Born to Worship

August 19, 2009
7:31 AM

I love Jerry Flasschoen! He is a brother-in-Christ and fellow worship leader to our Trinity Church family. His faith encourages my faith. I look forward to every interaction with Jerry in the same way that I look forward to Sunday dinner, knowing that I will walk away edified, savoring the sweet food and fellowship and desiring better things as a result. Last week he sent me these thoughts in an email. I post them here for you to enjoy. Let’s celebrate the treasure we have in the songs of our faith, and in the songwriters who are edifying the Church by writing them!

Bill Born

By Jerry Flasshoen, August 13, 2009
Thursday at about 6:00 a.m., I was sitting in my car at work and praying. The words of “Nothing but the Blood” and “There is a Fountain Filled with Blood” came to mind. I was really blessed by the Spirit as I meditated on the words. I began to wonder why these songs and their melodies meant so much to me. As I prayed about it here are some thoughts that came to mind.

I think one of the things that sets Christian music apart from other music is the focus on the glory of God. So many of the older hymns speak of God’s character that it fills my heart with a deep sense of who God is. Which relates to another thought. Jesus said that we would know the truth and it would set us free. Christian music takes the deep truths of God’s Word and the Spirit uses the truth to minister hope, forgiveness, comfort, joy, and peace. I think that’s what sets Christian music apart from any other music. Christian music seeks to glorify the Lord while communicating theological truth. When the Spirit uses these aspects with the melody, it becomes a very powerful and worshipful experience that deepens our walk with God.

Another thought is that the writers of the songs applied the Word and the truth to their lives. As they did so, it became a living testimony recorded in music and lyrics and woven into the very fabric of their walk with God. As they maintained their relationship with God, they could write about their experiences, whether of joy or deep trial. As they wrestled with and reminded themselves of these truths, their souls were filled with the  awesomeness and personal blessing of the Lord Jesus. These lyrics then became their testimony of these truths as they lived life. These are truths and experiences we all can relate to and identify with. This is not to say that those who don’t know Christ cannot write beautiful music. But their music seems to glorify either themselves or something else. While it may sound nice, it still seems hollow and empty, as if something is missing. “…when the best bliss this earth imparts, we turn unfilled to Thee again.”

In sum, when we walk with the Lord and His word becomes living in our lives, the Spirit causes these truths to be etched in our lives. Our walk with God then takes on a depth that the Lord can use to minister to others going through the same experiences. Our lives become testimonies of God’s grace, which He uses in song to glorify Himself. This is what makes worship so meaningful…acknowledging the Lordship of Christ and the truth of His word and rinsing our hearts and minds in the truth of who he is.

One final thought that came to mind about Christian music. There is an eternal aspect to it because of the eternality of Christ. The truths written and sung are eternal in nature and do not change. I believe many of the hymns both older and modern will go with us into eternity. It is this eternal aspect to which our souls can relate. These are not new thoughts but just some convictions the Lord has been building into my life lately.

August 12, 2009
8:17 AM

I’ve been consumed over the past few weeks preparing for a message on “The Promise of Answered Prayer.” I thoroughly enjoyed collaborating with colleagues Steve Springsted and Walt Pitman. Last Sunday we preached it together and it was quite an experience. I was personally ministered to in a powerful way by my brothers who went before me, and when it came time to do my part on “Practicing Prayer,” I was very aware of the presence of God leading me that morning as I led my church family in the practice of prayer in worship. There are times when I sense a profound unity as if the entire congregation is experiencing our God together. This morning was one of those times and it was sweet. Of course this is the goal of every worship service. You can check out the message here: The Promise of Answered Prayer. (I attached the video because both Steve and Walt used PowerPoint in their parts.) When it comes to prayer, this is an area where I long to excel still more – not out of guilt or duty, but out of a hunger and thirst to know my Father – to hear his voice and to see his hand at work and to turn and give thanks.

I read a motivating (and yes, convicting) article this morning in Worship Leader magazine this morning on “The 7 Steps to Worship Renewal.” Step 7 was to pray. It was written by Kenn Gulliksen, a man who God used to lead the church in what has been called the Jesus Movement of the early Seventies. He founded the first Vineyard church in West Los Angelous. I’m going to post his part here – I needed to hear it and perhaps you do too.

Pray
By Kenn Gullicksen

Fifty-six years ago Alan Redpath wrote, “There seems to be a tendency for many Christians to imagine that a church can be conducted and led in the same way as a business concern … but the Church of Jesus Christ can only be led in blessing and power by men who have been humbled and broken at the cross, and who, through many experiences of their own failure and nothingness, have learned an utter dependence upon God and have been taught by the Holy Spirit to lay hold of Him at the Throne of Grace.”

Busted. After being filled with the Spirit at a Lutheran renewal summer camp in 1962, and 40 years of pastoring, I’m beginning to get it. I always thought of myself as Spirit-filled because of that early experience, and my subsequent “successes” in ministry. I really did love the Lord, seek the Lord, and serve the Lord. I taught pretty well and tried to walk in the light I had. But little by little, over a couple of decades, I found myself increasingly filled with myself, serving out of self effort, out of the desire to find value in my performance. I wasn’t aware of it until I grew weary with well-doing, lost heart and didn’t like God too much.

