pro·fi·cien·cy

"So then, dear brothers and sisters, be firm. Do not be moved! Always be outstanding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."

So I was talking with one of my friends the other day named Jeff Boriss (One r, two s's). Jeff is the Director of Arts at Community Christian Church (CCC-Yellow Box), in Naperville, IL and helps to oversee all things arts at each of CCC's 12 campuses. Jeff told me of a list that he put together for each musician on his worship team, outlining the key proficiency requirements that he expects each of them to work towards mastering.

I read the lists and felt it was too good to hide it under a bushel basket, so with permission, below is the complete list, in Jeff's own words, for all to peruse.

If you feel intimidated by a couple items on the list because you are not quite where you need to be, rest assured that you are in good company. I myself have some work to do, as soon as I finish this post.

High five!

Mike



Awesome!
We are excited that you've expressed some interest in being a part of the Musical Arts at Community Christian Church | YB. Below , we've outlined a few things that we've learned are really important for the role of a musician. Don't worry though, you don't have to have all of these on day-one, but these are the skills that will help make the experience the best for you and us.

Worship Lead
1. knowledge of major and minor scales
2. knowledge of major and minor chords including all barre chords (multiple positions preferred)
3. an understanding of the role of lead within the context of worship
4. an understanding of effects & their ability to "color" and create emotion
5. the ability to play many different styles of music
6. a sharing attitude
7. rhythmically solid in both 4/4 and 6/8
8. quality gear

Performance & Lead
1. pitch accuracy
2. a unique or exceptional vocal tone
3. a very expressive and emotional ability
4. the ability to embellish and improvise the melody line
5. great stage presence
6. ability to be a team player

Rhythm Electric & Rhythm Acoustic
1. knowledge of major and minor chords including all barre chords (multiple positions preferred)
2. an understanding of the role of rhythm within the context of worship
3. the ability to play many different styles of music
4. a sharing attitude
5. rhythmically solid in both 4/4 and 6/8
6. quality gear

Drums
1. the ability to play a consistent tempo
2. an understanding of the role of drums within the context of worship
3. an understanding of rhythms & their ability to "color" and create emotion
4. the ability to play many different styles of music
5. a sharing attitude
6. rhythmically solid in both 4/4 and 6/8
7. quality gear

Bass
1. knowledge of major and minor scales
2. an understanding of the role of bass within the context of worship
3. a firm understanding of rhythms
4. rhythmically solid in both 4/4 and 6/8
5. the ability to play many different styles of music
6. a sharing attitude
7. quality gear

Piano
1. knowledge of major and minor chords
2. an understanding of the role of piano within the context of worship
3. the ability to "vamp"
4. rhythmically solid in both 4/4 and 6/8
5. the ability to play many different styles of music
6. a sharing attitude
7. quality gear

Keyboard

1. knowledge of major and minor chords
2. an understanding of the role of keys (synth & effects) within the context of worship
3. the ability to "vamp"
4. rhythmically solid in both 4/4 and 6/8
5. the ability to play many different styles of music
6. a sharing attitude
7. quality gear

Choir
1. pitch accuracy
2. ability to be a team player

Background Vocals
1. pitch accuracy
2. the ability to improvise a harmony
3. the ability to blend with other vocalists
4. the ability to be a team player
5. stage presence

Disconnected

This morning I walked by a group of four paramedics desperately trying to save a man who didn't really want to be saved.

Sometime around 7 am this man traveled up 6 stories to the top of the parking ramp next to my office, and made a permanent decision to jump to his death.

Of course while walking by, I had no details as to what had caused this ghastly scene. Out of respect for the man, and the men working over him, I crossed the road and passed on the opposite sidewalk. I refrained from gawking in that direction as I passed, but instead said a silent prayer that whatever ill that had caused him to be in his condition, would release it's grasp upon his life.

I was the first to arrive at the office and as my coworkers arrived, each told their perspective as they passed at their respective times of arrival. It was only then that I learned more details and somewhat embarrassingly admitted that although I passed by in what had to be only minutes before the man jumped, I knew the least about what had occurred.

Thinking back on the moments I looked down at my shoes as I passed by, I had no idea what had caused the man to be in this state, but I knew that there was nothing I could do, but say a silent prayer. He was in the hands of the professionals. If they couldn't save him, what could I do?

