Cyber Monday: Book & CD Offer—Extended Through Christmas!

I've been away for a few weeks filling my batteries and having great family time! It's time to get back to writing and the joy that I always find communicating what's on my heart.

I am so happy to have completed two projects in the past few months which have recently been released; I want to take this opportunity, on Cyber Monday, to make them available together for the special price of $25, with free shipping! The book, Worship Foundry, and my new CD, Songs for the Harvest, are ready to ship and I will sign both if you purchase them directly from me. Please email me and I will let you know how to pay, and will get them out to you lickity split!

I pray that your Thanksgiving was fantastic and filled with generous helpings of gratefulness, family and friends~

Blessings to all,
Jamie

Press here to purchase the book and CD combo today!

Breaking Bad: Reconciling Life's Difficulties

It seem everywhere I read lately there have been several mentions in blogs, articles, etc., of how to reconcile bad things that happen to good people. If we are always looking for "fairness" in life, our expectations will produce a disappointing reality.

In college, while studying to be a pastor, the theological topic of "the problem of evil" would raise its head quite often. As mentioned before, while expecting "fairness" in everything, we are easily disheartened. This week in the news, 10,000 Filipinos lost their lives as a horrible typhoon that swept across their island nation. Think of that—10,000 people perished—moms, dads, kids, grandparents...innocent people who didn't deserve to die. And how can we wrap our heads around the recent school killings, or the brutal gassing of civilians in the Syrian Civil War? There are no easy answers, and perhaps, no immediate answers at all.

C.S. Lewis pondered of the problem of evil in a work called, "The Case for Christianity." He wrote:

“God created things which had free will. That means creatures which can go wrong or right. Some people think they can imagine a creature which was free but had no possibility of going wrong, but I can't. If a thing is free to be good it's also free to be bad. And free will is what has made evil possible. Why, then, did God give them free will? Because free will, though it makes evil possible, is also the only thing that makes possible any love or goodness or joy worth having. A world of automata—of creatures that worked like machines—would hardly be worth creating. The happiness which God designs for His higher creatures is the happiness of being freely, voluntarily united to Him and to each other in an ecstasy of love and delight compared with which the most rapturous love between a man and a woman on this earth is mere milk and water. And for that they've got to be free. Of course God knew what would happen if they used their freedom the wrong way: apparently, He thought it worth the risk... If God thinks this state of war in the universe a price worth paying for free will—that is, for making a real world in which creatures can do real good or harm and something of real importance can happen, instead of a toy world which only moves when He pulls the strings—then we may take it it is worth paying.”

In another work called "The Problem of Pain," C.S. Lewis helps to bring understanding to the process of God refining the hearts and souls of His dearly beloved children:

“We are, not metaphorically but in very truth, a Divine work of art, something that God is making, and therefore something with which He will not be satisfied until it has a certain character. Here again we come up against what I have called the “intolerable compliment.” Over a sketch made idly to amuse a child, an artist may not take much trouble: he may be content to let it go even though it is not exactly as he meant it to be. But over the great picture of his life—the work which he loves, though in a different fashion, as intensely as a man loves a woman or a mother a child—he will take endless trouble—and would doubtless, thereby give endless trouble to the picture if it were sentient. One can imagine a sentient picture [one which helps the beholder sense, feel, perceive or experience subjectivity], after being rubbed and scraped and re-commenced for the tenth time, wishing that it were only a thumb-nail sketch whose making was over in a minute. In the same way, it is natural for us to wish that God had designed for us a less glorious and less arduous destiny; but then we are wishing not for more love but for less.” 

My friend John Stanko, in a recent blog post entitled "Strength and Weakness," wrote of the Apostle Paul's difficulties and how he seemed to be failing when in fact he was actually doing the will of God while struggling through overwhelming circumstances. Stanko said:

"Paul saw that he was in his best position for success when he was in his purpose, but also facing his limitations, trusting the Lord to somehow make a way. And God always did make a way, even when he was in prison or on a sinking ship. Even when the ship was going down, Paul was fulfilling his purpose of taking the gospel to the Gentiles, even the Gentile ship's crew."

Our limitations, trials and difficulties make us stronger. As C.S. Lewis illustrated through the "intolerable compliment," would we trade the character God has formed in us for an easier life? That's up to each individual to decide. In Romans 5:1-5, Paul makes the claim which sheds light on the value of his own struggles:

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (NASB)"

We may never reconcile pain, unfairness, badness, evil and sin in this life like we do with our bank statements, but God will always use our suffering to create His likeness in us. We must be a willing vessel, ready to be formed by the Artist's skilled hands on His pottery wheel.

