Inspired

Sunday morning retuning:  Pastor Scott Praxl took us to Luke 20:19-26.  We looked ito Jesus spiritual response to a temporal question.  He elevated the discussion with His words “likeness and inscription”.  We are made in God’s likeness, but we must choose to be inscribed with His name.  What’s your next step? If you are not sure, maybe you will discover it here.

Over the weekend I, along with 12 other members of our worship bands, had the opportunity to attend a worship workshop in Akron offered by Paul Baloche called leadworship.  Paul Baloche is the author of such songs as "Above All" and "Hosanna (Praise is Rising)”.  It was a great time of learning, and simply just being together.

I challenged everyone and prayed for them hoping that each would be able to walk away with one thing that would have an impact on their service to our Lord in worship.  Right from the opening session, it became clear that the Lord had something for each of us. For me, though much of the information was not new, it was good to be reminded of it, and to laugh along the way.

The opening session of worship and teaching with Paul was encouraging, especially being lead in worship using a song that's become very familiar to us at North-Mar, "The Same Love".  Making the trip would've been worthwhile for just that session, but the Lord had much more in store for each of us as we had to break out sessions with excellent clinicians.

None of our drummers were able to attend. This, coupled with the fact that we are poised to make a transition to using an acoustic kit in our worship services, caused me to be inclined to attend the drum master class. Little did I know that our instructor would be Carl Albrecht.  I am immediately recognized his name as a drummer on numerous worship recordings I have benefited from over the years.  Not all performers can teach well though. Not so with Carl I would quickly see. I knew that I would learn a lot in those sessions, but I walked away more than simply informed.

The first thing that struck me about Carl was his humility. Even though a professional drummer for over 30 years, he quickly admitted his need to continue to grow, learn, and adapt.  He spent time working through a number of practice rudiments, breaking down drunk grooves, talking about tuning and clicks and preparation, amidst a myriad of other things.  Spending the morning and afternoon sessions with him left me, in a word, inspired. I went up at the end and told him as much.

I am not sure if it was because it was mostly new, or simply because I was in the presence of someone who is world-class in his discipline,but those moments spent in those master classes changed me.  They reminded me of a need to think creatively and be disciplined to work that creativity out. I am thankful to God for that experience.

It leaves me with a few questions for you.  How are you being inspired? Can you remember the last time you had an experience that left you aspiring to be something different than you were before it? What are you doing to act on that?

I want to encourage you to take the next step.  Get inspired and act on it.  Do something! If you're looking for resources there are a bunch of them online, but we also have some at our disposal to grow in your worship leadership.  If you're not sure where to look, please do not hesitate to ask.

Jesus, inspire me again today as in the hour I first asked You to inscribe Your name on my heart.  My Your love, creativity, grace and Presence be ever seen in me.  And help me to enjoy the journey, even as I long for my destination. In Jesus name.  Amen.

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy