Adam and Nicole's Website - Faith and Music

Faith and Music

Written by Adam Shake
Monday, 19 May 2008

Last Updated ( Monday, 19 May 2008 )

Thoughts on Worship

This last sunday (May 18th) I got the chance to go to church with the Jedlicka Family. They attend Vale Community Church and frequent the late service, which is a contemorary service. I always find it interesting to visit another church, espeically those outside of the Methodist Church. I feel like its a chance to see how others worship and to move forward in my own faith. If you've ever watched Biggest Looser, they talk about having a "cheat day" every week when your on a diet. It helps your body to not get used to the diet food and sort of shocks the system back into the intended goal. I look at visiting other churches as the same kind of thing. Sometimes you need to be "shocked" back into the right path on your faith journey.

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Now, I have not posted on this site much about our current church/service and the situation. For those of you who don't know already, I sing and play the guitar in the Praise Band for the contemprary service. Nicole its a sort-of-backup Technical Director and our Visual Designer. Latley, both of us have felt some sort of disconnect with the path the band is taking. Over the last year plus, we have had lots of leadership changes and lots of turnover. Its always a struggle for a ministry to deal with this kind of change. There are always positives and negatives that surface.

I often think of my own personal Faith Journey as being in step with the journy of our Praise Band's ministry. Music is such a BIG part of my faith, and, of course, music is a big part of our ministry. I've been struggling with some parts of this path. Song Choice, Focus, Prayer, Attitudes, Consistancy, and Community have all, in my opnion, suffered as of late. The flip side of that is that our musicality has skyrocketed. Unfortunatly, these things, good and bad, have been getting in the way of my journey, and, what I see is the path for the ministry.

So, as I was worshiping at Vale this week, I couldn't help but think of these issues and my concerns. In the middle of the Praise Band's set, they started one of my favorite worship songs entitled "The Heart of Worship". I, of course, started singing. When we got to a certian part of the song, the lyrics suddenly and very srongly spoke directly to me. I have NO DOUBT that Jesus himself was speaking to me, helping me to move forward. Let me quote you the lyrics that I'm taking about:

"I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus
I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus"

Notice intent of this chorus. More than once comes up the phrase "Its all about you". And then, the kicker: "I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it". That really sums it up. God doesn't put us in a place without reason. We are not always aware of that reason, but that reason is there. I am truly sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made this worship. It HAS to be all about you.

My question now is, where am I being led? Am I in place to make a change and to bring my church "Back to the Heart of Worship"? Or am I being called to change and understand the heart of our current worship? I know what way I am feeling in my gut, but its hard to see past my own wants and desires and be sure. I think the only answer is prayer.

If you have any insight, please feel free to comment. I know this is a weighter subject than you normaly get here at our site, but its been on my mind and on my heart!

Cya!
-Adam

Users' Comments (5)

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Posted by adam, on 23-05-2008 22:47,

1. hrm

That is interesting Jess, I hadn't thought of that yet. It seems more and more that I need to start listening, someone is trying to tell me something!

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Posted by Jess, on 21-05-2008 21:01,

2. Long Comment.....sorry

Here’s my $.02 (hey, whatever happened to the cents symbol on keyboards?)…….

First off, thank you for joining us last week. I’m glad to read that you enjoyed the service.

I think you fell victim to being a member of worship leading versus being a worshipper. At your church during worship you can’t help but think that the song choices are or aren’t right, prayers should or should not be said at this point. I also think as a leader type you want the focus to be on God but it tends to be more about the show.

What I find interesting is all the questions you ask yourself in the second to last paragraph. As you may recall during the service one of the questions that has to be asked when being called is “What is Christ asking me to do that doesn’t seem to make sense?”
:roll

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Posted by nicole, on 21-05-2008 01:10,

3. WOW

Wow to see you at this point is amazing. 18 months ago you would have just been going with the flow and not really bothered by any of this. I'm proud of you for the growth you've had and I support you in your continued growth. You know my prayers are with you.

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Posted by adam, on 20-05-2008 22:02,

4. DOH

It was only that one time with the underwear thing.... and NO one would have know..... if you hadn't "pantsed" me... geez... hahahaah

Anywho.. I appreciate your prayers!!

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Posted by damion, on 20-05-2008 09:52,

5. Suggestions, huh?

You mean something like "wear underwear"?

Seriously, stop laughing... he needs to be told sometimes.

About your post... I think you have a good discussion point. What's the point of worship if the aim is off... on WCIC right now I hear "all for the glory of you". It's not just one song. It's thousands of songs throughout history that keep saying the samething. Not Us. I think that prayer is the right start. That will lead you to the right direction and action. I think I'll join you in that prayer.

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