We were created to experience an unbroken and intimate love relationship with our Father, and to live and serve from the overflow of that relationship. In His indescribable love, God exposed my heart, and in that place of “failure and nothingness” I began to own what I had been teaching all along.

We have been grafted into a vine/branch union, and prayer is the joint that connects the vine (Jesus) to the branch (us).

Without prayer there is no life, let alone renewal. Prayer is the most important thing we do, or fail to do. Norman Grubb used to tell me, “the goal isn’t frequent renewal, but continuous revival.” We’re not pots to be filled with water only to be emptied, but more like hoses that are connected to the Source, constantly being filled, constantly full, constantly being emptied out in service. We can only serve from the overflow if we choose to stay connected to the Source.

Here are some ways to make this a reality in your life:

1. Show up–choose to accept the invitation to rest, commune, and receive. Quit making excuses. We make time for what we truly believe is important. As our model, Jesus made time each morning to meet with His Father for intimacy and to see what His Father was doing. Jesus understood He could do nothing apart from His Father. He continued to abide all day.
2. Agree–be honest, confess and repent of self effort, unbelief, wrong priorities, hidden sin. Invite the Holy Spirit to search your heart; ask Jesus to be your King and to advance His kingdom in you. Graham Cooke said, “The soul (emotions, intellect and will) must come to the cross daily, not to be destroyed, but to give up its right to rule.”
3. Receive–abide in the Vine and let Him truly be the air you breathe, let His Word be your daily bread. Let His mercy and grace flood you with life, forgiveness and, the power of the Holy Spirit. Celebrate!
4. Serve from the overflow–if you abide, you will be compelled to give away what you’re experiencing in Christ.

Ultimately, then, prayer/abiding is our connection to the ongoing work of continual personal and corporate renewal. As Paul wrote to the Philippians, “Continue [ongoing process] to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will [give you the desire] and to act [give you the power] according to His good purpose.”

Bill Born

July 15, 2009
7:03 AM

I took a wonderful hometown 2-week vacation with the advent of my son, Benjamin Jackson Born on July 1. It was wonderful to slow down and just enjoy my family, now a family of 5. I avoided (for the most part) the urge to work on home projects and instead just enjoyed my life with my family on the farm. I spent my days serving meals, cleaning up, playing with Billy and Maria, reading, resting and mostly, staring at Benjamin in awe and wonder. Billy captured it well on the second day of Ben’s life when he said, “I just want to look at him all of the time because he’s so beautiful!” And I still find myself reluctant to break my gaze as I stare at my beautiful 3rd child. There is nothing in this world as amazing as a newborn – a human being created by God, bearing the very image of the Almighty. I wonder what this little man will become and pray for wisdom as I seek to help him to know God, worship him and use his unique talents to joyfully serve him all of his days. Of course Benjamin’s arrival kindles anew my love for Billy and Maria as well, remembering their coming into this world and rejoicing in who they are and who they are becoming as they grow up. Finally, I am in awe of my wife as I see her give her all to sustain this little infant, meeting his every need and gently and patiently loving him and comforting him as he tries to figure out what in the world has just happened.

These are the best of times. Leaving my family to go back to work after being together 24/7 for 2 weeks is hard, but going back to work is not hard at all. I praise God for what I get to go back to! Sunday was fantastic as we worshiped God together. I love my church family, those whom I lead with on stage, the rest of our worship team that assists from the back, and the congregation who is between us. (I just had a pleasant image of our worship team surrounding our church family, going before and behind as we point to God and invite all hearts to worship him.) There were many moments where the singing was so loud that I just backed off my mic to take it all in. Trinity Church practices this Psalm:

“I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart;
I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. 2 I will be glad and exult in you;
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.” (Psalms 9:1-2 ESVS)

Heavenly Father, I do not take this for granted. I praise you for my church family and pray that we may discover more and more the wonder of your gospel, and as a result grow more in love with Jesus, in our faith, in genuine love for one another and our love for those who are outside of fellowship with you. I’m grateful for those who “Rightly divide the Word of Truth” each week, teaching and exhorting us from your Word. Amen!

It’s worth checking out Mark Brown’s great sermon on The Promise of God’s Presence. The more I think about the promises of God the more I realize that believing them is what truly brings the Christian toward maturity in the faith, sustaining him through the challenges of this life and then finally bringing him into the presence of God in heaven. The most wonderful people I know are the ones who base their entire lives on these promises. I am most excited as we continue to worship through this series together.

Bill Born

June 24, 2009
8:03 AM

Today is Julie’s due date and as of yet, no labor. We can barely wait to meet our new child – the waiting is  driving us mad. You could say that we are desperate! Fortunately, I have work to do that distracts me to some extent. The waiting is a bit harder for Julie. My journalling this morning is going to be a bit random – lots of thoughts are running through my mind.

