Blake Goss

I was going to write an album review of Hillsong United’s new album, but then I read Tyler’s (worship leader at Freedom) review. His blog review of the album was so good that I’m gonna let you hear it straight from him. Tyler is one of the most passionate worship leaders I know and it is an honor to lead our people to the presence of God with him each week. Here’s his thoughts:

Been listening to the new United album for the past few days as well as went to their concert last night.

All I can say about the new album is: WOW!

The music, writing, composition, passion, heart behind the project is phenomenal. I also love the fact that they are rising up a new generation with a new style and new heart towards this music. You can hear the new style in the way songs are written, the way they are sung, and the way they are played. The CD has “next generation” written all over it.

Here are a few thoughts from the CD (and concert) that I think all worship leaders should take into account::

1. it’s not about complexity but simplicity. some times as worship leaders we try to write, write, re-write, and then write some more. Rather than coming up with cool ways to say the same thing we have been saying for years, write simply from the heart. You can tell that these lyrics have that concept written all over it. The words are simple. The words are life-changing.

2. be worshippers, not leaders. i know that the title says “worship leaders” and I know some people change it to say “leaders of worship” but I say extract the idea of leading and engage with God, the creator, when you are playing. If you are worshiping, wholeheartedly, authentically, unashamed on-stage, then you will be ultimately leading the crowd through that engaging worship. Blake, the worship pastor at Freedom, has been breathing this verse’s life into us before every Sunday morning experience: “And when I am lifted up from the earth, all men will be drawn to me.” John 12:32 - in this regard lift up the name of Jesus and he will draw the people unto himself.

3. bring the kingdom of God here. this falls right in tune with the previous point. one of the pastors from Hillsong made this point last night and it has been stirring within me ever since. In the old testament the temple was used to contain the presence of God; a place where heaven and earth met. Christ was crucified. The veil was torn. God’s “presence” was released. When we accept Christ our body becomes a temple, a dwelling place for God on earth; we become the vessel between heaven and earth. We are the ones who are capable of bringing the Kingdom of God here – through the power of the Holy Spirit in us! Through your worship bring the Kingdom of God here!

Again, the CD is phenomenal and God-breathed. If you haven’t had a chance to purchase it,  jump on iTunes and spend the $10. You won’t be dissappointed.

One of the most frustrating feelings in the christian walk is when you are always trying to get back to a certain level of passion that you previously had. Then when we finally reach that level of passion again, it dwindles, and the cycle repeats. We go to unbelievable conferences like Catalyst and Unleash and reach the pinnacle of our heart for God (church camp feeling) and then it seems to fade as we get back to our every day life. Why can’t we just capitalize on those amazing events and use it as fuel to make our passion rage out of control in the days ahead. Here’s a verse we’ve heard a million times that God hit me with:

“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross DAILY and follow me.” Luke 9:23

The disciples understood what that meant because in their day when criminals were crucified they carried their own cross to the crucifixion location. If you took up your cross you knew you were going to die. When we reached that understanding of our desperate need for Jesus and called on Him as Savior nothing could hinder our passion for Him. We took up our cross. We understood that we had to sacrifice our lives to follow Him no matter what the cost. But God’s promise in the very next verse is “but whoever loses his life for me will save it.” Jesus was calling His disciples to make this commitment daily.

I need to take up my cross hourly, not daily. I don’t ever want to get used to the fact that Jesus was brutally crucified so that I could live and become righteousness. I need to constantly remember the sacrifice of Jesus so that I will constantly sacrifice. I’m not satisfied living my life working towards a level of passion I’ve already experienced. I want to live with a passion that increases with every passing day.

Worship Set 5.24.09:

• Shout Your Name- Freedom Live
• Take It All- Hillsong United
• To Know Your Name- Hillsong
• The Same Power- Hillsong
• Glory To God- Fee
• Sing Sing Sing- Tomlin

As Christians we will willingly admit that our lives and our talents belong to God. Most of us will even admit that our money belongs to God, but we have a hard time understanding that our body belongs to God.