It wasn't until I realized that the man's condition was more deliberate, that a wave of shame swept over me. What if I had passed by this man in the past? What if he was the guy that asked me for bus fare a few days ago, when I lied and said, "Sorry man, I don't have any cash on me," for fear that he was looking to rob me.

What if yesterday afternoon, this guy was searching passersby for just one person to make eye contact with, just one soul to connect with because he had lost all hope. What if I was one of those passersby, but was too consumed in my own struggles and turmoil to give life to someone in desperate need of it. What if a smile and a warm "hello" from me could have been enough for him to just give it another couple of days for things to get better.

While I realize that I could spend so much time dwelling on these thoughts to the point of finding a parking ramp of my own, it makes me wonder what it would look like to slow down an look for opportunities to be that connection. What would it look like to try to connect with the disconnected?

Yep, I get it, it is messy. There are people out there who are willing to take advantage of kindness, viewing it as weakness. Someone I come into contact with could easily view my warm hello as an open door to exploit.

Yes, I know, there are those that will take that spare change they receive and exchange it for a substance they have developed an addiction towards. There are those who do not need another handout. Activities that enable dependence can serve to hinder growth in an individual that has made a lifetime of bad choices.

All that I know is that in those moments of passing I have developed so many justifications for looking the other way. As I think back on my silent prayer, I realize that it is entirely possible to affect the ills of those I come into contact with, long before they make a permanent decision.

"Are We Almost There?"

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.”

“And you know the way to where I am going.”

“No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”

John 14:1-6

“Are we almost there?” are words that sends every parent who has ever driven more than 20 minutes with a car full of children into a rage and rant of Mel Gibson or even , dare I say, Charlie Sheenesque proportions.

As I think back, on our recent move from Phoenix back home, I am flooded with great memories. Not memories of pulling back into town for the first time. Not memories of dropping off the U-haul and getting the keys to our house when we arrived. Not getting every box unpacked (partly because this still has not happened).

Even though I dreaded the thought of traveling 2,000 miles in a 24’ U-haul, towing my car behind, with my wife in the family van behind that, hindsight inundates me with amazing memories from the road.

Laughing with Maly and Will, sitting in the cab with me, making fart noises at passing vehicles and trying to get every semi driver to honk their horn. Replaying road scenes from Dumb and Dumber with Logan, “It feels like your running at an incredible rate Harry!” The hours I spent talking to Karleigh about what she most looked forward to seeing and doing when we got home.

These are the things that flood my recollection of the trip.

But through it all, I was riddled with anxiety. Through it all I was worried about whether or not we would have enough money for gas or food. I stressed that we could have a horrible breakdown in the middle of Oklahoma and get attacked by a vicious biker gang. The first thing they would do is end me and pillage the U-haul. Then they would outfit my family in studded leather and take them along with them to participate in many nefarious activities together while I lay there on the side of I-44 dead, cold and alone.

But obviously, and much to my surprise, that didn’t happen. We had enough money to make it home. The U-haul didn’t break down, and while we did see a lot of scary looking guys on motorcycles along the way, none of them seemed to be organized enough to form a gang. And they especially did not have the wherewithal to carry with them a sufficient wardrobe of studded leather to outfit a woman and three kids in order to be properly attired for committing crimes. (horrible run-on sentence, my apologies, Mr. Stein, you taught me better than that.)

The bottom line is, now that I know how the trip ended, the worry, fear and anxiety is eliminated from the equation. In fact, one could argue that had I trusted in the positive and more likely ending, the journey would have been even more amazing.

So often I doubt where God is taking me. I know where I am going, even when I, like Thomas, claim I don’t know where I am going.

When I was a kid I always envied those people who got to take long road trips in a luxurious motor coach. I remember one time I got to ride in one such vehicle care of a friend of my parents. I don’t remember where we were ultimately going but man do I remember the ride. No seat belts, no sore neck, no one laughing at me in the car next to us on the expressway as my face is pressed up against the window of the Ford Escort as I sleep.

Thirsty? Get something out of the fridge. Hungry? Make a sandwich in the mobile kitchen. Need to go potty? Got you covered. Just don’t flush it or the people in the car behind us will get ticked. (Don’t really know if it works that way but it makes the blog post funnier. See, I saw you chuckle a little.)

