Saint Patrick Breastplate Prayer

Christ behind me.
Christ before me.
Christ beside me.
Christ between us.
Christ beneath me.
Christ above me.
Christ within me.

[More about St. Patrick]

(The following meditation on St. Patrick's prayer was written by Reverend Ian Cowie of the Scotthish Center of Healing, Edinburgh, Scotland.)

Christ behind me. In the past, all that has been good is in His keeping. I need no regrets, no mementoes. I can let go of all that was good, knowing that it is precious to Him. Give thanks to God for all His goodness.
All that was bad, hurtful, shameful, I consign into the depths of His mercy. All the hurt which I have caused, all the hurt which others have caused me, I lay at the foot of His cross. May the Lord have mercy on us all.

Christ before me. He is the way, stretching before me, from where I am now from this actual situation I am in, right home to our Father’s house. He is the Way, the Way prepared. He has gone ahead into tomorrow to make it ready. The future is a journey home. Through all the dark valleys He will guide and He will provide times when my cup of happiness will overflow. I face the future knowing the Way.

Christ beside me. “I am with you always.” He is in this situation, sharing it with me now. His strong shoulder is under the burden I carry. Every joy and every sorrow He shares with me. He will not fail me, nor forsake me. Nothing can separate me from His love.

Christ between us. To sever and to reconcile, to shield from the sin in one another. To bless all that is good and true. To cleanse from pride, possessiveness, lust. To give laughter, tears, understanding and peace.

Christ beneath me. Underneath are the everlasting arms, cherishing, upholding. When I fall, it is into His arms that I fall. And He will lift me up again. His strength undergirds my weakness.

Christ above me. As a hen gathers her chicks so His love is spread over me, comforting me, shielding me. I claim His protection from all attack and oppression. Under the shadow of His wings I am safe. And in Him I will trust.

Christ within me. I live, yet not I, but Christ within me. My body is Christ’s body, bone of His bone, flesh of His flesh. By the bread broken and the wine poured out, I know that You, Lord, are in me and I in You. You will accomplish the work that You have for me to do, and Your grace is sufficient for me.

Christ behind me in the past, before me in the future, beside me in the present, beneath me to support me, above me to shield me, within me filling my life. Thus enfolded, armed and led, I go forth in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Cultivating a Prevailing Worship Team

Last Sunday Lorraine and I taught a workshop at AFC Production Conference.

The workshop is called "Cultivating a prevailing worship team." It aimed at educating participants the importance and methods to minister to artists and musicians (worship team). There were about twenty participants from eight churches.

A worship team needs to be nurtured in the following areas:

1. character shaping
2. spiritual formation
3. theological understanding of worship
4. biblical literacy on prayers
5. relationship building
6. team building
7. professionalism
8. healthy rhythm

While the participants were impressed by the depth, breadth and importance of the subject, some were skeptical on whether all these could be accomplished in real life. For some it sounded like fantasy and to others it appeared unachievable because it seemed to require much resources.

Here is one written feedback we have received:
Can you add some success stories or struggles in cultivating a worship team? It's all too idealistic with all the high standards & expectations (E.g. professionalism), but I want to hear how it actually worked out in church life.

I sighed (at the skepticism) as I read the feedback.

It reminds me that one should not take for granted what we have build up in Koinonia's worship team in the past eight months. What we have today are both blessings from God and hard work and discipline on our part.

If I had a chance to respond to the feedback, here are the three advices I would give:
Vision
Babysteps
Discipline over a long period of time...

Hearing the Voice of Jesus

Spiritual Discernment: On Hearing the Voice of Jesus
Lecture by Darrell Johnson at Regent College on November 22, 2004

約翰福音 10:14-15
我是好牧人．我認識我的羊、我的羊也認識我。
正如父認識我、我也認識父一樣．並且我為羊捨命。

10:3-5
看門的就給他開門．羊也聽他的聲音．他按著名叫自己的羊、把羊領出來。
既放出自己的羊來、就在前頭走、羊也跟著他、因為認得他的聲音。
羊不跟著生人、因為不認得他的聲音．必要逃跑。

How does the Good Shepherd speak to us? What means does He use?

