Jon Acuff's Blog, page 78
February 25, 2013
The 1 thing modern worship is missing.
Recently I spoke at an event where they did “traditional” worship music. What does that mean?
There aren’t lasers, and you don’t sing “Blessed be your name.” That’s about it. Cleared that up pretty quickly. You’re welcome.
But, during this classic worship, we did something I’ve missed for years in modern approaches. The echo.
Remember that?
When I was a kid, the best part of worship was when the guys and the girls would part ways. The men would sing a verse, and the women would echo or vice versa.
We used to always do this on the song “All in All.” Man, oh man, we echo chambered that song like a boss. Nowadays, though, the echo is considered as old-fashioned as the phrase “Sunday School.” (What are you, Amish?)
My biggest regret, though, is that as a kid I always thought it would be awesome to have someone echo the words I said. I wanted someone to travel with, me just quietly echoing everything I said. Can you imagine how great that would be?
Me: “I would like extra guacamole on my burrito.”
My echo: “Extra guacamole, on my burrrrrrritttoo.”
Me: “Jenny, did you just ask me if I thought Halle Berry and Rihanna were pretty? I’m not falling for that award show trap. I only have eyes for you, my Proverbs 31 lady.”
My echo: “Only have eyes, eyes, eyes, for youuuuu.”
I can’t think of a single situation where having some sort of baritone echo backing me up would be bad.
Let’s bring it back.
Less lasers, more echoes!
Question:
Does your church do the echo?
February 22, 2013
This just happened and I’m more than a little confused.
Just ate one of these. Jury is still out.
Christian Song Parody Writing
(It’s guest post Friday! Here’s one from Brandon Wash. You can follow him on Twitter @bwashy. If you want to write a guest post for SCL, here’s how!)
Christian Song Parody Writing
Before you run away and hide, we know you’re out there. Yes you, the ones who rewrite secular songs with Christian lyrics. I know you exist because my dad is one of you. If it was played by an 80s hair band, you better believe that he’s thrown some Jesus in that.
Don’t be frightened. I’m a fan of the Christian song parody writer! But since I haven’t seen a tweet from the governing Christian council (does that even exist? Someone surely had to make the ruling that skinny jeans were cool for worship leaders), I’d like to formally propose some right here so we can avoid any more “I like Christian girls and I can not lie” situations:
1. It has to be relevant. As far as I’m concerned, all classic rock will forever be relevant so a little Lynyrd Skynyrd “Sweet Home up in Heaven” is perfectly acceptable. Completely relevant to our future hope. Maybe a little Bruno Mars? “Jesus caught a grenade for ya, he stood in front of a blade for ya.” Completely relevant to Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross…kind of.
2. Don’t be cheesy. We don’t need any Kiss parodies that go, “I wanna witness all night, and witness every day!” And we really don’t need some CeeLo “I saw you driving round town with the girl I love, and I’m like, I forgive you!” Let’s keep it a little higher quality than that.
3. Absolutely no Gaga. I’m pretty sure I don’t need to say this. But hey, Jon Acuff did call “50 Shades Of Grace” and sure enough it happened, so let’s outlaw Lady Gaga right here right now. I’ll give her a little credit: she’s a beast at piano, but that’s where I draw the line. Besides, no one wants to see Matt Redman in a meat dress…
4. No explicit or suggestive content. “I’ve got the moves like Jesus” is not ok.
5. Remember copyright law. Don’t go out and publish your parodies without the proper documentation. I really don’t want to be the catalyst for a Christian copyright infringement movement.
I hope that lays forward some good guidelines for all you parody writers. Together we can save us from ourselves.
What’s a song that you would rewrite?
February 20, 2013
Birds.
I once heard someone at a breakfast ask an author, “How do I experience God?”
The answer they got was not the one they expected. He told them, “Put up a birdhouse.”
The room got quiet, all of us expecting something deep and spiritual sounding. Then he continued, “When you put up a birdhouse, you connect yourself to a migratory pattern spanning thousands of miles. A dance of nature, spanning timezones and climates. You want to experience God? Look to the birds.”
