Worship Rises in Canada

I know a lot of Canadian jokes. I share an office with a Canadian. I live in a state that borders Canada. The jokes I didn’t know before meeting him, he filled me in on. I know about moose, beavers, Bryan Adams, and Celine Dion. I watched the Olympics.

The jokes are all in fun and they aren’t really true but nevertheless my Canadian friends have to work extra hard to dispel the myths that they all smell like maple syrup and keep a pair of ice skates in their car for when a game of hockey breaks out. Well, maybe that last one is true.

Plus, I don’t joke much anymore because it eventually gets to where I call them “America Junior” and they trump me with “Canada’s Underpants.”

And with that . . . the following is NOT a joke.

Worship leader Chris Vacher, a Canadian, had a great idea. Chris and a bunch of his buddies that lead music in their churches started getting together and writing tunes with a few things in mind: indigenous worship, camaraderie, Canadian churches, the church worldwide, stretching each other’s artistry, etc.

They called their writing group, “Worship Rises.” Out of this group, they released a four song EP that showed up on iTunes in the states yesterday. You can buy the EP for a whopping $3.96 here.

Buy it on Amazon here.

Chris shared a little on his blog today about the album and the buzz surrounding it.

Follow Chris on Twitter.


Chris has become a good friend of mine over the last few years and I am proud of him. I want you all to know about the album not because he is my friend, not because we scratch each other’s backs in cyber world, not because he is paying me, but because I believe this is an example of what it looks like when God’s church takes their heads out of their self-absorbed rear ends.

I went to Ireland a few years back and the church I visited did songs they had written. About “the troubles” and the political struggles of Ireland, about living in their world. I fell in love with Ireland and the Irish church that day. Because, I was brought into their story. This EP makes me think of Canada, my neighbor to the North and it makes me smile that they took a risk.

This album and movement teaches us or reminds us--who are music people in our churches--of some great lessons:

1. Indigenous worship is honest, tells a story that is familiar and approachable, and has a special “je ne sais quoi” for the local church that is different than plug and play worship where we pick songs that the other cool kids are playing. Give thought to your music. Tell YOUR story.
2. With that said, it is a wonderful thing to then share your story with the world. They may say, “Hey, that’s our story too.”
3. Magic can happen when we rub shoulders with like-minded people in our greater communities. When is the last time you had lunch with another pastor in town (not from your church)?
4. THE church matters more than YOUR church because THE church is JESUS’ church and Jesus is what matters. Personality, style, doctrine, methodology, tastes . . . they grow strangely dim with a kingdom mindset.

Way to go, Canada. Now, let's talk about the Nickleback problem. Can you help there, Chris?

Passion: Awakening? It Will Take More Than This.

Earlier today I tweeted:

“Listening to a relatively new album that is apparently popular and wondering why I don't like even one song on it.”

I left it open-ended so people would try to guess what I was listening to. Many people jokingly guessed I was listening to Miley or Justin Beiber. Well, I’ve heard Miley’s album many times in this home with a 10-yr-old girl and, honestly, I enjoy Miley’s latest album more than this one.

The mystery album? Passion: Awakening.

In February, I was given a copy of the new Passion:Awakening CD. I love free music. I listen to most of the free music I get. I’m curious if nothing else.

I tried to like this one. I really did. I wanted to like it. Especially since I’m always on the lookout for good worship tunes to do at Westwinds.

I read the tweets. I heard the hype.

But, I don’t get it.

Some of my friends love it. I’m not a fan.

I asked my wife to listen to it with me just in case I am missing something. In case I wasn’t tapping in to my inner soccer mom and looking past my own musical taste and missing a jewel that would speak to our church.

She’s not a fan either. Nothing grabbed her (although she is more gracious than I am and said things like, “I can see how someone would enjoy this one”). Although, still, nothing got the thumbs up from her to try on the set list.

Passion has turned out some decent worship tunes over the years. Some of our favorite church tunes over the last few years have come out of the movement. Some of my favorite worship music artists have been and are still associated with Passion.

But, this one . . . falls flat in my opinion. It’s not horrible. It’s just not interesting.

I might be getting old but, I don’t think that’s the problem—I can still rock with the best of them and I have a diverse palette when it comes to music. (although I don’t really enjoy listening to any “artists” with acronyms for names, lame monikers, hyphens and dashes in their name if the dash or hyphen follows one letter, or most music made in the Disney laboratories).

Maybe it’s that . . . and I KNOW this sounds like I’m getting old . . . but . . . it all sounds the same. Or, at least it sounds like every other major label worship album with a marketing budget out there with the exception of very few.

Maybe it’s that I’m tired of worship music mimicking U2. And falling short.

Maybe it’s that I wish someone would tell the powers that be that songs don’t need to be four on the floor (ummm, a kick drum every quarter note) to be cool and energetic.

Maybe it’s the mix. Lots of vocals. Lots.

Maybe it's no variety in the instrumentation.

Maybe it’s that the majority of the lyrics are cliché. Overused. Same rhyme schemes. Not a lot of thought. I can get past a lot of cliché lyrics when there is a compelling melody that makes it hard not to sing but I was barely tempted to sing along.

Maybe it’s all the above.

I don’t want to take apart any specific artist or song. I wasn’t grabbed by any of them. Don’t get me wrong, I like many of the artists on the album, I just don’t like the album. Many of these artists are heroes of mine. Great people.

