Your Belief System and Your Church (1): Introduction

[Dave Knauss]

IDENTITY CRISIS. Identity crisis is a psychological condition in which one is uncertain about one’s self and one’s role in society. This discussion thread might be said to have an identity crisis. Is it about music teaching or spiritual preaching? Is it written to music teachers or pastors? Does it contain ideas for a great music program or a dynamic church? Is it a radical approach for achieving top musicianship skills or deep spiritual skills? If you are a music teacher looking for insights into the most rewarding ways to teach music, this is a deep sea exploration dive. If you are a pastor looking for a new vision for a powerful spiritual impact on your church and community, this will stretch your horizons. Perhaps you as well have an identity crisis of a sort and are searching for more? Who are you and why are you reading this? Are you looking to broaden your life? What is the "more" for which you are searching?

When I was a little kid playing in the dirt, while still unsaved, I knew two things about my life beyond any doubt. (1) I saw myself at a desk, teaching students, and (2) I heard myself speaking with pastors and churches. All this even before I was saved. I knew I would be a teacher and the subject definitely would be music, and I felt the words to pastors and churches as words of great strength.

FIRST PURPOSE. I had piano lessons during my school years and then went to college for teacher education. My entire life’s career has been teaching K-12 general classroom music. The results of what the Lord had me do in music teaching were phenomenal. Within a decade and a half, our public school music staff changed a no-name music department to one that was first state awarded, to nationally awarded, and then noted internationally. After three decades, I retired from public school to go back to college to complete a Ph.D. in music education and enter the college realm to teach music education methods. My first purpose obviously has been fulfilled.

SECOND PURPOSE. Over the years I dropped all thoughts of speaking words of strength to pastors and churches. I believed my two life-purposes were impossible to be linked. I forgot about the second purpose. Dismissed it entirely. Then, a few weeks ago, sitting at my desk, the Lord impressed on my thoughts a single sentence, “The things I taught you about music education and the successes I gave you, I want you to teach pastors how they can do the same in their churches.” WOW, what a perfect intersection of two seeming totally unrelated purposes.

FOR THIS TIME. There are some 50 years between the realization of these two purposes. (However, time is nothing to God.)  In considering why such a long time, I am brought to Esther 4:14, “For such a time as this.” What is this time? If we consider today’s (2012) society and our elected government as a mirror image reflection of the church’s health and influence, we have a sad picture. In society, the church is as an elderly invalid confined to a wheelchair and handicapped spaces.

On our way to being a victorious church, we are presently no longer a strong light in society and government, and darkness prevails. But why is this? Is not darkness a powerless nothing? Darkness exists only when something is absent—light. Darkness is powerless and has no resistance. It instantly and automatically flees every time a light is turned on. As Edmund Burke, one of our nation’s founding fathers, said, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” Sooooo…

WARNING. Do Not Read Further Unless You Have An Open Mind! The following undermines a lot of entrenched paradigms and shoots many sacred cows. (I love messing with entrenched minds.)  This series of posts is for the serious gold miner who digs deep, not just the stream and screen panhandler. With my Ephesians 4:11 teaching gift, prepare yourself for a challenge to leave off business near the shore and launch out into the deep. “They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; These see the works of the LORD, and His wonders in the deep.” (Psalm 107:23-24). As you read the following, you will begin to perceive the intersected power of my life’s two purposes.

Your Belief System and Your Church: (1) Introduction

Your Belief System and Your Church: (2) Your Paradigms

Your Belief System and Your Church: (3) Bondage or Freedom

Your Belief System and Your Church: (4) Gateway Skills

Your Belief System and Your Church: (5) Teacher Accountability

Your Belief System and Your Church: (6) Talking About vs. Doing

Your Belief System and Your Church: (7) Student Accountability

Your Belief System and Your Church: (8) Assessment

Your Belief System and Your Church: (9) Bury Dead Tradition

Your Belief System and Your Church: (10) Teaching vs. Learning

Your Belief System and Your Church: (11) Teachers' Three Phases

Your Belief System and Your Church: (12) Excellence is NOT a Goal

Your Belief System and Your Church: (13) My Teaching Limits Were Their Learning Limits

Your Belief System and Your Church: (14) Unlearning Creates Success

Your Belief System and Your Church: (15) Pioneers vs. Settlers

Your Belief System and Your Church: (16) Real and Lasting Learning

Your Belief System and Your Church: (17) Problems With Memory

Your Belief System and Your Church: (18) Ownership Creates Success

Your Belief System and Your Church: (19) Not Perfect, But Honest

Your Belief System and Your Church: (20) Take Risks and Give Away Control

Your Belief System and Your Church: (21) Out of a Job

Your Belief System and Your Church: (22) KCAASE and Proverbs 24

Your Belief System and Your Church: (23) Responding vs. Reacting

Your Belief System and Your Church: (24) Only When Performed

Your Belief System and Your Church: (25) A Supervisor's Vision

Your Belief System and Your Church: (26) Glimpses Into the Spiritual

Your Belief System and Your Church: (27) One Reason Alone

[Lisa]

You knew what you were going to do early! Lucky you!. Regarding late return to the second prophecy better late than never. Then again I suspect that you needed the experiences of the previous 50 years to pull off what you are doing now. Maybe it is just Gods perfect timing. It is certain that you have been asking some hard questions for teachers or pastors.

