Front Yard Worship

A Songwriters Guild Magazine Randy Stonehill

Interview

Steve Puleo
A Drummers Ten Most Common Weaknesses

Rick Enloe
Gods Best Artwork

Bob Kilpatrick
Italy Mission

Manuel Luz
Worshipping Our Abba God

Rick Dupea
The Heart of Worship

Kate White
Diary of an Independent Artist

M U S I C

I N C.

May 2008 www.oikeomusic.com

Contents
The Editor The Guild Randy Stonehill Bob Kilpatrick
At the Pantheon Rome Italy

pg 3 pg 4 pg 6 pg 10 pg 14 pg 18 pg 22 pg 24 pg 28 pg 32 pg 36 pg 38

Steve Puleo Kate White Rick Enloe Corporate Worship

Special Edition Italy Mission

Manuel Luz Rick Dupea Featured Book Features Song

A Songwriters Guild Magazine May/June 2008 www.oikeomusic.com Subscription Inquiries info@oikeomusic.com Copyright 2008 Oikeo Music Inc

Front Yard Worship

Having grown up in a home where going to church and learning the Word of God was taken very seriously, I have often struggled knowing the smiling side of Gods nature. As a child I thought that the more somber a person was, the more spiritual they must be. I know that sounds so simplistic, but over time this kind of thinking had an affect on me. I began to equate God with things that werent joyful.

Sono cresciuto in una famiglia che frequentava sempre la chiesa, e dove lo studio della Bibbia era molto importante. Spesso mi trovo in difficolt pensando al fatto che Dio ha anche una natura gentile. Da ragazzo avevo pensato che pi una persona era seria, pi doveva una persona spirituale. Sembra forse troppo semplice, ma purtroppo questo tipo di ragionamento aveva un effetto molto negativo su di me. Credevo che le cose piena di vita e di gioia non venivano da Dio. Ma in questultimo periodo, sto scoprendo che Dio prende gioia nel fatto che mi ha creato. Quando Dio cre i cieli e la terra, doveva avere un forte sentimento, ed io credo che Dio era pi che contento quando ha visto la Sua natura crescere e sviluppare e quando oggi vede un bambino crescere in tutta la sua innocenza. Poi comprendo che queste cose che Dio fece, non solo danno gioia a Lui, ma le ha fatte anche per la nostra gioia e godimento. Non serviamo un Dio egoista. La nostra comprensione di Dio diventa macchiata quando mettiamo il nostro comportamento egoistico davanti alla Sua santit.

Lately I have been finding more time to revel in the fact that God took delight in making me. Isnt the word delight full of joy? And when God created the heavens and the earth, He must have been feeling delight of some kind. I believe that God was delighted when He created nature to bloom and grow, or babies to be so bubbly in their innocence. It strikes me that God did these things for our enjoyment, not just His own. We do not serve a selfish God. Our view of God becomes tainted when our own selfish behavior comes up against His Pi comprendo i diversi aspetti della natura di Dio, pi vedo come Lui prende gioia in me. I miei occhi si aprono e vedo holiness. The more I find out about God, the more I see His delight in me. My eyes begin to open and I see joyful expressions of His love in the beauty of nature and in others. Spring is such a great time to revel in Gods delight. I think Ill practice taking a Melissa Saulnier day to do nothing but revel in His glorious creation. What a joyful experience!
Melissa Saulnier Editor 3 Front Yard Worship

le espressioni gioiose del Suo amore nella bellezza della natura e negli altri. La primavera un tempo meraviglioso per apprezzare la gioia di Dio. Forse prender una giornata intera solo per godere la Sua gloriosa creazione. Che grande esperienza!

The Guild
As a worship leader, songwriter or musician, Oikeo Music Inc and our Guild of writers may be very important to you. If youre a songwriter, worship leader or musician and want your music to be played on the radio, or LIVE in concerts, or published, the Oikeo Music Guild can help you! We connect you and your music with people in communities and churches, who want your music! Whether on the radio, in concert or published, the Oikeo Music guild helps you take your songs to the people who want to hear them and purchase them. We work with a very specific group of songwriters and singing artists. Artists include: Worship leader artists bringing your own songs to your home church & community Touring song-writer artists who perform for a broader regional or national audience New songwriter/artists who are looking for a place to grow & be supported as they develop their songs or music. Many songwriters do not know what the process is or how to be

Inspiring Action
Many songwriters wonder what types of songs qualify to be played on the Oikeo Music Guild radio or affiliate programs. The Oikeo Music Guild chooses Christian songs based on the heart of the lyrics and the quality of the music. If you are motivated, ambitious and have a passion for crafting your songs, yet you understand some of your songs may need to be polishedup or fine tuned, and you have a willingness to grow in your craft, the Oikeo Music Guild can help get your songs published and even played on the radio! Oikeo is located on the Web which means we can take your music virtually all over the world! Our radio show plays weekly on our local station KAFC 93.7FM which is now streaming online reaching a national audience.Based in Anchorage Alaska, we service subscribers in over 20 states, plus Israel , Canada and Italy through our magazine . www.oikeomusic.com info@oikeomusic.com

paid for original worship songs, choir music or hymns. This is accomplished by acquiring a Christian Copyright Licensing International number (CCLI#). If you arent sure what a CCLI# is we are looking for the opportunity to tell you more about your church and the licensing process for using music. All churches must pay licensing fees every month so that original music can be legally sung in congregations around the world. This means that every time your song is sung in one of these licensed churches, you receive a small, ongoing royalty. Oikeo Music Guild helps our members receive CCLI#s because we are an administrator for CCLI.We take your completed original songs and submit them to CCLI on your behalf. This puts your song(s) in the CCLI songpool for other worship leaders and pastors around the world to choose from. We love to offer services to our Guild members that help promote their music. These services include: Radio Play Magazine Promotion Publishing of your original songs Live Concerts and Touring

4 Front Yard Worship

ALASKA

Famous Homer Eagles

Watching fish jump

Lake fog

Frost

Rack-o-moose horns

-40 Hot Springs

Calm

Dredge Mine for gold

Honeymoon cabin

5 Front Yard Worship

Randy Stonehill

Interview

Front Yard Worship

H Randy Stonehill: Rock Solid BY BRENT STEWART THE SOUTHERN ILLINOISAN CARBONDALE ILL WWW.THESOUTHERN.COM Within the Contemporary Christian Music industry, there are very few artists with the longevity of Randy Stonehill. Uncle Rand, as he is affectionately known to his fans, released his first album, Born Twice, in 1971. It was just two years after Larry Norman had created the CCM genre with the release of his first solo album, Upon This Rock. The Jesus Movement of the 1970s was in full swing and Norman and Stonehill were at the forefront. Stonehill joined Normans Solid Rock stable of artists which also included the late Mark Heard and the band Daniel Amos This group of musicians, who were considered too Christian for the mainstream and too Rock and Roll for the church; helped define the parameters of what would become a huge industry. In 1976, Stonehill released the album Welcome to Paradise, produced by Norman, which has come to be regarded as one of the most important albums in Christian music. After a break with Solid Rock, Stonehill recorded a string of critically and commercially successful records for Myrrh Records in the 1980s. His 1985 album Love Beyond Reason, included a duet with Amy Grant. The end of the decade found Stonehill in the studio with Mark Heard to record Return to Paradise, a creative watermark for the singer-songwriter. After marking his 20th anniversary as a musician, Stonehill stretched his musical boundaries by releasing Wonderama, with its lush, Beatlesque production fashioned by Daniel Amos Terry Taylor. Throughout the 90s and into the turn of the century, Stonehill continues to record and tour. His most recent album, Edge of the World was released in 2002. Stonehill has always walked a fine line between tears and laughter in his concerts, as well as in his music. Songs such as Christmas at Dennys and Rachel Delevoryas displays Stonehills sensitivity to the brokenness of humanity, while American Fast Food and Great Big Stupid World poke fun at its ridiculousness. He refers to his solo live shows as the band of my brain, which combines his stellar guitar work with his sometimes surreal sense of humor. Its just me doing this one man gospel rock thing that I do, he said. When people ask me to describe it, its like Tom Petty meets Robin Williams with a message of hope in the middle of it. 7

One of the things thats been your distinguishing trademark is your sense of humor in concert. Youre one of the only Christian artists, especially from the 70s, that werent compared to someone else; Larry Norman was the Christian Bob Dylan, Daniel Amos were the Christian Eagles, and Phil Keaggy was the Christian Eric Clapton.You kind of escaped that, do you think your sense of humor kept you from being compared to anyone else? That probably is true. I think in some ways there was a little bit of misguided spirituality that was at work. I didnt see a lot of other artists using humor. For me it was an important way of showing liberty and joy in the hope I found in Christ. Also showing people that I didnt take myself that seriously but I took Jesus seriously. It is something that set me apart and it came naturally.When you realize Jesus is not merely the dream of desperate men, but hope is real because He is real, thats bound to cheer you right up. I try to keep what I do musically rich and real and not bore anybody in the process. Everyone is influenced by other artists. Nobody lives in a vacuum. At the same time, I try to create what I do from a fairly deep well of my own personal faith journey. And maybe thats the key to what keeps it fresh and fairly unique. You talked about your personal faith journey as reflected in your music. Youve been a recording artist for quite a while, before it was Contemporary Christian Music or even Jesus Music. What was it like, starting out in that era? There was a freshness in what was happening because we felt like it was really being propelled by the wind of Gods spirit. There was a fresh passion about this relationship with a living God and the privilege of having even the slightest participation in his eternal purposes. Another thing that strikes me about those times was the utter lack of pretense.We just knew that God was up to something; He was using music and we got to be in the middle of it.We had no idea where it was going or how long it would last. If theres one thing I miss about those days, its that. With a musical movement that becomes a substantial part of the music industry, that brings with it a certain self consciousness about marketing plans and the distraction of commerce.That was one thing, back in the day there was no infrastructure.We were just doing what came naturally sharing the hope and the love we found with the tools wed been given. Its interesting the group of people that were involved with