One exception on the album is David Crowder’s version of John Mark McMillan’s, “How He Loves Us” but that barely counts because it is 5-years old. The song has already been done by McMillan, Crowder, Kim Walker, Todd Agnew, Flyleaf, and The Glorious Unseen (am I forgetting anyone?).

A lyrical exception is Crowder’s, “Like a Lion” but, alas, Crowder didn’t write it. It was written by Daniel Bashta who should have done it on the album. The original is better.

There are a couple I might like if I didn’t like them better when they went by another title and were done in 1998. Or 2000. Or 2002. Or 2005.

Maybe the songs will work for your church. Maybe I’ll listen again and something will grow on me. Maybe a ton of people will request we do a song at Westwinds and we decide it’s worth a try. But, after 4 listens, I’m done.

Old Songs, New Songs, You Know I've Had My Share

The other night on Twitter, I asked musicians, worship leaders, pastors, and whomever wanted to add anything, how they determine what songs to shelf for their church. When does a song feel old? How many times is too many times to sing a song?

The answers were great--(most were funny responses that were inside jokes about washed-up bands, churches, and such)--but many of them were helpful.

I didn't say what my own philosophy is, I simply asked the question. Most people (according to the survey) rely on gut check, feedback from their band and congregation, a sense of when a song feels "dated", how their church responds in the moment, and the sheer number of times they have done it(VH1 gives away an award each year entitled, "Your Song Kicked Ass but was Played Too Damn Much." Sometimes, that's just the case).

We rely on the same things to varying degrees. We track our songs on a spreadsheet so we don't overdo them, we drop them if they felt good at a listen but don't work live, we play them more when people love them and request them, etc. AND, we also believe the biblical idea of "sing a new song to the Lord" is more than just a suggestion so . . . we regularly bring on new songs and phase some out. Sometimes, songs are still "good" they just need to take a time out.

And, occasionally, one of the best things you can do at a church is bring back an oldie with some new spit polish and fresh arrangements. Familiarity and nostalgia can go a long way.

I like songs to go out like Seinfeld--on top, nothing wrong, just feels like it's time to end. Then, the song always has good memories attached and when we bring it back--if ever--it's like seeing an old friend.

A great add from friend Patrick Murphy was, "I want to say, forget relevance. Stop worrying about old and new." Patrick also added to remember the value of creating within your own group and not relying wholly on songs that are written by and/or sung by others (I'm embellishing a bit). I agree with Patrick in that I never think it's a good idea to abandon a song just because everyone else already did. It's never too late to pick up a song everyone else has been doing for a bit. Think about your own community. Just because Crowder wrote a new song doesn't mean you should do it, even if everyone else is. It may be wrong for you. There is value in singing the songs the church is singing worldwide but, it shouldn't be our only criteria for picking/playing/rotating/retiring songs. And, we highly value indigenous worship tunes.

I'm trying something fun this quarter at The Winds. I made a list of our "favorite" tunes over the last 6 years. The list was HUGE. I picked about 40+ off that list for this quarter (and threw in some favorite original tunes that our church loves). So, Westwinds will be taking a trip down memory lane for the next 3 months. The only songs that will be repeated in 3 months will be a fistful of songs we learned in the last 2 months so they stay fresh and we learn them well. No other songs will be repeated. It's like the Top 40 Countdown for Westwinds.

It was a hard task. Next quarter, we will hit another 25 or so. I thought you might want to see the list. They are in alphabetical order.

1. 1000 Hallelujahs—Mark Roach
2. All Around Me--Flyleaf
3. All We Need—Charlie Hall
4. Always Something—John Voelz
5. Anytime Lord—John Voelz
6. Beautiful One—Tim Hughes
7. Beautiful Wonderful—John Voelz
8. Bless the Lord—Among Thorns
9. Cannons—Phil Wickham
10. Chainbreaker—Charlie Hall
11. Count Me In--Leeland
12. Dress Us Up—John Mark McMillan
13. Eternal One—Robbie Seay
14. Everyone Under the Sun—Vickie Beeching
15. Everything--Lifehouse
16. From the Inside Out—Joel Houston
17. Glory of it All—David Crowder
18. God of This City—Chris Tomlin
19. Here is Our King—David Crowder
20. Hosanna—Paul Baloche/Brenton Brown
21. How Great is Our God—Chris Tomlin
22. I Will Lift My Eyes—Bebo Norman
23. I Will Not Forget You—Paul Baloche
24. I Will Overcome—Charlie Hall
25. I Will Rise—Chris Tomlin
26. Indescribable—Laura Story
27. Life Light Up—Christy Nockels
28. Love Has Come—John Voelz
29. Magnificent—U2
30. Mighty to Save—Reuban Morgan
31. More of You—John Voelz
32. My Reward—Paul Baloche
33. My Song—Bob Bullock
34. My Surrender—John Voelz
35. Nothing But the Blood—Matt Redman
36. Praise Him—David Crowder
37. OK--Mutemath
38. One Thing/Doxology—Charlie Hall
39. Remind Me—John Voelz
40. Rescue—Jared Anderson/Desperation Band
41. Shot of Love—John Voelz
42. Sing—John Voelz
43. Song of Hope—Robbie Seay
44. Sound of Melodies--Leeland
45. Take My Life—John Voelz
46. Take Us In—Vineyard
47. The Least I Can Do—Mark Roach
48. The One—Brian Chandler
49. This is How We Know—Matt Redman
50. Today is the Day—Lincoln Brewster
51. Whatever—John Voelz
52. Wonderful King—David Crowder
53. You Lifted Me Out—Chris Tomlin
54. Your Love Never Fails—Chris Quilala

The Westwinds Top 11 (because it's one louder)

Westwinds Top Worship Tunes of 2009

We get a lot of mileage out of our indigenous worship tunes at The Winds (written by me or others in our band) but there are quite a few we use from the giant pool of resources in the worship music industry that our people love. You may sing some of these at your church.

