July 2015 - Journey To Worship

July 30, 2015August 16, 2015

Letting Go

In order to grow we must learn to let go.

It’s been hard for me to observe my son trying to navigate life. Adults say what a warm, intelligent and loving boy he is. He has demonstrated his gifts as a singer and drummer. From the time he was young he has been surrounded by favor. One day we were waiting to be seated at IHOP and a man engaged him in conversation. Pleased with the dialog the man reached into his wallet and gave David a 20 dollar bill.

Despite his many similar special stories David has been teased and bullied for years. Because he is overweight children say the meanest things. And I can’t stop them. Christian school or secular school, it’s all the same. So when we are at the swimming pool of our hotel as we are travelling on our Journey To Wellness, and David asks the kids in the swimming pool to play Marco Polo and they do…and they all have a good time…David becomes my hero. He Let’s go.

He doesn’t let previous rejections keep him from reaching out again. And even when he’s playing with a group of kids who are not paying attention to him and including him, he still has fun.

In order for us to heal we must let go. Bitterness destroys. Forgiveness mends.

So today my son David has taught me to let go of past hurts and reach out for new potential. Thank you, David.

2 Corinthians 5:18-19 NIV All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

July 30, 2015August 16, 2015

Worship Highlights

worship highlights

Do you remember the first time you really sensed God’s presence?

Do you remember the first time you felt the joy and acceptance of the body of Christ?

Please share in the comments below about an experience in worship that nourished you. I’ll add mine to the comments as well.

July 29, 2015August 16, 2015

Journey To Wellness

Journey To Wellness

My son and I began a special journey today

We want to work together to live healthier

We want to nourish our bodies and minds

AND WE WANT TO SHARE THIS JOURNEY WITH YOU

Journey To Wellness

So here goes…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqQYQlZMKjo

July 27, 2015August 16, 2015

Periscope for Jesus

“Your Voice Matters”

Roughly 4 months ago an app was released called Periscope. It enables you to broadcast from your cellphone or tablet live to the world.

Have you ever wanted to witness but you just couldn’t seem to learn the appropriate cool phrase to lead the conversation in the right direction? Are you like me shy by nature? Than let’s Peri”scope” our witness.

I want each person reading this to promise me that you will try out this app and that you will record your testimony regarding why you love Jesus and his Father so much.

There are many tutorial videos posted on Youtube that show you how to broadcast with the app (Click here to watch one).

If you get stuck please let me know in the comments and subscribe so I have your email and can walk you through the process.

I’m going to share a scope with you now. But before I do please envision this with me. Imagine that as you open the app to look at the different broadcasts available that the majority of them say “Scope for Jesus.” And that as you click each one someone else is scoping about why they love Jesus. How totally awesome would that be! Let’s do it and give God greater glory. If you want Better Worship, Worship That Nourishes, than open your heart to all the ways God has provided for you to reach out to heal the world in His name and by His power. Remember, your voice matters! Now Periscope for Jesus!

Here’s mine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oO-MPBYF3s

July 25, 2015April 9, 2016

If I See You, I’ll Worship

Lift Up Jesus — If I See You, I’ll Worship

Matthew 28:
16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.
17 And when they saw him, they worshiped him: but some doubted.

The real danger in our pollution of worship is that those who really need to see Jesus won’t even believe He exists.

People in the world are quick to pick up on a scam. So when we walk one way and talk another they have already discredited our statements of faith. You see they’ve had plenty of exposure to fake politicians and fake preachers. Scandal after scandal has exposed that it’s much more important how you treat me when I don’t have anything you want than how you are when the lights are on and the camera is rolling.

So when it comes to our journey to worship and when it comes to Jesus, we dare not allow tradition or pretense to obscure God’s real son. Jesus promised that if people could really see Him then they would be moved His direction.