Front Yard Worship

Solid Rock: Larry, yourself, Daniel Amos, Mark Heard; kept on making music that was still relevant decades later. If you guys didnt really know where it was all going, it seemed like there was a freedom about it all that nurtured you. God built a real foundation for our lives and our work.The heart of the matter is a sense of calling.Through the years you realize what a privilege it is to do something you love. Also, you realize that this journey is short so it makes you rise to the challenge of being the best craftsman you can be and you try to articulate something with beauty and meaning that will speak after youre gone. Youve gotten to work with some really great people. Terry Taylor and Mark Heard in particular produced a couple of your albums a piece. Did those guys just have the touch to bring out in you something special? I think they did in different ways. I was inspired by their brilliance. It did kind of galvanize my work on different levels.Terry and I embrace so much laughter in the studio. It was a liberating creative element.We would just go on this wonderful music spiritual roller coaster trip together. When theres so much laughter and joy it just seems to make the creative process bloom. Mark on the other hand was a very intense character. He really came along side of me as a brother and a sensitive fellow musician. He could see when I was wrestling with my own fears and exhaustion. You can get myopic in your vision; youre so close to your project that you start to lose perspective. He would just be really empathetic and be so supportive that it would make me feel comfortable to be vulnerable and give really true performances. After being in the business for so long, after being a musician and performer for so long, what are your goals at this point in your career? To keep distilling the gift and stretch for the new artistic high water mark until God tells me to stop. Ive got to tell you,Ill be 56 in March and Im as passionate if not more passionate about creating something of worth and meaning that will turn hearts toward heaven, now than I ever have been. Im really enjoying playing new material for my concert audiences and seeing what resonates with them. I probably have two albums worth of material that Im just chomping at the bit to record. That just makes me grateful to God. I think as you keep growing as a Christian, you keep growing as an artist. Another part of my vision is being manifested in a

company called Stonehill Productions, which is a company I formed almost three years ago with Mike Pachelli, who is a great engineer and a great guitarist, a childhood friend of Phil Keaggys.The idea behind the company is to do some giving back, so to speak and to help nurture and frame the work of like minded bands and artists that are coming up the ranks behind me. Ive learned an awful lot, most of it the hard way. Its my reasonable service here if I can help streamline that process for other artists and help encourage them. Thats a very valuable part of my ministry. Youve also done some songwriting in Nashville recently. Thats been a fresh challenge and a real delight. I have a music publisher, whos a wonderful Christian, shes know my work since Welcome to Paradise. She started opening doors for me about three years ago to write with some really excellent country music writers. Its been a fresh experience and a tool thats helped sharpen my own gifts.Whether or not you like country music, you have to applaud the excellence and economy by which these songs come to be. They tell a story with no extra baggage and no extra fat. They really are masterful. I realized after a few trips to Nashville, that quite often a lot of these guys have a church background, but they really dont have a vital relationship with the Lord. After they saw the contribution I could bring to the table creatively and the respect level went up, I realized that I have license to speak to them about what makes me tick. Wed start talking about life and I realized that God has me here not only for creative purpose, but to be a voice these people can relate to as a musician that can speak Godly truth in their lives. As long as youve been in the business, you can still learn a few tricks from people. I think it is folly and probably arrogance to think that you ever come to a place where you stop learning and stop growing.That makes God look like an awfully small character. Thats part of the journey and the experience. We can keep growing in every way until our last breath. brent.stewart@thesouthern.com (618) 351-5074

8 Front Yard Worship

Front Yard Worship

Bob Kilpatrick

The Worship Role

So Youre Going To Be A Worship Leader You are the worship leader in your fellowship. How did you come to this role? Youre the only person in your fellowship that can carry a tune. Youre the pastors wife and thats what pastors wives do. Your pastor told you to do it. You came to this from a smaller fellowship because this is a good stepping stone to bigger things. However you came to this role- and one or more of these things may be true of you- you have got to know in your heart that it was God pulling the strings behind the circumstances or you will not have confidence in His call on your life. God does not hire people, He calls them. He gives gifts to them and expects them to use those gifts to please Him and bless His people. If you were hired, you can be fired. If you were called, you follow Jesus and do as He commands.You listen for His voice, learn to recognize His voice and trust Him with the circumstances of your life. Jesus said of us that we are His sheep and no man is able to pluck us out of His hand. Knowing that God called you to a certain responsibility will give you great confidence, and that confidence will keep you humble, open-hearted and filled with joy. It was the summer of 1977. I was in my second year of speaking to the teens at a series of family camps that spanned the West Coast from California to Canada. In one of the camps, another young minister came alongside to help me. I was glad for it. I was way too busy and involved. Little by little, however, he positioned himself to take over my spot. He was trying to suck up to the leadership of the camp, highlighting what things he was doing with the kids. He was also secretly taking some of the kids aside for deeper teachings. When I found out about it all, I was surprised, disappointed and intimidated. He was a good speaker and a charismatic personality. Then I got angry. I was ready to fight. He was wrong, I was right, I would win. I was NOT going to take this lying down. They hired ME for the job, NOT him! Then God spoke to my heart. I was reading in John 13 about Jesus washing His disciples feet. It says that Jesus, knowing that He had come from the Father and was 11

Cos stai per diventare un conduttore del servizio delladorazione? Tu sei il conduttore delladorazione nella tua comunit. Come sei arrivato ad avere questo ruolo? Tu sei la sola persona nella tua comunit che sa portare la melodia? Tu sei la moglie del pastore ed quello che le mogli dei pastori fanno? Il tuo pastore ti ha detto di farlo? Venivi da una comunit pi piccola che stai come un trampolino di lancio verso cose pi grandi? In qualsiasi modo tu sia arrivato a questo ruolo ed una o pi delle cose dette prima siano vere per te, o devi avere la certezza che stato Dio a muovere le circostanze o non avrai fiducia della Sua chiamata per la tua vita. Dio non assume persone ma le chiama. D loro dei doni e si aspetta che li usino per piacerGli e benedire il Suo popolo. Se tu sei stato assunto, puoi essere licenziato. Se tu sei stato chiamato, tu segui Ges e fai come Egli comanda. Tu ascolti la Sua voce, impari a riconoscere la Sua voce e Gli affidi le circostanze della tua vita. Ges ha detto che noi siamo le Sue pecore e nessuno pu rapirci dalla Sua mano. Spaere che Dio ti ha chiamato ad una certa responsabilit, ti dar una grande fiducia e questa fiducia ti manterr umile con un cuore aperto e pieno di gioia. Era lestate del 1977. Ero per il secondo anno oratore degli adoloscenti in vari campeggi per famiglie dalla California al Canada. In uno dei campeggi, un altro giovane ministro venne per aiutarmi. Ero contento per questo. Ero molto occupato e coinvolto. Poco a poco, comunque, cercava di infilarsi per prendere il mio posto. Cercava di aspirare alla direzione del campeggio mettendo in evidenza quante cose faceva per il ragazzi. In segreto portava alcuni ragazzi da parte per cosdetti insegnamenti pi profondi. Quando scoprii tutto ci, fui sorpreso, deluso e intimidito. Egli era un buon oratore ed aveva una personalit carismatica. Allora mi arrabbiai. Ero pronto a lottare. Egli aveva torto, io avevo ragione. Io avrei vinto. Non mi sarei ritirato facilmente. Essi avevano assunto me per questopera e non lui! Allora Dio parl al mio cuore. Stavo leggendo Giov. 13 sul lavaggio dei piedi dei discepoli da parte di Ges. E detto che Ges sapendo che era venuto dal Padre e da Lui stava ritornando, si abbass fino a svolgere questo compito. Dio mi fece vedere in questo passo che il posto di Ges davanti a Dio era sicuro. Non cera nessun potere che potesse disturbare questa relazione. Perci Ges era libero la notta prima della Sua morte di essere un servo. Lumiliare

Front Yard Worship

returning to the Father, humbled Himself to this task. God showed me in this passage that Jesus place before God was secure. There was no power that could disturb that relationship. Therefore, Jesus was free- on the night before His death!- to be a servant. Humbling Himself was based on His knowledge of who He was. In a related passage in Philippians, Paul says that Jesus, being equal with God, did not consider that as something to be grasped. In other words, He didnt need to prove who He was or seek to protect it. It is the same for you. If you know that God called you, equipped you and assigned you to the task of leading worship in your fellowship, there is no power that can act successfully against His will. If someone tries to usurp your position, their fight is with God, not you. So, I went to the leadership of the camps and said that I would be happy to step aside if they wanted someone else to lead the youth meetings. I knew that God had a place for me. If this wasnt it, I didnt want to be here. If this was it, God would see me through. Funnily enough, they knew nothing about the struggle and had no inclination whatsoever to send me packing. If you do not already have an assurance in your own spirit that God has called you and placed you where He wants you, I encourage you to stop everything and seek God in prayer. That assurance will give you confidence, and that confidence will give power to your worship leading. It will also allow you to be humble, teachable and kind without being intimidated. Too many people assume authority and wield it like a hammer. Despots! Gods order is upside down. When He calls you to a position, it is to be a servant. Jesus, our savior and leader, is a servant. If you want to be great in Gods order, learn to be the servant of all. You, the worship leader, are called by God to be the servant of your pastor, your worship team and the congregation. Your position is not a shield against criticism. Rather, your confidence in Gods call gives you an open heart, willing to receive criticism, instruction and rebuke. None of this can change Gods call on you! It can only help you to grow into His image. My emotions are easily swayed. I can go from confidence to despair in a matter of moments. As a result, this truth has been one I have needed to remind myself of many times over the years. There have been times when I was spent from travel, ministry and overwhelming responsibilities. Someone would make a negative comment, however slight, and I would carry it in my heart for days. 12

S Stesso era basato sulla Sua conoscenza di chi Egli era. In un passo collegato in Filippesi, Paolo dice che Ges pur essendo uguale a Dio, non consider ci come qualcosa a cui aggrapparsi gelosamente. In altre parole, Egli non aveva bisogno di provare che Egli era o cercare di proteggerlo. E la stessa cosa per te. Se tu sai che Dio ti ha chiamato, equipaggiato ed assegnatoti il compito di condurre ladorazione nella tua comunit, non c niente che possa agire con successo contro la Sua volont. Se qualcuno cerca di usurpare il tuo posto, la lotta contro Dio, non contro di te! Cos andai dalla direzione del campeggi e dissi che sarei stato contento di mettermi da parte se volevano che qualcuno altro guidasse gli incontri dei giovani. Io sapevo che Dio aveva un posto per me. Se questo non lo era, non volevo starci. Se questo era il mio posto, Dio la mi vedeva. Strano a dirsi, essi non sapevano niente della mia lotta interiore e non avevano nessuna intenzione di spedirmi da qualche altra parte. Se tu non hai gi una sicurezza nel tuo proprio spirito che Dio ti ha chiamato e messo nel posto dove Egli vuole, ti incoraggio a fermarti e cercare Dio in preghiera. Quella sicurezza ti dar fiducia e quella fiducia potenzier il tuo essere una guida nelladorazione. Ti permetter di essere umile, disposto ad apprendere ed gentile senza essere intimdito. Troppe persone prendono lautorit la usano come un martello. Perci sono dei despoti! Lordine di Dio il contrario. Quando Egli ti chiama ad avere una posizione per essere un servo. Ges, il nostro Salvatore e la nostra Guida un Servo. Se vuoi essere grande secondo lordine di Dio, impara ad essere servo di tutti! Tu che sei chiamato ad essere il responsabilit delladorazione, sei chiamato da Dio ad essere il servo del tuo pastore, dei musicisti e della tua comunit. Il tuo posto non al riparo della critica. Piuttosto la tua fiducia nella chiamata di Dio ti d un cuore aperto, ben disposto a ricevere critica, istruzione e rimprovero. Nessuna di queste cose pu cambiare la chiamata di Dio per te! Tutto ci pu solo aiutarti a crescere nella Sua immagine. Le mie emozioni sono facilmente mutevoli. In questioni di momenti posso passare dalla fiducia alla disperazione. Di questa verit ho dovuto ricordarmene molte volte attraverso gli anni. Ci sono state volte quando ero esausto per i viaggi, per il ministero e per pesanti responsabilit. Qualcuno avrebbe fatto un commento negativo anche se lieve, lavrei portato nel mio cuore per giorni. Un altro ministro/cantante/cantautore/conduttore di adorazione che avrebbe avuto lattenzione che sentivo di meritare ugualmente e me la sarei presa troppo. Qualcun altro

