Note 1: I’m a pretty introverted fellow, though I’m not totally agoraphobic nor uncomfortable being thrown into various unknown social settings. I kind of have to do this for my job as it is. (n.b. I will probably refer to leading worship or working in the scene of music that takes place mostly in churches as “job” or “work” from time to time, and this is not to take away from the very naturally supernatural or mysterious elements of being in God’s presence in songs and prayer. It’s just a way to remind myself that this is the craft I’ve been handed, and sometimes, a lot of times, it is actually hard work. Most of the time, in fact. Anyways…)

I certainly can relate to not always feeling up to jumping around or making more outwardly physical displays of adoration towards Jesus while in musical parts of worship. It’s probably just the personality I have, which I hope to some degree is from the Lord, and if it isn’t, then He and I can deal with that. Either way, my heart/insides/what Greek calls “splakhgna” or guts can be pure lava with joy or hunger, and I could just be standing there or swaying like a (scrawny) reed. I might bow (feels ancient), lift my hands (feels Baptist), or sit in my chair (feels restful). Any or all of those things I hope to be as little pre-meditated as possible, though who here reading this hasn’t been a little self-thoughtful about one’s external worship acts?

Note 2: As someone who’s typical travel day to a certain place to lead folks in worship looks something like the following, I can say it is often as much of a challenge to be around lots and lots of people a lot of the time:

a. wake up between 330-5 (if lucky, 5) b. load heavy cases into car c. drive to meeting spot d. load cases into another car, drive to airport e. load cases into airport, do the TSA screening dance f. fly to ATL, DTW, MSP, SLC, MEM. g. fly to location h. fight the barbarian hordes at baggage claim for aforementioned 8 cases of gear, load into van. i. see people. lots.

So, as an already introverted guy, at times being utterly sleep deprived and thrown into very personal and, let’s face it, morally weighted interactions (what if I say the word “sucks” and that offends you?! or if my not eating meat is really weird where you’re from? or that I might really enjoy The National’s latest record and you thought it was too murky sounding?!)-being thrown into lots of interactions can be tough. It for sure isn’t always, and by no means do I complain or regret any of the above-it’s a good problem to have-but just understand that sometimes when you meet folks you (whether you admit it or not) view as spiritual role models, you might understand that the pedestal they might be placed on is one with very little sleep under it. Not to mention another layer of introversion.

The Point? In relation to Charlie and band?

Do not fear if you are an exuberant person, and love to worship in very outward motions-very obviously the Lord values this kind of celebration, and we hope to foster it in the Church (one of my favorite things is seeing people dance to beats I am playing-it’s amazing and makes me so grateful). Yet if you are an introverted person who feels like you are just the smallest bit suspect of less than full on worshipfulness (even if it’s only yourself suspecting this!), know that God has made you, and is indeed making you, and He values what you bring even if it doesn’t look the same as some of our more cultivated forms of worship.

Leaders: be sure to bear this in mind as you get to know your congregations, and be sure to not place your own view of your successfulness in leading musical worship in the crowd responses: i.e. if they dance and jump, we did a good job and the Spirit was there, but not if they seem quiet and still. Your worth as a leader is in God’s calling on you, and to lead people to Him, not to lead people to act a certain way.

Quietude is not the same as misanthropy. Likewise, exuberance is not the same as shallowness. The Church is wide enough for everyone in between, and both!

One thing a lot of people ask us while we visit them on the road is how to be a part of a traveling band like we are. The question is usually couched in some sort of politely religious frame, with the Lord curiously calling someone to a place where worship pays the bills, though rarely do we say this out loud. If this sounds harsh, I am fully aware that in some ways worship “pays the bills” for me as well as for many of the people I respect the most, so that’s not the issue.

The question real exposes what is still a point of great tension for us who are involved in any sort of stage-worthy activity within a liturgical context, anything where we lead our friends from a place of authority/admiration. To claim that the world of worship music is immune or devoid of the kinds of rock and roll show mentalities we often try to stay away from is just untrue. It will be there as long as our music is mostly an analog to popular music, and there is nothing wrong with that either, in and of itself.

Yet the darker side of egoism which is simply part of being an artist will seemingly always be a struggle for young and established artists alike. The task of creation takes a certain amount of individualism, of self-awareness, of confidence in one’s esoteric vision. This stuff all can (but doesn’t have to) put one at odds with Jesus’ character.

Just think of how awkward a place it is for an unknown worship artist to have to “sell” his or herself to pastors in order to develop a career in this sort of world. It’s tough, because the artist (hopefully) wants to simply serve, and build his or her job side enough to be self-sustaining, so he or she can focus more and more on leading, writing, being a pastor of music. When the artist simply wants to be a rock star, hopefully the Holy Spirit in us can smell this from a mile away. And when it creeps up within us.

So here’s my final word to up and coming worship leaders, musicians, writers: playing worship music is not going to stroke your rock and roll ego all that much, in most cases. I say this as someone who needs to vent an aggressive rock imagination from time to time, and I don’t expect to do this with Charlie or any worship artist because it simply isn’t the venue for it. If i tried to force it into it, it would hinder the real work of worship music which is, at the end of the day, service to the Church, to a local pastorate and parish. You might be a part of a great hardcore worship band, in which case you are quite fortunate. You might be able to do a club tour and build bridges back between Church music and pop music. Yet it is unlikely; this is very rare. Look well into yourself and ask God to reveal a decent picture of yourself so you can see how to vent what you need to vent as a musician. God has put this in you, so don’t fear it, but ask Him constantly to show you how to use it well, and with real humility.

