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Preparing Songs for Corporate Worship

ricky — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:15:55 +0000

I had an opportunity to attend WorshipGod 2011 in August. During this conference I attended this workshop. To give a little background, I went to this conference, literally, on the way to my new job as Minister of Worship in Baltimore, MD. I had previously been involved in leading worship in another church on a volunteer basis, but this is was going to be my first opportunity being employed full time at a church. I had a big job ahead of me. This conference, and specifically this workshop, was very helpful in preparing me to begin my new responsibility.

I have now been employed here almost five months now, and I have learned a lot along the way. But, recently, I have had a number of conversations with members of my church regarding choosing songs for corporate worship. I was thrilled to find that Bob had posted this video of the workshop on his blog/website, Worship Matters. I think that this video will be helpful for anyone who is involved in choosing songs for corporate worship. Actually, I think that this will be profitable to church member who desires to understand or analyze the value of Christian Music in church and individual worship.

I hope that you find this as helpful as I have.

this is “grace at work”

An Article on Hymnody

ricky — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:22:37 +0000

I came across this article this morning (thanks to Bob Kauflin) and found it very encouraging. I say “encouraging” because my current situation puts me very near the type of setting that Kevin DeYoung shares. I have thought many of the same things that Kevin expresses here, but it appears that he has come to some very helpful conclusions. His conclusions are ones that I have not yet reached, at least in his words.So Ifind it very helpful in that way; but furthermore, it is encouraging to hear from another pastor who has gone through (or is going through) similar situations.

Personally, I find many of the older hymns speaking more clearly about the Gospel of our Christ and the attributes of our God more clearly than much of the music that is being produced in main-stream Christian music today. Often the hymns bring with them a patience and imagery that newer composers neglect. However, not all that is old is good, and not all that is new is bad. Many of the older hymns do not even speak of God or the Gospel directly. Instead, they speak of past remembered or future anticipated experiences. There is nothing necessarily intrinsically wrong with experiences, but our faith is not built on our experiences. It is built on the person and work of Christ our God. This is the reason the main subject of our songs should not be us, but rather God.

Kevin DeYoung talks through this subject and provides some food for thought. In the end, it is not music that should be the issue, but rather it should be the heart and mind of each worshipper. Each person’s thoughts and affections should be saturated with the clear truths of God and the Gospel. Songs can either establish our thoughts toward these truths or direct them unsuspectingly away.

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2011/11/30/remembering-memory-2/

this is “grace at work”

Youth Ministry Done Well

ricky — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 15:05:45 +0000

Today marks my first full week of full-time, vocational, church ministry. I feel so privileged to be serving the body of Christ in this role of Minister of Music and Youth here at Arlington Baptist Church. It is indeed humbling to recognize God’s leading in my life as He has brought me here and made me apart of this ministry.

This morning I came into my office with the intention of putting together an agenda for my youth staff meeting this Sunday. One of the items that I plan to discuss is the role of youth ministry in the function of the church. Seeing that the “youth group” is an extra-Biblical arm of the church, I had hoped to explore the ways that a youth ministry could work within the Biblical confines of church ministry. As I opened my Reader, I found this article from The Gospel Coalition website. It encapsulated many of the thoughts that I was hoping to share but in much better form. For anyone involved in youth ministry in a church, I believe that this article will serve you well as you consider the objectives and framework of your ministry.

In this article, Jon Nielson discusses the following:

1. An argument for family-based and church-based youth ministry.

2. A description of youth ministry done well.

a. Word-centered (Word-Permeated)

b. Church-focused

c. Family-oriented

3. Benefits of a church ministry done well.

a. Young people hear voice.

b. Young people need to learn to minister the gospel to other.

c. Young people need to encourage each other.

d. Young people will grow up.

e. Young people share the gospel.

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2011/08/18/youth-ministry-done-well-for-the-benefit-of-the-church/

In addition to this article, Jon Nielson published a previous article presenting more fully a family-based youth ministry. I found both of these articles to be very helpful and have already filed them away for future use.

this is “grace at work”

Moving to Baltimore, MD

ricky — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 23:14:54 +0000

A little over 3 months ago I was contacted and asked if I would be interested in considering the position of Minister of Youth and Music at Arlington Baptist Church in Baltimore, MD. A close and long time friend of mine had been the Youth Pastor at Arlington for 7 years but had taken a position in another ministry. Because of my occasional ministry with the youth at Arlington (teen retreat speaker and guide for Canada discipleship trips), the leadership at Arlington thought that it might be appropriate to consider me for the new Minister of Youth and Music.