1. Written word. Scripture
2. The preached word. Proclamation
3. Unique gifts of the Spirit: prophecy, wisdom
4. Books, human authors
5. Trusted friends, mentors, counsellors
6. Dreams, visions
7. Circumstances
8. Holy discontent. Restlessness
9. Conscience, developed through training by Scripture
10. Inner voices, some may come from the Shepherd

Any one of the above is not a sufficient, sure indication of the voice of God (except number 1).

How can I discern His voice from all the others I hear in my mind and spirit? Are there some objective safeguards to ensure that the voice I am hearing is the voice of Jesus?

1. Inner voice always speak in concert with scripture
2. Inner voice always speak in concert with the character of Jesus
3. Inner voice always tell us to do the Jesus-like thing (in truth and love)
4. Inner voice always draw us closer to Himself
5. Inner voice does not argue. It is quietly authoritative. Its command is self-authenticating.
6. Inner voice is usually the quietest

河流與管弦樂

曾經想過可以用兩幅圖畫來形容歌鄰的事奉團隊。

一幅是河流的圖畫。正如不同的山川、溪澗、深淵、瀑布，源遠流長，在這裡匯聚一起成為大江，在歌鄰事奉的弟兄姊妹也來自不同的教會及成長背景，在這裡加入團隊，在各個事工當中事奉。

不過我不太喜歡用河流這個比喻的原因是：當溪水流入大江之後，便徹底地失去了它的獨特性。本來溪澗的水性，在這道鴻流中再也沒跡可尋。這不是我想見到的事奉團隊。

另一幅是管弦樂團的圖畫。不同的音樂家，合作演奏出一首美麗的樂曲。觀眾坐著欣賞的時候，他們會聽到一首首悠揚動聽的音樂，被這隊管弦樂團演奏出來。一方面觀眾固然可以聽到樂曲的演譯，但與此同時，細心傾聽之下，也可以分辨出小提琴的演奏、大提琴的演奏、鋼琴的演奏、笛子的演奏、搞擊樂器的演奏。每件樂器雖在演奏同一樂章，卻從不失掉本身的聲音及獨特性。

這個就是我的心願。歌鄰的事奉團隊、歌鄰的敬拜隊，會像一隊管弦樂團。我們奏出好的音樂的同時，也不埋沒每個人的性情、風格、和呼召的獨特性。各自發揮功用，俾此佩搭。

要做到這樣的話，我們就不單要發掘和發揮各自的音樂恩賜，我們也需要認識俾此在音樂上的成長故事。例如，我們的音樂訓練、喜好、鐘愛，在音樂事奉上的期望、起跌、成敗得失等等。

以後幾次的練習，讓我們學習留心和珍惜俾此的成長故事。

Jealousy and Envy

Jealousy and Envy

Content comes from Rory Noland's The Heart of An Artist (chapter six)

Anger and Bitterness

• What is the feeling of jealousy?
• Anger: you are angry that they are more successful than you
• It’s difficult to admit because:
  - Covet: Against Biblical teaching
  - Shame
  - Admit to inferiority
• Therefore we often sweep it under the rug and pretend it’s not there
• It comes out in many ways: competition, bad-mouthing behind peoples’ back
• Eventually lead to bitterness:
  - you want those people to fail
  - Not only that we envy what others have but that we don’t want them to have it instead of us

Dealing with it
1. Confess it as sin

• Cultivate self-awareness – know when you are jealous
• Beware of denial
• Don’t hide it or justify it. Just admit it
• God knows your thought
• Tell Him that you need help
• Seek help

2. Appreciate your God-given talent

• While we are busy envying someone else’s talents, we forget about what God has given us
• What is it that God has given you to do well?

