Stinky Fast

So because I have shut down my main social media pages. Life has forced me to do some things that I am suppose to be doing anyway; like turn the TV off and listen to how loud the fish tank really is, or eat less meat, and be still somewhere, and oh yeah Blogg smh. Anyway, the house is on day 2 of the fast, and I am reminded that the process of fasting is a detox. It is a detox of the body, and the spirit. I don’t think I have to get too deep of what it means to detox the body. Ok, maybe a little just to make sure we are on the same page. When the body is not getting some of the foods, sugars, and fats it is use to, and in some cases replacing those foods with more vegetables, your body is able to release toxins/ poisons/ “bad stuff”. Now when the “bad stuff” is released, the affect is always the same; stinky. Stinky breath, sometimes stinky pores, and definitely stinky you know what… Well I’m just blogging to remind you what I was reminded this morning. The spiritual part of the detox works the same way as the physical. Don’t fight it, don’t be defeated by it, just know that there is some spiritual stinkiness that also happen. There may be some type of relational conflict that rises up, received some bad news, or challenges in relationship within your job, your house, your world. Our first response tends to be fighting spirit with flesh, “Let me give this person a piece of my mind”, or rolling your neck at the devil, “You know the devil is busy trying to distract me from my fast!” Just know that this obstacle is neither flesh or the devil. It is simply the process of your spiritual body detoxing some things that are not allowed to be attached to you as you pursue the next level. that is all

I Want To NEVER Get Old- Some after 40 thoughts

I don’t ever want to get old. One day that ol’ basketball injury might catch up on me. One day my pep might be a little slower. I pray that as days go by, I will obtain more Godly wisdom. These kids will one day have kids of their own, and my name will be changed from Zoe’s Dad to Pop Pop. I don’t care about all of that. ‘matter’a fact, I look forward to those days. I just don’t wanna be OLD. I’m ok with stuff poppin’ and stuff needing more stretchin going to sleep early and waking up earlier I just don’t wanna be old. You know... when music stops sounding like music. Or shall I say when new music “ain’t music” and when “old music” is the only music. You know what I mean? When you go from arguing that this “new sound” of music is not devil music, to fighting on the other side to keep this newer devil music out of the church. ....Getting old; when I haven’t struggled with anything on the top 10 list of sins in about 15 years so I no longer have compassion for young people strugglin’ with what I don’t struggle with anymore. Or when I get too old to remember that the struggle the younger person is wrestling with is the same struggle I’ve struggled with. And let’s not talk about being old enough to master how to hide my present struggles. I’m coo with having to driving 25 in a 40 mph zone while folk is passing me by. I just don’t ever want to think that I haven’t had Chu’ch if we haven’t sang a Kirk Franklin song, or haven’t Worshipped if we haven’t sung a Chris Tomlin song. When I stroll into the party with my Aviator sunglasses on, while the world has gone back to Ray-bans don’t say nuthin’ to me! ‘Cause I know I’m too cool for this party. But if you ever notice that me being “outside of the box” means I’m leaning on the box, please be sure you let me know when they’re about to build a bigger box to put me in. Yeah, Getting Old. Ima try not to do that.

