I have been reading in Proverbs this past week and this verse stands out to me:

"When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him" (Proverbs 16:7).

When Christians are battling with each other over approaches to worship and church life, what does that say about us and look like to the world? I have in mind here the pushing and shoving among those confess faith in Christ, but argue over authentic forms of worship and mission.

Here's an interesting quote for consideration:

"[I]n many [churches] it seems we have exchanged honing our skills for passion....[M]any church music leaders...understand the challenge of working with those who desire to lead worship, but do not want to invest the time to perfect their skills." ("Lookout" July 23, 2006)

I realize that the immediate direction of this quote is aimed at music leadership, especially as it relates to worship. One might boil the idea down to an over-simplified phrase, "What's most important: Perfection or Passion?" All of us are familiar with the ideas surrounding the 'heart of the worshiper.' After all, isn't it one's heart upon which God looks? If so, then the means of worship aren't as important, right? (We can discuss this further if people so desire... :-) )

How might this discussion look if we were to focus it in the area of leadership? Is it enough to be impassioned for leadership? Are the means by which we lead as important as having a passion/heart for leadership? Are there right and wrong ways by which to lead people?

If we are to imitate Christ, then we might consider his means of leadership as being the best. So... If that be the case,

• What compelled people to follow him without reservation?
• How did Jesus maintain his connection with those that were following him?
• How were the followers of Jesus equipped to then go and become leaders themselves?

I will never argue that having a passion/heart for leadership isn't important. By the same token, however, we must be willing to admit that passion alone isn't enough. We must be willing to hone our skills to the best of our ability.

What think ye?

As we have had discussions in the past as to what Christian worship looks like to other people, I found this link worth passing along. I haven't decided exactly what I think about it yet. I find there to be valid points from both perspectives, yet I'm just not sure I like it overall. Anyway, this link contains three videos; they are all parodies of the Mac vs. PC television commercials, except it is "Christ-follower vs. Christian." I just thought they'd be thought-provoking, if nothing else.

http://www.thinkchristian.net/?p=960

Shepherding: A Way of Sacrificial Living in Worship

All of us are familiar with Psalm 23. In David's words we find a description of Father that is both compelling and humbling. To think that the God of the universe would look upon us in such a way is, well... almost too much to imagine.

Looking further, we are able to see how Christ exemplified those same things. As our Lord walked the earth he was demonstrating both the essence of Father and true shepherding. And if his example of shepherding weren't enough in itself, Christ then demonstrated what the True Shepherd does on behalf of his sheep: He dies for them. The Shepherd became the Lamb, in order for us, (the lambs), to become shepherds.

As leaders, we shepherd best by sacrificing for the sheep in our care. It's not simply a matter of meeting the temporal needs of individuals who are in our midst. We must serve them in sacrificial ways. As we give, truly give of our very selves, those whom we seek to lead will respond. In those rare cases when their response is not as we had hoped, we shouldn't be troubled. For it is Christ whom we are serving as we wash one anothers feet.

I invite you to explore Psalm 23.

Examine how Father is your Shepherd. Examine how Christ is the Good Shepherd. However, don't stop there.

Psalm 23 is also an invitation to "go and do likewise." Contained in it's verses, Psalm 23 lists the vocational skills necessary to be a good shepherd. Which of those skills fall within your areas of giftedness? What are your strengths? What are the areas that are not as strong, or perhaps missing in your life?

How will you grow (invest; literally clothe yourself) in one characteristic or ability that is a strength?

How might you seek to add one shepherding ability that is missing or weak in your life?

I invite you to share with me your thoughts...

• What does it mean when we say that we are called to lead as shepherds?
• How are we to be both a lamb and a shepherd in our living?
• In your mind what does it mean when we say, "The best shepherds are those that smell just like their sheep?"

Blessings to all of you!

Serving Father,

Dr. Norm

A Brief History of the LEAD Project
An account of the project from July to December 2006. If the story below stirs any memories, please feel free to post a comment and share them.

The project's implementation team (Abby Bannwart, Alicia May, Stevie Shale, Joel Schwamburger, Michael Thom, Alex Robinson, and Mark Pike) traveled to the Geneva Center (a year round camp and conference center in Rochester, Indiana) in mid-July for the purpose of project planning and evaluation, and spiritual and relational development. We spent time getting to know one another better, evaluated, edited, and updated the grant project calendar, prayed together, and studied and reflected on key biblical passages related to worship. In addition, the implementation team was introduced to the overarching concepts in Harold Best’s Unceasing Worship (InterVarsity Press, 2003) through an article entitled, “When is Worship Worship?” (this article is available at http://www.leaderu.com/offices/haroldbest/worship.html).

