I’ve Moved!

This blog is now hosted at http://www.letusrun.com and will no longer be regularly updated at this location. All of the old posts and comments made the move as well. I hope to see at the new address.

What Should Worship Leaders Say?

I must confess a great number of worship leaders have really annoyed me over the years. While I understand the primary function of a”worship leader” in the 21st century American church is musical, I cannot ignore the simple fact that true worship is far more than just singing songs. So often there has been a perfect time in the service for truth to be spoken, but instead we suffered an awkward transition into another song. There is no doubt music plays a particularly significant role in our response to God, as the Psalmists demonstrate, but there is still so much more.

While I can easily identify the problem in our churches, I will be the first to admit I do not have the answer. Numerous conversations have developed over this topic between my wife (the musician) and myself (the preacher), and there remains a great longing to understand it with greater clarity. Therefore, the question must be asked, “What should a worship leader say?”

Bob Kauflin, the Director of Worship Development with Sovereign Grace Ministries, recently began a series on this very topic. I have personally had the privilege of being led in worship by Bob and greatly respect his knowledge and gifting. In addition, he was one of the first worship leaders I ever knew that also had a true appreciation for how theology shapes our ability to worship. In many ways, he reminds me of David in the Psalms.

Here are the links to his articles.

What Do You Say When You Lead Worship? Part 1
What Do You Say When You Lead Worship? Part 2
What Do You Say When You Lead Worship? Part 3

Keep running!

Image from WorshipMatters.com

Theology Matters Video

This is a short promo video for the book Dug Down Deep by Joshua Harris. I’m usually not a big fan of this sort of thing, but I found this particular video really well done and thought provoking. Enjoy!

ESV iPhone App

So, I technically got rid of my iPhone a few weeks ago, but I still am really excited about the new ESV App released by Crossway. As always, they provide this great tool completely free. From what I have seen so far, it looks like a very well designed application. Please visit the ESV mobile website to learn more about it.

A Sincere Thank You

I remember always hearing or reading stories about those people who found themselves in need and turned to the Lord. They would go and pickup the mail the next day only to find a check inside an unmarked envelope for the exact amount they required. While I was always encouraged and even amazed by those stories, there was always a bit of me that remained sort of jealous. After all, I never had the opportunity to share in that particular kind of experience. And I know that may sound childish, but it’s the truth.

However, today I stopped by the mailboxes at the apartment complex on my way home from work as I often do. Inside the box, sort of tucked in with the other mail, was a small envelope with no return address listed. I thought it was somewhat strange, but figured it was probably just a note or letter from a friend or family member. So I decided to go ahead an open it on my way back to the apartment and to my surprise, there was a crisp $100 bill inside. And that was it.

At first, I was somewhat stunned. Then just confused. I kept digging around inside the little envelope expecting to find some indication of its origin. Finally, I came to the conclusion there was nothing else inside and proceded home to show my wife.

These are the moments in life where it is so easy to simply be excited about what’s happening and forget to give the credit to whom it is due. I am certain the Lord saw fit to lay it on the heart of someone here in Dallas to send us that money in the mail. To the sender, whoever you are, thank you for listening to the voice of the Lord. Sure, we could definitely use the money, but we are really far more excited to be part of something so much bigger than ourselves. To God, thank you for reminding us that you are the Great Provider. And no matter how much we may toil and plan, it is always you who provides for our every need.

Thank you.

New Domain

As way of an official announcement, the domain letusrun.com is now configured for this blog.

Moore on the Health Care Bill

I will be the first to admit I know very little about what is going on in Washington, D.C. regarding this health care reform bill. However, I have been a first hand witness of the madness which has ensued because of it. As I was perusing the blogsphere today, I came across this post from Russell Moore. I found it to be very insightful and, more importantly, focused on what really matters in a time such as this. Here are a few excerpts from his article,

Is it a problem that some of us who are tranquil as still water about biblical doctrine and ecclesial mission are red-faced about Nancy Pelosi and the talking heads on MSNBC? Is it a problem that some who haven’t shared the gospel with their neighbors in months or years are motivated to vent to strangers on the street about how scary national health care will be?

