Erika
I know I've said it before, but I'll say it again. Erika has some really great insight/comments on her blog. If you are a follower of this blog, you should also check hers out. They are always a great look at the worship team (and/or worship in general) from an actual teen on the team... rather than from my point-of-view. She doesn't post all that often, but every time she it is good.
posted by James at 8:23 AM

How to get ahead
It is kind of an unstated, but frequent question in ministry. How do I get ahead? I want more responsibility. I want to be in charge. I want to start this new thing. How do I do that? What do I have to do to move ahead? Maybe not in those exact words, and not everyone feels that way. But you can tell that it is there in some peoples minds. And the answer is so easy, and is stated so often, that I think sometimes people over look it. Nah, that can't be it. That can't be all it takes. That isn't what I want to do.

Serve. That's it in a nutshell. You just serve. You show up, you have a high level of committment/integrity, you do whatever is needed, and whatever it takes. Sometimes people think its about talent, or desire, or showing someone how good you are. But it isn't. Given someone with tons of talent and no heart, or someone with tons of heart and a little talent... I'll take the heart every time. Yes, you have to be called, and yes you need talent/skill in whatever it is you want to do. I mean you can have the most heart and desire in the world to lead worship... but if you can't sing at all, it isn't going to happen. But heart makes up for a lot. And this is true in every ministry. It may not always be true in the coporate/job setting... but with a church staff and volunteers it is almost always true.

I've seen people who had great skill and were very talented in a certain area. They've made it known they wanted to lead in that area, that they were willing to take it on, take charge of it, etc. And from the outside they'd seem perfect... but they were never put in charge. Instead, someone that wasn't as obvious, that maybe had things to learn in that area was put in charge... But that person had a servant's heart. They had proved (perhaps unknowingly to themselves) that they were loyal, were committed, and would do whatever it takes. And that is almost always recognized by those in charge... and is somewhat rare, and very valued.

Why do I bring this up in Fusion Worship? I'm not sure... maybe I should have just put it on my normal blog. But it just seemed right here. I've been thinking about it a lot lately, as I see things happening at church. And as I watch the teens. Not just the band... but all the teams: band, CD, sound, etc. Looking at who shows up, who is always there, who has committment. Those that serve... just because it is in them. Those you can count on. I think they'll go far. And not all of them are the most talented. Not all of them are the first ones you'd think of for a particular position. But over time, they are proving themselves, and they are raising to the top.

Serving, and where your heart is, is so important in the ministry. And what you sow, you'll reap. It is a kingdom principle... and not one that everyone gets.
posted by James at 7:34 AM

Practice makes perfect
The team is getting so good. After service on the 11th, the team did two or three more songs, and then the lights came up. (If they keep playing, the teens will stay forever, and that isn't always a good thing... Since parents are there to pick them up, etc. - So, they are now bringing the lights up a little after 8:00 to kind of let everyone know Its time to go!). Anyway... some of the musicans that didn't have to go, just kept jamming. Bobby, Michael, Nathan and Kevin. And it was very cool what they were doing. These guys are really getting good. It shows what happens when you have some talent, and you play quite a bit and practice a lot. I know these guys put a lot of time into it, and it really shows.
posted by James at 7:22 AM

Stage presence
When I was at camp last summer, after practice on the last day, when the band was gathered for prayer before worship started, John Larson (the worship leader) talked to us about stage presence. To paraphrase...

We all know how important stage presence is. We don't want to fake it... but it is really important to look like you are having a good time. To move around, to get into worship. If we get into it, the kids will get into it. So, have fun and get into it!

He wasn't saying that to us because we hadn't been getting into it... he was just saying it so that we'd think about it and really go for it. And he was totally right. It is something that any muscian knows. If you are excited, others get excited. Why do professional bands (Christian and secular) put on shows? To get people into it.

With worship, it isn't hype... it isn't fake, it isn't "lets get them jumping just to get them jumping." It is a fact that as people enter into praise, and start moving around, dancing jumping, it helps them to stop thinking about themselves, being self conscience, and just let go. And then as they enter into worship, they can really think about God, talk to God, and spend time with Him... rather than just standing there, mouthing the words, thinking about their problems, the people around them, etc. They come away from the experience having experienced a time with God, and not just having sung some songs.

Why do I bring this up now? Because it was so apparent the last time the Fusion worship team played. Saturday night (the 11th) was just a little different from normal. You could just feel it. I don't know if it was Christmas break and people weren't back into the swing of things, or what. But no one really seemed into it. I mean the band was fine, the music was good, and some members of the team were getting into it... But for the most part the congregation wasn't. All the teens were just kind of standing there, maybe a few with their hands raised, "watching" what was going on and mouthing the words. They were watching... not really participating. This went on for two songs... (I Lift My Eyes Up and My Glorius) and then we started My Best Friend and Scott took off. He just started jumping around. He started the song jumping, and any time he wasn't signing, he was jumping. And the second he started, the whole atmosphere changed. As soon as he started, the congregation started, and from then on everybody was into it. It was kind of an amazing thing to watch.

Now was that hype, was that fake? No. But what it did was took everyone's mind off of whatever they were on, and put them on God. They started having fun, and they got into it.

That was a great example of leading worship. Not just being the band. Not just singing some songs that others sing along to. But helping lead the congregation into worship. Taking them where God wants them to go, and where they need to go.

It was awesome.
posted by James at 7:16 AM

delirious?
Pastor Rick called to let me know that delirious? is coming out with a Spanish version of Cutting Edge! It should be in out April 8th, and has 12 songs from Cutting Edge. This is very cool. Since we already do some of these in English, all we have to do is learn the words in Spanish. This is very cool for Costa Rica!

I checked their official web site, but no news yet. I'll try and check back there once in a while. Would be cool to know what songs, etc.
posted by James at 1:47 PM

SHOC
Pastor Rick talked to Bobby and I about the Fusion Band doing worship for SHOC. We *probably* won't do it tomorrow night... as it is kind of short notice, and we're looking at a couple hours of worship. Could be a bunch of free praise, which would be really cool... but I still think we need some prep. Anyway, I'll talk to Bobby about it tonight and see what he thinks. If not tomorrow, then probably next month.
posted by James at 11:23 AM

Ark the 22nd
Update: Michael, who cut his thumb on a bottle, will go into surgery sometime next week... I think. Because of that, his thumb will still be in a splint on the 22nd and he won't be able to do worship. As of right now, we have no one scheduled. I'll talk to the Fusion band on Saturday and see if anyone is interested/able to do it.
posted by James at 11:22 AM

Practice on the 18th is canceled
Pastor Rick's D*group has some kind of outting going on... and since almost all the musicians (not all, but most) are in his D*group, none of them can make it. Therefore, no practice!
posted by James at 10:32 AM

28-Dec-2002
It was great! Turned out that Bobby didn't have to leave town, so he made it. Also Stacie made most of practice and was there to do keys. Jaime was worried about being the only other singer besides Michael (kind of puts her in the spotlight), but Meg said she'd sign, and Bobby ended up signing too! Very cool stuff. Bobby was great. He has great passion when he sings. There was a cool feel about the night... I think because the team was smaller, people were stepping out of their comfort zones to do what was needed (and God honors that), and everyone just had fun and went for it. Tif came and was very moved by the worship, so that was very cool.
posted by James at 10:30 AM

Michael @ the Ark in Jan
Michael will be leading worship at the Ark on both the 12th and the 22nd. Thanks Michael, that is awesome! I think that Jaime and Erica are going up too, so they'll be doing background vocals.
posted by James at 10:27 AM