John 12:32 “ And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”

Jesus was lifted up on a cross so that all the world could see that God is love. If God had said I love you but not done anything to back it up than most wouldn’t believe. But God so loved the world that He gave His only son Jesus to die to pay for the penalty of our sins. Not only that, but Jesus came and lived before us so we could get a better idea of who God is. In I John 4:8 we read that “God is love.” So if we were to really see God as he is we would be overwhelmed with His very nature. God is LOVE. Not lust! He is not infatuation! He is love! So the mere essence of God being in our presence would woo us to His side. And we would never want to leave Him.

This is why satan has worked so hard to confuse us. He doesn’t want us to realize that God really is the love that we stand in need of. So he maligns His character. He accuses God of being harsh. He says God wants to keep us down. He told Eve in the garden that God wanted to keep us from being powerful like Him and that’s why he told them to stay away from the forbidden fruit. And today God stands misrepresented by the myriads of preachers who present Him as a genie in a bottle to get the stuff we wish for in this life.

And by getting us to focus in on ourselves and getting more and more stuff, he succeeds in keeping us from loving others. He’ll do anything so that we won’t lift up Jesus.

If we could just see Jesus we would worship Him. But we have the TV on all the time to quiet are pangs of loneliness. Is it any wonder we can’t hear His Holy Spirit whispering words of love and life to us? But if we could just take a look at Jesus we would be overwhelmed by his love. Phil. 2 shares:

“Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

So Jesus was worshiped in heaven perpetually. There was nothing He desired that He could not have. He was the center of attention with His father. But for some reason He thought it better to leave His throne and all that adoration and come down to earth to be disrespected and misrepresented. He came to suffer and die after all the abuse to give an ungrateful fallen race an opportunity at redemption. Oh what manner of love the Father hath given unto us that we should be called the sons of God! And oh what manner of love that Jesus would become the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. I’m getting excited right now in my seat! I feel like doing something to express the overwhelming gratitude in my heart for His sacred and sacrificial gift.

Matthew 28:17 said and when they saw Him they worshipped. That’s it! We just need to see Him and everything else will fall into place.

Lord I need your presence everyday. Lord I want to know you. Lord I seek your face, for if I see you, I’ll worship!

I invite you today to focus on all the ways God has showed his love to you in the past week. Write them down. Then praise Him for them. Lift up Jesus! Allow your shift of focus to bring awareness to God’s presence. And if as a result God blesses you with joy in your heart and renewed courage and faith then by all means tell someone else to do what you just did…and don’t forget to share your testimony with us in the comment section below.

Today’s post is sponsored by The Griffiths Family Show

July 19, 2015August 16, 2015

10 Tips To Better Singing

tips to better singing

10 Tips To Better Singing

Many people have a secret desire to be a singer. Many were afraid to try when they were in school and now want to see if they can still learn. I have good news! YOU CAN! In fact I promise you that singing will give you a valuable gift that will provide hours of fun and enjoyment(And even stress relief.)

Here are some things to keep in mind:

1. Start with the end in mind

Many people don’t know what it is that they want to do when it comes to singing. Then they go online looking for a skype voice lesson or they google to find a local voice teacher. But before you find your teacher ask yourself a few questions. What kind of music do you want to sing? A voice teacher that specializes in preparing people for a career as an opera singers may not be the best voice teacher to prepare you for life as an R&B singer or the next American Idol. Be clear about what you like and don’t like. Be clear about where you want to go and you have a much greater chance of getting there.

2. Have realistic expectations

I believe that we should all passionately live life to the fullest. We should take advantage of opportunities. We should dream big and take massive action daily. But is singing your outlet or your future occupation? If it’s an outlet you won’t be able to put the time in that you would if it were to be your profession. Let your teacher know that. Set realistic goals of practice time then stick to them.

3. You are your instrument

Drummer can scream and not get sleep and loose their voice but still be able to perform. Not so for the singer. You must consider what you eat, how much sleep you get, how much water you drink, and how much exercise you get just to name a few things. If you get sick and your vocal cords are swollen it may affect your range or you make get a tickle in your throat and not be able to stop from coughing while attempting to sing. Take care of your self because you are your instrument.