Honestly, not all of these were MY favorites (some were), but I guess it's not all about me. These are the ones we tried that stuck. People dig 'em.

We got the most feedback about these tunes in 2009 (not necessarily in this order):

1. Life Light Up by Christy Nockels
2. The One by Brian Chandler
3. All Around Me by Flyleaf
4. This is How We Know by Matt Redman
5. God of This City by Chris Tomlin
6. I Will Rise by Chris Tomlin
7. Magnificent by U2
8. Today is the Day by Lincoln Brewster
9. Mighty to Save by Reuben Morgan
10. From the Inside Out by Joel Houston
11. Your Love Never Fails by Chris Quilala

Worship How To Video

Random Eggs of Kindness

This weekend, one of our worship interactives at Westwinds is designed to breathe life into the community of Jackson and surrounding communities.

Hundreds of Easter eggs will be in the auditorium. Each egg is filled with a charge for the week. Each act is inexpensive and many are free.

Resurrection means life. Quantity and quality. These not-so-random acts teach us what it means to be a worshiper, a giver, a friend to our communities, a benefactor.

Each egg will also contain a Westwinds "Come Dirty" card to leave when appropriate or pack inside a gift, etc. "Come Dirty" is our motto for the year--our campaign to invite our living community to join our church community.

We will be collecting follow-up stories on video to share with the church and I will post some of them here. Here are some of the things people will find when they crack an egg:

Buy a few kids books from the local bookstore. Give the books to a school library.

Recycle your soda cans. Hand the money you make to someone in line behind you.

Order food from a counter inside and pay for a person’s food in the drive-through.

Buy lunch for a random person in a restaurant.

Bring coffee to an office in town just for fun.

Buy coffee for the person in line behind you.

Send a gift certificate to your neighbor.

Make cookies for your neighbor.

Send an anonymous thank you card and gift card to a person. Say it’s from “someone from Westwinds Church.”

Leave 10 dollars with a cashier. Tell them to use it to pay for anyone’s groceries that went over their budget.

Help load someone’s groceries in their car and return their cart for them.

Buy some $5 gift cards from MacDonald’s. Hand them out to people who need them throughout the week.

Drop off some cash at Goodwill or your local thrift store. Tell them to use it to pay for clothing for people until the money runs out.

Buy a meal for a young couple or family sitting next to you at a restaurant.

Buy shoes or clothes for a family in need.

Bake cookies for a neighbor or teacher, just because.
Help an elderly person with yard work or grocery shopping.

Visit a nursing home and bring cupcakes.

Sit and visit with a few of the residents at a nursing home.

Volunteer your time at a local homeless shelter or a crisis nursery.

Donate a day of your time to the organization of your choice.

Donate some grief books to the library or a local support group.

Leave an extra large tip for your food server!

Leave a bouquet of flowers on someone’s front door step.

Bake goodies and take them to the police station, fire station, or hospital.

Pay a local teen to mow an elderly neighbor’s yard.

Buy a baby’s blanket and take it to the hospital nursery. Premature babies can always use tiny booties and caps.

Buy a balloon bouquet and ask the nurses the children’s hospital to deliver them to a child.

Make a memorial donation to honor your loved one and a friend’s loved one.

Take a box of doughnuts to an elementary school for a classroom.

Adopt a street or just pick up litter in the neighborhood.

Leave your change in the soda machine for the next person. It's a nice surprise.

Write to management at places where you get especially good service and commend them (specify names!)

Volunteer to read a book to children at your nearest library.

Pay for a small child's candy at a convenient store.

Buy a toy for a child in the store and ask the clerk to deliver it after you’ve gone.

Bring coffee to workers on a construction site.

Buy a case of sodas for your UPS driver.

Put a gift in your mailbox for your mail carrier.

Wash the windows in an elderly person’s home.

Invite a family from your neighborhood over to dinner.

Buy a bottle of wine or a gift basket for a neighbor.

Buy a gift for your favorite bank teller.

Deliver chocolates to your bank tellers.

Buy a gift for your favorite barista, waiter, clerk, etc. and deliver it to them.

Anonymously send flowers to a single mom and tell her someone from Westwinds is praying for her.

Send an anonymous gift certificate to a single mom.

Anonymously send a gift to a single mother and tell her someone from Westwinds is praying for her.

Deliver coffee and donuts to a car dealership. Tell them you are praying for them in these rough economic times.

Deliver a dozen donuts to the office at an elementary school. Thank them for loving kids.

Deliver donuts to a classroom.

Buy a gift certificate for a community leader. Send it to them anonymously with a thank you note.

Leave gifts on someone’s doorstep. Or, pick a few needy families and leave them gifts. Small gifts go a long way!

Place an anonymous ad in the newspaper, thanking someone by name. Example: To Jen who always serves me coffee with a smile at Starbucks, thank you!

Call Consumers Energy. Tell them you want to anonymously pay part of someone’s bill that needs it as a member of Westwinds.

Send a movie gift card to a neighbor or co-worker.

Buy a good book and send it to a friend or neighbor with an anonymous thank you.

Go in to a repair shop. Tell them you want to anonymously pay for someone’s repair up to whatever amount you can afford.

The Healer Hoax

By now you may have heard about the latest big hoax.

Australian songwriter/pastor Michael Guglielmucci is in some deep doody. Michael penned the song, “Healer” made popular by both Planetshakers and Hillsong.

The song had some extra appeal to some because Michael made very public a battle he has faced with “a very aggressive form of cancer” for the past two years. YouTube videos (no longer available) and this one on the CCLI site and here show Guglielmucci with an oxygen tube in his nose singing the song he said he was compelled to write after getting the news of his cancer.

Someone's pants are on fire.

He lied.

Apparently, it was not only the church that was deceived but also his own family.

I am praying Bill Maher has already done the final cut of his movie, Religulous and leaves this one out.

A few of my friends have posted on this and a few have asked my opinion. So, I will give it. I agree on many points and strongly disagree with other points made by my friends such as Rich, Fred and Los. This is iron sharpening iron. Hopefully we all learn a lot from this. I'm glad we can all be friends and banter a bit.

First, on the issue of this man’s failure:::Yep. He blew it. Big time. We can say “all sin is sin” and all the other little sayings we like to say but the fact is some sin is weightier. Some sin has bigger fallout. Some sin hurts more people. Some sin ruins lives. Some sin drags the name of Jesus through the mud. This one qualifies.

I have seen another person--close to me--get swallowed up in a lie of these proportions before and it is disgusting.

The whole sentiment of “this could happen to any of us” is not necessarily true. Yes, none of us are above doing something stupid but there are a lot of little compromises and overlooked issues along the way that bring someone to this point. This could happen to any of us if a whole lot of things are out of whack. This crap doesn’t just “happen.” I’ll guarantee you this man didn’t wake up one day and decide to have cancer in a silo of sin.

On grace:::Yep. We need to give it. But, it doesn’t negate our anger and disappointment. And, grace doesn’t mean patting someone on the back and saying, “we’re all in this together, man” as if it isn’t a big deal. No. Grace looks like walking a long road of healing, counseling, crying, tough love, discipline, and picking up pieces. I also trust the job of walking that road with him will be handled well by his church. This is one of the benefits of accountability in community.

On a song or person being “anointed”:::The word anointed gets thrown around a lot in Christian circles do describe what happens when it seems God has set a person or a thing apart from some greater purpose. Some said this song is anointed or that this man was anointed.

Some are now questioning the anointing because they feel betrayed and tricked.

I do not believe songs are anointed. Songs are either good or bad. God can and does use songs from all genres penned by all kinds but a song is a song.

God uses some songs that I think are horrible. Quite frankly, I think this song is boring. I think it is cliché and dull. But, God has used it. He can do what he wants. And, I believe God can and will redeem the fallout from this dumb move and teach us all.

We don’t really see “things” being anointed in scripture. Used? Yes. But not anointed. In Psalm 45 we see a wedding psalm where “lips are anointed with grace” but even that is poetic language and may not be the best translation since the word used there is only translated “anointed” once. The word is more commonly used as “cast” or “poured.”

The Bible talks about anointing of kings, priests, prophets, and apostles with the ultimate Anointed One being our high priest—Jesus. The 2nd Testament paints a picture of all believers being anointed in that we have the Holy Spirit—and He is the anointing. The book of 1 John is a great picture of how we are to live as ones who have “an anointing from the Holy One (2:20).”

On “banning” the song:::Banning the song is dumb. If your church loves it, use it. Tell the story. Use it as a teachable moment. A song is a song. It is not “tainted” because of this mess. It’s a song. We are so quick to ban and boycott. I get so tired of this.

On pulling the video from the internet:::Well, this is a tough one. I don’t think it needs to be pulled as punishment. I don’t think it needs to be pulled because it is soiled. I don’t agree with the arguments some are making saying it was a song written based on a lie and is therefore no longer valid. It may be a good idea to pull it in order to stop the bickering and stupid talk, however.

So, how do things get to this? We don't always know. I don't know this man's story. Not knowing all the ins and outs it is hard to give advice and I don't want to. I am praying and trusting his church will handle this well.

Praying for this man’s family. Praying for his church. Praying for THE church. Praying for Hillsong. Praying it doesn't get out of hand. Praying the main-stream-media doesn't have a field day. Praying for this man.

Interactive Worship #2

So what theology/methodology/philosophy is the idea of "interactive worship" born out of?

P.S. Before we go on, (based on a few emails and comments I have received) the purpose of these posts on interactive worship is a response to MANY of you asking for feedback and direction on interactive worship elements specifically for your weekend services.

At Westwinds our first goal for weekend worship services (Fusion) is to create an environment—celebratory, liberating, engaging, full of hope and expectation, affirming, restoring, free of distractions, thought provoking, and reflective—where individuals can meet with God (though it will not always be all of those things at once). Our goal is not to get people to worship : : : that is often an end product but it is not the goal. Worship is an act of an individual’s will. That will is something we cannot control or manipulate; at best we can influence it.

Second, our goal is to have a service that has multiple layers that organically emerge and connect. We want some overlap at the seams of the layers so Fusion feels seamless, but enough individuality to the layers that there are multiple themes people can grab (not an eclectic hodge-podge of totally unrelated elements or inert ideas). There is a lot of give and take on this but our goal is not simply one clear theme we are trying to beat to death.

