as a human his flesh will want to lash back, exert control, and make demands. Please help him to rise above the struggles and always be Your faithful, humble servant.

Through the power of the risen Christ, Amen.

09-13-2007 07:46

Forum: TEMPLE

I'll take a position opposite of dj for argument's sake...


You have 2 things going for you:

First, they are college students. I know that for me, college was a time to stretch my views and practices.

Second, it is a retreat. It's been my experience that people are more relaxed about how things are done at a retreat.

So, I guess I'd say that yes, there is balance, but at this time of life I'd lean more towards challenging them. Truth has nothing to be afraid of. Tradition, perhaps, but not truth.

It's not necessarily bad to be exposed to new things at this time of life so they can make their own informed decision about them rather than merely following what has been spoon fed to them while growing up. That's what college and moving away from home is all about. If you do something different, understand that not everyone will like it or embrace it, but that's ok. It's still good for them to have been exposed to it.

I don't believe we should always have to cater to the lowest common denominator.

But, be ready to answer the questions of "why, and where do you get your Biblical authority?"

08-23-2007 06:36

Forum: TEMPLE

quote:

I actually think that the song selection on the first few Sundays will impact how receptive the congregation is to the change. If the more "contemporary" visual is offset by a slightly more traditional song set, I'm thinking that it will be better received. That make sense?

That makes very good sense and is a wise move, in my opinion. I think you're right on the mark.

I'd be on the lookout for potential trouble with the perception that the choir has been permanently replaced with a contemporary praise band and team. I don't claim to know a ton about Baptist culture, but it seems choirs have been a pretty important piece at all of them I've been around. It might be helpful to communicate clearly that it is only a break, not an ending, and they will be back on "x" date.

08-21-2007 08:35

Forum: MIND

Yawn

Stretch

I always feel a little sluggish after a long nap...

08-07-2007 01:26

Forum: MIND

OK, redirecting to hymn search in my mind...

consider:
Purer In Heart, O God
Higher Ground
One Step at a Time
Heavenly Sunlight
Hold to God's Unchanging Hand
More Holiness Give Me

None of those are perfect fits with your theme, but they relate with some aspect of it..

08-06-2007 03:14

Forum: MIND

How about this one from one of WF's own?

Also, Think About His Love comes to mind off the top of my head.

07-26-2007 09:26

Forum: PRAYER

Thanks to any and all who prayed for our Edmond house to sell. God blessed us with a buyer in mid-June, and yesterday was Closing Day.

I celebrate God's faithfulness in taking care of us much longer than we had planned for. I'm thankful for the lesson in learning to live without buying so much "stuff". I'm reminded of how blessed I truly am and have been.

07-26-2007 09:24

Forum: PRAYER

Congrats on the successful move.

That hassle is pretty recent in my mind, too, so anyone else moving has my prayers, too.

07-17-2007 09:53

Forum: MIND

Sam - I'd love to hear your response to Brent's comment.

I think Adam Jacob has a great point.

BUT - I'd like to remind all that my question was not primarily about during our assemblies.

In fact, I think this shows once again that we too often place an unhealthy amount of emphasis regarding our Christianity on 1 1/2 hours or so of a Sunday morning over what goes on during the rest of our week. We're trying hard to correct that, but our default argument seems to always go back to what happens in the assembly...

Can we be as patriotic as we want to be all the time, or does that represent a form of idolatry? Or, can we be disrespectful of our laws and leaders in the name of God because we judge them to be wicked and their laws to be un-Christian?

If worship happens outside of the assembly, these are pertenant questions for worship leaders, don't you think?

07-17-2007 09:35

Forum: TEMPLE

Is there a rehaearsal for the Wednesday night service? I would guess that perhaps the larger number of singers for Wednesday Night might be because there was no rehearsal, so the more singers there are the better the chance that someone knows the song and can be strong to cover for those who don't. Just a guess.

I've done the opposite on Wednesday nights here. I only have one per part, but I limit it to my best singers.

We typically have 8 on Sunday mornings, although I've made it 12 a couple of times, and led with the whole group (choir-style) a couple of other times.

While I was at Quail with Gary Bruce we changed from 8 to 12 on Sunday mornings.

We did get a fuller sound, but there was one interesting and disappointing dynamic change. Some of the members began acting like it wasn't as vital that they be there at rehearsal, get a sub if they were gone, or even learn the music. They figured the other two on their part would handle it. But, sometimes more than just one of them were thinking this way! Next thing you know, your team has increased in number but gotten weaker overall.

I don't know if that trend has continued since I left, and that's just my observation - Gary's may be different.

It's VBS time! 07-10-2007 08:15

Forum: TEMPLE

Let's share what's going on for VBS (or whatever form it may take) this summer at our gathering places.

What's fun, what's creative? Any great ideas? Any big mistakes?

Did you incorporate anything about it into your Sunday morning assembly to kick it off?

Let's hear it!

07-09-2007 06:30

Forum: MIND

quote:

i've never seen the phrasing 'God-worship'. why was that used?

dj - Did I just make up a new term? Cool! Can I copyright it? Probably not - I imagine I've heard that term used somewhere before and am just repeating.

It's merely intended to contrast worship and devotion to God with worship and devotion to one's country.

God and Country 07-05-2007 08:12

Forum: MIND

Now that many of us have enjoyed the 4th of July ...

What do you think is the proper balance between patriotism and God-worship?

I don't just mean in our assemblies, although that is one place. I mean in our whole lives.

Do you think patriotism can take the extreme form of worshipping another god?

Have you seen others, in the name of God-worship, become hyper-critical of all aspects of government?

Is there a balance? A proper amount of respect for country, yet a very clear commitment that our alliegence and our worship is to our God alone?

Any thoughts out there? It's been kind of quiet around here lately...

06-20-2007 09:34

Forum: TEMPLE

Thanks for all of your input. The ideas I couldn't incorporate this year will still be helpful for next year.

Our stage decoration timing was limited, as there was a wedding in our building on Saturday. I hope to do more next year, but June does tend to fill with ladies in big white dresses in our building...

We ended up with 2 Lazy Boys on stage (Thanks, Adam!). Our Youth Minister (whose wife had their first child in March of this year) and his Dad (who preaches in Missouri) presented their lesson from the recliners. There was a coffee table between them and they had cups of coffee. It really presented as if they were just sitting in their living room talking about what it means to follow Jesus. The theme was "Like Father, Like Son". It worked wonderfully.

Here are the "Man Songs" we sang:
Victory Chant
Hymn of Glory
Some May Trust In Chariots
Battle Song
The Battle Belongs to the Lord
The Great Redeemer
The Treasures of Earth (men's quartet during communion)
Seek Ye First
Firm Foundation
Shout to the North
Don't Be Afraid (Be strong and courageous...)

Again, thanks for your ideas and brainstorming. Hopefully we can come up with a Harley for next year .

Submission 06-12-2007 07:43

Forum: MIND

What does this word bring to mind as it relates to worship and your life of ministry?