Earlier this week I found myself in the middle of what I’ll call “The Valentine Frenzy” and I didn’t do such a good job… my apologies to my family. This morning, as I reflected on what marketers call “the month of love” I realized I lacked a discipline I normally apply during Christmas; that is to press beyond the marketing, shallow and ephemeral traditions to the fundamental and essential celebration. To make the most of Christmas, we look beyond buying gifts to greatest gift – God’s son. Similarly, in February, we should be looking beyond the candy and flowers to the fundamental and essential demonstration of love. It seems obvious to those who know and regularly experience the love of Christ that February’s marketed love is a desperate and shallow substitute for real, substantive love. As Paul puts it
“…love hangs in there for a long time when it feels like giving up; it treats it’s object kindly whether love is returned it or not; love does not seek to possess or control the loved one; love is not self concerned with image – doesn’t talk about what it does or how great it is and doesn’t even think that about itself; love tempers itself so its recipients receive only good; love doesn’t demand its own way or seek its own advantage; love does not get angry easily and forgives quickly and completely; love is not happy when life is a fabric of lies, but lives for integrity; love keeps on keeping on, keeps on believing, keeps on hoping. Love never fails” (I edited a paraphrase by my friend Bill Dogterom).
1 Cor 13 challenges the casual notion of Valentine’s day. Love should be more than gifts I buy as prove it exists; it’s a commitment to move away from temporal versions of love shown in TV commercials to the eternal embrace of Christ’s love though my words, my actions and my thoughts. This not only applies to my family and friends but to how I worship God. This is my aspiration.
Background
I accepted Christ on September 13, 1980. At 20 years old, I was completely lost but very aware of that there was a spiritual existence that was eternal. On that day, I heard God’s audible voice. (AMAZING! That God would condescend to me in a miraculous way!) At the hearing of His voice, that moment I know the reality of God. I also new this knowledge demanded a full commitment of service and response to Him.
Introduction to Worship
As a new believer, I immediately sensed the importance of worship, not merely at the services, but to live a life of worship. In 1983, I started to study worship and worship leading while I attended The Vineyard in Yorba Linda/Anaheim. I helped two friends plant two churches in Orange County and now my family and I attend a progressive Foursquare Church. I continually study the Bible on worship and worship topics.
Ministry Accomplishments
I have led contemporary worship bands since 1985. We performed a few concerts at other churches and couple of community events each year but worship in those days was not as popular as it is today. I used to lead worship in a congregation of 800. The smallest group I’ve led in worship has been myself and the largest was about 4500. I recently enrolled in a Bible School and have cut my commitments to leading a mid-week Bible study where I lead worship, leading a preaching fellowship (we are learning to communicate better), and leading worship at a bi-weekly men’s function. I also support a Song Writers ministry. Occasionally, I teach people the basics of leading worship in an 8-week course (about 20 hours total).
Other Related Accomplishments and Interests
I tried to produce a ‘record album’ of original worship music of the last concert that the contemporary worship band performed but had several technical difficulties that made that effort difficult. I settled for a cassette tape. I have served as a sound engineer for some of the churches I attended and taught others how to do sound. I design audiophile speakers and sound systems and have served as a sound consultant for setting up PA systems. I designed and build choir monitors, PA speakers and other sound reinforcement equipment.
Personal
I am happily married since December 30, 1983 and have two children. I currently work as an optical engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab designing and building the next generation space clocks that should be accurate to one second in 30 million years’ not that I expect to be here then! I feel the Lord is leading me to be an administrative or executive pastor, which is one reason I enrolled in school. I will graduate in October 2002. I play rhythm guitar for worship only. I am learning how to write music all over again. I look forward to the day when we will live in the light of Christ in the new Jerusalem with new bodies that can completely serve Him without compromise or fainting. Maranatha!