What a great morning we had yesterday. I was in the True North auditorium, which by the way is one fun place. That crowd can sing... and I mean LOUD. From what I understand, there where several glitches in the Compass Center. After worship Bonnie was kinda bummed about it.
However, our senior pastor offered some great perspective. If what we are doing is just a show, then sure we could be upset. But with the eternal significance of what's happening at NorthStar we should be expecting the enemy to be trying to throw distractions our way.
We will be beginning a new series in April on Prayer. We'll be discussing prayer in the family as well as how prayer can affect where God is taking the Church. If we as a body expect to see a great work of the Lord, it will begin when we begin hitting our knees regularly. The teaching that will happen in this series holds the key to us experiencing a movement of the Holy Spirit.
So, get ready. The enemy will be trying more and more to disrupt what we are doing. But what God is gonna do will be much cooler!
Daniel
Monday, March 31, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
Holding Worship
This was posted on a Blog I read. Incredible! It's a reminder that to everyone in the crowd, it's just worship. They don't rehearse it, practice it, or try to perfect it. It's just Worship.
Easter.
So much going on. So much to do.
I was leading worship today yet couldn’t take the executive producer hat off so I was thinking about tons. Cut this song? Redo lights there? Pull the painting? Have Jeff do the invitation? Blah Blah Blah Blah.
I was exhausted. We picked a fairly high energy worship set and did 5 fairly taxing songs.
So I walked in this evening. I was tanked. We rehearsed and ate and I was honestly kind of waiting for the night to get going so we could lead and go home.
Then it hit me like it does every week that these people at the 6 pm service are coming to church for the first time today. Gut check. Time to sing.
Walked out. Salvation Is Here…LALALALALA.
I’m in verse 2 and I look to my left and am hit like a blind side pick and roll.
Swaying on the front row was a guy I later learned was named Matt.
Standing in front of him was another guy named Jefferson.
It was a moment that stands out above all else in my 11 years of leading worship.
You see Matt and Jefferson were worshipping God, together.
Literally.
Jefferson has severe cerebral palsy. He has little, if any control over his body.
Matt was standing behind Jefferson.
Holding Jefferson.
20 minutes.
Dancing with Jefferson and singing at the top of his lungs.
Jefferson was singing too. I think I could hear him.
And it was the most beautiful song I have ever heard.
Easter.
So much going on. So much to do.
I was leading worship today yet couldn’t take the executive producer hat off so I was thinking about tons. Cut this song? Redo lights there? Pull the painting? Have Jeff do the invitation? Blah Blah Blah Blah.
I was exhausted. We picked a fairly high energy worship set and did 5 fairly taxing songs.
So I walked in this evening. I was tanked. We rehearsed and ate and I was honestly kind of waiting for the night to get going so we could lead and go home.
Then it hit me like it does every week that these people at the 6 pm service are coming to church for the first time today. Gut check. Time to sing.
Walked out. Salvation Is Here…LALALALALA.
I’m in verse 2 and I look to my left and am hit like a blind side pick and roll.
Swaying on the front row was a guy I later learned was named Matt.
Standing in front of him was another guy named Jefferson.
It was a moment that stands out above all else in my 11 years of leading worship.
You see Matt and Jefferson were worshipping God, together.
Literally.
Jefferson has severe cerebral palsy. He has little, if any control over his body.
Matt was standing behind Jefferson.
Holding Jefferson.
20 minutes.
Dancing with Jefferson and singing at the top of his lungs.
Jefferson was singing too. I think I could hear him.
And it was the most beautiful song I have ever heard.
There are hundreds of thoughts, emotions, and lessons that could go along with Matt and Jefferson.
To watch them sing out and dance was a thing of beauty. Obedience. Unbridled Joy.
Thank you Matt and Jefferson for a shifting moment in my life.
I honestly want all of you to comment here.
What can we all learn from this picture of Authenticity?
Friday, March 21, 2008
How He Loves Us!
I just had an amazing personal worship time with this song. Thank you Lord for your love for us.
Happy Easter.
Happy Easter.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Communion
Here's my "Creative Chaos" post for this week.
At NorthStar, we have had a difficult time finding the best way for us to do communion. We have a lot unbelievers attend out weekend services, so to partake of communion on a Sunday morning excludes so many. It would be great to have it at a believer's service, but we don't currently have one. So, we are trying something new today. We are hosting a day of communion from 7 am-7 pm at the church. We invited people to come before or after work or families to come together any time during the day and partake together. As they came in, we handed them a guide with some steps on it and some scripture. It was awesome. You could tell that it was a very special time for people. I think that this will be our new way of doing communion.
That's all.
