You may already be aware that LifeWay Christian Resources sponsors a worship conference at their Glorieta, New Mexico conference center each summer.  The first time I attended this event was while I was in college.  I remember being overwhelmed with so many congregational voices and wonderful sounds of instrumental praise lifted together in that beautiful place.  Well, Ginger and I were there again last week with many friends being inspired and challenged in our music ministry.



This year's event was a real pleasure.  The LifeWay team pulled together an inspirational event that ministered to the entire family.  Glorieta is a great family get-away.  Let me encourage you to consider going there next summer for the special new hymnal and Worship Project unveiling.  It ought to be quite a celebration.

 

Ginger and I sang in the choir with our own OD Hall leading. The pictures are during rehearsal.  I hope you'll consider joining us there next summer - July 14-18, 2008.

Blessings --RB

I've been asked a hundred times what my definition of a healthy church is, and I really can not find a better answer than this.

A healthy church is a church that can function the way God designed it.

I know I'm healthy if my body can do the things I need it to do.  If it functions right and can do the work, play, rest, and ministry God asks of me.  When I can carry the box - or run the vacuum - lead the worship - sing for His glory - and do what the Lord wants, then I know I'm healthy.  To be healthy, in body, you need proper amounts of rest, work, stress, exercise, and diet.  If something gets out of balance, the body will eventually get unhealthy and this could lead to problems.

It's the same in the church.  To be healthy you need to balance your worship, prayer, fellowship, discipleship, ministry, and evangelism.  It's not that you need equal parts of each - but there should be a proper balance in your church life.  And, it is not the same for every church.  My example is - that every church needs a healthy music (worship) ministry, but not every church needs a "handbell" choir.

Your thoughts?
Blessings, --RB
 

I had a wonderful Sunday morning filling-in for my friend, Bob Griffin, at Fellowship in the Pass in Beaumont, CA.  It's a class act, really.  Three services - 8:00, 9:30, and 11:00 - all almost full, with choir and a complete accompaniment team of excellent musicians.  As you know, it was July 1 so we did all the patriotic music Bob could find, pledge of allegiance, National Anthem, and I sang "For Freedom" (Avalon).  Thanks Bob for a great day.

I really do enjoy it when a Music Minister asks me to help when they need to be out.  Bob was with his youth choir on mission in Canada and about once a year I get to fill-in for him.  I enjoy connecting with a good choir and musicians who do their job well. It's a connection with ministry that I miss the most.



I also heard some of the clearest teaching on Romans 8:29-30 that I've ever heard.  Pastor Walter Price has a great way of presenting biblical material with illustration and helpful explanation.  It was fun to listen to the difference in presentation during three services.  The church has a new building in the works. A grand worship center.  Pray for them

Blessings,  --RB

What a great time we are having at the Saddleback Worship Conference and Festival this week.  The picture on the right below is part of the worship team at Woodward Park Baptist Church in Fresno gathering in the worship center.  Rick Muchow and his team really pull out the stops for a great 3 day event (did you catch that Organ reference?).

  

Last night's concert with Tommy Walker and others was just tremendous.  The thought and care for those teams who lead worship is so refreshing and this campus is a great place to celebrate and hang out with friends.  I wish all my friends could be here.  We'd have a great time together.  Check out the Conference blog at www.swcaf.blogspot.com and more pictures at my picture site link on the left side bar.

Blessings today, --RB

I've been working this over in my mind for quite a long time now.  When I get a call from a church or pastor asking for help in worship -- they evidently get around to saying "Well, its the music that we really are struggling with."  Music is only one item of many that help us worship.

We all know that worship is more than just the music.  But sometimes pastors and others fuel the thought that worship equals music by say things like - "Now brother Roger will lead us in worship, then we'll hear the message from our pastor."  As if the two are separate: one is worship and the other not.

When we get down to it -- worship in life is much broader than that.  We should declare God's worthiness of honor and glory by the way we live day to day. This is our spiritual service of worship as outlined in Romans 12:1-2. Presenting our bodies as living sacrifices to God.  

The real musical problem in some churches is the fact that some members (and even pastors) do not like the song selections and others do not care for the accompaniment and sound level.  It seems to be about what they like and don't like.  I wonder if they ever ask the Lord if He likes it?  After all it's not really for us - but it should help us express to God our love and devotion.  And it should have relevance to those who come into church and are looking for God.  It should speak to them as a real, modern daily relationship with Jesus.

If God had only given us His preferred song list and approved instrumentation guidelines ... oops ... wait a minute ...

The Bible does say "Sing a new song unto the Lord ..."  "Hallelujah! Sing to the Lord a new song, His praise in the assembly of the godly." (Psalms 149:1)  and ...  "Speaking ... psalms, hymns and spiritual songs." (Eph 5:19)  and ...

      "1  Hallelujah! Praise God in His sanctuary. Praise Him in His mighty heavens.  2 Praise Him 
      for His powerful acts; praise Him for His abundant greatness. 3 Praise Him with trumpet blast; praise Him 
      with harp and lyre.  4 Praise Him with tambourine and dance; praise Him with flute and strings. 5 Praise Him 
      with resounding cymbals; praise Him with clashing cymbals.  6 Let everything that breathes praise the Lord. 
      Hallelujah!  (Psalms 150:1-6 HCSB )

I guess He did give us guidance after all.
Blessings, --RB

Today is a special day here in Fresno.  Valley Children's Hospital here in north Fresno has a fund raiser today.  It's a special edition of the local paper; the Fresno Bee. << MORE >>