When the Music Fails…

2007-10-11 by dan

For a period of about 5 years I was the worship leader for my churches youth group. I remember having my first opportunity to lead for that group. I was so excited and passionate about experiencing God’s presence through worship. God’s presence was very real and very clear to me in the first year of leading. I remember instances where students would just come to the front as a sign of their devotion to God. I also remember seeing the hunger in those students’ lives to experience a relationship with God that was deeper than any program or religion could fill. They were hungry for intimacy with God, and it showed in the way they worshipped God at those meetings. They sang their hearts out.

After that year passed it seemed like every following year I was striving to recapture the passion and expressions of that first year. It’s funny because during that first year I remember wishing that I could make changes to the band and to the style of music we played. Then when the second and following years came I was able to implement some of those changes, but things felt like they got off center. So I tried to change back and still nothing was quite like the expression and passion of the first year.

Looking back after those 5 years I see now how even though our expression in music was never the same as that first year, God’s presence was increasingly with us. More and more students began to reach out to each other and to the community. There was a passion for God, but the students just weren’t as excited about the music. I wish I would have realized this in those last 4 years. Too much stress and wasted energy went into trying to re manufacture God’s presence through music.

It wasn’t until the last year that it started to sink into me. Before I was teaching and reinforcing that worship isn’t about the music, but I was still chasing that expression and I wanted other to chase it as well. Then that last year I remember a weight lifting off my shoulders as I realized that chasing God is more valuable than chasing the expressions and experiences of worshiping Him.

Expressions will fail, but a relationship with God endures. Seek God.
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Thanks for reading. Let me know what your thoughts are. – Dan

# | Posted in Blogs | Comments » (9)

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  1. Josh Fernandez Says:
    October 12th, 2007 at 01:02 pm

    dear dan

    i can relate with your words and thoughts of which you have written about. i too have had to struggle through the like, looking back trying to re-manufacture and re invent past situations, only to come away with having felt exhausted and more confused. however i came to the conclusion over this long period of time, that worship means sacrifice. a sacrifical life, crucified to Christ our Lord is just that… worship. finally realizing with an understanding that the essense of heartfelt intimant worship is your relationship with Christ. Learning as a christian that our greatest adventure in life, our most challenging aspect as children of God is living as a christian in all of the battles that arrise [in this personal relationship]. i have found that it is here where the "rubber meets the road" and that christianity is best lived through our relationship in Christ Jesus our Lord and that this is worship. sacrificing everything in life is worship!

    a struggling christian is a faithful christian. check out the pasted link and read what i have written… i think it will explain a bit more indepth what i have written to you about.

    http://themannaproject.blogspot.com/2006/10/relationship-means-sacrifice.html

    keep in mind dan… i have not written much on the blog/website for sometime. God has had to take me through a place "benching me" like an atelete is benched to place into perspective and to account for my actions that had been currently taking place.

    since that time i have been inspired to write yet it has been very hard and difficult in placing pencil to paper and thus posting on the site. i realize that at some point all that has been building up inside will in time gush out and be written and posted for all to read and meditate on. and God willing touch the lives of those to read.

    as iron sharpen's iron, so one man sharpen's another. proverbs 27:17

    enjoy dan
    in Christ Jesus our Lord
    josh

  2. Suzzie Says:
    October 14th, 2007 at 10:58 am

    Hey Dan;
    I found your podcast by accident on itunes, and it's such a blessing! I have found it a blessing to find someone who's passion is God first, and the rest second. Thank you for your generosity, and your desire to pour into and build up your brothers and sisters.
    Suzzie

  3. Jaq Says:
    October 25th, 2007 at 12:33 am

    Dan,
    First off, I found your podcast randomly one day and I've listened to the songs time and again since then and have been very blessed (praise God). Thanks for letting Christ use you and the gifts He's given you to bless others with music.

    Secondly, I recently stepped down from leading worship at our church. Primarily to focus my energy on my year old marriage. Worship is still a very important ministry to me but we also found ourselves hitting what felt like roadblocks because congregationally people still made an issue of music styles.

    Without getting too far into it, it's hard to keep things fresh in worship. It really is like marriage it takes work, consistency and energy. Fortunately, when we are reliant and in the Spirit He supplies what we lack.

    Love the blog and the podcast. I expect to be a regular around these parts. I'd appreciate your comments on my site too if you ever feel inclined. Thanks, Dan.
    Jaq Baldwin in Atlanta, GA

    http://chosensample.com

  4. Megan O'Neal Says:
    January 27th, 2008 at 02:02 am

    Dan-
    Beautiful words and beautiful music. It's so amazing to see a little piece of your heart expressed to the Lord here. You have a gift and it's so refreshing to see your humility in it. Thanks for being open and sharing these thoughts.

  5. Melissa Says:
    February 07th, 2008 at 06:51 pm

    I just wanted to send you a note and say that your podcasts have really touched my heart and I listen to them over and over! Keep it up and may God bless you =)

  6. Michael Says:
    February 09th, 2008 at 06:18 pm

    Dan, I love the lyrics to "cup" – would you share the mp3 with us?

    Thanks!
    Mike

  7. Jim Dorner Says:
    March 12th, 2008 at 11:30 pm

    Dan,
    I just sort of stumbled across your podcast and "accidentally" subscribed. Your music sat on my ipod for over a month, and while working out, I just happened to click play. I listened to the first few songs and fell upon "nothing compares". I must have played it ten times through and in the middle of the gym I started to cry. I completely felt God's unbelievable hugeness through your song. It was like God sent a message through you to me. I downloaded the chords and played it through myself over and over again. I cannot even tell you how thankful I am that God placed your music in my life. Thank you so much for channeling God's love through your music.
    I am in the process of starting a contemporary service in our traditional church. I've been at it now for 3 months and would love to pick your brain about possibilities, being an old pro yourself.
    God's richest blessings as you serve him in this, and whatever other fashions he's presented himself to you
    Jim

  8. Dan Says:
    March 20th, 2008 at 05:19 pm

    God is awesome like that.

    Thank you for sharing tis with me. It's really amazing to see how God can use a half way recording to minister to his kids.

    As for the contemporary service, just keep in mind the word SERVICE. I think that as a leader it can be really easy to forget that we are put where we are to be like Christ (to serve, not to be served). That should help curb some of the frustrations that come along with trying something new. Keep yourself, your team, and your church drenched in prayer and communion with God. Then as you feel God leading you into different expressions of worship, serve your church body with those expressions.

    Let me know how things go.

    God Bless,

    Dan

  9. web development company Says:
    October 27th, 2009 at 05:08 am

    Quite inspiring, A very interesting and thaught provocking post, Keep up the good work, Anyway, thanks for the post

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