At NorthStar, we have had a difficult time finding the best way for us to do communion. We have a lot unbelievers attend out weekend services, so to partake of communion on a Sunday morning excludes so many. It would be great to have it at a believer's service, but we don't currently have one. So, we are trying something new today. We are hosting a day of communion from 7 am-7 pm at the church. We invited people to come before or after work or families to come together any time during the day and partake together. As they came in, we handed them a guide with some steps on it and some scripture. It was awesome. You could tell that it was a very special time for people. I think that this will be our new way of doing communion.
That's all.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Perfectly flawed!
Here' s my "creative chaos" post for this week.
Every week we plan, pray, meet, chart & rehearse all in the name of offering to God a most excellent sacrifice of corporate worship. While all that is true, we just flat out want to be excellent in what we do. At NorthStar we expect ALOT from our volunteers (and staff), and they deliver every week.
However, last week I stood up and totally botched a song. You can read about this in my last post. How many times when we make a mistake do we try and "professionally" cover it up? I have found that there's something that builds connection with the people in the crowd when you include them in the mess up. For one instant, they get to see the REAL side of the worship leader. Not the slick, polished, professional side. And in the end, being real is so much more refreshing. It's fun because they get to laugh through the mistake with you. If you don't have the personality that can be witty on the fly, this may mean that you'll need to go ahead and think of some things you can do, cause believe me... that mess up will be here before you know it.
-That's it,
Daniel
Every week we plan, pray, meet, chart & rehearse all in the name of offering to God a most excellent sacrifice of corporate worship. While all that is true, we just flat out want to be excellent in what we do. At NorthStar we expect ALOT from our volunteers (and staff), and they deliver every week.
However, last week I stood up and totally botched a song. You can read about this in my last post. How many times when we make a mistake do we try and "professionally" cover it up? I have found that there's something that builds connection with the people in the crowd when you include them in the mess up. For one instant, they get to see the REAL side of the worship leader. Not the slick, polished, professional side. And in the end, being real is so much more refreshing. It's fun because they get to laugh through the mistake with you. If you don't have the personality that can be witty on the fly, this may mean that you'll need to go ahead and think of some things you can do, cause believe me... that mess up will be here before you know it.
-That's it,
Daniel
Monday, March 10, 2008
"Let's all sing in the Key of C"
I've been leading worship since I was about 20 years old. So in 15 years (yes, I'm almost 35) I have never given a vocal cue like the one I gave this past Sunday morning. Let me set up the story for those who weren't blessed to be there.
"It's a cold morning in early march as small traces of snow lingered on the blades of grass at NorthStar Church. As the band finished up playing the song "Everyday" in the Compass Center, Lisa Rosemond dismissed the kids praise team from the stage. Daniel Hoover, suave as he is, swiftly exchanged his electric guitar for his acoustic. Turning around to the microphone, he heard Dave Cook give him the 4 count click to start the next song. This would be a song that could possibly transform NorthStar for years to come...this was a song that would shake the very foundations of hell as believers sang at the top of their voices. The song accurately named "Glorious One" because when performed with such accuracy... you get the picture. As Daniel lays his 3 good fingers (and one nub) across the strings of the neck, he begins to play.....in the wrong key!"
Yep, I was playing in the wrong key. This is usually OK when the band is all in the same wrong key. However, in this story I am not so lucky. I was playing in Bb and the band was one verse away from coming in with the correct key- - C. Once I started singing, I knew what I had done. I was simply counting the measures until the TRAIN WRECK!!!! Then it happened, the band started playing. Faces in the crowd had these looks like "oooh", "ouch", "bless their hearts!" Immediately I'm thinking of ways to get out of this terrible situation. I can do 1 of 3 things:
1. Continue and hope that the guys in the band will eventually find the key I'm in (odd).
2. When the chorus is over do a VERY direct key change to C. (very odd).
3. Stop the song and explain how the time change greatly affects the tuning of stringed instruments (very, very odd)!
So I did number 2... I mean the second option. I waited for the chorus to finish and then instantly went to the correct key. Then I was faced with a dilemma, how do I let the band know what the new key is? Some of them just figured out what the wrong key was. So here it goes, I did it. I gave probably the most memorable vocal cue I will ever give.
I stepped up to the microphone and said to the entire congregation: "LET'S ALL SING OUT... IN THE KEY OF C!"
That's gonna be chapter 13 in my book of blunders, remind me to tell you about chapter 12!
