On being interruptible
and preparing a setlist
I think better when I’m cleaning my house or walking in fresh air. I’ve got a hunch smol nephew is genetically built the same way:
Also, his azn squat is 10/10. Enjoy this week’s musings!
death is dead and christ is risen
I really loved Easter yesterday.
Jesus knew I needed to hear and sing and declare CityAlight’s It Was Finished Upon That Cross. I needed a fresh reminder that my pain and sorrow, my brokenness and frailty, my sin and selfishness—all these burdens that crush me are borne by my Savior and nailed to the cross. And now I am free:
Free from every plan of darkness
Free to live and free to love
Death is dead and Christ is risen!
It was finished upon that cross
an interruptible life
I appreciated this 41-minute interview with David Galvan on the importance of being interruptible. It’s aimed at parents, but there is so much to glean for all of life:
50% of Jesus’ miracles were due to interruptions. These miracles that happen interrupt where He was going. Parenting is full of interruptions. Sometimes we despise the interruptions. We don’t look for the miracle. When our child interrupts us, it’s almost a divine encounter if we look for it. It’s a divine encounter, not just for a lesson, but for a child to feel His presence and His love. When an interruption happens, it’s for me to look around and ask, ‘Okay, God, what are you doing?’ Not ‘Ugh, I’m focused on my mission!’ Because these are children of Yours who you’ve given for us to steward.
We need to slow down. In our westernized view, everything needs to be faster, sooner, quicker. But if we follow the methodology the Lord has laid out for us: slower, to reflect more, and to pause more. We’ve lost the art of the sabbath because ‘there’s so much to do’. We want to go fast. We hear the scripture “run the race”. But it didn’t tell us how fast to run. The only thing we’re supposed to be quick at is listening. And listening requires that we go slow. If I go fast in my listening, I’m already telling you an answer before I’ve heard your full question.
Two questions I like to ask that are key to helping a child grow: 1. Would you like to know what I think? 2. Would you like to know how to solve it?
our true & better friend
Last week, I spent some time in the Passion passages. I found it interesting that in three out of four accounts (Matt 26, Mark 14, Luke 22), Jesus explicitly expresses for his friends’ help. Two observations: 1. Jesus needed his friends, and 2. specifically asked them to watch and pray with him. But they fell asleep. They abandoned him. They denied him. They all failed him. These are the kind of friends we are—to God and to each other. Yet Jesus never fails us. In fact, he patiently, gently, kindly restores us. To himself, and to each other. How crazy that the Creator of the universe values and is committed to friendship. He calls us His friends 🥹 And commands us to love one another.
behind the scenes: preparing for worship
I love co-leading worship with my friends (yay becca!). We’re rostered for this coming Sunday. Since the song submission deadline is a week before, this means we usually begin preparing two weeks prior. This is what our last week looked like:
Sunday: read & mull over the passage (1 Samuel 16) and theme. ask the Holy Spirit to lead and inspire.
Tuesday: becca and I gush over the band rostered with us (nina! zac! kiev!)
Thursday: we text our ideas. I propose a flow and certain renditions.
Friday: becca makes a playlist called April 7 ? for us to mull over mor.
Saturday: I propose keys. Taking into consideration: congregational comfort, transitions, female vocal leads, and historical key choices.
Yesterday: becca submits our setlist. Here’s a sneak peek of the flow:
1. Only King Forever (F)
2. Great is Thy Faithfulness (C)
----Confession & Assurance
3. He Will Hold Me Fast (G)
----sermon & communion
4. Behold the Lamb (G)
5. Ancient of Days (C)
Today (and the rest of this week): we pray. For ourselves, for the band, for the congregation. Holy Spirit, will you move in and through your people? Will you keep us near the Cross this week? Protect us from discouragement and physical sickness. Lead us in Saturday’s band practice. Enliven your people on Sunday. Fill us up and prepare our hearts now to anticipate to meet You. Help us want you more. Be pleased with our delight in You.
mor music i liked
my church’s Lent playlist and Easter playlist
an insane drum & vocal performance by g flip covering Cruel Summer
We the Kingdom’s what if Church Music felt more like rock ‘n’ roll
Alicia Key’s Kaleidoscope
Anchor Hymn’s Where Else Can I Go
The Tiny Tim’s I Thank God
Malachiii’s outro Made it Out Alive for the profound 7-minute animated short film The Spider Within. This is a perfect example of a dad choosing to be interruptible for his teenage son. (also, spidey is my fave! 🕸️)
healthy communication
Nothing inspires me more than good models of healthy emotional regulation, empathy, and kind communication 🤩 I’ve read their work over the years, so I appreciated this 2-hour interview with Drs. John & Julie Gottman (please pardon the melodramatic titling of this podcast episode) sharing the breadth of their work on how to master conflict management in relationships. It’s aimed at marriages, but again, much to glean for all of life—friendship, leadership, peace-making.
Thank you for reading, friends! We live in an attention economy. Thanks for giving me yours every week <3
love,
reb
This week somehow feels like when the teacher would MIRACULOUSLY pair you with all your friends for a group project! It's a great week and I'm grateful to serve with you.