Sweat More- Message to leaders in worship

This last Thursday, after opening the rehearsal with some time in worship, I made a statement to the choir which gave some pretty cool question marks on foreheads. “...This task master is at it again. This isn’t Maryland Mass, and he is NOT Mattie Moss Clark”. The statement was “We need to sweat more.” So now that I’ve got their attention, let me explain. I am always amazed watching athletes, specifically professional football players working on their pre-game routine. While you’re getting your church gear off, and getting your Sunday linner (combination of lunch and dinner) all together is when you’re halfway watching the NFL analysis breaking down the game to come, with a whole lot of opinion smashed in between a lot of player/team history, stats, sprinkled in with a little humor. You get your plate and is all settled when they go to a commercial. Just before the commercial, they go to the field and show Ray Lewis..RIP (Retire In Peace) with a muscle shirt on, no helmet, not pads, and drenched in sweat; and for the next 20 seconds...ok 10 you spend feeling bad about the huge Sunday plate you’ve just made. Ray and the athletes on the field haven’t even played a down yet, and is drenched in sweat like they have already began the game. Generally speaking, many have a mis-conception of what it means when you see sweat. Sweat isn’t necessarily a sign that you’ve worked hard; it is also a sign that you’re about to work hard. See when a body that is use to strenuous exercise begins a work-out, or a warm up routine, that “fit body” wakes up and says “Ut oh. This feels familiar. We’re about to go to work.” Your body then releases sweat to begin the process of keeping your body cool. While an unfit body takes a little while longer to understand what’s going on, and therefore takes longer to hit that “it’s time to sweat” trigger button. Unfortunately, what I’m seeing more and more in ministry, is that many of us are not spending efficient time warming up or working out. We’re just playing the game. Our number 1 goal as worship leaders is to lead the congregation into the presence of God. (When I refer to the term worship leaders, I don’t mean the head musician or singer. I am referring to all musicians, singers, dancers, and artist involved in the leading of worship) In other words, to encourage an awareness of the presence of Jehovah in the house right now; and therefore acknowledging His presence with the appropriate response and posture. We as worship leaders must be worshippers first or we cannot lead others into worship. There are a lot of times when we get off of stage, and long for more time in worship. Or we would get off of stage and not really feel too great about the praise and worship time. There are always many reasons why these feelings rise up; but one main reason is the sweating factor. Like a person who is out of shape, a worshipper who is not spending time in worship outside of church service (the game), it takes that person 1,2,3 songs before they are able to focus on God and His presence. In other words, for that person who doesn’t spend a regular time in worship, the praise and worship time is pretty much over when they’ve just began to break a good sweat. Worship leaders...buckle up... but worship time in our services are not for you. For you, it is a time of serving and giving out. (Giving out) Our time of corporate worship is the result of the overflow of a place you have already been. There is no way to give out of what we don’t have inside of us. Likewise there is no way that we can lead people or a congregations a direction that we are not familiar with ourselves. This time of corporate worship is for the people in front of you who may not understand the power of praise and worship; or needs the reminder of where are focus is during this time. Please don’t misunderstand, as we Praise, as we Worship, we are getting something out of it our own selves, but know that our journey is a journey that moves together. Us leading to a place we know, and us making sure we are pointing the congregation to Christ as we go.

Easy to Enter. Hard to Stay.

I was blessed to listen to a webinar a couple of week ago on the subject of Praise and Worship; specifically on the foundations in growing a worship team. The lecture was great. A lot of good pointers. But there was one point that raised an eyebrow, and caused me to marinate on it for a while. He challenged the Ministers of Music/Worship pastors (whoever is in charge) to make the music ministry “easier to enter and harder to stay.” What this looks like is different from ministry to ministry, but the idea remains. Since I have been thinking on this for a while, I thought I’d talk about it and hopefully see what you think.

There aren’t many churches where if you were to walk in from the streets and wanted to get involved in the music ministry, you can freely do so. For most churches have some type of restrictions; and many are understandable. Maybe you could be apart of the “all comer’s choir”, but don’t expect to just waltz in the studio choir and be expected to sing. You may could sing in the choir, but not praise team. And for some churches, don’t even think you’re coming in with your axe about to sit in. NOT. Now, again I believe restrictions in a ministry are important, and the specifics are and should be up to the ministry and its culture. With that in mind, know that I’m not writing to tell you what your restrictions should be, but I am interested in taking a look at our restrictions.

Let’s go back and talk about what it means to make it “easier to enter”. Some of these examples are my own, some of them come from the lecturer, but for the sake of the blogg I am not agreeing or disagreeing with any examples made.
1. For the simple knowledge of how to get involved you gotta go through this one person.
To explain myself…The person who is interested in getting involved sees you on stage, so they naturally approach you inquiring how to be apart. You’re response is… you will need to talk to this person or that person. Oppose to everyone who is apart of the ministry is able to articulate how to get involved in the arts ministry. This is a subtle way of not welcoming any and everyone into the ministry.

