Worship | Grace Community Church

Counting on God

We say it all the time around here at GCC that the hope of the world is Jesus Christ being manifest through the local church.  I get quite caught up in what candidates are saying, what stances they take, are they of good character...etc.  As I looked at the names on the ballot today I was reminded these folks are human, and my hope is not found in their victory or defeat.  My hope is found in nothing less than Jesus Christ...and He is ever-present on His throne! 

At OJ and UB this weekend we are starting a new song by Jared Anderson.  And the lyrics have been streaming through my mind all morning.  Let's stand on this Truth together...

I'm in a fight not physical
And I'm in a war
But not with this world
You are the light that's beautiful
And I want more
I want all that's Yours

Joy unspeakable that won't go away
And just enough strength
To live for today
So I never have to worry
What tomorrow will bring
'Cause my faith is on solid rock
I am counting on God

 

Humility vs. Anxiety

"God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."
1 Peter 5:6,7

I have never thought that pride is related to anxiety, but this verse has helped me to see a deep truth. My anxiety is a result of being self-absorbed...and not allowing God to be God. As I get older and gain more responsibility (kids, house, work...etc.), the tendency to be my own "god" is strong. If something is wrong, try to fix it. If I cannot fix it, THEN I give it to God...and start worrying. C.S. Lewis said that pride is at the root of all sin. I am amazed how often this statement proves true. I believe Peter was inspired by the Holy Spirit in these verses. God will oppose the proud, but will give His grace to those who are humble. I long to be a person who believes God for MORE, not LESS. And God gives us physical triggers at times to let us know that something is awry spiritually. Anxiety is a trigger for me...saying, "Your trusting in yourself, not God."

God, I humble myself before you. Forgive my self-centered mind. For I am not god...YOU ARE. I give You my anxiety. I give You glory. In Your mercy, please hear my prayer and grace me with your presence this day.

Amen

Power addicts

We can often point the finger quickly toward sources of control. We talk in depth about how their preferences get in the way of what really matters... What is truly satisfying to God.

Labberton purports that worship realigns power where it belongs. "Nothing thwarts God's purposes more than twisted power; nothing renews God's purposes more than redeeming power".

To shoot you straight, there are moments that we "lead-worshipers", are at the core of this power abuse.

Have you ever been a part of a sunday and thought, do these people really mean what we are singing? I mean come on, we're singing how great is our God, and if we're supposedly singing to the extent of that greatness, then that's pretty sad!

Ever been there? Maybe your cenario played out a bit differently, but the problem still resides.

It is not our responsibility to measure the authenticity and sincerity of worship. If and when we enter in to this mindset we've just graduated ourselves to one of the highest positions of power abuse.

I believe for the most part this abuse of power stems from a healthy discontent, I'll explain. We are passionate about worship, especially in the context that we are privileged to enter in to, and lead others to. Our passion is that we desire to worship God with all that we are, holding nothing back, the problem is when we expect others, those we lead, to have the same mindset.

People are entering in Sunday mornings with various hurts, concerns, burdens, sins, guilt...distractions. It's not our responsibility to judge their distraction, for that's what we do when we measure sucess in worship. We should be more concerned with guiding them to the throne of our great and glorious Creator!

Once this stays our passion,as Labberton says so well, "Our worship helps us remember this power realignment so we can live differently because of it."

Before that quote Labberton says Christ crucified is where all power in worship resides. Isn't the Cross who we are, the source of our passion, our identity, let's worry about living out the cross and leading others to do the same.

Where we can lead people in redeeming love, away from distorting the power of the Cross.

One last thing...love you guys!

