CCWLC: A summary

I enjoyed the conference (although we left early) and was glad to go.

It seemed like “How Great Thou Art,” “Everything,” and some hosanna song were repeated.  I skipped most of the classes this time and will look forward to the mp3s.  This year I wanted to focus on the “church” times and the study of the word.

CCWLC Day 1

CCWLC Day 2 AM

CCWLC Day 2 Afternoon

CCWLC Day 2: Evening Session

CCWLC: Day Three

CCWLC: Day Three

We had such a great time getting to know our roommates, table mates, and sanctuary mates.  Tonia attended tons of classes.  I only attended “What Every Soundman wished Worship Musicians Knew” which was fabulous.  (I intend to blog my notes later.)

The morning speaker was John Mark from the Applegate Christian Fellowship College Ministry.  His points focused on the need to appreciate the mystery of God.  We should notice the parallels between glory, cloud, and fire from Exodus 24:15-18.

He said we should be aware that often we can trade the gold, plundered from the Egyptians (Exodus 3:22) that was a gift from God, to become a god.  He warns that we should not create a representation of Christ (fashioning the golden calf).  That the taming and domesticating of Jesus–molding Him into our own world view–is the most insidious form of idolatry.

CCWLC Day 2: Evening Session

11/11/08 Session 4
Speaker:  Greg Opean / Worship with Phil Wickham

Phil Wickham has such a great testimony that is expressed during his worship.  People worship and it
becomes contagious–even several hymns.

Greg spent years as a missionary and church planter in Hungary and now leads the college group at Calvary Chapel Redlands.

Greg’s overarching theme was to emphasize the proper order of worship in order to Biblically bring people into the presence of God–bringing Grace to them.

We have been saved by Grace (Eph 2:8) and should set our hope fully upon grace (1 Peter 1:13).

He stated that the grace and lovingkindness is what we truly long for; even in the NT you can see the longing for the Lord in the saints.

He defined an idol as “anything you expect to do that which only God can do.”  He further said that we aren’t so impressed with things of the world when we spend the time with the Lord.

“When you spend a lot of time beholding the Lord, not much is impressive on earth.”

If Acts 2:42 is the architecture for how we “do church,” then Exodus 20-31 is the architecture for how we “do worship.”

• Our worship sets should follow this outline:
  • Songs of Truth (Bronze Laver)
  • Sacrifice of Christ (Altar of Sacrifice)
  • Worship (Holy Place)

He very emphatically suggested that our songs should have solid content (and Charlo Brodersen echoed this theme in his message Wednesday afternoon).

• He believed the songs should have:
  • delcaration
  • proclamation
  • profession

He cautioned against songs that act as mirrors in front of us.

“Our songs are slipping into the realm of who I am and what I’m doing instead of who He is.”

He included “pledge songs” in this list of self-focused songs.  We need to “look ye unto the Lord.”

He closed by saying,

“Leagalism will spread like a cancer in the church.  Use songs to grace the church–songs of truth of who He is.”

CCWLC Day 2 Afternoon

11/11/08
3rd Session

I skipped the afternoon workshop to decompress my thoughts and get a bit of rest.  I rejoined Tonia for dinner and we met Hannah from Juno, Alaska.  Tonia is really enjoying all of the different faces and personalities and is interested in their stories.

Hanz Ives et al lead worship and it was very enjoyable.  Unfortunately for me, my chronic fatiuge has begun to work against me at this point.  It’s the point to which this is actually too much singing (I never thought I’d say that).

Greg Fadness, the pastor at Lighthouse in Twin Falls, ID, gave the message this afternoon on Isaiah 6 (one of my favorite passages).

CCWLC Day 2 AM

11/11/08
Day 2 9:15 AM

Tonia and I had a late night as we fellowshipped with our roommate Kayla, then our other room mate Kim.  We hit the coffee shop at 7:15 for a latte, sat in the lobby of the dining hall, and met up with Mike.

We reunited with Kayla and Mike’s friend Dave for breakfast.  During which Jimmy Robeson sat down to fellowship with us.  During the course of the conversation I realized (and through some questioning) that his parents were the Robesons from Maranatha! Chapel in San Diego when I was there during the 1995-1996 season.  He was the home group pastor who encouraged us to all participate in home group:  revolutionized my life forever.  Jimmy’s mother, Rebecca, could sing like nobody’s business.

I recounted the story of the “red-haired lady” who could sing so well and how we’d never forget the Easter when she sung El Shaddai in such a clairty mixed with emotion that just broke through to your very soul.  So much so, that all these years later, Mercier and I still talk about it.  It really blew his mind and I believe he was truly excited to share that testimony with his parents.

CCWLC Day 1

Day 1:  AWESOME!

Tonia, Mike, Dave

We got to our room at 1p.m. and landed our beds successfully.  Then we traveled over to the Pick Up Stix in Temecula for lunch.  YUMMY house chicken!

We met up with some brothers (that Tonia knows from a family friend’s son) who are from Augusta, GA.  What a neat time of fellowship at the coffee shop over a latte.  One of the brothers testified about his life:  amazing.

