The Last of the Weekly

I did a survey of those that I though were reading this blog weekly, and I came up with five people. And as much as I would love to continue this for you faithful five, I am going to go to once a month. I hope what I have said in these blogs for the past year and half have moved you to a deeper walk with Jesus.

So this morning, I have a some short thoughts for us all.

1. Live the life God gave you to the fullest.
2. Do all you can do. Don't stop short.
3. But in so doing, find time to be still.
4. Jesus loves you more than you can ever know.
5. Start 2010 with a new revived passion of loving Him.

Have a great Christmas, and I will catch you in 2010.

Love you,

Phil

People

I have heard the statement many times through the years of ministry that "ministry would be easy if it wasn't for the people." Every time it is said it always gets at least a little chuckle. The real funny thing about that statement is that it is true. If all I had to do was prepare a worship service that would express how great Jesus is, that would be easy. But that in itself is not ministry. Oh it is a vital part of what I am called to do as the Associate Pastor of Worship, but that is far from what true ministry is.

The true definition of ministry is people. People are to be valued (not worshipped) but certainly recognized as valued.

So here is the question. How do we look at people...people in our local church body, people at work, people at the store and the malls, and even those on the street corners holding a sign that says "I will work for beer"?

The challenge...in the hustle and bustle of the season of this season, of course we want to exalt Christ above all the other trappings of Christmas. But we need to go further and love those store clerks and the people that cut in front of you in those long lines.

Most of you know that I am a Kenneth Cole clothes nut. Well we don't have a Kenneth Cole store where I am, so I go over to Dallas to the Kenneth Cole store. Well over a two year period, I am on a first name basis with all that work there. There is Ken, Bernard, Josh, Emberly (wow Emberly...there is a story and half), Stephen, and Kelek. Periodically I will stop and buy them a Starbucks card for the store to go get something together, or most like chocolate, so I bring them a box. I truly believe that one day they will all know Jesus.

So how will we bless people today?

Love you.

The Heart of A Champion

Something that 99.9% of you will relate to is how a great champion of a sport is made. There are many elements that go into making a champion, but there is one that outshines them all...endurance and being sold out to the task. Scripture has ways of reminding us who we are in Him. We are overcomers...winners in this life. We are holy, we are righteous because we are covered in His righteousness. We are joint heirs, and we adopted into the Beloved. We are sons and daughters of the Most High God. On and on the Scriptures tell us that we are winners.

The biggest hindrance to becoming a champion in sports or even in music is lack of focus and endurance to finish the task. Christmas time is such a busy time in the life of a local body of believers. There are thousands of parties, musicals, and other ministry opportunites we have no other time of the year. Let me encourage you to keep going until the end. There is much that God longs to use us for.

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Church Lingo

Out of the message yesterday morning we were reminded that the building is not the church, but rather we are. Francis Chan, a well known pastor and conference speaker said in a recent Catalyst article that it is not semantics. If we are going to realize this truth deep in our lives, our lingo needs to match. I have to admit I thought it interesting that from different people I talked to yesterday afternoon and in last night's service, I heard at least six or seven references to "coming to", "going to" "being at" or some other form of describing the building as "the" church.

So how serious is this? I tend to agree with Chan...it is so much more than semantics. Scripture refers to us as "over comers, joint heirs, blood bought, winners." Yet I know I personally in my words, I don't refer to myself that way.

Just a thought...maybe we need to get serious about our language.

Have a great week,
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Discipline

A few years ago there was a situation at a large church in Nashville that 71 people were actually "de-churched" from that congregation. In our present history, especially in Southern Baptist Churches, this is unheard of. No one takes discipline to that extreme. But because of the absolute venom that these 71 people publicly spewed about the church and her leaders, the church had a vote. This vote was a church-wide vote and the results were against these 71.

So how do you feel about that? Does the church of 2009 have the right to say there is sin in the camp and it has to be dealt with in such a strong way? The media got hold of this story and of course put their interesting spin on it. So what do you think?

Scripture says that being in the midst of discipline is never easy. But it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness.