Speaking of desperation, I started reading a book last night that chronicles a fascinating journey. Back in 2007 my brother-in-law gave me a CD of the Desperation Band’s project, Everyone Overcome. Listening to this project was an experience like none other – totally unexpected. I knew by the way they captured this worship concert that God was alive in this church and that they were alive in him. My heart not only connected with the Lord in worship, I found myself thirsty to experience him corporately like this with my own church family. I also wanted to lead worship like the guys from Desperation Band. I could feel the passion they had for the Lord, rallying around Christ, his cross, and his mission. With a little research, I found out that they were from New Life Church in Colorado Springs, the church that was shaken with the moral failure of their very prominent pastor in 2006, and then a shooting during their Sunday worship service that took two teen girls lives just a year later in 2007. Their “Everyone Overcome” project happened in between. Recently released was a book by one of their worship leaders, Glenn Packiam, Secondhand Jesus: Trading rumors of God for a first hand faith. In it, he chronicles how this series of events changed him and his church for the better. I just started reading it, and find myself deeply resonating with what Glenn has to say.

Yesterday in our staff meeting I found myself at once in tears for joy at God’s work, and shortly afterwards deeply disturbed. I’ll briefly recount both instances:

Joyful: one of our church family members came in to introduce his uncle and his family to us. They were refugees from Liberia who had received an immigration grant to the U.S. but only the father could afford to come. Trinity Church was able to provide the funds to bring the rest of his family over and they arrived one day before their papers expired. It was awesome to think that God used us to enable this family to reunite on American soil and have the promise of a life of freedom and opportunity. After warmly greeting each one of us, they shared their story with much thanksgiving and then we prayed for them and continued with our meeting. I was excited that our helps fund could be used for this kingdom work and happy to contribute to it in a small way. We’re going to share this story with our congregation on Sunday and that excites me as well. It is declaring the works of the Lord! May it inspire all the more – to God be the glory.

Disturbed: our mission pastor, having just returned from a trip to visit our missionaries in Europe, recounted how everywhere he went there were missionaries from Brazil. That’s great news, dear to my heart being a Brazilian myself. I was born there to missionary parents. The disturbing news was how much agencies favored the Brazilian missionaries because they operated on about $300 a month as opposed to Americans who  averaged over $2000 per month. “What’s the difference,” I asked? It’s our required standard of living. Required? Required by whom? This hurt tremendously! It stung, because I felt the conviction that I am one of those American Christians who feels entitled to the comfort, security and pleasures that our dollars can buy. We can’t lay down our standard of living in order to better use our dollars to benefit the folks we go to serve? Kudos to the Brazilians and to organizations that are figuring out how to better use our dollars for Kingdom work. God please give me the right perspective here – I want to get it right!

On a related note, I was emotionally moved last week as I read an article in Compassion Magazine about a man who felt similarly convicted and decided to do something about it. Mike Foster began an organization called, The Junky Car Club. Way to go, Mike! Let’s be countercultural for our Savior, Jesus. It’s going to look different for each of us, one step at a time, one conviction at a time. Let’s let his gospel and his Word shape us and may our lives and choices flow out of a love for him. “Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.” (from the hymn, When I Survey the Wondrous Cross by Charles Wesley) I close with these words from Hebrews, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” (Hebrews 10:24 NIV)

Bill Born

Wednesday, June 17, 2009
8:50 AM

We’ve got one week to go to Julie’s due date! This child that will soon enter our lives is wonderful evidence of God’s grace, our third miracle. I will take my summer vacation the moment that he or she comes, and so will take a break from my time at the Fox. Borrowing from the lyrics to “Blessed Be Your Name” by Matt & Beth Redman, “Every blessing you pour out I’ll turn back to praise!”

I have yet to post my notes for the Tough Times iMix. I will do that next, but first want to recount a wonderful worship experience with my congregation on Sunday. One of the songs on the iMix is an acoustic version of “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” by Jadon Lavik. Right now his “Roots Run Deep” hymn project is the music that is filling our lives. Jadon does an excellent job on every song and I highly recommend the project to you. Jadon Lavik, “Roots Run Deep”

The message on Sunday was on prayer, from James 5:13-16. (Here’s the link to our Pastor Gary’s message What About Healing?) We sang this song together right before the message – and boy did we all sing out! I think you can almost hear the congregation coming through our stage mics. (What a Friend ~ Live) I knew that we were all touched by the presence of God with us when afterwards there was complete silence – no applause, just a profound moment of unity in the presence of God. Hymns that have endured the ages are a treasure given to God’s people – building the body of Christ, generation upon generation. I’m thankful for artists like Jadon Lavik who present these treasured worship songs in a way that appeals to this generation. Other hymn projects you may want to check out are:

Amy Grant: Rock of Ages … Hymns of Faith

Fernando Ortega: Hymns & Meditations

Fernando Ortega: Hymns of Worship

Passion Band: Hymns Ancient & Modern

http://www.ethur.org/junkycarclub/splash/

June 3, 2009
7:47 AM

One of the things that people appreciate about our worship leadership at Trinity is that it doesn’t feel like a show, like a performance. I hear comments like this often and I praise God and ask people to pray for us that we would continue in like manner. I passed this on in appreciation to my 1st Sunday worship team at rehearsal on Monday night. Eldon, recommended I blog on the topic and so here it is. I’m going to mention a few things and would invite your input as well. I’m thinking specifically of our worship music here, although the principles apply to everything and everyone who contributes to the worship services.