[Susan Wilson]

Hello David!

I think I found the scripture we were talking about:
Isa 9:16 For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.
I still say Wow!

[Dave Knauss]

Dear Susan,
I must tell you I think of you often and pray for your church because I know your openness to the leading of the Holy Spirit and that you're not afraid at all of thinking outside the box. I continue to speak with pastors all over the US and their needs are all the same: (1) needing fresh new directions, vision, and ministry insights; and (2) needing encouragement from someone to stand alongside as "iron sharpens iron."

I'm ready and willing to be that person!!!
Blessings, Dave

[Joseph & Alohma Bishop]

PRAISE THE LORD DAVE,
I FINALLY GOT AROUND TO GETTING BACK TO YOU. WE ARE EXPERIENCING NOTHING LESS THAN THE GREATEST MOVE OF GOD I HAVE SEEN IN MY LIFE THUS FAR. GREATER THINGS ARE YET TO COME AND IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF WHO GOD IS AND WHAT HE DESIRES TO DO. OUR CHURCH IS IN THE HEART OF THE INNER-CITY AND (BAM) SEEING IS BELIEVING. THANKS FOR THE VRP CLASSES - STIMULATED THE THINKING PROCESSES, EXPOSED ME TO NEW SYSTEMS AND TOOK MY PRAYER LIFE TO ANOTHER LEVEL (FUNNY HOW PRAYER IS NOT ONE OF THE SUBJECTS IN THE VRP PROGRAM). OUR CHURCH HAS GROWN BY OVER 200 PEOPLE IN THE PAST 9 MONTHS AND WE ARE UTILIZING THE METHODS WE WERE TAUGHT (PRAYER, FASTING, WORD, FELLOWSHIP). JUST REMEMBER THAT IF YOU DECIDE TO PRACTICE THESE THINGS YOU WILL BE COMMITTING YOURSELF TO COME OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE. IT TAKES DISCIPLINE TO APPLY WHAT ONE LEARNS ( NOTICE DISCIPLE IS LIKE DISCIPLINE). MAYBE, JUST MAYBE SOME CHURCHES DON'T SEE REULTS BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO LET GO. NEW WINE COMES FROM CHANGES. -----PASTOR JOE (PHILLY)

[Dave Knauss]

Praise the Lord, Pastor Joe!!! What phenomenal things are happening in your church and community. You're correct in that prayer is not a major focus, and neither is fasting and many other vital Christian exercises, but they're mentioned a lot. Remember the change process that the 2000 successful churches adopted that always began with prayer? With every VRP session beginning and ending in prayer, we instructors lived it for you rather than spoke of it on slides. Congratulations on your commitment to prayer and fasting. I really praise God for your willingness to "let go" just like you mentioned. Every teacher likes to hear of his "students'" spectacular successes!!! Especially here in the VRP program. Don't stop now, let me hear more. Give me a call here at Kingdom to chat.
Blessings, Dave

[Joseph & Alohma Bishop]

DAVE,
WE ARE LOOKING TO GO FURTHER IN DEVELOPING AND ENHANCEING OUR WORSHIP TEAMS. WE STARTED OUT WITH JUST TWO PERSONS ON OUR WORSHIP TEAM ( I WAS ONE) AND NOW GOD HAS ALLOWED US TO GROW TO OVER 25 PERSONS AND 7 TEAMS WITH 6 WORSHIP LEADERS. I AM NOT A SCHOOLED MUSICIAN AND DON'T PLAY MY INSTRUMENT VERY WELL BUT GOD HAS ALLOWED ME TO TRAIN AND TEACH EVERYONE ELSE. THEN I STARTED CLASSES TO DEVELOP AND DRAW MORE INTERESTED PERSONS BASED UPON THEIR DESIRES NOT ABILITY. THIS HAS ALLOWED US TO REACH OUT TO OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL AS DEVELOP A MUSICAL CULTURE IN OUR CONGREGATION. YET, THERE IS MORE THAT GOD WANTS TO DO. I FEEL THAT THIS IS AS FAR AS I CAN TAKE THIS FOR NOW. ALL OF OUR CLASSES ARE BASIC - ALL OF OUR INSTRUCTORS ARE SELF TAUGHT AND WE DESIRE TO LEARN MORE FOR OURSELVES AND OUR STUDENTS. I AM OPEN TO ANY AND ALL SUGGESTIONS. WE CALL OUR CLASSES "MUSICVERSITY". PRAY FOR US AND CAN YOU GIVE ME SOME INSIGHT. WHERE DO I ACQUIRE MORE RESOURCES FOR MY STUDENTS SAKE?
EXCITED,
PASTOR JOSEPH