4. Anchor your practice

I was watching a TED talk about forming habits. The presenter said that he had made the habit of doing several push ups every time after he used the bathroom. He ended up loosing almost 20lbs and feeling great as a result. The key to his success was that he anchored the behavior to something he knew he would have to do anyway. And he also didn’t make an outragous goal. By committing to a few push ups at each potty break he eventually worked his way up to 70 or more push ups a day.

In my next post I’ll discuss several other pointers.

If you like what I’ve shared today or found it beneficial please subscribe to our blog. Thank you so much! 🙂

July 17, 2015July 17, 2015

Lessons Learned From My Sugar Fast

What are the lessons learned from my sugar fast?

1. Even after only one day you can begin to feel completely different about life based upon removing one element.

Please allow me to explain. As I went through the day I would come across moments of discomfort. Things didn’t get accomplished that should have. People lied to me who I thought I could trust. My kids wanted my attention when I had a ton of stuff to accomplish. I had more bills than money. Etc…(Can anybody else relate? If so please leave some of your stress triggers in comment section below).

When I usually would have grabbed a shake or stopped by Baskin Robbins or Drank a sugary drink or had some pie or cake, I instead had to make another choice about how to feel better in my moment of discomfort. I choose to work on this blog. Other times I choose to vocalize. Sometimes I choose to exercise. By making the commitment even for a short period of time to change my coping strategy I learned that my life would be better off without the addiction.

2. I’m missing a lot of flavor

When I have tasted food that I use to eat it suddenly now comes alive with amounts of flavor I never new existed before. And even though I know given the opportunity I will binge on sugar again I have hope to live more moderately. If you didn’t get a chance to please read my post Fight The Dangers of Sugar With 10 Day Fast about some of sugar’s negative effects and how a 10 day sugar fast can help.

3. Life should be focused more on what you can give than on what you can get

When I live my life focused on where I can get my next incredible treat I loose motivation to create greater service in my business or ministry. During this challenge highlights to me were when a former piano student of mine said that he would try to learn to play one of the worship songs I posted and sing it to encourage himself in his journey. I was thrilled when a young lady I went to college with eagerly commented that she wanted to know what to do next in our Journey To Worship Weight Loss Fitness Challenge. I was excited when one of my choir members talked about how excited she was with what she was learning on the blog and how she had subscribed and was encouraging several of her co-workers to do the same (You can subscribe on your left side).

I want to change someone’s life because of what I’ve said or done. I think that’s worship. Someone said that imitation is the greatest form of flattery. So when I imitate Christ by living to serve others I am saying that He is worth it…so much so that I’m patterning my whole life to be like his.

Phillipians 2:5 says “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” For the next 21 days I would like to invite you on a Journey To Change Your Mind.

Look for my first post on the 21day journey tomorrow. In the meantime take a moment if you didn’t get a chance to before to read about Dr. Caroline Leaf and what she has to say about mind conditioning in my post “I Don’t Feel Like It.”

See you tomorrow! 🙂

July 13, 2015August 16, 2015

Better Worship

What is better worship? I remember asking my parents if it was OK to sit up in the balcony with my friends for church. I was so excited when they finally gave in and said yes. They had always taught me to pay attention in service–they even taught me the game where you count how many times the preacher says “Jesus” to help me focus. But to sit with my friends in the back offered me escape from the boredom I was sure more than not people were feeling. Even then I wondered if there was a better way of meeting God for worship.

I stayed going to church as I grew up but started having a deeper interest in finding other ways to connect with God and others (see Worship That Nourishes)

In high school my freshman English teacher, Bruce Freeman, started a youth to youth ministry group called “The Light Company.” In the light company I learned about creating an atmosphere for fellowship. We often would use Ice Breakers (click here for an awesome list of 40 icebreakers or mixer ideas) as a way for folks to get to know each other better. Sometimes we would have something to eat. Than we would get into Bible study in small groups of 2-4 people where we would share about a Scripture. Then we would share with the larger group what we had explored in the smaller group. Everything was lead by a facilitator who often gave special insight.