First and foremost, is to keep in mind our ultimate goal: to spotlight our Triune God, as revealed through his Word, and to lead people in experiencing him and bringing corporate praise to him. We strive to accomplish this goal with excellence. We want our music to sound as modern and wonderful as possible. How can we do this and not feel like a performance to those we are leading? Here are some things that make it work.

1. Humility is before all else! Part of our Worship Team Member Covenant that all team members sign states, “[I agree to] pursue humility and modesty in order to put the spotlight on God and not myself.” We’ve been recently reminded of the importance of humility multiple times through the book of James. “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.” (James 3:13 NIV) Humility helps us reach our ultimate goal (spotlight on God), while also facilitating smooth operations on the team. There are no superstars on our team. The Lord is the Famous One! The better we are at our talent, the greater humility that must accompany it, lest we forget and think and act like it’s about us. I seek to extinguish pride the first time signs arise, and carefully and prayerfully bring new people into the team because I realize how precious the reigning attitude of humility is. Many of our team members serve in TLC, Light & Power and with our youth ministry. Some of our folks are preparing to do musical prison ministry. Most of team members serve our church family in other ways as well. Whether we’re leading a group of ten 2-year-olds, a roomful of prison inmates, or a worship center full of 700 adults, all have the same value before God. Our goal is the same; the spotlight is on him! Humility is number one to making us not seem like performers performing. It makes excellence a beautiful thing – a sacred offering to the Lord for his glory and the building up of his church.

2. The corporate nature of worship is the second thing that must always be considered, especially by those who are crafting the worship service. The current style of music is very driven by the solo artist – David Crowder, Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, Brenton Brown, Tim Hughes, etc. These are some of my favorite worship artists, but I am very careful to pick their songs that provide an “ease of worship,” as one of my team members aptly phrased it last night. I often lower the keys to make the melody accessible by the majority. While one vocalist leads the song, I am quick to have the others join so that the message from stage is, “Y’all sing!” Even when we have solos, we project the lyrics so that our congregation is trained to know that anyone is welcome to sing at anytime. Our music is for God and it is for them to join in. It is not our personal time of worship on stage! In addition, I tend to pick a majority of songs that were written specifically for corporate worship and have proven to resonate with the Church. Hymns are wonderful for this purpose and proven songs that have resonated with the Church for centuries. I’m always searching for new songs that are coming out of the church too – Hillsongs, Lincoln Brewster, Paul Baloche, Desperation Band, Gateway Church (Revelation Song), Jeremy Riddle and Brian Doerksen are some great worship leaders writing for their churches. So are most of the artists I listed above for that matter. Here’s the key: when we add multiple voices, we try to do so in a manner that keeps the integrity of the modern sound, but realize that we must sacrifice some of the “coolness” of the original recording to make it work for multiple voices.

3. The content of our songs is also very important. There is a delicate balance between interacting around the rich theology of our faith and the emotional response to it. I realize that people are seeking a transcendent experience meeting with the Almighty God, and I seek to facilitate that. But I also realize that this experience needs to be routed in the truth as revealed in the Scriptures. I call this Biblical Worship, that is worship that is grounded in the Word of God and resounds from the whole of our being as our lives are transformed by the revelation of God’s character and the wonderful gospel of Jesus Christ that saves us. I blogged about that in my previous entry (very lengthy – sorry about that!)

This is a start to noting the important components to worshiping in a way that builds up the body and avoids the feel of performance. I am highly concerned with getting it right at Trinity. We owe it to our God and to the people he has given us to lead. I praise God for you who make up the worship teams at Trinity – both the visible stage people and our wonderful behind-the-scenes folks that really make it happen each week.

I’d like to hear your additional insights.

Bill Born

May 27, 2009
7:41 AM

I was reminded last week how real our tough times are and how necessary to love each other well through these times. I’ve wanted for a while now to make an iMix with songs to aid our worship of God through these times. Julie gave me a deadline last week, wanting to give it to a friend who is in the midst such times. We spent the late hours of the evening listening to the mix before we drifted off to sleep. As I listened, I felt two things – the pain shared by my friends whom I know are in the battle right now, and a surge of faith that comes from knowing that our God is good and will carry us through these times. I am thankful for my friends who display faith and hope through the hard times of life. They give me reassurance that I can do it too. I’m also grateful for the songwriters that have produced these songs that draw the troubled soul to take refuge and find strength in God. But most of all, I am grateful for our Great God who is so good.

This iMix corresponds with our recent “Tough Faith for Tough Times” sermon series through the book of James. I encourage you to check out our Pastor Gary’s messages at our website, James: A Tough Faith for Tough Times.

Tough Faith for Tough Times iMix Notes
By W.T. Born
1. Come and Listen by David Crowder (A Collision)
“Let me tell you what he has done for me.” I love the hope presented in this wonderful song of praise. It comes from Psalm 66 that declares, “Come and listen, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me. I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue. If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer. Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!” (Psalms 66:16-20 NIV) We begin with the hope and assurance that our God is good and that in trusting him, he will answer our prayers, lavish his love on us, and we will be able to tell others what he has done for us.

2. Take Heart My Friend by Fernando Ortega (Fernando Ortega)
We are never alone! Not only does our God promise that he will never leave us or forsake us, but he also gives us each other to uphold us with this truth when we doubt it. Each verse of this song is packed with reminders of who our God is and what he does. He is, “our assurance every morning and our defender in the night.” What a beautiful thing a godly friend is to us during tough times.

