It started here.... Thanks Randy!

Well, The Organized Artist was my first attempt at blogging.

Randy Elrod and Cheryl Glenn are to blame really. I know Randy has been the impetus for many blogs.

The Organized Artist is a great place for me to share what I'm learning about leadership and arts in the church. What has happened lately that I've not been blogging?

Well, it's definitely not that I've stopped learning about leadership and the arts! But life has gotten busy and I've found other exciting uses for blogging and I've just been neglecting this one.

I have started a blog for our team. It's used primarily to send weekly devotionals out to the team. They are called "Preparing our Hearts". I feel strongly that if we as a team of artists have been charged with the job of leading our congregation in worship and in learning about that week's subject, then we better know something of it ourselves. You can't lead where you haven't been.

I get occasional feedback from the team but would welcome your feedback to the site as well.

Check it out at: www.cypressarts.typepad.com

Blogging about blogging

We have just launched a new Sunday series that is called Ignite and we're hoping it will do just that in the spiritual lives of our attenders. One tool we're trying out is to create a daily devotional blog so people can take what they've learned in the Sunday service and in their next step partnerships (small groups) and have another resource to take the study to an even deeper level.

I'd be interested in your comments on whether you've done anything like this and what suggestions you have to make something like this more effective.

You can check out our blog at www.cypressmeadows.org/ignite

Practice what we preach?

Something I've been chewing on a lot lately is the idea of integrity as artists in the church. We are the ones who week in and week out stand before the congregation and proclaim the message for that week. Are we living it Monday through Saturday?

I'm talking about some really practical ways. If we're presenting a service on community and the importance of what we at Cypress call "Next Step Partnerships" because of their ability to help us grow in our relationship with God... are we each IN a Next Step Partnership? If we're talking about the importance of extending grace to people outside of our walls, are we supporting our Extension ministry and serving downtown, supporting our efforts in Haiti and Kenya? If we're encouraging the church to "Just walk across the room" have we gone through that training? and more importantly... are we walking across the room and developing relationships with seekers?

This seems so simple to me, yet it also seems to be where the rubber meets the road. Do we truly practice what we preach? Or do we really, in our heart of hearts, think that preaching it is enough?

Are we taking time to live OUR relationship with God or are we too busy telling others to do so that we don't?


I did not send these prophets,
yet they have run with their message;
I did not speak to them,
yet they have prophesied.

But if they had stood in my council,
they would have proclaimed my words to my people Jeremiah 23:21-22

Another cool service

Last week, my family and I were on vacation in Weston, FL. It was great fun. While we were there we checked out Flamingo Road Church . The service was really wonderful. A highlight for me was a great worship leader who led in English and Spanish. The transition between the two was seamless and the diversity added a level to the worship for me.

Kudos also to Sharon who also did a great job leading. I long so much in each service I attend to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the WLs believe to the core of their being what they are singing. This was apparent in Sharon's leadership.

Thank you all, Allen, Pete, Sharon and all the others who so warmly welcomed us as guests to Flaming Road. I hope someday to be able to extend the same to you. Come join us at Cypress anytime and find me when you do.

The Gift of a service

I know now why we refer to our weekly programs within our churches as "services". I was truly "served" a couple of weeks ago when I had the treat of visiting Charlie and Cristie White at their church Highland Park Church in Lakeland. Serving week in and week out at service director here at Cypress I don't have nearly enough opportunities to "just go to church." Charlie did a great job leading worship. We had a great time visiting with them after the service at a very yummy Italian restaurant. All in all it was a great, refreshing evening.

Thanks Charlie and Cristie! Don't forget to come by so we can do some of Clearwater together and I'd love to return the "gift of a service" anytime!

The Power of a Story

This Easter we leaned heavily into Willow Creek's Believe service from 2006 but on a smaller scale. We had 6 people tell "snapshot stories" of times when God really impacted their lives. Immediately following the stories we went into the song Saved by Grace and then a prayer. A really powerful moment was created. It reminded me again how powerful it is to just hear someone's own story of how God has moved in their life. Great job Cypress Arts! I was so proud of you! But more importantly, you moved several people to consider what God could do in their lives if they let Him. Great job!

They did not inquire...

Joshua 9:14
14 The men of Israel sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the LORD.

Joshua and the leaders of Israel really did a lot of things right in this story. Right by me anyway…. They asked a lot of questions. They looked at the evidence. In fact, as I read the story I started to pat myself on the back…”look at that… I do a lot of those same things. I’m handle things like Joshua in the Bible. Good for me!”

Then I read vs. 14. Ouch.

I do do things just like Joshua in the Bible. So many times I put a plan into place in my life, in my ministry because all the evidence says that it makes sense. So why not? But I fail to ask God what He thinks.

I wonder if I’m alone in this? How much better would our ministries be if this was always where we start?