When the Office Became a Place of Worship

I have a soft spot for young people who sense a call into ministry as worship leaders, yet struggle with their own insecurities and feelings of inferiority. I suppose it is because I can relate personally to their struggle. As a teen, I first sensed God’s calling to use my talents in music in the area of worship. There was no one nearby to mentor me in worship ministry — an area of ministry that was just coming into its own in the late 1980s in my church. Between the questions from adults about what worship ministry would look like and my own self-doubt, I was scared to pursue my calling. You see, I’m not a gregarious person. Honestly, I prefer to be alone than with other people. Eventually I would learn that often God’s calling places us in uncomfortable situations where our weaknesses are evident so His glory can be portrayed through our faltering efforts.

Now that I have served as a worship minister for almost 20 years in various congregations, I cherish getting to watch young music ministers develop into the leaders that God intends them to be. Sometimes what I witness seems so natural for them. At other times, what I witness can be described as nothing other than a “God moment,” where His hand is clearly at work in the life of a young person and their calling is evident to everyone who witnesses it. I was fortunate to witness one of those “God moments” in the unlikeliest of places recently.

I entered a voice studio where the weekly lesson of a young struggling singer was already underway. She is confident of her calling to music ministry, yet struggles to see how things are going to turn out due to her lack of training and hurtful comments by peers. In this particular week, the lesson focused on a charming piece which quotes a scripture passage of reassurance spoken by God Himself over His people. Her initial performance was shy, reserved, and somewhat apologetic. When asked if God is apologizing in this passage, the student shared a beautiful testimony about her own journey that has led her to this place, her desire to be faithfully obedient to God’s calling, and what the lyrics of the song have spoken into her spirit recently.

Now that she had expressed her thoughts and statement of personal faith so simply, the young singer began the song again. The difference in sound was amazing. It wasn’t louder nor did it suddenly sound like a new voice. Instead, in the simplicity of her pure sound, confidence and worship was pouring out of her heart. The small voice studio was transformed into a sanctuary in that moment and God’s presence was evident. I felt as though God had arrived in that temporary place of worship to intimately receive the worship that was being offered while affirming the divine call upon this young life. All those in the room could only respond with tears; we were overwhelmed by this time of worship and the closeness of God’s presence.

Over the years, I have been involved in the lives of lots of young worship leaders and have mentored several of them personally. I can safely say that I have never witnessed or experienced anything like this before. The rest of the people in the music building in that moment had no idea what was going on in the studio in the middle of the hallway. It was such a profound moment of worship that those of us that were there will never forget it — and I, for one, will never view the work that happens in the studio in quite the same way.

Square Donuts

Last week, I was introduced to the joys of the square donut here in Plainview. I had heard about the students’ weekly donut runs for these amazing treats, but had not experienced them for myself. I was intrigued and finally decided to join the fun on Thursday night. The donuts were good; the experience was amazing.

Square donuts are sold by a small shop that I had passed many times while driving around town, but never noticed it was a bakery. The pastries are sold early in the mornings as you would expect — but they are also available from 8-10 at night. Of course, college students are going to opt for the late night food run! The donuts were light and fluffy. Flavors of maple butter and warm glazed donuts were mouth-watering. Inexpensive donut holes were a treat to find as well. Where else can you buy a single donut hole?

While sitting in the drive-thru, I began to think the students’ enthusiasm for donut night was just about the tradition. That opinion quickly changed when we returned to campus. Students piled in the hallway with their band director and that’s when I witnessed the magic. Laughter and fun filled the air. As the night progressed, conversations took a more serious turn. What I witnessed was amazing! Students began to share their fears, hopes, and failures with their mentor who poured words of truth and Godly counsel into their lives. I quietly sat back and watched, fighting back tears as I silently interceded for the unexpected moment of ministry that was unfolding before my eyes. THIS is why I choose to work in a Christian institution. It’s not about making money or having a prestigious position. It’s not even completely about the music making…it’s all about investing in the lives of young men and women who are seeking answers to life’s challenges. It’s all about sharing passion for Him with the next generation.