3. Carry You by Amy Grant (Rock of Ages … Hymns of Faith)
In times of trouble we must realize that we are children with a loving and faithful Father. There is a wonderful promise that God gives to his people. “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” (Isaiah 46:4 NIV) We are also commanded to “Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.” (Psalms 55:22 NIV) This song invites us to let go and let God carry us and our burdens and reminds us of the wonderful works of the Lord that prove that he is able to do it.

4. Hosanna by Paul Baloche (A Greater Song)
“When we see you we find strength to face the day. In your presence all our fears are washed away.” I cling to every phrase in this song! It is so packed with the truth that our God saves – that is the meaning of “Hosanna.” It is really a shout of, “God save us,” as well as a celebration that he is our Savior. God’s saving work in our lives is a wonderful thing. Our need is to turn to him and to see him. God’s Word is the lens through which we truthfully see him. It is through his Word that our hope is stirred and our hearts and broken lives are made new. While this can and should happen in the personal quiet time, there is nothing that compares to the corporate experience worshiping our God who saves us. This song is meant for the corporate setting and I love to sing it with my church family!

5. Blessed Be Your Name by Matt Redman (Beautiful News (Bonus Track))
This acoustic version of a familiar worship song is refreshing. I have sung this song through tears more than any other. These tears have been shed both in the context of pain “on the road marked with suffering” and joy “in the land that is plentiful.” It is my choice to worship God in all circumstances. This song keeps me grounded in my choice to bring praise to God no matter what. Though I may start it tentatively at times, I always end it with a bit more faith than at the start.

6. It Is Well by Brian Doerksen (You Shine)
I have sung this song at more funerals than any other. There is no other hymn that so fully and powerfully captures the resolve to trust God in tough times, the victory of salvation over sin through the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the hope of heaven for all eternity. Horacio Spafford wrote it on the occasion of the death of his four daughters at sea. A good friend recently wrote to me after listening to this recording, “I long to be able to say that and really mean it: No matter my lot … it is well with my soul. I’m not there yet, but I’m willing to let God bring me there.” God will bring us both there, brother! The choice to worship thus is the starting place.

7. What A Friend by Jadon Lavik (Roots Run Deep)
I grew up singing this hymn, but it wasn’t until college that it struck me in a profound way. “Oh, what peace we often forfeit, oh, what needless pain we bear all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.” How quick I am to worry or problem solve when instead my first response to tough times should be prayer. While there are many poignant lyrics in the song, I love the ending, “In his arms he’ll take and shield thee; thou wilt find a solace there.” Simply said, “Run to Daddy!”

8. What A Good God You’ve Been by The Maranatha! Singers (Long Play Thanksgiving)
Being thankful in all circumstances is not only a command from the Scriptures, but also leads to “counting it all joy when we face various trials of all kinds.” This song by Tommy Walker helps us shift the focus from our present circumstances to our Good God – his character and presence with us. The heart that is thankful is steadfast because it is deeply rooted in the goodness, loving-kindness and faithfulness of our God. Thanksgiving is not only a means by which we praise God, but it also opens the door to his saving work in our lives. “He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God.” (Psalms 50:23 NIV)

9. Hungry by Kathryn Scott (Satisfy)
Tough times can draw us to our knees in brokenness. Humility is spiritual fruit that comes from tough times when we let go of our pride and cry out for help. God promises to draw near and uplift the humble heart. “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” (James 4:10 NIV) This song captures an authentic hunger and thirst for God – not just for the rescue, but more so for his felt presence. Learning that he is ultimately what our heart is longing for is a secret to persevering through tough times. I love how this worship song nurtures that process and turns these times into an opportunity to offer ourselves more fully to God.

10. When the Tears Fall by Tim Hughes (When Silence Falls)
Lament is a form of worship that flows from a place of deep pain. Worship in the “dark night of the soul” moves us honestly toward our Father. It results in greater intimacy and deeper faith. While our circumstances may not change, our perspective does and that is where hope is born. This song is a resolution to praise God no matter what.

11. Psalm 13 (How Long O Lord) by Brian Doerksen (You Shine)
I chose this psalm as the foundation of a recent study on how biblical worship confronts fear, doubt and depression. The psalmist, David, experienced all three and brought these feelings to God in worship and moved to a place of trust. When I discovered this song afterwards, I moved from an intellectual understanding of it to a heart-engaged moment of worship. I wept as I realized that the model here is to run to Daddy. We come to our Father with our complaint, cry out for help and then we collapse into his loving arms. It is there that we can rejoice in the goodness of our God – when we are being held by Him.

12. You Never Let Go by Matt Redman (Passion: Everything Glorious)
The 2nd verse and related bridge in this song are food for the heart struggling to hold on. “I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on. There will be an end to these troubles but until that day comes, still I will praise you!” We recently sang it as a worship response to a sermon from the book of James. “You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.” (James 5:8 NIV) It was one of those moments where I felt both a fullness of the presence of the Lord and strength from the unity with the other voices that joined mine that morning. These are the sweetest moments of corporate worship. That is why I chose the “live” version of this song. God creates us with a need for other believers. Even though we have lonely moments, we cannot hold on if we are alone. We not only need God who never lets go, but also we need his church through which he will hold us at times. I praise God for my church family!