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Another minister/singer/songwriter/worship leader would get attention I felt that I deserved equally, and it would send me into a tailspin. Someone would make a constructive- or not so constructive- comment and I would wonder whether I had failed one too many times and God was through with me. There were many times when another, more talented person came on the scene with a bright smile, whiter-than-white teeth, an engaging personality, youthful energy, a strong hairline and great songs. I would be intimidated and wonder if I was a)too old, b) too bald, c) too ugly, d)not talented enough, e)teeth too yellow, f)sour personality, g)not very spiritual, h)all the above. I have had to continually remind myself that God looks on the heart and is very reluctant to discard a persons ministry. He is slow to anger, abounding in mercy! You will probably have occasion to remind yourself of these things, too. If you have no sense of Gods calling, it will be difficult to encourage your own soul.You simply must know that God called you to this specifically and personally. If you do not, the enemy of your soul will surely visit you and whisper doubts in your ear. He will visit you anyway. Your best defense is to run into the shelter of God, our strong tower. Having that confidence before God will prepare you to lead as Jesus leads- kindly, humbly and joyfully. It will help you in choosing what songs to sing, how to arrange and present them, how to serve your congregation and your pastor. We are people under authority. We are not lone crusaders. God does not intend that your relationship with your pastor, worship team or congregation should be adversarial. Its not you against them. Its you serving them. Being continually locked in a struggle- over styles, volume, etc.- will wear you AND the people around you down. It is not Gods will. Be their servant. Confidence is contagious. It is communicated through verbal and non-verbal means. So is the lack of confidence. Be sure that confidence in your call is the strong foundation on which all other confidences are built. Jesus concludes His foot washing in John 13 with these words. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed IF YOU DO THEM. It is not enough to know that what I say here is true.You must DO them to be blessed.

avrebbe fatto un commento costruttivo o non tanto e mi sarei chiesto se avessi sbagliato una volta di troppo e Dio aveva finto di usarmi. Ci sono state volte quando unaltra persona con pi talento veniva sulla scena con un sorriso luminoso con denti che pi bianchi non si pu, con unattraente personalit, con energia giovanile, una folta capilliatura e grandi canzoni, sarei stato intimidito e chiedermi se ero troppo vecchio, troppo calvo, troppo brutto, non aver abbastanza talento, avere denti troppo gialli, avere una personalit non gradevole, non essendo troppo spirituali. Dovevo continuamente ricordare a me stesso che Dio guarda al cuore ed al malincuore scarta il ministerio di una persona. Egli lento allira e di grande benignit. Probabilmente anche tu hai avuto occasione di ricordarti di queste cose. Se tu non hai nessun senso della chiamata di Dio, sar difficile incoraggiare la tua propria anima. Tu devi semplicemente sapere che Dio ti ha chiamato chiaramente e personalmente. Se non fai cos, il nemico della tua anima sicuramente ti visiter e ti sussurrer dubbi allorecchi. Ti visiter comunque. La tua migliore difesa correre al riparo di Dio, la nostra fortezza. Avendo questa fiducia davanti, Dio ti preparer a guidare come Ges guida, gentilmente, umilmente e gioiosamente. Ti aiuter a scegliere quali canti cantare, come arrangiarli e presentarli, come servire la comunit e il pastore. Noi siamo persone sotto autorit, non siamo anarchici. Dio non intende che nella tua relazione con il tuo pastore, i tuoi collaboratori e la tua comunit ci sia inimicizia. Tu non sei contro di loro. Sei tu che li stai servendo. Essere contiuamente bloccato in una lotta per gli stili, il volume, ecc, logorer te e le persone intorno a te. Questa non la volont di Dio. Sii il loro servo. La fiducia contagiosa d comunicata in modo verbale e non. Cos la mancanza di fiducia. Assicurati che la fiducia nella tua chiamata sia il solido fondamento sul quale ogni altro tipo di fiducia si basa. Ges conclude il suo lavaggio dei piedi in Giov. 13 con queste parole: Ora che sapete queste cose, siete beati se le fate Non abbastanza sapere che quello che dico, qui vero. Dovete farle per essere benedetti!

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Front Yard Worship

Steve Puleo

Ten Weaknesses of Drummers

Le Dieci Debolezze Pi Comuni di Un Percussionista di Steve Puleo

1. Il primo, ed uno dei problemi pi comuni che trovo con molti percussionisti, il problema di suonare troppo. Tre parole a riguardo: Mantieni la semplicit! Impara ad usare le carte che hai nella tua mano. Non metterti troppo in mostra. Mantieni lo stesso andamento del ritmo di strofa in strofa, o da un ritornello allaltro, rendendo la continuit musicale. Aggiungere dei riempimenti d un belleffetto, ma alcuni percussionisti si danno veramente troppo da fare! Impara ad evidenziare le sezioni delle canzoni, oppure le transizioni a A Drummers Ten Most Common Weaknesses qualcosa di nuovo, ma per la maggior parte, suona by Steve Puleo con regolarit, andamenti semplici. Assumiti la 1. The first, and one of the most common problems responsabilit di essere quello che fa brillare gli I find with many drummers is the problem of over- altri. Lascia che la musica respiri. Ricorda, lo playing. Three words to live by: Keep it simple! spazio bello quanto le note. Learn to play the cards in your hand. Dont show off. Keep rhythm patterns the same from verse 2. Irrompere quando si suona forte, e procedere to verse, or chorus to chorus, giving the music a stento quando si suona soft un altro difetto continuity. Adding fills sounds great, but most comune. La pi grande qualit di un percussionista drummers are just too busy! Learn to set up uneccellente sincronizzazione. Prova a fare questo sections of songs, or transition to something new, esercizio: registrati quando suoni con altri musicisti, but for the most part, play straight, simple patterns. controlla il tempo che porti allinizio della canzone, Take it upon yourself to be the one who makes poi vai subito verso la fine della canzone e fai un others shine. Let the music breathe. Remember, confronto (e preparati a rimanere imbarazzato). space is as beautiful as notes. Esercitati sia a suonare forte che soft ed esercitati con un metronomo o altro consistente battito per 2. Rushing when playing loud, and dragging when aiutarti a sviluppare il tuo orologio interno. playing soft is another common weakness. The drummers greatest asset is excellent timing. Try 3. Terzo, esiste la falsa idea che i percussionisti non this exercise: Record yourself playing with other sono dei veri musicisti, ma solamente percussionisti musicians, checking the tempo at the beginning (quasi come esseri che portano la clava, of the song, then fast forward to the end of the grugniscono, e vivono nelle caverne). Sii melodico, song, and compare (and get ready to be humbled). dinamico e colorito. Un buon percussionista pu Practice both loud and soft, and practice to a determinare il sentimento, lo stile ed anche la metronome or other consistent beat to help you
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develop your internal clock. 3. Third, there is the false idea that drummers arent really musicians, theyre just drummers (sort of like carrying clubs, grunting, and living in caves). Be melodic, dynamic & colorful. A good drummer can establish the feel, style, and even the tonal direction of the music. You are more than strictly a beat-keeper. Play the music. Tune your drums properly. Sing while playing; if not out loud, sing to yourself. Diversify your sound, using the drums and cymbals to create color and dimensions in the atmosphere. You are a musician, not a metronome. 4. This next common problem has as much to do with the building you play in, as it has to do with your own ability to control what you play. Im talking about playing too loud. Its not that loud is bad, but to be a good drummer, you need to blend, like a voice in a choir or ensemble of voices. Can you play with emotion, yet use a full spectrum of dynamics from pianissimo to fortissimo, while playing with the same intensity? Yes, you can! There are many ways to deal with this challenge of playing too loud. Most importantly, practice playing softly as much as you practice playing loud. In some instances, the use sound baffles is necessary. Use brushes, try smaller sticks, hotrods or blasticks, etc. But most of all, listen and blend! Ask the sound man or the leader how your volume level is. Adapt to your environment.

direzione tonale della musica. Sei molto pi di uno che tiene semplicemente il tempo. Suona la musica. Accorda le tue percussioni adeguatamente. Canta mentre suoni: se non forte, canta per te stesso. Differenzia il tuo suono usando tamburi e piatti per creare colore e dimensioni nellatmosfera. Sei un musicista, non un metronomo. 4. Il successivo problema comune ha a che fare sia con la costruzione del tuo suono, quanto con la tua capacit di controllare cosa stai suonando. Sto parlando del suonare troppo forte. Suonare forte non sbagliato, ma per essere un buon percussionista, devi mescolarti agli altri, come una voce in un coro o in un complesso vocale. Riesci a suonare con emozione, e tuttavia utilizzare lintero spettro di dinamica da pianissimo a fortissimo, suonando con la stessa intensit? S, puoi! Ci sono molti modi per affrontare questa sfida del suonare troppo forte. Il pi importante, esercitati a suonare piano quanto ti eserciti a suonare forte. In alcuni casi, sar necessario usare pareti antiacustiche. Usa spazzole, prova con piccoli bastoncini, asticelle o rametti, ecc. Ma soprattutto, ascolta e mescolati agli altri! Chiedi alladdetto al suono o al conduttore com il livello del tuo volume. Adattati a ci che ti circonda. 5. Essere uni-dimensionali nello stile unaltra predilezione dei percussionisti. Un buon percussionista dovrebbe avere familiarit e sentirsi a suo agio con molti differenti stili musicali, dal jazz al country. Studia i vecchi classici quanto i nuovi suoni attuali. Non limitare te stesso, poich quando lo fai, limiti anche coloro con cui suoni.

