For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh   -Phil 3:3

I don’t worship by my flesh. I worship by the spirit of God and I glory in Christ Jesus.  This seems like it’s detached from what we do in America, but I don’t think it is. Paul is saying that those who are of the circumcision think they have some extra access to worship God because of their physical circumcision. This is just funny to think about. They think because the end of their penis doesn’t have the extra skin from birth, that they have extra favor with God. Weird. But to give them credit, it made sense in their day. It was a sign of a covenant between them and God. But what about now? Paul says that WE are the circumcision(the people who have a covenant with God) because we worship by the spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus.

It’s all about who is “special” to God. Who gets his attention. Who he notices more. Who he favors. Who’s “in”.

And we are still concerned with this today. And there is nothing wrong with wanting to be near to God and wanting his favor.  It’s how we go about getting it that can get twisted. See, the jews of the day followed all the religious laws and thought that they were earning favor with God.  What about today?  What do we do to earn favor with God?

The first thing that comes to mind (because I lead a worship service every week) is church clothes. There is nothing wrong with signs of honor, I do it everytime I go on a date with my wife, but there IS something very wrong when we genuinely believe God sees or favors us more because of our clothing.  We are coming before the God of the universe. Do we really think that a collar on our shirt or a crease in pants is going to earn us enough points to enter into his presence.

No way Jose. Ain’t happenin’.

He’s God. He’s holy. You can’t come before him just because you cleaned up a bit. And without the blood of Jesus, you would be utterly consumed in His presence (and not in a good way).  Thinking our clothes or hair is going to somehow earn us favor or even saftey in the presence of God is like jumping into a shark tank with your “briar proof” jeans. It just ain’t gonna cut it.

But “It is we who are the circumcision [figuratively], we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh” that can enter into his presence freely.  James 4:6 says that God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble. That’s why that 20 something that just came to Christ (you know the one, he doesn’t know that the “F” word is not an acceptable adjective anymore) encounters God in incredible ways while the prideful, albeit nicely dressed, church folk seem to struggle to hear from God at all.

So in the end, it’s not about dress or not dress. That’s just an example. We strive to earn God’s favor in countless other ways: work, language, good deeds, being nice, etc.  But what God is after is a heart change. A humbling before the incredible work of his son Jesus and a realization that only be His sacrifice do we have access to God.  And only by the Spirit of God can we worship the father at all (remember John 4?).

So, today I don’t want to feel like I need to measure up to come before God.  I want to worship by the Spirit of God. I want to glory in Christ Jesus, not myself, because, lets face it: I don’t have all that much to glory in on my own. Oh, but in Jesus, nothing is impossible. He can use me and mold me and give me an incredible destiny. Thank You Jesus.

I think this one can be summed up in 2 words: BAD MIX

I’ve been in traditional Easter services where the Orchestra is pushing 110 Db and the entire senior community is present and loving it!  So, I think we can say with confidence that when people complain about a 4 piece band running 95Db that the real issue isn’t volume, it’s the mix*.

I have run sound enough to know that when the average person complains about the mix, they generally don’t say things like, “I’m suffering from listening fatigue” or “The cymbals seem harsh, can you roll back the highs a bit” or “The vocals are way out front. Anyway to get them back in the mix.”  Nope, it’s will almost always, “This music is too loud” or, more specifically, “The drums are too loud!”

So, if your a senior or worship pastor:
Invest in some great FOH engineers. Acoustically treat your room. Isolate your gear(you can’t run your rig like The Edge unless you have 10,000 people in your venue). Invest in good equipment. And I promise you this: it will go a long way in unifying your church in terms of music.

If your a congregation member:
Administer some grace, churches aren’t run on elaborate budgets (at least yours probably doesn’t), and it’s likely your leaders are doing their best.  And in the meantime, feel free to offer constructive,  heartfelt, criticism and loving, authentic encouragement. (And try to do more of the latter than the former).

What do you think?  Do you agree? Do you disagree?

*This is a general statement. Sometimes, it’s just TOO LOUD!

“God gets it, we don’t have to sing the same thing over and over”

“There isn’t any depth to these new songs. It’s just the same words over and over”

“The older music is where we learned our doctrine as a kid. What are kids learning these days with these songs?”