Chaper 6. ...Starts With Rest.

it seems that the situation that you are in somehow changes the perspective that you have on things. 6 months ago when I first read this chapter, I had just stepped in to fill the intriem worship position at UB, now I read it again as I am stepping out. The other huge perspective changer has been the "passing on" of a very dear friend. A woman who was an adopted mother for me (having spent so many years almost 10,000 miles away from my own parents)  Momma Jo as we refer to her, has spent the last year and a half battling severe stomach cancer. That after being told that she only had 6 to 8 months to live. She has valiantly fought a battle that I hope never to have to endure.
I have a few favorite memories already picked out from the memory bank if you will, and one of them seems to find it's way into my thoughts on this chapter. See about 3 months ago a few of my friends and I had the chance to pack up our guitars and percussion stuff and take it to her house. With the cancer charging it's way through her system, Sunday mornings at church were a thing of the past. So we decided to bring the worship service to her. What was purposed to be a quiet and sweet time of fellowship, turned into one of the most profound and sacred worship times that I have ever been part of. Where it hit home for me came during the song "Your Grace is Enough." Here I am trying to worship the Awesome Creator and at the same time wanting to scream at Him and demand for Momma Jo's health to return, when I reached the line in the second verse that says "You use the weak to lead the strong."  My head dropped and tears came to my eyes as I realized that Momma Jo had all the health that she needed. I looked up at her and saw the greatest picture of strength that I will probably ever see. This sweet little lady, somewhere around 5foot 4inches, probably weighing in at 90 pounds. Pale skin, a bald head from the chemo and not hardly an ounce of muscle to her. Leaning back on Her pillow eyes closed mouthing the words "Your grace is enough, Your grace is enough, Your grace is enough for me." then quietly drifting off to sleep for a few minutes.
"His ways are not our ways." He calls us to rest, to rest in Him, to rest on His promises, to rest knowing that His grace IS enough.  Phil 1:6 tells us to be confident, that "He who began a good work in you, will be faithful to complete it."
Rest! knowing that He is at work. We can get so caught up in doing the work of God that we forget to spend time resting in Him.
I came into this intriem position full of energy and desire to do great things. And I leave having seen great things happen. My idea of rest was not that of quiet trust and dependence. Instead it was the idea of a cold cup of water along the track for a marathon runner. Maybe a Word of encouragement along the way.
Despite where you are in you walk, you need rest. True, abandonment of self, rest. His Grace is Enough!

I leave hoping that as our "racetracks" intersect in days/months/years to come, I will find you not only full of life, but more so full of Christ. That you will be "running the race" well, because you are well rested, in Him and in His faithfulness.

Forever a worshiper,
Phil W

Waking Up...period.

Is any one out there? I hope so. Truly, we hope y'all are more passionate than we are when it comes to worshiping Jesus. Please feel free to make comments on these blogs. We are very interested in what you think about Jesus, worship, this book by Labberton...or whatever.

Instead of commenting on the entire 5th chapter, I want to examine a simple truth we are apt to overlook from this section of the book. Labberton says, "Where we live does shape how we live." (p. 79) Amen! 18 months ago we moved to Tyler from East Lansing, Michigan. I was very comfortable up in MI...I knew what I believed and who I was. There was a very clear "harvest" that I felt called to, so I understood my role well. Since moving to Tyler I have found my beliefs challenged and the "harvest" very different.

Bill Hybels (Senior Pastor at Willow Creek Church) has been known to say, "You have never looked anyone in the eye that doesn't matter to Jesus." I have sort of adopted this truth in my own life as I long to share with people how amazing Jesus is...and what He has done in my own life. But I was "gun shy" in Michigan to share my faith even though I wanted to. But down here I am much more at ease...whether the person knows Jesus or not. Why? It's because I have found people to be more friendly in Tyler. It's wonderful and God has used the culture to get me past some of my own fears relationally. I mean, I still have FAR to grow in sharing my faith and helping those in need, but I learning much from God in Tyler. HOW I live has changed based on WHERE I am living. Can anyone else relate to this simple, yet powerful truth?

"burn us up": The Dangerous Act of Worship Chapter 4

There is a song out by Shane and Shane called Burn us up. They wrote the song directly from the story of Shadrach Meshach and Abednego. Look at the lyrics in the chorus:

Burn us up! Burn us up! Burn us up!
Oh king won’t you burn us in the furnace of
Your desire
We give up! We give up! We give up!
Oh king won’t you burn us in the furnace of
Your desire!
Won’t you throw us in the fire!