5. Being one dimensional in style is another pet peeve when it comes to drummers. A good drummer should be familiar and comfortable with many different styles of music, from jazz to country. 6. Suonare solo con le bacchette un altro fattore Study the old classics as well as the new sounds of today. Dont limit yourself, because when you do, limitante. Che ne diresti di usare una volta le tue mani per un po? Che ne dici di utilizzare you limit those you play with. spazzole, mazze, shaker (per cocktail)? Ancora 6. Playing with sticks only is another limiting una volta, sii musicale, non semplicemente uno factor. How about using your hands once in a che tiene il tempo. Assumeresti un carpentiere se while? What about brushes, mallets, shakers, etc.? lui usasse solamente un martello? Ovviamente no!
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Again, be musical, not just someone who keeps a beat. Would you consider hiring a carpenter if he only used a hammer? Of course not! He would come prepared for anything the job called for, using a variety of tools. So must the drummer be prepared, not just with sticks, but with a toolbox full of possibilities.

Dovrebbe essere preparato per qualsiasi cosa per essere chiamato per un lavoro, dovrebbe poter utilizzare una variet di strumenti. Altrettanto deve essere preparato il percussionista, non solo con le bacchette, ma con unattrezzatura ricca di possibilit.

7. Una cosa che in genere non prendiamo in 7. Something we tend to overlook, yet is so vital considerazione, anche se molto vitale per to being a good musician, is learning to relax and essere un buon musicista, imparare a rilassarsi e breathe. As with any physical exercise such as respirare. Come in qualsiasi esercizio fisico quale weight lifting, basketball, golf, etc., your breathing il sollevamento pesi, il basket, il golf, ecc., il tuo pattern should be consistent and relaxed. I have modo di respirare dovrebbe essere consistente e found that when I get tense, my breathing changes rilassato. Mi accorgo che quando sono teso, il mio and my ability to function freezes up. To help you respiro cambia e la mia capacit di riuscita si riduce. with this, while listening to the radio or a CD, Per aiutarti con questa difficolt, mentre ascolti la play along on your leg or your cars dashboard radio o un CD, suona sulle tue gambe o sul volante while consciously staying relaxed, breathing freely, della tua auto stando rilassato coscientemente, learning to flow with the music. Whenever you can, respirando liberamente, imparando a scorrere check your breathing. Good, deep breaths arent insieme alla musica. In ogni momento che ti just good for your playing; breathing deeply will possibile, controlla il tuo respiro. Bene, respiri keep you healthy! profondi non sono buoni soltanto per la tua musica; respirare profondamente far bene anche alla tua 8. Another observation, which I have painfully salute! learned from personal experience, is that of listening to and being focused on yourself, so much 8. Unaltra osservazione, che purtroppo ho so that you fail to blend with the other instruments, appreso dalla mia esperienza personale, quella di and, when someone is singing, you dont even hear ascoltare e focalizzarti solo su te stesso cos tanto the words. This is more common than you think. da non riuscire a fonderti con gli altri strumenti, When someone is soloing or changing direction, e, quando qualcuno canta, da non sentire neanche you fail to change with them. The good drummer le parole. Questo fatto molto pi comune di should be sensitive and alert to the leader, to the quanto credi. Quando qualcuno fa un assolo o sta singers and to the other musicians. Listen, listen, cambiando direzione, tu non riesci a cambiare listen! con lui. Un buon percussionista dovrebbe essere sensibile ed attento al conduttore, ai cantanti ed agli 9. Lack of preparation, both physically and altri musicisti. Ascolta, ascolta, ascolta! spiritually, can stand in the way of you and your destiny! Have your equipment tuned and 9. Mancanza di preparazione, sia fisica che functioning properly. Be a person of spiritual spirituale possono presentarsi nel tuo cammino strength, as well as physical health. Our training e nel tuo destino! Tieni il tuo equipaggiamento must encompass both technical as well as spiritual sintonizzato e funzionante in modo adeguato. Sii issues. In order to fully express Gods heart, una persona spiritualmente forte e in buona salute our playing must go beyond chops. Most good fisica. Il nostro addestramento deve comprendere
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musicians I know, those who are in it for life, take care of their whole man; body, soul and spirit. 10. Finally, lack of discipline will hold anyone back from anything they desire to achieve in life. Your natural ability might carry you down the road for a while, but in order to be successful and help others be successful, we all must practice, listen, watch and learn. I realize that in the church, were dealing with volunteers. Its very unusual to be fired as a church musician, unless youre being paid for it. Most of the time, we as leaders just let people get by and have the mentality that its good enough for church. Accepting each others weaknesses can be a blessing, or a curse. In all wisdom, we have got to learn to challenge each other to get better at what we do. Steve Puleo is a worship leader withVertical Call, Santa Rosa, CA, a song writer and recording artist. Hes the father of six adult children. Steve and his wife Karin reside in Northern California.

elementi tecnici come spirituali. Per esprimere pienamente il cuore di Dio, dobbiamo suonare andando oltre il semplice ritmo. La maggior parte dei buoni musicisti che conosco, quelli che vivono di questo, si prendono cura dellintera loro persona; corpo, anima e spirito. 10. Infine, la mancanza di disciplina porter chiunque lontano da qualsiasi cosa si desideri raggiungere nella vita. Le tue doti innate possono aiutarti a compiere il cammino per un po, ma per avere successo ed aiutare gli altri ad averne, dobbiamo tutti esercitarci, ascoltare, osservare ed imparare. Mi rendo conto che nella chiesa abbiamo a che fare con volontari. E difficile essere stimolato nellessere musicista di chiesa, a meno che tu non sia pagato per questo. Nella maggior parte dei casi, noi conduttori lasciamo semplicemente che le persone vadano da s ed abbiamo la mentalit che sufficiente per la chiesa. Accettare le debolezze gli uni degli altri pu essere una benedizione, oppure una maledizione. In tutta saggezza, abbiamo imparato a metterci in discussione gli uni gli altri per ottenere il nostro meglio.

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Volume 2

Kate White

Diary of an Independent Artist

trying to wrap up the next CD. My excitement? Its turning out so well, I love the producer and the studio I picked (okay, a shameless plug for Darren Bowls at Crossroads Productions). My struggles? 1. It was a tough decision, but I went with session players instead of my band. This is a call that everyone has to make My first CD was done with session players, so for me it was easier because I had already set the bar. I have huge respect for my band because they had a great attitude about this. 2. Its been really tough gigging on the weekends and recording during the week. If you dont have to, I dont suggest it! 3. I put a CD release tour together for the first week of April and the CD wont be ready yet. Lesson: Dont plan the tour until all the tracking is done! Ill have to do pre-orders and eat the shipping. Fortunately, most of our shows are new locations so they dont have the first CD

Dear Readers, I have a lot to cover in this article and weve had some great response and questions so Im just going to dive in! In this issue, the reader question I will discuss is, Will you define selfpromotion in the Christian context? But before we get to that, I know youre just dying to read my diary, so here it goes. Spiritual Themes: God has been dealing with me in the areas of rest, trust, and continued reminders of my calling. Matthew 11:28-30, Come to me, all you who are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. What am I taking on that Hes not called me to? The conviction to keep margin in my life and to rest in His arms. In the area of trust, this is a DEEP theme for me..In a recent journal entry I wrote, Lord, sometimes I am looking for the Answer of all Answers that will quiet the restless spirit within me. You are asking me to go with what I know and to live at peace with the searching. I am seeing that part of the spiritual journey is this tension between the waiting and the pressing on. This tension does not mean that I am doing something wrong or missing it. Lord, today I trust You with the questions Snapshot: Today, at this very moment, I am in the studio 18

yet.

Business: When it comes to CDs, you should NEVER be living off of your CD sales. I learned this the hard way. No matter how you spin it, that money needs to pay for your current or next CD. It can only break down 3 different ways: 1. Your current CD is paid for. You need to save the money for the next one. 2. You are with a label. You might get your first 50 CDs to get you started, but you have to buy the

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CDs at a discounted rate from the label to take on the road with you. Generally speaking, you will be buying them at a rate of $4.00/CD so if you sell 100 CDs /month, youre putting out $400 a month to buy them. Some rates may be as high as 50% of the selling price. The label fronts the money to make the CD, but you still need to pay it back. The only difference is if you dont pay it all back before you make your next CD, you are probably not liable. 3. You went in debt to make the CD you have now. Your CD sales have to pay your payment. Reader Question: Will you define self-promotion in the Christian context What it is, what its not and how the enemy uses it to keep us from moving forward? As I think about it a great comparison comes to mind. My husband and I have been in full-time ministry our whole married life. We have lived on support for many years and to be honest, we hate raising support, but we revisit the calling question and we know that we KNOW that God has called us to this work. Knowing that, even though we dislike support raising, we know that if God has called us to be in missions, hes called us to raise support. Being an Independent Artist or any other job or calling has parts to it that we like and dont like. I dont like promoting myself. Id much rather others promote me, and the more I sing and play out, the more we can use what others say about us. But the truth is I still have to put it out there. It was so awkward at first, I just wouldnt do it. But I KNOW that God has really called me to sing and play and our purpose is clear. We are called to bring hope and a sense of Gods mercy to the lost and / or hurting. Unfortunately, people wont know this unless I tell them. The cool thing is now there is myspace and websites and blogs and everyones got an opportunity to put out there who they are and what they are about, so I think its a lot easier than even 5 years ago. A definition of self promotion put simply is telling others about me - What I really struggled with is selling myself. That just feels very un-humble and self-absorbed! And thats exactly what the enemy would throw at me. But I dont thing God has called us to a false humility either. What has helped me tremendously in navigating the promotional waters is to first understand what I am called to and to be able to clarify that. What has God called you to 19

in terms of your music ministry? How does He use you? When people compliment you, what do they tell you? As you pay attention to this, you will probably see some themes rise to the surface. And its always easy to share about your passion. When you are doing music for something deeper than singing songs, it comes through and its easy to talk about. Secondly, we are all unique. When I tell people about our music, I try to share what makes us unique. I want to give them an idea of what I / we are like. They want to know this because it helps them decide if we are a good fit for what they are looking for. So, when I remind myself that Im trying to give them information about me so that they can make a well informed choice, that makes it easier. I hope this has been helpful! Until next issue, Kate

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Lincoln Brewster, New Life Worship, Lancaster County Bible Church, Covenant Life Church, Shoreline Community Church, Lakewood Church, Celebration Church, Magnify, Hillsong Church London, Gateway Worship, Bethany Worship, Brisbane City Church, Northview Community Church, Lakeview Worship, Victory Christian Centre, Christ Fellowship Church, Sonic Edge Band, Highrock Church Lincoln Brewster, Ross Parsley, Matt Goss, Jon Egan, Steve Cook and Vikki Cook, Curt Coffield and Israel Houghton, Israel Houghton, Meleasa Houghton and Cindy Cruse Ratcliff, Andrew Baird, Richard Knott, Gary Clarke and Peter Wilson, Robert Robinson/ Thomas Miller, Jonathan Stockstill and Israel Houghton, David Lewis, Johnny Markin, Erik Cooper and Nathan LaGrange, Destiny Loeve and Josh Loeve, Jennie Lee Riddle, Pat Sczebel, Michael Neale, Jonathan Chan, Eugene P. Kim, Jonathan Stockstill

For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. Habakkuk 2:14 If youve ever wondered what it would be like to have a front-row seat at some of the most passionate worshiping churches around the world, to hear the passionate, original songs forged in real life, everyday ministry... that opportunity is here! Cover The Earth is a unique collection featuring 25 powerful worship songs from some of the most influential churches across the globe. From America to Europe to Australia and beyond, God is birthing a revolution in todays Church. Passionate worship is giving rise to new songs from dynamic congregations. Hear the heartbeat of churches united to spread the glory and fame of God in their communities and across the Earth.