He trained me to be a facilitator of small group worship. In my opinion there is nothing better. I really miss those gatherings to this day. It reminds of the description in the beginning of Acts of the early church. Let’s read about it:

The Fellowship of the Believers

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (NIV)

When you invite friends over to your house and play games don’t you develop a sense of closeness? Also, do you find that when you eat regularly with friends from work that you develop a strong bond? Well the early church had that bond. Today’s church often lacks that bond. This concerns me.

a meaningful context that isn’t informal for the sake of being cool but that is intimate for the sake of being real

The picture above is me holding my baby girl, Maia. I don’t want Maia to be turned off to Jesus by our practice of worship. I want her to find a way to connect with her Savior and with others in a meaningful context that isn’t informal for the sake of being cool but that is intimate for the sake of being real.

I don’t want my children to be bored by church. I want them to understand that Jesus isn’t boring–just our ritual of worship. So I’m on a mission to find better worship. Can you help me?

What is better worship for you?

Please share your comments below.

July 9, 2015August 16, 2015

I Don’t Feel Like It!

“But I don’t feel like it”

One of the great obstacles in my journey to worship is my feelings. I want to seek God’s presence. I want to study His word. I want to pray. I want to sing songs of worship to Him. But I don’t feel like it! I want to but I don’t feel like it. That’s our problem.

Our feelings come from our thoughts. According to Dr. Caroline Leaf, scientists have found that 75% to 95% of current mental, physical and emotional illnesses come from our thought life. Did you catch that? Your thoughts control so much yet we don’t have a class on thought control in school. I’ll come back to some more of Dr. Leaf’s findings in a bit but consider this. If my health and how I feel are largely due to my thoughts and my choices are often influenced by how I feel then don’t you think I should focus each day on determining my thought life as a top priority? Absolutely!

Here’s why. Dr. Leaf in her many books discusses that information comes into your brain and is then processed. When it’s processed it forms little trees in your head. So the information coming in is just that information. But how I choose to process it determines whether a pretty tree is formed or whether an ugly mass is formed. And whatever choices I make regularly forms larger trees. And so when situations arise and I have a choice to make I am more likely to respond according to the larger trees.

Let’s unpack this a bit. So let’s pretend I receive some news. My car has just thrown a rod and must be taken to the junkyard to be disposed of. Is this good news or bad news? If I say it’s bad news than I can be sad and fret over all the stuff I have to go through now that my car is gone. But if I choose for it to be good news than I look for ways to come up with money to get a new car and I can excitedly look online to see all the possible wonderful vehicles that I might choose from. One choice is depressing. Another is exhilarating. It’s up to me to choose which way I will perceive the same data that has come to me.

We as Christians have seen scriptures that hinted at this phenomenon before. Here are a few to help us get past “I don’t feel like it”:

James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

When I have trials I can be sad and depressed. Or I can be excited about the fact that I’m getting stronger and better and God is trusting me with greater challenges which means I must be getting wiser and more like Him.

Hebrews 12:1-3
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

We can lose heart because of the stuff we find ourselves going through. I never thought I’d be overweight. Never imagined my children would have problems in school. Never imagined that my wife and I (or husband and I) wouldn’t get along…you know all the things we never imagined that we find in our lives. But we are told to consider Jesus who endured “such opposition from sinners” so we won’t get tired and lose heart. Jesus focused on “the joy” set before Him and not on the suffering that came along with pursuit of the joy. Is it any wonder that he would get up a great while before day and spend lots of time with His father?

We need to spend time in the presence of our heavenly father! We need to choose to process things the way He sees them.When we make this choice consistently we form a “Forest” of positive and healthy trees in our brain. When we are faced with a challenge or crisis we will tend to respond according to the bigger trees of our mind.

