If You Could Learn Just One Thing... and other ramblings.
With all the churches I've worked with over the years, if I could have worship team members and leaders understand just one thing, it would be this verse...
Luke 12:48b
"....For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been given, of him they will ask even more."
In many of today's worship teams, there is an underlying tone of complacency and elitism among the better musicians and leaders that is robbing them of reaching the level of excellence God requires of them. And worse yet, it's robbing people of a true worship experience.
As successful leaders and musicians we need to be giving more than those who may not be as talented or gifted. Because you can play without a full rehearsal does not mean you have a free pass to give less to God than those who need a lot of practice time. He requires more of those who have "arrived" than He does from those who are just starting out on the journey ((okay, please don't write to me and tell me "no one ever arrives, Jimmy." I get it.))
I see it running rampant in pastors, but also in musicians and worship leaders. It's time we all start putting in more of the hours, effort and attitude-of-gratitude like we require from our understudies. God requires it from us.
On a similar note, as many of you know, I've been in the entertainment business since my early teens and have been mentored by some of the worlds greatest musicians and artists (of course, I still never became as good as them.) But I grew up in an environment where elitism and special treatment was common place. There were artists and celebrities who couldn't go anywhere without a posse. As an emcee and fellow musician who shared the stage with many of these stars, I often needed multiple levels of clearance at nearly every event just to get near the stage, much less on it. And even though I lived in that life for a couple of decades, there are only 2 or 3 people with whom I still have a relationship. In fact, most of those people who surrounded themselves with layers of "protection" are miserable and live a very lonely life today.
On the other hand, I met some people with as much or more "status" who were more readily accessible. Those who made it a part of their persona to mingle with the people who actually made them famous. These people gave out the phone numbers and email addresses. They invited strangers to private parties at their homes. They weren't open to everyone of course, but to far more people than those mentioned above.
Playing golf with Troy Aikman and Jeb Bush: While playing with these two guys at Amelia Island in 1993, there was not one security guard in our group, and they never denied an autograph. In fact, several times, they stopped play just to reach out to unsuspecting people on the course to say hello. It brought smiles to everyone's faces. And that was Troy and Jeb's reward.
Meeting Lou Rawls: In the 80s, I met Lou in Los Angeles one night at a restaurant. After introducing myself, he gave me his card and wrote his direct line on it. I called him months later. He remembered me and we talked at lengths about the music business and how to get ahead. And this was back when he still had hits on the radio! Not during his isolation years.
So why am I telling you all of this? Because it's time we Christian leaders stop living in a cocoon of protection and let our guard down a little more. Sure, we need a team of armor bearers around us to deflect some fiery darts and to help us remain focused, but we also need to make ourselves more available to those who need us the most. Those who need our input and our counsel. Those who aspire to be like you. And if you think the seminars you speak at and the video conferences you teach go beyond what I'm talking about, then you've missed the point. Consider it the price you pay for the amount of success you enjoy, but stop being a "behind-the-ropes" pastor, get off the stage, and start leading from the front row.
All Praise Worship Team: I was asked this week by three different people about the All Praise Worship Team and what I have planned when I leave Dutch Fork Christian Church in March. Well, the good news is I've actually got a plan! And I'll be sharing that plan with you as we move forward. But suffice it to say, that if you're a talented, Christ-following musician who feels God is calling you to share your talent with churches all over the United States and beyond, then you'll want to follow the updates. Which I'll post here in the coming weeks.
Finally, I want to say thank you to everyone who reads these mundane ramblings of a guy who just wants to make a difference in your life. If you want to know more about me or All Praise Ministries, please reach out to me through any of the following methods!
Jimmy "L.J." Smith
Founder/Chairman, All Praise Ministries
Email
Twitter
FaceBook
803-920-5232 - c
803-753-0101 - f
"....For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been given, of him they will ask even more."
In many of today's worship teams, there is an underlying tone of complacency and elitism among the better musicians and leaders that is robbing them of reaching the level of excellence God requires of them. And worse yet, it's robbing people of a true worship experience.
As successful leaders and musicians we need to be giving more than those who may not be as talented or gifted. Because you can play without a full rehearsal does not mean you have a free pass to give less to God than those who need a lot of practice time. He requires more of those who have "arrived" than He does from those who are just starting out on the journey ((okay, please don't write to me and tell me "no one ever arrives, Jimmy." I get it.))
I see it running rampant in pastors, but also in musicians and worship leaders. It's time we all start putting in more of the hours, effort and attitude-of-gratitude like we require from our understudies. God requires it from us.
On a similar note, as many of you know, I've been in the entertainment business since my early teens and have been mentored by some of the worlds greatest musicians and artists (of course, I still never became as good as them.) But I grew up in an environment where elitism and special treatment was common place. There were artists and celebrities who couldn't go anywhere without a posse. As an emcee and fellow musician who shared the stage with many of these stars, I often needed multiple levels of clearance at nearly every event just to get near the stage, much less on it. And even though I lived in that life for a couple of decades, there are only 2 or 3 people with whom I still have a relationship. In fact, most of those people who surrounded themselves with layers of "protection" are miserable and live a very lonely life today.
On the other hand, I met some people with as much or more "status" who were more readily accessible. Those who made it a part of their persona to mingle with the people who actually made them famous. These people gave out the phone numbers and email addresses. They invited strangers to private parties at their homes. They weren't open to everyone of course, but to far more people than those mentioned above.
Playing golf with Troy Aikman and Jeb Bush: While playing with these two guys at Amelia Island in 1993, there was not one security guard in our group, and they never denied an autograph. In fact, several times, they stopped play just to reach out to unsuspecting people on the course to say hello. It brought smiles to everyone's faces. And that was Troy and Jeb's reward.
Meeting Lou Rawls: In the 80s, I met Lou in Los Angeles one night at a restaurant. After introducing myself, he gave me his card and wrote his direct line on it. I called him months later. He remembered me and we talked at lengths about the music business and how to get ahead. And this was back when he still had hits on the radio! Not during his isolation years.
So why am I telling you all of this? Because it's time we Christian leaders stop living in a cocoon of protection and let our guard down a little more. Sure, we need a team of armor bearers around us to deflect some fiery darts and to help us remain focused, but we also need to make ourselves more available to those who need us the most. Those who need our input and our counsel. Those who aspire to be like you. And if you think the seminars you speak at and the video conferences you teach go beyond what I'm talking about, then you've missed the point. Consider it the price you pay for the amount of success you enjoy, but stop being a "behind-the-ropes" pastor, get off the stage, and start leading from the front row.
All Praise Worship Team: I was asked this week by three different people about the All Praise Worship Team and what I have planned when I leave Dutch Fork Christian Church in March. Well, the good news is I've actually got a plan! And I'll be sharing that plan with you as we move forward. But suffice it to say, that if you're a talented, Christ-following musician who feels God is calling you to share your talent with churches all over the United States and beyond, then you'll want to follow the updates. Which I'll post here in the coming weeks.
Finally, I want to say thank you to everyone who reads these mundane ramblings of a guy who just wants to make a difference in your life. If you want to know more about me or All Praise Ministries, please reach out to me through any of the following methods!
Jimmy "L.J." Smith
Founder/Chairman, All Praise Ministries
803-920-5232 - c
803-753-0101 - f