BSU's fall semester began in late August. It was at this time that the implementation team went to work and began identifying students who showed leadership potential among incoming freshmen. During this time, the implementation team added two members (Abby Wells and Melissa Boyer) and one member stepped off the team due to other commitments (Alicia May). We also began meeting monthly, praying for the project together, discussing plans for contacting identified potential leaders and planning for our fall retreat.

This fall retreat, officially known as the “L.E.A.D. Retreat” (“Leaders Empowering Authentic Disciples”), was the most exciting accomplishment of the L.E.A.D. Project to date. After securing the keynote speaker in September (Dr. Norm Brunelle, director of outreach and associate professor at Kentucky Christian University, Grayson, Kentucky) the L.E.A.D. Team discussed the structure and schedule of the retreat, keeping in mind its most general purpose: to create a common vision of worship and leadership for our current and upcoming student leaders.

The L.E.A.D. Retreat was held at Mahoning Valley Christian Service Camp on Nov. 10 and 11. The retreat consisted of four teaching and discussion sessions (one introductory session and three main sessions), time for individual and group prayer and reflection, time to sing praises to God together, and a time of commitment during which students were challenged to follow through on what they learned during the retreat, challenged to live the life of worship that was described and discussed during the teaching sessions.

The first main teaching session was about what worship isn’t and what worship is. Dr. Brunelle went on to make connections between Gen. 22:1-19 and Romans 12:1-3, that is, between the story of Abraham and Isaac on Mount Moriah and offering ourselves as living sacrifices to God. Discussion was woven in throughout this session.

The second main teaching session was about practicing the presence of God, responding to His presence and work in our lives, and living as the Servant, living a life of sacrificial love. This session also included discussion throughout and, significantly, we were led in reflecting on how we could wash the feet or lay down our lives for campus friends so that they might see Jesus. This was significant because it helped to work toward accomplishing one of the main purposes of the retreat, “...inspiring college-age peers to be emulators of Jesus Christ.”

The third main session continued themes from the previous two, further exploring Genesis 22, Romans 12, the meaning of sacrifice and outpouring, their relation to worship as a way of life and servant leadership.

This retreat accomplished its purpose. Not only do our students share a common vision for worship and leadership, but students can begin to make better connections between worship and leadership (i.e. responding to God and influencing others) by following Jesus’ humble example.

Currently, the implementation team is following up with students who participated in the fall retreat. At the end of the retreat, students were challenged to respond in one of four ways (though responses are not limited to these four):

1. joining or leading a small group for the purpose of Bible study or accountability
   
2. reading one of the key books which the teaching at the retreat was based on and journaling about it (e.g. Unceasing Worship, Worship: A Way of Life by Patrick Kavanaugh, etc.)
   
3. blogging on their experiences at the retreat
   
4. responding in a different way than those mentioned already (perhaps there is something else that God might be calling them to do or to begin).

[In the following post, Mark comments on the new book, "Worship: A Way of Life" by Patrick Kavanaugh. This book expands on some of the key concepts related to the L.E.A.D. Project]

"Jesus gave the commandments in order for a reason. It is because the first must be first. It is no good trying to keep the second commandment until we have kept the first."

Patrick Kavanaugh is referring to the way Jesus ordered the commandments, which we find in Matthew 22:37-39. He is right to note the obvious, that the first must be first, an observation which is helpful because so many of us do not make the first thing, our first priority. It is also no good trying to find meaning in what we do or who we are unless we have put love of God first. Without that in place, everything else is vapor.

The intent of this blog is to be a home on the web for discussion and further exploration of ideas and books related to the L.E.A.D. ("Leaders Empowering Authentic Disciples") Project. Posts will be made by students, staff, and other contributors to the project.

The Christian Campus House at Ball State University, a ministry of BSU's Christian Student Foundation (http://www.ballstatecampushouse.org), began this project in the Summer of 2006 as a way to develop student leaders who will build their lives and leadership on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ.

The L.E.A.D Project is made posssible by a grant from the Calvin Institute for Christian Worship (http://www.calvin.edu/worship).

More to come!