The day I tried to live

Washing Ramparts and Pealing Onions

I was watching a baseball game the other week and came to a harsh realization during the National Anthem. I dont know what a rampart is!  And I'm not sure if we watched it or washed it, cause I use the words interchangeably in the song ALL THE TIME.

It's been a long time since 4th grade social studies, and I'm sure I'm not as unpatriotic as I am just plain forgetful.   But sometimes I just don't think about what I'm singing.  I dont even notice it, and sometimes I just plain dont care.  That's pretty bad for a musician.  Even worse that Im the one singing songs every week with people!

I wonder how often that happens in a worship service?  How often do we sing things we don't understand and just breeze right over it.  It's actually one of the things I appreciate about well written songs, it takes some work to peel back the layers.  Many songs today can be real surfacy and plain.  A good song should be like a nice thick onion.  A once over wont do.  you have to take out your knife and start peeling and get down to that next layer, and the next one after that where it's fresh and smooth... let it invade your senses and... do I see some tears?  That's probably taking the analogy to far into cheeseland, but you get it.  Good songs take work.  And how often do we take the time to learn about what we're singing.

Next week I'm teaching in our evening service about this very thing.  So help me get my thoughts together on this.  What songs do you have questions about, trouble with, or dont get?

A few examples.

Come thou fount  " Here I raise my Ebeneezer"  Who is Ebeneezer, why is he in this song, and when can I put him down??? 

"Hosanna" - A word of praise as Jesus was riding into Jerusalem.  But it has a historical Jewish meaning significantly different than in that context.

Even the word "Hallelujah"  What does that literally mean? is it different from "Alleluia?"  Sounds good... been saying it for a while... but what am I saying?

The entire song Days of Elijah - "Dry bones, fields of harvest, laboring in vinyards, year of Jubilee, Zions hill?"  So much imagery, so little time.

I think it also helps to get to know the stories behind these songs.  Song like "It is well" "Blessed be your name" "Jesus paid it all"  "The Heart of Worship"  have some very cool history behind them. 

So here's your encouragement to peal the onion on your worship songs and do your homework so you're not washing ramparts.

Also... Help me out.  What other corporate praise songs or hymns should I include in my talk. 

Broke A String

I broke a string this morning during the FIRST SONG!  That's frustrating.    It's no so bad when it happens at the end of the set, but when you have 7 more songs to play... yeah.  It becomes one of those moments you wish you could transport out of. 

The problem is not that you have one less string to play.  Although that can present a challenge, you can maneuver around it.  The real problem is that it throws your instruments tension all out of wack and in turn all your strings go out of tune with each other and everyone in the band.  You really cant keep playing becuse it will sound horrendous.  You cant really stop if you are the driving instrument or your band may stop.  It's a worship leaders nightmare.  Performers can get away with it, stop midsong, make some jokes, and people understand.  I personally try not to draw to much attention to myself or the things going on on stage.  Sure there are those fun moments, real moments that are supposed to happen. But when youre trying not to break the flow or distract people and really be invisible, you have to be more creative. 

Solution:

Today I just rode it out playing the first song out of tune.  It wasnt too bad this time cause I was only playing with one bass player.  My plan of action is to always tell people to turn around and say hi to their neighbor in between songs so I have a minute to rip the string out, retune, communicate to my team, and get my thoughts together.  Then we continue on...  It's frustrating though... and takes me out of the worship moment. 

I figure the best thing I can do is make sure it doesnt take other people out too.

I'd rather not have these Sundays though.  BLAH!

New Ministry Center

Today, the staff at Park Community Church moves into the office space in our new ministry center in Downtown Chicago.  This is a momentous day for Park.  20 years ago, Park was started by 50 young adults from Moody Church that wanted to reach other young adults in the city.  For those two decades Park has moved from place to place; school auditoriums, wedding halls, gymnasiums, colleges, and even a bar.  3 years ago this Warehouse was purchased and renovations began.  Today we move into our permanent home.  Our worship space and classrooms will be complete in the upcoming months and our first service is not too far away.

My prayer is that God would use this place to equip his people to do some serious damage for the Kingdom. 

It's an honor to be on staff during this historic time in this church's history.