Reasons I Need to Stop Riding the Bus/Train

Hey All,

This has nothing to do w/ worship or my purpose or vision at all. I just wanted to give a kinda fun update. So, some of you may know, I've been taking the bus/train recently because I was in a car accident a few weeks ago. I hadn't taken public transportation in LA since my 1st couple of years in college and never in the Valley, so this has been a learning experience.

Bottom line, I'm not a fan of public transportation & I thought I'd share some reasons:

REASONS I NEED TO STOP RIDING THE BUS/TRAIN:

• Weird schedules - I'm either late to everything or super early.
• The man practicing his martial arts skills on the pole scares me.
• The air conditioning is ALWAYS blasting. Am I the only person who has to bring extra clothes just to ride the bus?
• It costs $1.25 each way, but it's on the honor system (on the Orange Line & train). So nobody checks to make sure you bought a ticket (except for those poor cops from the LA County Sheriff's Dept who get stuck w/ ticket duty once every few weeks). It's like 4 integrity checks each day (because I buy 4 tickets a day).
• No personal space (especially in the evenings). People are crammed in like farm animals. I'm really just not a fan of strangers touching me.
• GERMS - Too many people coughing, sneezing, blowing their nose, etc. Now imagine hundreds of germy people going in and out of the buses/trains everyday and touching stuff. EWW GROSS!
• Running to catch a bus or train and then feeling stupid when you're too late anyway. Plus I'm all kinds of out of shape, so there's the shortness of breath to endure.
• Weird smells - Need I say more?

Freedom

Time for another post!

On Sunday, I went to an Amel Larrieux concert. If you don't know her, look her up. But chances are, you've probably heard some of her songs before ("For Real," on the radio now, or "Tell Me," from back in the 90s when she was the lead singer of Groove Theory).

Now, this woman is not a Christian artist. She's actually not a Christian at all, but I think I learned something about worship from her (go figure!).

So, one of the things that stood out to me about her is that she's willing to let go of the normal structure of the song (verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, chorus) and just flow with how she's feeling. The first time she deviated from the song and started scatting and doing runs and adlibbing, I was blown away. Every other time I was in awe.

I wish I had the kind of freedom that Amel has when I'm leading worship. Because of the structured type of person that I am, I really have to be careful not to get too hung up on:

• The order of the songs
• My hand & verbal signals to the band, vocalists and congregation
• Looking at the clock (to see how long worship has gone on)
• Am I moving around too much? Not enough?
• Feeding the congregation the words to a new song. Hopefully, I get the words right!

Don't get me started. I can go on and on. There are so many things that a "skilled" worship leader needs to take into account. But if you plan for everything, you can miss out on the plan that God has. I get that! So I'm careful not to plan too much and am constantly asking God what's next. Sometimes that's the same thing that I originally thought and sometimes it's different altogether.

I get all that. My problem is that I'm reserved. I always have been. I was shy when I was younger that has developped into this reserved thing about me. I do not run around the church. I do not do fancy runs (I probably can't do them anyways). I do not dance in church unless it's a simple 2-step or a special rock w/ the congregation. I wish I could break out in "I Believe I Can Fly" or "No Air" during a worship set, but I don't think I could do it.

Unfortunately, that might hold back what God is trying to do in the people during worship. Maybe singing "No Air" would have opened someone's mind to the truth of who God is that day. I don't know. But my prayer is that I will be willing to step into my calling with no restraints. If where the Spirit of the Lord is, there really IS freedom, then God hook me up really tight w/ your Spirit when I lead worship and cover me in freedom.

How to End a Song in Church

Okay, I know only a few of you will actually get what I'm talking about here, but have you ever noticed how worship leaders and "gospel" soloists end songs?

Example:

Singers/Congregation: "We worship you...Hallelujah, Hallelujah...We worship you for who you are...And you are good!"

Worship Leader: "Hallelujah!"

Why must we end the song by automatically saying "hallelujah"? Do they teach that in Worship Leading & Mainstream "Gospel" Music 101?

I'm asking because I've been noticing it lately - in other people AND in myself.

Singers/Congregation: "How great is our God...How great is our God...How great, how great is our God."

Me: "Hallelujah"

LOL...Okay, so part of me sees why we do this. We immediately want to give God praise (continue to give Him praise) even after the song is over and "hallelujah" is a great and powerful praise. That makes sense to me AND it's a step up from everyone just clapping on cue after the song is over. [Sidebar: I must say that it is refreshing to me that I'm in ministry w/ Tonee who tells us not to clap sometimes when a song ends, but to open our mouths to give God praise]. BUT, I'm willing to bet that even some of those "hallelujahs" that worship leaders and soloists (including me) put out there are insincere. I'm not saying that we're always insincere (I know I'm genuine about it most of the time). I'm just saying that we should be careful lest it turn into just a meaningless word that we just say cuz that's what we hear other people say.

No condemnation!!!!! Right now, it's actually kinda funny to me. But definitely something we should watch out for.

There are lots of those things, huh?

Do You Know What Worship Music Is?

Mark sent me a link the other day to the comment that is below. Basically a Crystal Lewis fan was asking if she would record a worship album and this was her response:

"I know 'worship' music has become very popular, and I enjoy singing so many of the new songs at my church during our music/worship/response time. And while I love many of those songs, and older songs too, I've always considered my records to be 'worship' records. At least they are for me."

