Comments on: Dear Worship Dude // The Third Letter http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2008/07/dear-worship-dude-the-third-letter/ Carlos Whittaker's Weblog Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:05:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Richard Wentz http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2008/07/dear-worship-dude-the-third-letter/#comment-522592 Richard Wentz Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:27:40 +0000 http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/?p=5553#comment-522592 Wow wow wow. This just grabbed my guts and turned them inside out. I agree with the wonderful Mrs. Whitttaker....book!!!!! Wow wow wow. This just grabbed my guts and turned them inside out. I agree with the wonderful Mrs. Whitttaker….book!!!!!

]]> By: Joni http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2008/07/dear-worship-dude-the-third-letter/#comment-215754 Joni Sat, 19 Jul 2008 04:47:40 +0000 http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/?p=5553#comment-215754 About 2 years ago, my husband and I led worship for a small (30 families?) rural church. The pastor held a weekend conference on worship--not just music but what worship means as a whole. During the Friday night music session, I kept looking at a young(20s) girl who looked like she'd rather be anywhere else. Pensive look on her face, furrowed brow. No singing, no movement. After the evening event ended, she approached me to say she was so moved and felt overwhelmed. She hugged and thanked me. A few minutes later she prayed with the pastor to accept Jesus. By her actions, I thought she was bored or angry. You can't tell what's going on in hearts. The waver/jumper/clapper may very well be disengaged spiritually. And the still/hands at the hip/frowner may be processing some very intense heart issues. Worship leaders, be faithful in the work you are given to do and trust the Holy Spirit to do his work. About 2 years ago, my husband and I led worship for a small (30 families?) rural church. The pastor held a weekend conference on worship–not just music but what worship means as a whole. During the Friday night music session, I kept looking at a young(20s) girl who looked like she’d rather be anywhere else. Pensive look on her face, furrowed brow. No singing, no movement. After the evening event ended, she approached me to say she was so moved and felt overwhelmed. She hugged and thanked me. A few minutes later she prayed with the pastor to accept Jesus. By her actions, I thought she was bored or angry. You can’t tell what’s going on in hearts. The waver/jumper/clapper may very well be disengaged spiritually. And the still/hands at the hip/frowner may be processing some very intense heart issues. Worship leaders, be faithful in the work you are given to do and trust the Holy Spirit to do his work.

]]> By: ash http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2008/07/dear-worship-dude-the-third-letter/#comment-215491 ash Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:56:59 +0000 http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/?p=5553#comment-215491 We sang The Stand this past week in church. I love that song. I love the line "This life to declare Your promise, my soul now to stand." --ash We sang The Stand this past week in church. I love that song. I love the line “This life to declare Your promise, my soul now to stand.”

–ash

]]> By: Joanna Kurtz http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2008/07/dear-worship-dude-the-third-letter/#comment-215445 Joanna Kurtz Thu, 17 Jul 2008 20:33:31 +0000 http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/?p=5553#comment-215445 I think that is just about my favorite song in the whole world. I think that is just about my favorite song in the whole world.

]]> By: dorothy (vicar of vibe) http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2008/07/dear-worship-dude-the-third-letter/#comment-215376 dorothy (vicar of vibe) Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:35:20 +0000 http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/?p=5553#comment-215376 This “person” is exactly who is in my head and heart when creating worship elements. I keep trying to get others on our team to “see” this person. It’s all I think about, all I talk about… When I ask “what about the “skeptic” I get the same old response. But, what “I hear” in that response is “if we design for things we like (cause we are 80’s cool and hip) then God’s mighty power will transcend and touch the hearts of those skeptics that happen to be there…” It so reminds me of the mentality of “we want new young people to come to our church, BUT we are not willing to change. They should learn to worship our way.” I’m going to be really blunt here, When I hear someone say “at my old church”, I cringe. I know that whatever comes out next will be something antiquated like “we did James Taylor’s “Shower the People You Love”-esque… I agree God is that great; but I contend that it’s doesn’t hurt to design elements that give Him and the Holy Spirit a fighting chance. And I have to say (because someone always brings it up), it’s not about doing Christianity lite… Please, I am a Christ follower just like you. It’s still about worshipping and glorifying God, telling the greatest story ever told and preaching the Word. It is such a fine line… I say, as long as our first goal is to design everything to worship and glorify God; why not design for the skeptic and dechurched frame of mind. For God’s power is mighty and He is able to transcend into the heart of the “lukewarm believer”. If we design something that is cutting edge, culturally relevant it gives “that person” something that is familiar to connect to. Do that and then genuine hearts of worship will touch “that person”. One of my very favorite quotes “I never liked jazz music, because jazz music doesn't resolve. But sometimes you have to watch somebody love something before you can love it yourself...I used to not like God, because God didn't resolve. But that was before any of this happened."-Donald Miller (Blue Like Jazz) So, entice the skeptic, challenge the lukewarm, and thrill the believer to new levels of passion… Thanks for adding this and bumping the others. I’m new to Ragamuffin and haven’t had a chance to pursue many of the previous threads… This “person” is exactly who is in my head and heart when creating worship elements.
I keep trying to get others on our team to “see” this person.

