Worship

14
Feb
2013

Where Are You In The Process?

I have been asking God to give me a glimpse of where I am and where He is taking me, and yesterday He showed me something amazing. It may not be just for me so I wanted to share it. I pray it will be helpful to you.

In Ezekial 36 from verse 16 to 20 we hear about the nation of Israel acting badly. I don’t want to draw any conclusions as they apply to me or to us.  I merely want to make the observation that Israel was not repenting or crying out to God. They were behaving badly.

God says in verse 22 when people see you they know you are my people and because I have concern for my holy name I will do this:

  1. I will take you from the nations and bring you into your own land.
  2. I will sprinkle you with clean water and cleanse you from your filthiness.
  3. I will give you a new heart and a new spirit.
  4. I will cause you to walk in My statutes and keep my judgments.

Then:

  1. You will dwell in the land you will be my people and I will be your God
  2. I will deliver you from all your uncleanness
  3. I will call for the grain and multiply it and bring no famine on you.
  4. I will multiply the fruit of your trees and the increase of your fields, so that you need never again bear the reproach of famine among the nations.

There are several observations and applications I could make but I just want to make four:

  1. The nation of Israel was not being good, spiritual, repentant, or anything else worthy of God’s favor. He did it merely because they were His people and He wanted the nations all around them to know “that I, the Lord, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted what was desolate” vs 36
  2. Everything happened because God did it. Israel did nothing. (don’t take this too far)
  3. When you read; commandment, covenant, statutes, judgments etc. insert faith. We are under the new covenant. (again, don’t take this too far. keep it simple)
  4. Once He has done these things and caused us to live by faith. Then we will inherit the land and be blessed.

In order for this to be a theological piece it would have taken many more words than this and I’ve already abused the boundaries of a blog post. So please take some time to read Ezekial 36 and consider where you are in the process and thank God for the coming multiplication of grain and fruit. Then thank Him for His mercy, His long-suffering, His loving-kindness, and His grace. Submit to the process, He is good.

Selah.

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Posted by Gary in Faith, Intimacy W/God, Pastoral Care, Personal, Worship
13
Nov
2012

A Different Perspective on Excellence.

I ran across this quote from Rev. Thomas Fuller from the 17th century and thought I would add this for context when talking about excellence. I’ve spoken here before of my definition of excellence which is: To offer the best I have, something above and beyond or different from the norm. Something costly.

Please consider this as an example:

Lord, my voice is by nature harsh and untunable, and it is vain to lavish any art to better it. Can my singing of psalms be pleasing to thy ears, which is unpleasant to my own? Yet though I cannot chant with the nightingale, or chirp with the blackbird, I had rather chatter with the swallow, yea, rather croak with the raven, than be altogether silent. Hadst though given me a better voice, I would have praised thee with a better voice. Now what my music wants in sweetness, let it have in sense, singing praises with understanding. Yea, Lord, create in me a new heart (therein to make melody), and I will be contented with my old voice, until in thy due time, being admitted into the choir of heaven, I have another more harmonious bestowed upon me.

Granted if his voice is harsh and untunable we probably don’t want him “leading” worship but I hope this provides a little balance to the Excellence conversation.

What are your thoughts?

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Posted by Gary in Discipleship, Leadership, Worship
08
Nov
2012

Post-Election Post

If you know me, you know I have many thoughts and many opinions about politics and about the election outcome specifically. I will however keep them to myself.

4 years ago I was very vocal and very engaged on social media and on this blog and I fear it accomplished nothing but animosity. These spaces are too small to contextualize and communicate in a way that reflects my heart. So I made a decision. The only things I posted relating to politics, save maybe one or two, have been related to how our republic works and the big picture ideas I hoped would inform those who stumble across what I have to say. Along with that I decided to put all of my energy into building that which is dear to the heart of God.

God is passionate about his prize creation. God created man in His image and desires and pursues relationship with us relentlessly. I also believe God’s chosen vehicle to reach the lost in these last days is the local church. So Kim and I have made a decision to focus our energy there.

