I don’t know how you feel about women as pastors (not to be rude, but I’m not really interested in knowing) , but I would be a member of the church Mandy pastored.  At first it was just that slight southern twang….I’m a sucker for a little suthern talkin .  But as I sat and listened to the power, conviction and sincere desire to reach other women dealing with infertility, I was simply blown away.  I could just sit and listen to her talk all day.

Oh and she can SING too.  Check out her blog and music at MandyThompson.com

This is such a difficult issue and one I will not pretend to know anything about.  If you know anyone struggling with infertility, share Mandy’s inspiration with them.

Dear Worship Leader Person,

My friend, the churchy person, said I should write you a letter to talk to you about “worship” so here I am, writing you a letter.

I don’t really know where to start since I’m kind of new to this whole church thing. Oh, back in the day, I went to VBS during the summers and there were a few times in college I went to church to impress a date, but other than that I’m kind of lost here.

I know I’m supposed to join in and sing, it looks kind of like a concert, but it’s kind of weird that nobody else is really singing along. At least, not like at that one Hootie concert I went to a few years ago where everybody TRIED to sing along. Oh, but there is that one woman up front who seems to raise her hands and close her eyes during every song. It’s kind of weird, but kind of cool at the same time, because it looks like she knows all the songs.

Anyways, I just thought I’d share a few things from an outsider’s point of view, that might help you out with folks like me.

I’m not really into this “worship” stuff. I mean, I’m pretty sure there’s a God somewhere, but I haven’t really nailed the details down yet. It’s kind of awkward for me those first few minutes of the music. Not sure what to do.

I will say this though, when you explain what’s going on before a song or after a song it kind of helps a little. I mean, a BRIEF explanation, because I think that everybody will agree when you go to a concert, it stinks when the lead singer talks to much. Just sing for goodness sake! But at the same time, it really helped out last Sunday when you said that raising our hands was a sign, like a gesture to God that meant we give our lives to Him. I’m not there yet, but I appreciate your effort to help me see.

Another thing, why does it seem that just anybody can get a microphone and sing. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for giving people opportunities, but that one chick, can she even carry a tune? I’ve been to a lot of shows in my life, and I’ve seen some pretty bad singers, but if this is supposed to be worship to God, wouldn’t you want the band to be the best? Just a thought.

I was a little weirded out when I noticed that the keyboard player was so familiar to me. Took a few minutes to place him, but chuckled to myself when I realized it was last Thursday night at the local club. I think it’s cool that members of your team hang out with regular people, and even get drunk. Well, I’m not sure if that’s cool or not, I don’t know much about church, but from what I’ve heard most churches would have kicked this guy off the team. So that makes you cool in my book. That is what you’re going for right?

About this “worship” thing. I don’t get it. I’m not impressed by you closing your eyes and zoning out. I’m not impressed by all this talk about getting closer to God and being like Jesus and the leading of the Holy Spirit. I don’t even know what that means.

I mean, sure I want you to do what you do, but at the same time, I feel like I’m standing outside somebody’s window watching their family eat dinner. It’s kind of awkward.

Here’s what I’m impressed by. Before the band got cranked up, you were talking with me. I don’t know any one here, but you took the time to say hey and introduce yourself. You didn’t even talk about music or anything. In fact, at first I didn’t even know you were the lead singer! Then, when you got your guitar and started singing, I was like, “Wow, that’s the guy I was just talking to before hand.”

I’m also impressed by a great band. I’m not gonna lie, when you first kicked it off, it seemed a little loose. I don’t know how to describe it. Like the band wasn’t on the same page. I appreciate that your doing your best, but it seems like that flute player just doesn’t know what they’re doing.

I’m also impressed when I can see the words on that cool screen thing. I don’t know ANY of these songs you’re singing and it helps if the words on screen match what I’m hearing. I don’t want to hurt anybody’s feelings, but somebody needs to take a chill pill with all the moving stuff behind the words. I almost threw up trying to follow along to that one song, what was it, oh yeah, One Way. I’m all for stuff on-screen looking cool, but what I really want is to just be able to read it and follow along.

I was also wondering why your band doesn’t seem to enjoy what they’re doing. Most of them are looking down at those music stands you see at high school band concerts. Don’t they even know the music? It would be cool if they got into it a little more. I don’t think I’ve ever been to a rock show where the band was reading their music off of stands.

I’m kind of piecing the puzzle together here, and I’m beginning to understand that you’re using this music to somehow talk to God, so it kind of confuses me that the music was so boring. I mean, you’re trying to sing to God right? Maybe if it was a little louder He could hear it! I was waiting for that old guy on guitar to start shredding, but he never did. That would have been cool.

At this point, I want to be impressed by the music. I don’t know what worship is. Maybe your band could watch some live shows and get some pointers?

And maybe next week, you could smash a guitar on stage or something, or maybe at the very least, just try to move around a little.

Thanks for taking the time to talk to me before service,

Un Churchy Person

Thoughts?

There could be more, but this is the second singer in Hillsong who was called to sing when their life was in chaos.  If ya ask me, true testimonies of the direct-connect that can be had between you and God, using music to communicate.  When I sing, I’m in another place, alone with God, regardless of how many people are in front of me.

Where are you when you sing?