-Daniel
"What Marks Us Makes Us"
Yesterday was an amazing day at NorthStar! I don't know when I've seen a more moving service. If you missed the wrap up to the Braveheart series you have to watch or listen to the podcast of the video we showed during the service. Revelation tells us that "the blood of the Lamb and the testimony of believers" will overcome the enemy. If you hear these stories you will be so encouraged and overwhelmed by God's goodness as He brings us through the trials of life. He does stengthen us through His spirit and His word to be "more than conquerors through Him who loves us" (Rom. 8:37). I'm so thankful for the three stories that were shared and for the courage it took for each person to share them. I love the tag line we used for the series that says, "what marks us makes us." If you have been marked by tragedy, poor choices, or just life then you know that those experiences have made you who you are today. I pray we remember how important it is for us to encouage each other and help each other along through our stories. God never wastes an experience and He wants to use each one somehow for our good and His glory. I pray this series has blessed and encouraged you as much as it has me to have a brave heart.
Bonnie
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Creative Chaos
Carlos at Ragamuffin Soul has started a weekly thing called “Creative Chaos.” It's a great way of sharing creative parts of your job, life, or more specifically your church. It's like going to a creative conference, without going anywhere. So hopefully, if I remember, every thursday I'll post a "Creative Chaos" article about NorthStar.
This week we just wrapped up a series called "Braveheart". It has nothing to do with Mel Gibson. We discussed King David and how to survive when trials and struggles hit your life. So, this Sunday we are wrapping that up with a 20 minute, documentary style video called NorthStar Stories. Realizing that tragedy has and will hit everyone in the room, we decided that these stories need to be heard. We have 3 people sharing their story: a Cancer survivor that was given 4 months to live, a man whose wife was abducted and killed in a car jacking, and a couple who tried for 7 years to have kids. The video is unbelievable! I am so glad that my wife and I previewed it before we have to get up and lead worship after it. We would have flooded the stage with tears. We are thinking about making a lot of our free standing Sundays "NorthStar Stories" days (these are Sundays that fall between a series). We also started a BLOG called NorthStar Stories, where attenders can write in their own stories. It's had great success.
That's it!
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
The Glory of it All
This past Sunday we introduced a great new worship song called "The Glory of it All". It's a song written by David Crowder and is on the new Passion: God of this City" album. What a powerful song about the grace and sovereignty of the Lord.
Here's how it breaks down: the verses speak of His ever-presence, and the fact that He was there in the beginning and the end, when things are broken and lost He can be found in the midst of it. Through the good, bad and the ugly, He is right there in it all. Then the bridge says that after all our hands have wrought, he still forgives. Then when you think, "well I guess God's just putting up with us", the chorus comes along and says:
"Oh the Glory of it all is:
he came here
For the rescue of us all
that we may live
for the glory of it all."
Wow... He wasn't just putting up with us messing up His world. God actually is blessing us by offering us redeeming love and rescuing us from death and Hell. But He didn't really just do it for us, He did it for Himself. He did it for His Glory, for His renown. So that He would be known through all the world. Funny thing is is that if you turn that around it's even more of a blessing. He could have made Himself known and brought glory to himself in a number of ways, but because He is so gracious and merciful, He chose to do it by saving us and redeeming us from the enemy. That in the midst of our mess, He cleaned it up! When His attention could have and probably should have been on Himself, He chose to pure out grace on us.
It reminds me of what our desire and passion in life should be. Isaiah 26:8 says: “Yes Lord, walking in the way of Your truth we wait eagerly for You, for Your name and renown are the desire of our souls." Just as God desires His name and renown to be known and He desires us, we too should desire Him and to make His name known.
Here's how it breaks down: the verses speak of His ever-presence, and the fact that He was there in the beginning and the end, when things are broken and lost He can be found in the midst of it. Through the good, bad and the ugly, He is right there in it all. Then the bridge says that after all our hands have wrought, he still forgives. Then when you think, "well I guess God's just putting up with us", the chorus comes along and says:
"Oh the Glory of it all is:
he came here
For the rescue of us all
that we may live
for the glory of it all."
Wow... He wasn't just putting up with us messing up His world. God actually is blessing us by offering us redeeming love and rescuing us from death and Hell. But He didn't really just do it for us, He did it for Himself. He did it for His Glory, for His renown. So that He would be known through all the world. Funny thing is is that if you turn that around it's even more of a blessing. He could have made Himself known and brought glory to himself in a number of ways, but because He is so gracious and merciful, He chose to do it by saving us and redeeming us from the enemy. That in the midst of our mess, He cleaned it up! When His attention could have and probably should have been on Himself, He chose to pure out grace on us.
It reminds me of what our desire and passion in life should be. Isaiah 26:8 says: “Yes Lord, walking in the way of Your truth we wait eagerly for You, for Your name and renown are the desire of our souls." Just as God desires His name and renown to be known and He desires us, we too should desire Him and to make His name known.
-Daniel
Sunday, March 2, 2008
To All The Curls I've Loved Before...