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Rick Enloe

Gods Best Artwork

Sto terminando i miei preparativi per il mio primo viaggio in Italia nel mese di maggio. Il passaporto pronto e sono pronto a viaggiare intorno alla citt storica di Roma per apprezzare tutti i monumenti storici. Mentre studiavo questa citt, ho scoperto una cosa interessante riguardo le chiese. Forse questo metaforo potrebbe aiutare a comprendere questo fatto: Un guida turistica per lItalia d questo consiglio per coloro che vogliono visitare le diverse chiese: Le chiese sono nel buio, ma ci sono degli apparecchi per far funzionare le luci per illuminare le opere darte. Mamma mia....CHIESE BUIE! Purtroppo queste chiese che sono nel centro del cristianesimo sono tutto nel buio ora. La chiesa semplicemente un cosa rituale per molti, ascoltando in modo passivo che sta davanti, anzich sperimentare in modo vivo un dialogo con il Creatore. E comunque ci sono tante persone che visitano queste chiese per vedere le sue opere artistiche. Le persone illuminano le chiese per cercare larte! La Bibbia, la rivelazione di Dio unopera darte perch illustra il piano redentivo divino. Gli scrittori, ispirati dallo Spirito Santo, usavano tutte le loro capacit per poi comunicare a noi questo piano divino per la nostra vita. Noi possiamo comprendere il piano di Dio attraverso la loro precisione! La lettera agli Efesini dice: Voi siete lopera darte di Dio. In altre parole, Dio sta facendo una mostra darte, e TU SEI QUESTA OPERA! Sappiamo che gli autori scrivono libri, il fotografo cattura i momenti, lo scultore crea forme, un regista crea un film, ma in modo pi profondo, Dio esprima la Sua

precision so that we can know the history and understand the profile of Gods work in our lives. The letter to the church in Ephesus says, You are Gods work of art. Simply put: God is having an art show and youre it! We know that authors write books, photographers capture moments, sculptors shape statues, and filmmakers tell stories, but more profoundly, God expresses His grace and love in you. This awareness creates the first spark of light in every life. As a result, Romans chapter twelve reminds us that it is a reasonable and sensible thing to present ourselves as Gods masterpiece. We do this by creating and participating in art. When we create, display and perform-we are placing great attention on Gods work. When we sing together, we are all performers. When we express how much we value God it is called worship. As a participant in the inaugural Rome Worship Conference this year, I am encouraged by the efforts to recognize art as Gods medium. It is by illuminating art that the church community begins to see the creative possibilities that God offers each person. In the context of the buildings, cathedrals, and images of Rome, I look forward to seeing Gods work in the lives of the artists and worshippers who attend this event. Each life is a canvas, each story an expression of Gods best work.

I am preparing for my first trip to Italy in May. My passport is ready to go and I am reading travel guides about Romes seven hills their historic monuments. While studying the area, I read an interesting commentary regarding churches. The following segment serves as an insightful metaphor: The Eyewitness travel guide for Italy gives the following advice on visiting churches: Churches are dark, but there are coin operated lights to illuminate works of art. Wow! Churches are dark. Sadly, churches in the very center of historic Christianity have gone dark. Church has become a dry ritual for so many, merely listening to the monologue of a professional instead of experiencing a dialogue with the Creator. And yet, there are crowds of people visiting churches to see the art. People are illuminating churches in search of art. That is the central truth of this travel metaphor. It is by illuminating art that the church sees to the Creator! God has always used the creative arts to captivate and instruct us. The Bible, a revelation of Gods redemptive activity, is a work of art. Writers, inspired by the Holy Spirit, crafted the narrative with skill and

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grazia e il Suo amore in TE! Questa consapevolezza crea la prima scintilla di vita in ogni vita. Come risultato, leggiamo in Romani 12, che una cosa ragionevole e normale presentare noi stessi come capolavoro al nostro Dio. Noi facciamo questo ogni volta che cerchiamo di creare o partecipare in qualche forma darte. Creando larte, o mostrando e partecipando in arte, mettiamo lattenzione sullopera di Dio. Quando cantiamo insieme, siamo tutti partecipanti. Quando esprimiamo e quando valutiamo Dio, questo si chiama adorazione. Come un partecipante in questa prima conferenza, sono incoraggiato da questi sforzi di riconoscere larte come un mezzo di Dio per comunicare il Suo messaggio. Illuminando larte la chiesa comincia a vedere le possiblit creative che Dio offre ad ogni individuo. Non vedo lora di vedere lopera di Dio attraverso tutto che vedr in Roma, gli edifici, i monumenti e tutto ci che f parte di questa citt. Non vedo lora di vedere lopera di Dio nelle vite di tutti coloro che parteciperanno in questa conferenza. Ogni vita come una tela, ogni storia lespressione del nostro grande artista Dio.

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Corporate Worship
The Journey of Eternity by Steve Puleo
IL VIAGGIO DELLETERNITA

Steve Puleo

In the heart of every true believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is the built-in passionate pursuit of His presence. The Holy Spirit has placed in us not only the desire to seek Him, but the ability to know Him. God has given the body of Christ on earth many avenues through which to travel into that Holy Place, but the avenue that is most traveled is that of worship, and more specifically, worship through music. Our worship can be, and is, demonstrated in a multitude of wonderful ways, as seen in the diversity of the body of Christ in ministry gifts and doctrinal beliefs. For example, many churches choose to give honor to God without the use of musical instruments. Others will experience His presence through the sole use of hymnals and other traditional means of worship. This, I find, is the beauty of the Body of Christ. She comes in many forms and shapes, with innumerable ways of expression, but all with the same message: Jesus is Lord! From my perspective, describing corporate worship is like trying to describe a momentous event, a great meal, a movie that shook me to the core, or putting a sunset into words. I would regretfully say, Man, you should have seen it!, or, You just had to be there! How do I paint a picture of a scene so awesome; the body of Christ flowing together as a river whose destination is the very throne of God? Well, thats the picture I see every time the Body of Christ comes together. From my vantage point, its one of the most indescribably beautiful things in all the world. The psalmist David wrote, Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous! For 24

Nel cuore di ogni vero credente in Cristo Ges c il desiderio ardente per cercare la Sua presenza. Lo Spirito Santo ha messo in noi, non soltanto il desiderio di ricercarLo, ma anche labilit di conoscerLo. Dio ha dato al corpo di Cristo diversi modi per viaggiare verso il Luogo Santo, ma forse la via pi seguita, attraverso ladorazione, e specifcamente, attraverso la musica. La nostra musica pu essere, ed dimostrata in tanti modi meravigliosi, come giusta espressione del Corpo di Cristo. Ad esempio, tante chiese non usano gli strumenti musicali durante il culto. Altri useranno solamente un certo tipo di innario molto tradizionale. Questi tipi di espressioni nel corpo di Cristo dimostrano sempre la stessa cosa ovunque: GESU E IL SIGNORE! Dal mio punto di vista questo tempo di adorazione cercare di descrivere un meraviglioso pranzo, un grande film, o vedere un tramonto...impossibile usare le giuste parole. Forse con ramarico direi alla persona che non cera: Avresti dovuto vederlo! o, Mi dispiace, ma dovevi esserci per capirlo.. Come dipingere il quadro del corpo di Cristo tutto insieme andando verso il trono di Dio? Forse la descrizione pi adatta quella che leggiamo dal salmista Davide quando scrisse: Celebrate il Signore, voi tutti giusti, perch la Sua lode bella! Don Moen, lo direbbe cos; La lode ti va molto bene! E una cosa bella! La nostra lode ci viene in diversi tipi, misure, colori e ritmi, tradizioni e culture. Ma c una

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praise from the upright is beautiful. The modern-day psalmist Don Moen puts it this way; Praise looks good on you! You should see it! Our praise comes in all different shapes and sizes, colors and dynamics, traditions and cultures, rhymes and rhythms. The one common thread of our praise is our love for God. He is now, and always will be, the ultimate object of our intimate affection. He is the Prize, the Goal, the Treasure, our All in all. When the revelation of the Bridegroom Jesus makes its way into the hearts of His Bride, nothing else matters. We dont come to hear good sermons, sing good songs, or be with good friends. We come to be with Him; whether in a church building on Sunday or the office on Monday, in the classroom or in the supermarket, this is what we were created for, what we were saved for, and what we exist for. Intimacy. It will always be what He desires most. Through the years we have experienced a progressive move of God, and have seen what Lamar Boschman describes as certain trends in worship, not unique to any local fellowship or movement, that have been evident in our corporate gatherings. These include: 1. A move from passive to active forms of expression We are growing to understand that people functioning in a platform position of ministry are merely prompters or facilitators of worship. The Lord is the only audience, and we are all worship priests, participating together in an exchange of affection with God expressed in a diversity of ways, from simple singing to extended periods of silence, from the waving of banners to the freedom of art and dance. Corporate worship has no limits. 2. More spontaneity We have come to the place in our corporate worship where the words on the screen are no longer enough, recognizing the importance of extemporaneous expressions of worship, using our own words and melodies to express our hearts to the Lord. 3. Intimacy There is an increasing desire in the body of Christ to focus vertically, singing to the Lord in a face-toface encounter with Him. Singing about Him is good, but we desire (and He deserves) so much more. 4. Worship Evangelism Taking worship outside the walls of our church is an exciting trend that is growing among the Body of Christ, as we seek to reach the hungry and the lost by simply and sincerely loving Jesus publicly. 5. Prophetic Worship There is something that sets us 25