The point is this, when the vehicle is amazing the journey IS the destination. I know that sounds like some self help propaganda you get out of an article in Reader’s Digest or Redbook Magazine (No, I don’t have a subscription to Redbook, but Kara used to and sometimes it is all that was available to read. Plus you can learn a lot about exfoliation and moisturization from those magazines)

Christianity is not only about getting to heaven, as much as we want it to be about that. It is not only about bearing our cross and living sacrificially. It is as much about the ride as it is about the final destination. The worry, the fear, the anxiety will be gone soon. When I look back I will remember the conversations I had, the laughter I shared and the sights I saw along the way. Even when things do not go as planned I will be joyful through it because I am carrying a piece of my destination along with me on the journey.

When Christ is in me, it is as if I am experiencing a part of heaven on earth, however hellish it may feel at the time I am going through it.

Growing up I can remember singing an hymn written by Bill Gaither, called Because He Lives. It meant nothing to me as a kid. I had no worries, fears or anxiety. But now as a thirty-three year old man, with a wife and four kids, a job, a ministry, a house two cars and a Yorkie, these “uncool, and antique lyrics” mean more to me than anything meager attempt I make to maintain balance and order in my life.

I will give the chorus here but the hymn in its entirety holds so much truth that I would encourage everyone reading this to seek them out.

The chorus goes like this:

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,

Because He lives, all fear is gone;

Because I know He holds the future,

And life is worth the living,

Just because He lives!

I pray that he is alive in you today. I pray that you seek Him out along this journey;

“For we do not serve a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:15-16

God is the destination. He is also the vehicle through his son Jesus Christ. While communion with God in heaven is the ultimate prize, communion with Him on earth is essential to living a truly fulfilled life.

No matter what happens, meditate and believe in this:

“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” Matthew 6:26

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things.” Philippians 4:8

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:33-34

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

An Accurate Picture

This past weekend Jason and I had the privilege to lead worship at Men's Camp for Fountain of Life International in the mountains of Arizona. It was truly an amazing experience, and one that I will never forget.

One struggle I had over the weekend was adjusting to the three hour time difference. Every morning I awoke bright an early, hours before my native Arizonian friends and each evening at around 8 p.m. my personality turned into a pumpkin.

One advantage of my early rising was that I was able to take long walks alone, since God and I were the only ones up at that hour. One particular morning the path I was walking along sidled up to a ridge that overlooked deep valley of pine and cedar. As I rounded the corner near this valley, the sun was just rising over the peaks behind me, cascading light down to the expanse below. Being the astute observer of all things beautiful that I am, I decided this was a perfect photo opp.

Unfortunately I only had my cell phone camera with me and while it is the best cell phone camera on the market, with a half eaten piece of fruit on the back, it still fell short in doing the amazing surroundings I was witnessing justice. No matter how many pictures I frantically snapped, none seemed to upturn the frown of dissatisfaction on my face. As I looked back and forth from the viewfinder to the actual picture laid out in front of me, I was disappointed in the lack of depth, texture and vibrance of the scene I was viewing compared to the pictures I was taking.

I wondered what descriptive words I would need to fill in the gaps that my present technology had stopped short of. How enthusiastic would I need to be in order to convince the viewer of my pathetic photos that this was one of the most majestic scenes I had ever experienced. Would my ranting only serve to prove how elusive my grip on sanity was becoming? How could I garner anything but an apathetic response to my two dimensional, ill-colored portraits?

It was at that moment that I wished I could bring them (whomever "them" may be) along side me. I wished that I was not alone at that moment and I wished I did not have to rely on inadequate equipment to paint a picture of what I was experiencing.

How often are our experiences with God like this? Amazing, yes. Breathtaking, yes. But you often find yourself alone, and unprepared for them. So many times I have left experiences such as this like a raving lunatic, attempting to convert anyone in my path to my way of thinking for fear that the emotional high of my experience would quickly fade and be lost forever.

What if instead of attempting to snap an accurate picture of God and run from person to person, I calmly and slowly took them by the hand and walked them along the path so that they could experience God for themselves. Void of preconceived notions, prejudices and predetermined ideas.

Kind of scary to think about but what if I didn't need to be the one to bring God to the people?What if I just let God be God and I just pointed them down the proper path towards discovery of Him?

The moment we have all been waiting for.....

So they have finally done it. It is accomplished. There is no need to wait any longer.

