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April 30, 2009 - No Comments!

How To Attract and Engage Artists

I've had a few conversations recently about how the Living Stones community has attracted artists to contribute to the community. A few thoughts:

SUGGESTIONS FOR THE TEAM
1. Start small. Pick a weekend in advance where an art piece would contribute to the sermon. If that works well, think through other options and bigger projects.

2. Intentionally create opportunities that communicate the Gospel and reveal the opportunity fro artists to the community.

3. Posting a public sermon schedule goes a long ways towards helping the art team execute. The goal is always communication of the gospel, not just an art show. That said, sometimes the creative elements will be more subtle and others more obvious as to how they tie into the message.

4. Artists recruit artists.

SUGGESTIONS FOR YOUR TEAM LEADER
1. Determine who the team leader answers to on staff. Make sure the staff person's management style matches the team leader's work ethic. Some people need more direct management than others.

2. Be as specific as you can be about what you want, and what will actually serve the community.

3. Address character issues and beware general artist-type tendencies. Overly emotional, non-linear, inconsistent, flaky, etc...

4. Reward faithful volunteers with public recognition. We're not talking giving glory of man here, just reinforcing their service to the community.

March 23, 2009 - 1 comment.

Legalism and License

We talk a lot about balance in the Christian faith, and it is a gut-wrenching exercise to try and live out that balance in each area of life.

Not because there are so many "rules" as is often thought, but because God has given so much freedom.

In that freedom, many will choose legalism; closing the door completely on themselves AND on others and forming regulations that the scriptures do not inform. Others will chase license; throwing the door open and disregarding other texts in their drive to be free, ironically enslaving themselves to addictions and being mastered by small things.

It seems that the abuses of legalism and license are all around us.

Because food can involve gluttony, do we abandon it all together?
Because sleep can involve laziness, do we starve ourselves of rest?
Because money can involve greed...
Because sex can involve lust....
Because alcohol can involve drunkenness...
Because music can involve idolatry...

The obvious (hopefully) answer is no. Making a list of "don't do's" is much easier than finding the biblical position on many of these issues, but there are balanced positions.  Regardless of what you think of the man, this song is on point:

March 3, 2009 - No Comments!

Laziness & Crowns of Glory

I've been reading an epistle an evening recently...Here's what I've done so far:
-1 Thessalonians
-2 Thessalonians
-Colossians
-Philippians
-Ephesians

It's funny the things you notice when you read Paul's letters (or any scripture for that matter) to the churches back to back. My 2 most prominent observations:

1. Laziness is ungodly, especially for those that labor in the church. Ministry puts you face to face with many critics who don't want to be part of the solution to whatever they are complaining about.  I need more patience with these people. I need repentance for the times I do the same.

2. The people you invest in and help grow in the faith are your "crown of glory" before God. It's like the ultimate sign of authentic faith, is the works of God in your life contagiously healing/restoring/saving another. God still gets the glory and we get to offer a great gift to our heavenly Father; the investment of our heart for Him in the heart of another.

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February 26, 2009 - 1 comment.

To Sail or Row


Leading a band and being in vocational ministry is an incredibly rewarding and taxing task. I have often thought long and hard about our role in the ministry we dedicate ourselves to. Specifically, the cosmic balance between relying on God and being a good steward with what He has given us. Resting and working. Waiting and acting. Watching and building.

There are some that have affected the course of worship in the church that have "fallen" into their role. They woke up one day and were writing the songs that churches would sing everywhere. Others have worked hard for years (or longer) and finally gotten traction where they made lasting contributions in their local church expression as well as abroad. Much of this topic has to do with calling and integrity, but for simplicity, I often see a word-picture.

The analogy I use is that of a small boat.

Some have awoken to a strong wind and realized that they were en route to a place requiring means much bigger than themselves. These are those that sail.

Others have with blistered hands grabbed the oars and paddled on God's strength towards the destination that God put in their heart. These are those that row.

As best I can tell, many have been used for impactful ministry in both camps.

Neither is superior, and I do not intend to make a value judgment on either. I would say that I am trying to paddle while praying for a strong wind. The tragedy is that no promise has been made by God, or can be made by man, that the rowing will realize the vision of one's heart. The beauty is that there is nothing more worthy of us dipping our oars and laying in to our task with all our might. By His strength we can get to where He wants us...a far superior destination.

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February 24, 2009 - 2 comments

Dinner Date with Zimmerman

Recently at our CD release party, we had a trivia game with contestants from the crowd answering ridiculous questions about band history and Zimmerman trivia. The grand prize winner was Kristin Thomas.

This past weekend we treated her to a nice steak dinner at our favorite piece of Texas in Nevada, Texas Roadhouse. As if the peanut shells on the floor weren't enough, she one-upped our amazement by unveiling her "#1 fan shirt".  The home-made tee reads "I love Zimmerman band" on the front and "#1 fan" on the back.