The daunting task of taking four children out to run errands…oh my goodness, even typing that horrifies me…awaits. I wonder if we’ve actually accomplished anything today? Well, technically, Niamh’s bathed. So that’s positive. The kids have eaten…both lunch AND dinner. Yeah…I’m that good. And…um…well, I’ve blogged. Haven’t done that in a while.

Mission accomplished.

And here’s a little something my good friend Bill Fetter texted to me the other day (Yes, friends…all in a text). It made me smile:

Claire’s Diary…

Day 1: Still tired from the move. I’ll sleep some more. Maybe all this brightness will pass.
Day 2: Like her, but who are all these other people?
Day 3: Why is everybody talking to me like their voice box is a yo yo?
Day 4: I’ve been having dreams of bright flashes in my face. Also something odd is happening in my diaper. Very strange.
Day 5: I miss my little hat.
Day 6: Somebody please tell me what swaddling is. This is driving me crazy!

I’m convinced it’s because I haven’t really fully “died” yet. I’m hanging on to something(s). I love to be a part of bringing worship to the King in a musical format, but I feel the pressure to perform – which is diametrically opposed to the idea of worshipping at the Father’s feet and laying down our lives before Him.

…And if I’m feeling that pressure to perform, who am I “performing” for? Scary.

The funny thing is, it’s not the singing part or the playing part (if it’s one of those weeks when I attempt to play guitar and sing at the same time) that troubles me, it’s the public speaking. I’d say this has gotten better over the years, out of necessity, but I still have my moments.

I feel like Moses at the beginning of the fulfillment of his destiny, when God had to make Aaron do the talking for him, because Moses felt inadequate. The thing is, he never became “adequate”…he just became bold, as the spirit of God began to move in and through his circumstances.

Stepping out in faith, in spite of the way things look outwardly, does wonders for killing the ego and bolstering our faith. As long as we rely on who we are in the natural, God can do little to show Himself strong in us. We tie His hands with unbelief.

The boys were watching Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade last night and (spoiler warning? It came out in 1989, people.) they got to the part where Indy has to jump off the cliff into the unknown, based only on the words: “One who will leap from the lion’s head will prove his worth.” The chasm is ridiculously deep and insanely wide. “Impossible,” Indy says, “No one can jump this.” But he has to do something, or his father will die. So, with his heart racing (I’m assuming), he closes his eyes and steps out – probably thinking he’s about to plummet to his death, but still trusting…or at least being obedient, which is truly the outcropping of trust. As he steps out…and down…his foot unexpectedly lands on solid ground, not two feet below the edge of the cliff he stepped off. An invisible, or rather cleverly camouflaged, path leads him to the mouth of the cave where the grail is kept.

That scene always gave me the chills. And it’s so relevant for the Christian pilgrim. Are we willing to take the risks? Are we willing to step out, just because God asks us to? Now…that certainly makes leading worship on a Sunday morning seem like a walk in the park compared to so many actually hard things God would ask of us. But it applies just the same. Stand or fall, if we walk in obedience, He is there with us and for us…and He enjoys us, even if only He sees.

“Eww…what is that?!”
“What do you think it is, Sean?”
“A broken tongue?”
“Yikes. No. Here…just try the first part and maybe you’ll get it.”
“Okay…*ahem*…sea……….brrrain?”

This is our new word for someone who does something silly. That one is a Seabrain. Pass it on!

Okay, first of all, I feel the need to apologize to the 13 people or so who have actually been sweet enough (or gullible enough?) to keep checking my blog for new content nearly every day, despite the fact that I’ve been a terrible blogger AND I’ve begun my latest post with a horrific run-on sentence.

So…I’m sorry.

(feel better?)

I heard something in the car today – I just caught the end of a sort of public service ad/blurb on a talk radio show. It was (from what I could gather) from a football coach…possibly pro…not that it matters…who was talking about not letting things get in the way of your vision. I tuned in quickly and subconsciously, really, because I’ve had a few strange and somewhat ugly roadblocks lately; and I could relate.

His words were interesting – he was referring specifically to sports, but using that as an example for living and leadership. He said “Success draws criticism. It’s inevitable. The greater the influence you have, the more people will try to cut you down. But the key is not to let that change your game.”

I love that. Do what you know is right, and what you know you’re supposed to do. Don’t let the criticism of others take you from your vision…or steal your vision from you! It’s easy enough to get off track because someone else has a stronger, or louder vision, though it may be misguided, when you’re in a moment of weakness. It’s called a vision because you have to SEE it. (duh, right?) Don’t lose sight! Hang on with all you’ve got and don’t be swayed by naysayers who like to say nay. I say “Nay, naysayers!” If the vision is a God-breathed one, it will come to pass. But you have to hold on.