So this got me thinking: Have we as a church categorized "worship" music to mean 1 thing? Do we only see "worship" music as the "simpler music we sing on Sundays that a lot of people can sing together"? If so, then we're SO wrong AND in dangerous territory. Crystal is right - her music, Switchfoot's music, Jaci Velasquez's music, and Jars of Clay's music is just as much worship music as the songs we sing on Sunday - old and new.

Who says that songs like "You Are Good," "I Command My Soul," "Here I Am to Worship," and "He is Exalted" get to define what "worship" music is?

To worship is to honor, to pay homage, to adore. If Crystal is using her music to express her adoration for God, then it is worship music. On the flip side, if Random Artist sings a song that really isn't out of his love for God, but more out of love of getting money, even if the song is "inspirational," that doesn't make it worship.

I don't think anyone would disagree w/ me on that. So I'll take it one step further: I think that we (Christians) have gone too far in categorizing music. Gospel, CCM, Worship, CCR (contemporary christian rock), Inspirational, Black music, White music.

Because we put labels on EVERYTHING, the labels start to define the thing. For example: Gospel music has come to mean "black music." Let me just say that Black man singing about Jesus does not equal "gospel" music. In fact, if "the gospel" means "the good news," (about Jesus) then a lot of what we've labeled "gospel music" isn't truly gospel. Can anyone say "sounding brass and clanging cymbals?"

And what the heck do "Black Music" and "White Music" mean?!!! Or if I sing "Inspirational" music (example: I believe I Can Fly), does that mean I'm straddling the fence or something?

I know. The Saints are going to have a fit if they get ahold of this. But I just think that it's time we start being careful what we say, careful what we label and careful WHO we label. It could do more damage than good.

That's all I'm sayin...What do you think? Am I crazy?

What Am I Up To?

Hey All,

A few new things going on in my life. Well, 2 big ones to be exact.

1. I'm in a relationship now!!! YAY! I won't give too many details cuz this is the internet and it's none of your business really (lol), but his name is Mark, I met him at church and we are doing just great (since July 11th or 12th, depending on which one of us you ask). That's all I'm saying on my boo status.

2. I'm working on an album. I know that I've been hinting at this for awhile, but I'm actually doing it. I've been in the studio all summer and Encounter at the Well is coming along. I will release the cd later this year with a worship concert. In the meantime, you can learn more about the status of the album as well as donate by going to the album's blogsite. There are pictures as well as a video and more info about what I'm doing and the vision for my ministry.

Doing this album has been a difficult experience for several reasons:
1. I've never done this before and I'm learning as I go.
2. I fully intend to pay for studio time, band, backup vocalists, cd duplication, mixing & mastering. That stuff is costly.
3. In order to put out a quality cd, you need to spend enough time in the studio recording and producing and fixing things and directing the background vocalists and the list goes on and on. I'm still working full time and have several other commitments (not to mention this is the craziest summer ever for me w/ 2 weddings, a new boyfriend, a church choir concert to prep for, a trip to NY, etc.)

On the other hand, it's been rewarding for several reasons:
1. Several friends from church have pitched in their time, expertise and talents. People are actually really excited about this project, which helps keep me going.
2. My music is starting to get heard and respected. I'll be singing one of my songs at the H.O.P.E.'s House concert coming up soon.
3. I'm learning my stregnths and limitations. I didn't think I could do this, but w/ a LOT of help from Jesus and friends, things are coming together.

What do I need? Prayer and money. Take your pick or choose both. I've set up a Paypal donation link on the album's blogsite if you want to give any amount.

New York, New York - The City of Dreams

(Me @ Central Park)

Here are pictures of New York. I had a lot of fun. But there are too many people and it's too expensive for my taste. Lots of interesting things to see and hear, though. I WISH I could tell all of the subway stories.

Rockefeller Center

Left: I LOVE the brick buildings in NY / Right: Me on the Big Piano @ FAO Schwartz

Me w/ my funnel cake at Coney Island. Coney Island is pretty ghetto, by the way. Not what I was expecting.

Subway Performances: We saw LOTS of those. People are just SO willing to share their gifts w/ subway riders....and get money for it, of course. I was serenaded by a flute player, bucket drummers, singers, and even an accordian player.

Statue of Liberty: Probably the coolest statue I've ever paid to see.

The Big Apple

I'm in New York on vacation right now, so this won't be long.  But I had a little time, so I thought I'd drop a quick update and say "hi."

I've been in NY since Sunday (for about 4 days) and I've seen a bunch of stuff - Statue of Liberty, Rockefeller Center (including 30 Rock), Times Square, SoHo, Chinatown, Little Italy, Harlem, Coney Island, the Financial District (including the bull - same bull statue they show in "Hitch") and walked on the Brooklyn Bridge.  I've ridden the subway and taken the bus all over the place, but I've also done A LOT of walking.  My legs are so sore it's not even funny.  I'm going to need a massage when I get back.  However, the upside to that is I can eat whatever I want because I'm walking it off everyday.  LOVELY!

I get back on Sunday night, so I'll upload pictures as soon as I can.

Next Update:  Album status, new blog site for the album and ways you can contribute.