Friberg's Friday Favorite

Joshua and Leadership

I love watching people grow into leaders. I love the process. Watching a young, aspiring musician turn into a humble, worship leader, for me, is simply remarkable. In the Old Testament, Joshua is a perfect example of someone who started small and grew into massive leadership for God (Deut. 31:14-23). Looking deeper into the life of Joshua, I noticed three things that prepared him for this leadership role that can help a leader wherever they are in their leadership journey.

First, Joshua was born a slave. He worked in the trenches for the Egyptians as an Israelite slave. He carried bricks, made cement, and would groan under the burden of slavery. Joshua knew he had leadership potential, but God was using that time to teach and shape him. Throughout that season, God was listening to Joshua's cries for help (Exodus 2:23-24). Many leaders need a time of surrender before God can use them. Vernon Whaley said that God was using trials to reveal His faithfulness in Joshua’s life (Called To Worship).

Second, Joshua was mentored by Moses. Once Moses came to Egypt to lead the children of Israel out of the land of slavery, Joshua was ready to step up and serve. Under the direction of Moses, Joshua was promoted to lead the armies of Israel. As they traveled towards the Promised Land, Moses mentored and taught leadership to Joshua. The apostle Paul did the same thing with Timothy. Paul taught Timothy to present himself to God as one approved, just like a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15). Many leaders need a season of being mentored. Joshua was blessed by God to have Moses as his mentor.

Third, Joshua made the right decision in face of adversity. Moses sent twelve spies to research the Promised Land. Ten of the spies came back with a negative report. Joshua had an opportunity to conform with the rest of the leaders around him and agree that it would be better to not inhabit the land. However, along with Caleb, he boldly declared that God would be with His people. Joshua declared that God would direct the Israelites into this land flowing with milk and honey (Numbers 14:8). Joshua's focus was on God's plan, not his plan. Because of his zeal, God blessed Joshua's leadership.

Joshua is a wonderful example to me. Through every circumstance that Joshua went through, the glory of God was revealed in and through his life. “But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15).” Might I always model Joshua’s passion for Christ, hunger for His Word, and disply Christ-like humility in everything I do.

Wednesday's Brian Teaser

What year comes next in this sequence?

1973, 1979, 1987, 1993, 1997, 1999...

Prize to the winner!

Healer

About a year and a half ago, I listened to Hillsong's newly released CD, This Is Our God. I thought it was outstanding. The worship was amazing, song writing was phenomenal, and I knew that the song, Stronger was going to be an instant classic for me and my church. As I was digging deeper into the project, I was drawn to the song, Healer. I watched the Hillsong team perform it live (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5qoQmjwv-0) and was blessed by the song. Then, I heard the unbelievable story of the song writer. If you go to the link, you will see the lead singer and song writer (Mike Guglielmucci) connected by a tube to some type of life support because of the cancer in his body.

A couple of weeks later, I found out that this song writer/worship leader (Mike G) faked the whole ordeal. He did not have cancer. He did not need any help from a machine. He was doing it all for show. Although I loved the song, I was bothered by the whole situation. So, along with many other worship leaders across the world, I chose not to use the song in a worship service.

About a month ago, I heard Kari Jobe (worship leader/recording artist) sing Healer on her recent worship project. She brought new life to a song that many had buried and forgotten. Personally, I was confronted again by the power of God. Nothing is impossible for Him. He can work in any situation, using small and great things to accomplish His purposes (including a song that was written for His glory, not ours).

I plan to introduce this song to my church this Sunday. I fully expect God to glorified and honored by the people singing the song to Him.

Expectation vs. Reality

I had a pretty funny thing happen right before worship yesterday.

Here is what I had planned (my expectation): The clock would show 8:59am, the worship team would go on to the dark stage, get their in-ears and instruments plugged in, the iPod music would quietly fade, the stage lights would come on, and the electric guitar would start out Lincoln Brewster's song, All To You. The congregation would enter into joyful praise and worship because of a flawless opening to the service.

Here is what actually happened (the reality): The clock showed 8:59am, the worship team quietly went on the dark stage, everyone got their in-ears and instruments plugged in, the iPod music faded, the stage lights came on, the electric guitar player pulled his guitar up to play...

...here is where everything started to change...

...the chord that connected his guitar to his amp was pulled out and made a loud POP throughout the auditorium, the sound guy did not see what happened so he did not know what instrument to mute (so everyone could hear the quiet buzzing from the unconnected chord), I started quietly playing the piano because of the awkward pause that was happening, the electric guitar player looked at the sound booth for the "thumbs up" to plug his guitar in, the sound booth thought that the piano was now opening the service so they missed the communication that the electric guitar player was trying to accomplish, the electric guitar player thought he had the okay to plug back in, a loud BUZZ-POP-POP-BUZZ-POP happened...

...everyone on stage was now looking around and smiling (I am sure some were quietly laughing)...

...I looked at the electric guitar player, we both shrugged our shoulders and smiled, I stopped playing the piano, and the electric guitar player started All To You.

The song went great. The congregation entered into an awaking, yet joyful praise and worship time.