Recording

Dear Worshippers,

Next week we will record two unusual events in our sanctuary. The first a “studio” choir for a project for a sound engineer who has attended North-Mar for the last year or so, and the second a “LIVE” worship event featuring a number of songs that we will sing throughout the upcoming fall series. I hope many of you will plan to attend both.

When I think about making a recording of the music we are making the mind of the trained musician in me begins to have second thoughts. I hear things in our weekly worship team rehearsal recordings I am trying to address. I hear them on the recordings of Sunday morning as well. But I also hear something else.

I hear a group of people that are using their musical talent to make an investment in the kingdom of God. I hear people who are pouring out their hearts to God. I hear people who are willing to stand before the King, not because what they are doing is perfect, but for His activity in making them so.

“…he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” Hebrews 10:14b God is at work in us. We are all involved in a breath-taking process. A process by which God is making us holy. Clearly seeing ourselves and our God is a crucial part of this process. Even though it can be painful, it is always fruitful.

I look at the opportunity next week as a way for us to place a marker of where we are right now. Musically. Spiritually. Relationally. We can marvel at what God is doing in each of us, and all of us. As we continue in this process, on this adventure, we will able to look back and praise the Lord for His activity in our lives as He continues that holiness production.

Like taking notes that you will keep in your “Message Minder”, these recordings will be a way of noting where we are. Though hearing it may be uncomfortable for those of us that are listening with ears to make improvements and adjustments, it will be profitable. Again I hope that you will consider joining us for both, not o0nly for the experience each opportunity will be in the moment, but what it will give us to look back on and give praise to God again for His activity among us

Jesus, we want to make Your name great. Magnify who You are as we lift our hearts and our voices to You. Help us to see you clearly and see ourselves clearly as we journey on with You.

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy

Following

Dear Worshippers,

A few weeks ago I encouraged you to think about leading. I closed by reminding you that even leaders follow, and who they follow determines how their journey will progress. As I think about leading our Worship Ministry at North-Mar into a new, uncharted season I am thinking much about following.

In the midst of that thinking, across the horizon floated the following story from Methodist missionary and theologian E. Stanley Jones.

He told of a missionary who lost his way in an African jungle. He could find no landmarks and the trail vanished. Eventually, stumbling on a small hut, he asked the native living there if he could lead him out of the jungle. The native happily agreed and rising to his feet, walked directly into the bush. The missionary followed on his heels. For more than an hour they hacked their way through a dense wall of vines and grasses. The missionary became worried: “Are you sure this is the way? I don’t see a path.” The African chuckled and said over his shoulder, “Bwana, in this place there is no path. I am the path.” (Bwana is a form of respectful address in some parts of Africa.)

This story was very reassuring to me because as I am formulating plans for the fall I keep going back to Jesus for clear direction in every decision, from song selection and personnel training to equipment purchases and scheduling. Each time I am essentially asking Jesus, “Are you sure this is the way? I don’t see a path.” He has faithfully said to me, in not so many words, “In this place there is no path. I am the path.”

We all know that Jesus has declared Himself to be “the way and the truth and the life.” (John 14.6) This is not a foreign concept to us. All the same, we tend to complicate our following with any number of excuses or questions.

North-Mar is in uncharted territory. We are entering a new season on ministry on the heels of baptizing over 180 people in a period of seven weeks. God is leading us through things we have never experienced before now.

Our worship ministry is a microcosm of the church. This is a new era. You can hear it, see it and feel it. I find myself near the front of it searching for the path. Jesus is reassuring me that He is the Path.

Come along with me on this adventure and let us discover His path, rather Him, together.

Jesus, help us to follow well, ever keeping our eyes on You for You are the Path. When other tour guides would beckon to us to lead us astray, help us to fix our gaze on You. We will follow You!

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy