New Song....with Video Goodness!

One of my best friends is a worship leader about 45 minutes north of my church, and every once in a while we get to do something together in worship. I absolutely love working with this guy-he's an amazing leader and worshiper!

A few weeks ago we got together on a day off and wrote a song for his church. Last weekend they introduced it at a night of worship and a good friend posted it on YouTube. I hope you like it...it's still getting tweaked a bit, but I love the way it's turning out! (Lyrics are below the vid).



You Will Reign
written by Jay Boykin and Andrew Wooddell

Creator, You hold the stars in Your hand
the wonder of all that I can't understand
Father, how great is Your mystery

a rugged cross that gave me hope
hands that bled so the world would know
a perfect love that sets us free

on the cross He took my place
by His blood all my sins are washed away
He bore the nails and conquered the grave
death could not contain our God
forever He will reign

You died and You rose
forever You will reign
my chains are now gone
forever You will reign
forever You will reign

Worship Leader, or Leading Worship?

Ahhhh, semantics. Does it really matter if you flip the terms 'lead' and 'worship?' I've been thinking about this a lot lately, and I've realized that it does matter.

You see, leading worship is a task inside the body of Christ. I've seen many people lead worship in many different venues. I can break down what it takes to lead worship into a simple checklist that almost anyone could follow. And perhaps you, the reader, have led worship before! Just as it's always a privilege to preach a sermon or teach a lesson, it's always a great honor to lead God's people in worship.

But not everyone who preaches is a pastor, not everyone who teaches is a teacher, and not everyone who leads worship is a worship leader. Let me explain...

Being a worship leader is not simply a task, but a shepherding role inside the body of Christ. It is a responsibility much greater than the musical portion of the service. Let me use an illustration.

You see, I've had some amazing experiences in my life. I've gotten to conduct a 80 piece orchestra before. I've directed a 300 voice choir. Those are tasks I've done. But if someone asked me if I could be a middle school band director, I would absolutely say "No way!"

Could I direct the middle school band at a concert? Sure! But being the director is much more than just that moment of concert. It's weeks of teaching proper technique, rehearsing that group of people, loving on them and challenging them to grow. It's encouraging them after the concert and then working on the areas that were revealed as weaknesses. And then you do that again and again, sorta like 'shampoo, rinse, and repeat!"

Because it's a shepherding role and not a task, it would be cocky of me to say that I'm qualified to be a middle school band director just because I can direct a band. And similarly, I must ask myself each week if I'm leading worship or if I'm a worship leader. Is this a task I'm completing or a role I'm embracing?

Because at the end of my season here on earth, I don't want to be someone who only completed tasks. I want to be found faithful in shepherding and discipling God's people!

This week's sign that the Apocalypse is almost here...

If you're in the mood for a good bonfire this Halloween season, this church is hosting an event you might want to attend. :D

My favorite quote from the article-

"The book-burning is being promoted as a social event with a barbecue dinner."

Bonus: Other versions of the Bible might help barbecue that meat.

A sobering reminder

Sometimes it's good to stop and remember what's happening around the world. This story makes me want to simply say, "Thank you to all those who serve in our armed forces and a special thanks to those who are fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan for our country."
Grab some kleenex and remember.

Ever feel this way?

New Album, Old Friend

Please don't be scared of the picture. :)

Every once in a while, I get the honor to write or co-write a song for someone's record. A few years back a few of my songs appeared on this guy's first album, and this week, my friend Chad Lister released his second album on iTunes, and one of my songs made it on the CD. Check out his record and support a young indie artist/worship leader from Raleigh.

-andrew

Waiting and Watching

Blogging.....wow. It's been hard to do this year-not for a lack of ideas or material, but because everything on my heart centralizes around what's been happening in my life these past few months.

Whether it's been saying goodbye to my grandpa or getting ready to meet my son Jadon and becoming a daddy, everything seems to go back to those two things. These are the defining moments and events in my life.

Lately, I've been wondering a lot about Jadon and what he'll look like. He has no idea what's in store, and I can't even begin to describe what life will be like for him. How do you tell a baby in the womb what it's like to fall in love, how his first kiss will feel, or even the excitement of winning a basketball game or graduating from high school?

I don't think I can tell him in terms he'll understand. I think he'll just have to experience it for himself. And as much as I can try to describe these events to him, and prepare him for those moments, he still won't understand until he walks that path and discovers them on his own.

This week I was getting his room ready-painting, hanging stuff on the walls, arranging the furniture. And it made me think a lot of my grandpa, who's in heaven right now. It may sound odd that a nursery made me think about heaven, but here's where my mind went...

Jesus promised us that He was going to go prepare a place for us. In the same way that I'm preparing Jadon's nursery, He's getting our room ready, so that one day we can be where He is. And like a baby in the womb doesn't understand what's waiting for them after they are born, we have no idea what God has in store for us in heaven. There really aren't even words in our vocabulary to describe what my grandpa is experiencing and doing right now! It's something we know we'll have discover and experience to understand.

All I know is that I can't wait to be with my son, and that I already love him like crazy, even if he doesn't know that I love him yet. And I know that God's love for His kids is infinitely greater than what I'm experiencing in my heart these 9 months. This journey is going to teach me so much about my Heavenly Father-I can't wait!