Let me have your feedback. I truly believe that the standard we are called to live by as a body of believers (and when I say standard I am not just talking morally, but Biblically) is far above that of another organization. We are called to have our word mean something. Let our yes be yes and our no be no...all other is evil says the Scriptures.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Love you,

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Day of Rest and the Lord's Day

As Tom Kemner taught the study lesson yesterday, all kinds of thoughts were going around in my head. Alex Wascolm brought up the point that everyday is a day of worship but there is one day per week that we have an intent and elevation of worship collectively. Tom pointed out that a day is 24 hours. The thought of what we do from midnight to midnight on one day a week came to light. If a day is 24 hours, then what we do with one day of the seven day week we have becomes pretty important.
In this 24 hour period, we need to accomplish the following:
1. Rest-ceasing from work activities and our normal routine of the other six days.
2. Collectively worship

So not to be legalistic, does that mean if these are "THE" two things that God asks of us on one day a week, why is it that our focus is on so many other things too? Why is it that we add to the list? Why is it that we subtract from the list? Why is it that we think it is okay to not tithe on that day, or not be involved in other collective times of worship so as to pick and choose what "we" want to do?

Just a thought...think about it and answer this question that I have to seriously answer in my own life. As I look at the Lord's day or Sabbath, am I giving 24 hours to intense worship and focus on the Lord?

Thank you to Chris Shirley and this series on Myth Busters and also for Tom Kemner being one of the best challengers of my thinking.

Have a great week.

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Context

I was talking to a friend of mine the other day and the subject of context came up. Through the years well meaning people have basically taught the Bible in error because the same well meaning people build a doctrine or judgment on one verse, or even worse a part of a verse. This seems to be used mostly for trying to use Scripture to prove a point instead of the point being what Scripture was proving.

For instance, go back with me to a very long running TV show..."Touched by an Angel." One of those feel good, everything always works out in the end type of shows. The angels said in many episodes "the truth will set you free." You hear that from many people's mouths....but that is NOT what Scripture says. The actual Scripture says, "If you abide in me, and My words abide in you, THEN you will KNOW the truth, and the truth will set you free." Just because we know a little truth doesn't mean we will walk in freedom. 1 Corinthians 6 talks about several things and I have heard many a sermon that stops before it reaches the good news. Verse 11 says "such WERE some of you." But now.... Hebrews 6 has been used to prove that if you turn away from the Lord after being surrounded with the truth you will go to hell. Verse 9 goes on to say that even though we are talking this way, we have better things concerning you.

So about this time you are saying...get to the point Phil. Okay...here you go. Get into the Word, but when doing so get into the whole Word We need to make sure that we keep things in context to glean the TRUTH. The enemy will use anything to keep us in bondage...anything...even the Word of God.

Think about it!

Love you
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Short and to the point

We use the word "amazing" to describe many things, but there is only One who is truly amazing. His name is Jesus. He is "Everything" and more! How can this be? How can He be more than everything? Because nothing we could ever think of in our finite minds could ever describe how truly amazing He is.

I hope that this week we together experience Him in a new and "amazing" way that takes us to a place of abandonment of our will to be engulfed in His.

Have a great week.

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Burdens

It has been said that God will not put us through more than we can handle. The Scripture that people are taking a stab at to back that up is found in 1st Corinthians 10:13 which says "No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it." The key word in this passage is "temptation". No where in the passage does it say God will not take you past what you are able to handle. This is specifically in context talking about temptation not circumstances.

When it all comes down, there may and most likely will be times in our lives that God pushes us to the point of utter exhaustion. Why? Simple! So we realize it is He that we live, move, and breathe in. Without mistake, His strength is made perfect in our weakness. We become strong only through His strength.

Ah, but alas, He truly wants to give us that strength to overcome. Let go to hold on to the very strength of God. It is only in letting go that we find He is the Rope that will hold us.

Have a great week.

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O is for Offering

Offering sacrificial praises with our voices and instruments to glorify Jesus (Hebrews 13:15)

As we sang yesterday with the congregation..."on my lips there's a shout of praise". Scripture puts it like this, "that the fruit of my lips offer up a sacrifice of praise."

Sometimes we are so overwhelmed with His love that it is not a huge sacrifice to lift our voices up in energetic praise to our Savior and Lord. There are other times that we would rather not sing a word. Being the extremely deep emotional person that God made me, I have to constantly keep those emotions in check when the negative things of this world hit me. If I let it, my emotions could absolutely shut me down. I know I am not alone in this. There are many of you that feel the same things. But it is those times where the sacrifice of praise comes to our lips. No matter how we feel (or even if we like or dislike the song or style of the song) the sacrifice of praise that is on our lips can be pleasing to God.