In other words, our goal is not entirely mono-thematic design. An interactive worship element, a video for a story of a spiritual journey, a Top 40 song, or aesthetic design may or may not bring about a tight thematic link but the experience, freshness and window into a real life make it all worthwhile. It is a moment-collection.

The days of creating a power-themed service have drawn to a close for us. While we definitely want to be sure of “where we are starting” and “where we are leading people to” theme plays only a partial role in planning. The question of “what element best ties in with the message” has been replaced by “what are we going to design in order to help people engage God and the things He is calling us to grapple with?” (I will post more on this in the future because this was a HUGE shift for me that was years in the making)

Every week we are given a moment-collection we call Fusion. We have 60-75 minutes to do something that will move people a step closer to Jesus Christ. If we keep in mind the idea of a continuum it will be a lot easier for us to think about our hoped-for outcomes. We want people to make steps and move closer to Christ.

At Westwinds, we believe we are called to design Fusions that have never been tried anywhere, even though innovation—in and of itself—is not the goal.

Worship interactives are not the tail that wags the dog. We feel no pressure to create a funky new hands-on experience each week. However, with each new week we have an opportunity to ask how we can best communicate truth, how we can best create an atmosphere conducive to worship, and how we can encourage participation in the dialogue with God and one another.

Here are a few scenarios just so we are on the same page about the “kind” of things that fall into this category : : :

A mural is painted on the entire back wall of the auditorium as a “theological plotline” of the OT and NT. In connection with communion, participants take chalk pens and write in their names where they identify with God on the plotline.

A life-size replica of DaVinci’s Last Supper is created with lumber, foam, and fabric. The “heads” of the disciples are Mac computers that play a looping video with each disciple telling his story of martyrdom. Participants visit the table and listen to the stories on headphones while taking communion.

Magazines are scattered throughout the auditorium. Everyone is encouraged to rip out a page in a magazine that best describes them. They hold on to that page throughout an entire series on identity. At the end, they are given an opportunity to exchange that page for another if they feel they have been changed in the process.

A candlelit room houses one video camera with rolling tape. Throughout the hour, participants wander in to the room and confess to the camera knowing their tape may be shown in Fusion.

Steel panels have been installed on all exterior walls of the auditorium. Giant magnetic words are scattered all over the panels. For 15 minutes, while piano music plays softly, the congregation writes love poems to God by rearranging the words.

A “stream” of white gravel about 3’ in width winds throughout the auditorium. Participants grab pieces of red gravel out of a bucket and place them in the stream to signify different points where they have sensed God’s movement in their lives. Computers at the back of the room are fed to the screens. Participants type short messages about God’s movement and the stories are displayed on screen.

A series is taught through the book of Jeremiah. Each week, a new icon is revealed to help tell the story. Each person has been given a scrapbook for the series including maps and notes and diagrams. Each symbol is then sketched into the book by the individual.

A large underlit table has been constructed and covered with plexiglass. Undermounted on the plexi is the entire text of Ecclesiastes on transparencies. Throughout the series, at any time, participants may grab a chalk pen and make notes and reflections on the text that is displayed.

A grand piano sits in the middle of the room. Surrounding the piano are buckets full of broken tile. The tiles pieces represent our brokenness as a community. As we discuss our commitment to one another as a body and our commitment to the community at large, we write the name of a persone we are praying for on the back of a tile and glue the tile face down on top of the piano. The piano is then grouted and the mosaic stands as a monument to our commitment to be viewed every week (see picture above).

Another very recent example would be any of the Twitter Church scenarios I have blogged about recently.

This post is also featured as part of the blog carnival known as Watercooler Wednesday over at Ethos. Check it out. Great stuff each and every week!

Interactive Worship #1

In recent days, I have received many calls and emails regarding "interactive worship" or "worship interactives" more specifically. Many of you are in conversation about creating more elements in your worship services that inspire participation (outside of singing and the sacraments).

I think it is high time I start to blog about some of this. Perhaps we can generate some good conversation here. I will be putting out a series of posts on Interactive Worship beginning with this one. If you have questions and/or input please comment.

As a “worship pastor” I have had over 10 titles in the past 20 years. But, I have only been at 4 churches. Music Pastor never worked for me. Why? Worship isn’t music. Worship Arts Pastor got closer. Worship Arts Stylist even closer. My current title incorporates the word “experience” which may even be closer but still falls short.

The inertia behind the changes has been a desire to communicate something about worship beyond song—beyond sacraments—beyond preaching. The changes have also been fueled by my desire to see something incredibly special and unique happen on a Sunday morning because God is worth it, our people are worth it, the community at large is worth it, and the people who are involved in the worship planning and implementation are worth it.

We have a recurring conversation on our Experience Team that goes “we may have done these things 100 times before we get to Sunday (practice, preparation, etc.) but this will be everyone else’s 1st time! We long for a sense of freshness and vitality. Perhaps this is why scripture talks so much about singing a “new song.”

Many churches run the risk of having two or three worship elements become the tail that wags the dog. Music and preaching usually take precedence to every other element, which is somewhat understandable since those are two specific elements of corporate worship we are encouraged to engage in throughout scripture. However, neither of those two things is ever elevated in scripture to the apex of what happens in corporate worship. The apex is wherever God and humankind meet.

