By Gobel Brockman
I don't really know why, but I've been thinking about my high school days a lot lately. (Yes, it's getting harder to remember them. Thanks for asking.) For some people, high school was a great time, filled with great memories of times with great friends. Not for me. That time period is among the worst of my life. Thing is, there's no one to blame but myself.
Around the time I was 14 or 15, I started 'dabbling' in drugs and alcohol. And I learned very quickly that those choices come with consequences. It wasn't long before it pretty much consumed me, to the point that some very crazy - and very stupid - things began to happen:
*I used to sit in the parking lot before school and get high or drunk almost daily.
*On more than one occasion I passed out in class at Central Nine.
*I once passed out in the middle of US 31 trying to get home from a party.
*I once helped buy PCP to put in another student's Coke.
I could go on (unfortunately), but I think I've made my point. My life was a mess. And everyone around me could see it. In our 'Senior Edition', there was a section titled something like "Songs We'll Remember Them By." Mine was "99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall." But here's the point I want to make - THAT PERSON IS GONE. On January 7th, 1981, I made the most important decision I've ever made; I accepted the fact that I was lost, and that my only hope was Jesus. Not a church, not a religion, But HIM. Jesus Christ. Have I been perfect since then? Of course not. Do I still need grace? Every day of my life. But my life has been forever changed.
You may ask, "That's great, but what does that have to do with me?" Simple - is there something in your life that's out of control? Are you in a situation that you have no idea how to deal with? Illness, death of a loved one, addictions for you or someone you love? I'm walking proof that CHANGE CAN HAPPEN. The same God that set me free can do it for you as well. If that's you, I don't present church or religion to you - I give you Jesus.
"If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away, all things are become new." II Corinthians 5:17
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Sunday, June 12, 2011
The "Worship" Service
By Gobel Brockman
I am a musician. My Dad taught me how to play guitar when I was seven, and I fell in love with it. When I became a Christian at age 18 I prayed that God would give me the ability to play keyboards. I don't consider myself a good musician, but I enjoy it very much.
I also love playing in church. One of my favorite parts of any church service is the music - some churches call it the 'song service', some call it the 'worship service'. Regardless, I love using music to express praise to God. But there's something I'm going to be honest about (knowing I'm going to ruffle a few feathers with this one). I sometimes wonder exactly how much 'worship' takes place during the 'worship' service. I've led worship in several churches and church settings over the years, and it always interests me that there's always some one who will find fault with it. If you play the older hymns, there's someone there to say, 'Do some new songs'. If you play new songs, there's someone there to say, 'I don't like these new songs, I miss the hymns.' Which brings me to this realization: we're becoming CONSUMERS instead of WORSHIPPERS.
A few years ago I read a story about a church that was being used by God to send worship music throughout the world. But the Pastor of the church began to notice some of the things I'm talking about. Then God led him to do something very interesting. He went to his Worship Pastor and told him, "Don't panic, you're not fired or anything, but we're not playing music in this church anymore until we learn to worship God without it." For a few months they struggled with what to do during the 'worship' time. Eventually they began to do just that - Worship the Lord. When the Pastor saw that his people were really becoming worshippers, he turned the music back on. During the first service, the song leader played a song that God had given him during this time. You may have heard it - it's called "The Heart Of Worship" (When the Music Fades).
I guess the point I'm trying to make is this - the point of the 'worship' service is to worship the King of Kings, Jesus Christ. If your focus is elsewhere, it may be time to readjust.
I am a musician. My Dad taught me how to play guitar when I was seven, and I fell in love with it. When I became a Christian at age 18 I prayed that God would give me the ability to play keyboards. I don't consider myself a good musician, but I enjoy it very much.
I also love playing in church. One of my favorite parts of any church service is the music - some churches call it the 'song service', some call it the 'worship service'. Regardless, I love using music to express praise to God. But there's something I'm going to be honest about (knowing I'm going to ruffle a few feathers with this one). I sometimes wonder exactly how much 'worship' takes place during the 'worship' service. I've led worship in several churches and church settings over the years, and it always interests me that there's always some one who will find fault with it. If you play the older hymns, there's someone there to say, 'Do some new songs'. If you play new songs, there's someone there to say, 'I don't like these new songs, I miss the hymns.' Which brings me to this realization: we're becoming CONSUMERS instead of WORSHIPPERS.
A few years ago I read a story about a church that was being used by God to send worship music throughout the world. But the Pastor of the church began to notice some of the things I'm talking about. Then God led him to do something very interesting. He went to his Worship Pastor and told him, "Don't panic, you're not fired or anything, but we're not playing music in this church anymore until we learn to worship God without it." For a few months they struggled with what to do during the 'worship' time. Eventually they began to do just that - Worship the Lord. When the Pastor saw that his people were really becoming worshippers, he turned the music back on. During the first service, the song leader played a song that God had given him during this time. You may have heard it - it's called "The Heart Of Worship" (When the Music Fades).
I guess the point I'm trying to make is this - the point of the 'worship' service is to worship the King of Kings, Jesus Christ. If your focus is elsewhere, it may be time to readjust.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)