My wife actually brought up the best response I have heard to these objections: “The angels are incredibly repetitive, no one ever criticizes them.”  In case your not familiar with this scripture, she’s referring to Revelation 4:8-11 where it says that the living creatures and the elders before the throne sing essentially the same thing ALL day and night.

Wow. Talk about repetitive.

Would we say to those creatures before the throne: “God gets it. Move on?”  Of course not. The reason they sing isn’t to help God understand his Holiness.  And it’s not even to help THEM understand something about God. Get this:

Their worship is ENTIRELY based upon his worth.

They’ve never been healed, restored, freed or delivered. Never have they had a prayer answered or a request fulfilled.  The nature of God’s Holiness and Glory dictate their unceasing worship.  It’s as if every line they sing isn’t enough to express his worth.

And so for us, should we sing the same thing ALL day and night?  Of course not.  Would he be worth it?  Absolutely.  In the same way that there is nothing wrong with long, theological songs, there is nothing wrong with long, repetitive songs. We have examples of both in scripture. Why in the past 20-30 years have we seen the worship culture become saturated with repetitive music?

We’re inundated with information.

I get information fed to me from my computer, my phone, my friends, the newspaper, my tv, and advertisements just about everywhere I go. This wasn’t the case when the great Hymns were written. It was an event to get the local paper. People we looking for ways to carry information and songs were amazing mediums.

Today, I think we have a generation that is so inundated with information that when they go to music, they aren’t looking for more information, they are looking for passion and experience.  Which brings us to next week’s issue: “It’s too emotional”

*feel free to post thoughts in the comments section

1. These are generally complaints that divide our generations in worship, which is not God’s heart. At all. As Bob Kauflin has said: “When we segregate our worshippers because of music, we perpetuate the idea that music has more power to divide us than the gospel does to unite us.”  Very challenging

2. If we never address these things, countless believers will continue to walk into church with a heart to worship and walk out discouraged or upset. This shouldn’t be so.  I think misunderstanding and communication are at the root of our problems here.

3. Unity has always been the precursor for outpourings of God. Look at the church right before pentecost: unified. And in Acts 4, even after persecution: unified. It’s almost as if unity is the vessel that allows the church to host a mighty move of the Holy Spirit. And I think that is what most of us really want.

4. I’m hearing some of this in my own congregation and I would love for those of you reading who are a part of riverside to be able to hear my heart, even if we haven’t gotten a chance to talk personally.

So that’s it. I’ll have a new post up in the next few days.  I’d love for this to be a conversation, so feel free to comment. Good or bad.

Cole

“But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of You.” – Phil 2:17

Mind you, I am no expert on the Jewish sacrificial system, but a drink offering was essentially a liquid (typically wine or oil) poured out on an altar before the Lord as a sign of thanks and worship.  And I love the picture that Paul draws here, not just between himself and God, but between everyone involved: Paul, the Philippians, and God.  Paul says that he is a drink offering and that the sacrifices/service of the Philippians is the alter. How amazing that Paul’s discipleship is an offering to the Lord. How beautiful that the fruit of those disciples is an offering as well.  I long to model this in my life. That my life would be an offering to the Lord, poured over the fruit of those I disciple.

Today, no matter who you are, can I ask you this?  Where are you pouring yourself out? Work? Sports? Money? Retirement? Hobbies? Those things are fleeting.  Pour yourself out for what matters. Pour yourself into discipling your kids and loving your wife.  Find a person younger than you and speak into their lives and their walk with the Lord.  Befriend that neighbor and pour yourself out to see them come to know our precious Jesus.  How our world would be changed if we poured ourselves out for others!

Cole

Fort Myers, Florida to be exact.

As most of you know, I resigned from SnellvilleUMC at the beginning of October because Mindy and I felt like God had something else for us. And He did.  Beginning December 1st I’ll be leading worship at Riverside Church in Fort Myers, Florida.

Mindy and I are incredibly excited about the move.  We’ve been able to visit and spend time with the people and staff at Riverside several times over the past couple months and God has really connected our hearts to there’s and ignited in us a vision for what God is doing in SW Florida.  And specifically at Riverside.

We are going to miss everyone so much.  I have lived my entire life in Gwinnett county and Mindy has lived the vast majority of hers here as well. As we look forward to making new friends and memories in Florida, I can’t help but think about all the ones we have here in Ga.  23 years of life in an area builds a lot of deep relationships and memories.  It’ll surreal to think that my kids won’t call Georgia home. But I think of what Jesus said to his disciples (who left FAR more than me):

And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.