2. You gotta set up a meeting with the Pastor.
3. You must be a member of the church.
4. You must be a member for a certain amount of time.
5. You must be of a certain spiritual maturity to be apart of certain areas of the arts ministries.
6. You must be of a certain musical level
7. You must be saved.


Ok. Now as you take a look at this list, I’m sure you can see your church in there somewhere. Some of you readers could probably add a couple of restrictions that your church practices. As a matter of fact, many of you (as I) can back up some of our restrictions with the word of God, and because of that, some of these restrictions are non-negotiable to many of us. However, a lot of our restrictions have basically co-signed with the sinner who says, “I have to get my stuff together before I go to church.” We are now saying “you have to get your stuff together a little better before you can get involved. “

But think about these restrictions for a moment, and think about what your ministry would look like if these restrictions were not in place. I would argue that your ministry would be in one of two categories; a place with a bunch of confusion, and spiritual mayhem; or it is a place where the worship pastor is really a pastor; where the minister of music is a minister first. In other words, success in an idea of “no restrictions” or “limited restrictions” would come from an environment that makes it difficult for you not to change. A place where you grow or go. It is a place where you are forever growing while the one who does not want to grow is so uncomfortable they just can’t stick around.

So specifically what does this ministry with no restrictions look like? Well the sinner is embraced with love and ministry that challenges the need for Christ in their life. The saved non-member is being loved and embraced within community in such a way that there’s no reason they wouldn’t want to be a member. The talented saved artist who secretly has the “it don’t take all that” attitude about worship, is consistently welcomed in an environment where worship is consistently taught and practiced making it difficult for him not to be affected.

So what do you think? How does this sound to you? It sounds like Uhhhhhh real community to me. It sounds like what we preach church should look like; where we as the body is walking with you to your next place in life. But like I said earlier, it sounds like a place where the Worship Pastor really needs to be a Pastor. Within this idea, the leaders cannot get distracted by the music that needs to be learned, and program that needs to be prepared. In this environment the people that God has trusted us to lead must be first priority. Yes I know, looking for the holiest, most talented artist sure makes life so much easier as a leader. But think about how many people who could have saw you on stage and could relate to you because your similar talents, but never was given an opportunity to allow that thing that connects you to him (the art) to meet.

It's already in you

(Something I had in my journal for a few months)

My mother went to South Africa a couple of years ago. She shared an experience that I’ve heard many people share after a person has come back from a missions trip out of the country for the first time. She and the team she was with were doing something with a school in a poor area of Africa. The leader of the team told my mother she wanted her to say something to the group of students. ( about 1 or 2 hundred) Her response to the leader who is a friend, was “no way” I don’t want to say anything to these kids. I don’t have anything to say to these kids. Her response came from her being older, she isn’t a speaker/preacher etc., and of course it was on the spot. Nevertheless the leader made her speak. My mom was so blessed. She opened her mouth, and every word that came out of her mouth, she felt was absorbed like a sponge.

Everyone who I’ve talked to who’s had this missions experience has resolved the same conclusion; they have so much to give. God has placed so much in us that we don’t use. My mom was saying things that may have been perceived to the common American as basic bible knowledge. But these kids’ lives were changed; changed with stuff that she has had within her for years.

I said all that to say that I believe that God is saying that you have all that you need within you. You have all that you need right there within you. Don’t expect other professionals, or scholars to be the answer for what you and you’re household is dealing with. (don’t trip, I’m not saying AT ALL not to use and consider other resources) God is saying clearly, that you have everything you need within you. God has prepared you for such a time as this. There is word within you that has been planted years ago for this hour. You have seen the power of God’s presence in a place, and in a situation. Practice/continue to practice His presence, no bars held. I know, you’re tired, I know you get tired, and the Ps. 34; praise is hard to get out sometimes, and you may fail in you’re press, but DON’T give up on that process!! It is your only key.

