What Is Your Political Philosophy? Take the Quiz!

I think that during this election season it is wise to know our political philosophy. I found this simple yet informative quiz (which won't take long to complete) very helpful in understanding the basics of where I fit on a scale between conservative-liberal, moderate and libertarian-populist. To take the quiz, simply visit...

http://www.ontheissues.org/quizeng/XPolitics/start.asp

If you don't want to register just click on the "don't save" button to go directly to the quiz. Your results happen at the end. Check it out! Click Here to Read more!

New Song - "I Will Run"

Today I wrote a new song. Its a song about love, about a love that can close any gap, that can travel any distance, that can lift us up when we've fallen down. This song is called "I Will Run" which at first we feel like only we can run towards this kind of "love". Then towards the end it becomes quite clear that the other person (which I see as a loving God) has been the one running towards us all along.

There is nothing that we can do to close the gap between our weakness, our failures and our total disregard to God. It is only because He ran to us that we have been made new. Check out the lyrics ====>

I Will Run
Dave Longstreth -- August 26, 2008

I see you across the way
You’re standing there
Staring right at me
I take a breath
And I begin to breathe
And I start to move
Move across the way

I will run to you, yes I will
I will run, I will run
I will run to you, yes I will
I will run
When I've fallen down
When I've hit the ground
I will run, I will run, I will run
When I'm broken down
And feeling down
I will run

You've seen me on better days
Yet you moved to me while I was unaware
And you called my name
Sorry I did not hear
And I've acted like
Like I was not afraid

I will run to you, yes I will
I will run, I will run
I will run to you, yes I will
I will run
When I've fallen down
When I've hit the ground
I will run, I will run, I will run
When I'm broken down
And feeling down
I will run

I'm tired and I cannot see
That the distance between us
Seems so very long
But in my weaknesses
You have made me strong
And you've closed the gap
You're standing in front of me

You ran to me, yes you did
You ran, you ran
You ran to me, yes you did
You ran
When I fell down, when I hit the ground
You ran, you ran, you ran
I was broken down
I was feeling down
You ran

You ran to me, yes you did
You ran, you ran
You ran to me, yes you did
You ran
When I fell down, when I hit the ground
You ran, you ran, you ran
I was broken down
I was feeling down
You ran Click Here to Read more!

Questions for a Worship Leader - #5

Q) What things do you love most about church ministry?

A) The thing that I love most about the local church is the opportunity to change our world. Rick Warren says it so clearly… the local church is the only organization that has the volunteers, the resources, the distribution system and the God-given inspiration to change the world. Bill Hybels says that the local church is the hope of the world. I’ve bought into this completely. I think that if we want to see the prayer of Jesus Christ come to fruition, that is “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” then the local church has to realize why it has been established – to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ. We are the church, the body of Jesus and we’ll be His hands to a world that needs us and His feet to carry the news of personal and social redemption.


Questions for a Worship Leader - BLOG Series Click Here to Read more!

Questions for a Worship Leader - #4

Q) Describe a healthy relationship between senior pastor and worship leader.

A) I think that a healthy relationship between senior pastor and worship leader begins with just that, a relationship. As a worship leader, I want to know and appreciate my senior pastor, even on a personal level. At the same time I want my senior pastor to know and appreciate me on a personal level. After that relationship has been established, the next phase is to earn and build trust. Mutual cooperation and a shared vision are the foundations to that trust. True leaders lead by example and inspiration, not by a position of authority. Once the foundation of mutual trust has been established then both leaders have the opportunity to challenge each other to become better, dream bigger and carry out the call that God has for that congregation. A healthy relationship between senior pastor and worship leader is a shared calling to see God do what only God can do in a community of believers and beyond.


Questions for a Worship Leader - BLOG Series Click Here to Read more!

Questions for a Worship Leader - #3

Q) Describe your understanding of “team” or collaboration” when it comes to worship teams.

A) One of the things that I have always communicated to worship teams that I’ve had the privilege of serving on has been that there are no lone-rangers, no one-man shows and no room for big personalities. Worship is not at all about us – as individuals or as a group – it is always about the One that we worship. Now in this understanding, since we are all worshipers and have been given opportunity to help others connect and relate to God, it is the honor and responsibility of the worship team to foster an atmosphere and demonstrate authentic worship. Every member of the team has an opportunity and responsibility to lead others in worship – not just the “worship leader.” From a musical perspective the same can be conveyed...

