Tag Archives: ego

Blank

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It’s no one’s fault really.  It was bound to happen.

My mind is drawing a blank.

I have nothing to say.  No steps to better guitar tone.  No strategies for recruiting.  I don’t have any wisdom to offer on dealing with tricky volunteers.  I have lots of stuff that I could talk about, the real behind the scenes stuff of being a worship pastor, but if I were to go into that it would probably not be very honouring to those I serve with.  I’m always aware that everything I say reflects on my church family so this will always be somewhat filtered.  It’s just the right thing to do.  So, I’m still left with a blank.

I enjoy blogging as an opportunity for me to create something.  It’s such a strange creature though.  I click that blue “publish” button, head over to Hoot Suite, write a few words that should make you want to read my post, and wait for the “hits” to roll in.  I don’t really understand why.  Recognition probably.  A desire to be seen as influential.  ”Wouldn’t it be great if my blog got noticed.”  ”I wish I had as many subscribers as __________.”

ugh…

All those thoughts have been there from the start.  I would say that honestly my intentions are right.  My goal is to have a place to write down thoughts and in doing so become a better communicator.  The blog itself serves as a bit of a ministry tools and ideas filing system.  It’s been pretty cool to see other worship leaders resonate with some of the things I write.  Sometimes we’re just looking for someone to say the thing that we’re all thinking and when that someone says it we grab on.  It’s cool that once in a while that happens here.  I lose sight of the goal sometimes.  I get distracted by my own egotistical wishes.  Don’t we all?

 

I’m not quitting.  At least not yet.

But I would like to say to all of you that I’m quitting the game.  You are not a statistic to me. You are not an ego boost.  You are not a means to get me more recognition.  All my hope does not depend on you commenting, hitting the ‘like’ button or tweeting my posts.

You are why I chose this as a career.  Your heart matters.  Your ideas matter.  Your faith journey, all the ups and all the downs, it matters.  I love to see people pursuing God together.  I love to see young worship leaders start to grow in confidence as they discover the gifts God has given them and the joy in using them to serve the local church.  I love seeing disenfranchised creatives begin to feel welcomed again into the church, with all their mess, and find a place to make something beautiful that honours God.  I love to see leaders step up into leadership roles, recognizing that they don’t have it all together, but they have a passion to do something great with their lives and it draws others around them.

You matter.  I don’t know how you got here but thanks for reading.

Not sure what else to say.

I’m drawing a blank…

 

Preaching in the Mirror: Egos and Insecurities

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Chris Synesael ‏ @chris_synesael

One of the things I hate about preaching – is preaching the sermon to myself first.

This tweet by a friend of mine this past week has inspired a series that I’m going to call “Preaching in the Mirror”.  Taking time to examine where you’re at is a great way to grow as a leader, especially when you’re examining yourself through the lens of scripture.

By the way, my friend Chris is a fantastic preacher.  He pastors a church in Victoria, BC called West Village.  You can check them out at www.westvillagechurch.com

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Part 1: “Egos and Insecurities”

(I would suggest reading Colossians 3 and then read the rest of the post.)

If you were born destined to become a musician you were also born with an extra helping of insecurities.  Insecurities morph over time into a mask called an “ego”.  Egos make ugly masks.

Many of us struggle with these things.  It’s rampant for artists as we put so much of ourselves into our work but most of the world knows what it’s like to deal with these nagging companions.

I struggle with insecurities.  There have been times where that translates into an ego, usually if I feel threatened…and insecure.  Such a vicious cycle.  I want to be seen as someone who has the answer.  I want to be seen as someone who knows what they’re doing.

Here’s the truth.  Get ready for it because it flips all of the above thoughts upside down.

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things (insecurities). 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God….you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

Colossians 3:1-3, 9b-10

Insecurities are part of our human nature, but we died to that old nature and we are now alive in Christ.  His peace can fill us, His character can shape us, His reflection can be seen in us.

Do not allow your insecurities to take root.  You belong to Jesus.  Your identity is in Him.  At the end of this life it won’t matter what someone else thought of your style, skills, wit, or knowledge.  What will matter is if you set your mind on Jesus.  What will matter is how people saw Jesus alive inside of you.

I want to be seen as someone who loves Jesus.  I want to be seen as someone who has found peace in the knowledge that my identity rests in who He is.

 

For me it was time to preach at myself.  Is it time you do the same?