It’s good advice and it’s Biblical. In Matthew 6:26 Christ tells us to, “Look at the birds of the air,”
Two weeks ago, I took up that challenge. As silly as it sounds, I decided to see more than just a bird when I saw one. I decided I would see a completely unnecessary but unbelievably beautiful reminder of God’s grace.
The next day I stumbled upon a migration of birds a mile long and a million birds deep. The sky was black and loud for minute upon minute. A few days later, I saw this video and it reminded me of the whole thing.
Want to experience God? Look at the birds.
February 18, 2013
Ron Swanson at church.
If you watch the NBC show, Parks & Recreation, than you are familiar with the mustachioed antics of Ron Swanson. Little did I know he also attends church. (I didn’t create this, if you did, let me know so I can give you credit.)
[image error]
February 15, 2013
Make sure you’re not one of these 23 people.
On April 30, I’m putting on a special event in Austin, Texas, called “Start Night.”
This intensely fun event is designed to help you learn how to punch fear in the face, escape average and do work that matters.
But maybe you’re not supposed to be there.
That’s OK, it’s not for everyone, but before you decide whether to sign up before it sells out, just make sure you’re not one of these people:
1. A college senior who doesn’t want to waste a single day at the wrong job when they graduate.
2. A stay at home mom that’s had a dream for a few years and needs a push over the edge to start it.
3. A 27 year old guy who knows exactly what his dream is but doesn’t know where to start.
4. A 27 year old guy who doesn’t have a clue what his dream is but knows he’s not doing it right now and wants to figure it out.
5. A 42 year old woman who spent 20 years working for someone else and is curious what it’d be like to work for herself.
6. The dad who has a thousand good ideas but doesn’t know which one to actually focus on.
7. A recent college graduate who keeps getting told this is the worst economy to find a job in, but knows this might be the best economy to chase a dream in.
8. A discouraged guy who wants to meet 300 people who believe in his dream.
9. A retired steel worker who has dreamt for decades about something different and now suddenly has the time to do it.
10. A lawyer who became a lawyer because everyone told her she would be an amazing lawyer and now she’s not so sure that she wants to be a lawyer.
11. A customer call center representative that loves helping people at work but also wants to help people in Uganda without quitting her job.
12. A 45 year old woman who has been running from a dream for years but it refuses to keep quiet and it’s time to really try it.
13. A young girl who started a non-profit 6 months ago and needs help figuring out how to harness all the creative ideas she has.
14. The son that was told by his parents that his dream “would never work.”
15. The 25 year old who refuses to accept that “being an adult” means being miserable at work for 40 hours a week.
16. The cynic who would never attend one of these things and thinks this list is kind of dumb but there’s a money back guarantee so if he doesn’t love it at least he didn’t spend a dollar.
17. The husband with a wife who has always believed in him more than he’s believed in himself.
18. The 62 year old who refuses to believe fear when it lies and says “it’s too late to dream.”
19. The high school student who isn’t going to wait for permission or the “right age” to dream.
20. The youth pastor who has a new dream that might take him new places.
21. The executive who knows that even people who don’t paint or play the guitar can chase a dream. Dreams aren’t just for musicians and artists.
22. The California resident who knows it’s not easy to get to Nashville but if chasing a dream was easy everyone would be doing it.
23. The person who didn’t fit a single description on this list but is coming to the conference anyway.
If that’s you, sign up today. The last one sold out and I don’t want you to miss this experience if you’re supposed to be there. (The early bird ticket is only $39 and includes a free copy of my new book “Start.”)
If that’s not you, that’s cool too. You’ve got somewhere important you’re supposed to be instead on April 30. I hope you have an amazing night wherever you are.
I’ll see 23 of you (and a whole lot of other people) in Austin, Texas soon!
The Church Picker
(It’s guest post Friday! Here’s one from Lon Hetrick. You can check out his blog here. You can also follow him on Twitter @averageus. If you want to write a guest post for SCL, here’s how!)
The Church Picker
So…
You’re new in town, settling into your new digs, getting used to the local eateries and traffic patterns and such. You feel pretty good about how quickly you’re adjusting. You’ve found the Home Depot and Starbucks, and even know two of your new neighbors by name.
You hardly even feel like a tourist anymore. This could be good. This could feel like home in no time.