Joseph & Alohma Bishop said:

Dave Knauss said:

Praise the Lord, Pastor Joe!!! What phenomenal things are happening in your church and community. You're correct in that prayer is not a major focus, and neither is fasting and many other vital Christian exercises, but they're mentioned a lot. Remember the change process that the 2000 successful churches adopted that always began with prayer? With every VRP session beginning and ending in prayer, we instructors lived it for you rather than spoke of it on slides. Congratulations on your commitment to prayer and fasting. I really praise God for your willingness to "let go" just like you mentioned. Every teacher likes to hear of his "students'" spectacular successes!!! Especially here in the VRP program. Don't stop now, let me hear more. Give me a call here at Kingdom to chat.
Blessings, Dave

[Dave Knauss]

Pastor Joe,
Wow! Wow! Wow! From what you've said you need next, take a look at the above "Your Belief System and Your Church" posts. Read them over. They not only instruct you in higher levels of musicianship, but also make applications on how to do the same with spirituality in your church. I sell a school music education curriculum at www.classroom-music.info, as I have been a life-long music teacher as well.
Dave

[Lisa]

Pastor, It's cool to see that the work of Dave and others is bearing fruit. I love that you chose your worship team based on desire not abilities. These people may be more enthusiastic than those who are highly trained. I am a firm believer that the Lord will teach you all as you progress. You see I to worship with flags and banners simply by doing and watching others. Less complicated than music I know, still practice, observation, and time with the Lord have been my teachers. Is there someone affordable in your area who could work with your team seperately or together and teach you more? What about starting a relationship with a skilled worship leader in another church?

[Joseph & Alohma Bishop]

Lisa,
I prayed and thought a lot on this. I reveiwed the material that dave has but it is just to overwhelming for me. I learned how to play by ear and using the cheat chord method. I am not familiar with what is know as music theory or evensight reading. My style of playing according to all the real musicians on our worship teams is unorthodox (backwards) but yet God still allowed me to teach them. So, what I did was enlisted them to teach their particular instruments. Yet this only was good for the beginner. We could teach you to play for your self or the worship team for a quick start. This does not satisfy me. Either I will have to get more training myself and teach the next level or seek someone who is willing to pay the price and hand the school over to them. Pray with me. I do so love music. God taught me how to play through prayer. I would pray and ask God to teach me a song and open my eyes and would know the song. He says that His Holy Spirit will teach me all things. I stand on His word and lean not on my own understanding. If you know of a place that may offer me or someone from our team a scholarship to continue our musical education please inform me.--------Pastor Joseph

[Dave Knauss]

Hey Pastor Joe,
Two things. (1) Playing by ear is not bad. It probably happened a long time before someone said, "You know, maybe we ought to figure out a way to write this." (2) Your ear "knows" the sound of perfect music having heard 100s to 1000s of CDs containing perfectly performed and balanced music.

Based on this well-trained hearing ability to discern quality, use it to your advantage. Record your team's playing and have them evaluate it. Ask what they liked about the sound and what they did not like. Ask what they will do about correcting whatever they didn't like. If they're like the kids I taught, you'll be amazed at their astute correctness.

I like your idea of enlisting musicians to teach their particular instruments. When their students have mastered all that the "teachers" have to offer, then employ more accomplished teachers, possibly from a sister church or neighboring church. You live in an area of unlimited musical resources.

There are worship seminars periodically held around the country. I'd suggest having your church and your musicians raise the money to attend them.

I like how you said, "This does not satisfy me." Never loose that small element of dissatisfaction because it will always drive you and your team into higher skill levels and quality. GO FOR IT !!!
Blessings, Dave

[Joseph & Alohma Bishop]

Dave,
I will move upon these suggestions and keep you guys posted. Our church has begun two services on Sunday morning so keep us in prayer. God is about to break the three hundred barrier for Sunday attendance. We have launched out in the past years a Spanich church and an english church. We anticipate sending out another church within the next year.. Have had the priviledge of preparing these new worship teams. Celebrated ten years of pastoring yesterday and went out on the streets today to witness and pray for the hurting souls. Wow. The power of prayer on the streets for the sick and suffering. There is a fire that is burning for those who want to be consumed. Thanks Dave. Stay on fire.---------Pastor Joseph

[Dave Knauss]

Pastor Joe,
Wow! Wow! Wow! What a statement--"The power of prayer on the streets for the sick and suffering. There is a fire that is burning for those who want to be consumed." ...FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO BE CONSUMED

Keep going, my Bro!!! You've got a loud cheering section here at Kingdom. Can you hear us? Do me a favor and please cut and paste and post your comments on the Visitor Retention section here in Kingdom Insight. (Click on Groups above to find it.)
Blessings, Dave