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March 28, 2008
Samuel Paul Ward
Life is good.
Samuel's home and we are readjusting to our new lifestyle. Please pray that he will learn to sleep at the appropriate times and that Sarah and I will learn how to take care of him.
Side note: our house has been a rather disgusting place today. Our toilet got backed up and needed to be snaked out, Joanna is being potty trained and has had about a 50% success rate, and Samuel is of course a whole world of bodily functions. Good times!
Posted by Kirk Ward at 1:59 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
March 23, 2008
I topped off Easter morning with wacking myself in the head.
So we made it through Easter without being interrupted by a baby being born. I guess that's a good thing. We had a blast this morning celebrating the Resurrection.
Here's a funny story to go in the embarrassing worship leading moments file:
I had to hop down off the risers and over to my guitar for the final choir song, Death Is Ended. In a rush, I picked up my guitar off the stand quickly, but I was standing on the guitar's strap. The strap pulled the guitar's head toward me and I hit myself in the forehead right on one of the tunning keys. It was a similar sensation to being punched in the head by someone wearing a large pinky ring or something. A bunch of folks in the front row saw it and started saying stuff like, "shake it off!" I'm just glad that blood didn't start gushing down my face like bad prog rock theatrics. Here's a pic of the damage:
Posted by Kirk Ward at 2:12 PM | Comments (10) | TrackBack
March 22, 2008
How The Resurrection Affects Worship
This morning I was pondering this topic and I came up with three things that the resurrection has changed about worship. There is probably a lot more things that better bible scholars could share, but this is what come to me in the shower.
God's presence.
Before the resurrection, worship was done in God's unique presence which was tied to specific times and places. Mt. Sinai, the pillar of cloud and flame, the tabernacle, and finally the temple. In John, Jesus tells the woman at the well that a time is coming when you won't need to go to the temple to worship. Elsewhere in the gospels, Jesus proclaims that he will destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days. Through the resurrection, the presence of God is now tied to the Holy Spirit that lives in the hearts of His redeemed people. We can be in the presence of God anytime, anywhere to worship.
The Sacrifice.
Before the resurrection, a sacrifice was required to atone for the sins of the worshiper before they could enter into worship. Through the resurrection, Jesus becomes the great high priest who offers His own blood to atone for our sins so that we can approach the throne of mercy with confidence. Jesus can fulfill this role because He lives. Read the book of Hebrews to get this concept fully fleshed out. (by the way, this is why we're singing my new arrangement for Watt's "Jesus My Great High Priest" tomorrow.)
The Song.
Jesus is our singing savior (see Reggie Kidd's book "With One Voice"). He lives to stand before the Father and in the midst of the assembly of worshipers to lead us in the song. Again, read Hebrews and Psalm 22.
Please share any more thoughts you have on how the resurrection affects worship.
(still no baby...)
Posted by Kirk Ward at 11:23 AM | TrackBack
March 21, 2008
Good Friday
I'm hanging out at home on Good Friday enjoying a day off. You might wonder why a church musician would be free on Good Friday and not running around like crazy trying to tie up last minute details. Well, I have been blessed with an extreme distaste for last minute detailery. As much as I'm able, I try to get things wrapped up and good to go in advance. Then I can just sit back and enjoy the ride. Did I mention that today is my wife's due date as well? Not only did I have to get things ready, but I had to get things ready to the point that my wonderful volunteer team could relax and enjoy the weekend even without their captain. Fortunately for me, the Holy Spirit is the true captain of worship through the atoning blood of Christ, so if the Holy Spirit shows up, then we're good to go for Easter.
Some highlights to look forward to this weekend:
Good Friday Service- the music is all focused on the cross, full of encouragement, drenched in grace and mercy. I'm especially looking forward to the excellent resetting of When I Survey the Wondrous Cross that Chris Tomlin did (The Wonderful Cross). Isaac Watts is my hero.
Rehearsals galore tomorrow. Music Team at 1:00 and choir at 5:00. Let the good times role!
Easter- There are a few moments that I look forward to every Easter Sunday. The extended "Death" toward the end of Death Is Ended. The trumpet trill on Christ The Lord Is Risen Today. The drum fill into to New Resurrection Life immortalized by Rick Dickerson. Not to mention greeting people with "He is risen", the resurrection of nature during springtime, the cute little kids in their new Easter outfits, etc. All of this just gives me a deep longing for the ultimate resurrection celebration at the end of time. Come Lord Jesus!
The possible highlight of the weekend is the birth of my son. He could decide to come any minute now, so everything we do this weekend will have a little bit of a sense of anticipation and excitement. Come little son!
Posted by Kirk Ward at 2:00 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
March 14, 2008
T minus one week until the due date and still no baby
We are on pins and needles waiting.
In the mean time, I am loving the spring-ish weather and the new freedom I feel with the glorious act of delegation. It's not just dumping my responsibilities on someone else; it's the feeling of giving a job a way to someone who is obviously going to figure out better ways of doing it. Then the realization that without that job to do, I am free to be more of the man God designed me to be. Word!
Sarah's doing pretty well considering how expanded her body is at this point. I have been impressed with how well she has handled the past few weeks. She's the best!
Posted by Kirk Ward at 7:27 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
March 8, 2008
Consumer Church Video
Our church is going through the process of trying to decide what to do about Sunday School so they are doing a lot of surveys to find out what everybody wants. When I watched this video, I could instantly relate.
Posted by Kirk Ward at 9:21 AM | TrackBack
March 7, 2008
Great Worship Resources
I was sick last week. That is pretty typical for me after a big weekend like the Black History Program. So, I was basically in survival mode for a while. As a result I feel behind in blog stuff because I actually have a lot to write about. I'll give you a summary of what I might write about as I have time.
The Art Of Worship by Greg Sheer
This was a really excellent book. It's incredibly practical. It basically teaches everything you would have to do to set up and maintain a modern worship band ministry. I've read a couple of other books similar to this one, but I must say The Art of Worship is my new favorite. I would not recommend it as a devotional or theological text on worship; it's not written for those purposes.
www.planningcenteronline.com
This is a new website that my dad told me about that I am little obsessed with right now. Basically, it has taken all of my Excel, Access, and web resources and combined them into one easy and customizable service. I hope it will open up my schedule to do more flesh and blood ministry and less logistical busy-work.
South City Delegation
I'm currently in the process of working with our South City team to get them into a self-sustaining system. Delegation! Empowerment! Freedom!
By the way, my wife is 2.5 cm dilated. The baby is full-term, and we have about 2 weeks till the predicted due date.
Posted by Kirk Ward at 7:38 AM | TrackBack