This week I was out in San Francisco, CA appearing on a Church Communications Network simulcast sponsored by Integrity Music where Rod Arnold, vice-president of Live Events, and I were discussing worship and promoting the upcoming Worship Summit on March 7^th. It was good clean fun and a real swell time, but on the way back to the airport something really exciting happened. We realized that we might have time to stop and experience one of the greatest inventions to ever come out of California. Yes, I speak of the IN-N-OUT BURGER!

The thought of a double, double and animal fries were causing two grown men to giggle with glee. After several searches on the Neverlost system of our rental car, we located the nearest site of the best fast-food chain in America. We were drunk with anticipation, darting in and out of traffic on the interstate racing against the clock so that we would not miss our flight. Of course, we were fully willing to take the risk for the sake of shakes, onion rings and fresh-cut fries!

I remember the rush of excitement as we neared the giant golden arrow pointing us toward our burger nirvana. We pulled up, jumped out of the car, walked in and stood in line on this Friday night, waiting for our turn to order, anticipating the wonder of special sauce and extra cheese. We were willing to risk an extra night on the road, to live dangerously close to the line of spousal anger and disappointment, all in the name of imbibing this fast food experience. It was so much fun!

We heard the Spanish woman from behind the counter yell, “NUMBER 14!” We ate like we had been starving on a deserted island. Mmmm….let’s just say that we were not disappointed!

We rushed to the airport and with several minutes to spare, walked down the jet way and found our seats on the plane. Then I had a thought…

I would like our times of worship at church to engender this kind of anticipation. I want for this type of excitement to accompany our gatherings as believers. Could this kind of euphoric faith change the way we engage God and each other every Sunday? I think it could transform our services.

I wonder if this anticipatory thought is what David was referencing in the song of ascents in Psalm 122 when he said, “I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord’”; or when he declared in Psalm 34, “Taste and see that the Lord is good!” Is this what Isaiah saw in his vision when he said “Many peoples will come and say, ‘Come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob’? These are statement of joy, excitement and expectation…in a word, faith!

Holy Spirit directed worship requires this kind of expectation. The gathering of believers should be an opportunity for wonder, anticipation and imagination; not drudgery, duty or routine. Coming together with other people who are looking forward to their experience together is a missing ingredient in many of our churches. The questions we have to ask are: do our services look the same every week? Do we follow the same routine? Can people enjoy their friends at church? Do they feel welcome? Are we giving them “food” to eat? Is there any mystery to the gathering?

I believe we need to encourage people to be curious and dare I say, suspicious that God may indeed do something unexpected in our services. He may speak to us or give us direction. He may encourage us or convict us. He may bring his peace or warn us. Anticipating the celebration of the body and blood of Christ and the presence of the Almighty in our midst is what brings life into a room full of believers and unbelievers alike. Do we look forward to the taste? Are we honestly anticipating God doing something greater than we can think or imagine? (Eph. 3:20)

IN-N-OUT BURGER was full of people from all across the bay area and the world. We actually sat by two Korean ladies who were not speaking English. Several Asians, some Hispanics, a few Europeans as well as Americans were all there, laughing, chatting, smiling, consuming…it reminded me of Revelation 4 and 5 where every tribe and language and people and nation were gathered for a worship service around the throne. I want my church to be this exciting and full of anticipation!

Just food for thought…

Recently, I was asked a question by a fellow worship leader that really made me think. He essentially said, “How do you get up every Sunday morning and lead with consistency, joy and sensitivity?” I immediately responded with “I don’t.” But he was asking a quality question for all who lead worship and even for those who attend worship every week. Read the rest of this entry »

They burst through the door and said, “We have gun shots in the building!” Moments later I found myself running through the second story of our church’s children’s department hearing gun shots in the main hallway directly below me. It was a surreal moment charged with adrenalin as I fumbled to dial my oldest son’s cell phone number. He was in the main lobby of our church when the gunman walked through the doors at the other end and began to fire. Read the rest of this entry »

In the weeks leading up to our national elections I received several emergency prayer emails asking me to pray for the elections. All of them said something like, “This is the most important election in decades” and “please pray and fast each day leading up to the elections.” This struck me as an awkward theological problem at best and possibly an unscriptural request at worst. Read the rest of this entry »

Just because we lead people in worship doesn’t mean that we are fulfilling the role of a Worship Pastor. Anybody with a guitar, a tour bus and a good song can lead people in worship, but when the bus pulls out of town all you’re left with is a great experience. God certainly uses these experiences, but the challenge of authentic transformation happens in the trenches of weekly coaching, encouraging, and serving the people in your own local church family. This is the value of a Worship Pastor. Read the rest of this entry »