3. Give credit where credit is due

4. The real issue is faithfulness

• Parable of five talents, two talents, and one talents (Matthew 25)
• We don't know why some receive more than others
• But the real issue is not who gets what but whether I’m going to be faithful and obedient with what I’ve been given
• It is a stewardship issue

5. Quit comparing with others

• Gordon MacDonald: “the soul cannot be healthy when one compares himself or herself to others. The soul dies a bit every time it is involved in a lifestyle that competes. It gives way to the destructive forces of rivalry, envy and jealousy.”
• We need to discover our own talents
• So I can be secure about who God made me to be and what He’s called me to do
• We need to discover the unique role God has for us and fulfill it with enthusiasm
• Be content by being what God has called us to be rather than by trying to be someone else

6. Turning envy into worship

• Mathew 20 - Parable of the worship pastor and his worship team
• “Didn’t I pay you what we agreed upon? I haven’t cheated you out of anything. Can’t I do what I want with my money? Or are you envious because I am generous?”
• My envy can be turned to worship:
  - I can acknowledge God’s sovereignty in the way He distributes talents and abilities
  - I can worship His goodness for giving me more talent than I deserve
  - I can worship the Giver instead of the gift

7. Develop relationships instead of rivalries

• We tend to alienate ourselves from the people we envy
• Reverse this tendency: do everything we can to develop relationships with them
• The more we get to know them the less threatening they become
• Pray regularly for them
• God puts us together to work with each other not against each other
• Instead of competing, we can learn a lot from each other

Reflection Exercise

1. Write down the names of any people in your life toward whom you have feelings of jealousy and envy

2. Confess your sin of jealousy and envy to God and ask Him for His help in dealing with this sin

3. Think about how you can turn your jealousy and envy into worship

4. Describe the negative results of comparing yourself with others

5. Choose someone in your life to whom you can be accountable for how you handle feelings of jealousy and envy

Handling Criticism

Handling Criticism

Contents come from Rory Noland's The Heart of the Artist (chapter 5)

The dangers of defensiveness

• It alienates us from others
• Defensiveness keeps us from the truth
• Defensiveness keeps us from being all we can be

Why it is difficult for artists to receive feedback

• To be vulnerable is a price every performer pays.
• Because art is such a personal thing, it’s difficult for us to separate ourselves from our work.
• Another reason we feel vulnerable is because we are constantly being evaluated.
• And it doesn’t help that critiquing the art is, more often than not, very subjective.

Responding to feedback

Be quick to listen
· Listen as a beloved child of God

Be slow to speak
· Our first response should not be a defensive one.
· Our first response should be to ask ourselves: Is any of this true?

Be discerning

Have a teachable spirit
· No matter what age you are, you always have something to learn

Learn how to fail graciously
· No one’s expecting perfection (except maybe us), so we don’t need to defend ourselves every time we fail.
· When we mess up, let’s swallow our pride, admit it, learn from it, and move on.

Giving feedback

• Give your overall impression first
• Try to say something positive
• Acknowledge effort and hard work
• Avoid hyperbole
• Avoid negative comparisons

Wilbur's Sharing to Worship Team - 2007.05.08

As worship leaders, we have accustomed to living in a weekly pattern of planning, practice, rehearsal, and performance, planning, practice, rehearsal, and performance…

When everything becomes mechanical and we have adjusted to this rhythm, it is easy to lose sight of the significance behind all these exercises, i.e., worshipping God, and leading, ministering, and witnessing to the congregation.

We need to disrupt this pattern. We need to insert a time of reflection into this rhythm.
Tonight we will go through a time of silence and reflection together.

Silence can be threatening. Fifteen minute can feel like an hour if you are not accustomed to spending time in silence. Your mind may wander away. You may be bombarded by many images or random thoughts. Tell yourself that it is okay. Rejoin the reflection when you are ready. Remember: silence is your friend not your foe.

We will spend 16 minute on this reflection - divided into four equal sections.

(1) Pay attention to yourself

• What is your body telling you now?
• What is your foot, your arm, your back, your head telling you now?
• Are you tired?
• What is your heart telling you now?
• Are you joyful, sad, angry, burned out?
• Pay attention to these signals coming from your body.
• Acknowledge them.
• Present them to God. Tell Him how you feel right now.
• Listen to His voice.

(2) Pay attention to worship

• Picture yourself going through the rehearsal and set up during the past Sunday. What happened?
• What was the dominant picture and/or feeling during this time?
• Were you focused, nervous, confident, distracted?
• Tell God what happened.
• Listen to His voice.
• Now you walked up the stage. Picked up your instruments. Stood before the microphone. The music began. What happened during the actual presentation?
• What touched you most during those moments?
• Tell God what happened.
• Listen to His voice.

