The Sabbath: Part 1

Have you ever felt like you were on a treadmill that wouldn’t stop? My last few weeks have felt that way. It starts with Monday at the office, lunch appointments, mid-week worship/choir rehearsal, an important dinner appointment, coffee, someone’s having another party, a writing session, rehearsal before two morning services, two morning services and it’s already Monday again. Where do we possibly find the time to experience a Sabbath? George MacDonald, in The Musician’s Quest says, “It is our best work that he wants, not the dregs of our exhaustion. So many seem ambitious to kill themselves in the service of the Savior – and as quickly as possible”. Have you been there done that? Are you there now? Read a little excerpt from Lea Collins’ entry in the Perspectives on Worship collection:

In western cultures we are fighting an epidemic called burnout which is caused by too much stress unalleviated for too long. Burnout causes emotional and mental problems (such as depression) as well as physical sickness. If left unchecked, burnout does more than just ruin the quality of life. It can actually kill you. In Japan they have a word for it: karoshi – death from overwork.

In the U.S., more than 1,500 pastors leave the ministry each month citing pastoral burnout as one of the major reasons. The primary reason burnout happens is the lack of its number one cure: REST.

The Bible mentions “rest” 469 times. In contrast, “worship” appears only 250 times and “praise” 326 times. Rest is extremely important to God. So important, in fact, that He made a law about it: remember (observe) the Sabbath.

The word “Sabbath” means “to cease,” “to end,” and “to rest.” When God instituted the Sabbath in Jewish culture, it was a completely unprecedented social concept. This weekly day off remained an exclusively Jewish “holiday” until the Reformation when Western Europe rebuilt itself with the Ten Commandments as the basis for society and law. Following this tradition, most of us now have two days off each week – Saturday and Sunday. Saturday is usually consumed with the errands and house work we don’t have time for during the week. And for those of us involved in any kind of ministry, whether full time or as a volunteer, Sunday is anything but a day of rest. If we’re lucky, rest is penciled in for a week of summer vacation each year. Seven days a year is a far cry from the fifty-two God intended. No wonder we’re all burned out!

Until next time, find time to rest.

Regi

Throughout the year, I visit 10-12 churches where we spend Friday evening through Sunday talking about worship. I call the weekends ‘Worship Weekends”. We also sing, laugh and eat good food. The last church I visited was in Huntsville, Alabama. I must say the food was amazing. Steak tips and chicken on a skewer along with grilled veggies, baked potatoes and cobbler. Need I say more? After our tasty meal we moved over to the student life room where I shared a devotion on “The Vocabulary of Worship” taken from our first issue of the Experience Worship Magazine. Basically, it’s a picture of two different Psalms and the differences of David’s speech as he approaches the Lord. One finds David in a place of joy and contentment and the other is filled with emotion from a soul confronted with sin and hungry for forgiveness. Read Psalm 8 and 51 to get the full story. After you read these scriptures, consider how you relate to David’s feelings. Think of a few times in your past or where you find yourself today that have similar comparisons. Now consider writing your own psalm. Pour out your thoughts, emotions, praise or concerns to the Lord from your heart. “O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise.” Psalm 51:15

In the Experience Worship book titled, “Perspectives on Worship”, there is an article that I’ve read many times called Where Worship Begins. It’s written by my friend Babbie Mason and is a reminder of how worship becomes a joy when we focus on making it an attitude and not an activity. That thought sticks out in my mind constantly connecting me back to the realization that worship is to be a heart issue and not just something I do once or twice a week. Babbie says, If we are truly aware of God’s presence, we can worhsip at any time. We are never out of His presence. He is always with us. He is constantly drawing us to Him. He pays attention when we call on Him. He delights in our efforts to communicate and commune with Him. God inhabits, He lives in or takes up residence in, our praise. Imagine that your heart is a house where God dwells. Picture Him pulling up an easy chair and making Himself at home in your worship. When we look at worship as an activity only, when this is our way of thinking, worship becomes a religious ritual, a mere exercise. True worshipers enjoy being in the presence of God at all times. We come to realize that it is not at all about what we can get from God, but being with him. It is a conscious attitude that seeks to find ways to express love for God in our daily living.