Worship music does not ask you to “check your ego at the door.” It will do this for you, if you are in a  healthy congregation for this. If you are treated like a rock star for your worship leading, it’s worth bearing in mind you are not headlining Radio City Music Hall.

Nor does realizing the humility of worship mean you get to be unthoughtful about your music or un-imaginative or not have to work really hard as a musician and writer. This is simply the dark back alley of spiritual pride, spiked with good ole’ laziness. Flee this as much as you flee pride or lust for fame.

Leave some comments!  Peace be with you all! Hope to see you soon!

When we were spiritually dead, God calls to the heart…”awaken, be my son, be my daughter. I love and choose you just like you are now.” The in the days that the sons and daughters are dry, God revives. He breathes in hope and like a fountain he waters the dry bones bringing renewal. It is God that gave us life and gives us life. He makes our hearts alive because He is life.

I remember going to church as a young boy and getting the “bulletin” before each service. It was mostly to color in, but I would always check out what the menu of the day was and what or who I might be seeing do something that morning. I didn’t understand the words at the time but I remember the word Invocation. This word was a prayer or a song that began the service, or at least that’s how I understood it. The actual concept of invocation is to invoke the presence of God or the Holy Spirit. Knowing that God is with us we also say, “God, come be an active part of this service”. The poetry prayer here in this song is meant to be an invocation. We pray Holy Spirit we want you here and we want you to shine the light on Jesus who heals and does amazing things. Consume the atmosphere in this place. Let it be consumed, filled, and electric with the presence of God. And we pray our hearts would be present in the moment as well to know and experience you. This song, weather sung or prayed is for gatherings of people. It is for the one who is about to stand and represent God and it is a statement for a gathering who wants God to shine through them and meet with this King.

The Message

Psalm 27 A David Psalm

1 Light, space, zest— that’s GOD! So, with him on my side I’m fearless, afraid of no one and nothing.
2 When vandal hordes ride down ready to eat me alive, those bullies and toughs fall flat on their faces.
3 When besieged, I’m calm as a baby. When all hell breaks loose, I’m collected and cool.
4 I’m asking GOD for one thing, only one thing: To live with him in his house my whole life long I’ll contemplate his beauty; I’ll study at his feet.
5 That’s the only quiet, secure place in a noisy world, the perfect getaway, far from the buzz of traffic.
6 God holds me head and shoulders above all who try to pull me down. I’m headed for his place to offer anthems that will raise the roof! Already I’m singing God-songs; I’m making music to GOD.
7-9 Listen, GOD, I’m calling at the top of my lungs: “Be good to me! Answer me! “When my heart whispered, “Seek God,” my whole being replied, “I’m seeking him!” Don’t hide from me now!
9-10 You’ve always been right there for me; don’t turn your back on me now. Don’t throw me out, don’t abandon me; you’ve always kept the door open. My father and mother walked out and left me, but God took me in.
11-12 Point me down your highway, GOD; direct me along a well-lighted street; show my enemies whose side you’re on. Don’t throw me to the dogs, those liars who are out to get me, filling the air with their threats.
13-14 I’m sure now I’ll see God’s goodness in the exuberant earth. Stay with GOD! Take heart. Don’t quit. I’ll say it again: Stay with GOD.

God knocks and our hearts can answer one way or another, or I suppose ignore. Compressing the idea of interior healing into a song isn’t simple, but I love the progression of thoughts from arrogance to openness. I’ve walked through varying levels of healing in my life. It comes so many ways, prayer, truth from scriptures and friends, counseling, forgiving and being forgiven, and scenes that catch you by surprise painting pictures of redemption. I say often to myself and people that I understand less about God than I did in the past, but my heart loves more now. I think I would rather love than be really intelligent about God. When we give permission to be broken down, when we surrender, when we clear the slate, we step into a movement. This movement is a river of real life that can come only from a God that loves us and has our hearts in mind. Ezekiel 47 paints a beautiful picture. “But the river itself, on both banks, will grow fruit trees of all kinds. Their leaves won’t wither and the fruit won’t fail. Every month they’ll bear fresh fruit because the river from the Sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing.” God’s presence in Jesus is a river of healing and we in this river will have life and be used as healing for people around us. When we walk from closed hearted to open hearted life in Christ can be full and powerful.

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 chronicles 7:14. Of course this is a familiar passage to many and a prayer that is shouted from rooftops, begged for in prayer rooms all over the world and whispered by businessmen driving to work. God is interacting with his world and his people. He is “God with us”. All those things are in place and true but we live in world that seems to be falling apart at the seams in every way. And God has written a letter to us that remains the answer. We must keep asking for the hand of God to reach into every part of our society and make things right and we have to be willing to be an answer to the prayers for justice and mercy. We want God to get all of the attention for the redemption and beauty that is created in this world. So as we watch the news that reveals such global heartache, call on God’s name to move and heal.