But then you remember…
You Haven’t Found a New Church.
A brick drops in your gut as you dread the coming weeks of awkward, but necessary, church-shopping tactics:
The greeter-avoidance maneuver.
The hide-in-the-herd hustle.
The breezy, just-passin’-through, bearing.
The “Are you new here?” evasion techniques.
And above all, the no-eye-contact game face.
(Lord help you if you have children to put in the nursery. You’ll still be on 43 church mailing lists when little Jenny’s working on her Ph.D.)
Is this your story? Do churches outnumber all the taco, burger and pizza joints combined in your new hometown? Do you wonder how you’ll ever find that right church among the 692 within five miles of your front door?
Don’t You Wish There Was an App for That?
Ah, there’s help for you, my friend!
“Find the right church with Church Picker”
Just install Church Picker by eMelodee, select a few preferences, and Great Jehoshaphat! Church Picker shows you a custom-matched, short-list of right(ish) churches for you.
It’s like God’s guidance on your smartphone.
Want to avoid a church that’s a little too friendly? Just slide the friendliness preference to select “Total anonymity. No hugging.”
Have a strong conviction about Bible versions? With Church Picker you can easily find churches that believe “The King James was good enough for Paul,” just like you.
Is congregation size a priority? Select options from “Megachurch with heliport” down to “Come grow with us.”
Maybe you’re concerned about the quality of your worship experience? Just slide the musical preference to find churches that feature ”Spinet Organ & Gospel Choir,” “Holy Smoke Praise Band,” “A Cappella Psalms & Shape Notes,” “Unplugged Metro-Worship,” or “Bach, Pipes & Brass.”
Need even more control? No worries! Select your preferences for up to 33 Church Picker dimensions like: visitor visibility, liturgy, length of service, singles, preaching, nursery, and youth ministry.
You can even pick a theological* preference like: “I just follow Jesus,” “Doctrine Divides!” or “Modern-Western Pre-mill Seekerism.”
(*note: Some dimensions may not reduce the number of matches in your area.)
“Church Picker: It’s
like God’s guidance on your smartphone.”
Download “Church Picker” now, and you’ll also get exclusive access to the free companion app, “Daily Prayers My Way.” It makes prayer so easy, even a cave…
Well, you get the idea.
Get “Church Picker” by eMelodee and cut through the church-shopping clutter.
Pick a church on your phone. Save shopping for the mall.
For more great writing from Lon, check out his blog!
February 14, 2013
Brace yourself.
Valentine’s Day might be the greatest Jesus Juke day of the year. (Find these and other gems in my Jesus Juke collection.)
[image error]
[image error]
February 13, 2013
From the journal.
Below is what I wrote in my journal a few years ago after reading Matthew 11: 28-30:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
I am not asking you to
complete yourself and then come to me.
I am asking you to come to me.
Broken and burdened, infested with the most hideous lies about me and
my nature. Covered in perpetual sin that you just can’t seem to shake.
Because I don’t see that.
I see Christ. I see the blood of my son all
over you.
I know you think you need to work through your doubt
before you come to me. But that’s not true. I can’t wait that long for
you to come. And how ridiculous is that lie? That you have to figure me
out, know me and trust in me without fail before you can come to me and
get to know me. I do have gifts for you. Big crazy gifts, but the
biggest of all is my presence.
That’s what I am inviting you
in to. My presence. That’s a gift I am inviting you into. My presence.
That’s a gift I am going to give you every second for every hour of
every day for the rest of eternity. Come to me. Come be in my presence.
It’s so crazy to think you have to perfectly accept that gift before
you can stand in that gift. I’m just saying, “Come stand in it. Bask in
it.”
Come stand in it filthy and let me cleanse you.
Come stand in it broken and let me heal you.
Come stand in it drunk on doubt and fear and let me renew a spirit of confidence and trust in you.
Just come stand in it.
Come stand in it covered with lies and misconceptions about who I am and who you are and let me reveal the truth.
Come stand in it worried and stressed and trembling and let me cover you with a peace that transcends all understanding.
Come, just come.
Come
stand in it with a past you can’t fix and a future you can’t look at
without grimacing and I will comfort you in this very moment.
