Today my friend David Massey took the reigns of the 9.30 service and led the music for worship. He comes from a heavy metal / hard core background. He definitely brought some edge to the service. All of the feedback has been positive so far. It was pretty fun to play with the band, I've not often had the chance to be let loose on the guitar - which means I don't really know how to let loose. But it was fun.
Hopefully the church finds a new 9.30 music guy. I feel like it may happen soon. I did enjoy the chance to lead the music, but what was more fun for me (i realized this sunday) was to build the team. It wasn't until I was standing at the back of the stage, looking at the whole band leading the congregation in worship, and me not leading the band that i realized God has blessed my leadership efforts. I was like a proud parent watching their kid stand on stage and be the tree, or hit their first tee-ball. OD affirmed me the other day and said that he sees natural leadership abilities in me. I think this is something I need to try to develop and seek God to develop in me.
Monday, October 30, 2006
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
wednesday night thoughts
I gave the message tonight for HS church. I think I feel ok about it: nothing less, nothing more. I feel it was ok.
I definitely can see some things I need to work on as far as delivering a message:
1) work on transitions between thoughts. I think I was a bit rough / choppy when transfering to another point
2) time. I went too long. Time goes a lot faster when you are the one speaking.
3) engaging the audience. I think I did decent in delivering the message, but perhaps could have done better to engage the students. I want things to sink in - even if it's just one of the point among many. My recent thoughts about delivering a message is that the audience will only remember one or two things; whether its an illustration, a point well developed, or one of those "ah-ha" moments when something clicks. I think speakers usually offer more than just a few good points, but the audience tends to remember only one or two. These thoughts mostly come from my experience as an audience member, not a speaker. But, I could be wrong...
Things I felt that I did well:
1) I think there was like 2 times that I felt funny. One was when I said something about unrine being talked about in the Bible.
2) I could be totally wrong, but I felt that there was minimal chatter as I spoke. There was a few times I slowed down or even paused so that things would settle. Also, I think numbers were down tonight, so that helped the chatter level.
3) I did't look backwards at the screens to see if the right slide was up. I don't like when speakers do that.
4) preparation time was decent. I didn't feel unprepared. I learned to work more, though, on transitions.
Overall, it was an ok night.
Mike showed me how to fossil hunt and it's funny.
Lost sucked tonight.
I definitely can see some things I need to work on as far as delivering a message:
1) work on transitions between thoughts. I think I was a bit rough / choppy when transfering to another point
2) time. I went too long. Time goes a lot faster when you are the one speaking.
3) engaging the audience. I think I did decent in delivering the message, but perhaps could have done better to engage the students. I want things to sink in - even if it's just one of the point among many. My recent thoughts about delivering a message is that the audience will only remember one or two things; whether its an illustration, a point well developed, or one of those "ah-ha" moments when something clicks. I think speakers usually offer more than just a few good points, but the audience tends to remember only one or two. These thoughts mostly come from my experience as an audience member, not a speaker. But, I could be wrong...
Things I felt that I did well:
1) I think there was like 2 times that I felt funny. One was when I said something about unrine being talked about in the Bible.
2) I could be totally wrong, but I felt that there was minimal chatter as I spoke. There was a few times I slowed down or even paused so that things would settle. Also, I think numbers were down tonight, so that helped the chatter level.
3) I did't look backwards at the screens to see if the right slide was up. I don't like when speakers do that.
4) preparation time was decent. I didn't feel unprepared. I learned to work more, though, on transitions.
Overall, it was an ok night.
Mike showed me how to fossil hunt and it's funny.
Lost sucked tonight.
Sunday, October 15, 2006
the refresher
so, I decided that my place in music ministry has been to be the guy who is a solid last minute fill inner (for the most part). I think I've only said no like 2 times for doing music for something. A lot of the time it's another thing to put in my schedule - when I'm asked to lead the music for something.
The exception was tonight. I was asked last minute to lead some music for a church plant that meets in a house. Chad, the regular music guy, was sick today so Shannon Murray (the leader of the church plant) called me up after lunch and asked if I could do some music for them that night. I agreed.
I was refreshed. This time it didn't feel like adding something into my schedule. I wanted to be there. It felt natural to be there and lead music for 20ish people in a living room. I think I've found the venue I was created for. Not only was it neat to sing with a few others, but having church in a home was pretty awesome.
Pro's and Con's:
+ small group equals conversational style sermon which is cool
+ I really have a lot of respect for Shannon, he's an ex-missionary with a kingdom worldview
+ comfortable atmosphere, very relaxed
- some people sing loud and off tempo/key in small settings
- babies crying and running around during sermon/lesson
+ mixed age group hanging out, a good chance for me to connect with some adults
- there's always one guy that has something to say about everything
+/- sitting on the floor, its cool cause it more relaxed, but my back started to hurt (something to think about before sitting in the open next week)
+ God was the center of every activity
+ accountability: it's harder to hide in a smaller group
I think I'll go next week. Whitney is excited to join me. I may be becoming a big fan of home churches (under the umbrella of denominational association).
