robpetrini.com

It's All About Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone!

Our senior pastor, William Attaway, challenged me today to step out of my comfort zone and move away from leading behind my guitar and just lead with the mic, standing alongside the singers! The challenge was a valid one (though, if it goes bad I'll blame him anyway!!!!). As a worship leader I've always lead with the guitar, I don't have the best voice as many of you who have worked with me can attest, but if I'm going to challenge and expect my own team members to grow, then I should lead by example. 

To say it was uncomfortable without my guitar, is to say the least! I felt positively naked! I also got some kind hints from the singers next to me to maybe just go back and pick up my guitar. I told them all to blame William (Rule #1 in Survival in Leadership - if you can pass the blame, do it!!!!). Jokes aside though, we can really get caught up doing things a certain way and forgetting that just maybe, God wants to stretch you a bit (and grow you in ways that may not involve the "usual" way). 

I'll let you know Monday how Sunday went!

History Will Teach Us Nothing!

"I do not understand this squeamishness about the use of gas. I am strongly in favor of using poisoned gas against uncivilized tribes" (Sir Winston Churchill). 

History is truly a subject that people just don't seem to want to take to heart! If not, you would think that the idiotica of the past would not be repeated in our present future! Take Iraq for instance. 

In 1920, at the fall of the Ottoman empire, the region that is now known as Iraq, was actually divided into three provinces (Mosul, Baghdad & Basra). The Ottomans rightfully deduced the need for the provinces to be separated by ethnic majority. But at the fall of the Ottoman Empire the whole region came into British Dominion. The British were highly effective in collecting taxes (and in some cases, a little too effective), enough anyway to raise the ire of the locals. The British also refused to acknowledge the three provinces, and united them as one. Of course, revolt soon broke out. The British reacted in true racist, Victorian fashion. 

"If the Kurds hadn't learned by our example to behave themselves in a civilized way then we had to spank their bottoms" (Wing Commander Gale).

Despite continued official denials, Saddam Hussein was far from the first to use chemical weapons against the Kurds. Not only was poisonous gas used on the Kurdish population, but also firebombing of villages and towns. Interestingly, the British used the same methods to put down a revolt in Afghanistan. Then we in the West wonder why  "They don't like us"!!!!

After decimating the population and quelling the revolt, Winston Churchill held a 10 day conference in Cairo on March 12, 1921. Apart from settling the largest central land mass in Arabia by giving it Ibn Saud (the country now know as Saudia Arabia), Sir Churchill in all his wisdom, decided to officially unite the three provinces of Mosul, Baghdad and Basra into one country to be known as Iraq (meaning "well rooted country"). The Kurds were lured into this new kingdom by promises of self rule (not the last time those promises were made) by the newly British installed puppet king.

As one horrified American missionary at the time said... "You are flying in the face of four millennia of history". But then, what has history taught us!!??

Sooner or later the world first day/Sooner or later we learn to throw the past away/History will teach us nothing (Sting, from the song "History Will Teach Us Nothing")

Cultural Shifts on the Horizon

I followed a webinar today on "Preparing the Church for the Next Generation" by Worship Facilities Conference & Expo with Michael Trent and Charles Lee.     

The premise was understanding that the generational gap has been widening more and more over time, and where the Church is really losing the battle of understanding the cultural changes that is happening around her. 

We're really playing catch up and with each generation it feels like it's getting further and further away. So how can we reconnect and close that gap with the next (and future) generation, while keeping a finger on the pulse of cultural change? 

We need to be:

• Intentional about relationships
• Involved in the community
  
• Innovate new ideas

Also... When a team of church leaders get together to talk about reaching the future, there better be someone in that group who is from that future. Too many times I've been caught up in conversation with leaders, planning out better ways to reach the next generation, being future focused, but then looking around and seeing us old folks using old methods and thinking we're getting it right and being culturally effective!

Wisdom of age is not the problem. Wisdom and age provides framework. The problem is that culture is changing so fast around us that we need the help of the next generation to reach the next generation. How much are we investing in raising next generation leaders?

Dominant Paradigms

Still working on my thoughts from a webinar that I heard yesterday from Willow Creek Group Life, "Debug Your Thinking" with Mark C. Howell.

Another comment that was shared was:

"Dominant paradigms are usually bequeathed from one generation to the next and the beneficiaries often take possession without questioning its provenance or its relevance to new contests".