For four years I pastored in the Pacific Northwest. I remember one significant meeting back in the day when we looked at each other and said, “what the heck are we doing killing ourselves to write dramas every week? We have lost sight of what we are doing.”

We were driven by a model. We were parroting someone else’s design and trying to stamp it on our own people (not that drama doesn’t work or is a bad idea—it was just horrible for us and killing us slowly).

Those conversations started me on a quest and gave me a holy discontent—a longing to connect with God in corporate settings through elements with a fresh perspective, a temperature for change and variety, an indigenous authenticity, and a catalyst for stories of life change. The stuff people continue to talk about. The stuff they tell stories about. The quest is not yet over for me but I believe God is pleased with our journey and our progress.

Part of this quest has included a continually developing theory and practice of interactive worship. Fusion has become somewhat of a laboratory—or maybe more significantly a Petri dish—where we feel a freedom to experiment with worship elements in order to “culture” a people or grow them closer to God leading them in to fuller life development in Jesus.

For our purposes here, a worship interactive can be defined as: A participatory moment or segment in a corporate worship gathering wherein all present are encouraged to engage in some tactile and/or other sensory experience designed to invite one to move towards God.

Interactive worship or “worship interactives” are not new. They are not a product of the emerging church. They do not all involve candles (thought candles are great anytime if you ask me). They do not all involve tents.

When Jesus gave us the sacrament of communion, He was inviting us to move towards God as we touch, taste, and smell the elements that invoke His memory, create community, help us gain perspective and perhaps give opportunity for repentance. Communion is a worship interactive.

Baptism is a worship interactive. As one plays a role in the living metaphor of dying with Jesus and rising with Him—of cleansing and renewal—of community—of individual identity and identity with a cloud of witnesses—and obedience, there may be no greater worship interactive. Not to mention the interaction of the one baptizing and the participation of the witnesses in the celebration.

God gives us great freedom in planning the who-what-when-where-and why of our weekend programs. We have permission to participate with the creator—as sub-creators—in designing fresh and experience-rich multi-layered environments where we increase the occurrence of people interacting with God, his Word, his truth, his people, and their barriers to living the life Jesus invites.

To go one step further, we do not only have permission . . . we have a responsibility.

As pastors and creatives we can take a lesson from the many pictures throughout scripture of worship environments designed to engage, spur participation, create a sense of awe and majesty, spawn interactive worship, awaken the senses, tell a story, and point to God.

We need a resolute metaphysic (we believe in a God who does not change) but we also need a relative epistemology. The way people learn, engage, understand, grapple, wrestle, question, and worship changes constantly—not only from person to person but with a whole group of people. Our environment, culture, technology, etc. is changing rapidly and we need to read the signs. We need to learn ways to engage those who are already being engaged. We need to provide fresh experiences in order to bolster and augment the apex.

More to come : : :

Vicky Beeching Vertizontal Interview

I first heard Vicky Beeching about 9 years ago. The world I live in is obviously a musical one and I am always listening. There are those times when I am listening specifically for music that will breathe life into my church. So . . .

In 1999, the Vineyard CD “Hungry” came out and I snatched it up because of the title track. I ended up falling in love with the energetic song “There’s No One Like Our God." We ended up doing the tune with more of a driving pulse and it went over great. When I read through the liner notes, I noticed a name that was new to me—Vicky Beeching.

Soon after, I got a demo CD from someone and heard the song “Yesterday, Today and Forever.” I loved it! I knew our church would embrace it right away. I emailed my friend Patty at EMI and told her this girl Vicky Beeching was my new favorite.
We started doing “Yesterday, Today and Forever” months before the rest of the world heard it officially on Vicky’s album.

The “worship music” genre was lacking songs—good, energetic, and yet thoughtful—songs for some time. A lot of it seemed like namby-pamby-Jesus-is-my-boyfriend music to me.

I won’t name names but, we didn’t (and still don’t) do a ton of “popular” worship tunes because they are either boring, don’t make sense to our church, don’t match our personality, or say the same thing every other tune is saying. I am always looking for songs that move, connect, and say something meaningful/smart/thoughtful.

Vicky Beeching was a breath of fresh air then and she still is today.

Since then, I have had a chance to begin a friendship with Vicky. I am a big fan of her blog. She is every bit as genuine in person as you would expect from her music. She lives in one of my favorite places outside of Nashville. She plays a Gibson. She uses and iPhone and a MacBook Pro.

I talked with Vicky recently and here is the official Vertizontal interview.


Vicky, what does it feel like to know people all over the world are singing your songs?

It’s exciting and sobering all at once. It’s amazing to hear people singing your own words and melodies back to God and finding them useful in connecting with Him. But its also sobering as you realize that you need to make sure you are writing truthful, theologically accurate lyrics and putting the right message into people’s mouths.

What is your favorite song of all time? If you have to give two or three that’s okay.

My favorite song of all time is Lord You Have My Heart by Delirious as that song had a powerful role in my walk with Jesus as a teenager. Second would be Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls, just because it’s amazing! Third would be Glosoli by Sigur Ros.

If you were on “Survivor” would you get voted off the island? Why or why not?

I’ve never really watched it… which is pretty sad! I tried LOST for the first time the other day – watched the pilot and thought it was a bit scary as I fly all the time!!! But if I were stuck on the Island on Survivor I’d love the nature elements, but I’d miss my iPhone and MacBookPro so probably wouldn’t last there too long!!!