cosa comune che lega tutti questi modi di lode: IL NOSTRO AMORE PER DIO! Lui , sar sempre loggetto primario della nostra affezione. LUI e il Premio, il Traguardo, il Tesoro, il nostro TUTTO IN TUTTO! Quando Lo Sposo finalmente arriva nel cuore della Sposa, non c nessuna cosa pi bella. Non veniamo per ascoltare un grande sermone, cantare tanti inni o per stare insieme ai nostri amici. Veniamo per essere con Lui, che sia in una struttura perfetta adatta per un culto domenicale, o in qualsiasi altro momento della nostra vita. Siamo stati creati per questo scopo: INTIMITA CON DIO! S, siamo stati salvati proprio per questo. La nostra vita esiste per questo! Ed ci che Dio desidera pi di ogni altra cosa. Attraverso gli anni ho sperimentato unavvincinamento progressivo verso Dio. Ho visto ci che Lamar Boschman descrive come tendenze in adorazione. Non sono cosa che fanno parte di un solo gruppo o di chiesa. Sono queste cose: 1. Spostare da una forma Passiva ad una forma Attiva. Ora comprendiamo che le persone che conducono la lode davanti, sono l solo per facilitare la nostra adorazione. Il Signore lunica persona che veramente sta ascoltando, e noi tutti siamo come i sacerdoti di lode....partecipiamo insieme in tanti modi diversi: danza, sventolando bandiere, momenti di silenzio. Adorare Dio insieme non ha limiti. 2. Pi spontaniet nella lode: Siamo arrivati al posto durante il culto che non servono pi le parole sullo schermo, perch riconosciamo limportanza di una lode profonda dal cuore. E una cosa da vedere! 3. Intimit. C un desiderio crescente nel Corpo di Cristo di focalizzare la nostra attenzione
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on the same page with God when we extend our worship off the chart of human ideas and give ourselves to hearing and proclaiming the creative Word of the Lord over cities, nations and governments. These prophetic expressions are ignited by a love for the lost and a heart of compassion, purity and humility. Songs from a page dont always lend themselves to what the Spirit of God is saying and what He is doing among us. The prophetic song gives us the ability to step into the realm of the Spirit and proclaim heavens mandate. There exists in our generation a passionate desire for the presence of God that transcends anything I have personally experienced in the past, and a longing for Spirit-led worship that leaves us dissatisfied with the routine, or that which lacks power. God is developing in us a worship that is entirely open to whatever He wants to do, determined and committed to seeing everyone involved in every way that brings Glory to the Lord. Its the church brining heaven to earth! God is not impressed with our devices and strategies, with what sounds good to the human ear or feels good to the soul. One thing He does delight in is a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, from a people longing to dwell in the house of the Lord to behold His beauty. Our efforts to be excellent have little value in comparison to having a heart that is pleasing to God. His strength and glory rise up among a people who have determined to fix their gaze upon Him alone. I know a man who, much like myself, led worship in a church for many years. He was faithful week by week in building a strong worship experience. There were certain songs that brought a great response from the people, and certain ways in which he could bring an excitement and enthusiasm into the place, simply by depending upon his experience of what has always worked, or what we would describe as ringing the bell. Then, one Sunday morning, while playing a fast song, the Lord told him to STOP, PACK UP HIS STUFF AND GO HOME; and that he did, right in the middle of the worship service. When he got home, the Lord said, Face the wall with your guitar and worship me until you feel my presence. What would he do? Would he play God his crowd pleasers? That seemed so empty now. However, as time when on, what began as an awkward beginning, not knowing what to do, became a life-transforming adventure. Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months, until, 26

direttamente sul Signore; faccia-a-faccia! Cantare di Lui una cosa bello, ma noi vogliamo ancora di pi, perch Lui merita molto di pi! 4. Adorazione nellevangelismo. Quando portiamo la nostra adorazione fuori la struttura della chiesa, una cosa molto bella! Cercando di raggiungere le persone perdute semplicemente attraverso la nostra dimostrazione del nostro amore per il Signore. 5. Adorazione profetica. Questo tipo di adorazione spinta da un profondo amore per il Signore che noi eleviamo direttamente al Signore dal nostro cuore. Proclamiamo la grandezza di Dio e il Suo amore per tutti. Cantici che sono guidati da compassione, purezza e umilt. C nella nostra generazione una passione profonda per la presenza di Dio che va oltre qualsiasi cosa che ho visto nel passato. Questo desiderio di adorare in Spirito e verit spesso manca nella chiesa. Dio sta sviluppando in noi una adorazione che ci permetter di fare tutto per lui. Per portare in ogni luogo la Gloria del Signore. E la chiesa che porta il cielo sulla terra. Dio non facilmente impressionato con i nostri mezzi umani, le nostre strategie che suonano bene allorecchio o che ci aiuta a star bene. Una cosa desidera: uno spirito afflitto e un cuore contritto e rotto. Questo porter la vera bellezza nella casa del Signore. Sar la sua forza e la Sua gloria che dar a noi labilit di proclamare a tutti di guardare solo e sempre LUI! Conosco un uomo, come me, guidava il culto nella sua chiesa per molti anni. Era un servo fedele anno dopo anno. Cerano certi cantici che creavano una risposta molto forte in tante persone, e lui era in grado di creare questa atmosfera di entusiamo nella chiesa. Sapeva ci che funzionava. Poi, una domenica mentre conduceva una canzone

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rapidamente, sentiva come il Signore gli avesse detto; VA A CASA ORA! BASTA! E FINITO! E lui proprio in mezzo a quella canzone se ne and a casa. Guardando al muro con la sua chitarra When I heard Don Potters wonderful testimony, I said to doveva comprendere limportanza di suonare per myself, Thats for me! I need to daily face the wall! But le persone o PER UNA PERSONA!. Per lui the more I thought about it, the more I realized that we are all in that place. God has given us the invitation to face the cominci a suonare e cantare...proprio davanti al wall. We are in the most wonderfully unique season of our muro. Sembrava strano, ma man mano i giorni existence. Some will think it foolish. Others will choose diventarono settimane e poi mesi. Poi quasi dopo to stay where they are. Climbing out of the safety of the box to face the wall will certainly be an adventure. I am so unanno, lui sentiva la necessit di tornare in chiesa ready for it. Arent you? I believe God is going to take us on per ministrare al popolo.
after about a year, he was able to say, Lord, I dont want to go from this place. It was then that the Lord said, Its time to minister to my people. the journey of our dreams, till one day well step out of the rehearsal, and into the glory of eternity!

Don Potter fece questa testimonianza e poi, io pensai: questo ci che io voglio. Guardare Steve Puleo is a worship leader with Vertical Call, Santa al muro! Ogni giorno! Riconoscere che noi Rosa, CA, a song writer and recording artist. Hes the father non suoniamo per il popolo ma per il SIgnore. of six adult children. Steve and his wife Karin reside in Dobbiamo uscire dalla sicurezza della nostra idea Northern California. di adorazione e prepararci di GUARDARE AL MURO! Sono pronto...e tu? Dio ci porter avanti su questo viaggio verso eternt, e poi, un giorno usceremo dal questo mondo di prove ed entreremo nella gloria di eternit.

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Manuel Luz

Worshiping Our Abba God

WORSHIPPING OUR ABBA GOD Pastor Manuel Luz

One aspect of God that was missing in my childhood faith was the understanding that we have a personal God. Growing up, my understanding of God was that he was omnipotent, omnipresent, almightyand distant. He was too big to be involved in the mundane aspects of my life, too busy running the universe to be bothered by my petty worries and concerns. My old view of God was like the Wizard of Oz, who sat afar on His throne, running the universe unemotionally receiving our praises and petitions. But this is wrong. Not only is God the almighty, the omnipresent, the holy God, but He is also the personal and intimate and loving God. Psalm 139 says: O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord. You hem me inbehind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Psalm 139:1-6 NIV He is the God who knows the number of hairs on our head (Luke 12:7), who knows all of our thoughts (Jeremiah 12:3), who calls us his dearly loved children (Ephesians 5:1), and who loves us with a perfect love. Living a life in Christ is to have a living and vibrant relationship with an intimate God, who cares about us, knows the good and the bad of who we are, and desires to be a personal part of every 28

ADORARE IL NOSTRO ABBA DIO Pastore Manuel Luz

Uno degli aspetti di Dio che mancava alla mia fede da ragazzo era la comprensione che abbiamo un Dio personale. Crescendo, la mia concezione di Dio era che egli era onnipotente, onnipresente, grandee distante. Egli era troppo grande per essere coinvolto negli aspetti mondani della mia vita, troppo impegnato a governare luniverso per essere disturbato dai miei piccoli problemi e preoccupazioni. La mia vecchia visione di Dio era come il Mago di Oz, che sedeva lontano sul suo trono, governando luniverso e ricevendo senza emozioni le nostre lodi e le nostre richieste. Ma questo sbagliato. Non solo Dio lonnipotente, lonnipresente, il santo Dio, ma anche il Dio personale, intimo e amorevole. Il Salmo 139 dice: Signore, tu mi hai esaminato e mi conosci.Tu sai quando mi siedo e quando mi alzo, tu comprendi da lontano il mio pensiero.Tu mi scruti quando cammino e quando riposo, e conosci a fondo tutte le mie vie. Poich la parola non ancor sulla mia lingua, che tu, Signore, gi la conosci appieno.Tu mi circondi, mi stai di fronte e alle spalle, e poni la tua mano su di me. La conoscenza che hai di me meravigliosa, troppo alta perch io possa arrivarci. Salmo 139:1-6 Lui il Dio che conosce il numero dei capelli del nostro capo (Luca 12:7), che conosce tutti i nostri pensieri (Geremia 12:3), che ci chiama figli da lui amati (Efesini 5:1), e che ci ama di un amore perfetto. Vivere una vita con Cristo significa avere un rapporto vivo e vibrante con un Dio intimo, che ha cura di noi, che conosce il positivo e il