13. You’re Not Alone by Meredith Andrews (The Invitation)
Loneliness seems to amplify the pain and sadness of difficult times. But God loves to meet the lonely heart through his Word and through prayer. “In my anguish I cried to the LORD, and he answered by setting me free. The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid.” (Psalms 118:5-6 NIV) This song reminds us that he will never leave us, nor forsake us. He is always there. He will see us through the darkest night. We just need to cry out to him and he will answer.

14. Faithful One by Brian Doerksen (You Shine)
The chorus of this song helps us respond to the fact that God is the Faithful One, the ageless one who is unchanging. He is our Rock in times of trouble – a rock of peace. He lifts us up when we fall down. All through the storm his love is the anchor that holds us. Our hope is in him alone. My ears need to hear that and my mouth needs to say it again and again especially in the midst of suffering. It is only then that I discover that my heart really believes – that my faith is in the Lord, the Faithful One. I need to call out to him again and again in faith that he hears and will answer. Faith produces endurance and is also the product of endurance. Psalm 18 is a great passage of Scripture that probably inspired this song.

15. Grace for Me by Michael Gungor Band (Ancient Skies)
I end this mix with a simple but profound reminder that God’s grace is all we need. There are wonderful statements of truth in each verse: you are forming me, you’ll provide for me, and you’ll watch over me. My heart soars with a resolution of hope during the instrumental bridge and then joyfully declares, “I’ll rejoice in spite of hardship; you’ll watch over me.” Yes, Lord, in the lonely times I can and will declare this: “All I need is here … in you!”

Bill Born

May 13, 2009
7:50 AM

The hymn “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” has a wonderful phrase in the third verse that says, “Ponder anew what the Almighty can do.” I wonder how we who lead our congregation each week can better facilitate this type of “pondering the Almighty” worship. The first thing that comes to mind is that pondering the Almighty does not take place unless I deliberately go there. My first inclination is to ponder other things like:

1. What am I going to do next?

2. What problem is overwhelming me at the moment?

We who lead corporate worship need to help people shift their pondering from their problems and activities to what God can and wants to do with these things. Ultimately we need to know God’s presence and follow his leading within our daily activities and even our most difficult problems. The worship leader has the tools to facilitate this shift of focus. In one hand we lift up the Word of God and in the other hand, the works of God. Next time you raise your hands in worship, picture this as part of the offering you are lifting up to God. These two activities should be the primary focus of our corporate worship gathering. The good news is that we have the Word of God and a gifted pastor who teaches it to us each week. Pondering the Almighty will not happen in a “tickle your ears” preaching church. I praise God that our senior pastor, Gary Inrig, brings us God’s Word each week and it is powerful to not only inform us of how we ought to live, but more so to help us to come to know our God and bolster our faith in him. The end of last week’s sermon was a great example of Gary doing this when he came to God’s promise from Hebrews 13:5, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” You can check it out here, A Satisfied Heart. Keep bringing it, Gary!

In addition to the Word of God, we have a wealth of art, worship music, media and drama available to us that has been inspired by the Word of God. Christian artists who beautifully capture God’s Word and display his works in their art are a gift to the church. Finally, each one of us and each one of the people we lead who are truly God’s disciples bear testimonies of the works of the Lord. The demonstration that we are Christ’s disciples is that we bear fruit. Fruit is the visible, appealing, delicious and nurturing evidence of the work of God in our lives. Changed lives, changed hearts, increasing faith, and the miraculous works of the Lord must be proclaimed and celebrated within our worship services. We who are worship leaders must be artists ourselves who help our congregations rally around the Word and the works of God. The crafting of a worship service is our art; it is our offering of worship to God; it is our service to the church.

My seven-year-old son taught me a lesson on pondering a few weeks ago. I teach him on Monday mornings. We were reading through a word list. My goal was to quickly get through it so we could get to the next thing and then done with school that day. He had a different goal. He began reading each word and would pause to comment about it, put it in a sentence, and even get out of his chair and act it out. I found myself frustrated, wanting to rush him so we could be done with it. Then I realized how beautiful his approach was and how shallow mine was. He was pausing to ponder, caught up in the experience of the moment. I, on the other hand, wanted to get through the activity, and was missing the moment. I need to approach the worship service with Billy’s mindset. It is an opportunity to meet God in the moment. We who lead worship need to foster these moments. Worship is not just the proclamation of the Word and works of the Lord. It is ever so much our response as well. The worship service is not a program to get through, but instead an encounter with the Almighty God that wants to say something to each one of us. We need to allow the Holy Spirit to convict, comfort, and transform our thoughts and behaviors. This is perhaps the toughest thing to do within the confinement of the blasted clock. Therefore, we must be sensitive to the Spirit’s leading in our crafting of the service to leave space for God to speak and for us to listen and then respond.

The other pondering that often consumes my mind is on my problems. The good news is that God loves to meet us when we are most needy. Problems are an opportunity for God to do his works in our lives. More often than not his works do not include removing the problem, but refining our faith by sustaining us through the problem. Psalm 55 commands us to, “Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.” (Psalms 55:22 NIV) The Psalmists give us a wonderful pattern of laying their problems out before the Lord and then choosing to shift their pondering from their problems to the character and works of the Almighty God. Here’s a quick example from Psalm 5 authored by King David.

