Many of you out there who know me have most likely heard my short but heated rant on why I severely dislike, even despise, the use of the term worship leader.  Before I begin I do want to say that this does not come from a hate of music.  I love listening to it, I enjoy making it, I even enjoy studying it to some degree. Second of all I understand that this is strictly semantics for some people and they use it just as the most commonly used term, I don't mind that as much. However, there is still a problem I think that needs to be addressed in regards to this term. This term carries the connotation that music is the only part of our church service and lives that God sees as worship. It also says that because that music is "true" Worship, that it is more important than preaching, fellowship, or any other thing. Once again I want to say that I do love music, and I know that it is precious to God, but it is not all that Worship is.

First off, the meaning of the word Worship in Biblical terms: is to prostrate oneself in homage to something or someone. This definition does not really bring to mind singing or music. We see hands being lifted up in song, but never singing happening being prostrate. If any of you have any experience singing you know being bent over, or lying down does not really produce the best sound, or even is really possible.So the meaning of the word does not really lend itself to a definition of song, certainly not meaning singing only. As well there are 181 uses of the word Worship in the Bible according to BibleGateway. I know that most likely there are more uses, but I think this is a pretty good run at it. Some of them have a reference of singing as part of that usage, but not all. As well some of them (listed below)indicate other things as worship, specifically referring to bowing in worship, or list singing along with worship.

When Gideon heard the account of the dream and its interpretation, he bowed in worship. He returned to the camp of Israel and said, "Arise, for the LORD has given the camp of Midian into your hands."

All the sons of Israel, seeing the fire come down and the glory of the LORD upon the house, bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave praise to the LORD, saying, " Truly He is good, truly His lovingkindness is everlasting."

While the whole assembly worshiped, the singers also sang and the trumpets sounded; all this continued until the burnt offering was finished.

 2 Chronicles 29:30

Moreover, King Hezekiah and the officials ordered the Levites to sing praises to the LORD with the words of David and Asaph the seer. So they sang praises with joy, and bowed down and worshiped.

Then Ezra blessed the LORD the great God. And all the people answered, " Amen, Amen!" while lifting up their hands; then they bowed low and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

" All the earth will worship You,And will sing praises to You;They will sing praises to Your name." Selah.

Thus the LORD will make Himself known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know the LORD in that day. They will even worship with sacrifice and offering, and will make a vow to the LORD and perform it.

and he said to Him, " All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me."

And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, "You are certainly God's Son!"

[ Dedicated Service ] Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

So looking at the word's definition and the use of it in the Bible I believe that while singing can be/is a part of Worship it is not all that worship is. Another part of this is the use of the term Worship Leader. As already discussed when applying the term Worship it gives an incorrect understand of what Worship is. So when Worship is put together with Leader it creates an incorrect impression that the music leader is the head of Worship. In the very least we should consider them on equal footing with the pastor, at most they should be considered lower than the pastor. Most certainly the music leader is important, don't get me wrong, but we must consider what our labels show to others.

As I said music is near and dear to my heart, and I know God loves it, and this is not coming from dislike of it. However, words and labels can be extremely powerful, and I believe we need to be careful with how we label and structure our churches. As I also said I know some people just use it as the most convenient label, but even to them I pray that you will search your heart and make sure you are no improperly weighing one part of worship over another.

As promised, here is the sermon from last week. On the player look for Are you ready to decrease in 2011?. It should be at, or near the top, or you can search for it. This sermon is on Mark 6:14-29, which is on John the Baptist being executed by Herod Antipas. I really liked this sermon because it was a reminder to check who we are seeking to please in the upcoming year - ourselves or God. Also, as Christians on earth we sometimes "lose" in the worlds eyes, as John does here with the loss of his life. However, while we may "lose" here, we ultimately win in Heaven.

So finally after two years my mother finished my graduation quilt! Now most of that time was because I never got around to going to the fabric store to pick out the backing I wanted. So it was my fault not hers, but I am very happy to have it! Sorry for the blurry pictures.

Aforementioned backing, tis a lovely plaid flannel. (The plaid is obvious... But I decided to mention it anyway :D)

Another of today's activities was doing some tree trimming. Or tree felling... By the way, if you are looking for extremely good exercise I would highly recommend splitting wood.

Tree.

I meant to post last weeks sermon from my church previously, but I somehow just never quite got around to it. Well I fully intend to tomorrow, yes when another one will be on the podcast as well, oh well. I would do it tonight, but I need to find my notes, and its past my bed time anyway.

I "discovered" community in 2010 at our new church of Baptist Church of the Redeemer. At the end of 2009 for various reasons we (my family) decided to look for another church. We wound up at BCR, and started seriously attending in February or so. I feel at home here, I always miss it even if I'm gone for just one week, and there is a warmth and love from everyone that is amazing. It is far from a perfect church but I love it, and wouldn't give it up. It has been an amazing time, and I look forward to many more years there. (That's the answer to the second part) The people are truly caring, they are very real, and are truly concerned about how you are doing. Its a fantastic church, certainly not perfect as no church is, but I believe we are seeking after God in all we do. I would recommend it for anyone who is looking for a church.

Christmas can be such an interesting time. We get together with family, exchange presents, eat lots of food, and should be celebrating the birth of the Son of the Most High. It should be a happy, joy filled time, bursting with thankfulness towards EL SHADDAI at the very least. Yet for so many people its an uncomfortable, semi-joyous time. You may or may not get what you want, you have to be civil towards your relatives (who you don't really like) and celebrating when Christ chose to bind Himself to a weak, human form is far from their minds.
I'm not sure what the point of all that was but there it is.

For me this Christmas (and every one preceding it) was a very good one. I started reading a book about church membership and discipline, which I am just barely in to but really looking forward to. I also received for Christmas the Johnathan Edwards Essential series, which I am also really looking forward to reading. I am also getting a new pair of cowboy boots which I really need. As well as several other good things, including the first CD from the Welcome Wagon. If you haven't heard them, you should go do that, NOW! Anyway, it was a good Christmas. 

Another thing that made it a good time was that after Christmas, my dad, brother and I went down to my dad's cousins ranch to go hunting. Before anyone gets on me for hunting let me lay a few things out first. I hunt for meat, not for sport. We hunt so that we can have another source of meat. Also, killing one of God's creatures is not an easy thing to do. However, it is within our Biblical rights, and God provided His creatures to nourish us. I am thankful for what He has given, and it was a reminder that what He has given is precious, and that He has provided for us. 

It was also a time to marvel at God's creation. If any of you have been to South Texas you know it that is a bleak, one might say even desolate place. At the same time it is amazing to look at the plants, and animals that God has designed to survive in such land. There are even small bits of color that God has made to brighten up everything else.We can choose to look at the world around us as mundane, or we can marvel at what God has created, even in the little things.

Here are a few photos from our trip. Some are from near my grandparents house.





We shall meet down the road.

P.S. My candy cane attacked me today. Watch out for them, they be deadly.