These times....

So, I believe that an election happened yesterday. I'm not quite sure, but I think I could be correct. Seeing as thought 99.7% of my Facebook buddies are having their own Presidential Debates via a social network. But hey, I can't point fingers..I believe I threw a few into the mix.

I've spent most of today listening, reading, and observing people's views and reviews of what has happened and what will happen. I can honestly say that I think people are frightened, angered, and disgusted. As you can see by some random comments below:

"Gays and socialism... Look at the change we have to look forward to USA."

"First step presidency, next step savior. Obama for Jesus"

"Our country went from Christianity to Islamic in one d--- night! we are straight SCREWED America"

If you read what the Bible says in Romans 13, you'll see this;

"Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God."

I am in NO way saying that we should agree with all of Obama's views and beliefs, but we have to understand that God knew this would happen. God has a plan. His foresight see's so much further than the hurt and the anger and the fear that we see now. We have to trust. I was going through a playlist and found this song. I believe this really declares what our mission as Believers should be now.

Surely children were not made for the streets
And fathers were not made to leave
Surely this isn't how it should be
Let Your kingdom come

Surely nations were not made for war
Or the broken meant to be ignored
Surely this just can't be what you saw

Let Your kingdom come
Here in my heart

Chorus:

I will live
To carry Your compassion
To love a world that's broken
To be Your hands and feet
With the life that I've been given
And go beyond religion
To see the world be changed
By the power of Your name

Surely life wasn't made to forget
And the lost were not made to forget
Surely faith without action is dead
Let Your kingdom come
Lord break this heart

First Time Choir Guy

So we won't call it a "Choir" per-say, but I guess it is. 

We started our Student Vocal team tonight at Woodland. We've been in the market for some sort of student choir if you wish for a LONG time now and I guess we decided that now is the time. 

Thus lies the problem. I've never been in charge of a student choir before. I've been in plenty of them, but I've never been on the other side. Which leads me to my next point.....It is intimidating. But I'm gonna keep on truckin....As Jerry Reed would say "we gonna do what they say can't be done"......All you Burt Reynolds fans should get that eventually.  

                                                                                                            Love Wins,

                                                                                                                       Andy

Why We Love Dogs

Trained Dog Calls 911, Saves Owner

PHOENIX (Sept. 4) - "Man's best friend" doesn't go far enough for Buddy — a German shepherd who remembered his training and saved his owner's life by calling 911 when the man had a seizure.

Buddy the German shepherd proved Sept. 10 that he truly was "man's best friend." The pooch called 911 in order to help owner Joe Stalnaker, an Arizona man who was having a seizure. Police arrived at Stalnaker's home and he was taken to the hospital. And it's not the first time Buddy has been there for owner Joe Stalnaker, a police officer said Sunday.

On a recording of the 911 call Wednesday, Buddy is heard whimpering and barking after the dispatcher answers and repeatedly asks if the caller needs help.
"Hello, this is 911. Hello ... Can you hear me? Is there somebody there you can give the phone to," says the dispatcher, Chris Scott.
Police were sent to Stalnaker's home, and after about three minutes Buddy is heard barking loudly when the officers arrived.
Scottsdale police Sgt. Mark Clark said Stalnaker spent two days in a hospital and recovered from the seizure.
"It's pretty incredible," Clark said. "Even the veteran dispatchers — they haven't heard of anything like this."
Clark said police are dispatched whenever 911 is called, but that Stalnaker's address was flagged in Scottsdale's system with a notification that a trained assistance dog could call 911 when the owner was incapacitated.
Clark said Stalnaker adopted Buddy at the age of 8 weeks from Michigan-based Paws with a Cause, which trains assistance dogs, and trained him to get the phone if he began to have seizure symptoms. Buddy, now 18 months old, is able press programmed buttons until a 911 operator is on the line, Clark said.
Clark said Buddy has made two other 911 calls when Stalnaker was having seizures.
He said Stalnaker's seizures are the result of a head injury he suffered about 10 years ago during a military training exercise.
Stalnaker was not listed in the phone book, and he did not immediately respond to a request through police for an interview.

Is it a sign?

Now this is just sad.
Not only do they charge us an arm and a leg for our gas, but they make us feel inferior when we don't buy the top of the line! I remember the days (ok, so I've heard about the days) when they used to come out and wash your windows, check your fluids, air up your tires AND pump your gas for you. Now they just let you stand out in the heat and let you know that you're just a REGULAR guy. I can't afford to be Super +, not even close. Heck, I can't even afford to be Special! I'm just a regular guy. But I guess I can look on the bright side, us regular guys don't have the $90 gas receipt that the Super+ guys have!

Worth the read for Worship Leaders!

What is the biggest gripe you have about something a Sunday worship leader does?

The 185+ responses were fascinating, insightful, and offensive to some. To cut through the clutter of all of the opinions, I made a very rough tally of all the pet peeves to determine the top 10 pet peeves about worship leaders. Keep in mind these are subjective opinions.

