A Lesson in Worship from the Wise Men

I doubt that most of us venture into our places of worship during the Christmas season expecting to learn some profound spiritual truth that we haven't figured out yet. This morning was certainly no different for me, until our interim pastor, Dr. Tew, began sharing from Matthew 2:1-12.

It's a story that we all probably know by heart. This is the story of the wise men and their journey to find the newborn king. Here's what really hit home with me today in this passage.

1. The wise men had a priority of worship. The second part of verse 2 reads, "We saw His star when it rose and have come to worship Him." This wasn't a side trip that was attached to another mission for these men. This was an intentional pilgrimage to worship the newborn king. Finding the child and worshiping Him was the entire reason for their trip.

This made me think about our own 'pilgrimage of worship' that we make every Sunday morning. I had to ask myself a very hard question. Is my trip to church each week about worship or is it about something else? Inevitably there are multiple things we experience in a normal Sunday morning. We have fellowship with friends. We are taught from God's Word. We worship. At least we're supposed to worship. See where I'm going with this? Is worship the priority when we come together on Sunday morning? Ask yourself this: 'If I didn't get to fellowship with my friends on a Sunday morning, would I still get up and go to worship?' As someone who very much enjoys seeing friends and interacting with them, this is not always an easy question to answer. How much of my church experience is social and how much is worship (spiritual)?

2. The wise men experienced worship. Looking down to verses 10 and 11, you see this: "When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh."

Worship was a joyful experience for them. In some translations, verse 10 says they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. Is my worship joyful? Does my excitement over who Jesus is cause me to worship with great joy?

The last part of verse 11 reminds us that giving is a part of our worship experience. The wise men had not realized the fulfillment of their mission until they had presented their gifts to Jesus. Largely thanks to high profile televangelists making a mockery of giving, many pastors are scared to even bring up giving in the course of a service. We almost try to find a way to hide the offering time in our services to avoid talking about it. Our giving to God shouldn't be something that is so taboo that our pastors are scared to mention it. I'm also not one for making a huge display of giving your offerings to the Lord, but we shouldn't knee jerk to awkwardness any time the subject is brought up. It truly is a part of our worship. It is a demonstration of Christ's lordship over one of the most difficult areas of our lives to give Him full access to. However, when you do give, there is a new depth of worship to be experienced.

I challenge you this week to look at the Christmas story with the intent to learn from God. Don't just treat Matthew 2 and Luke 2 as part of our mere traditions. Look at them as what they are, God's Word. Allow Him to speak to you even in these most familiar of passages.

Merry Christmas!

It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (Movie Edition)

Christmas is one of my absolute favorite times of the year for obvious reasons. Celebrating the birth of our Savior, spending time with family, enjoying Christmas music, and rushing around to various parties and programs are all part of this special time of year. Another aspect of this time of year that I thoroughly enjoy is watching Christmas movies. I thought it might be fun to put together a list of some of my all time favorite Christmas movies. Feel free to comment with any that you enjoy that I didn't include in my list. Here we go.

10. Miracle on 34th Street - While the 1994 version is pretty good, it doesn't compare with the original. I remember watching this one every Thanksgiving immediately after the Macy's parade on NBC.



9. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation - It's just not Christmas around our house until we've watched this classic.



8. Home Alone - Sticking with the comedic theme for right now, I still remember being almost unable to breathe as a kid in the theater the first time I saw Kevin McAllister outwit the Wet Bandits.



7. A Charlie Brown Christmas - OK, it's not technically a movie as this was a 30 minute television special, but there aren't many Christmas movies that so honestly tell the real meaning of Christmas.



6. The Nativity Story In a day and age where Hollywood has butchered Biblical stories, here's one they got right.



5. The Year Without A Santa Clause Because what's Christmas without the Meiser Brothers



4. The Muppet Christmas Carol I'll admit it, I'm a sucker for the Muppets and while I never thought that any version of Dickens' tale would surpass Mickey's Christmas Carol, this one does.