Worship Team Training Hangout with Jamie Harvill and Branon Dempsey

I was excited to join Branon Dempsey for an interview on November 6th, covering topics of worship in the church, including how to love and keep volunteers, ageism in the church, rock star worship leaders, mentoring, and some information about my new book, Worship Foundry. I hope you enjoy this informal chat, and thanks to Branon for adding my song, "Texas Toast," from my solo instrumental record, Songs Without Words, to the beginning of the video!








Order the new book today!

Worship Foundry: Shaping a New Generation of Worship Leaders 
by Jamie Harvill 

Harvest Songs

A month or so ago, I mentioned on Facebook and Twitter that I was going to start a new recording project. I included this photo of several acoustic instruments that I said will be used in the recording. At that time, I didn't mention the concept for the project that I was mulling around in my mind.

Fall is my favorite time of year. I have such great memories of when I moved to Ohio back in 1980, and the smell of burning leaves during Autumn permeated the air. The Fall took on a different feel for me there; in Southern California, where I was raised, there really was never a change of seasons, just lots of rain preceding the spring, then the killer SoCal weather—for which it is so famous—until the Santa Ana winds blow through in late Summer, reaching all the way to the rainy season again. The Southeast, here in Tennessee, has a more mild temperature, but there are four distinct seasons, none the less. It has always been my desire to write and record a batch of songs that the Fall inspired; songs that bring that crisp air and beautiful foliage to mind.

Fall in Gatlinburg, Tennessee

I can think of records I listened to back in the day, like Neil Young's Harvest, and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young's Deja Vu. Later, I would discover artists like Emmylou Harris, Ricky Skaggs,  Linda Ronstadt and the Eagles—their music brings about a longing for wide-open spaces and beautiful vistas. I have always wanted to recreate that feeling in my songs (that's what artists do!), and I made up my mind to do a record during the Fall—for inspiration.

I started about 6 weeks ago, and I'm almost finished with the 9 songs on the record. I used a heavy dose of acoustic instruments like banjo (a "ganjo," in my case), mandolin, fiddle, and a smattering of steel guitar—thanks to my new friend, Mike Scaggs. I've written some new songs especially for this project, and there will be some old favorites from my past on there like "Only Always," "Garments of Praise" and one of my favorite camp song-hymns: "At the Cross." I've also included a new song, co-written with the great Ginny Owens (also on her upcoming record), called "I Am Yours."

I'm not sure what it'll be called, but I pray the project will be a delight to play in any season. It will definitely have you longing for the crisp days of Fall, and reaching for a warm sweater to break the Autumn chill.

Knowing—Growing—Sowing

Regarding our personal lives, it's good to ask ourselves every once in a while, "What the heck am I doing?" I get in such a groove with daily routines that I become stuck in a rut! Church is much the same: we go through the motions each week and, from time to time, try to remember the reason we're doing what we're doing (like I do these days when I go into a room, stop, and try to recall why I went in there!).

I am convinced that in our modern age of consumer church, by an ever-so-slight and a sometimes hard-to-recognize degree, we are veering away from the Church's simple yet profound original purpose: Helping to connect people with God.

This week, in the Wednesday morning men's meeting I attend at my church, I was thinking of our church's purpose in the community—these three words came to mind: to Know, Grow and Sow. It's probably cornball, and not at all original, but it reminds me that we should be all about people and not just designing incredible "big-top" extravaganzas of worship events each week. There is a place for worship services, music, preaching and fellowship in the life of our church (I just completed a 200-page book on the subject of worship), but to focus the majority of our fiscal budget, time and effort on producing events is out of balance.

To clarify: I am a proponent of killer music, excellence, and the "if you're gonna do it at all, do it the best you know how" approach. I love quality lighting because it helps me see what's onstage; I like good sound because it helps amplify even the smallest and most nuanced part of a sermon or musical arrangement; I like hi-def video because it helps me see the words to the worship songs, and I can be encouraged by my pastor's preaching in our Spring Hill auditorium, which is broadcast from our main campus, 20-minutes away in Franklin—and it can be seen at a later time online, too. Living in Tennessee, I am so very thankful for air-conditioning. I don't wanna go back to funeral fans and opened windows for comfort!

I am all for technology and the advancements that God has engineered to assist the Church throughout the centuries. But we must remember our primary purpose: to Know God and help others get to know Christ personally (through church services, events and outreaches and "circle-of-influence"-evangelism, etc.); to Grow spiritually (through various spiritual formation initiatives— from classroom learning to old-school one-on-one mentoring); and to Sow the Gospel and go into all the world, as the Great Commission commands (not suggests!). We are called to work along side God to help re-create in others what He has created through Christ in us. Ultimately, it's about fostering a community of people to (as the Westminster Shorter Catechism states): "...glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever."

I think there's probably a place for Christ-followers to sit in a comfortable building, watching the "pros" do church each week for an hour and a half. But as we refocus our purpose, the work of the Church is not for the professional Christians alone to accomplish. Rather, it's for every church staff member and volunteer believer, both young and old, to join together in the business of Knowing, Growing and Sowing!