Yesterday was a tragic hair day for Eli. Well, really I guess it was a tragic hair day for me…..Brandon’s mom offered to take Eli to get his hair trimmed while he was spending the day with them in St. Mtn. He needed it, so I agreed she could as long as she was certain that his curls would stay in place. For those of you who haven’t seen him lately his hair looked a lot like Clay Davis and his crazy head of curls. I should’ve known when Brandon’s mom said, “Well it’s a little shorter than we hoped” that things weren’t going to be good. I met them over at Perimeter Mall to pick him up and when they came around the corner I could hardly believe it. There in the middle of all the mall chaos was my baby boy all of a sudden looking very grown up, crazy curls replaced by some sort of slicked down, combed over big boy “do” that was the biggest “don’t” there could’ve been. We made our way out of the mall and to the parking deck and the whole time I was trying to get myself together. We moved all of Eli’s stuff back to my car and as I pulled on to 75 the tears suddenly began to flow. Now I know some of you are reading this and thinking I am a total wuss, but for those of you parents who have been there (or anyone who has ever had a bad hair cut) you understand! Still, in the midst of the tears I knew I was overreacting and needed to look at the big picture. Eli hadn’t been hurt, he hadn’t been neglected or mistreated. I kept saying to myself, “God, what is the lesson in this?”
My friend Caroline and I have a saying we use with each other when we seem to be getting bogged down by the world. “In light of eternity……is _____ that big of a deal?” So I called Caroline and left her a message explaining what had happened and telling her that I need her to call me back because I needed a good “In light of eternity” speech from her. While I was leaving her a message, Brandon’s mom called. She had already apologized several times and I figured she was calling back to tell me again how sorry she was. I didn’t want to talk to her in the midst of my weepiness so I just ignored the call. She called again a minute or so later and this time I just let my voice mail pick it up. A few minutes later Brandon called and said I needed to pray for his mom and dad. I had just left them at the mall about 10 minutes prior to that so I wasn’t sure what he was talking about. It was then he told me that they had been in a 3 car wreck, sideswiped by a reckless driver on 285. They were fine, shaken up, but fine and waiting for the police to arrive. At that point all the frustration and bitterness left me and all I had was thankfulness and relief. Relief that Eli hadn’t been in the car, that they hadn’t been injured, that their car wasn’t totaled…. And I felt God give me a great big kick in the pants and say, “In light of eternity”- is hair really that big of a deal?
So my challenge for you today is this: What things in your life have you feeling bitter, frustrated, and overwhelmed. Maybe it’s something silly like hair, or maybe it’s something God has revealed to you in the midst of this Braveheart series. Who are you holding grudges against? What secrets have you kept hidden? What pieces of your life are broken? Who do you need to ask for forgiveness? Will it take a scare like an accident or an illness to make you look at things differently? Or will you be able to see that “In light of eternity” life is too short and it’s just not worth all the drama.
And to all those curls I’ve loved before… I will still miss you but maybe with a little hair gel and a little time that crazy hair will come back curlier than ever.
Stephanie
My friend Caroline and I have a saying we use with each other when we seem to be getting bogged down by the world. “In light of eternity……is _____ that big of a deal?” So I called Caroline and left her a message explaining what had happened and telling her that I need her to call me back because I needed a good “In light of eternity” speech from her. While I was leaving her a message, Brandon’s mom called. She had already apologized several times and I figured she was calling back to tell me again how sorry she was. I didn’t want to talk to her in the midst of my weepiness so I just ignored the call. She called again a minute or so later and this time I just let my voice mail pick it up. A few minutes later Brandon called and said I needed to pray for his mom and dad. I had just left them at the mall about 10 minutes prior to that so I wasn’t sure what he was talking about. It was then he told me that they had been in a 3 car wreck, sideswiped by a reckless driver on 285. They were fine, shaken up, but fine and waiting for the police to arrive. At that point all the frustration and bitterness left me and all I had was thankfulness and relief. Relief that Eli hadn’t been in the car, that they hadn’t been injured, that their car wasn’t totaled…. And I felt God give me a great big kick in the pants and say, “In light of eternity”- is hair really that big of a deal?
So my challenge for you today is this: What things in your life have you feeling bitter, frustrated, and overwhelmed. Maybe it’s something silly like hair, or maybe it’s something God has revealed to you in the midst of this Braveheart series. Who are you holding grudges against? What secrets have you kept hidden? What pieces of your life are broken? Who do you need to ask for forgiveness? Will it take a scare like an accident or an illness to make you look at things differently? Or will you be able to see that “In light of eternity” life is too short and it’s just not worth all the drama.
And to all those curls I’ve loved before… I will still miss you but maybe with a little hair gel and a little time that crazy hair will come back curlier than ever.
Stephanie
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