Perfect Pracitce + Perfect Worship = Excellence

Sorry everyone - you're stuck with the same pic this week. My tendency to be computer challenged has struck again.

I've been thrown a bone - a very good bone! I've always appreciated excellence in music. During my college years, it was nothing for us piano majors to practice 4-6 hours easily in a day, every day, seven days a week. (all for one lousy credit, but don't get me started......) All for excellence. My teacher used to scold us for even having to warm up. He'd tell us we should be able to just set down and play on a whim. Easy for him to say. I've heard so many times that if people in the secular world work so hard to get their craft right, then we as Pentecostals, servants of God, should work harder, "the perfecting of the tools in your trade so the inspiration flows more easily and more perfectly", as it was put to me. I agree.

As I look back on all those grueling hours of backbreaking practice, the memory of the reward of a good performance or praise from my instructor is a welcome one. But that's where it stops. When I compare it to what I do for God, whether it's singing or playing at church or preparing and teaching a class here at Gateway, I often have a sense of emptiness - "meaninglessness." (Sorry English majors) Again, I'm convicted over my lack of effort for God's part when I compare it to how hard I worked to stroke my own pride after preforming a recital! But that's for another blog.......

I believe with all my heart that growth and ministry are directly tied to excellence. Our annual music conference, Unprecendented Praise, gives me a glimpse of where we are with regards to excellence in many churchs. Most of our musicians are just volunteers, working at Joe's Shoe Shop during the day and ministering in their local churches on a volunteer basis. Thank God for ALL of them! I often take for granted where I am and what I've been blessed to learn. It's a privilege I try not to take lightly. It is my firm conviction that no matter where you are musically, you should always be growing - take lessons, go to workshops, find a music mentor. It's too easy to grow stagnate. It is only in this way that our craft is honed and perfected. I read in The New Worship by Barry Liesch a very good analogy. He compared the church service to what most people see on TV or in a movie. He said, "Remember that people come to your worship service with similar unconscious expectations." Now that's a tall order! But really, I think it makes sense. It appears we have our work cut out for us.

So then there's the question of anointing and preparation. More times than I'd care to remember, I've heard people say that it didn't matter if they slaughtered the song because it was for the Lord and not the people. Sorry folks - I don't buy it. Again I refer back to Leisch's book with this definition of performance: "To perform is to do something complicated or difficult with skill in public with a view toward serving and ministering." If people are coming to our churches with such high expectations as mentioned above, then we have no choice but to be as prepared as possible. I'm not saying that it's all about us, our ability, our talent. Every time I see extraordinary talent, I thank God for it! It's not his talent or her talent, but rather just God expressing Himself through that person - how beautiful. But I believe that if we are to do all things as unto the Lord, and if "all of life is worship" as Nate Binion often states, then we must do the absolute best we can. II Corinthians 12:9 states that "his strength is made perfect in our weakness...." I believe this tells us to do all we can and then it's God's turn. And this is where I believe He finds great delight. So take that talent and hold it up to God and let Him multiply it! But also do your part - that's when God will willingly step in.

I was asked about this difference in perspective as far as anointing vs. preparation today compared to the past. Don't quote me, but I think there is much more emphasis on talent/preparation and less on anointing today than years ago. We definitely feel the need to get things perfect and "tight" now more than ever. Maybe I'm wrong, but I believe years ago they just had to step up because there was less to rely on. Today we are so blessed with all our technology, etc. I have no problem with perfection, but I think we obsess over it sometimes to the point that we forget our purpose. If we could somehow find that balance, then I think we would be suprised what we would acheive.

So my point here is, remember why and for whom you do what you do. Prepare for service for God - with equal parts technique and spiritual preparation - as though getting your message across is a matter of life and death to every soul!