What is your driving passion? What is the one thing that keeps you up at night and consumes your thoughts during the day? Is it your work? Is it your money, or maybe your ministry? This is where your real attitude and your true motives will be revealed. Matthew 6:21 says “For wherever your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

God seeks those who will worship Him in spirit in truth. Ask God to develop in you a keen sense and awareness of His presence. Approach him with an attitude of humility and awe. Never forget that He is sovereign, holy, and has all authority. God is right there where you are. And, there is no better time than now to worship Him.

Babbie Mason
From Perspectives on Worship
www.experienceworship.com

One of the most exciting things I’ve been part of in a long time is creating  and launching a magazine. Well, I didn’t do it all alone. Nick Perreault is the designer and assistant editor and without him I wouldn’t be writing this entry. And without many donors it would just be two guys sitting in a office talking about how we’d like to start a magazine. It was several years ago when I had this crazy idea that the world needed another magazine. Before you roll your eyes, hear me out. I love magazines! Every time I visit the grocery, I find myself standing in the magazine aisle. Every trip to the airport includes the purchase of at least 2 magazines. On  my last trip to Alaska one of the magazines cost a whopping $18. WHAT? So, you get the point, I love magazines. It seemed that most magazines that have to do with worship all are pretty niched to the worship leader, pastor or some technical person. What about people who love worship? What about those that aren’t in a leadership position but want to learn more about worship? With that thought in mind we started the process of defining what the reader of a potential Experience Worship magazine would find in its pages. We searched for articles, photo’s and talked with many people about what they wish a worship magazine might include. I never knew there would be so much to do to create a magazine. But after many hours…did I say many hours? We have just launched the very first issue of Experience Worship magazine. I encourage you to visit our web site at www.experienceworship.com where you can actually download several pages of the first issue. 

By presenting original stories, interviews and articles that push beyond the limited view of worship held by many believers, each issue of Experience Worship magazine will challenge the typical understanding of worship and present examples of how worship can become an everyday experience with God that impacts our families and communities.

You may think you don’t need another magazine but I assure you, this magazine is different than any other magazine you currently subscribe to. For one; every other page isn’t an ad begging you to buy a piano, microphone or suggesting some weight loss program. It’s 32 fresh and engaging pages that communicates worship regardless of style. If you like traditional, contemporary, intellectual or consider yourself more emotional, the articles will invite you and provoke thoughts beyond any walls you are surrounded by regarding worship. So, what are you waiting on?

Worship Him,

Regi

On the way to school this morning I asked who wanted to go to the beach and Sophia’s hand shot up. I then asked who wants to go to Jackson Hole and my son raised his hand. Since we don’t do separate vacations we are now comparing our experiences in both places. The beach, my daughter says, has become a family tradition after spending several years renting the same house on the same week in Hilton Head, SC. I could probably walk through the beach house with my eyes shut. I know it well. And, the trip to the beach is just 75 short yards from the back door. I miss it already can you tell? So, you get the picture. Beautiful weather, a heated pool and great company with Kim’s oldest sister Annalisa, her husband Jack and their daughter Eva. Fun. Golf. Bicycles. Great sandwiches. It was a great way to unplug and just chill. I’d do it again.

Jackson Hole is another picture altogether. Last year we were there for a week in the summer and a week in the winter. Eli liked both seasons the same. In the summer we went fishing for trout, standing on a small wooden bridge just about 75 short yards from the back door of the cozy guest home of a much bigger home on 35 acres. For both those weeks we pretended it was ours. Actually we probably spent more time in the house last year than the people who own it. Glad they were paying the taxes. Anyway, surrounded by unbelievable beauty. Tetons. Wildlife. Horseback Riding. Fishing. Campfires. Yellowstone National Park. Old Faithful. Eagles. Buffalo. Elk. Winter time was filled with skiing, throwing snowballs, building lopsided snowmen, sledding until you hurt, wondering when it was really going to snow, tubing and so much more. Okay, so you get the picture. An amazing place with so much to do. Outside of relaxing, fishing and a campfire or strolling around on 35 acres you must drive to all the other destinations but the drive ain’t too bad. Everywhere you look it’s another beautiful picture. Last summer was truly a step away from the hustle and bustle and a true unplugging for our family. I’d do it again.