Top 10 Pet Peeves About Worship Leaders (with examples)

1. Asking the Congregation to do Something (21 responses)
   >> Makes us shake hands with the people around us.
   >> When a worship leader tells you to lift up your hands, it takes a meaningful personal action and turns it into a obligatory command.
   >> Talks like they’re at a high school pep rally, “Let me hear ya!”
   >> Asks how everyone is doing. We’re not at a concert, so we’re not going to scream.
   >> Tells you what to do and how to worship… to the point where it makes you feel guilty if you don’t conform yourself to her/his understanding of what worship is.
   >> I hate it when worship leaders script the worship too much by telling people what to do. I’ve had worship leaders completely distract me from God when they start telling me what to do.
2. Mini-Sermons & Talking (20 responses)
   >> Talks between every song.
   >> I am distracted when worship leaders start talking about anything that is not directions on what we are about to do.
   >> When they repeat the same catch-phrases every week.
   >> Breathy speaking between songs.
   >> Sermonettes are annoying if too long or common
   >> You can tell a mile away when a worship leader is “sharing” because he feels obligated to. It’s always a cheesy or over emotional blurb. When God’s really laid something on a worship leader’s heart, it’s cool. But even then, say it in less than 45 seconds! Don’t meander on for 3 minutes.
3. Not Focusing on God (17 responses)
   >> Forget that the audience of worship is God and start making it a performance for those sitting in front of them.
   >> When they perform rather than worship themselves.
   >> Showing zero emotion, standing still, focusing too much on perfection.
   >> Worship leaders who seem really wrapped up in being “cool.”
   >> Sometimes you can tell they’re being fake and/or showy.
   >> I hate it when the music guy/gal asks the crowd to praise God but soaks it up like they are Bono and the crowd is really praising them.
   >> I hate it when worship leaders don’t lead people.
4. Unprofessional (14 responses)
   >> Starts service late.
   >> Typos on the screen.
   >> Talks to the praise band while leading worship instead of using hand signals to tell them what to do.
   >> When the leader changes the key of the song and does not tell the rest of the team.
   >> Goes out of order or adds another song in the middle of the set
   >> When the leader and/or band member turns away from the people to mess with their gear.
   >> When the production team on stage are laughing, joking, and gesturing behind the worship leader to the soundboard guys in the transition between worship and the message.
5. Singing (11 responses)
   >> Can’t sing very well.
   >> Doesn’t know the lyrics.
   >> When worship leaders run words together.
   >> When they put their own little spin on simple, common words.
   >> Repeating the same line in a song 3.6 million times. There’s the Spirit’s leading and then there’s just plain losing people.
   >> Our old church’s leader would sing so high that no one could sing along. She provided no harmony for us to pick up. It was to showcase her own voice.
6. Appearance (9 responses)
   >> Sing with their eyes closed.
   >> When singers act like they are really bored up there.
   >> Wears crotch hugging jeans.
   >> Looks or sounds seductive.
   >> One of our young worship leaders had a really big hicky on his neck a couple of weeks ago.
7. Prayer (8 responses)
   >> Inauthentic prayer – too scripted or so random that it doesn’t make sense, or rushed/dragged out to make the prayer fit the interlude.
   >> Prays the words of the songs.
   >> When they can’t talk or pray appropriately between songs.
8. Bad Transitions (5 responses)
   >> Transitions between songs take long time.
   >> Allows uncomfortable dead time between songs.
   >> When they pray essentially the same prayer at a transition moment.
   >> Using the song name as an introduction/transition - “You know I was thinking about how much God has done for me…it really is ‘Amazing Grace’ isn’t it?”
9. Lifestyle (4 responses)
   >> When he’s obviously ungodly during practice and throughout life, but turns into a saint on Sunday morning.
   >> I hate to see a person who is suppose to be leading worship acting like a jerk before service and then getting up on stage acting like nothing ever happened.
   >> As a Pastor, I hate it when the music guy/gal is lazy apart from their 30 minute set on Sundays.
10. Catering to the Congregation (4 responses)
    >> When they hold back because they are obviously conscious of what the congregation and/or pastor will think.
    >> I hate it when worship leaders/pastors play to people who think the worship somehow revolves around what they like and what makes them feel good when it has absolutely nothing to do with our preferences or likes.
    >> Has to risk being a cheerleader because the people that claim to love God exhibit no sense of joy when singing about Him.

Some of the pet peeves also have supporters. For instance, many people find it important to ask the congregation to raise their hands or shake hands with others. Ultimately, what matters most is that the worship leader is a Christlike example that can lead people’s focus into intimate worship with God. I like the quote that one commenter referenced:

Leading worship is the art of removing distractions.

Cardboard Testimonies

Watch this video from Hillside Christian Church in Amarillo, Texas....It's such a strong reminder of the fact that we are so helpless in ourselves, but we have hope in Christ. What a great element to be used in a service.

Just the beginning.....

Well people. I guess since I started a blog it must mean that I have something important to say. Annnnnd that may or may not be true, but we'll see. I started this as basically an outlet to vent or stand on my soapbox, or perhaps just write about nothing. So if you enjoy that sorta thing then you've came to the right place. So check back from time to time and see if if posted any new nuggets of goodness. Speaking of nuggets of goodness, I want Chick-fil-a. Peace be with you.

Love Wins,
Andy
Galatians 5:6