“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy Him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.”   1 Cor. 3:16-17                                                                                

It doesn’t get a whole lot clearer than that. People will quote this scripture in reference to sexual sin or when they see someone smoking, yet they have a doughnut in each hand. Gluttony is probably the most overlooked sin and yet God’s word is very clear on taking care of our bodies. We need to urgently turn from this death license as God tells us that as we destroy our bodies with this crap, we are destroying His temple. You can clearly see the consequences in the scripture of what happens when we destroy His temple. Be a good steward of God’s temple and honor Him by honoring your body. Put down the fork and pick up a dumbbell.

Everyone be sure to remember that there will be 1 worship experience this sunday for memorial day weekend. It’ll be @ 10:30. I’m pumped because the energy is always rocking when we come together in one service. Don’t miss it.

Thought I would post some more gear for you. This is the amp that I use. It’s a Budda Retro Lead 30. Supposedly there was only about 30-50 made of this particular model. I think it’s true because the model # was hand written on the back. It was number 3 made. This amp kills and is extremely versatile with both a normal and high gain channel. The attenuator switch is a very nice feature if you play in a lot of different size venues. You can cut the db’s so you still get the rich tube tone without having to turn the main volume up so much.

We wrapped up the “Full Of IT” series on sunday. This entire series was incredible and we saw tons of life change take place. Even though this series was great, I am anxious to start the upcoming series “Awakening.” God has taught me so much through the preparation of this series. Just get ready for an Awakening to happen in your life and in this city!

Worship Set 5.17:

• We Shine- Fee
• You Never Let Go- Matt Redman
• This Is Our God- Hillsong
• Stronger- Hillsong
• Happy Day- Tim Hughes

“Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.” Psalm 33:3

The part of this scripture that a lot of worship leaders / churches miss is “play skillfully.” People say that as long as you have a good heart or make a “joyful noise” to the the Lord it’s ok to lead a church in music. In the words of Perry Noble, “we’re not listening to your heart, we’re listening to your voice.” I know the scripture about making a joyful noise is important for the worship leader, but it’s only one part of leading and I believe it mainly pertains to the rest of the church who aren’t called to lead music. Simply put, if you lead worship joyfully, but without skill, it’s going to be hard for anyone else in the church to be joyful. Spend time developing your craft so that you can offer God your best as you play skillfully  in worship. I simply surround myself with those who are better than me at guitar, vocals, and leadership.

In the worship department at Freedom we define the win by, “Elevating the name of Jesus with excellence and energy.” I wasn’t even paying attention to this verse when creating this phrase, but look how perfectly it aligns:

1. Elevating the name of Jesus: “sing to Him a new song”
2. with excellence: “play skillfully”
3. and energy: “and shout for joy”

At Freedom Church it is a requirement to play skillfully. It is the standard that God set.

Sunday was a very special day for our family. In the past we have always celebrated our mothers on mother’s day. Our moms rock and that was still awesome, but this year we got to celebrate Emily being a mother for the first time. 

On top of that we had baby dedication at Freedom and were able to dedicate Gavin. We have been dedicating that boy from the moment we found out Emily was pregnant. Can’t wait to see the unbelievable things God is going to do through his life. Everyone has been telling us this leading up to his birth, but now we truly have a better understanding of the love of the Father giving Jesus for us.

Worship Set 5.10:

• You Deserve- Hillsong
• Reign In Us- Starfield
• From The Inside Out- Hillsong United
• New Again- Brad Paisley & Sara Evans (w/ support video)
• Your Grace Is Enough- Tomlin

 “When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”   -Colossians 2:13-15

This is why we rock out very loud each worship experience. I believe it is impossible to understand this truth and be quiet about it. God didn’t save us as we were dying, he made us alive after we were already dead. We were flatlined without a pulse and He brought us to life! 

I love how it says Jesus took our sin, the written code, and all the ridiculous regulations and nailed them to the cross. Jesus is risen leaving all of those things still in the grave. He triumphed and that is why we have Freedom! (haha nice pun)