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moment of every day of our lives. If this is trueand we know that it isthen this intimate and personal relationship should permeate the way that we worship. As we lead worship, we need to help people understand not only the majesty and holiness of God, but also that this majesty and holiness are close and personal to us. He beckons us to Him. He desires to have community with us. He desires to meet us and have us share the good and bad, the struggles and triumphs, the minutia of our lives. He wants to love us and have us love back. Abba Father: Our Almighty Daddy God We know that our God is a Trinitarian God, that He exists as three persons: Father, Son, and Spirit. In this mystery, God exists in perfect triunity, perfect community with Himself, and He has existed in intimate community eternally, through all time. When we enter into worship with God, He is essentially inviting us to enter into this perfect and intimate community. Worship is, in a sense, an entering in to fellowship with Jesus before the Father through the Spirit. Worship is an invitation to dwell with the Living Father, Son, and Spirit. One of the first things I memorized as a child was the Lords Prayer. In the book of Matthew 6:9-13, Jesus is trying to explain to His disciples how to pray, not with repetitious words which lose their meaning, but in the first person and from the heart. So Jesus says to His disciples, his friends, When you pray, pray like this. And the first two words of the prayer are, Our Father. Essentially, it is translated Abba, which is an endearing, personal word for Father. Its like calling God, Daddy. Jesus essentially says, Go ahead, its okay. Call the omnipotent, omnipresent, all-knowing, Almighty God of the universe, Daddy. You have that very special privilege. And besides, He loves it when you call Him that. That is quite a mind blowing thought, really. Not Your Excellency. Not Your Royal Highness. Not All Powerful Oz. Just Dad. Abba. Its like God is saying, Come sit on my lap and well talk. The Bible describes the Christ follower as one who is an adopted son of God. One who was bought for a price. One 29

negativo di chi siamo e desidera essere una parte personale di ogni momento di ogni giorno delle nostre vite. Se questo vero e noi sappiamo che lo allora tale rapporto intimo e personale dovrebbe permeare il modo in cui adoriamo. Quando conduciamo ladorazione, dobbiamo aiutare le persone a capire non solo la maest e la santit di Dio, ma anche che la sua maest e santit sono vicine e personali per noi. Egli ci invita a stare presso di Lui. Egli desidera avere comunione con noi. Desidera incontrarci e desidera che noi condividiamo il bene ed il male, le sconfitte ed i trionfi, le piccole cose della nostra vita. Lui vuole amarci e vuole che noi Lo amiamo. Abba Padre: il nostro Onnipotente Pap Dio Noi sappiamo che il nostro Dio un Dio Trino, che esiste come tre persone: Padre, Figlio e Spirito. Nel suo mistero, Dio esiste in una perfetta trinit, perfetta pluralit con S stesso ed esiste da sempre in pluralit intima, in eterno attraverso i tempi. Quando ci accostiamo a Dio in adorazione, fondamentalmente Egli ci sta invitando ad entrare allinterno della sua perfetta ed intima pluralit. Adorare, in un certo senso, entrare in compagnia di Ges davanti al Padre attraverso lo Spirito. Adorare un invito a dimorare col Padre, Figlio e Spirito Vivente. Una delle prime cose che ho imparato a memoria da bambino stata la preghiera del Signore. Nel libro di Matteo 6:9-13, Ges sta cercando di spiegare ai suoi discepoli come pregare, non con parole ripetitive che perdono il loro significato, ma in prima persona e dal cuore. Cos Ges dice ai Suoi discepoli, Suoi amici, Quando pregate, pregate cos. E le prime due parole della preghiera sono: Padre nostro. Sostanzialmente, la traduzione di Abba, che un termine affettuoso e personale per dire Padre. E come chiamare Dio:Pap. Ges in sostanza dice: Avanti, va bene. Chiamate lonnipotente, onnipresente, onnisciente, grande Dio delluniverso Pap. Voi avete questo speciale privilegio. E inoltre Egli adora quando Lo chiamate cos. Questo proprio un pensiero che sconvolge la mente, realmente. Non Sua Eccellenza. Non Sua Altezza. Non Potente Oz. Semplicemente Pap. Abba. E come se Dio stesse dicendo: Vieni, siedi sulle mie ginocchia e parliamo.

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who is a fellow heir to the Kingdom of God. And co-heirs with Christ, not that we would be equal with God the Son, but that we are given the inheritance of an eternal life with the Living God. Our Abba Father takes us and invites us into His family. Come sit on my lap and well talk. The Faith of a Child When my two twin girls were very little, they would climb on our laps and have little baby conversations with us. Theyll laugh and giggle and throw little glances at one another. Other times, there are owies to kiss and tears to wipe away. And in other times, there are stern warnings from the stern father. Many conversations have happened on our laps, many stories have been read. And in each of these times, theres a true connectedness we share that goes beyond words. The role of the father is really simple: To care and nurture, to teach right from wrong, to help grow up the child intellectually and spiritually and emotionally, to love without condition. All of these roles are Abba roles, and all of these roles are best done in the context of intimacy and trust and authenticity. Love, correction, and even dinner are best received and shared in the context of intimacy. And that is the same as God the Father. He calls us not to a distant and cold relationship, but one that is close and personal. He knows every shadow, every hope, every dream, every fear. He loves us unconditionally. He provides for our needs. He teaches us right from wrong. He wants to grow us to maturity. And He gives us that privilege of intimacy. In short, we dont have to call Him Abba Father. You get to call Him Abba Father. This relationship of intimacy should and must extend into the way that we worship. When we worship, we should picture an Abba God, a dear and reverently intimate God, a sacred and close God. We worship not only before His throne but upon His lap. We can feel the freedom to bare our souls, our sins, our dreams before Him and know that no matter what, He will love us and accept us unconditionally. So many of us have a picture of God as a great Watchmaker, who places the planets and galaxies in space, then taps the pendulum of the universe and watches it go. A far off, distant, unapproachable God. But He is far from that. And there is one other role that the father has: To enjoy his kids. God takes great delight in us. I know that its 30

La Bibbia descrive il seguace di Cristo come un figlio adottato da Dio. Uno che stato acquistato ad un prezzo. Uno che compagno erede del Regno di Dio. Un co-erede con Cristo, non che siamo uguali a Dio Figlio, ma che ci stata data leredit di una vita eterna con il Dio Vivente. Il nostro Abba Padre ci prende e ci invita nella Sua famiglia. Vieni, siedi sulle mie ginocchia e parliamo. La Fede di un fanciullo Quando le mie due figlie erano molto piccole, volevano saltare sulle nostre ginocchia ed avere una piccola conversazione da bambine con noi. I figli vorranno ridere e fare risatine gettandosi occhiate lun laltro. Altre volte, ci sono baci da dare e lacrime da asciugare. E in altre occasioni, ci sono severi avvertimenti da parte del severo padre. Si sono svolte molte conversazioni sulle nostre ginocchia, sono state lette molte storie. Ed in ognuna di queste occasioni, c una reale connessione che condividiamo che va oltre le parole. Il ruolo di padre molto semplice: aver cura e nutrire, insegnare cos giusto e cosa no, aiutare il fanciullo a crescere intellettualmente, spiritualmente ed emotivamente, amare senza condizioni. Tutti questi compiti sono compiti da Abba e tutti questi compiti sono svolti meglio in un contesto di intimit, fiducia ed autenticit. Amore, correzione ed anche il nutrimento sono ricevuti e condivisi meglio in un contesto di intimit. Lo stesso vale per Dio in quanto Padre. Egli ci chiama non ad una relazione distante e fredda, ma ad una vicina e personale. Lui conosce ogni ombra, ogni speranza, ogni sogno, ogni paura. Lui ci ama incondizionatamente. Provvede ai nostri bisogni. Ci insegna cosa giusto e cosa non lo . Vuole farci crescere e maturare. Ed Egli ci d quel privilegio di intimit. In breve, noi non dobbiamo chiamarlo Abba Padre. Tu puoi chiamarlo Abba Padre. Questo rapporto di intimit dovrebbe e deve estendersi al modo in cui adoriamo. Quando adoriamo dovremmo dipingere un Abba Dio, un Dio caro ed intimo ed allo stesso tempo da riverire, un Dio sacro e vicino. Noi adoriamo non solo davanti al Suo trono ma anche sulle Sue ginocchia. Possiamo sentire la libert di scoprire le nostre anime, i nostri peccati, i nostri sogni alla Sua presenza e sapere che indipendentemente da ogni cosa, Egli ci amer ed accetter incondizionatamente. Cos molti di noi hanno unimmagine di Dio come un grande Orologiaio, che posiziona i pianeti e le galassie nello

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hard to believe for some of us who had distant, unsafe, or unavailable fathers in our lives. But the perfect Father really enjoys our company. He enjoys our worship. He delights in the praise of His people, His sons and daughters, when we gather together to fellowship with Him. And so we, as worship leaders, have as one of our primary goals the job of putting a smile upon the face of our Abba God. It is my experience that our God is not uninvolved. He doesnt sit alone in heaven, a spectator in another world. He is not at all like the Wizard of Oz, whos smoke and noise and thunder is meant not only to impress but to keep us at a distance. He is intimate and involved, and he delights in being a part of our lives. And He loves being called Daddy. How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! 1 John 3:1

Paul Wainamo

Sanctuary

spazio, poi fissa il pendolo delluniverso e lo osserva mentre va. Un Dio lontano, distante, inaccessibile. Ma Egli molto diverso da ci. E c un altro compito che ha il padre: godersi i propri figli. Dio ha un grande diletto in noi. So che difficile da credere per alcuni di noi che hanno avuto padri distanti, pericolosi e non disponibili nella propria vita. Ma il perfetto Padre gioisce veramente in nostra compagnia. Egli gradisce la nostra adorazione. Trova diletto nella lode del Suo popolo, dei Suoi figli e figlie, quando ci riuniamo insieme per stare con Lui. E pertanto noi, quali conduttori di adorazione, abbiamo come uno degli obiettivi primari il compito di suscitare un sorriso sul volto del nostro Abba Dio. La mia esperienza che Dio non non coinvolto. Egli non siede solo in cielo come spettatore in un altro mondo. Non come il Mago di Oz, il cui fumo, suono e tuono serve non solo ad impressionare ma anche a tenere distanti. Egli intimo e coinvolto, e ha piacere nellessere una parte delle nostre vite. Ed Egli ama essere chiamato Pap. Vedete quale amore ci ha manifestato il Padre, dandoci di essere chiamati figli di Dio! E tali siamo. 1 Giovanni 3:1

Join worship leader Paul Wainamo in this soothing instrumental full of grace. Experience Gods peace and tranquility.

Available at www.oikeomusic.com

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Rick Dupea
The Heart of Worship Rick Dupea I first led worship 32 years ago; an untrained teenager with wild hair and a cheap guitar. In the long years since, Ive been involved in all aspects of worship and arts ministries, from small home prayer meetings to stadiums full of young adults. And after all this on-the-job training I am still learning that worship is much more than singing and praying. These things are often a good step towards worship, but worship itself is more simple, broad and deep.