Habakkuk 2:1-3
1. I will stand my watch And set myself on the rampart, And watch to see what He will say to me, And what I will answer when I am corrected.
2. Then the Lord answered me and said: “Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it.
3. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.

Seems we could all learn a thing or two from a good football coach. (“Downs” still confuse me.)

WorshipChicks has a new home! http://WorshipChicks.com

Check it out and leave some comments!

A: amblesideonline.com
B: babycenter.com
C: cnn.com
D: dictionary.com
E: en.wordpress.com
F: facebook.com
G: gmail.com
H: harvestbible.com
I: itsmylifeasadream.blogspot.com (shout to the old!)
J: jakeandgigi.com (love)
K: kathyireland.com (ha ha ha!)
L: login.facebook.com
M: (some weird webkinz.com code. i’m such a mom.)
N: netflix.com
O: oldnavy.gap.com
P: planningcenteronline.com
Q: quotesdaddy.com
R: ramseywriter.com (wow! old-school dave.)
S: searsphotos.com
T: twitter.com
U: upload.facebook.com
V: vecteezy.com
W: wordpress.com
X: (nada)
Y: youtube.com
Z: zabasearch.com

Mike led this week, and he did a fantastic job!  Transitions are always better when Mike leads – he’s really got a knack for that.

Here’s the set:

WALK-IN: Wish You Were Here (Pink Floyd) – sung by Krasi (Fantastic!)

Freedom Is Here (Hillsong)
You Are Good (Israel Houghton – Lincoln Brewster’s arrangement)
You Hold Me Now (United)
Revelation Song (Gateway Worship)
ON HAND: Revelation Song/Reprise
MEET & GREET: Wish You Were Here (Pink Floyd)

We had a great altar call after Revelation Song.  The On Hand song (basically a continuation of Revelation Song) was used during the alter call.  Awesome healings and deliverances.  The word was great today and everything went really smoothly.

Luke did Sound this morning – great job!

WORSHIP TEAM:

Mike Ingham – WL, vox
De’Reen Vyleta – vox
Loretta Ingham – vox
Tami Hoban – vox
Lex Wisniewski – keys
Krasimir Draganov – electric, vox on Wish You Were Here
Don Reed – electric
Dennis Goeske – acoustic
Bill Fetter – bass, acoustic on Wish You Were Here
Paul Friel – drums

Check out Sunday Setlists from around the world here at Fred McKinnon’s blog!

]]> http://tamihoban.wordpress.com/2009/11/15/sunday-november-15/feed/ 4 tamihoban http://tamihoban.wordpress.com/2009/10/26/good-stuff-happening/ http://tamihoban.wordpress.com/2009/10/26/good-stuff-happening/#comments Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:05:17 +0000 tamihoban http://tamihoban.wordpress.com/?p=594 ]]> Wow!  …and my blog suffers serious neglect.

So we have all kinds of fun things happening with the worship team right now.  We’re (finally) recording some of our original music again.  One of the team members has a studio in his basement, where we tracked five songs one day last week with acoustic, vox, keys and some electric.  This week, a second session is scheduled for drums, and more electric leads and rhythm.  Next up: bass, backing vox and other fun things.

Also I notice that blogging and songwriting seem to compete…heavily…for the same space in my schedule.  I can’t seem to do both effectively.  I either blog or I write music, sadly.  I do not know how other people pull all this off, but my hat’s off to them.  So the good news is that my creativity in songwriting has had a bit of a surge again recently.  I’ve been coming up with some interesting stuff as well as looking at old fragments and seeing what can be done with them, if anything.  I love writing music.  I wish I had more uninterrupted quiet time and space…and skill to devote to it.

Another cool thing that’s happening is that we’re changing the structure of the worship team leadership chain a bit.  I’m still heading up the worship team and will still be leading worship, but with somewhat less frequency.  I find that when I’m off for a week, I’m able to see and hear things that I couldn’t when I was on.  When you’re on and leading, there are just too many things to juggle – it’s hard to see the forest for the trees.  But the big picture stuff comes into focus when you can step back and just observe.

This is also a great thing because it’s running in tandem with a program of training up and releasing new worship leaders on the team.  Already Krasimir led last week (October 18th), and did a fantastic job.  We have two or three others who lead on Sunday morning regularly and are great at it, and we’re starting to work with one or two others who’d be new to the experience.  What’s amazing, when I think about it, is that we really have a team that’s made up of leaders.  I can’t think of one person on the team who doesn’t lead in some capacity in the church – whether it’s on or off the worship team.  It’s great.  They’re good peeps.

Next on the agenda: Christmas Eve service.  I can’t WAIT for this!  I love the Christmas Eve service.  Partly because I just love Christmas, but also I love the possibilities.  We are going to put together a great program this year.  Hey Ben, you should probably consider dusting off your banjo.  I’ve got plans for you two.