I really believe that the true furnace that these three were thrown into, was in the "furnace of faith". Sure there was an actual furnace and we all know the story, but I believe the furnace of faith’s flames were more fearful and searing than those of King Nebuchadnezzar’s.

You see the “real danger” for them wasn’t the burning of their physical flesh, but that of their spiritual flesh. Can you imagine standing before one of the most powerful King’s in history, who had a multitude of power, and all you have to do is bow before him and his idols, and your life on earth is safe? Oh, the inward battle that must of taken place for these three, but in a moments time they responded in faith.

I think at times, we are more concerned with being safe and comfortable in worship than that of going through an inward battle that would cause us to be propelled to edge, and cry out, We give Up! We give up! We give up! Oh king won’t you burn us in the furnace of Your desire!

Worship with out sacrifice doesn’t exist; true worship with out sacrifice doesn’t exist. What are we going to choose, safety, familiarity, a preserved life on earth, or the flames of faith? Flames that would purify us, mold us into Dangerous Worshipers, that could, even if for just one second, beckon the world to acknowledge it’s creator? Bringing glory to our great God!

We must choose, in everything, every second, between our "safety" or complete surrender. A pure surrender of ourselves, that seeks the desires of our King Jesus, that screams forth in all that we do...Burn... us... up.

False Dangers, Chapter 3

False dangers, hmmm, I guess I haven't thought about those that much. I spend so much time focused on the legitimate dangers that I don't even realize that I have wrapped the false ones into the same blanket so to speak. If I am spending that much time worried about the dangers of worship then am I even ever really experiencing true worship? I think that that is the gist of this chapter. Labberton lists off these elements of  the worship experience that we often are quite wrapped up in, and possibly are the the reason that we struggle to connect to the giver of Life when we approach Him.  He lists such false dangers as, safety, control, fear, relevance, expectations, popularity, and comfort level.
Of all of these I would say that one stands out to me as kind of the "king of the worry hill"
"Worship that's not under control"
if we can control the worship experience then we can calculate the outcome and thus positively affect each of the other areas of fear that we have imposed upon ourselves, or have had imposed upon us. 
    rather then try to explain all that is going through my head here let me just give you the key to may scatter-brained mind for a minute.

lournal entry #32  the dangerous act of worship chapter three
    I find myself stuck on this section on "control" My name is written all over it. I want to scream, "I do that, I do that, and yes I do that too!"  Trying to control how everything moves and works and flows... in our desire for it to be "just right" we in essence try to control God.  "Ok God, we need you to show up right here. But ummm don't stay on stage for too long because we need to allow exactly 35 min for the sermon and then we have another service so...."   Haha, ITS PATHETIC!!! but I do it.
-Side note-  (still part of the journal entry here :)
Do we realize all the different elements of worship? Joy is the easy one, how bout trust, confusion, the dissapointment, the giving up of self? this whole idea of the giving up of control? do we even pursue these ideas as we worship? If worship is giving glory and honor to Christ alone, then our flesh does not like that. Therefore worship can be a battle."

Ok there you go. maybe you see what I mean by scatter-brained.
I have a couple  questions that I would love to get your feedback on

1- How do we give the control back to God in our services?
2- How do we accomplish what it seems we are called to on sunday mornings, yet not try to control it?
3- And what is it exactly that we are trying to accomplish on sun mornings?