I certainly don’t need to add more donuts to my diet or waistline, but now that I’ve witnessed the power of the Square Donut Run I plan to be visiting the bakery more often. And I’ll continue looking for other opportunities to meet students where they are…..and do anything I can to point them to their loving Savior.

What an awesome privilege I have!

Plagiarism: An Issue of Laziness, Ignorance, or Immorality?

Plagiarism has become a national epidemic. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines the term in the following way:

plagiarize – /transitive verb/ – to steal or pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one’s own; use (another’s production) without crediting the source.

plagiarize – /intransitive verb/ – to commit literary theft; present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source.

We most commonly expect to find cases of plagiarism in student academic papers, but the crisis reaches into other arenas as well. Many politicians have been accused of plagiarizing speeches, including Rand Paul and President Barack Obama. Musicians — from Mozart to George Harrison — have allegedly “borrowed” melodies from other sources without providing credit. The issue has even reached the pulpits of the nation’s churches; the case of Marc Driscoll in Seattle immediately comes to mind. To be clear, I am not stating that any of the above referenced accusations were valid; still, the problem seems to exist in our society today.

Why is plagiarism such a problem in our nation? I think that there are several issues here that we must realize and begin to take steps to correct. First, plagiarism is often associated with simple laziness. If a person is writing a document or presenting a speech and refuses to invest the time to develop their own thoughts into an original piece of work, there is nothing else I can attribute it to than laziness. It appears that they are simply looking for the easy way to fulfill the requirements of their class or job. Sadly, the use of the Internet has made plagiarism much easier to commit — and easier to catch.

Sometimes plagiarism might be a result of ignorance. A writer may lack the tools to produce an original work. Training in research and writing may be needed. Even if they try to create something new, the uninformed writer may begin to experience levels of frustration that leads them to look for an easier way of producing the document. While ignorance is an understandable excuse for plagiarism, it is not an acceptable excuse. The result is still unethical and criminal.

Sadly, many think that attribution alone is enough to avoid the theft of ideas and material. For example, I recently sat in an audience listening to a speaker and found myself quite bored. I noticed that the accompanying projection mentioned that the lecture was “inspired by” another author. I decided to google the topic and referenced author and found a document with the same title as the presentation which I was currently hearing. As I opened the file, I soon realized that the speaker was reading the material I was seeing online verbatim. Did this speaker really think that by simply including the author’s name that it was fine to exclusively use the words of another? I’m sorry…..adding a few personal comments that account for less than 5% of your presentation is not producing new material! (As a general rule, no paper, article, speech, or sermon should include more than 30% of other people’s material. People are listening to you because they want to know what you have to say on a given topic. In regards to the above referenced speaker, this is not the first incident of plagiarism that I have observed occurring.)

Let’s look at the immorality of plagiarism briefly. First of all, when one plagiarizes they are knowingly stealing the material of another. Plagiarism has been discussed in classes throughout our country and addressed by major news agencies. Ignorance is not a defense. When one is caught plagiarizing, the reputation of the guilty party (whether written or orally presented) is destroyed. It effects the level of trust that we place in what they have to say. We must also question their ethics in other areas.  If the speaker is willing to act immorally in this area, what other aspects of life are they living in grey areas? Finally, plagiarism implied that the speaker is not an authority on the subject or in their discipline. If you can’t come up with original material that might be supported by carefully researched supplementary material, why should I listen to you? I can seek out the same material online that you are currently presenting as your own material.

How do we stop the cycle of plagiarism? First we have to examine our own work. Unintentional plagiarism can happen to anyone. If it is a recurring problem — if everything I write is solely based on another’s thoughts — I have to admit that there is a problem. Once we admit there is a problem that is unethical, we seek help. Community colleges, seminars, and seminaries offer classes that will train speakers and writers to develop their own ideas, research the topics, and build their own written material. In the process, we also learn appropriate citation techniques for written documents as well as public speaking. (Attention should also be given to citation for slide presentations that accompany our public speeches.) Finally, we have to accept no compromise. The issue is not whether or not we have been caught plagiarizing; it’s a question of our personal morality.