The exception was tonight. I was asked last minute to lead some music for a church plant that meets in a house. Chad, the regular music guy, was sick today so Shannon Murray (the leader of the church plant) called me up after lunch and asked if I could do some music for them that night. I agreed.
I was refreshed. This time it didn't feel like adding something into my schedule. I wanted to be there. It felt natural to be there and lead music for 20ish people in a living room. I think I've found the venue I was created for. Not only was it neat to sing with a few others, but having church in a home was pretty awesome.
Pro's and Con's:
+ small group equals conversational style sermon which is cool
+ I really have a lot of respect for Shannon, he's an ex-missionary with a kingdom worldview
+ comfortable atmosphere, very relaxed
- some people sing loud and off tempo/key in small settings
- babies crying and running around during sermon/lesson
+ mixed age group hanging out, a good chance for me to connect with some adults
- there's always one guy that has something to say about everything
+/- sitting on the floor, its cool cause it more relaxed, but my back started to hurt (something to think about before sitting in the open next week)
+ God was the center of every activity
+ accountability: it's harder to hide in a smaller group
I think I'll go next week. Whitney is excited to join me. I may be becoming a big fan of home churches (under the umbrella of denominational association).
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
"the talk"
So I did talk with Mike about the whole burnout thing. He gave some really good advice and is helping me to un-burnout. His advice was:
make a weekly schedule, super detailed by hours
take a weekend off. he suggested going to Beaumont to just do nothing for a weekend and go to Whitney's church with her.
reconnect with God, not only plan times to be with God in my weekly schedule, but he's gonna let me not teach Sunday morning Bible Study in order to go to a class and be fed.
Now I just need to do these things. I'm a bad procrastinator. I always say I'll get that done soon, but never end up getting to it. This is my chance to change that. I'm printing out a weekly schedule right now ...
make a weekly schedule, super detailed by hours
take a weekend off. he suggested going to Beaumont to just do nothing for a weekend and go to Whitney's church with her.
reconnect with God, not only plan times to be with God in my weekly schedule, but he's gonna let me not teach Sunday morning Bible Study in order to go to a class and be fed.
Now I just need to do these things. I'm a bad procrastinator. I always say I'll get that done soon, but never end up getting to it. This is my chance to change that. I'm printing out a weekly schedule right now ...
Monday, October 09, 2006
I concur
So i've been reading some blogs recently about ministry burnout. Mike talked about being close to it, and his friend Josh is there. This past month I've been feeling the symptoms, i think. I guess it's the time of year...
I think my major problem is this distance I'm feeling from God. Things aren't the same. Its almost like I got too busy with ministry for Him. Ya, thats stupid, but I think I did it. That led to a sort of dissatisfaction with the ministry I'm doing. Josh talked about losing joy in the ministry he knows he was made for - a phenomenon I thought impossible but am realizing that I'm experiencing myself.
The remedy ...
I'm not sure. Definitely some away, intentional time with God. I've really been feeling Him coaxing me to Him this past week - and it's time to take him up on that offer. Also, I need to figure out my schedule. I need to figure out what i need to do and put times in my week to do them. Another problem I've been having is being 100% there wherever I am. I jump from student to R.A. to HS associate to 9.30 worship leader to boyfriend back to student several times a day. I need to learn to be where I am totally and not be distracted by my next role.
I just got really distracted by my roomate Tim. He's funny. I just decided to change the look of my blog.
Since I'm pretty sure Mike's going to be the only one to read this (maybe nicole, maybe lucas), i'll just plan on taking to him (you) sometime this week. We can share near burnout stories and pray for each other and talk about practical things we can do. I've come to realize that mike is all about practical things and "fleshing out" what they "look like" ... "quasi."
I think my major problem is this distance I'm feeling from God. Things aren't the same. Its almost like I got too busy with ministry for Him. Ya, thats stupid, but I think I did it. That led to a sort of dissatisfaction with the ministry I'm doing. Josh talked about losing joy in the ministry he knows he was made for - a phenomenon I thought impossible but am realizing that I'm experiencing myself.
The remedy ...
I'm not sure. Definitely some away, intentional time with God. I've really been feeling Him coaxing me to Him this past week - and it's time to take him up on that offer. Also, I need to figure out my schedule. I need to figure out what i need to do and put times in my week to do them. Another problem I've been having is being 100% there wherever I am. I jump from student to R.A. to HS associate to 9.30 worship leader to boyfriend back to student several times a day. I need to learn to be where I am totally and not be distracted by my next role.
I just got really distracted by my roomate Tim. He's funny. I just decided to change the look of my blog.
Since I'm pretty sure Mike's going to be the only one to read this (maybe nicole, maybe lucas), i'll just plan on taking to him (you) sometime this week. We can share near burnout stories and pray for each other and talk about practical things we can do. I've come to realize that mike is all about practical things and "fleshing out" what they "look like" ... "quasi."
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