I’m not sure I’ve ever really given up much to follow Jesus.  So while I am going to miss everyone tremendously, I am so excited to see how God blesses our sacrifice and willingness to follow his lead.  We are definitely leaving parents and grandparents, but I’m confident God will raise up spiritual parents and grandparents for us and our children in FL.  We are definitely leaving friends, but I know God has and will continue to connect our hearts with people in FL.

To everyone at Riverside: I can’t wait to get to know you and your families. I can’t wait for my kids to meet yours. I can’t wait to be in the presence of God with you.  I can’t wait to see God move in incredible ways through you.  I can’t wait to begin this journey with you all.

Cole

“Kids these days sing a lot of songs about asking God to come and to feel his presence. They are all self centered. We need to sing songs that glorify God”

Ok, so maybe everyone doesn’t word it EXACTLY like that, but the point is generally the same: “so many of these new songs seem self centered.” And I think this is a great point that’s worth thinking about.

Paul said something in Phillipians 3 that has been shaking me to the core lately. He said this:

“What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish that I may gain Christ…..”

EVERYTHING is rubbish compared to knowing him? Really? EVERYTHING? When nothing else matters, He matters most. When he matters most, he becomes preeminent in our desires. I think this is what God is stirring in this generation and why we are seeing so many songs with lines like, “living flame of love, come baptize us” or “fire fall down on us we pray” or “open us the sky, fall down like rain” or “we lift our holy hands up, we want to touch you.”

I think of the man Jesus spoke about in Matthew 13 who found a treasure in the field and sold everything he had to buy that field. Or David, who said in Ps 27:4 that the ONE thing he wanted was to be in God’s presence. And we see it in everyday life. A drug addict worships the drug because they will sell everything to have just a small hit of their drug of choice. When nothing else matters, he matters most. Or as John Piper puts it: He is most glorified when we are most satisfied in Him.

I think this foundation needs to be spoken out over this generation. Like I said in the post about “Worship Leader as Teacher,” we have a responsibility to give theological understanding to experiences our people are having with God. If we sing the songs, but have no understanding why, we will ride emotional highs and never center in the truth of scripture. Remember: spirit AND truth.

Do we need more meaty songs? Sure. Could this current worship movement use some more theological grounding? Always. But I am excited to see a worship movement that values the personal encounter people have with the living God. With Jesus. With the Holy Spirit. Because He is most glorified when we are most satisfied in Him.

Cole

I’m sure a lot of people are wondering why we are leaving. I think people throw the God card around a little too much. It seems like any time a leader transitions out of a church, the reason is because God is moving them.  And while I do believe many times this is the case, I think it’s fair to say we’ve all watched leaders leave and thought, “There’s more there….”

For Mindy and I the biggest reason for the transition has to do with long term fit. It feels like yesterday Mindy and I were kids in high school.  And one day, it feels, we woke up and were married with kids, a house, and a full time job/ministry. In the past 4 years, I don’t think we’ve even thought about where we will be in 10 or even 5 years.  Do we want to live in Snellville?  Somewhere else?  Are we going to stay at Snellville UMC for 10 years?  As we began to process and pray through these questions, we felt it fair to keep our eyes and ears open to opportunities.

A month or so ago a few worship pastor opportunities came up and we felt like one in particular might be a really good long term fit for us; a place we could really dig in our heels.  No details are set in stone at this point, so I can’t give away details just yet, but we are really excited about the opportunities we have before us. With that said, we are still open to any opportunities that God brings our way.  If you know of anyone looking for a worship pastor, they can download my resume HERE.

In this time of transition if you or your church is in need of an interim worship leader or just a day for your current worship pastor to take a holiday with his family, I’d value to opportunity and the work.

Blessings,
Cole

Do you ever feel that maybe this isn’t exactly how you feel 100% of the time?  Or maybe if we got really honest, we might say there are some weeks that we didn’t even feel our need to meet with God at all.  I know I can say that. And don’t get me wrong, some weeks I long to be with him. He’s on my mind every moment and I’m satisfied ONLY when I am with Him.  But not always.

Why?