(The Future of Management, Gary Hamel, p. 128)

Following that statement, there was a question posed that I'm still working through, but thought would be good to challenge you all on...

Ask yourself: 

How did you come by your basic beliefs about the best way to_________?

Our Axiomatic Beliefs

Earlier today I followed a webinar from Willow Creek Group Life, "Debug Your Thinking" with Mark C. Howell. You can check out some of the post-webinar comments here. I'm going to blog on this, most probably for the next few days. It's touched on a number of things that's been on mind since the Willow Creek Leadership Conference in early August. 

They opened it up with the comment:

"All of us are held hostage by our axiomatic beliefs. We are jailbirds incarcerated within the fortress of dogma and precedent. And yet, for the most part, we are oblivious to our own captivity." 

(The Future of Management by Gary Hamel, p. 126).

That statement alone had me thinking for quite some time! I risked missing out on the rest of the webinar! 

We work within a set parameter or belief system, that really, we define (or that influence has defined for us). But how does that definition come about? And are we really aware of it? (Maybe it's good to ask someone else, like your work colleague, friend or spouse)

What would you define as your axiomatic beliefs and why do you hold to them?

Why You Shouldn't Mess With Old Photos!!!

 

At the beginning of this of year we got a photo negative scanner, with the intention of scanning in the "millions" of negatives we've been lugging around with us. It's all good and well until you see a photo of yourself from 17 years ago and think... 

"Was that really me!!!???" 

Sad, very sad.

Of Mice and Healthcare

Ok, I'm getting in on this because I'm just about fed up over hearing people saying how bad healthcare is in other countries (especially the Commonwealth... that is, Australia, England, Canada etc) when they have only ever lived in this country! Let me put the record real straight here. I have lived most of my life in Australia and a good part of 6 years in Italy and the healthcare system in both those countries puts the US to shame PERIOD. In Australia, for example, we have more selections, more options, both free government medicare available for everyone and private plans that you pay for.

For a country like the US that excels in literally everything it does, it boggles my mind that we've allowed the one, most important industry in this country to go down the drain.

We know the system is broken right? Yet I have heard more misinformation and outright scare tactics used from conservatives than ever before, execept maybe during the 60's and 70's when conservatives were all for the cigarette companies and their "medical experts" who said there is no proof that cigarettes were bad for you! A lot of conservative Christians fell for it, and many got right behind it!!!! 

I'm all for conservative Christianity, but I'm not for conversative politics! To take the politically Christian conservative line:

God helps those who help themselves

...goes against everything Christ stood for and called us to. We as Christians need to stand up against this injustice. Right now the rising costs of healthcare is becoming unafforrdable for small businesses. More and more people are getting squeezed out of healthcare, and those of us who can afford it are asked to cough up more and more. Our own healthcare expenses shot up this year and if it weren't for the fact of Kaiser Permanente's error, we would have to burden the increase today, but as it stands the increases will take effect the beginning of next year. And there's a good chance we will not have the same coverage, because we just can't afford it. 

I'm seeing a very self centered debate happening here, where it's all about the "ME" not about the "WE"... 

Where would the God of Justice stand in all of this?

Hot Dog...ma!

Been spending my time listening a little too much to Michael Frost!!! He related this story and I just had to look it up, seeing as it was in the hometown of my in-laws! Check the article out! I'm not sure where we are headed with this, but the "dogma" of litigation is getting a little out of hand... that a restaurant in Miami would feel threatened by a hot dog place in Pittsburgh... and that an eatery can have a trademark on the word "dogma"!!!?? Is it just me or are things just getting a little out of hand!!!??  

Do You Know What Freedom Is?

Yesterday we talked about what Paul meant by Freedom in  Galatians 5:1. I heard a real interesting talk this morning by Michael Frost who relates an article written in the Sydney Morning Herald about a man who lives right next to the Gap... a very popular suicide spot on the South Head of Sydney (also a popular tourist destination, the photo above). He tells of seeing a young bloke perched on the edge, obviously ready to jump. He tried to talk to him... he talked to him for a while, he then asked him to come away from the edge, offered him a cup of tea or a beer at his place. The young bloke responded "no" and jumped. As he tried to reach to out to him, all he was able to grab was the young bloke's cap which flew off as he jumped. He has since spoken with hundreds of people perched on the edge of those cliffs, offering them an ear, a cup of tea, anything to get them away from the edge.