He would continue,

If we were half as outraged by our own sin and self-deception as we are by the follies of our political opponents, what would be the result? If we rejoiced as much that our names are written in heaven as we do about such trivialities as basketball brackets, what would be the result?

Just some food for thought. Keep running!

AlbertMohler.com

For those of you who aren’t familiar with Albert Mohler, you should check out his blog. It just underwent a pretty serious overhaul and I must say the new look is very nice. If you want an excellent Christian worldview on the most current issues of the day, this is the best place to go. This guy is simply a genius and he only sleeps for a couple hours each night (really), which means he writes a lot. And I would contend it’s worth reading every single word.

Memorizing Scripture Together: Psalm 1

I have a really good memory, but I don’t have much Scripture memorized. What does that say about my priorities?

One might think this is a somewhat overcritical analysis of myself, but I think it is simply the truth. For the past few weeks I have been particularly convicted about the sheer absence of the Word in my life. In complete honesty, there have been many days where I have not even picked up my Bible to make an attempt at reading it. This is not something I am necessarily proud of, but it is reality.

So I have decided it is about time I begin to start seriously memorizing Scripture once again. There was a day when I would sit down for hours (I think) and just pour over the Word. Much of what I know to this very day is the remnant of those precious moments of study. But I cannot remain content with what I have learned in the past alone, and so I must press on.

Therefore, I am going to use this blog as a sort of memorization tool. Plus, it keeps me writing to some degree which is also a good habit to develop. As I thought about this tonight, I felt lead to begin with something from the Old Testament. For those of you who know me, you probably understand this is definitely from the Lord, because I very rarely go to the OT first. But I must admit I could not have picked a better section had I tried a thousand times.

Here is the first text the Lord gave me,

Psalm 1
1 Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

3 He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
4 The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.

If you wish to join me in this venture, I would welcome the company. I plan to check back in here within the next week to update my progress. I even went to Walmart and bought a little white board to put in my closet where I see it every day so I can drill this practice into my routine once again. Hopefully, by his grace, my next report will be a good one.

May the Lord add his blessing to the reading of his Holy Word!

Resolved, to Preach the Word

For an introduction to my Resolutions, please read this post.

1. Resolved, to fight for life every day.
2. Resolved, to preach the Word as he has called me.

Today marked an important realization in my understanding of God’s calling on my life. Despite the many encouragements from so many of my closest friends and family, I have for too long ignored the seemingly apparent fact that he has called me to preach.

And now I have come to the point in life where I cannot simply ignore or place this on the back burner any longer. It must be addressed in some way or another. Since it would be foolish to find myself fighting against the Living God, I humbly and joyfully accept this purpose.

Perhaps one of the major obstacles to my understanding of this passion has been the false dreams or misconceptions I have had regarding what this gift would look like. I always imagined coming into or even planting a church and spending my whole life there. I read of my heroes in the past, like Edwards and Spurgeon, who poured themselves into their study and delivered many of the best homilies the world has ever known. And while that was obviously the calling the Lord had placed on their lives, it doesn’t appear to be so with me.

Sure, I have felt the pull toward preaching, but I wanted preaching on my terms. My idea of preaching was long hours in study and lots of books to keep me company. Instead, he has revealed to me that real preaching is rolling up my sleeves and getting my hands dirty. Real preaching is a natural overflow of the heart that is fixed on Jesus Christ. The true preacher cannot help but preach out of the spring of truth that wells up within. It is far more than delivering sermons, but about experiencing true life.

Paul wrote these words to encourage the young pastor, Timothy, in his ministry:

2 Timothy 4:1-5
I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

That, my friends, is what I long for. Resolved, to preach the Word as he has called me.