For those of you who have ever spent long arduous hours in a pool, standing stagnantly with a secret urge to jump around, the fine folks at SkyMall have answered the call for the need of a waterborne bounding device. For $59.95 + shipping and handling, you can bounce away the blues of sedentary pool immersion forever. Whether you are splashing sloppily through shallow water or gliding serenely and gracefully through the deep end, the non-slip footrest and rubber grip handlebars will ensure you keep a firm grasp on the fun. So put you Flo-Bee on Craigslist, and drop off your Bill Cosby Sweaters at Goodwill 'cause your going to need room in your closet for this must-have gem.

I should point out that the add says that this is the "only" underwater pogo stick, so if the idea for this product has been marinating in the 'ol noggin for a while now, and you just haven't had a chance to get it into production, you missed it. There is only room for one at the top. There ain't no sidecar for greatness. This is a one-man underwater pogo stick ride, and it has already left the station. I'd suggest you work on the pocket-sixed chain saw or the dogsled sno-cone machine.

I have included the ordering information and a photo below in case you are saying to yourself, "I need to get me onea them."

All I ask is that I get a spin the next time were hangin' poolside.

Item #75381D

www.skymall.com or by phone (800) 759-6255

A walk to Emmaus

I grew up loathing my Sunday mornings. The time spent in the pew from 8:00-9:30 seemed to be unending. My only hope was that my mom would be so enthralled by the utterances of the well intentioned preacher behind the pulpit that she wouldn't notice my incessant doodles on the back of the bulletin. I had no interest in learning, no interest in growth, and certainly no interest in a relationship with the Creator of all things.

So that is what my relationship with God looked like for most of my childhood, teen and even young adult years. He was something to be endured until something better came along; A long list of rules and regulations that we best not overstep for fear of smiting. I knew, sitting in that pew that I would never be able to live a life that would please someone like the guy in the suit in the pulpit. From my adolescent and ignorant perspective, the “straight life” I heard about on Sunday morning would never be a realistic aspiration for me because I was flawed. Naturally I ran from God and most especially the church and my heritage. I made it my mission to experience life and all that it had to offer. I found those around me that had taken most advantage of what this world had to offer and I did my best to emulate them.

All the while I had this hole inside me. It was a hole that needed to be filled as soon as possible. I threw everything into this hole; alcohol, money, drugs, clothes, women, anything and everything that I thought big enough to clog it. I needed to stop the nagging feeling that it was creating inside me.

When I think back on this time in my life I am reminded of a scene from the Lion King movie. The main character Simba has exiled himself from his friends, family and all that he knew of home due to a mistake in his past. He surrounded himself with friends whose motto was to take life as it comes. Their plan was not to worry about anything and to live life to the fullest without thinking about consequences, obligations, purpose or meaning.

But one night, Simba had a chance encounter with a Sage from his past who led him into a conversation with his deceased father. His father's words rang in my ears as if he was speaking to me directly through the screen. "Remember who you are, you are more than you have become"

It was when I came to the realization that God was not a list of rules written on stone tablets but a Father who wanted nothing more than to have a relationship with me, despite of all I had done to hurt Him. It was only then that I felt the edges of the hole inside me begin to recede and I wanted nothing more than honor Him with my life. What I did from that moment on no longer felt like an obligation to a guy in the clouds with a long beard, white robe and an iron fist but to a creator that saw fit to bless me, even when I was undeserving of blessing because I was His child.

I am blessed to serve at Ignite. God has entrusted me with His people that are all trying to find their way along this journey. While most differ in virtually every aspect of their lives, there is one thing they all have in common. There is one trait that they all share. When I look into their eyes, no matter what words are coming out of their mouth, their eyes always speak the loudest.

Some are confident, some are shy, some are successful and some are struggling. Some speak boldly some speak softly, some are articulate and some are not. But when I look into their eyes, I always hear, "Am I worth it? Am I really worth all of this love that you say God wants to give me?"

The blessing for me, comes from getting to tell them, God gave you breath because He wanted to have a love relationship with you. You may be a mom, you may drive a truck, you may lead men into battle or find the cure for cancer someday, but the primary purpose for God to assemble your atoms, protons and neurons together the way that He did is so that one day you would realize your need for salvation and learn to love Him in a way that resembles the way that He has always loved you.

What I missed in all of my years sullenly sitting in the pew on Sunday morning is that obedience comes when you first recognize that you are loved. When you truly and unconditionally love someone, the last thing you want to do is anything that would cause them pain. You desire nothing more than to spend time with them, learn more about them and serve them. You go where they ask you to go, not because of some desired result, but simply because they asked you to.

