A few weeks ago, our student pastor asked me to come up with a list of expectations for the members of our youth worship team. It was back in March that I began leading worship for the student ministry during their mid-week worship services. I’ve loved serving in this role, despite being stretched and trying to learn to play along with other instruments — something I’ve never done before.

As can be expected, we had a couple of members of the team who showed some apathy or, for some reason or another, ended up being asked to take a break and examine their heart and desires for being a part of the worship ministry team. This is what led our student pastor to ask me to come up with this list.

That being said, here is a rough draft that I came up with. These are in no particular order.

• Attend the team practices regularly. Perfect attendance is not required, but you are expected to be there as much as possible. In order to play during the weekly services, you must attend practice. If you miss a practice, then you will have to miss out on playing in the service that week.
• Improve on your God-given talents. Practice at home or with friends whenever you are able. Put in some time on a regular, weekly basis with your instrument. Learn about it, get better at using it, and push yourself to become an overall better musician.
• Attend church services regularly.
• While you are at church, be an example in your actions and appearance. You are, in a sense, a worship leader and you never know who is watching you with that in mind. Be mindful of how you look and how you act while you are at church or church functions.
• While you are at home or at school, surround yourself with “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable…anything that is excellent or praiseworthy.” (Phil. 4: Apply this to the choices you make regarding people and the “stuff” in life.
• Find some way to extend your ministry on the other days of the week as well (not just Wednesday night). You should make an effort to reach people with the gospel of Jesus Christ. (This will look very different for everyone on the team.)
• Honesty and accountability are expected from every single member of the team. We should make a strong effort to be open with each other and this requires honesty from everyone as well as trust. If you are struggling, reach out to (the student pastor) or Andy. At the very least, talk to another member of the team. Let’s not allow any sort of “fake” or “mask” mentality to creep into our ministry team. We are not perfect, nor is perfection expected of any of you.
• Stay in touch with the team. Regular communication (phone, email, TXT, etc.) between team members is expected and encouraged for the sake of community — we are a team, a family, and will need to function as one throughout the week. Therefore…
• Make an attempt to spend some time together as a group just “hanging out” with one another. This may/may not happen EVERY week, but we will try to make it happen as often as we can.

I would appreciate any thoughts or input on this list.

Panera Bread just opened a new location here in Huntsville today. The office decided to try it for lunch. My Chipotle Chicken sandwich was some of the best eating I’ve had in a long time. BONUS: It’s right next door to a Fresh Market.

Mmm…

Mike Metzger suggests that if your friends won’t read the Bible, take them to see The Bourne Ultimatum. In fact, if they haven’t already seen all of them, get them to watch the entire trilogy. From Bourne Again:

The Bourne Identity asks the existential question (”Who am I?”) according to film critic Manohla Dargis (formerly at the Los Angeles Times). He says the second film, The Bourne Supremacy was moral – “What did I do wrong?” The third installment, The Bourne Ultimatum, is redemptive according to David Denby of The New Yorker. It addresses “How can I escape what I am?”

(HT: Justin Taylor)

(Photo © ONE/MILLION)

It has been said that people don’t fear change, they fear the process of changing. I’m not sure I agree. Nonetheless, my 5-year-old daughter was not afraid of either today. For the past two weeks, she was attending the elementary school where I am an employee. However, due to a recent promotion, I will be leaving said school in two weeks. So, we made the decision to withdraw her and enroll her at the school where my wife is a teacher. She didn’t seem phased, for the most part. There was an initial blip on the radar of emotions, but she quickly got over it as we began telling her about her new school and reminded her that some of her church friends went to this school as well.

This morning was the beginning of her time at her “new school” and it is our prayer that she be able to stay there for the remainder of her elementary school years. As a child, I moved from place to place so often that I nearly had a different school every year. It was not pleasant. I pray and hope for the opposite for my daughter.

My job change comes over four years since I began working at the school I am currently at. Over the past four years, I have seen so much change in my life, both professionally and personally. Working at that school has absolutely changed my life. However, I have felt a slight discontent over the past 18 months or so, and that makes this change a lot easier. I can myself being in this new position for a few years to come. However, all of that is in God’s mighty hands and I rest in that fact. I can see myself in so many different places in the coming months and years, yet I rely on His grace and seek His will and for now, that means leaving my current position and taking on this new role — which is such a blessing because of the increased benefits. God is so good to us all (Psalm 145:9) — and He has been good to us over the past year, even when all I felt was stress and worry.

That is one thing that I know will never change: the awesome and wonderful character of our God!