Who are your musical influences?

U2, Angels and Airwaves, Sigur Ros, Alanis Morisette, Classical Music, Goo Goo Dolls, Explosions In The Sky, Sleeping At Last.

Name your top 3 secular bands of all time:

• Angels and Airwaves

• U2

• Sigur Ros

Tell us about your blog! It seems like you have really caught the blogging bug, eh?

I LOVE blogging! I started a few months ago and have become very addicted! It’s an amazing way to really share your daily life with people and to share theirs. It’s so much more personal and real than the more ‘industry standard’ Artist websites so I have become a keen Blogger! Video posts are my favorite!

If you could have lunch with anyone—living or dead—who would you pick? (ummm . . . Jesus, The Apostle Paul, and all other biblical characters and heroes are out)

I think I’d pick Keith Green. His wife Melody is one of my dear friends and mentors and I’ve heard so much about him that I wish I could have met him. She says I remind her of Keith in some ways, so I think he and I would have a lot to talk and laugh about!

I hear you have taken a liking to country music. How did that happen?

I never thought I’d like country music! It snuck up on me subtly through Nashville’s country music radio in my car, and through CMTV played in our airport. Then I hired a drummer and it turned out he was Carrie Underwood’s drummer too. Before I knew it I was buying Taylor Swift and Keith Urban on iTunes!

I own a Gibson J200 just like you! Is it your favorite guitar?

It is – I love it! I love the size of the body…so much bass and resonance. It’s warmer and deeper than any other acoustic I’ve ever played.

Who are some of the people you respect and admire? Any heroes? Mentors?

Melody is a wonderful mentor. My grandparents are amazing too – they’ve been missionaries across Israel and Africa and are my heroes in the faith! My manager David Smallbone is teaching me tons too about ministry and how to be a good leader as I watch him on the road. Brian Doerksen and Brenton Brown have been two of my most influential mentors through the years in worship leading. Mike Bickle in the ways of intercession and prophecy. AW Tozer in theology and knowing God.

As a songwriter myself, sometimes my songs come from a deep place of personal experience (pain, sorrow, joy, victory) and sometimes I just feel like I have something to say—not necessarily tied to an experience. Where does a song like “Above all Else” come from?

“Above All Else” I wrote in the chapel of my college at Oxford University. I was wrestling with emotions about a guy I really liked at the time, and knew Jesus needed to be more important to me that he was. Also I was wrestling with the decisions about what I should do after I left Oxford, as so many career paths and options spread out ahead of me. The song was a cry for a mission statement – a desire for a lifesong to keep me on the right track. And I felt like the prayer “above all else give me Yourself” was the life song I wanted to write and live by.

Okay, my favorite Vicky Beeching song is, “Yesterday, Today, and Forever.” My church loves it too. What is your favorite Vicky Beeching song?

Thanks for the encouragement! That would be one of my faves… but top choice would have to be either Above All Else as it really is my Mission Statement for life.. or Captivated as it described how my heart has fallen in love with Jesus. My version of Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus has also been one that I listen to during my quiet times sometimes (and I rarely listen to my own music, so that means it’s a exception!!)

Someone in my church recently saw your picture and said, “dang! I thought Vicky was older than that!” They explained to me they thought your music sounded like it came from a “mature” experience and they thought you look about 18. They really meant is as a compliment. Your songs, though “fresh” and “current” sound like they come from a well-seasoned life experience. Has anyone ever told you that before?

That is so weird! People say that ALL the time! Partly because I started writing songs for Vineyard Music about 10 years ago… so people somehow think I’m about 50 as it feels like so long ago to everyone now that those albums came out! I guess I just started young… and my Mum looks way younger than she is, so I have her to thank for the youthful genes!!

You are well spoken and intelligent. Where did you study?

Aw… you are very kind (smiles). I hope my parent’s University Fees have paid off and had some kind of good effect on me!! I studied for a BA and MA in Theology at Oxford and really loved my time there!

Okay, I have an 8 year-old daughter (at the time of this interview. Kasidy just turned 9). When Vicky Beeching was 8 years old, what was her world like?

I became a Christian at the age of 7, kneeling beside the piano with my Mum and praying the prayer of salvation. When I was 8 I was prayed for to receive the Holy Spirit, and had a very powerful experience of God filling up my life with His love and power. That night, at the age of 8 I had a very striking dream where He really spoke to me and His voice and dreams like that have continued ever since. So 8 was a big year for me! At 8 I was in elementary school, reading any book I could get my hands on, walking my best friend’s dog every afternoon, and playing with my little sister who is 18 months younger than me.

Fast forward. When Vicky Beeching is 40, what does her world look like?

Wow. That’s profound. I hope to be living somewhere near the ocean, looking out at a sunny view! The most important thing to me is that I’d be right at the center of God’s will for me. Hopefully married and with a few kids . . . finally able to cook a meal that doesn’t suck! . . . and having made lots of music that I’m proud of. I hope my world would be full of community, life, love and color and that my close circle of loved ones would be tight and have some special memories of laughter and tears from the years we’d already shared.


If your life were a Hollywood movie, who would play the role of Vicky Beeching?

Hmmm.. I think I’d pick Kate Hudson as she is one of my favorites! I love how she can be elegant and girly, but also hilarious and a total tomboy all in one movie (I’m especially thinking of How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days). Another favorite is Sandra Bullock, for the same reasons!