Earlier this year we established a ministry under the covering of Life in Christ Church in Limon CO we are calling, for now, Trobee Ministry Partners. Our heart is to partner with those who build the local church. We feel like we have a calling like Nehemiah to stand beside and encourage pastors and leaders of smaller churches. Sometimes leading a church can be the loneliest place on earth and we want to come alongside leaders and walk with them.

We hope to do that in several ways. I will continue to do worship team retreats focusing on helping people understand their role in the church is to be a ministry of helps. We have a vision to come to smaller churches and facilitate a sabbatical for their pastor while teaching the congregation about rest and stewardship, among other things, while the pastor is being refreshed.

Our vision is still developing but we are very excited about what God is doing in the local church and excited for opportunities to build new relationships with leaders.

If you would like to know more or ask how we can partner with your church give us a shout.

As always would love to hear your thoughts.

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Posted by Gary in Church Growth, Discipleship, Personal, Politics, Practical, Worship
16
Oct
2012

E.P. Release Today!

Today is the Day!

I Will Sing

Buy Now

The digital download is available right now!

If you would like to hear the song stories you can start right here.

If I could I would like to ask two favors:

  1. If you know someone who might be interested in this project would you let them know.
  2. If you like the E.P. would you please click the like button at the bottom of this post.

[NinjaProduct]

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Posted by Gary in Personal, Worship
14
Aug
2012

I Will Sing!

I Will Sing E.P. Cover

The E.P. is finally finished.

6 songs total 2 totally new songs, 3 new arrangements, and my favorite hymn with a new chorus.

Can’t wait for you to hear it. This week I will schedule the last few things so we can release it the first part of September. Those on my mailing list will have first shot at it and then release to the general public.

Thank you Aaron and Dominick Wagner of the Grey Room in Larkspur for all of your amazing creativity and hard work. I did not have the vision for this that you had. You made it something I can be very proud of.

Stay tuned here as things unfold. It’s the best place to stay informed.

And follow the link if you would like to Subscribe to our newsletter.

Here’s a little teaser for you.

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Posted by Gary in Just for fun, Personal
12
Feb
2012

Retreat in Salina

As we travel back from Salina Kansas I want to capture a few thoughts.

Great leaders attract great leaders.

If you want to have great leaders be a great leader. Your personality type isn’t the issue. We can all learn to be good leaders. Know your weaknesses and fill your team with people who love to do what your not good at.

There is no substitute for preparation.

Especially spiritual preparation. In order to be fully prepared we must take time. There is no other way. Say no to nonessential things and take the time necessary to prepare. Gods people deserve no less.

We must operate from a position of rest.

Both spiritual, resting in the confidence of your calling and Gods ability to fulfill His calling on your life, and physical. Take care of your body. Exercise and sleep.

More to follow. I’m going to sleep while my son drives.

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Posted by Gary in Personal, Worship
21
Jan
2012

Exciting News!

Well at least for me.

I’ve hesitated to talk to you about this because I’ve been talking about having a book available for going on 3 years now, which is still in the works by the way, so I didn’t want to talk about this until it was a done deal.

About a month ago I began working on an EP with some amazing people at The Grey Room studio in Larkspur Colorado. These guys are very creative, Kingdom minded, and full of vision. I’m so excited for you to hear these songs.

The E.P. will be six or seven songs. We have four tracked so far. Faithful One is pretty true to the original with a full band, I Will Sing has a new chorus and we’ve added a bridge, You Pursue Me is still stripped down and worshipful, and last week the equipment wasn’t working so we decided to write. This Thursday we tracked the song. It talks about the wilderness I’ve been in the last, seems like forever, and the truth of where my faithful, loving Father has been the whole time. So excited about how this is coming together. The other two or three songs are still to be decided.

I spoke to Aaron and Dominick about the project just before Christmas and they agreed to let me work on one song at a time until the money came in. In a matter of about 3 weeks all but a few $100.00 came in incredible unexpected ways. This is going to happen and hopefully in the next 60 – 90 days.

I’ll keep you posted as we get closer. Please pray for us as we  decide what the final few songs should be and prepare to do the final vocal tracking.

Thank you for being a faithful friend.

More pictures here.

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Posted by Gary in Just for fun, Personal
13
Aug
2011

New Music

If your like most worship leaders you are constantly on the lookout for new music. And not just new but something fresh.

