Ahhhh, man this week has been good…had this past week where I didn’t work a single night shift which was amazing! Additionally, I was off this past weekend, which is always great, worked Monday, and then had Tuesday and Wednesday off!
Yeah, it’s been a great week so far. I committed to make this time some much needed personal R&R…I’ve been incredibly focused and productive as of late, but just personally drained, as we all know…
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy!
If you don’t know what that is from…order The Shining through netflix or go to your local video store. One of the best movies ever made! I love it!
So I haven’t been just laying around the house being a bum, I’ve actually been just having some “Nate time.” I’ve been catching up on the music scene, searching for new music, and learning new music…for nothin’ but fun, and just having time to pour into myself… and it’s been everything I hoped it would be.
Today I watched some great live performances, as I continue to absorb resources that will help me continue to develop my stage presence. Those performances are…
- Braid Paisley and John Mayer live at CMT’s Crossroads
- Jason Aldean and Bryan Adams live at CMT’s Crossroads
- Taylor Swift and Def Leppard live at CMT’s Crossroads (example of what not to copy)
- Keith Urban live “Invitation Only”
- Goo Goo Dolls live at Red Rocks
- U2 Vertigo 2005 Live from Chicago
It’s alot to absorb, but I’m learning a ton about connecting with and reading people from stage, and just good overall stage presence…
*insert Nate’s #1 soapbox topic*
Granted I know performance and worship leading are not the same… But too many worship leaders get up and close their eyes and block out everyone else under the excuse I’m a “lead worshiper” not a “worship leader”, I just get up and worship and trust that people are following. Just being honest here but that’s an insanely stupid excuse for being lazy, and a poor leader.
What would you say if I got a group together and sloppily explained the purpose of calling everyone together and then said “OK, here we go!” and walked off headed wherever I was going without once looking behind me to see if anyone was following me? Essence of a horrible leader right there. The reality is, we don’t have to hold ourselves accountable for whether or not we provided a conducive environment for people to connect with God if we have no idea what’s going on in the room. I know many disagree, and that’s between you and God, but you have to lead people from somewhere you’ve already been. Worship leaders, that means our worship time is in the secret…It’s our time with God off the stage. What happens on stage is our service to the church, as a leader we are then responsible for doing whatever it takes to create the environment that allows people to connect with God.
Let’s be honest, because of the American Idol/superstar culture we live in as Americans, people so idolize those on a stage in front of them they will follow whoever it is almost blindly. Performers catch on to this almost innately. I.e. An artist is performing a song with what appears to be very genuine emotions. People in the audience that attach the same emotions to that song suddenly identify in a humongous way with the artist. The artist raises his fist in a line of the song, as a display of this emotion. Almost in tandem, people in the audience raise their first without even thinking another thing about it. Why? That artist said through his connection, this is an appropriate way to channel this emotion at this time. It’s a huge moment for the performer because they know they have connected and conveyed in a meaningful way with those in the audience, and its huge and powerful for the audience because they have now shared this moment with the artist, and its usually not given even a second thought. Performers are constantly looking for those moments and opportunities throughout any given event, they are even planned in rehearsals. They are so in-tune with what’s going on around them, and yet many worship leaders tend to do just the opposite.
Our people bob their heads up and down to the beat of the music almost instinctively, and clap almost on cue as each song is completed out of respect, “the band did a good job on that one” rather than “honor and glory to God because of the truth we just sang in this song”. Many worship leaders have adopted an attitude of contentment and complacency and decide to close their eyes and just worship, and if others don’t want to worship, then they just miss out on the opportunity. Sure they call themselves a worship leader, but where is the leader in that? There is none. We have to step up and take ownership of leading our congregations in true worship. We need to be reading the room constantly, are people connecting, why or why not, is God at work here, do I linger in this moment, is this really a moment or are the coffee and donuts I scarfed down 15 minutes ago backstage creating the moment for me? We need to be in a constant state of evaluation, so that we can effectively connect with our congregations through the music, and lead them in the channeling of the emotions, brought about through the music, in worship of our incredible God.
What am I getting at? You cannot, be an effective worship leader and ignore these things. You cannot accomplish both at the same time. You cannot worship in complete abandon and utter disregard to the people you lead, and truly lead them. (Sure you just can sing songs and have people clap at the end, but is that really worship?) It’s one or the other. All that brings me to this…Sunday morning is not your WORSHIP time! It’s your LEADERSHIP time. Your worship time is throughout the week, what is done on Sunday should be focused solely on connecting your congregation with God. You cannot focus on leading your congregation to moments of genuine worship, and disconnect from them while on stage in pursuit of your own personal “worship zen” at the same time.
In short…Open your eyes, continually read the room and those in it, stop trying to make up for all the worship you didn’t do during the week on Sunday and actually lead people in worship, don’t be content to worship in front of them and let them watch…and applaud for you when you finish so you feel good about it later. Take people somewhere with you, display/teach biblical ways to express the emotions of worship, more people are waiting for your personal lead than you realize, but you have to have earned their trust through connection. Constantly seek for ways to connect emotionally/spiritually with your congregation, and don’t be content to leave them behind just because they don’t resonate with where you all of a sudden decide you need to go without having been there already. (This includes the band members as well, but that’s a post for another time)
P.s.- I am not exempt from this struggle, this is a battle I fight regularly.
*conclude Nate’s #1 soapbox topic*
All that said saying that I am studying some amazing performers to continue to develop my skills, in relating and connecting with people from the stage.
So anyway, we are 3 weeks in to the pre-launch gatherings of The Following and I’m very pumped. God has been increasing our numbers which is awesome. Things have been going great, and I’m looking forward to the next 3 weeks upcoming. I’m working on new stuff musically and I’m very excited. If your interested in checking out the church I’m a part of be sure to go to www.thefollowing.tv. Everything you need to know is there!
I am really rested and prepared for the upcoming days, I hope you are too. God is preparing us to do a great work in Flowery Branch and the surrounding areas! I am so pumped, not only to be included in this journey, but to be able to be on it with the most important people in my life. My family. I absolutely love the fact that my Dad is my pastor. Seriously, it’s amazing! I look forward to what God is going to do in and through us both during this process.
ANyway, It’s late, I’ve rambled enough…GOing to bed!
Peace out!
NaTe//