What advice do you have for aspiring songwriters and musicians?

My advice would be to develop your craft-- your sound and your heart in the secret place…and not be in a rush to share it too soon. For Christians, make playing and singing before the Audience of One the main goal in your life, and let the time in that hidden place outweigh the time spent on any stage. For writers, write every day and write whether it seems good or bad. Just let it all out, and you’ll find the diamond songs in the pile!

What do you wish you could do over again?

Everything. I’m a perfectionist so it’s hard for me to ever feel like I did well at anything. I’d like another shot at my whole life so far!!

How do you hope your fans describe you to others?

I hope they say I’m real, and genuine and all about Jesus.

I know you have wrestled with the whole concept of “celebrity” in Christian Music. We all know you love Jesus and want to remain humble and give him glory. But, with all that said, isn’t it fun to rock in front of a bunch of people? Do you allow yourself to enjoy the stage, the lights, the rockstar life?

Its something I’ve thought a lot about… I just want to make sure I am keeping my heart pure. But sure it is fun to travel the world and get to hear people singing your song . . . it’s a really fun adventure. I don’t really let it sink in too much as it has the potential to mess with your head. Plus compared to some of my close friends I haven’t really had any success at all!! They all have Grammys and Dove Awards.. so that keeps my feet happily on the ground… no potential for me getting a big head when people usually just look past me and ask my friends for autographs! I embrace it as a good chance to stay humble!! (smiles)

Okay . . . I am going to give you 10 words and you give me a one-word reaction/response. Ready?

American Idol . . . FUNNY
Lost . . . SCARY
Art . . . YES
Jesus . . . EVERYTHING
Music . . . PASSION
Blogging . . . ADDICTIVE
Books . . . ESSENTIAL
Culture . . . POLLUTED
Vertizontal . . . LIFEGIVING
Sushi . . . DELICIOUS!


Wow. Vertizontal=lifegiving? Thank you! Here is another fun one. Go with your gut . . .


Mac or PC? . . . MAC
West Coast or East Coast? . . . WEST
Guitar or Piano? . . . GUITAR
Coffee or Tea? . . . TEA
Diet or Regular? . . . DIET
Winter or Summer? . . . SUMMER
MySpace or Facebook? . . . FACEBOOK
Google or Yahoo? . . . GOOGLE
Camping or Hotel? . . . HOTEL!
Golf or Miniature Golf? . . . GOLF


My son is 16. Can we arrange a marriage with you? Too young?

Haha… Sadly that’s off my age bracket!! I’m 28 now!

What would you like to say to the readers of Vertizontal?

Keep reading because this is a quality site and JVo is a guy that has amazing stuff to say. I come here a lot now, so join me and become a Vertizontal reader!!

Vicky, thank you so much for taking the time. You are "real, and genuine and all about Jesus."

(watch the video below where Vicky gives a shout-out to Westwinds)

What Westwinds and Megadeth have in Common

This weekend, I will lead worship (or part of the set at least) with this rock and roll beast you see above. I probably won't be using my rock face but . . .

Not your normal worship leading axe? Is that Dave Mustaine’s signature? Dave Mustaine of Megadeth? And the Anarchy symbol?

Yep. To all that. Gather 'round kids while uncle John tells you a story.

Dave and I got back from lunch and pulled into the Westwinds parking lot. As we we’re walking into the office, someone called my name. I turned around to greet the voice—a man I had never seen before.

“You’re John, right?” Uhhh . . . yes I am. Do I know you? “No. I’m here to give you something. It’s over here in my van.”

I will admit it felt a bit weird to follow a stranger to his black van to receive a gift.

He opened the door and handed me a case. It was a big case. I was pretty sure it was a guitar case though it was huge.

What is it? I asked. “I have no idea. I am just supposed to drop it off. It is an anonymous gift. The guy told me not to tell you who he is.”

I made some joke about the case “ticking” but the guy didn’t laugh. Then I saw a familiar logo—one I hadn’t really seen since the 80’s.

Inside the case was a white Jackson Charvel Flying V no-pickguard axe with a Floyd Rose Tremolo, signed by guitar wizard Dave Mustaine of Megadeth.

There was just a note inside with some pictures. The note read, “To JVo. Because you rock.” The pictures were of Dave Mustaine playing this very guitar on a Megadeth tour.


I just about peed.

This is a guitar I probably wouldn’t go buy for myself because I am usually more concerned about versatility when purchasing a guitar—Strat, Paul, Tele, etc. So, what a treat to have something a bit extravagant and so . . . rock and roll.

So, yes, I will be playing this guitar as is. Anarchy symbol and all. The guitar is a story. I'm not changing a thing and I will tell this story again and again.

I am so proud of this guitar because of what it represents. I don’t create fire from my fingers on the fretboard and I won’t be playing any speed metal but this guitar will serve the songs of Leeland, Robbie Seay, Mark Roach, Vicky Beeching, David Crowder, Chris Tomlin, Fee, Paul Baloche, Matt Maher, Brenton Brown, and countless others at Westwinds.

And who knows . . . maybe there will be . . . that one Sunday where the set is begging for Megadeth.

This quarter we will cover Sheryl Crow, Rolling Stones, Foo Fighters, Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova, Yael Naim, and Lenny Kravitz. The guitar will make more appearances.

Thank you anonymous giver of rock.

To you I raise my goblet.

P.S. My daughter is pretty sure she wants to start a girl band with this guitar.