What are your feelings about the nation’s plagiarism crisis? I’d love to hear from you in the comment section below.

Some Passions Never Die

What are you passionate about? What is that one topic that will always result in you finding renewed energy and excitement when you meet a like-minded person? For me, that passion has always been effective ministry to children in our churches.

If you’ve read much of this blog at all, you know that I spent the past 14 years working for a church. One of my responsibilities was overseeing the church’s ministry to kids. I certainly wasn’t the best director ever. I made more than my fair share of mistakes in ministry. But I can confidently say that I always wanted to give the children in the local church my very best.

As is often the case, attacks on leadership from various sides are destructive. I left that position thinking that I would never again be able to consider working with kids. The attacks were too vicious; the pain was too great. I couldn’t risk opening my heart to kids again only to be trampled by adults once more.

I’ve been away from ministry for a year now. Hurts are continually being healed and I am continuing on my personal journey back to physical, emotional, and spiritual health. It was thrilling to see a small sign of my passion returning during a recent conversation.

While preparing to leave campus, I noticed that one of my former students (now a member of the college staff) was planning an event. The nosey person that I am asked about it and learned she was working on an event for the kids at her church. I made a comment that I had planned similar events…and that’s when ideas began pouring forth.

For the next 30 minutes, we shared ideas about ministry to kids. It was such a sweet moment to experience the joyful anointing of the Spirit as we talked. By no means am I at a place where I’m ready to dive back into ministry of any kind yet, but how thrilling to realize that my days of effectiveness are not passed. New days are ahead for me. I don’t know when or where they will happen, but I’m joyfully looking for them with a renewed sense of hope.

My Horrible Church Camp Experience

Camping season is here. Many kids are attending camps of all types this summer. While growing up, I attended church camp outside of Mountain View, Arkansas. I enjoyed meeting up with friends from around the state each year despite the oppressive heat and the high population of critters. As I grew, the negative aspects of camp quickly outweighed the joy I might experience.

When I accepted a position in children’s ministry many years later, I decided it was time to give summer camp another shot. I had long recognized the positive influence the camping ministry could have on the life of a child. I simply hoped that my perspective would be different as a member of the staff.

I agreed to direct music for a pre-teen camp in Tennessee. Little direction was provided, so I set out to work and put together the best plan I could. When I arrived at the campgrounds, I was informed that I would also be serving as a cabin leader. I hadn’t prepared for this massive responsibility at all, but I wanted to be a team player and agreed to help out.

As the week progressed, I found myself constantly trying to wrangle all of these 12-year-old boys. When I went to the director for help, I was told that I had been assigned all of the campers no one else wanted to deal with. In addition to campers with special needs and medical conditions, I learned that several of the boys in my care dealt with severe anger issues. While these facts were known by camp staff, no one thought it advisable to inform the adult who was directly responsible for their care. When one of the campers had to be rushed to the ER because he had broken the hand he smashed into a concrete wall, I was suddenly accused of neglecting my responsibilities as a cabin leader. (Did anyone notice that I was also trying to direct the music for this camp? Too many hats for one head!) I was insulted and furious. In that moment, I knew that I would never participate in a summer camp again.

So, I’ll encourage kids to go to camp. I’ll help transport them there and supply financial assistance if needed. I’ll just have to think long and hard before ever returning to camp as a staffer. That one horrible, nightmarish week was enough to make me skittish for the rest of my life!

Revisiting Past Mistakes

Have you ever wished you could go back in time and do something all over again? Maybe you’ve learned from past mistakes and would like a chance to get it right. I know that I have made lots of errors in life. Sometimes I find myself wishing I could simply yell, “Do over!” and get another shot at things.

