Dividing to Multiply

I came to the conclusion this past week that I needed to teach people what I do. Not just give them info about my jobs at the church, but literally find people to do what I do.

I've begun to train one person for the power point presentations. I will hope to bring another person on board as soon as the Lord shows them to me. I have asked an IT guy to take over the computer systems at the church. He will be great and be seen as a greater authority than me.

We already have 3 other worship leaders. That area is covered. It just means that there is one less person in the rotation - ME.

Now, I am praying for a new mix of instruments for worship or another pianist. We're about to lose one of our guitarists. Her family is heading to the eastern slope of Colorado. I imagine there are musicians sitting out in the congregation somewhere. I'm asking the Lord to either show them to me or bring us others.

Now . . . why am I doing this?

It's good to divide to multiply - for everyone involved. I believe there is a multiplication in ministries when one divides them up and gives to others. "Many hands make the work light," our pastors say. I need to lighten up. I am hungry for multiplication. I'm going to be at work giving away work. Interesting and freeing for sure!

Discussions with a Good Friend

Four hours in Starbuck's with a Carmel Machiatto and a good friend garnered thought provoking discussion and wonderment for the days ahead. Where did the time go?

We are going to find a good way to publish and distribute my friend's curriculum writings. Her passion is to put the classics of literature into unit lessons. She wants to create those lessons with a bent toward Christianity. She is very creative. I think she will enjoy doing this, so it's just a matter of finding out HOW to market it for her!

She helped me think through my frustration around the worship team and what is going on at my church. It's not really a bad thing actually. It's about change though. I looked out on the congregation this morning realizing that less than 1/2 of them were engaging in the time of worship. I guess it's up to ME to get them connected, but they weren't doing that too well. I wonder sometimes, if this is where I"m supposed to be right now. I know that my passion is being a worshipper. I love to lead others in worshipping God as well. Maybe my voice is becoming too familiar?

I need to think about the age of the congregation. Where will we be in 5-10 years (besides older)? Who will be our leaders? What are we doing to keep the things of God fresh in our peoples' hearts?

I guess my heart in being a leader of worship is to prepare a place for the Lord. I want to honor Him and lift up His name. We have been known as a church that has good worship. Somehow, I am feeling like that's not the case anymore. I'm wondering if it's because of me. I know I am asking the Lord if my time is through. I'm training people to do as many of my jobs as I can.

Father, we need a piano player.

We talked about going back to the place where we knew the calling of God on our lives. It was interesting because this morning in church we sang "He Touched Me". That was the very first solo I ever sang. It was about then that I knew I would spend my life for God. I feel like I am squeezing though this little place to get to the wider open spaces of a different place of ministry. I don't want people to be hurt by the changes to that different place, but I know that I can't wait on others to decide to change. It must be my choice.

My friend has made some of those kinds of choices before and was good to give me direction in this area. I guess I don't like confrontation any more than those in authority over me don't like it. She was clear in her communications with her leadership. She came away with a clear cut understanding of what needed to be done. I must garner the courage to be as direct. I hope I can.

There have been several prophetic words to me in the last 6 months about a larger ministry than right in my church. I don't know that it was so much about size as it was more about the scope of influence. I don't think I should just go try to make a place like that for myself. It will have to rise from the Lord. I will look forward to see how God is at work in that process.

It was a very fast four hours! I think we both were encouraged. We are both looking for fellowship on a deeper level. We want to hear about the things going on with each other, but we also want to press each other on to greater depths of the Lord.

She is going to look for a church where there are more people her age. That makes sense to me! It would be hard not to see her each week, but I really understand her need for friends her age. I pray she will find a group, not only encourage her, but for her to be able to encourage as well.

Lots of praying and waiting to do!

Interpreting Dreams

Interpreting dreams can be very subjective. There are those that say this whole business of prophetic dreams is just a bunch of hogwash. "C'mon now," they say, "don't go making a big deal out of dreams!"

Ok . . . if you don't want to delve into the possibilty that God speaks through dreams . . . no problem. Look to the right side of this blog and pick another post to read! Isn't that easy? No arguing or hassling!

BUT . . . if you're curious about the possibility of God speaking through dreams you might want to read on.

Dreams can tell things that are happening in your life. They can tell something to come or possibilty even something currently occuring. I don't usually stake my whole future on one dream. I do look at the possibility of God speaking to me through them.

My recent dream has some significance I believe. You can read it in another posting on this blog (1/26/05). I'd like to note some of the significance points in subsequent posts. That seems better than trying to log the whole thing in one post.

More to come . . .

How to Post Comments

For some of you, this will be a new experience to post a comment to my blog. I just wanted to list the steps that hopefully will make it easier for you to do that very thing! Give it a try . . . it's pretty easy and FUN!

Try these steps:

FIRST OF ALL, open a notepad window to copy and paste the following instructions. This way you can save the directions and not have to scan through the blog to find this info!

1) Go to the website - you may already be at it but if not here it is

2) scroll down to the bottom of the post on which you'd like to comment

3) There will be a place that says "comments". Click on that.

4) The page changes slightly and you'll see "Post a Comment". Click that.

5) A window opens inviting you to sign in. In blue are the words, "Or Post Anonymously". Click that.

6) Write your comments.

7) Click "Publish Your Comment".

NOTE: You can create your own account/blog. It doesn't cost anything and you do not have to post anything to your blog. It just gives a name to your post. Sometimes that's nice to know.

Why the Blog?

This is my place to think and speak and dream. If you read and comment please understand that I am in process here - not perfect. I'm looking foward to commenting on things that matter a lot to me. There will be rants, raves and reviews. I am hoping to grow through this process. Welcome to my journey!

It Began With a Dream

I had a dream last night and I am wondering if it means anything. Any prophetic interpretations out there?

I was trying to get to a church for what I think was a wedding. There was to be worship beforehand. My oldest son was going to lead the worship - or at least he was already there getting stuff in place with the sound team. I have no idea if the rest of the worship team was there. I just remember he was there. Everything was supposed to be ready for me to slip behind the keyboard and play.

I don't know why I was running late to the church, but lots of people were there by the time I got there. I wasn't dressed for the wedding, but had my clothes ready to change into. Every bathroom I found in this church didn't have a place I could change. It was a huge church, so I was racing from floor to floor trying to find a secluded place to change. Time was racing on too. Finally, I found a very very small bathroom - the kind that probably was a closet in the original plans, but now had a potty, sink and mirror. There wasn't enough room to get entirely dressed so I saw a door at the other side of this tiny bathroom. I went through that door to find a quiet sitting room sort of place. There wasn't anyone in it when I got there. I was finishing dressing and when I turned around there were a couple of guys in recliners watching me. Now, I didn't feel like there was a sexual thing going on here. There were fully reclined with their hands clasped behind their heads sort of smiling at me. What I did feel from them was a kind of judgement. They had smirking smiles of sorts. I don't know how they got in that room because they weren't there when I went in it.

I was madly trying to reach my son all the time I was dressing. I dialed and dialed his cell number - or the one thought was his. A wrong number always came up. I couldn't remember his real number. I was gathering my stuff, getting away from the smug smiles of those guys, trying to get my son on the phone and trying to find my way out of that room when I woke up.
(Later I realized that I have my son's number saved in my phone. I have no clue why I didn't just do a voice dial for his number to come up automatically!)

Any thoughts about this dream? I know I'm very tired from it.