Michael's Notes - Thoughts On Worship, Leadership & Fitness

Over 600

This week my friend list on Facebook topped 600.  I now officially have more friends than my college age daughter. I don’t know if I should brag about that or not.  Here is what I do know: Facebook has become a ministry tool.  It has become a way for me to stay connected with persons at our church and in my community and from what I learn I have conversation starters when I get the privilege of seeing these people in person.

 

Just recently a consultant in Nashville, Maurilio Amorim, posted a blog "Should Pastors Use Social Media?" I hope you take a few moments to read this.

 

I am new to the social networking world but I have become a fan in a short time and a user of both Facebook and Twitter. So if you get a chance I would love to connect with you on both Facebook and Twitter.

Why Twitter?

Social networking is really becoming a part my life and ministry: finding old friends, keeping up with new ones, keeping connected with church members and learning about new things and technology.  Right now the two I rely on are Facebook and Twitter.  Almost everyone I talk to understands Facebook however it is not quite the same for Twitter. 

Twitter is a micro-blog tool that allows for you to post current information that is immediately posted to those who follow you.  For me the Twitter posts also show up as status updates at Facebook and they are also posted on my blog. 

 The biggest question I get about Twitter is “why?”  Here is a short list:

Staying connected with people is important, Twitter helps.

• • I get to follow some interesting people:
  • I follow some great leaders who lead me to some great information
  • I follow my leader…I want to know where he is headed
  • I follow some funny people, whose twitters make me laugh
  • I follow some people in other parts of the country who do the same job as me. 
• Twitter helps others stay involved in my day
  • It has helped when I needed prayer
  • Gives people a glimpse into my life (I’m not just the person on the stage each Sunday)
  • Helps the people I minister with to know me better
• I follow creative people who help get my creativity flowing
• I follow some techno ‘nerds’ who are always showing new ways to use technology

Here are a couple of resources Twitter helps:

The Beginners Guide to Twitter,a blog post by Michael Hyatt titled: 

Ten Easy Steps for Twitter Beginners, a TwiTip blog edited by Darren Rowse.

Why Twitter Matters, a Business Week article.

In the future…

•  I hope to have more worship ministry people connected through Twitter.
•  I see the possibility of different ministries within the church having Twitter accounts so that information can be communicated quickly.

If you want to follow me go to www.twitter.com; sign up for an account and then search for me @michaelhsmith.  You follow me and I will follow you.

Not my choice, but my president

I admit that Barack Obama was not my choice and not the one I cast my vote for in the 2008 presidential election.  Since that November day many things have crossed my mind about what an Obama led United States of America may look like.  Today as I witnessed some of the events of the day I have been convicted concerning my sentiments and thoughts and convicted that my role is to pray.  Just recently one of my twitter friends and religious leaders of this country, @maxlucado, put out a call, for all who would, to dedicate today as a day of prayer for our new president.  Over 200,000 people signed this commitment…I was not one…I should have been one. As the events played out on the television today I could not help but stop and begin to pray for our new president. I cannot begin to understand the enormous responsibility that this job brings.

 

I was reminded of the words of the Apostle Paul that are recorded in the book of Romans chapter 13: ' Everyone must submit to the governing authorities...' I do submit because Barack Obama is our new president. I will support him with my prayers.

 

My prayer for the new president is:

O God, creator of everything and one who has everything in control, thank you for allowing this great country of America to survive and prosper.  God, let Your presence be real to our new president and may he call on you often for guidance and wisdom.  Surround him with people who follow You and listen to You.  I pray that You would not only guide President Obama as he carries out his duties as president but that you also guide him as he strives to be a husband and father and that in some miraculous way allow him to have quality family time with his wife and children.

 

Thank You that we live in a country where a transfer of power is accomplished in peace.  Thank you that this is a great country and let us never forget.

 

There is a story of one event just before the inauguration of Abraham Lincoln; he was sitting in his hotel room going over his speech with his wife.  As that time came to a close he dropped to his knees and begins to pray, overwhelmed at the task before him.  I hope and pray that that scene is carried out often by our new president. 

 

Barack Obama is the President of the United States of America, my president…I promise to pray for him.

Making "Christ the King"

Each Saturday in The Tennessean there is an article written by a local pastor sharing some random point of his interpretation of theology. I usually just glance through this commentary however a few Saturdays ago I got past the first paragraph because the subject was very thought provoking.  The guest writer was communication the fact that the next day would be recognized as ‘Christ the King’ Sunday in many churches.  He went on to state that some churches who recognize the liturgical calendar had changed the name so that Christ was not recognized as King, they try to replace the ‘king’ part with another name. 

 

I agree with the writer ‘King’ is an appropriate title for Jesus Christ.  It notes authority, it shows that the leader serves the needs of His people and it also shows that the servants do all they can to honor the ‘King.’ 

 

Personally I believe the word ‘King’ also shows for us as believers that Jesus Christ is much more than a Savior, but someone who we can turn to in all situations, everyday.  When I call Him ‘King’ it shows that I am surrendering to His authority, His will. When I call Him ‘King’ I also recognize that I have chosen to be His follower, not just someone He has saved.

 

I have always served in churches that do not celebrate the liturgical year, other than advent, Christmas, Palm Sunday and Easter, however, Christ the King Sunday seems like a great idea, but I want it to be something that I celebrate everyday.

Heart Health: body, soul and spirit

My home page is set to Fox News and tonight and the headline at the top of the page was: Fat Nation: Latest federal figures show that Americans aren't just overweight — more and more are becoming obese.