“Give ear to my words, O LORD; consider my groaning. Give attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you do I pray. O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.” (Psalms 5:1-3 ESVS)

I love how David ends this statement with the phrase, “and watch.” Pondering what the Almighty can do is the watching and waiting. Faith is practiced and strengthened in this practice of worship. We who lead must help our people bring their groaning to God, sacrificing these things, so to speak, and then watch for what God is going to do.

So what can the Almighty do? He can do far more abundantly than all we can ask or think!

“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21 ESVS)

Let us be worshipers and worship leaders who delight in pondering what the Almighty can do and lead our congregations in the same.

Bill Born

April 15, 2009
7:07 AM

I’m still basking in the glow of Easter weekend and our worship services at Trinity Church. I just had a meeting last night with my Worship Planning Team. This team is primarily responsible for the Easter Sunday services and even though the Good Friday Service was outstanding, my focus will be on what happened Easter Sunday. My team spent the bulk of our time last night recounting the special moments, how we were personally touched and led in worship, and retelling what we have heard others share about their experience. We celebrated the work of the Lord, because we know that while we bring our very best, it is the presence of the Holy Spirit that touches hearts and makes a lasting impact as people experience God in the worship service. It is his work that matters most it goes before, through and beyond the experience of the moment. Truly what people experienced was something beyond what we could create and that is exactly as it should be – this was a clear answer to our prayers as a team. And so the first honor goes to our Great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. It was, is and always will be about him. As I was leading worship through our Good Friday and Easter Sunday services, my heart was drawn anew to worship to him and that was wonderful! Few people know of the teamwork that goes into planning and then pulling off a worship service like this. I found myself so grateful for the teams that I get to work with and I’d like to thank and honor some of the behind the scenes folks with the rest of this blog entry. Jeff Moore is the rehearsal director for the 7 vocalists and 16 instrumentalists that provided the beautiful music for our Sunday services. He is my friend and mentor and God used him to establish the worship culture at Trinity Church through his worship leadership before me. We musicians are incredibly blessed to be directed by Jeff. He is brilliantly gifted, yet humble and wonderful as he directs us. The quality of what you heard and experienced musically on Sunday is greatly attributed to his masterful leadership. Daniel Medina didn’t sleep much between Friday and Sunday as he was commissioned to capture our baptisms on Friday and put together a video to share that experience with all who came on Sunday. He is deeply gifted in the area of telling a story with media and did a masterful work of capturing the heart of what happened with the baptisms on Friday night. I don’t know how he did it in only 1 minute and 42 seconds. I know that this video edified and encouraged all who attended on Sunday and will continue to bear fruit for the kingdom as we rally at Trinity around the saving work of the Lord among us. Here it is. Steve Simons is a stage manager. He coordinated the 2 media techs Donna Lusher & Jenn Mullinex, sound technician & team leader Scott Tirrell, lighting technician and team leader Henry Meinders, camera operators David Ladner, Steve England & Norb Tellez, and the drama, dance, music & ushering teams. Steve’s role is to help us all work together to accomplish a successful worship service. He is a master of pulling off a smooth service, coordinating us, helping with transitions, problem solving with technical and personnel difficulties, relieving stress, putting out fires and making sure that what you see and experience is the highest quality possible. His administrative ability is a gift from the Lord and I appreciate his role and couldn’t pull off a service like this without him. Steve’s ministry is Christ-like to me in that he bears the stress that should rightfully be mine so that I might go free. Ken Weaver is the builder of crosses at Trinity. He is responsible for the beautiful and majestic centerpiece of our service. We had over a minute of time just to quietly reflect on the cross of Christ after the dance piece. Ken is a gentle and faithful servant, gifted as an artist and builder. I love him! I love working with him and appreciate the way he joyfully serves the Lord and his church. It was a great moment of worship, just the two of us, as we carried the cross together across campus into the worship center a few weeks ago. Jan Arnwine is the drama team leader. She brings a great heart to her work and did a great job directing her team of three as they led us in a powerful and thought provoking drama. The quality of what they did was top notch and led us all in contemplating the significance of the resurrection and the challenges that might
distract us from believing and being shaped by it. Mary Bawden led a team of 4 trained dancers in a piece that encouraged us to “Behold the Lamb” of God. She also had 4 additional young dancers helping to celebrate during “Happy Day” in the venue and then at the end of “Revelation Song” in the worship center. All of the dancers were beautiful and just shined the joy of the risen Christ in their faces as they danced. I was deeply moved during the “Behold the Lamb” piece and especially enjoyed the end with a simple spotlight on the cross for the last minute and a half. Mary”s heart is to put the spotlight on God through dance and she did a great job leading us up to this moment of reflection. Revelation Song was also a special way to end the service with the addition of her dancers. (We are waiting for permission to post the dance.) Jen Derksen made a very important contribution. She laid out a great spread in the back room for the dancers, technicians, thespians, and musicians I’ve just mentioned. She uses her culinary talents to edify the church and I praise God for the wonderful way she serves us during these special services during the year. I’d like to honor the Pastoral & Support Staff, my beloved colleagues. First mention must go to my administrative assistant, Sheri Blakey. She joyfully serves the Lord and all of us who serve by covering the hundreds of the details, coordinating all of our teams and services, communicating relentlessly, and planning everything down to the last minute. This year she was the stage manager for the service in the venue and it was a great success! She is truly a blessing to all of us, a co-leader with me, and irreplaceable as far as I’m concerned. Joe Cornell and Ron Berger support all things technical at Trinity. Ron helps set up and maintain our technical systems, ensuring highest quality and ease of operation. Joe sets up and tears down relentlessly without complaint and with incredible detail. Every ministry and every ear at Trinity is blessed by the service of Joe’s hands and he puts in countless hours to facilitate all things sound related at Trinity. Bruce Herwig and his assistants Donna Walker and Allison Anderson did a great job with printed materials and our overall theme for “The Greatest Day Ever!” It’s always a pleasure to partner with our Communications team. Gary was brilliant in his presentation of a monologue by Thomas. His knowledge of the Scriptures, his love for the Lord, for his church and for the lost, and his gift of teaching minister to each one of us on a weekly basis. Gary is also quite talented dramatically and shared that with all of us on Sunday. Every heart was deeply captivated by his message. He did such a great job walking us through the Jesus Story through the eyes of Thomas and then encouraging us to “stop doubting and believe.” I came away with a deeper faith and more sincere belief as a result. Gary ministers to me in this way every weekend! Check his part out here, What If It’s Really True?. God, thank you for our senior pastor, Gary Inrig! My close friend and mentor, Steve Springsted and his administrative assistant, Ann Mixon, coordinated everything outside – guest ministries include the parking team, welcome center, hospitality (food!), greeters and ushers. These folks were fantastic and are our front line, making people feel welcome into the Trinity Family as we gather to worship. He also coordinates a prayer team that prays during each service in the Prayer Room and is available to pray with folks who need prayer. He also has a team that follows up with our guests. Wow! That’s a lot! Shawn Brennan led our service in the venue and did a fantastic job with his team of high school students. Sheri said that her greatest joy was serving with these talented students who brought their best in service to the Lord and his church gathered in the venue. We are truly blessed at Trinity by our high school youth and by their pastor, Shawn. Finally, I love the church family that I get to lead in worship each week. God is working in our lives. Jesus is truly alive at Trinity Church demonstrated by the fact that we are growing more alive in him. He is doing great things as our family is growing numerically and in spiritual maturity. We are becoming better worshipers. I see the fruit of his Spirit filling and spilling over through us. May God continue to be praised each week as we gather to worship him, Christ our risen King!