It’s all I think about, all I talk about…

When I ask “what about the “skeptic” I get the same old response. But, what “I hear” in that response is “if we design for things we like (cause we are 80’s cool and hip) then God’s mighty power will transcend and touch the hearts of those skeptics that happen to be there…”
It so reminds me of the mentality of “we want new young people to come to our church, BUT we are not willing to change. They should learn to worship our way.”
I’m going to be really blunt here,
When I hear someone say “at my old church”, I cringe. I know that whatever comes out next will be something antiquated like “we did James Taylor’s “Shower the People You Love”-esque…

I agree God is that great; but I contend that it’s doesn’t hurt to design elements that give Him and the Holy Spirit a fighting chance.
And I have to say (because someone always brings it up), it’s not about doing Christianity lite…
Please, I am a Christ follower just like you. It’s still about worshipping and glorifying God, telling the greatest story ever told and preaching the Word.

It is such a fine line…

I say, as long as our first goal is to design everything to worship and glorify God; why not design for the skeptic and dechurched frame of mind. For God’s power is mighty and He is able to transcend into the heart of the “lukewarm believer”.

If we design something that is cutting edge, culturally relevant it gives “that person” something that is familiar to connect to.

Do that and then genuine hearts of worship will touch “that person”.

One of my very favorite quotes “I never liked jazz music, because jazz music doesn’t resolve. But sometimes you have to watch somebody love something before you can love it yourself…I used to not like God, because God didn’t resolve. But that was before any of this happened.”-Donald Miller (Blue Like Jazz)

So, entice the skeptic, challenge the lukewarm, and thrill the believer to new levels of passion…

Thanks for adding this and bumping the others. I’m new to Ragamuffin and haven’t had a chance to pursue many of the previous threads…

]]> By: David http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2008/07/dear-worship-dude-the-third-letter/#comment-215357 David Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:26:40 +0000 http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/?p=5553#comment-215357 this is great stuff. its real life. this is great stuff. its real life.

]]> By: Rich Emery http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2008/07/dear-worship-dude-the-third-letter/#comment-215355 Rich Emery Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:08:21 +0000 http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/?p=5553#comment-215355 LOS, these letters are great and so real I can't wait for "dude" to come into a full relationship with Jesus! Also as I read the letters they really burdin my heart to go find the "dude's" in my church and encourage them and be a friend that they can go to. LOS, these letters are great and so real I can’t wait for “dude” to come into a full relationship with Jesus!

Also as I read the letters they really burdin my heart to go find the “dude’s” in my church and encourage them and be a friend that they can go to.

]]> By: drew http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2008/07/dear-worship-dude-the-third-letter/#comment-215351 drew Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:45:04 +0000 http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/?p=5553#comment-215351 Sorry, can't help thinking of "The Big Lebowski" when I hear anyone referenced as The Dude. I can only imagine what Jeff Lebowski would think of in church. Sorry, can’t help thinking of “The Big Lebowski” when I hear anyone referenced as The Dude.

I can only imagine what Jeff Lebowski would think of in church.

]]> By: Sean Pritzkau http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2008/07/dear-worship-dude-the-third-letter/#comment-215349 Sean Pritzkau Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:33:23 +0000 http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/?p=5553#comment-215349 Looks like dude is starting to come around! I gotta meet this guy.. oh wait he's in our church every week. Looks like dude is starting to come around! I gotta meet this guy.. oh wait he’s in our church every week.

]]> By: whittakerwoman http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/2008/07/dear-worship-dude-the-third-letter/#comment-215348 whittakerwoman Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:31:20 +0000 http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/?p=5553#comment-215348 Brilliant! Book! Love You! H Brilliant!
Book!
Love You!
H

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