*Chad Jarnagin

Random Musings of a Worship Leader

Lately I have found myself dreaming, reforming, and struggling to “keep it real”. As many of us do, I find myself chasing trends instead of God’s heart. How can I be so arrogant to say I know what God’s heart is? The Holy Spirit is how. Honestly, sometimes I lament the fact that I find myself so extremely busy. With the email, phone, texts, feeds dinging / ringing, the noise can drown out the “still small voice”. There’s NO WAY I’m complaining… The reason I do what I do is b/c I’m in love w/ the One who has called me.

In “The Shattered Lantern”, Rolheiser suggests that, “The way back to a lively faith is not a question of finding the right answers, but living in a certain way. The existence of God, like the air we breathe, need not be proven. It is a question of developing good lungs to meet it correctly.” One of my new favorite people, Ian Cron, writes in “Chasing Francis” words that are igniting my spirit in ways I know has God smiling. It’s amazing how God uses all of our lives to affect each other… if we take the time to read, listen, and stop all the hustle & hurry.

The thought of people of all ages across the planet also finding themselves constantly evolving and chasing the Way on the journey is refreshing. It really is about the process, and not just the promise of a destination.

“Reverence and relevance are not at war w/ each other”… Ed Stetzer has a great post on some of these thoughts HERE. This post helps address a topic that comes up in conversations as well as my own opinions, musings, and struggles.

As a lead worshiper, father, husband, pastor, and songwriter, I tend to contemplate often. A couple of nights ago on Twitter I posted a little thought that I had as I sat quietly watching the World Series (I don’t like the Yankees, btw)… Maybe we don’t like the silence b/c we are afraid of what we will hear.

If all we focus on and all that we hear are others opinions, comments, trends, and preferences, we’ll never be centered beings. We’ll always be trying to jump higher, run faster, and perform for the masses. Instead, there is the sometimes elusive audience of One that should be our desire, and goal. Elusive from our perspective, not His. In Him we trust.

in·flu·ence [in-floo-uhns]

1. the capacity or power of persons or things to be a compelling force on or produce effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of others.
2. the action or process of producing effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of another or others.

We all have it, one way or the other. May we be wise.

From the DRIVE conference 08. This was a great trip w/ leadership thoughts, insights, ideas, and challenges.

I can’t recall content resonating with me as much as Andy Stanley’s from DRIVE 08. I felt like it challenged me on several levels. Also, it was affirming of my calling, gifts, talents, and passions. I have so much to learn. Which is a big reason I am constantly reading leadership principles, books, articles, following wise people on Twitter, as well as hanging w/ some amazing people. The combination of insight from guys like Buckingham, Rath, and Covey to the wisdom, truth, and passion in scriptures is a POWERFUL thing.

Here are just a few takeaways from Andy’s sessions last year (most of which can be found in podcast form on iTunes. Just search Andy Stanley Leadership).

-”to reach people that no one else is reaching, we must do things no one else is doing” – Craig Groeschel

-become preoccupied with who you aren’t reaching as opposed to those you are trying to keep.

-”the next generation products (what’s next) almost never comes from the previous generation” – Al Reis

-either fight the next generation or fund it.

-be a student, not a critic

-we choose what we put in the gap of the reality of what employees (workers) actually do and what we assume they do. It’s either trust or suspicion.

If you are in any form of leadership these are 5 great questions to ask and think on.

1. Do other people’s failures annoy or challenge you?
2. Do you “use” people, or cultivate people?
3. Do you direct people, or develop people?
4. Do you criticize, or encourage?
5. Do you shun or seek out the person with a special need or problem?

From J. Oswald Sanders (Spiritual Leadership)

Since using Twitter from early this year, I have found a few people that are must follows. There are plenty of interesting and entertaining people to follow on Twitter, but here’s just a few great ones (in my opinion). To be clear, these people post at least once or twice per day.

@MichaelHyatt (https://twitter.com/michaelhyatt) – CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishing. Great leadership and business insight.

@pwilson (https://twitter.com/pwilson) – Pastor of CrossPoint Community Church. Pete is an inspiring teacher, leader, and new friend. 

@jasonbradford (https://twitter.com/jasonbradford) – Jason is a talented friend, interactive marketing, web  stud that shares lots of insight into music, marketing, and other tasty goodness. 

@JeffHenderson (https://twitter.com/jeffhenderson) – Jeff is the campus Pastor for Buckhead Church in Atlanta. He shares his heart on leadership, people, father, and life. Great insight for other pastors and leaders.

@donmilleris (http://twitter.com/donmilleris) – author, teacher, fun guy. Shares some interesting stories and thoughts on life. 

This is also a great staff / team tool if used wisely. Many churches, businesses, and even large companies are using twitter as another channel of information, communication, and marketing. (At last count, I believe there are a dozen of TPC staffers on Twitter. Other churches I know have 2 dozen or so…).

FOR THOSE THAT DON’T TWITTER. I attempt to answer this question at least once a week… “What is Twitter? Twitter is a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?” 

Go HERE to sign up.

Go HERE to “follow me”, or click the Twitter link on the sidebar. (Sorry to self-promote. I hope that I am a fun and interesting follow as well.)