3. Elf Who doesn't enjoy Will Ferrel as Buddy the Elf



2. It's A Wonderful Life It's hard to not have this movie in my top spot, but while it is most certainly an all time classic, there is one that surpasses it for me. If you haven't seen it, it is most definitely a must see.



1. White Christmas Maybe it's the music, maybe it's the dance numbers, or maybe it's that iconic version of 'White Christmas' that concludes this movie. This is my favorite Christmas movie of all time.

Paul the Gentleman

Earlier this week I finished reading through the book of Acts. I've read through this incredible book many times, but something struck me this time through the book. I'm curious if this is maybe just me seeing something that's not there or if it's something that is there that I've never caught onto before.

It seems to me that Paul was a gentleman when it came to his evangelistic approach. This thought goes against 90% of the mental images that have often come to mind regarding Paul, but I realize that those mental images are largely formed by things that I've heard in sermons or teachings on Paul. I've always pictured Paul as a roughneck type of character. I mean, let's face it, the guy had to be tough. He survived beatings, stonings, a snakebite and a major shipwreck. Maybe it's this tough guy characterization that has made me think of him as anything but a gentleman.

While it's true that Paul had no qualms about going toe to toe with the Jewish religious leaders of the day, let's also remember some of the more subtle things that characterize Paul throughout the book of Acts. Before his conversion on the Damascus Road, he was a well respected religious leader himself. Paul refers to himself as a 'pharisee of pharisees' at one point. This tells us that he was an educated man and was most likely very well spoken. We also see that he constantly earned the respect of those holding him prisoner all the way up the political ladder to Rome. Paul also addressed people from where they were. He never comes off (at least in my opinion) as haughty or brash when it comes to presenting the gospel. His sermon on Mars Hill where he brings up the monument to the 'unknown god' is a great example of this. Paul is arguably the greatest missionary to ever live and people were being converted every where that he went. I don't think you have that level of success without knowing how to talk to and treat people in a manner that earns their respect.

So what's the point? How many times do we make it impossible for someone to even consider Christianity by our words or by our actions? I'm not suggesting in any way that we water down the message of Jesus to make it less offensive to those who don't believe. Is it possible, though, that maybe we should change our delivery method so as not to come off as haughty, brash, condescending, or even worse, ignorant to the very people who so desperately need to meet Jesus? What do you think?

Getting Back to Where It Started

In my daily Bible reading, I've come to the most exciting book of the Bible: Luke's second letter to Theophilus, the book of Acts.

Why is this the most exciting book you may ask. This is the book that tells us the earliest beginnings of Christianity. We see Jesus' remaining disciples along with a former pharisee (Paul) lead this rag-tag group of Christ followers through the growing pains of a thriving movement all the while dealing with persecution from the religious leaders of the day as well as the occupying force of Rome. Oh, and the miracles that occur throughout this book.....I love it!!

Then there is part of me that gets a little bit sad as I read through the book. We see the church in action. They don't always get it right, but the reality is, these are people that spent 3.5 years following Jesus carrying out His instructions. If anyone that has ever lived should know how to do church it is this group. Why does this make me sad? Because when I look at the Acts church and the 'American' or 'Western' church, I see two very different entities.

There are many glaring differences but two of them really strike me. The first is their passion for Jesus. These men unashamedly proclaimed Jesus anywhere they went and didn't care what the consequences would be. For most of them, the consequence was death. Fast forward 2,000 years to the Western church and we see many Christians silent at the thought of offending someone. In 2,000 years have we really gone from laying down your life for Jesus to being quiet so as not to offend someone?

