Pier Cafe

While in San Diego, I took a walk through SeaPort Village and spotted this place. The thought of eating there made me a little nervous. I was wondering if there was a weight limit to the restaurant and if they weigh each of the customers to make sure they're not exceeding it. Scale or no scale, I'd rather plant myself on a firm foundation. The wise man built his restaurant...on a rock, you know.
Matt. 7: 24-27 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

BAM!

Beast Takes A Break

As you can see from this picture of me, I really needed to get away. I was turning into quite a monster. It would've been nice to go somewhere exotic like Tahiti, or the Amazon, or Fontana. But it wasn't in the budget this time around.
I did however put a few dollars together to go down to San Diego for a couple of days. For many years I've gone there the week after Easter to attend MusiCalifornia -a conference that exhibits the latest and greatest choral music. But this year was different. This year it was personal. A personal time for God and me. And He put some wind back into my weary sails.
Matt. 11:28-30 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Spotlight On Music Ministry

A few years back I attended a Matt Redman worship concert. His pastor explained the inspiration for Matt's song, "The Heart Of Worship"...the chorus of which says:
I'm going back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You
It's all about You, Jesus
I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You
It's all about You, Jesus
Their church had really been strong in worship. But the leadership began to feel that the people just weren't responding like they had been before. So they decided to speed up all the songs. Well, they said that it just got them through the worship time much faster. Then they decided to slow down all the songs. But it just lasted twice as long.
Finally, the pastor said that it was time to cut the music out altogether -and make room for the people to bring their own expression of praise into the services. The first time they did this, it was a silent agony. But after some time, one would speak out their praise. Another would read a scripture. Another would sing a song. Another would declare their gratefulness to the Lord.
What they were learning to do was to BRING a sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord. Too often people get the mindset that worship is what the people on the platform are supposed to be doing on their behalf. Worship isn't a spectator sport. The worship leader is simply there to help set an atmosphere where worship can thrive -can truly be expressed by everyone.
So you can see that Matt's song was a bit autobiographical. Here's the first verse of "The Heart Of Worship":
When the music fades, all is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring something that's of worth
That will bless Your heart
I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart

Let Me Splain

Splain- meaning: to explain. Sorry I haven't been on the blog block for awhile. It's not that I haven't wanted to be here. It's just that my first priorities are our 'live' events at the church. I don't think they'd appreciate it if I got up to lead worship or speak and just said...didn't have time to prepare anything -so just check out my blog. :)
That being said, however, it has been way too long and I apologize to my public. All three of you. Thanks for waiting...and waiting...and waiting. And thanks for your interest!

Picante Praise

Now if I'd only had this as a baby, maybe I wouldn't be such a gringo today. My eyes start watering at just the mention of Taco Bell's mild sauce. It used to amaze me to see a man at our church pull a jalapeno out of his pocket and just start munching on it. What I'd like to know is- how do you taste something when your tongue is on fire? Does it add to the flavor? Are people actually trying to charbroil something in their mouth rather than using a stove? Guess they like to eat dinner while their mouth is sizzling.
I've noticed lately, however, that I've started to try a few more spicy things. (Had a pumpkin spice latte over the holidays.) Maybe it's my advanced age but I'm finding that a little kick to the food can make it more exciting.

It seems that God isn't into bland things either. He's very passionate and I believe that He wants us to be as well. He's not into having us just go through the motions. Revelation 3:16 speaks of Him spitting the lukewarm out of his mouth. But vs.19-21 (The Message translation) tells what kind of dish He relishes. "The people I love, I call to account—prod and correct and guide so that they'll live at their best. Up on your feet, then! About face! Run after God! Look at me. I stand at the door. I knock. If you hear me call and open the door, I'll come right in and sit down to supper with you. Conquerors will sit alongside me at the head table, just as I, having conquered, took the place of honor at the side of my Father. That's my gift to the conquerors!"
Let's live spicy lives for God. Let's add a little Picante to our praise.

Spotlight On Music Ministry

On my last "Spotlight" entry, I listed some scriptures that I think need reviewing whenever we get into conflict over worship music styles. I particularly like Philippians 2:4. "Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."
Worship, after all, isn't really about the music. Yet too much of the time that has been the focus -which often results in people looking only to their own interests. I've seen abuses on all sides. It's not just the older ones complaining, "We need more hymns!" I've heard younger ones complaining, "We need more Chris Tomlin and David Crowder!" The truth is -we need all those things! We can learn so much from each other -the young from the old and the old from the young.
We must remember that music is just the tool that we use to bring ourselves into His presence. We are to be the consumee -not the consumer of worship. It's much more about glorifying God than it is about our preferred style of music.
Visit a third world country. Watch folks worship who don't have the big sound systems or fog machines or pipe organs. Maybe they don't even have what I would consider a good worship song to sing. But I've seen some of the most beautiful expressions of worship given in the crudest of circumstances.

Rip Vaughn Winkle

Hey! I took a nap and woke up. Suddenly it was 2008! Got a bit swamped by the holidays and then went up north to see Steve and Crystal Conner. They pastor in Coarse Gold. (That's not an outfit...it's actually a city.) When I got back I was playing catch up and got sick. But the wonderful thing that I've discovered, as you can see pictured here, is that all you have to do is give everything to the secretary. Think I'll take up golf this year.