Friday Photo: A Week of Music

This week, after another full "Open Mic" night, we invited an expat friend of "The Grain of Wheat" and UBean, and an Open Mic night favorite, to do a weeknight acoustic set. It was a roaring success. 

I love bringing together the beauty of music and the beauty of the Gospel. 

This week's Open Mic night should be another interesting one. We've invited a very popoluar Mongolian Rock band to join us. A lot of kids are planning to be there tonight! 

Cliff brought it. Great night of covers and original music

"Open Mic" continues to draw in lot's of kids every week

1352 Guitar Pickers and Counting

Worship and Mission

I've never really considered myself much of a "worship leader". At least not in the traditional "music leader" sense of the word. I like to play guitar and sing songs of praise, but I never considered that proper qualification. Pastoring in the Nashville, TN area, you realize quite soon, the old song that says "There's 1352 guitar-pickers in Nashville"** is not entirely true. There's actually a lot more than that. Most of them go to church and take some part on the "Worship Team". Nashville has exported itself around the world. This kind of thinking has definitely arrived in the "Land of Blue Sky". Now there's 1352 guitar pickers in UB - and most of them go to church and participate on a worship team.

It's true. I'm not saying they're all believers. But they will play in church.

Now, before I dive into this ... I do want to say this. Christian worship music has had a profound effect on the popular music of Mongolia. Our work at the Grain of Wheat Center has connected us to many popular Mongolian musicians and bands, and it's interesting to see how many find their roots in Western worship music, as it entered the country with the Gospel in the 90's. A few of these musicians will even still profess faith in Christ. Mongolian music prior to the 1990's was pretty much rooted in traditional Mongolian folk music. Many of the young people I talk to "don't like" Mongolian folk music. This is why many (but not all) of the efforts of missioanaries and even a few ethnomusicologists to integrate Mongolian folk-music for the sake of "context" with the church has not seen total success across the country. Most of the young people (especially in the city) like modern western music. But this is not the main point I want to make here...

My concern is more about what I believe to be a universal confusion about the true nature of worship. I completely believe and embrace John Piper's very pertinent word about mission and worship that comes from the opening paragraph of Let the Nations Be Glad! (A book you must read if you have not already):

Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn't.

Worship being the "fuel and goal" of missions is an incedibly important principle. However, I think there's confusion in the ranks about the real nature of worship. Worship is not a service. Worship is not a music team. Worship is not a form. Worship is not a litergy (ancient or modern). Worship is not any style of music ... or even music at all. Now, my self-imposed word alottment will not allow me to get into all of the ways that these things interact with and play into true worship. But we must not confuse the form with the substance.

Worship is about a life increasingly submitted to God because of an increasing awe of God. A person listening to good music can fake worship. A person who is in awe of a beautiful, almighty, allpowerful, all-wise, all-loving Creator and Redeemer ... well ... that can't be faked. That's the kind of worship that I think Pastor John was talking about.

But we get confused. In Nashville and in UB. Very confused.

I'm amazed at church planters who begin with spending their credit limit on music, sound boards, and light shows. I don't want to be a hypocrite. I love music. I love sound and light. I love technology (as my writing on this blog would indicate) There's beauty in it. But please, let's never confuse music with the substance of worship. Any kind of music. It's a form and tool, and a potential idol, and nothing more. I'm afraid the fallout from the "worship wars" of the 80's and 90's is utter confusion about the reality of worship. That confusion is in the context where I work in a big way.

There are churches here that feel they are inadequately equipped if they do not have "technics" (what they say when refering to soundboards and amplifiers). If a church just has an unamplified acoustic guitar, they don't feel they can truely "worship". Anytime any of us come to that conlusion, I say there is a misunderstanding of real worship. Nashville and her guitar pickers become more important than worship's Object. Music has become the substance and we miss the point.

Matt Redmond's song "The Heart of Worship" is very popular in churches here. I wish so very much that the message of that song would be heard.

I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You
All about You, Jesus
I'm sorry Lord for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You

I don't think we need more guitar pickers. 1352 is more than enough. I think we need more people who are in awe of Jesus.

And ... as I say all of that ... I must now close and begin choosing music for International Church next week, as I will be guitar-picking while "leading worship" this Sunday.

Like I said ... hypocrisy abounds. May Jesus be larger than the music this Sunday. And today.

**For those who are too young to know (or you you did not have an audiophile Father like I do), this is a line from a song called "Nashville Cats". It was originally sung by "The Lovin' Spoonful", and covered by several others through years.

How would  you define real Biblical worship? How does Worship relate and interact with Mission?
Love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

Friday Photos: Long Winter Exposure

While walking home this week, I was experimenting with a tripod and some long exposure shots in the UB streets. The problem this time of year is both the cold and the smoke. The cold makes it uncorfortable to stay outside for too long (and starts freezing camera equipment!) and the smoke somewhat distorts many of the night-time exposures (causes unwanted lens flares, etc.) 

In any case ... here are a few that I don't mind sharing with you this week!  Happy Friday! 

The Grain of Wheat Wish List

An Early Merry Christmas From Mongolia!

I’m not a huge fan of “Christmas Lists”. It seems a little “Santa Clause-y” to me, and I kind of like picking out gifts for people that are unique and meaningful. That said, I can see the advatage of a list. If Renee’ needs a new set of dishes and I buy her a pair of pliers, I probably haven’t done her any favors. So, against my better judgement, I am going to give you a Christmas list. However, this list isn’t for me or Renee’ … this list is for the Grain of Wheat Community Center in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia!