The Heart of Worship

Il Cuore delladorazione: Rick Dupea Circa 32 anni f, ho condotto il mio primo culto di adorazione. Capelli lunghi e una chitarra economica. Da allora, sono stato coinvolto in tanti tipi di incontri, conducendo la lode. Piccoli gruppi nelle case agli grandi incontri negli stadi. Dopo tanti anni sto ancora imparando cosa significa adorazione. Tutto quello che faccio davanti un passo verso ladorazione, ma ce ne ancora. Ora io dico che ladorazione la risposta di un cuore che desidera avere una comprensione maggiore del carattere di Dio . Ricordiamo che i discepoli di Ges ladoravano dopo la tempesta!. Cos, questa risposta potrebbe essere, onore, gioia, pentimento, speranza. Potrebbe essere dimostrata attraverso la musica, poesia, una preghiera in silenzio o atti di gentilezza. Ma nessuna di queste espressioni ladorazione stessa. Lateo po danzare, cantare, meditare o servire....forse meglio di un membro di chiesa. Vera adorazione dal cuore richiede molto pi che una semplice abilit umana. Ci deve essere quella rivelazione vera del cuore di Dio attraverso lopera dello Spirito Santo. Lamore deve essere sincero. Ladorazione crisitiana richiede unincontro con il Dio vivente. IL POSTO DI ECCELLENZA: Andando a vedere LA PIETA di Michelangelo, e poi ammirare solo la sua abilit di lavorare con la

I personally define worship as the native response of the heart to a fresh understanding of Gods character. (ref. Matthew 14:33) That response can be honor, joy, repentance, hope, awe. It can be expressed in song, dance, poetry, silent prayer, or acts of kindness. But none of these expressions is in itself worship. The atheist can dance, sing, meditate, or serve - oftentimes better than the church does. True worship in the heart requires more than human effort. It can never be manufactured by mere skill in the outward forms. (ref. Romans 12:9) There must be a living revelation of Gods heart, through the work of the Holy Spirit. Christian worship requires an encounter with the Living God. The place for excellence: If one were to view Michelangelos Pieta and come away only with an admiration for his skill in stone,
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they would miss the point entirely. The genius in this sculpture is that it can awaken in us both human emotion and spiritual understanding of the Savior. In Marys loss we understand the wages of sin in a much more personal and passionate way. And we see that God paid a real price to free us. We encounter revelation, and we worship. The danger is when we begin to honor the quality or power of the artistic expression above the Creator it is meant to honor. The focus slips from the works of God to the works of man, and this begins a destructive cycle. In contemporary worship circles this can happen when we begin to increase our musical proficiency, but start to focus on artistry as an end in itself. The heart of man is not hungry for great music. It is a pleasant and popular diversion, but it can never satisfy. Only a living relationship with God can fill the heart. Unless we quickly recognize the error in focus, we slip from relationship into religion. Everything still looks like the same on the surface - perhaps it looks even better - but there is no connection with God. The power is gone. (ref. II Timothy 3:5) Religion vs Relationship: By religion, I dont mean any one church, or even any set of practices. I mean an attitude of the heart which infects all mankind. It is the state of loving the form of worship more than the object of worship.We sink so easily into religion - in part, because religion is our last defense against God. We can bury ourselves in religious activity and feel safe that we no longer have to meet God face to face. We can define what human acts make us acceptable to God, and having done them, get back to our own
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pietra, perderai tutto il significato di quellopera darte. Questa scultura pu portare le nostre emozioni e comprensione del Signore ad un livello pi alto. La perdita della madre a causa del peccato e poi il corpo di Ges senza vita...tutto ci ci fa comprendere il vero amore di Dio e il prezzo che ha dovuto pagare. Quando ci incontriamo questo tipo di rivelazione, allora noi adoriamo. Il pericolo che quando comiciamo ad onorare la qualit o la potenza dellartitsta al di sopra la grandezza del nostro creatore. Cominciamo a perdere il significato di quellopera. Diventa distruttiva perch comiciamo a focalizzare la nostra attenzione solo sulla capacit nostra come se fosse la cosa pi importante. Il cuore del uomo non affamato per grande musica. Certo, piacevole e molto popolare, ma non pu mai soddisfare. Solo un rapporto vivente con Dio pu riempiere il cuore per poi non avere mai pi sete di nuovo. Se non siamo rapidi a riconoscere questo errore, potremo facilmente cadere nelle forme vuote di una religione vuota della vera potenza. RELIGIONE contro RAPPORTO Quando dico religione, non voglio indicare una sola chiesa, o le diverse pratiche di una chiesa. Significa un attitudine del cuore che infetta il resto dellumanit. E quello stato di amare pi la forma delladorazione anzich loggetto delladorazione. Cadiamo facilmente in questa religione, in parte perch religione la nostra ultima difesa contro Dio. Possiamo metterci al lavoro in tanti attivit e pensiamo che siamo sicuri e non dovremo mai incontrare Dio faccia a faccia. Possiamo definire che tipo di attivit umane ci fanno giusti davanti a Dio, e poi quando le facciamo, possiamo subito tornare alla vita che vogliamo senza mai incontrarci con il Dio vivente. Religione come un contratto

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lives. Religion is like a legal contract: clear, comprehensive and binding - and suspicious of the other party. But a living relationship isnt like that; its more like a marriage covenant - changing, growing, deepening, trusting your partner.You may never know what your spouse will do next, but you can trust their character. Success in marriage requires frequent, honest conversation. It requires an unlimited commitment, flexibility and creativity. But it enables intimacy on a level which surpasses all other human experience. And it leads to unfaltering love. This is the heart of worship. Why worship? God has given us a defense against empty religion: worship. Worship keeps the heart fresh and well watered with his Spirit. Those who worship the Creator are forever wary of lesser gods. Having tasted the divine, they are ruined for the ordinary. And there is no evangelism more powerful than to let people experience the presence of God themselves.

legale, chiaro e limpido. Religione crea in noi sospetti degli altri pure. Ma un rapporto vivente non cos. Rapporto come il patto matrimoniale, sempre in evoluzione, sempre in cambiamento e crescendo in fiducia verso il coniuge. Non puoi mai essere certo di quello che far il coniuge, ma hai fiducia nel suo carattere. Il successo nel matrimonio richiede conversazione onesta. Richiede unimpegno senza limite, flessibilit e creativit. Questo aiuta il rapporto ad esprimersi sempre pi in profondit. Crea unamore che stabile. Questo dunque il senso delladorazione. PERCHE ADORARE? Dio ci ha dato una difesa contro la religione vuota... ADORAZIONE!. Ladorazione mantiene il cuore fresco ed annaiffiato con Suo Spirito. Quelli che hanno adorato il Creatore sono sempre scettici dei piccoli dei. Quando avrai assaggiato il vero Dio, non c gusto per ci che umano. Non c nessuna evangelizzazione pi potente che un gruppo di persone che vogliono godere la presenza di Dio in modo personale. Adorazione il sacramento della comunione spirituale che permette i due diventano uno. Quando spendiamo tempo in comprensione di

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Worship is the sacrament of spiritual communion that lets the two become one. When we spend time in revelation and response, our hearts naturally conform to Gods character. (I John 3:2) Our sin is revealed, repented, and removed as we worship. Whether alone or in groups, worship is one of the easiest ways to abide in the presence of God.

Dio e in risposta a Dio, allora il nostro cuore naturalmente si conforme al carattere di Dio. Il nostro peccato rivelato, c pentimento e cominciamo ad essere trasportati nella Sua persenza. Che una persona sia sola o in un gruppo grande, ladorazione il modo pi facile per rimanere nella presenza di Dio. Dio degno. Solo Lui merita tutto lonore dalla God is worthy. creazione. Ma come un Salvatore merita anche As Holy Creator he is due all honor, from all tutto lamore. Possiamo avere timore di Dio creation. But as Merciful Savior he is due all love. We per la Sua posizione e potere, ma davanti alla Sua may fear and respect God for his position and power, misericordia, rispondiamo in vera adorazione. but for his mercy we can only respond with Adorazione lo stato naturale del paradiso. Saremo adoration. (Luke 7:38) Worship is the natural state sempre nella Sua presenza adorandoLo e il nostro of heaven. We will forever worship God in ever cuore sar sempre pi in comunione con il Suo deepening revelations of his heart. If this is the great cuore. Se questo il grande premio del futuro, reward of the saints -- knowing God intimately -allora, perch non cerchiamo di sviluppare questo then why would we not want it in our lives now? It attitudine nel nostro cuore adesso. Forse perch can only be because we do not yet understand non comprendiamo ancora la gioia profonda che the supreme joys of worship any more than a child fa parte di un vero adoratore. Come il bambino understands the supreme joys of marriage. But we non potr mai comprendere la profonda gioia del were created for joy. As C.S. Lewis said, Joy is the matrimonio, cos per molte persone non potranno serious business of heaven. In worship, we often mai apprezzare la vera gioia delladorazione. experience our first taste of that joy. We begin to Siamo stati creati per GIOIA. In vera adorazione know firsthand that God is not merely existent, not noi cominciamo a gustare i primi sapore della vera merely good, but the source of infinite delights. gioia. Poi, man mano, comprendiamo che Dio non solo buono, non solo esiste, ma Lui la Sorgente di ogni delizia infinita.

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Chapter 3 Learn To Listen James 1:19 My dear brothers, take note of this; everyone should be more quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, for mans anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Be Sincere Songwriters want to be invited to share their songs and ideas in a group. However, when you invite songwriters to share you must mean it. Never make the mistake of assuming that people are stupid and unable to sense dishonesty in another individual, particularly if that person is an artist. The reality is that we are all able to sense when someone is being dishonest with us and it triggers within us the response of distrust. This is contradictive to all that we are trying to establish in a safe place. We cannot allow this to happen if we wish to succeed in a guild. When circled around a piano, listening to a fresh song just penned the evening before, is probably not the best time to talk to your neighbor about what kind of tea they drink at the local cafe. It is very important to listen and focus your mind on the person who is laying their intimate thoughts out for the group to hear and see. This is a vulnerable state for the writer, and we need to respect their guts and their willingness to take this risk and be public with their thoughts, ideas and gifting. Genuine curiosity is a great thing! Asking questions or making comments that show you really heard the song is very flattering and encouraging. Asking to hear the story behind the creation of a song lends validation and confidence to the writer because it means that it provoked thought in the listener. These are things you can practice that we found have made our guild more than just a group of writers, but a family instead..

What song did you share in your group? ______________________________________ ______________________________________ _________________________________ What was the story behind it? ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ What curious question did you ask? ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ What was the response? ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ How was the writer vulnerable? ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________

Courage Courage is the ladder on which all other virtues mount. Clare Boothe Luce

For more info about this book go to www.oikeomusic.com or write info@oikeomusic.com

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Community our heart, Music our hands and feet!

www.oikeomusic.com