Goodbye Pastor Chuck Smith

It was sad to hear the news of Chuck Smith's passing. For decades he was Senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, California. He slipped quietly away from his family and flock to be with the Lord last week, after an almost two-year battle with lung cancer. Chuck was 86.

I know that, ultimately, the death of a Christ-follower is a victory: we shed our mortal bodies to inhabit new, glorious ones that will never again experience struggle, sickness or pain. I watched Chuck's final sermon last week online. He preached in that old familiar sanctuary that I visited so many times back in the mid-'70s. Chuck made his way to the pulpit and sat while he spoke, an oxygen tube affixed to his nose to help him deliver a message on keeping the faith. No one knew at the time that this would be his last sermon from the pulpit. Looking at the video from that fateful Sunday morning service on September 29th, it was bittersweet.

So many came to the Lord over the years and grew mightily through Chuck's ministry at Calvary Chapel. I came to know the Lord and, in part, grew in my own faith through the ministry there. I am grateful that when the opportunity arose to minister to those shaggy-haired hippies back in the late-'60's and '70s, he said, "Yes!" While so many would turn their backs on the hippies, Chuck welcomed them into Calvary Chapel's fold. Many were barefooted, unkempt and unshaven—many of Calvary's members counseled him against it. His decision to reach out to those counter-culture dropouts helped set the wheels in motion for one of the greatest cultural revivals in America, not to mention the incredible Jesus Music and the subsequent worship renewal that was birthed out of it all.

Bittersweet—yes—because it's an end of an era for believers of my generation from the West Coast. Chuck made sure to raise up several leaders over the years who, in turn, helped plant several churches all over the world and disciple millions. The work will continue as those young leaders, many former hippies from the early days of Calvary Chapel, following Chucks example, duplicated themselves and raised strong leaders for successive generations.

God is honored through the life of Chuck Smith. I don't want to waste a single day messing around with worthless pursuits, and I would like to end my days knowing I finished the race as well as he did.

Worship Teams: Leading A Volunteer Army

Here's another excerpt from my new book, Worship Foundry, coming out on WestBow Press/ Thomas Nelson by late-fall of 2013. I am excited, to say the least, and hope you snag a copy of your own! I am also available to come to your church or organization to teach on the topics introduced in the book and certainly other topics, too, such as songwriting, if you like. I'd also love to join in with your worship team during weekend services to worship with you and your church while I'm there. Give me a shout at jamie(at)jamieharvill(dot)com.

Thanks for faithfully coming back to these pages each week, and I hope you've gained encouragement through the writings.

***

With most church activities, the work is done through volunteers—people who have families, jobs, and many responsibilities in their personal lives. I highly respect the time given by volunteers for events, rehearsals, worship services, community outreaches, building projects, etc., and that’s why I start and end on time.

The best currency for volunteers is appreciation. It’s important to convey appreciation during and after each event. It’s also good to have “hi-five” moments when an event goes over well, and equally important to make necessary corrections, with love, when something doesn’t go as well. Volunteers want to be a part of something exciting, life-changing, and carried out with excellence and efficiency. As a leader, it’s my responsibility to bring direction and discipline to the whole process. Volunteers want to feel respected, protected and appreciated.

Becoming an effective leader is a life-long process, and it’s important to invest in leadership, as well as spiritual and musical training. This book will speak of leadership throughout, but there are so many resources available in Christian bookstores. Books by contemporary authors such as John Maxwell and Bill Hybels, and even classics like “D.L. Moody on Spiritual Leadership” are available in print or in e-book form. There are seminars such as the annual Willow Creek Leadership Summit, simulcast from the Chicago-area main campus to local churches throughout the world. Training videos are available on the Willow Creek website to help you become a more effective leader.

"Volunteers want to feel respected, protected and appreciated."

It’s not too late to finish your college or graduate degree. There are many universities that offer online courses on leadership. The opportunity to complete what you may have started years ago can be invigorating. Any investment that makes us a better person, leader, minister, and musician is a good one.

Jesus’ Method of Leadership

Jesus made sure the disciples knew that the true essence of leadership was being a servant. He taught them through the humble task of washing the disciples’ feet. Even though some relented, Jesus pressed-in to make His point. In John 13:12-16, we see Jesus, the ultimate servant, in action:

“When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. ‘Do you understand what I have done for you?’ he asked them. ‘You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. (NIV)’”

There is no greater display of true leadership than in the life Jesus. His way of dealing with people, prioritizing His time (He did what He was called to do in roughly three years), and making courageous and unpopular decisions, is a great example of true focus, passion and purpose. His obedience to God is our example to emulate. His behavior inspires us to get up, get out and be the leader we need to be. Our understanding of people, human nature, and how to inspire a diverse team of individuals, with a focused goal, is imperative to effective leadership.