Bill Born

March 25, 2009
8:45 AM

Yesterday was a special day – it was my mom’s birthday and I would like to take a moment to honor her. Two words that immediately come to mind are gentle servant. My mom delights in serving her family, her friends, and her God. She serves with a gentle spirit. She has been serving with Mission Aviation Fellowship in this way for 41 years. No doubt that many throughout the years have experienced the blessings of her gentle service. This year brings huge changes as she transitions to her new assignment out of her career with MAF into her career as full-time grandmother (and other important ministries as well). Her family in California is eagerly anticipating the joy of having her come home. When I was 23 I figured out how blessed I was to have such a great mom namely that she was a P-31 woman, the kind that I would like to marry. (P-31 being a reference to Proverbs 31). More than that, I wanted to possess these same god-honoring qualities that I saw in Mom, yet as a man and in a masculine sort of way. My Savior described himself as a servant who is gentle, and in this way my mom embodies the character of Christ. Mom taught me how to be a gentle servant. I have always considered my father a very wise man, but not until recently did I realize that Mom possesses great wisdom as well. First of all, being a P-31 woman, she fits the biblical description of a wise woman. But a few weeks ago, our pastor, Gary Inrig, preached a great sermon on the wisdom from above, from James 3:13-18. (You can listen here, Wise or Otherwise). I was struck by the description of heavenly wisdom from verse 17. This verse describes mom. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. (James 3:17 ESVS) Anyone who knows her would agree that these qualities are the fruit that flows from her life. If you bump into Mom, this is what spills out (even when it is an ugly bump that has to do with conflict the context of this Scripture). I praise God that his Spirit living in mom has produced this wisdom and continues to produce it increasing measure. Years ago, as a young adult when I began to rediscover the blessing of my mother, I wrote this poem and I’d like to end this with it. Here’s to the year ahead, Mom! Cheers to you and thanks to God for you! Mother, I Love You My thoughts turn to you mother On this very special day Thankfulness, indebtedness; feelings one after the other Heartfelt joy from kindness I am unable to repay Emotions I cannot rightfully express using paper and pen Remind me of how vividly you show God’s love time and again It has not always been through words, though words have been many Letters faithfully written to encourage comfort and guide Often times when my spirit was dead it was these kept me alive Virtue, one of the highest qualities you possess Exemplified by your actions – so giving; so selfless Yes, your actions have been the most powerful lesson to me Of how love by God’s standards was meant to be Unlike none other; I will forever call you blessed!! Mother, I Love You!
Written for Mom on Mother’s Day, May 8, 1994.

Bill Born