A few days ago, I received a call from a friend who has accepted a position as worship minister. Since I served in that capacity for 14 years, my friend called to ask for advice and suggestions. We talked about everything from song selection to rehearsal scheduling. As I continued to reflect on my time in ministry, I was reminded of the many mistakes I had made over the years. Most of my mistakes were not related to music; my failures came in handling people and criticism. I really wish I could go back and do some things differently. I would be much more quick to admit when I had been offended. I would stand up to confrontational people in a loving spirit rather than helplessly withering under their viciously abusive attacks. I would be more patient with those who expressed preferences and opinions about music, worship, and life that were different from mine. I would find a mentor with whom I could freely share my hurts, questions, concerns, and frustrations. I wonder if I had learned these lessons earlier in my ministry and handled some things differently if I would still be actively involved in music ministry today.

Alas, none of us can turn the clock back and take a second stab at past mistakes. The only thing we can do is admit our failures to the One who sees all, ask for forgiveness when necessary, and move forward. It’s all part of the process that is spiritual growth. Facing our mistakes is never something we enjoy, but we are certainly made better when we come to terms with our failures. It’s only in admitting our errors that we learn how to become better people, ministers, and Christians. For now, I’ll continue to look in the proverbial mirror and carefully examine what I find there.

The Importance of Rest

Last week, I was asked what I had learned about myself during my sabbatical that is rapidly coming to an end. The issue that immediately came to mind was the importance of establishing Sabbath in my own life and the effects that came from neglecting it. In an effort to keep this issue firmly in my mind now and in the future, I have decided to share my feelings on the topic for a few posts here on my blog.

I suppose it’s best to begin at the beginning. Following is a private journal entry I wrote in the first few days of my three-month sabbatical. The entry is dated April 20, 2013.

Rest is crucial for our very survival. Our bodies are wired to recharge through nightly rest in the form of sleep. Rest is also important mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. In order to think clearly, quickly, and logically, our minds need to rest from the constant rat race. Stress increases proportionately to decreased rest, resulting in emotional weariness.

Rest is so important to the spiritual man that the call to rest is found throughout Scripture. After completing creation, God rested on the seventh day. The Sabbath was instituted to provide the people of Israel with a day to recuperate from their week of labor. Jesus, who is our example in ministry, regularly pulled away from the crowds as well as the disciples for seasons of rest. Even a raging storm was not permitted to interrupt the Master’s rest (at least, not until the disciples sounded the alarm) because Jesus recognized the importance of rest.

As ministers, we often find it difficult to rest. There is always more preparation that needs to be done. Love needs to be expressed to hurting people immediately while phone calls and emails need to be returned. There is a never-ending list of tasks that need our attention. No wonder we are desperate for rest!

While I believe this is a challenge for everyone who works in ministry, I think the issue can be extremely difficult for the part-timer. As vocational ministers, we are receiving compensation for our labor. It is not the reason we minister, but it does allow us to devote more time to the ministry. For many in music ministry, the position with the church supplements income from other professional endeavors. In my case, I teach music classes at a local junior college, serve as staff pianist at another university, and maintain a small private piano studio. Those three positions keep me quite busy Monday through Friday. Friday afternoon sees me switching hats and frantically getting everything ready for Sunday’s worship. Do you see a problem? There’s no day of rest built into this hectic schedule.

Some would argue that vacations can replace a weekly day of rest. If that were the intention, why didn’t God establish a Sabbath month instead of one that occurred every seven days? (God did establish the Year of Jubilee, a time for the land to rest in order to guarantee its fruitfulness. I’ll explore that concept more in the weeks ahead.)

What’s the solution? We can’t make a full-time living out of a part-time position. Neither can we ignore the ministry that God has called us to. If I had the answers to this dilemma, I suspect I would not be taking this three-month sabbatical from ministry. I do believe the answer lies in Scriptural principles and that it is of paramount importance to insure long and fruitful seasons of ministry for all ministers. It is my prayer that God will provide revelation in the coming months as I seek His face. 

