Isolation

Have you ever had a plan backfire on you?

Recently, I decided to try and get in touch with other worship leaders who had decided to devote their lives to the 43,000 people in our little commuter town. I had recently been doing all that I could to feel less isolated, including gathering with other worship leaders one of the bigger towns. I thought it would be a great idea to see who else is devoted to leading worship in my little city.

Well, upon further review, there are about five churches in town begging for worship leaders, a couple of others with leaders who live up in Phoenix or Chandler, and one with a worship leader who didn't know she was the worship leader until my message was referred to her.  In other words, it is not an illusion. I am pretty darn isolated.

Anyone else know what this is like? Anyone looking for a church to lead worship at? I know a few now :-/.

Also, 5 points if you can name the ball with the face on it in the movie depicted above.

Soloist

So I've been working on my electric guitar skills, and I've gotten to the point where I can do some of the simple "Hillsong" solos (think Hosanna and Freedom Is Here). As I've begun incorporating these new things in the services, I wonder sometimes how my congregation will react. I would love to be like Lincoln Brewster, that ridiculously talented guitarist and worship leader who is convinced that solos can be a part of worship. But...

I just wonder if there is a point where I will get serious pushback. So far I've gone from Acoustic Guitar to Full Band (bass, drums) to Electric Guitar... and am now at basic solos and distortion. Part of the adventure of creating a new worship experience is figuring out the worship style of your congregation. How has this gone for the rest of you worship leaders? Sensitivity is a must, I know... and that's never been my strong suit.

Ahh, sweet adventure!

It's Been A While

Time is the most valuable resource.

If you have enough time, you can do the work. You can create and repair and contemplate, all of the things you need for success. You can rest. You can relate with your family, your God, and your friends.

Without time, all of the money and talent in the world won't do you a bit of good. You are created with a certain capacity for "doing", and once you begin to reach and exceed that capacity...

I found myself in this situation. I was ineffective or undereffective in almost every facet of my life. I sat before a mentor, and was told that burnout was inevitable if I didn't start quitting things. I hate quitting, but I have precious little respect for those who burn out and quit on their churches. I had to begin prioritizing, finding what God had called me to and leaving behind what he hadn't. It was tough.

But now I'm here. I am better, partially because of life in general slowing down just a little bit, but mostly because I've realized my limits. I realized that making the most of your time isn't about doing more stuff. Whatever is worth doing, is worth doing well.

Have any of you had fights with the clock lately?