It is in these hard times where our trust in the Lord pushes us through and we sing loudly and boldly to the Lord.

Have a great day.

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Our Mission

Wedgworship is committed as a team to EXALT CHRIST and to lead others to EXPERIENCE CHRIST.

Even though the method statement specifically emphasises others, it is inevitable that as we exalt Christ we will experience His presence also. In experiencing Him personally aids in other's experience of Him.

This week I want to focus on "L" of the mission statement. Lifting up Jesus! Scripture says in John 12:32 that if we lift Jesus up from this earth, He would draw all men to Him. Breaking this verse down we see that it is not a particular song, style, advertisement, presentation, or production. It is based on the heart of lifting Him up. The second part of the verse is an interesting phrase. He said that He would draw "all" to Him if He be lifted up. So we have to look and see if that is being done. As Pastor says quite often in so many ways, God does His part, but we must do our part. God is calling Wedgworship to go deeper into our motives of why we do what we do. He is asking us to make sure our heart is focused on Him and Him alone every time we step out on that platform. The great part is that when one puts the whole verse together and in context of John 12, we see a promise that it is God who will grow His kingdom. He is the One responsible for the growth. Our responsibility is to lift.

I hope that this encourages us to do just that.

Love you,
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Confession

Good morning,

I hope this finds you doing well. I have a confession to make. I had such a great time this past week living in basically a fantasy world. It was a world of being waited on hand and foot, pampered beyond anything normal, and entertained beyond my wildest imagination. Who would not want to live in that world? Who would not want to live a life of ease and relaxation without demands of life?

But reality set in the moment I got back to Texas.

Wait though! Isn't that what we are called too? Aren't we told that in this life we would have these things...but oh yeah..."Greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world." What a great promise. We are overcomers in this life...not just the life when we reach heaven's doors.

So reality? Yeah it is filled with struggles. It is filled with stepping up to the plate even if we don't want too. It is filled with "doing the right thing" because it is the "right thing." It involves in pushing through to victory time and time and time again. It comes down to one word... "trust" in our heavenly Father that says He will never leave us or forsake us.

He is the love of life that gives us victory in the "real world."

Love you,

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The Vision, Mission, and Methods of Wedgworship

Exalt Christ…Experience Christ

Our Vision

The Wedgworship team exists to EXALT CHRIST and to EXPERIENCE CHRIST.


Our Mission
Wedgworship is committed as a team to EXALT CHRIST and to lead others to EXPERIENCE CHRIST by:
• Lifting up Jesus from this earth so all will be drawn to Him (John 12:32)
• Offering sacrificial praises with our voices and instruments to glorify Jesus (Hebrews 13:15)
• Vertically singing to the Lord rather than just singing about Him (Psalm 33:3)
• Engaging both the believer and unbeliever in authentic, relevant worship (Philippians 4:8)


Our Methods
The Wedgworship team method of leading others to EXALT CHRIST and to EXPERIENCE CHRIST by:
• Thanksgiving and Prayer
Wedgworship will spend time thanking God and praying every time we gather together
• Excellence of Leadership and Heart
Wedgworship will continually set goals to be leaders that strive for excellence in communication of the gospel through music and a heart after God’s heart.
• Accountability
Wedgworship will not be a silo of its own, but will strive to be accountable to each other and the other areas of ministry in the local church.
• Modeling in our walk
Wedgworship commits to being a leader in our relationship with Christ, and in so doing, aid in equipping others to be fully devoted followers of Christ.

Example

I will end the “EX” series with the word example. The definition of example is “one that serves as a pattern to be imitated.” I really think that is a great definition. Apostle Paul said in Philippians 3:17 “Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.” As Wedgworship, we are to be that to the body of Christ, to our co-workers that are lost, to the store clerks, and even to the server at the restaurant when it comes down to the tip we leave. We are to be the example of Christ’s love.

Obviously that is not always easy to do. But that is why we press on toward the goal. I know for myself that I offend people when something catches me off guard and I sarcastically answer back. (I am working on that!!!! Please forgive me if you have been the receiver of this.)
So as we exalt in, exult in, experience Him, the challenge to all of us is to be a shining example of Christ.

Have a great week.
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