http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/forums/ en Sat, 25 May 2013 12:45:07 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/forums/images/misc/rss.png http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/forums/ http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/forums/showthread.php/8088-Looking-for-advice-insight?goto=newpost Tue, 21 May 2013 17:30:33 GMT Hey everyone,

I wasn't sure where would be the best place to post this thread, so I'm putting it here. I'm looking for some advice/insight into something I'm going through personally. Short story; in less than a month the divorce I'm going through will be final. I never expected to find myself in this situation, but here I am. I don't have the time to really go in to detail right now, but to give you a little bit of a background, there were things on both our parts that didn't make the marriage go well, however getting a divorce was my wife's decision. I wanted to reconcile, fix what needed to be fixed, and make the future different. We were doing counseling, but ultimately she didn't want to fix things.

In college is when I felt a true leading from the Lord to pursue music ministry. About a year and a half ago I left my part time position at a church due to leadership issues and feeling like God was bringing my time there to a close. So it's been that long since I've led worship in any capacity. I'm to the point now where I'm needed to make some big decisions in my life and one is regarding career. I've been doing a bunch of part-time jobs and I'm just not fulfilled in them. What my heart still truly desires is to be involved in full-time music ministry. I'm just wondering how my current divorce fits in with that. I don't believe that the divorce nullifies the calling I felt the Lord give me in college. I realize this may complicate things though.

I'm just wondering if anyone has any experience with this, insight into what direction I should be heading, etc. I'm just looking for whatever advice people might be able to give me. I don't have any answers really, so thought I would throw it out there to a larger pool of people. Thanks for listening/reading.

Ryan ]]> Random Fellowship and Babbling ryanrotman http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/forums/showthread.php/8088-Looking-for-advice-insight http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/forums/showthread.php/8085-Ragamuffin-Movie-HOW-AWESOME-IS-THIS!?goto=newpost Wed, 15 May 2013 13:54:43 GMT I SO can't wait to see this movie. I take some good-natured grief these days over being a Rich Mullins fan and being influenced by him so much. It's a kinda shame he isn't considered relevant and cool anymore because when it comes to folks we look up to who passionately share Christ, live out what they say, confront the establishment, and are creative, we could do a lot worse. In fact, I think we do. Anyway, check this out: ]]> Random Fellowship and Babbling Moosicman http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/forums/showthread.php/8085-Ragamuffin-Movie-HOW-AWESOME-IS-THIS! http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/forums/showthread.php/8067-Good-News?goto=newpost Wed, 01 May 2013 01:37:48 GMT Steve Fee is back! He lead worship at Orange Conference this year as well as a few other events. Introed his new Dubstep version of We Shine, pretty... Steve Fee is back! He lead worship at Orange Conference this year as well as a few other events. Introed his new Dubstep version of We Shine, pretty impressed. But that fact that he is back (regardless of his past mistakes) means good things for the Worship Ministry! Can't wait to see the songs that God makes through him again!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jql-V...ature=youtu.be ]]> Random Fellowship and Babbling Cody Patterson http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/forums/showthread.php/8067-Good-News http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/forums/showthread.php/8062-Bankrupt-Church?goto=newpost Fri, 26 Apr 2013 16:44:47 GMT Anyone have experience with a church going bankrupt? What normally happens? Is that church typically able to bounce back with enough time, or does... Anyone have experience with a church going bankrupt? What normally happens? Is that church typically able to bounce back with enough time, or does it eventually cease to exist with members migrating to other churches? ]]> Random Fellowship and Babbling waitin4winter http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/forums/showthread.php/8062-Bankrupt-Church http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/forums/showthread.php/8059-Legal-Advice?goto=newpost Wed, 24 Apr 2013 04:35:44 GMT Hey All,

I'm looking for some legal advice, specifically related to sending a cease and desist letter regarding harassment. If anybody on TWC could help me out, I'd greatly appreciate it. You're also more than welcome to pray about the situation. Thankfully it has nothing to do with ministry.