There you have it. In April, I was desperate for rest. Two months later I find myself in a much healthier position than I have been in years. I am rested. I am refreshed. I am happy. I can confidently proclaim that I can once again hear God’s voice in the midst of life’s noise.

Do I have all the answers? Definitely not! What I do know is that the Sabbath principle is incredibly important to my spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being. The responsibility to maintain it and protect it lies with me. On Wednesday, I’ll share some of the methods that I have used in the past two months that have helped me to put Sabbath into practice in my own life while still insuring that things get done.

 

 

 

Whatcha Doin’?

With that simple question, an adventure began on Monday afternoon. Last Saturday afternoon, I sent a quick email to my nieces, asking when they would like to get together and just have an afternoon of fun. I left the planning to them (with a couple of suggestions) and decided to see where things would go. Late Sunday afternoon, I got the reply; they wanted to go to the Memphis zoo on Monday afternoon. We spent a few hours together and had a wonderful time.

Why do I even bother to mention such a mundane experience? Because I think that the simple question that ignited the conversation needs to be asked by adults more often. My nieces have had a less-than-easy life. They have watched their parents’ marriage end and experienced the frustrations and stresses that come with being raised in a single-parent home. Please don’t misunderstand. I’m not assigning blame to anyone. That’s simply the fact of the situation. The girls live with my sister and have very few positive interactions with men on a regular basis.

When I asked them to spend some time with me, I thought I would simply provide an escape from the four walls of their apartment during the summer break. If that’s all I accomplished, that would certainly be worth the effort. As we walked through the zoo, ate lunch together, and headed to the bookstore (youth literacy is a personal passion for me), I learned things about them and their lives that I had no clue about. By simply being with them and listening to their words, I had opportunity to speak positively into their lives while gaining insight into areas that need prayer. And it all started with a simple question.

At home that night, I watched the series premiere of The Fosters on ABC family. (I’ll write more about my feelings of that television program in a later post.) The Fosters traces the lives of a non-traditional family who has been actively involved in the child foster care system. As the show’s opening episode depicted the challenges faced by children and teens in our nation, I noticed a recurring theme. We all have something that we can give to these precious treasures of our society. If I don’t pour into the children and teens in my sphere of influence, someone else will. The problem is that what’s being poured into the children may not necessarily be positive. When children are desperate for love and attention, they will take it however (and from whomever) they can get it!

So I ask you the same question I asked the girls: Whatcha doin’? There is a generation of kids growing up all around us that need to know that they are important. Are you willing to be part of the solution or are you just going to sit by and watch as their generation is caught up in political correctness, questionable moral choices, and indifference? Certainly you should invest in the children in your family. But what about the kid around the corner that your child hangs out with? Who’s influencing them? The good news is that it can be you, if you’re willing to make a little effort.

Here’s my challenge to you today. Take a look around you and see a child in your sphere of influence that needs encouragement, mentoring, or simply a little human love. Allow the Holy Spirit to give you direction. Take 15-minutes out of your day and listen to what they have to say. How do you get a child to talk? It normally works best over a scoop of ice cream, a glass of lemonade, or while tossing a ball around in the park. Don’t say the challenge is too tough; make the effort, watch the joy that you can bring to the life of a child or teen, and get ready for a flood of love from Heaven above! I promise that you’ll be glad you made the effort.

Spring is in the Air

Even though the weather doesn’t necessarily suggest it’s Spring right now, I can see the rebirth of nature all around. When I walked out of the house this morning, I was greeted by four birds perched on the wooden handrail near the porch. They quickly fluttered away, but at least I was reminded of the end of the long Winter and the promise of life returning to the earth. When I got to my car, the orange glow of pollen covering my dirty red car explained why I had sneezed so much this morning. I wasn’t thrilled about that part, but the presence of pollen means that flowers and trees will be bursting into bloom soon. Of all seasons, Spring is probably my favorite.