The second is in our handling of those in need. Before I go on, let me first say that while I am making a generalization here, I understand that there are many churches who do a wonderful job taking care of the poor, the orphans, and the widows. Today churches are able to track who they give help to and use technology to network that information with other churches in the area to determine if they should give help. Yes, I know that there are scam artists out there and we are to be good stewards, but part of me really wrestles with that. I find it ironic that many politically conservative Christians cry out about the dangers of government entitlement programs, but then they don't support the church enough to allow the church to take care of the poor. Something doesn't seem to add up.

Maybe it all comes back around to this passion for Jesus that we should have. If we have a passion for Jesus, then shouldn't these things take care of themselves? When our love for Jesus totally consumes us the way it consumed the leaders of the Acts church, we will truly be a transformed people and we will see God do incredible things.

I don't want that 'Old Time Religion' but I wouldn't mind a good dose the the Acts Church.

Just For Fun

If you know anything at all about me, you know how much of a part of my life music is. My tastes in music are incredibly eclectic. I thought it might be fun to show you some of my favorite pieces of music from a wide variety of music. So, let's get started.

1. Toto - Rosanna



I'm a drummer. Any drummer worth their salt knows this infamous groove by the late, great Jeff Porcaro. The funny thing about this groove to me is the simple fact that absolutely no one can make this groove the way that Jeff could. It's a classic!

2. Sting - Seven Days



This is another drummer's indulgence. Vinnie Colaiuta on drums is simply a master making this 5/8 meter just simply groove effortlessly.

3. Paul Simon - 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover



While most know this song for the catchy chorus, for me it's the groove of the verses laid down by Steve Gadd that make this song one that I can never get enough of. So good.

Alright, now I'm gonna leave my drummer indulgences because I could put up video after video. Now get ready for a whirlwind trip of genres.

4. Petra - Creed



Of the 'modern' Petra songs, this is by far my favorite. I will never forget the disappointment when I saw them right after John Lawry (keyboards) had left the group and the intro played by new keyboardist Jim Cooper wasn't even recognizable. Here it is as it was meant to be.

5. Petra - Road To Zion



I can't mention the 'modern' era of Petra without bringing in this classic from the Greg X Volz years of Petra. Not only are the lyrics amazing, the harmonies are so tight.

6. Les Miserables - Empty Chairs at Empty Tables



Yes, I love musicals. This is easily my favorite song from one of the best loved musicals of all time sung by Michael Ball. So much more powerful than the Nick Jonas version.

7. Wicked - Defying Gravity



Before she was singing 'Let it Go' as Elsa, Idina Menzel was belting out 'Defying Gravity' as Elpheba in Wicked. This is my favorite musical and this song is just ridiculous with Idina singing it.

8. Verdi - Dies Irae



I fell in love with this piece from Verdi's Requiem when I had to learn it for a conducting assignment in graduate school. Few classical works can match the sheer intensity in this piece.

9. Dave Weckl and the Buddy Rich Big Band - Mercy Mercy Mercy



What can I say except that I love the way this piece grooves along. I closed my senior recital playing this piece with a jazz band. Love it!

10. Pentatonix - Stuck Like Glue



A capella music is gaining a little bit of mainstream traction in large part to groups like Pentatonix. I could have pretty much posted anything they've done, but this was an early performance on NBC's The Sing Off that really got my attention.

11. Straight No Chaser - 12 Days of Christmas



Before Pentatonix, these guys were already a YouTube sensation largely because of this arrangement. Love the 'Africa' section at the end.

12. U2 - Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For



The most influential band of my generation. Period. Love this arrangement.




So that's just a small sampling of some of the music that I just can't get enough of. Maybe I'll revisit this topic and share some more. I hope you enjoyed checking some of these out.

What are some of the songs that you can't get enough of? Let me know in the comments section!

Leadership = Servanthood

These are two words that we don't often think of together. We picture leaders as strong, take charge individuals who often have a team of people at their beck and call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It's not often that we think of a leader as a servant. However, that's exactly the example that we are given by Jesus.

