CRU Sunday

I am really looking forward to Sunday. The Campus Crusade worship team (from St. Cloud State) will be leading our Sunday morning worship services. I know everything will be excellent.

From my perspective, here is a quick, behind the scenes view of the team:

Even though a number of the musicians and singers have been involved on other church teams (including past CRU ensembles), this worship team really came together as a group this past fall. A new worship leader (Matt) was given the responsibility of the team. He took the reigns and started trail blazing new grounds for their campus ministry. Other vocal leaders have stepped up (Julie, Jess, Alberto, and Reese). The band is also a solid part of the worship team (Tony, Brent, Kal, and Tom). As a whole, they bring glory to God every week.

Their Christ-centered style of leadership is encouraging and refreshing. I know Westwood will be blessed to have a wonderful, meaningful time of worship on Sunday.

Another Great Sunday

Yesterday, our worship service was excellent. I said this last week (and I will say it again) - I am part of a great team.

I want to highlight 3 things from Sunday's worship experience - (1) Tech booth, (2) Band, and (3) Singers.

The unsung heroes of a production are usually the people you do not see. Yesterday, Pete, Kevin, and Lisa did an outstanding job with the sound, computer, and lights. We had fast and slow songs, solos from different singers and instruments, contrast in lighting, and appropriate changes with the overall presentation from the computer. Way to use Pandora in place of our missing iPod!!!

The band was solid. Dan and Mandi did great with the piano/keys (nice solos and high octave playing), Ken nailed the electric guitar parts, Mike's drumming was terrific (sounded just like the recordings), and Josh (bass) and Mitchell (ac. guitar) definitely know how to worship and play off each other (I enjoy the interaction on stage, guys!).

Dan, Hannah, Melissa, and Linda did a great job singing and leading the congregation in worship. The different solos were very well done. They covered the parts, vocally gelled, and brought appropriate attention to God. My favorite part was hearing the 3 ladies sing, I'd Rather Have Jesus.

Here are some comments I received from people:
- You guys were phenomenal! I had the chills...when the harmonies came in (on I'd Rather Have Jesus), it just did me in.
- The song, He Is Lord, was the best singing I've heard.
- The team did an outstanding job.

Thanks for a great Sunday, team! I am blessed to lead with you guys!

Friberg's Friday Favorite

Job and Worship

When you think of the story of Job, does worship come to mind? If so, what circumstances shaped his worship?

Job's life was blessed. He had ten children, land, animals, and good health. Job could worship God without distraction from any outside situations. Enter Satan. He thought that Job would curse God if he lost everything (Job 1:10-11). After getting permission from God, Satan attacked job in two rounds. Both attacks displayed Job's amazing integrity and true heart of worship.

The first attack came on Job's earthly possessions. All of Job's land, family, animals, and belongings were taken away. Following this first attack, Job declared that the name of the Lord should be praised (Job 1:21).

The second attack came on Job's body, physically and emotionally. He obtained boils and verbal attacks through his closest friends. As Vernon Whaley put it, the character and integrity of a person is revealed in hard times and under pressure (Called To Worship). In the end, Job fell on his face, surrendered himself once again to the Lord, and worshiped with all that was in him (Job 42:2-6).

A person may display a life of worship on Sunday morning. However, just like the story of Job states, adversity will truly reveal a person's integrity in worship. Our worship should not be affected by the stability of some earthly possessions. We should worship God for who He is, not for what we own.

Our worship should properly be displayed through a life of integrity in a honest relationship with God.

Wednesday's Brian Teaser

Here we go:

What king can you make if you take -
The head of a lamb
The middle of a pig
The hind of a buffalo
and the tail of a dragon?

Prize to the winner!

I'd Rather Have Jesus

Take a minute to answer this questions - What is your favorite song? Think about it for a moment...

Why is that song your favorite? Perhaps a couple of songs came to mind. What memories enhanced the importance of the song(s)?

Personally, I have a number of favorite songs. However, I have one favorite hymn, I'd Rather Have Jesus.

About 10 years ago, I was volunteering at my dad's church as the worship leader (and youth director). I was finishing my senior year of college and I did not know where I was headed after college. I did not have a job lined up. I knew I wanted to serve the Lord in a full-time capacity. However, I did not know where God was calling me to serve. My prayers seemed to go nowhere. I felt like I was out on an island and God was so far away (it is funny how things seem when looking back at them).

One Sunday, my brother was asked to come and speak to the congregation. He was preparing to leave on a mission trip/internship to Ghana, West Africa. He spoke from his heart about how important it is to serve God. He talked about the apostle Paul and his love for Christ. He challenged the church (and me) to view everything around us as nothing and to view Christ as everything.

At the end of his message, he sang the hymn that George Beverly Shea penned years ago:
I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold.
I'd rather be His than have riches untold.
I'd rather have Jesus than houses or lands.
I'd rather be led by His nail-pierced hand.

Than to be the king of a vast domain, or be held in sin's dread sway.
I'd rather have Jesus than anything this world affords today.

God spoke to me through my brother and gave me an outstanding perspective on my life. Having Jesus was all that mattered. I had peace knowing that He was more important than anything the future could bring.

When I sing this hymn, I am reminded about God's amazing greatness and grace in my life. I know that I would rather have Him than anything else this world can give.

Great Worship Team

I am part of an excellent worship team. From the people in the tech booth to the person playing the drums, the individuals that I lead worship with every week are simply outstanding.

What makes them so great? Their talent? Their ability to lead? Their heart for God and the church? Yes, yes, and yes. But, what I experienced yesterday was another shining example of the quality of team that I work with.

I made the song list early in the week. We had our typical Wednesday night rehearsal. Everything went well and I anticipated a powerful worship service. Then, early Sunday morning, I was informed that two of the four singers were sick. These two singers were responsible leading a couple of the songs (including a violin solo and leading the song I blogged about last week, Healer).

When I arrived to our early Sunday morning rehearsal, I shuffled up the team. I gave a vocal mic to a guitarist and used the keyboard player as a vocalist. The other two vocals were asked to sing a little more as well.

The result? A home run. The team did an outstanding job and the congregation freely worshiped God. Healer went great and I believe many were able to expresses genuine worship to God.

Here are some comments that I received when I came into work this morning (from e-mails and Sunday cards):
- Worship today was really good. Way to go!
- Wonderful praise & worship! This week I've been dealing with healing from some issues. Worship really ministered to me...
- Thank you for a wonderful worship service today.
- Thank you for being vessels God works through.

It is nice to be part of a team that can be flexible through adversity with a genuine heart of service for God.