We live in a world that has real sense of hopelessness. That lack of life purpose that you just can't find in any of those "self-discovery" or "self-authentication" lifestyle religions. 

Here's where Freedom comes in and sets Christianity apart... Paul challenges us Christians to understand what it truly means to be Free... not just freedom from... but also freedom for! As the theologian E. J. Epp puts it:

The implications of this Christian freedom as Paul develops it are vast and far-reaching, but essentially he sees freedom as a reality effected in and through the Christ-event, which has broken the power of sin and neutralized the individual hostility against God, which at the same time has covered the guilt and stain of sin and erased the past; which has crushed all enslavement to self, to religious convention, to the present power of evil, and to cosmic forces: and which has triumphed over every force that dominates humankind, including human mortality itself. But that is only one side of the coin – the “freedom from what?” side; there is the also the significant “freedom for what?” side.

Freedom means: free to do what we were created for! It means purpose, it means mission. As a community, first and foremost, we are called to accomplish God's will on this earth. To bring hope to the hopeless, shine the light in a darkened world... to surrender all we are for the sake of His Kingdom. 

By truly embracing what God's Freedom for His people means, by putting in as much effort in fulfilling His will for this earth as we do in building up our own lives... then we may find fewer people standing on that edge. 

Youth Mission Week... Pt.1

Here's a little snippet of what the youth group is doing this week. It was a beautiful day, only 98 degrees with about 110% humidity...!!!

 (takes a little time to load) 

Neighborhood Bible Club Day 1...

Our fearless leader Steve, getting prepared to lead NBC... (takes a little time to load) 

Day 1 at the Ty's and about 10 kids.. lots of fun.

Time Off... Such a Good Thing!!! Still Working on Blue!

I took time off this last week and missed church Sunday (at Southview) for the first time since last July. Actually it was the first time I missed church all together, since December 2006! 

We went up to Pittsburgh to be with my in-laws and then headed down to Stafford, VA to be with my wife's brother's family. 

Still working on "Project Blue". I have a number riffs in place and have the skeletons of 3 songs formed. The time off helped me focus both on my family and God, which always brings out the creative side of me. The idea of the project is to write worship songs. Being a worship leader, it sometimes feels awkward playing someone else's tune. I just want to be more real with God and with the people I lead! 

Over the break I got both the new Church cd ("Untitled #23" it's their 23rd studio album) along with The Church's frontman, Steve Kilbey's new one ("PainKiller"). Haven't had a chance to listen to them well... can't wait to plug into them though. A friend of mine has me hooked onto Neil Morse. If you don't know him you need to check him out. Trying to find time to listen to one of about 2 dozen of his cds! Talk about creativity!!! Another one on the cards that deserves a mention is Decypher Down's new EP "Crash". I know it's been out a while, but I'm just tuning into it now!!!

Do you know of any new music that deserves a mention!?

Sunday Setlist May 10

This is part of Fred McKinnon's Sunday Setlist Group.

Our numbers are continuing to grow. it's great. God is really working!!! It's also the fourth Sunday in a row that we've had people come forward at the invitation! 

Worship was good, though we had some problems with the pastor's wireless mic (getting what seemed to be interference). Also, though I love the song, "Praise You in the Storm" just didn't fit in well. It was great for the sermon, but it was sandwiched between a child dedication and the sermon introduction video (which has the "Mission Impossible" theme to it!). Oh well... mental note for next time. 

Here's the set:

- Forever (Tomlin, Chris)

- Deacon Prayer

- Welcome & Greeting

- Mother's Day Video (Courtesy of Worship Media House)

- I Could Sing of Your Love Forever (Smith, Martin)

- Mighty to Save (Fielding, Ben | Morgan, Reuben)

- Baby Dedication

- Elder Prayer

- Offering

- Praise You in this Storm (Herms, Bernie | Hall, Mark)

- Sermon Introduction Video

- Sermon

- Invitation

- Came to My Rescue (Davies, Joel | Sampson, Marty | Thomas, Dylan)

- Close

Music vs. Worship

I've had an interesting talk with a friend from Knoxville who was surprised when I told him what my job was and what I believed was the role of the worship minister. 

"Don't you just lead music?"

I hear that often, so much so that there's a general sentiment that the role of a "worship pastor" is a part time role, and usually good enough for a volunteer.  