Waking Up

Our author begins the second chapter with a scathing accusation that should bring any Christ Follower up at arms!  Labberton says, "most of our worship seems to be about us, we presume we can worship in a way that will find God, yet ignore our neighbor."  (pg. 21)

Our worship is consumption rather than offering, that’s been reduced to an “expression of human taste, (what makes the majority happy or satisfied) rather than just longing to reflect God’s glory.”  The crisis most American churches now face “is that our individual and corporate worship rarely produces the fruit of justice, righteousness, mercy, and humility that God seeks."  (pg.22)  He goes on to say, “The heart of the battle over worship is this: our worship practices are separated from our call to do justice; love mercy; and walk humbly with our God, and worse, our worship fosters the self-indulgent tendencies of our culture rather than nurturing the self-sacrificing life of the kingdom of God."  (pg. 23)

The Church is “asleep in the light” to quote a title of a Keith Green song, from years ago. Nothing is more important than for us to Wake Up and practice God’s dangerous act of worship, living God’s call to justice.  (pg. 23) What motivates you?   What is your passion?  What is the “one thing” in life God has placed you on the earth for?  Have you discovered this yet?  Or are you just existing?  (Just kind of passing through?)  Are you desperate for a holy God?  Out of desperation comes hunger, hunger for Him; hunger for His spirit; hunger for His ways; hunger for hope; hunger for heaven.  Our relationship with Jesus should motivate us to live out His call upon our lives. Have you heard His voice? Have you responded to His call?  What are you willing to do about it?  Who else might join you in doing so?

Worship that doesn’t rearrange or reorder our lives, is not worship at all.  “Worship is to be the one activity that sums up the scope of our lives.”  (pg.39)

These are just a few of my thoughts about chapter 2, waiting for your response.

In His rhythm--Keith

High or Low?

Finally, here we are ready to talk about The Dangerous Act of Worship by Mark Labberton.  I hope you have had a good experience reading it.  We mentioned at the Summit there would be things you would disagree with and other things that would lead you to shout "Amen".  From the interactions I have had with some of you, I see this is proving true. 

I came to be a Christ Follower at age 18 and it took between 5 to 8 years for me to really own Jesus as my Savior.  What took so long, you might ask?  Well, it wasn't Jesus that got in the way...it was those who followed Him.  I was confused by people who seemed so zealous about the grace of Christ, but I didn't understand how that played out in a world littered with despair, poverty, and lack of compassion.  The churches I went to (or ministries I observed) seemed concerned primarily about internal issues and numbers rather than helping those who were in real need. 

Labberton says in Chapter 1, "The church is asleep.  Not dead.  Not necessarily having trouble breathing.  But asleep."  Could it be that this is true?  Could it be that I am not radical enough to move into the areas God is calling me to?  Could it be that I have missed a major part of the Gospel?  I confess, like Labberton, I have been caught up in my own selfishness.  "What can God do for me?"  "Why doesn't God answer this prayer and pull me out of this pit?  Has He given up on me?"  These are questions I face in my own heart and mind quite frequently.  Can anyone else relate?

I was listening to Francis Chan the other day, a great preacher from Conerstone Church in Simi Valley, CA, and he was talking about how important our view of God is as followers of Christ.  He pointed out that many of us can get caught in a "low" view.  A low view of God says, "If God is so good and loving, how can He allow poverty, hunger, and suffering?"  Chan then contrasted this low view with a "high" view.  The high view of God realizes that God is more.  He is More; He knows more; He sees more.  The high view of God realizes that we will stand before Him one day and He WILL SAY TO US, "Why did you allow poeverty, hunger, and suffering?  YOU were to be My instrument!"

How I pray that we, as lead worshippers in East Texas, would realize this high view of God and live lives that move beyond our own selfishness...and learn to be a walking replica of grace, love, and compassion.

Feel free to join in the coversation...Patrick, Keith, Phil and I look forward to what you have to say.

Jon

Worship Together

A few weeks ago I went to a worship conference with three other guys on staff here at Grace. We were in Chicago for 4 days being challenged to grow as leaders and worshippers. And while I learned quite a bit from the conference speakers, the most powerful lessons I learned about worship came from what God did to me through the men with whom I was traveling.

I have heard it said since I was a kid, “You are who your peers perceive you to be”. It escapes me where I first heard this, but it sounded good and has stuck with me ever since. Is it Biblical? Certainly not this wording, but I believe there is some truth here that needs to be affirmed.