If I’m serious about worship then I must bring every thought into subjection.

Philippians 4:8 tells us, “ Finally, brothers and sisters, 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.”

These instructions are so that we will be happy and healthy. These choices to build healthy thoughts will build a healthy life and healthy feelings…and healthy worship. Worship that focuses on me–my stuff, my feelings, my problems, isn’t worship at all. Remember to worship something or someone is to say that it or he/she is valuable. Worship that focuses on the nature of God will magnify all of his positive attributes. Worship that focuses on our creator will remind us that he is Holy, all powerful, and eternal. We will remember that he made everything by His own choice. After we worship in the right way–focusing on God, He will appear bigger and our problems smaller. He will be pleased. And we will be too.

So choose to magnify God. Think about Him as often as you would your lover or your favorite toy. Think about Him and all of his wonder. Then your feelings will change. And so will your perspective on the problems you face.

(Today would be a good day to sing “Beautiful”, “Where You Are” or “I Love Your Name“)

It’s important to me to hear your thoughts about what I’m sharing. This is a discussion so please leave a comment below…oh yes, and don’t forget to subscribe to www.journeytoworship.org below! 🙂

July 8, 2015

Fight The Dangers of Sugar With 10 Day Fast

On Day 3 of Our Journey To Worship Weight Loss Fitness Challenge let us consider the dangers of sugar. In all the reading I’ve done and in all the documentaries I’ve watched hoping to understand why I have such a hard time eating in a healthy way they have all agreed about the dangers of sugar. We all love deserts. When my mom wants to encourage me when I’m feeling down she will offer me something that invariably has lots of sugar in it. I’ve come to associate feeling better with having sugar. But research has shown that sugar is worse for us than we thought and hard to get away from.

The American Heart Association recommends no more than 6 teaspoons of added sugar a day for women and 9 teaspoons for men. One 12oz soda can have 9 teaspoons of sugar. Can you imagine how scary the way we are living is? And from a spiritual perspective can you imagine how difficult it is for us to make good choices and discern spiritual truths when our bodies are so out of kilter because of our sugar addiction?

On “CBS This Morning” Dr. Mark Hyman shared a startling discovery of recent studies of sugar’s effect on animals. The study revealed that rats found sugar to be 8 times more addictive than cocaine! 8 times! So is it any wonder that even though I pray with great sincerity I still struggle to let go of sugar?

Dr. Nicole Avena, author of “Why Diets Fail” and other books about the neuroscience of human food consumption shared some interesting facts. A recent study revealed which are some of the most and least addictive foods. The study points out that in nature an abundance of fat and an abundance of sugar rarely naturally occur. But this is the potent combination in the most addictive foods we face. The top 10 on the list are: Pizza, Chocolate, Chips, Cookies, Ice Cream, French Fries, Cheeseburgers, Soda, Cake, and Cheese.

I want to break free don’t you?

I’d like you to take 2 actions in our journey. For the next 10 days I’d like you to go on a sugar fast (I’m already on day 2 and feeling a whole lot better. I can actually get full–usually I feel hungry most of the time.) Please sign up for this 10 day sugar fast at this link:

The second thing I’d like you to do is to watch this amazing documentary which inspired the challenge entitled Fed Up. Below is the trailer. It’s free if you have Netflix. Otherwise the previous link gives other options for viewing. Please take the time. It’s worth it! You’ll learn about the dangers of sugar and a whole lot more.

Then after you watch it please leave comments below about things you learned that you didn’t know before that you think will help us in our battle for a healthier lifestyle.

Do it now! Don’t wait until a more convenient time or until you feel like it. I believe that God will bless your step of faith. As mentioned in the video yesterday the 4 lepers wouldn’t have found out that God had already defeated the enemy that surrounded their city if they didn’t have the courage to take action.

Please take action and I’ll see you at the next post where we will talk about important discoveries about our mind that will help us on our journey to better health and worship that nourishes.