John 13 tells the story of Jesus beginning His final Passover celebration by doing something that was unheard of. He got down with a basin of water and washed his disciples feet. The teacher made Himself subservient to His students and washed their feet. Think about it. This is not even the sanitized version that we sometimes see in church services. This was Jesus, the Son of God, on His knees washing a days worth of dirt and anything else that could collect on your feet from walking around the city of Jerusalem with basic leather sandals on your feet. These feet were dirty.

In doing this, He is teaching us something that we as Christians and certainly those who are leaders often forget. To lead, you must be willing to serve. I have heard of some churches that, upon hiring new staff, immediately ask that new staff member to clean the bathrooms. If the newbie questions or has an attitude about it, his job may be over right then and there.

Why would some churches do this? It's simple. They want to know that their staff members are willing to serve first. I have never been exposed to the bathroom test, but I was asked to do something incredibly menial and in reality pointless early on at a job. It wasn't until many years later when someone finally told me that I was being tested to see if I would actually do the task and do it right without complaint.

Serving others is not always convenient, easy, or fun. It's not supposed to be. If it were it would be hard to call it serving. Service to others can take on many shapes. It can be as simple as picking up the phone in the middle of the night and talking to someone who is really hurting. It can be as tough as sitting in a hospital room with them as they watch a loved one pass away. There are countless ways that we serve others and in turn, serve God. In doing so, we allow ourselves to experience a joy that really can't be explained and we become the hands and feet of Jesus reaching out to those in need.

It seems like today in churches, we all want to be served but are hesitant to serve. We make excuses left and right. Why? Maybe it's because we value our time so much that we don't allow others to have any part of it unless it benefits us.

The next time you get ready to serve up one of those excuses to not serve, picture the Son of God on His knees washing the filth off of the feet of His disciples. Jesus served. So should we.

Adoption Saved My Life

I know what you're thinking. Beth and I have not adopted any children. You're right. We haven't. That doesn't mean that I haven't been blessed beyond measure by the act of adoption.

I really started thinking about this subject last month when our church was taken through a series on adoption by our executive pastor, Chuck Mayo. The very first sermon was tagged with the verse in the image at the top of the blog. I've read that verse countless times, but something clicked this time as I read the words, 'I will not leave you orphans.' We are told in scripture to meditate on God's Word and throughout November I spent a lot of timing on this topic.

Well then, rehearsals for Christmas at Northwood ramped up and for the first time I heard the script in its entirety. The theme was 'Five Gifts of Christmas.' Those gifts were (and I hope I'm not blowing this) Jesus, grace, reconciliation, adoption, and expectancy. There's that word 'adoption' again. Seems like I couldn't get away from it.

Fast forward to Sunday morning worship. In his first Christmas sermon, our interim pastor, Tim Tew, went to this passage in Galatians.

When the time came to completion, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying 'Abba, Father!' So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. - Galatians 4:4-7 HCSB

There it was in black and white. God's gift of Jesus meant that I could receive the gift of adoption. I think that a historical understanding of adoption will help us to understand the impact of this amazing gift. When someone was adopted, everything about their former life was erased. EVERYTHING! That means that debts were cancelled, inheritances were forfeited, and any other ties to their previous family were severed completely with no trace of them remaining. They were considered from the moment of adoption a full fledged son or daughter of their new family and were privy to any and all rights associated with that title. They were heirs!

Isn't this what salvation is really all about? Our old, sinful way of life is executed and our new life in Christ begins. This life in Him allows us to become children of the Almighty. A relationship so intimate that we can cry out 'Daddy!' to the Creator of the universe. So often we come to God with all of our learned traditions of prayer. What God really wants to hear us say is, 'Daddy, I need You.' It's as simple as that.

As you celebrate the birth of Jesus during this season, let's remember to celebrate the gift of adoption that is made possible by the incarnation of Jesus Christ. If we accept His gift of salvation, we are God's children. Our inheritance awaits us in Heaven. It doesn't get much cooler than that.