Two weekends ago I candidated for the position in Baltimore. Karlyn and I prayed that God would make His will in this opportunity abundantly clear. I have been serving at Grace Bible Church in Moore, SC, as a lay member. God has equipped me for the last 7 years at Grace. It has been the greenhouse that God has used to nurture and grow me. But I have waited to see if God would ever provide for me an opportunity for vocational ministry. I believe that God has clearly led; this is it. Today, Arlington Baptist Church voted and extended an official offer for me to be their Minister of Youth and Music. We accepted. Lord willing, we will be moving sometime in August to Baltimore, MD.

Karlyn and I praise God for his faithfulness through the church body at Grace Bible, as it has been our home and we love them. We praise God for His continued kindness as He has nurtured us for His glory. And we praise God for His faithfulness in leading us to this new ministry at Arlington Baptist Church in Baltimore, MD.

this is “grace at work”

Principles for Church Music

ricky — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 03:26:26 +0000

I have only recently become familiar with Kevin DeYoung. But, in that short amount of time, I have been impressed with his thoughtful and thorough care for the Church in his preaching and his writing. In this two part article which he wrote for The Gospel Coalition, Kevin lays out 10 very helpful principles of church music that would benefit any worshiper of God. Check them out.

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2011/06/28/ten-principles-for-church-song-part-1/

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2011/06/30/ten-principles-for-church-singing-part-2/

Church Music Styles

ricky — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 13:01:00 +0000

IX Marks Ministries has faithfully served the body of Christ through their thoughtful and thorough resources regarding Church life. This article posted on the Questions for Pastors tab of their website provides a very clear and concise approach to the subject of church music styles. Often churches can waste time and words trying to develop the perfect formula to determine the style of music in the church. And, although this exercise can be helpful and wise, it can steal much time and attention away from handling more important details of church life. As usual, IX Marks has provided a straight-forward, Biblical response to yet another matter of church life.

http://www.9marks.org/answers/how-important-style-music-church-sings

Guest Post: Reminder

jblaha — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 19:55:11 +0000

This is jblaha here calling all subscribers and fans of RickyBlaha.com to tell Ricky that he really needs to start blogging more often. So, next time you see him or interact with him say, “Hey, Frick! You really should post more stuff on your blog. That stuff is good and encouraging.”

Reminding all to see Grace at Work,
- jblaha

Final day in Donna, TX

ricky — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 19:15:07 +0000

I have spent the last 3 days in Donna, TX, with the Curlings, Deeds, Macedonian Christian Academy and Redeemer Bible Church. It has been a wonderful time.

…happily ever after!!!

ricky — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 12:36:39 +0000

The following is an excerpt which I wrote to be published on the final page of Karlyn and my wedding program/ handout. While recently sorting through boxes at home, I came across this again. I had forgotten that I had written it. But, when reading it again, I was encouraged and exhorted to continue on in a faithful pursuit of Godly, Christlike love toward my wife. So, on this, my 22nd Monthiversary, I share it with you, both for your encouragement and my accountability.

“…and they lived happily ever after.” – at least that is the way that it is supposed to end. But, as we all know, this is not really the way it is; or is it?

In the beginning of time, God created an intimate relationship between a man and a women which possesses privileges which can only be shared exclusively with each other. God established this marriage relationship as a living picture of the love covenant which God would make between Himself and a body of people called the church. The church is not made up of good, upright and lovely people. On the contrary, the church is comprised of evil, immoral and vile people who have despised God. Yet God demonstrated His love for them while they were still sinners by coming to earth as a man named Jesus and suffering the punishment for sin that they deserved. Jesus, the Bridegroom, did this so that the church, His bride, might live with Him forever. They deserved eternal separation from God and His glory, but because He loved them and died in their place, they will live with Him forever.

Today Karlyn and I are committing to God to live out this picture of marriage, which represents Jesus and His church, by faithfully looking at Jesus as our example and substitute. But, more than that, Karlyn and I are also apart of Jesus’ church. We are His beloved whom He died for. We will never be separated from God; Jesus suffered our punishment for us. Rather, we will live with Him forever. So, for Karlyn and me, it is true; we will live happily ever after to the praise of the glory of His grace.

Revelation 19:7
“Let us rejoice and exult and give him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready.”

Cherith’s Graduation

ricky — Mon, 31 May 2010 14:51:10 +0000

I am proud to announce that my sister, Cherith, has successfully graduated from high school. Congrats girl!