A “worship pastor” is not just a musician or band leader. That person has to be trained, set apart, educated and spend most of their time tuning into God’s will for the local body. It’s not just music, it’s everything, from the greeters, to the ushers, to the sound and media teams. From newsletters to welcome bulletins, from the prayer ministry to the teaching ministry and coordinating with the senior pastors and preachers. 

When you minimize worship to just music, I think you miss what worship is all about. Biblical worship is a lifestyle… A church service is a blueprint of that lifestyle - music, prayer, instruction, fellowship. It’s hard to lead that effectively when you have a full time job outside of a church that is competing for your time and your mind.

Sunday Setlist May 3

This is part of Fred McKinnon's Sunday Setlist Group.

It's been a while, but we're back online! There has been a lot of changes since the last time I posted on our setlist. The big change has been a complete sound remodelling...

• New digital sound board
• New EAW speakers 
• 2 new Subwoofers (woohoo!!!)  
• 2 new projectors with dual projection screens
• A new podium  
• New wireless mics  
• New drum shield 
• New Video components - TVs setup through the church with live video signal 

Yeah, we've been busy!!! It was time though. The old system was just getting old. The sound now is much clearer and the sound distribution is so much better. You don't realise how bad it was before until you have something to compare it with. A big thanks to Aaron Stanski and Dave Miller from Church Solutions Group and all the hard work they put into making it happen... along with the Southview volunteer crew that were there day and night, you guys rock!!!

Last Sunday was great, though I learnt that learning a lesson doesn't neccessarily mean I learnt a lesson!!! The batteries to my wireless mic went out in the middle of the set, yeah... you'd think I'd learn!!! So from now on, new batteries every week. 

Here's the set:

- Everlastiong God (Brown, Brenton | Riley, Ken)

- Deacon Prayer

- Welcome & Greeting

- Our God Saves (Baloche, Paul | Brown, Brenton)

- God of Wonders (Byrd, Marc \ Hindalong, Steve)

- How Marvelous (Tomlin, Chris | Gabriel, Charles Hutchison)

- Elder Prayer

- Offering

- Surrender (James, Marc)

- Sermon Introduction Video

- Sermon

- Invitation

- Came to My Rescue (Davies, Joel | Sampson, Marty | Thomas, Dylan)

- Close

Project Blue...

Project Blue has been a work in progress for the last 20 years... yeah, well it's kinda like Mr. Holland's Opus, you spend a whole lifetime trying to get something done... but it always seems like something gets in the way... like people!!! :)

It has been on the back burner for sometime, but I really feel led to complete it now. So what is? Music of course... I will release small nuggets as time goes by (just as soon as I figure out all the elements of this TASCAM digital track recorder we have!!!). 

I think a core element of worship is that the worship team dedicates itself to writing music. It represents a real, heart-felt worship that comes from within. As a worship leader, I need to set that example by writing songs. That's what Project Blue is all about. Blue because it's time to dive deep into the ocean and not just skim the surface. 

Back Again... New Launch... New Focus...

Ok, it's been a while and though I can say there's been a lot going on with church and home etc... really I've just been trying to work out the best way to do this blogging with purpose.

So from here on this blog site will based on my role as a worship pastor, music lover and Project Blue (more info later). Down 2 Earth has moved to here, where I'll focus more on apologetics and cultural sensitive issues. 

There is also Southview Connect, where you will find our church blog.

Music Review: U2 - No Line on the Horizon

To say I'm a U2 fan is an understatement. I've followed them since I first saw the music video to "New Year's Day" played on TV back home in Australia on New Year's eve 1983. It's been a while since then and beyond a doubt I always enjoy a new release from them, mainly because I'm never really sure what to expect.  

This CD is definitely different, yet it's still U2. Bono's vocals are so distinct, and the Edge's guitar even more so, but there are definitely some changes. I got a feeling that Brian Eno would have enjoyed producing this one. The music overall sounds like a maturer "Unforgettable Fire". You can really sense his influence, and not just with the ethereal sounds and "unusual" loops.

Unlike past releases there isn't a stand out power/chart topping song. No "Pride..." or "Where the Streets..." or "Beautiful Day" or "Vertigo"... but it makes it up with some very creative lyrics and some interesting sound arrangements.