It is for this reason that I desire nothing more than all that God has for me. Whatever that means. I want to serve Him and teach others to love Him as I do. I want my life to speak of the love of Christ. I want the chance to look into the eyes of the searching, whatever the venue; to walk them down not only a path of salvation through Christ, but to a life of fulfillment through the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Unanswered Question

I have spent the last few months trying to soak in every second I have with my kids. The video camera has been attached to the end of my arm as if it were a God-given appendage. I have poured over the footage like a madman, soaking in every laugh, every knock knock joke and every choreographed dance performed in the living room.

It's not that we have done anything noteworthy these last few months that has caused my crazed state of recording. No, in fact we have hung out around the house, eaten grilled cheese sandwiches and played Mancala. There have been no stamps on our passports from far off lands or exotic locations. But it is just these seemingly mundane activities that I want to capture on film. It's the burping contests, thumb wars and laughing until the Diet Coke you are drinking sprays through your nose that make up the marrow of a fulfilled and meaningful family life. These moments are fleeting and hide themselves under the guise of being routine and commonplace.

Sometime ago I watched a movie made by the philosopher and theologian Adam Sandler (scanning for sarcasm) called Click. Sandler's character in the movie is an egotistical, self centered father that stumbles upon a remote control that allows him to fast forward through what he feels are the unimportant and ordinary moments in life. He soon learns that because of his eagerness to fast forward to the good parts of his life, he missed OUT on his life.

It is the microwaveable, fast-food culture that we have created for ourselves that conditions us to always be looking forward to what is "next". Each experience of life is just enough to sustain us until we can experience the next experience in life. And that NEXT experience, buddy, is going to be amazing! We make our lives busy looking for that one tangible thing that will fill the hole.

Losing my dad five years ago was one of the most difficult things I have had to go through but it could have been worse. You see, my dad got it. He wasn't perfect but he was good enough to realize that this life was cursory and he lived it as such. He left everything on the field, so to speak. I remember finding a tape recording that he had made describing his childhood. He talked about the pond that he and his brothers used to swim in and how his formative years could have been taken out of a Huck Finn novel. It is my deepest regret that I never asked him more about this recording and gave him the opportunity to expound on it. At 15 years old I knew he would live forever and I could ask him about it later. Because I could ask him later, there was no sense keeping a copy of a minute long recording. Little did I know that 15 years later I would pay any sum of money for that 60 seconds of my dad's voice.

The thing that made him so unique from so many men in my life is that I always knew where I stood with him, for better or worse because he looked me in the eye, and he told me. Had he been too busy or too timid to speak openly, I would spend the rest of my life wondering if I measured up in his eyes. I am convinced that this is the most prominent and important question a boy asks his father, either consciously or unconsciously. If and how that question gets answered is the most integral part of their development.

It is this question that sends a man without the presence of God in his life into a workaholic frenzy in an attempt answer the question himself by attaining wealth, power and control. It is this man that may eventually settle for material trappings, sexual indulgences or just crawl into a bottle of liquor and never come out.

For girls it is a different question but same consequences. A little girl needs to know from her father that she is valuable. She needs her father to take time the time to show her her worth in his eyes. If she does not feel the security of how valuable she is in her father's eyes, she too could spend her life desperately seeking to fill this void left by her inattentive father. It is like she is yelling into the mouth of an empty cave but expecting to hear someone else's voice answering back. She may turn to alcohol or drugs, or find a man that she feels compliments her value as a woman, however high or low she perceives that value to be. The lower the value she perceives, the more likely she is to run back into the arms of a man that repeatedly abuses her. "This is all I am worth", she says to herself.

I cannot bear the thought of these questions going unanswered in the minds of my children. The stakes are too high for me not to stop what I am doing and let the girls attempt to put rollers in what little hair I have. Will is only going to be mesmerized by every airplane, motorcycle or loud noise for so long. There will come a day, although far off in the future, that I will not be able to beat Logan in a head-to-head wrestling match.

There will be days that I will be tired and irritable. There will be days that I will be too busy, too hungry or too sick to take the time to speak into there lives. But these days will be the exception, not the rule.

Henry David Thoreau said it best. "It is not enough to be busy; so too are the ants. The question is: What are we busy about?" I want to be busy about being a steward of the gifts I have been given.

So if you will excuse me, I have a pedicure at Salon Karleigh in 5 minutes and she charges me an extra Oreo if I am late.