Elisa at Bible College

Dinner was great.  We met four ladies from Michigan.  Elisa was one of our servers! It was so great to see her!  What a great joy for one of my former Sunday school students to attend Bible college–wow!  She just now set up up on some WiFi so I can blog (thank you Jesus!)

Church was awesome.  Jimmy Robeson lead the worship.

As a worship leader of a church that, on a good day, has 25 people, to hear that many people singing at once, is overwhelming!

Pete Nelson, a former member of The Kry and pastor in White Fields, CO gave the message on Psalm 95.  He gave an animated and enthusiastic account of why we lead worship, what it means to lead worship, and how we lead God’s people in worship.

• He said the worship means “to ascribe ultimate value to something and engaging your entire person as you do it.”  In verses 1-2 of Psalm 95 emotions are involved; your will is brought in verses 6-7; and you bring your mind in verse 7-8.
• Pete mentioned that we study the Word in order to become more intimate with our Savior to bring truth deep down to our character that brings about change.
• He also stated that a true response to God cannot be manufactured.  It would be void of a heart response — similar to Jesus’ reference in Matthew 15:8-9.
• True worship is not the means to an end, it is the end.
• We worship because the Lord is a great God (verse 7).
• We become shaped by the worth when our heart explodes — this happens when we treasure the excellence of Christ.
• We lead corporately (let us, verses 1, 2, 6, Psalm 87:2), systematically, and restfully.
  • Corporate is demonstrated in verses 1, 2, and 6 of Psalm 95, as well as Psalm 87:2.  Corporate worship gives us a larger picture of Christ–the assembling of His body.
  • The progression of worship (systematically) as outlined in Psalm 95 is: sing, shout, give thanks, shout, bow, kneel, listen, believe, and receive.
  • Our job is to help people believe.  It’s the end result of worship when people are relieved from their burdens.
  • Finally, the rest comes from realizing that you cannot add to the finished work of the Cross.  You can’t make Christ love you more or less.  Rest in the approval of Jesus, not man.

CCWLC 2008 – The Glory of Christ

I have to say this:  now that it is Friday, I’m very excited for the conference Monday.

The theme is The Glory of Christ; after this intense week with an election and my husband’s surgery, I will be so glad to just sit and meditate upon the Glory of Christ.

I’m also proud to bring my friend Tonia who sings with me now.  I’ll take her to the vocal workshops (hopefully Chariya will be there) because it will build up her confidence.

I hope to meet new people and share ideas.  From last year, I already know that the messages will be uplifting and the worship will be edifying (and vice versa).

The weather will be similar to last year as well.  Highs will be in the low 70s and the lows will be in the very low 40s.  I remember the mist on the pond.

I also remember the coffee shop doesn’t open until 7 a.m.

Hope to see you there…

I’ll twitter if I can and blog when I return.

Calvary Chapel Worship Leader’s Conference – 2008

Foggy Morning at the Pond / Calvary Chapel Conference Center Murietta Hot Springs

This year’s conference is November 10-14, 2008.

I went last year; it was great.  Read my thoughts here.

I am so excited to go and bring my vocalist and friend  Tonia.

See more information here.

Southern California Worship Conference

For His Name Conference – June 7th, 8:30am – 4:30pm

UPDATE: I am going! Yeah!

6/18: I was lame and only took two photos (neither of which I have had a moment to upload yet). But my pastor’s wife (Susan) and I took the day to attend the conference.

We went to the workshop by Bill Welsch, pastor of Calvary Chapel Refuge in Huntington Beach. It was an overview on choosing a “few great songs.” We enjoyed it immensely.

During the break, I met a brother from Hisperia who happened be be a friend on myspace and recongized me. That was a neat surprise. It’s so wonderful how the Body of Christ is so interconnected.

The worship teams were well prepared and we enjoyed those moments. BUT the sermons were unbelievably and indescribably encouraging to me. My pastor ordered the DVD set for me so I can watch them over.

Pastor Steve Mays started out with a teaching in Revelation 3 mixed in with the suffering of Job. Often we want the glory but not the cross; surmising we can have one without the other.

Pastor Wayne Taylor was next and he gave an encouraging word as well.

Kevin Click gave an amazing message that was so appropriate for today. The message was about submission being the vehicle for revival (to summarize) and that the Worship Leader should be a servant and should demonstrate submission (as opposed to being a rock star). What a great word.

I can’t wait to watch the DVDs. I only wish I had written my thoughts earlier.

You can order CDs, MP3s, and DVDS from the church office of Calvary Chapel South Bay by calling (310) 756-1111.

As a side note, I got the “Hymns of Calvary” for $2. It has a bunch of hymns and the CHORDS. I believe it is available online from Calvary Distribution for $5.99. You know, I am trying to learn hymns.

I also picked up Kevin Click’s new CD “Beautiful Loss.” Wow. What a great set of songs. What a story telller.

Calvary Chapel Worship Leader’s Conference – 2007

UPDATE: (7/24/08)   Next year’s conference is November 10-14, 2008.

I just got home from the CCWLC.org conference yesterday at Murietta Hot Springs. The theme was “beauty of holiness.”

WOW.