Like a child

^{Luke 18:15-17}People brought babies to Jesus, hoping he might touch them. When the disciples saw it, they shooed them off. Jesus called them back. "Let these children alone. Don't get between them and me. These children are the kingdom's pride and joy. Mark this: Unless you accept God's kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you'll never get in." MSG

So in what way can we be more like a child…? Once upon a time when I had no children, and no wife, a good friend of mine, Handel O, said “Aaron, I just look at my children and God just blows my mind teaching me things through them. “ Well now that I have children of my own, I could relate. For God has placed us in family to understand the family of God, and how we ought to live. In the family of God, we play the role of the child. The child, yes the child. Ever-since we were a child, we worked towards trying to be an adult. We wanted to be older, and our parent instilled in us daily with things that eventually helped us mature. As a child we want to be more and more independent, and many of our parents spent a lot of time trying to help us be more independent. Now here we are trying to be more like Christ, and Christ is telling us if we want to be more Christ-like, or more kingdom-minded, we have to abandon everything that we have been striving to do since we were a baby, and now we need to be more like a child. So in what way can we be more like a child?

I. Love- P&W

How do you choose to visualize the scripture above? There are many illustrations, paintings that depict this event. The illustration that I like is one that I believe I had in my first children’s bible. It was a picture of Jesus sitting on the grass, with a bunch of children jumping on Him, playing with and around Him. Because Jesus had a way of relating to all types of people, I believed He didn’t start being real “churchy” when the children came around, I believe He just laid hands on Him in the midst of relating to them on their level.

The Message translation says that, “…God’s kingdom is made up of people like these.” Reading this always makes me think that this was His antidote to being homesick. I believe the children loving on Him made Him feel like He was at home. For while at home, Jesus is just Praised and loved on all day long. Not the type of praise that we adults tend to give Him; but an un-inhibited praise, a no bars held affection of love.

For our loving on God should be in this matter. When I walk into my house, my children hear the “beep beep” of the door opening and the response is “Daddy!!!!” If they are downstairs, they run towards the door, yelling again, “Daddy!!!” They are so excited to see me, and don’t care about anything else. Nothing else matters at that time but loving on dad and telling him what they want to tell him even if I don’t understand what they are saying. Take a moment to watch a child love on someone they love, then attempt to love on God in that same way. The child does not care; stop caring. The child’s full expression is excitement. Quit allowing your adulthood gage your feelings, your emotions, your intimacy, your worship, towards God.

II. Faith

¹Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 NIV

I’ve never thought about this before, but children can be a great model of faith. Hebrews 11:1 says, “…and certain of what we do not see.” In comparison to an adult, most children have not been in this world long enough to have seen anything. So a lot of what they do is with a trust in others. They have no worries that all their needs are met. They trust that their needs will be supplied by their parents. As a matter of fact, all they really see is their parents. The bills are there, the need for food is there, issues that come up that affects the family are there; but in a child’s eyes, all of these issues are eclipsed by their parents. I wonder what would happen if our issues were eclipsed by our focus on God? If we didn’t get distracted on the issue, and simply trust in who would take care of the issue for us.

III. Obedience

The bible says, “Children obey your parents in the Lord for this is right.” For this is right? What kind of reason is that? I mean it is a good reason, but it sure is vague. Why is it right? What makes it right? Hmp! …For this is right. So why did God give us the reasoning, “…for this is right?” It’s the same reasoning that we give our children the answer, “…because I said so”. Lol. You know when we ask our child to do something, they ask why, and our response is “Because I said so”. Why do we say that? Well sometimes this is our response because obedience is a reason enough. But a lot of the times the answer is just too much to explain. You’d spend time trying to explain it to them and it just only leads to more questions. Or the conversation would end with them not really understanding why. The best thing the child can do right then, is to obey. Eventually, they’ll understand the whys. The bottom line is that we give our children certain direction because we love them, we want to protect them, and we want what’s best for our children. The parent is able to see harm much farther than what the child can see. So what makes no sense to the child is clear direction for the parent. Like an earthly parent, God tends to guide us (through the Holy Spirit) in certain direction that makes absolutely no sense to us. But after it’s all said and done, we understand that God had a specific direction He was taking us all along. Even our pains that God allows us to go through have a designed purpose that is too far away for us to see with our own human eyes. Just as it hurts us to see our child go through pain that is necessary, it hurts our heavenly Father to see us go through pain that we must go through. But at the end of the day, he directs us, corrects us, guides us, and allows pain because He loves us farther than what we can see.