I remember buying Peter Gabriel's "Up" CD a few years back and listening to the first song "Darkness" and thinking... "huh!". It made for a very strange way to open a CD. The way U2 have opened this CD with "No Line on the Horizon" gave me the exact same impression, and like "Darkness", it's really grown on me. Bono really stretches his vocals, more so than I think I've ever heard him do (it's a constant theme through out the CD... the passion that comes from his vocals is incredible). My favourite part of the song, is something that highlights the whole CD, the keys. I know the Edge has done a heap of work mixing keys and synths, but this is definitely all Eno...  

I'm not sure why they went with "Get On Your Boots" as their first single, "Magnificent" would have been my choice. It has everything about the CD encapsulated into one song. You would almost call it a typical U2 song, if there is such a thing.

My favourite song by far on the CD is "Unknown Caller". Can't nail down what it is... the feel maybe? I love the Edge's guitar on it... the bass, the drums... it's just a well rounded song. Complex, yet simple. On the other end of the spectrum I really don't like "Get on Your Boots". I don't mind an artist experimenting, and I certainly don't mind diversity on a CD, but this kind of feels like "Discoteque" from "Pop", (not so much in the sound, but in the feel), in that it's almost like U2 are forcing the issue (or in this case, the sound). Another song that doesn't go down well, though I enjoyed the creative arrangements, is "Stand Up Comedy"... it really is a Jimi Hendrix rip off, and if there's one thing I like about U2 is their originality. You really lose it with this song. Of course they make it up with the next song "Fez - Being Born", though I'd like to know how much Gavin Friday influenced the sound. Either way, it's a great song and the simple keyboard part just makes it. Eno again?

Overall this is definitely a CD to get. It's not an easy listen, but if you are a fan of U2, this will not disappoint you. 

Rating: 7/10

Sunday Setlist Mar. 1

This is part of Fred McKinnon's Sunday Setlist Group.

Yes, I'm still alive!! It's been a while but with the move done and the slow emptying boxes, the place is beginning to look liveable!! :)

This past Sunday was good. Had a Baptism which is ALWAYS good!!! Pastor William had the enviable task of preaching on one of the most difficult subjects to preach on, the Trinity. He nailed it! Worship was good. We played what is a new song for us, "Wonderful Maker". We were a little tentative with it but over time I think we'll become more confident with it. I used to play it a while back while at LifeSong in Sacramento, playing the Jeremy Camp version (I love the female vocal in the chorus). This time we played the Chris Tomlin version and Rob (our drummer), on the initial version, played the cajon instead of the drums... sounded cool!

• Light the Fire - Maxwell, Bill
• Deacon Prayer
• Baptism
• Welcome & Greeting
• Jesus Messiah - Tomlin, Chris | Carson, Daniel | Reeves, Jesse | Cash, Ed
• Draw Me Close - Carpenter, Kelly
• Sermon Introduction Video
• Sermon
• You Are My World - Sampson, Marty
• Elder Prayer
• Offering
• Wonderful Maker - Redman, Matt | Tomlin, Chris
• Invitation
• Wonderful Maker - Redman, Matt | Tomlin, Chris
• Close

Sunday Setlist Feb. 8

This is part of Fred McKinnon's Sunday Setlist Group.

It was a great Sunday. It was week 3 into our series on "Foundation". We played "Jesus Messiah" for the first time and really hit it well. The congregation reacted real well to it too. This week has been busy, we're finally coming to head with going forward on the whole remodelling of our sound system. We've been working with Church Solutions Group. They have been great, going comepletely out of their way to help us out. So, if you haven't figured it out... I'm really excited about it!!!! 

Here was our song list:

• Dancing Generation - Redman, Matt
• Deacon Prayer 
• Welcome & Greeting 
• Sermon Introduction Video 
• Sermon 
• Jesus Messiah - Tomlin, Chris | Carson, Daniel | Reeves, Jesse | Cash, Ed 
• Holy is the Lord - Tomlin, Chris \ Giglio, Louie 
• Son of God - Neufeld, Jon | Neufeld, Tim | Cash, Ed | Cochran, Gordon 
• Elder Prayer 
• Offering 
• How Marvelous - Tomlin, Chris | Gabriel, Charles Hutchison 
• Invitation
• Jesus Messiah - Tomlin, Chris | Carson, Daniel | Reeves, Jesse | Cash, Ed 
• Close  

It was definitely a Chris Tomlin morning! Someone made a joke that I was getting kick backs from Chris Tomlin for every song of his we played on Sunday morning. Someone took the joke seriously and it took a little explaining to sort it all out!!!