...that each person represents a piece of the pie and should allow room for other musicians and vocalists to add to the overall symphony of praise. Finally, sharing in relationship with one another brings it all together. We share in what I consider one of the greatest honors that we have – to join together in seeking the presence of a very living God and to help lead others to that perfect place.

Questions for a Worship Leader - BLOG Series

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Rick Warren Interviews John McCain PT 2

This is part 2 of 2 videos of Rick Warren interviewing Sen. McCain at the Civil Forum on the Presidency at Saddleback Church.


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Rick Warren Interviews John McCain PT 1

This is part 1 of 2 videos of Rick Warren interviewing Sen. McCain at the Civil Forum on the Presidency at Saddleback Church.


Click Here to Read more!

Rick Warren Interviews Barack Obama PT 2

This is part 2 of 2 videos of Rick Warren interviewing Sen. Obama at the Civil Forum on the Presidency at Saddleback Church.


Click Here to Read more!

Rick Warren Interviews Barack Obama PT 1

This is part 1 of 2 videos of Rick Warren interviewing Sen. Obama at the Civil Forum on the Presidency at Saddleback Church.


Click Here to Read more!

Franciscan Prayer

I know this isn't part of my current blog series but this is just too good to pass up. This came across our devotions this morning - it is a Franciscan prayer and it sums up what I want my prayer to be. Recently LifeChurch.tv put together a campaign of hundreds of churches worldwide called "One Prayer". The essence of the campaign is if you had one prayer what would it be. Well this is a good one for me. Enjoy and be lifted up!

May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.

May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain in to joy.

And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done. Click Here to Read more!

Questions for a Worship Leader - #2

Q)How would you best summarize your relationship to God?

A)I would say that my relationship with God is authentic, open and real. It has taken me quite some time to unlearn religiosity and learn how to be completely real and authentic not only with God but also in my portrayal of God to others. Obviously I consider myself a work in progress and the more that I learn about God the more I realize how much I don’t know about Him. I view God as personable and fully interested in my daily activities, decisions, relationships, hopes and dreams; yet I also see God as quite mysterious.

It is in that mystery that I find adventure, risk, fulfillment, delight and sometimes even sorrow. Duty has been replaced by friendship, yet the mystery keeps me in proper perspective to continue to “fear God” as the Scriptures command.

Questions for a Worship Leader - BLOG Series

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Questions for a Worship Leader - #1

Q) When did you first realize your desire to lead others in Worship?

A) Worship has always been the lifeblood of my relationship with my Creator. Some of my fondest memories of worshiping have been the times when I would sing praise and worship songs in my bedroom as a teenager and get on my knees before God and just sit in His presence. It was inspiring, it was life-altering, and it was the most effective way that I connected with God as a new follower of Jesus.

It was after this foundation was laid that I began to take this worship that God had put in my heart out from behind closed doors. I started by leading worship with a youth group that I was a part of; from there I began leading worship in our main church services before going to college to begin my worship leading career. Helping others find the place where God can really do some inspiring and life-altering work was and still remains the motivating force behind my taking this gift outside of my small sanctuary of a bedroom into what I hope one day will be the nations.

Questions for a Worship Leader BLOG Series

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New BLOG Series - Questions for a Worship Leader

I am going to begin my first BLOG series titled "Questions for a Worship Leader". In this series I will answer these five questions:

1. When did you first realize your desire to lead others in Worship?

2. How would you best describe your relationship with God?

3. Describe your understanding of “team” or collaboration” when it comes to worship teams.

4. Describe a healthy relationship between senior pastor and worship leader.

5. What things do you love most about church ministry?

Hope to hear from you!

Links -
1. When did you first realize your desire to lead others in Worship?

2. How would you best summarize your relationship to God?

3. Describe your understanding of “team” or collaboration” when it comes to worship teams.

4. Describe a healthy relationship between senior pastor and worship leader.

5. What things do you love most about church ministry?

Click Here to Read more!