Living with the Asterisk

The asterisk is the little guy in the corner who gives you your first warning that the statement you’ve just read may not be as simple as the statement you’ve just read. He is your gateway, your Looking Glass, into an entire world of fine print and legal jargon. All for the purpose of allowing two competing mindsets (marketing vs. legal) to occupy the same space.

Marketing wants to tell you all of the AMAZING things that will happen once you buy-consume-read-attend-clickon-watch-etcetera their item. Legal wants to tell you that it’s not their fault if it doesn’t really happen.

And, the reality is, whether we see it or not, we’ve all become accustomed to adding asterisks to what we see in our lives. We’ve been trained as consumers since we were small children to see between the lines of marketing and legal.

Remember, opening a Cracker Jacks box for the first time? There was a PRIZE inside!! OMG! Never once did I stop to think about what kind of prize could actually fit inside a Cracker Jacks box. All I knew was there was a PRIZE inside!! A prize that you couldn’t just go buy at the store. No, my friends, this was a prize that you could only find if you were fortunate enough to have the very same box of Cracker Jacks that I had. But you weren’t.

And opening it to discover the teeny baseball card, or tattoo, or whatever prize from the Island of Misfit Toys had found it’s way into my box left me a little deflated. But I knew from then on, I knew that Mr. Cracker Jack’s definition of prize and mine were not the same.

It becomes so easy to apply the same asterisk thinking to faith. Sure, we know that Jesus said to love your neighbor, to turn the other cheek. We know He said to take up crosses and follow Him. But, I mean, that’s not really what He meant, right? Where’s the legal fine print to tell us exactly what the terms and conditions of our love, sacrifice, and discipleship are?

We’ve read John 10:10 about Jesus offering us life and life more abundantly. To the full until it overflows. Or that God promises to heal, to save, and to redeem. But, surely, that’s just marketing talk to get me to become one more church consumer, right?

Maybe they didn’t have the asterisk in 6 AD.

Whaddayaknow?

Sometimes it seems that no matter how much you may try to prepare, research, and study there are just some things you won’t know until you do it.

Riding a bike.

Changing a diaper.

Parenting, in general.

You just don’t know what you don’t know. And worse, you don’t know that you don’t know what you don’t know.

It’s in that frame of mind that I am asking for thoughts.

My bride and I will be launching a church in early 2009. We both have a fairly extensive experience in ministry both as volunteers and on staff. I’ve led worship teams and youth ministries, outreaches and Sunday School classes. We’ve been the youngest folks in a small country church and are a part of a culturally diverse mega-church.

But this next step is uncharted for us.

So, my question is, “What don’t I know?”

What are the things that are different from a Lead Pastor perspective than a long time member/volunteer/staff member? What did you wish you knew? What would you tell yourself if you were starting over?

Please leave your comments, warnings, advice!

Essential Relationships for Worship Leaders – The Senior Pastor

Continuing thoughts on the relationships of worship leaders and their impact on corporate worship…

The connection between Pastor and Worship Leader is very important in regard to corporate worship.  Even in instances where they are related, there can be a natural divergence of focus and bridging the gap can require effort and commitment. 

The thoughts I share here are strictly from the perspective of a worship leader for the benefit of a worship leader.  I welcome thoughts from pastors.

• Worship Leaders must be committed to the vision as set forth by the Pastor. 

This can be incredibly challenging for “creatively” driven people, but the simple fact is a leader must view themselves as an extension of the pastor.  Countless pastor-worship leader relationships have been undone by subtle struggles over power and influence.  Whatever influence God allows you to have with people should be used to promote the larger agenda of the ministry and not to feed ego. 

 

• Change only comes through trust. 

No amount of cajoling, debate, and convincing can bring about change like trust can.  Particularly in cases where churches are changing/adding to their style of worship, a worship leader must have a well established track record of trustworthiness.   If you find that your pastor is resistant to new songs/styles/forms of worship, begin first by checking to see if you have the equity in your “trust account”.  Understand that you do not “earn the right” to do as you wish. 

 

• Communication is key to properly deal with expectations.

Seek time regularly to speak with your pastor.  Ask for his input into songs/styles and for an honest assessment of his satisfaction with the worship ministry.  For some pastors this may be intimidating because they feel that they do not have the necessary musical terminology to adequately express their thoughts.  For some worship leaders this can be intimidating because we don’t like having our shortcomings, or those of our team, confronted.  Regardless, your openness to input will foster trust and confidence. 

Additionally, this is a great time to set and adjust expectations.  Be honest about your ability to produce what he is after.  If he’s thinking mass choir, and all you’ve got is 3 altos and a pitchy tenor, it is important to acknowledge such.  Let the pastor know your limitations, including personnel, equipment, and environment, but also offer a “can do” attitude and confidence.  The greater the pastor’s understanding of the issues you are working with the greater grace you may have with him.

The Changing Face of Christian Ministry

I am sitting here this morning bouncing around online and something is abundantly clear.

WHAT A GREAT TIME TO BE A PART OF THE BODY OF CHRIST!

It is really amazing to see, hear, and read all that God is doing in all the various parts of His church. No one can deny that there has been a major shift away from “Lone Ranger” style of ministry to the local church. It is so encouraging to see all of the dynamic pastors that are committed to building local congregations and still addressing global issues.

And this emphasis on the local church is resulting in more and more people who are being mobilized to make a difference. It seems that the people who make up the church are taking the initiative more in ministry impacting their friends, family, and communities.

I will post again later on some of the churches, pastors, and planters that I have been following.

But I would love to hear from you on churches and ministries that are impacting their communities. Who are you following via blog, podcast, or twitter?