Nate ]]> Random Fellowship and Babbling milepost13 http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/forums/showthread.php/8059-Legal-Advice http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/forums/showthread.php/8049-The-Time-Between-the-Testaments?goto=newpost Thu, 11 Apr 2013 16:38:41 GMT In my own studies, I have been looking into the 'time between the testaments', the 400 years or so between the time of Malachi and Matthew.

Although the 'official' Jewish writings are nonexistent, there was a lot going on in that time frame that sets the stage for many things in the NT. I wanted to share a few highlights that I found very interesting.

• Greece rises as a world power, conquers much of Persia, including Judea
• Judea and Syria annexed to Egypt at this time, Jerusalem under Egyptian rule
• Grecian influence in the region increased- Greece 'homogenized' their culture to Jewish tradition, Septuagint written (~284 BCE)
• Birth of Sadducees (liberal Jews, "Hellenists" acquiescing to Greek culture), Pharissees ('to separate'- resisted Greek influence, rigid and legalistic interpretation of Laws), and Essenes (much smaller, but stored documents in caves overlooking the Dead Sea...)
• Jerusalem comes under Grecian control (203 BCE), Antiochus Epiphanes persecutes Jews- disposed of High Priest (Aaron's line), sold priesthood to Jason, who sold the vessels in the Temple. Jewish religious rites deteriorated.
• Jerusalem revolts and overthrows pseudo-priests (171 BCE), Antiochus decimates Jerusalem- 40,000 Jews killed, Temple defiled, sow blood sprinkled on everything, Holy of Holies entered, sacred scrolls destroyed
• Judas Maccabeus leads Maccabean Revolt- won battles despite being exponentially outnumbered. Cleansed and rededicated temple on December 25
• Maccabeans (Asmonean Dynasty) continues to fend off Syrian invasion attempts. Rome rising in power, treaty for Rome to assist Jerusalem if attacked. However, during an attack on Jerusalem by 3 kings, Roman General Pompey descended on Jerusalem and captured it for Rome (63 BCE).
• Antipater (descendant of Esau) appointed leader of Judea, set his sons as kings of Galilee and Judea (Herod the Great, Matthew 1 & 2)

As I am studying this time in Jewish history, it sheds a lot of light on why so many things in the New Testament happened the way they did.

For example, within that 400 years, Jerusalem was under constant attack and persecution. They were constantly oppressed, enslaved, killed, demoralized, and bullied. Their temple was defiled, their sacred rites were mocked, they were betrayed by those enlisted to help them. They were nothing but political pawns and a disposable race.

Now using those eyes, think about what it must have felt like to the Jewish leaders. For the last several generations, they have been indoctrinated that they better go along with what they are told or they will be squashed like bugs. Jews had been in some state of Diaspora since the exile to Babylon, they knew it wasn't an idle threat. So the leaders are trying to keep the peace to protect the future.

Now enter this guy from Judea who is claiming to be king. Herod starts out by having every Jewish male under 2 killed. They aren't messing around. Now, as Jesus starts His ministry, calling Him king, he's being a rabble rouser, saying He's going to destroy the Temple, saying He's King of the Jews, and the leaders are envisioning the long arm of Rome come down and annihilate Jerusalem. This was a very real threat. In fact, within a generation, Rome did destroy the Temple and slaughter Jews.

It changed my perception a lot about the motives of the Jewish leaders. It wasn't only a threat to their power- they faced a very real threat of being euthanized if Rome saw fit. Their decisions are always played off as cold and calculating, eliminating a threat. But there likely was a genuine fear by most leaders, that if Jesus was allowed to continue, it would turn into Antiochus 2.0. Now I'm not a 'sympathizer', but I think they were a little more human than we give them credit for sometimes.

I'm still studying it, but it's very eye-opening experience, so I thought I'd share. ]]> Random Fellowship and Babbling Mike on Bass http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/forums/showthread.php/8049-The-Time-Between-the-Testaments