So you see yet another unexpected blessing I received by being a part of Christmas at Northwood. The lesson for me started with a sermon at the beginning of November, was reinforced through a Christmas production, and was wrapped up with a bow by a point in a Christmas sermon yesterday. I'm so glad that God doesn't stop teaching me things. Every truth that I come across takes on deeper meaning with each new lesson from the greatest Teacher.

Thanksgiving Came A Week Late For Me

Well maybe not literally, but as I sit here tonight, I am overwhelmed with thankfulness. So tonight, I am going to do my best to put into words some things that have happened through this experience of Christmas at Northwood that I will be forever grateful for.

1. I am thankful for the amazing gift of the performing arts. This week I watched some 70+ cast and crew (singers, instrumentalists, dancers, technicians, etc) come together and forge a bond that only comes from performing together. If you were part of that team and you are reading this, I am looking forward to reading everyone's bios tonight. You are all so incredibly gifted in your particular areas and I consider it a true blessing to have shared the stage with you.

2. I am thankful for the experience of playing in a band again. The CAN Band as we are called was an incredible group of players and it was a joy to be part of them. Crystal, Charlie, Jason, Josh, and Ben....you guys are amazing. Let's do it again!

3. I am thankful that God can take something that is broken and put it back together. It's no secret how difficult this year has been for Beth and I, but I know in my life, God is putting me back together and is healing the pain that has tried to take me out of ministry. I will never speak for my wife, but I saw some things this week that show me He's doing the same thing for her. We may be at different stages of that journey, but we're doing it together and nothing the enemy can throw at us will split us apart.

4. I am thankful for being stretched musically. Let's face it, I'm a drummer. Playing piano for worship is an entirely different animal than playing auxiliary keys for a Christmas production that ranges from Elvis, to Taylor Swift, to Frozen and everything in between. I have not been this challenged since I had a piano player tell me on a Sunday morning that they were quitting and I had 7 days to make myself proficient enough to lead from the piano. This week, I was playing dueling piano parts on a Trans Siberian Orchestra piece. WHAT??!??!

Speaking of which....

5. I am thankful to not be playing Wish Liszt again for a very long time. (Crystal, I still have my hard copy if we can get the band back together for a sheet music burning ceremony)

6. I am thankful to go to bed tonight knowing that I don't have to have the same outfit that I've worn for 6 straight nights ready to wear again tomorrow night.

7. I am thankful for exhaustion. If I wasn't this tired (see pic) I would question if I've really given it my all.

8. I am thankful for cast members who will change back into an earlier costume at the end of a long night just to put a smile on the faces of my children.

To my fellow CANNIES - You guys are awesome and I love you all!

Changes Are Coming

It has been a couple of weeks since I have blogged anything. Things have been very hectic in our lives and, well, family comes first.

With that said, I wanted to let you know about a change coming in our lives that we covet your prayers about as well as any leads that you may have. It has been 5 months since I resigned my position at Crossroads. Our initial plan was for me to find a job that would keep us afloat while Beth finishes her last 2 semesters at Charleston Southern and then we would look to relocate into ministry again. Well, Beth's plan has not changed. However, with the job market being not very good here in the Charleston area, we are finding it absolutely necessary for me to begin my search for a ministry position immediately. We realize that this means that we will most likely be living apart for a couple of months while she finishes her degree, but she has worked to hard and done too well in school for her to put those plans on hold for another year while we move. We know this won't be easy, but we also know that as God has taken care of us through trials before, He will continue to sustain us through this.

We ask for your prayers that God would lead us to the church that is the right fit for our family and that God would strengthen Beth to finish out her degree while we are apart. I would also ask that if any of you know of churches that are looking for worship pastors that you would let me know so that I can make contact with them.

We continue to learn that God's plan is not always the same as our plan and I have to believe that the difficulty in job searching is His way of telling me that it's time to get back in the saddle again and do what I was called and created to do. Thanks for your continued prayer and support.