Fall 2012 has been a fantastic season of ministry at the Grain of Wheat Community Center.. There are numerous excellent reports that could be given. We’ve seen several young men and women begin to follow Jesus’ path of discipleship. For this grace, we’re so very grateful. We’ve also seen the numbers of students and patrons of UBean Coffee House significantly increase. English classes are being taught every week, in spite of being down a teacher. It’s all very encouraging.

There’s a new music room that’s full of student musicians every day, learning to play instruments and learning what it means to follow Jesus. Our library and computer lab is seeing increased traffic, and student membership is growing.. Live music events have also been off-the-charts. Most weeks, “Open Mic Night” is standing room only.

As we look to the coming new year, there is so much we’d like to do and see accomplished. As we look to the end of 2012 and the opportunities of 2013, I am wondering if I might be so bold as to ask you to partner with us in several projects we’d like to accomplish this coming year? Here’s how it stands now:

1. Please participate in the the C&MA’s Year-End Offering for the Great Commision Fund. This is our main source of support and what keeps our family along with 800+ other units working among the least-reached peoples of the world. Your participation in this will go a long way to help us all year long.

2. For the Music Room This is the newest feature at the Grain of Wheat Center and is getting all kinds of use! The thing that we want our supporters to understand is that this room’s intention is not simply to make pretty sounds. This room’s primary intention is discipleship - and particularly discipleship of young men. We’ve been able to spend much quality time down there, playing guitars and talking about life and, ultimately, about Jesus. Believing young men spend time there with our staff applying Biblical truth to their emerging world-view. Our Center’s music ministry was even recently featured on the C&MA Website. We are seeing this as a great opportunity for ministry, but … have a few more things we’d like to do to finish it out - and you can help! Here’s our Music Room wish list:
   • Two more microphones and stands ($400)
   • A Cajun Drum (we plan to make this ourselves, but need to get the materials) ($300)
   • A good computer for demo recording ($1600)
   • More sound-proofing of the walls ($500)
   • Throw Rugs for the floor ($200)
     We can finish up the Music Room with your help!
3. For the Library/Computer Lab Our library and computer lab are seeing increasing use this year, and becoming a popular place for students to do their studies, school work and research. As our student membership increases, it is our goal that the library/computer lab become one of the most popular features in our center. With your help, we can make this an ideal place for student services and ministry. Here’s the library “wish list”:
   • Replacement of a computer that was stolen ($1200)
   • More bookshelves ($200)
   • More Books in Mongolian ($300)
   • Part-time library staff ($1500 - one year’s salary, split between three people)
     We want to make the library/computer lab a restful and peaceful place for students. Your assistance in this will help a lot!
4. For General Grain of Wheat Center Projects With the increased use of our Center, there are several items which have surfaced which we need to address. Cleanliness and security, especially during the winter time, are of paramount importance. We have had a couple of thefts take place in the Center, recently. So for the safety of our staff and our patrons, we wish to beef up security. Your assistance with these projects will be a huge benefit to the overall well-being of the Grain of Wheat Center.
   • Security Cameras for all three floors and the music room in the basement ($3000)
   • Extra portable chairs for events ($500)
   • Salary for a part-time cleaning staff ($1000 for a year of part time work)
     Your help with these projects will make the Grain of Wheat Center an even more secure and welcoing place for all who use its services.
5. The Patio Project This is an idea that has been in works for some time now. It’s our goal to pull the trigger on this in the Spring of 2013. Here’s the vision: Imagine a cool summer evening in the 13th District of Ulaanbaatar (Okay … most of you have never been here … but work with me, people, work with me). Traffic is flowing past our center to and from the nearby open market. However, the Grain of Wheat Center/UBean Cafe and Roasterie things are relaxed. There are people sitting out on the deck, enjoying the summer evening. Live music starts up while famillies and young people sip their favorite beverage from the best coffee shop in the country. During the day, old men stop by for a chess match on our tables with built-in chess/checker boards. It’s another summer evening at the Grain of Wheat! This could be our reality Summer 2012, with your help!
   • The Patio Project ($5000)

So there you have it! The Grain of Wheat Center Christmas list. If you are interested in directly supporting our center, a place that is becoming a lighthouse in Ulaanbaatar, you may do so by sending donations to either of the following approved accounts through your local Alliance Church, or directly through the links below:

Anderson Work Special
Grain of Wheat Center in Ulaanbaatar

If you wish to designate funds to any of the specific projects list above, please contact us and let us know what’s coming and your specific designations.

Thank you for your support! Thank you for your partnership with us!

Have a blessed and joyful Holiday Season!

Photography and Friday Photo

Last week during our camera club we got some very interesting Fall shots around the Grain of Wheat Center in UB. You can check out the photo album from last week on Facebook. The shot below is one I was particularly pleased with. This old grandpa allowed me to take his picture, which is pretty unusal here. He was in the city from the countryside. A lot of lines. A lot of character. Stories to tell - and a cool hat. 

This week (today, as a matter of fact). Our camera club will be participating in the 5th Annual Scott Kelby Worldwide Photo Walk.  Our UB branch will meet at the Center today at 3:30 to hike through the UB City Center and take lots of interesting pictures of our city. So far we have about 25 people signed up to do this. Hope to get all 50 slots filled up. Check back here for photos from the walk!