(3) Pay attention to God’s Word

• Reflect on Sunday's sermon.
• What touched you most during those moments?
• How did you encounter God in His Word? What challenge did He give you? What was your prayer?
• Listen to His voice.
• Now you came forward to partake the Holy Communion.
• What went through your mind and body at that time?
• Tell God what happened.
• Listen to His voice.

(4) Pay attention during rehearsal

• Imagine that you have come to this coming Sunday's last song “Let your glory fall.”
  Listen to me as I read you the lyrics…
• What is your heart telling you right now?
• Where will your heart be when you present this song?
• How will you worship with this song this Sunday?
• Tell God.
• Listen to His voice.

As you attend to God (no matter how imperfectly sometimes), be assured that God is paying attention to you all the time.

Psalm 23 for Busy People

The Lord is my pace setter, I shall not rush.
He makes me to stop and rest for quiet intervals.

He provides me with images of stillness, which restores my serenity.
He leads me in ways of efficiency, through calmness of mind.

And His guidance is my peace.
Even though I have a great many things to accomplish each dayI will not fret, for His presence is here.

His timelessness, His all-importance will keep me in balance.
He prepares refreshment and renewal in the midst of my activity

By anointing my mind with His oils of tranquillity.
My cup of joyous energy overflows.

Surely harmony and effectiveness shall be the fruits of my hour,
For I shall walk in the pace of the Lord and dwell in His house forever.

Author unknown.

Handling Praises

How to Handle Praises

Challenge: How to receive praises? How to digest them?

Danger: If not digested, will accumulate to become pride

Learning: how to receive praises with BOTH humility and gratitude

Some people are trained to respond to praises by saying "感謝主!"
There is nothing wrong with saying "感謝主!"
It becomes a threat when one routinely repond to praises by saying "感謝主!" mechanically

Problems with a mechanical response:

(1) Hypocrisy

• People will think: Do you really mean it?
• Mechanical response does not imply humility

(2) Conversation stopper

Example:

• A: "I love your presentation!"
• B: "感謝主!"
• A: "I like the part when you say..."
• B: "Alleluia! 感謝主!"
• A thinking: I have some other comments about possible improvements, but forget it...

(3) Pride

• Saying "感謝主!" but does not take time to reflect and digest
• Instead let those praises accumulate
• Or worse yet, store them up in a treasure box

What i am learning to do when praised:

(1) Be Curious

• "How did it help you?"
• "Which part helped?"
  (I want to learn what worked)
• "How may it be improved?"

(2) Express Gratitude

• "I am thankful that it helps you."
• "Thanks for your encouragement."
• "I am thankful for my team."
• "I am thankful that God has spoken to you through me."

(3) Rejoice

• It is healthy to rejoice (no need to feel guilty)
• Like children rejoicing for accomplishing some work with their father

(4) Digest

• You don't need to forget. These memory may be called up as positive motivator on rainy days.
• But don't linger on it
• Bring it to the cross
• Imagine praises as someone giving you a bunch of flowers
• You appreciate the flowers and then bring them to Jesus
• Lay it down at the foot of the cross
• This process takes discipline and deliberate effort

The point here is not whether one should or should not say "感謝主!" when receiving praises. The point is, watch out when your response has become mechanical. Say what you mean and mean what you say. In other words, be authentic!

Isaac Watts' hymn - When I survey the wonderous cross
(Stanza 1 & 4)

When I survey the wondrous cross,
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Authenticity of the Worshiper

Who Is The Worship Leader?

One lesson that I have learned from ministry experience is: be authentic!

The question that you must ask yourself when you stand on stage is first and foremost a question of identity: Who am I?

A worship leader is:

(1) A Performer
You are there to perform in front of the One Audience who listens to you with enthusiasm.

(2) A Leader
You are there to lead the congregation to glorify God in worship

(3) A Witness
You are there to witness Christ through worship

Regarding witnessing:
You must be the same person off stage as you are on stage.
When people detect discrepencies, they label it hypocricy. When you lose credibility, you lose the ability to witness.
Therefore, be authentic. Live a worshipful life!

回到敬拜軸心

本欄是 Wilbur 對歌鄰的事奉團隊的分享和勸勉。
內容來自每週在 worship team practice 時段裡的分享。