Seems as though most of what I hear is very similar to a hundred other songs I’ve heard over the last several years.

Enter Matthew Reed;

From what I’ve read Matthew decided he had a few songs he wanted to share so he self-produced this E.P. with the help of some Colorado Springs folks. Which makes me proud.

There are a couple of songs you could use in worship. So far I’ve used “Crash This Place” several times in a couple of different places and it works. People have responded well. It’s a great call to worship.

Here are the lyrics:

vs. 1
Though the waves are flooding the shore
And the ground is shaking in despair
Come and heal this a broken land
We want to know You deeper, to know You deeper

Chorus
Holy Spirit won’t You move in power
Come and crash this place with love
Come and crash this place with love
King of Glory won’t You have Your way here
Come and crash this place with love
Come and crash this place with love

vs. 2
Broken and torn for our crown
For His love is all we need
Come and heal our broken hands
We want to know You deeper, to know You deeper

bridge
Whoa, oh, oh, we are one
Whoa, oh, oh, would Your Kingdom come
On this earth like You promised
In our hearts like a flood

I love the way the song builds and then drops out at the bridge.

Also Matthew is very accessible. I contacted him on Facebook to ask for charts and he responded the same day, and forwarded charts for the whole EP.

Check it out and let me know if you use it.
And let me know if you find new stuff as well.

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Posted by Gary in Worship
24
Aug
2010

The Prodigal

This morning I ran across a video written by the brother/sister team of Ryan and Meghan Baird on Bob Kauflin’s blog Worship Matters. As I watched I was reminded of something God showed me last year.

Before you watch the video let me share some thoughts:

We’ve all read the story of the prodigal son and heard it preached many times. When I was first walking with the Father it was easy to identify with the story. Even though I hadn’t said to my father “I wish you were dead, now give me my inheritance” it was easy to see how God had been reaching out to me and how I had, many times, walked away.

Having walked with the Father for over 25 years it became harder to identify with the story and I tended to listen passively and move on. But a truth remains in the story for we who have been walking with the Father a long time.

We all have seasons of spending our inheritance outside of relationship with the Father.

If you have applied, by faith, Jesus sacrifice for your sin you are, by grace through faith, made righteous and a child of God. Ephesians tells us it was the Fathers idea from the very beginning to adopt us as sons (inheritors) and give us an inheritance. To the extent we spend that inheritance outside of relationship with the Father we are prodigals. With that in mind watch the video:

Here are the lyrics:

You held out Your arms, I walked away
 Insolent I spurned Your face
 Squandering the gifts You gave to me
 Holding close forbidden things
 Destitute a rebel still, a fool in all my pride
 The world I once enjoyed is death to me
 No joy, no hope, no life

Where now are the friends, that I had bought
Gone with every penny lost
What hope could there be for such as I
Sold out to a world of lies
Oh, to see Your face again, it seems so distant now
Could it be that You would take me back
A servant in Your house

You held out Your arms, I see them still
 You never left, You never will
 Running to embrace me, now I know
 Your cords of love will always hold
 Mercy’s robe, a ring of grace
 Such favor undeserved
 You sing over me and celebrate
 The rebel now Your child
© 2009 Sovereign Grace Worship (ASCAP).

Deuteronomy 30:2-3 promises us if we will:

return to the LORD your God and obey His voice, according to all that I command you today, you and your children, with all your heart and with all your soul, that the LORD your God will bring you back from captivity, and have compassion on you. Deut 30:2-3

The Robe speaks of welcoming into the family and removing sin. We are clothed with His righteousness, made righteous. The ring is a sign of sonship (inheritors) being sealed by the Holy Spirit with second inheritance of wealth, dominion, and rulership. Sandals differentiate us from a servant. The feast declares to the world the Joy of the Father. Freedom and honor are restored in perfect reconciliation and all the son did was return.

He has not dealt with us according to our sins,Nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father pities his children, So the LORD pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. Psalm 103:10-14

Don’t wait. Relationship with the Father is to be valued more than our inheritance from Him. He wants to spend it with us. Wherever you are right now be purposeful. Don’t rehearse a speech. Just return, I’m going to do that right now.

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Posted by Gary in Faith, Intimacy W/God, Personal, Worship