I love watching everything that had been dormant and barren all Winter long returning to its glory and natural beauty. Many of the plants and animals have experienced a sort of hibernation during the cold months. They were patiently waiting — feverishly anticipating — the return of the sun and the warmth that it brings. Even before Spring fully explodes, we begin to quickly see signs that life is returning and beauty will replace the barrenness.

There are also seasons of the soul. Our lives move through cycles that include periods of beauty as well as difficult and challenging circumstances. Sometimes the Winter of the soul seems so long and we begin to wonder if Spring will ever appear. When will we begin to hear the sweet song of the Dove again? How much longer before we can bask in the glow of fair weather? For the past several months I’ve been living in a personal Winter. It’s not been fun, but I know that Spring is in the air. What does Spring bring with it? Freshness, energy, life, and hope! I see the signs…..Spring is just around the corner!

The days of my soul’s Winter aren’t over yet, but I am confident that the weather is changing and Spring will return soon. Today I finally had the opportunity to sit and look around for signs of emotional rebirth. I’m looking forward to Spring arriving — in both its incarnations — and am anxious to see the beauty that will break through all the dry dusty ground.

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Father Figures

I’ve been thinking about the concept of fathers this week. No need to worry….I don’t have an announcement to make! As I have looked at our society, I see how important the role is. Is it feasible that some of the problems people face today is because they lacked a strong father figure in their own life? As I thought about the spiritual implications, it seems that our relationship with the Heavenly Father often reflects our interaction with our natural father. That puts a lot of responsibility on any man who plans to be called “father.”

What are the responsibilities of a father? I’m not a father, so obviously I’m coming at this from the perspective of a child only. Here are some of the things that have been in my thoughts this week.

• Example and Teacher. A father models many roles that will play out in their children’s future life. Want to have a good guess about the type of man a girl will be drawn to and consider marrying? Look at her father.  How will a boy treat his future wife? He’ll tend to follow the example of his father’s interaction with his mother. Fathers also teach children the value of hard work and strength tempered with gentleness.
• Protector. A child’s sense of safety is often linked to the presence of Dad. A father is to protect his children from all threats — whether they are real or imagined. A father who fails to protect his children through neglect or abuse is setting them up for difficulties in trusting others and believing that they are worthy of being safe. (As a side note, I personally feel that there are few crimes that are more heinous than abuse against a child in any form — physical, emotional, or verbal. I believe these men are among the vilest creatures who deserve the maximum punishment allowed by our courts!)
• Affirming. Sadly, it seems that this responsibility is often left solely to the mother. Moms naturally provide encouragement to their children as they rejoice over their successes and help them get up after failures. Children desperately want to hear from their father that he’s proud of them. This means that the father must be attentive to the child’s interest and be informed about how things work.  In other words, if your daughter is taking ballet lessons, it will go a long way if Dad knows the difference between a pirouette and a tutu!  
• Involved. “Actions speak louder than words.” While your child longs to hear that you are proud of them, she also wants to spend time with you. This can be intimidating for a father who doesn’t share common interest with the child…..and as the years go on, the chasm becomes wider. From a child’s perspective, it’s actually pretty simple. Take your elementary student outside on a Saturday morning and build something together or wash the car. Unexpectedly have a special treat for your pre-teen when dropping them off for school. Plop down on the couch with your teen and challenge them to a video game. Your involvement opens lines of communication that will be a blessing to the child in years to come.

What happens if a child misses out on these aspects of their father? There are no absolute guarantees, but I do see some potential problems spiritually. Children with absent dads (either physically or emotionally) can experience difficulty relating to God the Father. Those who have received little affirmation from Dad sometimes find themselves working so hard to gain God’s approval. When the natural father didn’t care enough to be involved in the child’s life, it can be hard to believe that God would ever be interested in what’s going on with me. 

What do you think are some of the most important characteristics of a father? If they are absent in a child’s life, what might be some of the future implications emotionally or spiritually? Men, is there a child in your sphere of influence who needs a father figure in their life?  If so, consider stepping up and being a positive influence in their life!