 

65% of U.S. adults are classified as overweight. Part of this is because we have evolved into a sedentary society…we move very little. The Fox News article states the statistics this way: 34 percent of Americans are obese, … 32.7 percent are overweight…under 6 percent are "extremely" obese.

 

My full-time job is that of a minister, but my full-time passion is to be a follower of Christ, trying to do what he wants in every aspect of my life. For me every aspect means being intentional on how I take care of my physical body also.

 

In the business I am in, we are always talking about heart health…getting our spiritual heart right with God…because that’s what this job is all about.  That is the most important thing.  There is nothing more important than being in a right relationship with God: admitting we are sinners; believing Jesus Christ died for our sins; confessing our sins to God and living a life that puts Jesus Christ in a place of Lordship for every aspect of our lives. And not just believing Christ but following Him in every aspect of our lives.

 

Do we take care of the spiritual but forget the physical.  This temple we live in is amazing gift.   It amazes me that we take for granted; often neglect this amazing gift…our body…that God has given us.  Our bodies are a part of that “every aspect.”

 

Have you noticed in the Bible there are no guidelines for exercise …could it be that the contemporaries of Biblical times were active people?  They walked everywhere they went. They worked with their hands.  Our bodies were made to move. Research shows that intentional moving, as little as 10-20 minutes will make a tremendous difference in how we feel. Moving burns calories; moving makes our heart stronger; moving makes our bones stronger.

 

I have been on a journey of intentional movement now for almost nine years. It has made a positive impact on how I live.  I encourage you to get moving. I Thessalonians 5: 23 says: Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely. And may your spirit, soul, and body be kept sound and blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

So…does living as a follower of Christ mean that we are to get moving?

A Personal Story: God has a plan

The Christmas holidays are suppose to be a time for family and celebration of God’s gift to us.  It is not suppose to be a time when you face tragedy and the death of a loved one.  This year that is exactly what our family faced.  On the day after Christmas my sister’s 23 year old son passed away due to complications from the flu.  Many of you already know this and have been very supportive, speaking to us words of encouragement, comfort and letting us know you are supporting us in prayer.  My sister, her family and my parents still need that kind of support.

 

Many of you have asked what exactly happened…we really don’t know…and may never know. 

 

In the few days after the tragedy some of the  local newspapers ran a few articles and one of the TV stations in Charlotte North Carolina (WCNC-TV Channel - 36) did a story on the my nephew and the facts of a vibrant, full of life 23 year old dying from the flu.  The link to an article and news spot is here.

 

Thank you again for your prayers. 

 

One last thought, very soon after the receiving the tragic news my 14 year old son comforted his grandmother with these words:  “Mimi, we don’t understand it now, but God does and He has plan.” Amen.

The First Staff Meeting of the Year

Tuesday will be the first worship staff meeting for 2009.  Below I am posting an agenda outline for that meeting.  I am hoping that this agenda will help set the tone for 2009 and help us be prepared for both the predictable and the unpredictable.  I am also thinking that I will use some form of this outline for more than just the first meeting of the year.

 

1. Prayer (there is no better place to start…thanking God for His help in the past and asking for His wisdom for the future.)
2. The Basics (before we start any evaluation or planning we need to take a look at who we are, what foundations we stand on and what ‘big picture’ goals have been set before us.)
   1. ClearView Core values
   2. ClearView Mission/vision statement
   3. Worship Staff Core values/mission statement
3. A Look Back (this is a look back at recent days, evaluating did we meet our objectives for engaging God in worship and encouraging the congregation to do the same.)
   1. 12-28-08
   2. 1-04-09
4. A Look Forward (here we will look at the near future and what is planned, tweaking items as needed and discussing worship team personnel.)
   1. 1-11-09
   2. 1-18-09
   3. 1-25-09
5. Out to the Future (a discussion where we ask our pastor to give us insights into where he will heading in future sermons in the current series and general thoughts on the up-coming sermon series.)
6. A New Opportunity…chapel venue (early in 2009 the worship staff will face a great opportunity that will bring many unknowns…the opening of a second worship venue on our campus. As we prepare for this opportunity, which we have been doing for many months, we need to stop and review why, how, what of this venture.)
   1. Why are we opening the venue
   2. What is the goal of the ‘more traditional service’

                                                              i.      How do communicate what we are about to do?

                                                            ii.      Video introduction of service…Mark to set the tone.

3. The first day

                                                              i.      Personnel…host, leader, ushers

                                                            ii.      Service outline

4. Before the first day

                                                              i.      Technology

                                                            ii.      Dry runs

5. Dedication service
6. Dedication activities
6. Christmas 2008 (before the busiest month of the year becomes a distant memory we are going to take some time to evaluate)
   1. What worked?  What did not work?

                                                              i.      Children’s Musical

                                                            ii.      Worship choir musical

                                                          iii.      Christmas Eve

8. Christmas 2009…ideas for next year (for me the ideas for the next year come during the current year, but I often don’t take the time to write them down.  Even if all we do is come up with a discussion list I believe it give us a place to come back to.)
   1. Concerts?
   2. Dramas?
   3. Ministry outside the walls?
   4. Nights dedicated to worship?
   5. Christmas Eve…variety?
9. Spring 2009 (with the opening of a new venue we are being forced to think outside of the box…so what does that look like)
   1. Worship choir lead worship service

                                                              i.      Able to lead a core group into a greater understanding of passionate worship

                                                            ii.      Always seem to be markers in the worship life of ClearView

2. What does this look like in 2009

                                                              i.      Choir w/guests

                                                            ii.      Choir alone

                                                          iii.      When do we schedule this?

10. Making Disciples (back to the core values…giving the staff some materials for them to review that help think of ways to be better at making disciples)