It wasn't me. Respect.

My project for school is supposed to be "collegial," so I'm in focus group Tuesday night trying to explain to seminarians what we do in worship/music/production at Western Reserve.

"We have pre-jam."

"What-the"

"We offer earplugs."

"Huh."

"We're pretty rocking-and-rollin'."

"You could write about transitioning from 'traditional to contemporary.'"

"Contemporary?  Shoot me."

Okay, so I didn't say that last line and it's pretty overdramatic.  My idea of "contemporary" is 4 singers standing 6 inches apart singing into mics with colored windscreens...

Point is- 

No, I can't write about "transitioning from traditional to contemporary."

Why not?

I didn't do it.

As a good friend of mine says, I've never met an over-encouraged Pastor.  So, talking with Jason yesterday, I tried to convey some respect.  You see- he's the one at Western Reserve that transitioned people from "about me" to "about them."  All that blood, sweat and tears was his battle- he doesn't crave credit for that, but too bad:) I'm giving it to him because he deserves it.  All I've done is built on his foundation.

That process, at any church?  Eh.

It's cost the ministries of better men than me.

One thing that staff guys like me need to realize is the depth of leadership, dreams and progress we get to have doesn't happen without guys that lived through deep areas of leadership that are, frankly, much more difficult than most young guys realize.

I had lunch this afternoon with one of my best friends, Mark Taylor.  He's been a Lead Pastor for several years now- on the front lines helping people to transition from "church is about me" to "church is about them."

I've got mad respect for this guy.  

He's paying prices I wasn't willing to pay.

God bless him.

To Lead Pastors and core leaders out there who have battle scars- 

thank you.

Respect.

Your character changes the lives of guys like me.  Keep going.

Comments

[Keith Whitman]

Good stuff Josh!

[Josh Allen]

Thanks coach!

[Mark]

Thanks bro. You've had a hand in my resolve too.