Life lessons in ministry & church leadership
I think one of the things I enjoy most in things that pertain to the spiritual would undoubtedly be Black gospel choir music. I happened upon this video clip of the Mississippi Mass Choir and I’ve probably listened to it 50 times! Turn your volume up a little bit, clap your hands, and follow along.
Continue reading “I’m not tired yet…are you?”
Effective leaders learn how to improvise. That is, they understand the art of doing what you can, with you have, where you are…right now. Let’s consider a scene from the life and ministry of Samson in Judges chapter 15:
14. And when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him: and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands.
15. And he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand men therewith.
16. And Samson said, With the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps, with the jaw of an ass have I slain a thousand men.
17. And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking, that he cast away the jawbone out of his hand, and called that place Ramathlehi.
Judges 15:14-17, KJV
The jawbone of an ass is not the ideal weapon of choice when you are facing a vast army that is set in battle array against you. I’m sure if given a choice Samson would have preferred a new sword, shield, or armor of his choosing. That was not how the battle unfolded for him. His hand was forced and he had to use whatever was available to him in the heat of the moment.
If you’d like to read more about this, and find all of the other chapters I have finalized, just click the button below.
For today’s little sermonette let’s consider Isaiah 6:3 in the King James Version of holy scripture. It says…
1In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. 4And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
Isaiah 6:3, KJV
This classic song is probably one of my absolute favorites. I love worship songs that are part bible, part prayer, and part spiritual song. I heard a preacher say recently that he believed God was a musician at heart. I really liked that. Miriam, the sister of Moses, was a musician. King David was a musician and that was evident by his early ministry in King Saul’s court easing the evil spirit that tormented him. Hymns and worship songs played a big role in the New Testament as well and music to this day is a key component in the house of God. Here is one of my favorite renditions of Holy, Holy, Holy.