FredMcKinnon.Com

Hey Gang …

Time for a quick self eval.  On a scale of 1-10 (10 being you are like on top of the world), how are you doing in your life right now?  Physically, Spiritually, Emotionally …

Take a minute and think about it.  Then leave a comment below.  If you want to be brutally honest and vulnerable, feel free to put an anonymous name in the comments field, such as:
Name:  anonymous
Email:  nobody@nobody.com

You can leave an overall score … or you can leave a separate score for:
Physical
Spiritual
Emotional
I’m doing this myself, and the graphic above .. it’s just a graphic I found, I’m not saying that I’m a 6!

The McGladrey Classic PGA event is happening right here on St. Simons Island and we expected to have a lighter-than-normal attendance this morning at SSCC.  Seems like our expectations were on as both our 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM services had a lot more empty seats that we’re accustomed to seeing.  Nevertheless, we had an awesome time worshiping.

We’re on Week 5 of our “FAQ” series and we had a panel of 3 people this morning who answered some of the questions that have been submitted over the past few weeks.  Our panel did an incredible job answering some tough questions.

As for the musical portion of our worship service we enjoyed a batch of songs that are familiar and faithful here at SSCC.  Due to this week’s praise team leading worship at another church this past Thursday we did not have an opportunity to actually rehearse.  We kept the same team and songs that we used on Thursday and pulled it off painlessly.

Opening Song:
“No Other Name” (Todd Fields/Northpoint Live version)

Praise and Worship Set:
“Everlasting God”
“Mighty to Save”
“Blessed Assurance”

I enjoyed taking a moment to setup “Blessed Assurance”.  I was inspired to sing this song again after being at the Forge Conference in Ocean Grove, NJ last weekend where the hymn was actually penned years ago.  I took a little extra time (several minutes) to setup this song and remind everyone that we all have a story.  The Samaritan women in John 4 went into her village saying “come and see this man who told me everything I ever did”.  She told her story and people believed.

After our sermon we closed with “With All I Am” (Hillsong), one of my favorite worship ballads of all time.

For fun, we did Needtobreathe’s “Washed by the Water” as an exit song.  It’s another favorite of ours.

This recap is posted as a part of the “Sunday Setlists” event sponsored by TheWorshipCommunity.Com.  Visit TWC and see other setlists and service recaps from other worship leaders!

Music.  I love composing it.  I love hearing it.  I love playing it.  I love performing it.

But for me, it’s usually all-or-none.  It messes me up when it comes to my ability to do ANYTHING else but music.

I cannot sleep with music in the background.
I cannot listen to a conversation with music in the background.
I cannot read with music in the background.

People send me songs and wonder why I haven’t listened to them yet?  Well, unless I stop everything I’m doing and focus 100% on listening to the song, I won’t really hear it.

Just now, I popped in a CD that I received in the mail to give it a listen while I work.  And by work … I mean .. mundane, data entry stuff.  I’m working on a new category structure for a website.  Nevertheless, I have no clue what the first song was like.

So I am about to do some code changes and before I hit the “submit” button I realized I’d better read (and re-read) the instructions.  After 3 attempts to read the first sentence I realized what I had to do.

Open iTunes.

Hit Pause.

Ah.  I can actually process what I read now.

It’s how I’m wired.  How are you wired?

One of the areas I was asked to participate at last week’s “Forge Conference” was the late night worship sessions.  When all the big sessions were over, around 10-11 PM … a session was created in the chapel for some open times of worship.  It was one of those “bring your instrument and jump in” things.

OK, so I confess.  After traveling, not sleeping so great, and attending classes and seminars all day … I’m not really feeling the drive to do “late night worship”.  I’m feeling the drive to CRASH.

Reluctantly, I strolled across the street and the beautiful park to the Thornley Chapel at Ocean Grove.  We setup a Yamaha keyboard that had some built-in speakers and people started walking in.   People with guitars, congas, that cool box drum that you sit on and play … and yes, Dan Wilt even had his hammer dulcimer.

How do you do this?  Well, I guess you just start playing.  I started out with “All Who Are Thirsty” … and soon enough, I was joined by a chorus of strumming guitars, the groove of the drum, the chime of the dulcimer, and a wave of vocal harmonies that filled this tiny chapel like a great flood of sound.  It was stunning.  Glorious.  Organic.  Deeply authentic.

One leader would end, another would begin.  One song would fade as another was created.  And the fatigue that I’d felt had melted away within moments.

If you’ve never found yourself in one of these “worship circles” – I say try it, and try it soon.  Reach out to your praise team, to musicians in your church, to your small group.  Sit in a circle, throw any plans you have out the door, and just begin.  See where the Spirit of God takes you.

The late night worship sessions for me were incredibly inspiring.  They made no sense to me from a scheduling and logistical standpoint.  I mean, who really has the energy to START another session at 11:00 PM?

The answer?  The same people who finally were told to quiet down and go to sleep … the same people who were up at the crack of dawn to do it all over again.

To all you guys and girls who joined us?  Well – sitting in a chair in a room with you was OK.  Sitting in a circle, worshiping and flowing with you?  Unforgettable.

PRIDE

Typically the word carries a negative connotation.  Not in this case.  PRIDE.  It’s what I felt for my good friends who chased a dream and vision and put on the first official “Forge Conference” this past week in Ocean Grove, NJ.

Guys like Joel, Mike, Doug, Adam, Jack … this core group of men who jumped into the fiery furnace of the unknown … they are friends.  I knew what they were risking.  I knew the sweat and stress they endured to make it happen.  I knew the hardships and opposition.  Yet, they persevered.

And it paid off.

Although these guys are not “sons” of mine … more like dear brothers in Christ … I felt this huge sense of PRIDE like a Dad would have of his kids.  Proud of their accomplishment.  Proud of their vision.  Proud of their perseverance.

This week I’ll blog and recap some of the highlights and share the stories with you.  And to all of you new friends that were part of this experience, it was awesome to meet and hang out with you.