I love this tune by Brandon Bee. [I should specify - his EP acoustic version, is my fave] Initially the melodic hook right after the first chorus caught me. Right before which he sings: "Let my heart confess, Your holiness...is building me."
Then tonight I read Hebrews 12:14. "Strive to live in peace with everybody and pursue that consecration and holiness without which no one will [ever] see the Lord." What would I give up so that I'm built not just to withstand on my own, but built to house the type of devotion that's set apart simply to please God? The kind that eventually speaks to others. That is consecrated / declared sacred.
Modesty? Distraction?
Being undisciplined?
Selfishness?
Where is there excess?
[From the creative session @ the all volunteer luau]
IDEA BUBBLE #1:My gift is equally as valuable as the next guy’s. This statement is not about humility, as much as it is about perspective. Although it will promote humility! When we recognize that in the big picture of the church we are an equal part of the contributing body, we will avoid:
- Taking ourselves too seriously. A lot of creative people have artistic temperaments. We can be easily flustered. Easily offended. Prone to withdraw. It is so important to remind ourselves that we are on level playing field with the rest of the team of volunteers. And as such, excuses for eccentric behavior, only give our community of creative’s around the planet a bad rap! Oh no! There’s a bigger perspective to keep in mind. We have to remember that in the context of the church, the artist’s gift is just as valuable as the gift of cleaning toilets. And who doesn’t desire a humble heart, right? Wrap your heart around this and it will promote humility in you and integrity in the body.
- Being disconnected from community. Our gift is a part of our church life, but more importantly is our spiritual development and the maintenance of our life walk with the Lord. So attend a church based on things like it’s vision, philosophy fit, environment, location, kids program...etc. You will find your creative outlet to use your talents and abilities within. (In that order)
Musicians sometimes go about this in a backwards way. Think about it, if every greeter, kids worker, info center administrator, office volunteer, youth group leader, usher, connection group leader….etc, took their gift to another church on the weeks they weren’t using it, who would make up the body of High Point?
Though factors come into play such as financial compensation, dating someone who attends another church…etc, ultimately there will come a point where you need to decide for you and yours where to fully plant your feet. The word talks about keeping in community, and in Hebrews specifically about not forsaking the gathering together. Artists are not exempt.
Remember that before we are artists, we are Christ followers.
IDEA BUBBLE #2:Our role is to facilitate, not force a corporate response in worship. Facilitate means to assist in the progress of, go to bat for, greese the wheels for…
Corporate dynamics in worship ebb and flow. Some days you will feel a strong sense of the presence of God and see people more physical in their demonstration of their love for the Lord. Some days an influx of visitors can make the dynamic change and you’ve got 30 people scattered throughout who just aren’t comfortable in church yet – and you’ll feel it. Knowing that we’re there to facilitate, not force, what’s already happening in the hearts of people, takes a lot of pressure off, but on the flip side holds great responsibility.
Preparation is the key. If we’re not prepared to facilitate, we can see what the consequences will be just by looking up the opposite of the word “facilitate” in the dictionary which means to hinder, hurt, stop, thwart progress.
3 things you need to do to prepare for the day:
- Get some sleep the night before.
- Visualize your role and walk through the day in your head.
(set list, transitions, the stage set, your role, troubleshooting, what do I need to bring, make a list)
- Practice, pray and prepare your heart
After all is said and done, we fall back on what we do best which is simply worship the Lord. (John 4:23, 24) While others watch, we can bring them along with us in the moment.
IDEA BUBBLE #3: Creatives do it best when our hearts are set on salvation, and our minds are set on innovation. God is the most creative being on the planet. He crafted the earth, but all along He had the plan for the redemption of mankind in mind. That’s the secret in the sauce. It’s only when it’s combined with an understanding of why we are doing what we’re doing, [that it’s to draw people to Christ] that we’re actually effective.
We shutter at the idea of tradition for tradition’s sake, but on the other hand we have to be careful that we don’t innovate for innovation’s sake. Innovation doesn’t necessarily have to mean creating an idea from scratch, but improving upon or re-inventing an existing item is always a good place to start. Afterall, Picasso said, “every act of creation is first of all an act of deconstruction.”
So the responsibility that we have as creatives in the church is to stay current and keep updated with the culture around us. What’s at stake if we don’t, is loosing the attention of people who are desperately needing to connect with a savior.
Here are some great creative ideas coming out of churches these days.
I am developing a series of 'performance lectures' focusing on the beautiful piano music of Frederic Chopin and the Paris in which he lived, circa 1844. For a limited time I am offering sessions free as I work to perfect the presentation.
I will come to you with my portable digital piano, an easel and all visual items -- all I need in an outlet for electricity. And yes, I will be performing Chopin's music live for you in your own home or wherever you choose to have me. Very, very few pianists would *ever* offer to do this for anyone, regardless of the price. But my passion for Chopin is such that I want to share it along with the incredible story of the city he called home and the people who lived there.
Hear about Franz Liszt, the Hungarian piano virtuoso who became the world's first 'rock star'; Victor Hugo, the French author who 'saved' the cathedral of Notre Dame by writing a novel about a hunchbacked bell ringer named Quasimodo; Eugene Delacroix, the Grandfather of the Impressionists whose paintings hang in the Louvre and which even influenced the design of the Statue of Liberty; Louis Daguerre, a former scenery painter for the Paris Opera House who went on to invent the photographic process that bears his name -- daguerreotypes!
I have a great deal to share, I just need a venue and an audience. Can you provide that?
This would make a great gift item or surprise event for someone who loves Chopin, Paris, history, the piano or just learning something new. I would prefer not to wander too far from the NW suburbs of Mpls. but can be flexible.
Please contact me to see if we can work something out.