God has placed in us a need and a hunger for Him.  We were made for Him, by Him and like Him.  So again we have to wonder. Why don’t I daily feel that?  Why doesn’t my soul thirst for God?

…………

When I am hungry for food, I know I need substance. I need protein, electrolytes, sodium, vitamins, minerals, etc.  But sometimes when I can’t get to a good meal I grab a coke or a bag of chips. I eat and I drink and I feel full. Not that I’ve satisfied my need for substance, but now my aching and yearning for food is gone.

I’m not hungry.  But I’m not fed.

Now, I don’t make a diet out of chips, candybars, and coke.  But what if I did?  Would I be hungry. Sometimes.  Would I ever really be fed.  No.  And after an extended period of time I’d find myself in pain, dizzy, with headaches and weakness.  Because though I’ve eaten, I still haven’t satisfied the core reason for my hunger: nutrition.

I think the same happens with our hunger and thirst for God.  We begin with a hunger and thirst and truthfully not everyone is sure what it’s for. It’s just……there.   And then we buy a new car and the hunger is gone.  We’re full.  But pretty soon the hunger is back, so we get a new girlfriend.  And even when that goes great, our hunger returns.  And years later we find ourselves broken, hurting, and weak.  Why?  We may be temporarily satisfying our hunger, but we are never addressing the core reason for our hunger:

We were made to be with God.

He alone fully satisfies our need for peace, security, purpose, acceptance and salvation.  I like what Isaiah 55:2 says:

Why do you spend money on what is not bread
and labor on what does not satisfy
Listen, listen to me and eat what is good
and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.

We live in a hard world. So much is flashed before our eyes and it’s easy to long after everything BUT God.  But even if our hunger isn’t there yet, we fix our eyes on Him.  We enter his presence because we know that just like Jesus we live on the very words that proceed from the mouth of God.  And whether we feel it or not, without his words, we’re starving.

Today, whether you’ve been lulled into comfort by what “is not bread,”  or you have a aching hunger for the presence: Enter in and be fed. In the words of John Piper: “He is most glorified when we are most satisfied in Him”

Peace,
Cole

We have 3 of them. One isn’t born yet. (I know, some might say I have 2 and 1/2 kids, but lets be real, a half person doesn’t get hiccups, have a heartbeat, and relentlessly kick my wife’s bladder)

Oh and my wife, let’s call her Mindy (because that’s her name) works with kids 4 days a week.

And the thing about kids is: they cry A LOT.  I think 5 times an hour my kids cry about something. And though we love them, Mindy and I don’t always give them our undivided attention for each incident. Sometimes they’re trying to manipulate us.  Sometimes they’re exaggerating.  And sometimes they’re just plain lying.  But when we know something is genuinely  wrong, or that they are actually hurt, we ALWAYS turn to them.  And it’s that direct attention that calms them down.  I know so many times when multiple kids will be vying for Mindy’s attention and she will turn her attention to just one of them and ask, “What is it?”  You can see the kid calm down instantly, then explain, then receive help.

As I was reading Ps 40 I couldn’t help but think of Her.

Ps 40:1 I waited patiently for the Lord, He turned to me and heard my cry.

There is such a parental/human sense to how David describes God in this verse. God turns to us and hears our cry?  Is this really same God that David later describes in Ps 139 as being present, whether we are in the heavens or the depths of the earth?  Is this the same omnipotent, omniscient God of David?

I know this metaphor can’t “walk on all 4′s.”  God doesn’t feel stressed or pulled between people who are vying for his attention.  But there is something so comforting in the way David describes how the Lord dealt with him and will deal with us when we cry out to Him.

He turns to us.

As if to say, “What is it? What’s the matter?”  When I sense God’s presence in the midst of my prayers, there is a sense of peace that overwhelms me. I feel like a child, who’s father or mother has turned their attention toward them.  I don’t have to yell, or cry. I don’t have to display my desperation anymore.  All  need to do is pour out my heart and lay my burdens before Him.

We have an amazing heavenly Father. He is wiser than any earthly father and infinitely more loving.  When we cry out to Him, he has the grace to not only hear us, but to first turn his attention toward us.  Wherever you are today. Keep waiting. Wait patiently. Keep praying.  When you sense his presence in the midst of your plea, your deliverance is near.

Isn’t our God good?

Cole