Hopefully we will be able to choose our trip soon. I’m anxious to know if I’ll be sitting by the pool or standing on a bridge hoping a fish jumps on my lure.

Just back from Amelia Island, FL where I led worship at Mike Silva International, Friends Conference during 4 days. My wife Kimberlee joined me along with Nick & Camille Perreault and Andrew Collins. Nick and Andrew both work in our office in Nashville where Nick is Art Director and Assistant Editor at Experience Worship and Andrew heads up our Customer Care Department at Belden Worship Resources. Camille is attending Watkins School of Design with a focus in photography. Kimberlee also works in our office as the Editor of Drama Ministry.

We were all so excited to get to the beach but were welcomed by a chilly 57 with a strong breeze blowing most of our time there. We were pretty spoiled during our stay as each morning brought a wonderful breakfast and ended with an amazing dinner and dessert. Throughout the mornings we joined a number of people at the Conference for devotions, worship through music and times of prayer and reflection. What an amazing time. Mike Silva’s devotions were passionate and Rick Rigsby brought powerful sermons ending with a message on Astonishing Faith on Saturday evening. Powerful!

Coming next is Alaska in April.

Regi

I took another trip to Atlanta last weekend to lead and talk about worship with the Mount Paran Central Worship & Arts ministry. What an amazing trip. Andrew Collins from our office joined me to play acoustic guitar. We had a wonderful time and even stopped in at Pappasito’s for some steak fajitas. If you ever pass a Pappasito’s do yourself a favor and pull in for dinner. The salsa is warm and the tortilla chips are thin and just perfect. Trust me.

I just love the opportunity to worship with a group of people who just bring it. I guess we had around 150 + in the chapel and I pretty much didn’t need to sing. The room was filled with beautiful sounds of praise. A special time.

Next up is Amelia Island for the Mike Silva Friends Conference.

I just returned from a Worship Weekend with Mount Paran North in Atlanta, GA. We talked about worship, sang a few songs, shared a few meals and laughed. These weekends are special to me as I have opportunity to talk about something that becomes more important to me each day. Worship. I’m not an expert that’s for sure but worship is becoming so much more than just a Sunday morning to me and has spilled over into my Monday’s and Saturday’s and the days in between. Sometimes I have found opportunity to worship sitting quietly at my piano and other times it’s during a drive to the office. Trust me, I take time for a medium, non-fat latte with extra foam and sushi with my wife at Peter’s not far from our home. But, I’m finding God in many places where I didn’t used to look for Him. His presence really is in my car. He is with me at the supermarket and while I’m doing push-ups. I can talk with Him and know he hears me. And, I don’t have to yell to get His attention. I don’t have to wonder if He hears me or worry about tomorrow because I trust Him. Really, that’s what this past weekend was about. A room full of people talking about how to walk out their worship every day. My prayer is for you to be encouraged. He is with you and He loves you more than you can imagine.

This week I’ve been recording a song that I wrote with Christy Sutherland a few months back. I typically wouldn’t post a lyric to something that I wrote but it was the first thing that I thought of when I sat down to write. In fact, it seems like this lyric has become my daily prayer. They say a song is successful if it fulfills its purpose in life. If for no one else this song was written to remind me that I can’t do it on my own. Everything I have is His. I hope it will connect with your heart and become your prayer. We will post an audio clip soon. Until then may you find your day filled with the presence of the Lord. 

Be my breath.
Be my voice.
Be my hands and be my feet.
be my heart.
Be my dreams.
Lord, be everything to me.

I can’t do this on my own.
I lay my life before Your throne.
I will follow You wherever You lead.
If I lose sight of the path, be the road that takes me back.
Lord, be everything to me.

Be my will.
Be my way.
Be my faith and be my peace.
Be my rock.
Be my strength.
Lord, be everything to me.

I can’t do this on my own.
I lay my life before Your throne.
I will follow You wherever You lead.
If I lose sight of the path, be the road that takes me back.
Lord, be everything to me.

If I lose sight of the path, be the road that takes me back.
Lord, be everything to me.

Regi Stone
Zephaniah 3:17