Nancy Beach

Reading on the Beach

I’m back from our Spring Break in Florida where the combination of family laughter, incredibly warm sunshine, a fast from e-mail and technology, and reading on the beach fed my soul and refreshed me entirely.  I am deeply grateful for the gift of that time.

Most of my reading was fiction, but I also explored Seth Godin’s latest book, Tribes.  Like the other Godin books I’ve read, this one packs a lot of punch with very few words.  It’s a bit disorganized…but that’s his style.  However, I believe this is a must-read for all of us seeking to lead, to move forward with our passion and our ideas and our communities.  I’m certain I should re-visit the book in a couple weeks, because it’s hard to process all the thoughts deposited there - especially when I’m distracted by the breeze on the beach and the need to watch out for sunburn!

For those of you who have already read the book, I’d love to hear how it has affected you.  Are there any specific steps you’ve taken to form a tribe?  Please weigh in…

A True Vacation

Very few of us take real vacations anymore.  That’s because we bring along our PDA’s or computers and cell phones, or even a pile of unfinished work.  We see people on the beach with their Blackberrys or laptops, and I confess that sometimes I have been a little distracted with work while away with my family.  But this time it’s going to be different.  We are heading to Florida for a week of Spring Break – by a miracle, both girls are off at the same time!  I’ve decided to go without my laptop.  OK, my husband will have his and I might check in just once or twice.  But basically, I need to get refreshed and make a break from being reachable.

So this week there won’t be any blog posts, updates about the beach or palm trees…none of that.  These days such departures are rare.  My soul needs this…my family needs this…my mind and heart need this.  I bet yours does as well.  Even if you can’t get away, I urge you to consider a fast from technology, if only for a few days.  It’s not possible for us yet to assess how being so connected – all the time – is damaging our internal lives and spirits.  The world won’t fall apart if we disconnect for a time.  And when we return, we will be refreshed and filled with new thoughts and softer hearts.  I am reminded once more of my favorite verse, which I leave with you until early April:

            Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

                                                            Proverbs 4:23

Early Birds

This morning I heard birds – I think they are robins – singing in my yard.  No big deal for some of you in warmer climates, but for me, this is incredibly life-giving!  I thank God for the promise and hope of Spring.  Every year, in spite of our bleak winters and doubts about whether new life will break through, the birds come back (some of them a little early), and eventually the daffodils will poke up their heads and the terribly brown grass will turn a brilliant green.  I absolutely love Spring…

  I want to urge all of you looking for the best possible deal for the Arts Conference in June to be early birds as well – our deadline with the most optimal rate is March 24.  As you go to the website and weigh all the fabulous options for workshops and experiences, keep in mind that we are offering some tremendous preconference workshops for those who want to be true early birds in your arrival.  Allow me to plug a few of those for your consideration:

Leading from a Healthy Soul:  Caring for your Own Soul While Leading Others, taught by Mindy Caliguire.   Often the most difficult person to lead toward spiritual transformation is the person you see in the mirror!  I know this is true for me.  Mindy is a tremendous facilitator of workshops that help artists and teachers restore the life and vitality we all long to display.  Come away awhile and rest – learn to care for your own soul while leading others.

Improving Your Vocal Performance taught by Tim Carson

In this session you can observe and learn techniques and coaching principles that will help you or your team members in the areas of style, increasing range, stage presence/communication and much more.  Check out the option to either participate as an Observer or as a Performer.  Tim is an outstanding facilitator and proven coach of vocalists who truly minister with both skill and heart.

Mind the Gap: Leading Worship That Moves Off the Stage and Into the Hearts and Minds of Your Congregation, taught by Joe Horness

What are the keys to building a worshipping church?  How do we ensure that what we do from the front translates into authentic and meaningful expressions of worship from our congregations?  Discover how to create rich worship experiences that engage the hearts and minds of your community and allow God to be worshipped for all He is!

We’d love to see you join us in June for the Wonder experience.  I know a lot of you, like me, aren’t too good at early bird deadlines.  Maybe this year, you can get ahead of the game and plan ahead in order to ensure the best price and the workshop experiences that will most enrich you personally and in your ministry.

Jet Lag Woes

I haven’t posted much this week because I’m all turned around to Australia time.  Normally, I’m quite the morning person – my daughter would say that I act much too perky when I give her breakfast.  But not this week.  When I try to get up in the morning, it’s about midnight in Australia.  I feel foggy and not at all alert.  In fact, it’s the only time I’ve ever needed my daughter to wake me up.

This experience is helping me to be more empathetic to some of the artists I serve alongside who have always flourished more at night.  I’ve had a hard time relating to those whose best ideas and greatest energy emerge in the evening.  Most of our churches and most corporations are built around an early morning schedule, as though that is optimal for every individual.  In fact, I know lots of leaders who can’t imagine a person having a high work ethic who does not show up first at the office.  Yet some of the best creative work is most likely crafted in the wee hours, when those other leaders have long ago gone to bed.

I think all of us should be a whole lot more gracious toward those who thrive at different times of the day.  Let me know if you’d like to do coffee about 3:00 in the morning, because I’ll be wide awake!

Pastoral Security in the Pulpit

As I’m sure most people are now aware, a pastor was shot and killed in the pulpit last Sunday in downstate Illinois.  My heart goes out to his family and his congregation.

I also believe this tragedy raises the question of security in our churches.  What a sad thought that people might actually consider church to be an unsafe place, especially for the teachers and artists up front who are serving.  I don’t think any of us want our churches to become like airports or courtrooms, where everyone is checked before entering.  Of course this kind of incident is extremely rare, and we should not over-react.  But it reminds me of two times when I have been alarmed while up front at church.

The first experience for me was several years ago.  As I was speaking, a woman came down the aisle of our church shouting some unintelligible words.  Everyone was quite startled, and an usher got up and helped her out of the room.  The Holy Spirit prompted me to pause and lead the congregation in a prayer for this woman and whatever her concerns were.  It turns out she was off her medication and having a bad day.  But I admit my heart beat quite fast in that moment.

The second experience took place a few months ago as I was teaching on Sunday morning.  This time a woman got out of her seat and quietly came all the way up to the front to hand me a note.  God helped me to receive the note and calmly continue to teach.  Wonder what the note said?  Actually, it didn’t make a lot of sense – something about her concern for older people.  Again, one of our very undercover security people got out of his seat and kindly ushered her out.

I have to admit that those experiences gave me pause, because I know that in all of our churches, a certain small percentage of truly troubled people attend.  If any one of them has a serious disagreement with a pastor or worship leader, or just has some kind of psychotic episode, we are at risk.  Yet most of us choose to believe the best, trust God to protect us, and keep on doing the work we are called to do.  I’m curious if any of your churches are having conversations this week about security issues…and what do you think?

So Proud of My Hubby

My husband Warren invests his time in a very different kind of ministry from me.  His passion since he became a Christ follower 30 years ago focuses on serving the under-resourced, and in the past several years Warren has led our church’s global work in Latin America and Africa.  While I focus on the arts and teaching for Sunday morning experiences, he quietly builds partnerships with local churches who are on the front lines, serving the poor and those afflicted with AIDS and other diseases.  I fight to believe my ministry could possibly matter as much as his at the end of the day!

The March issue of Christianity Today features an article about our church’s work in Africa, with several quotes from my husband.  Someone sent me a link to it while I am teaching over in Australia.  To sit in my hotel room this morning in Melbourne and read that article just made my day.  I could not be prouder of my husband and our church. 

Twenty-eight years ago Warren and I committed to partnering together for life.  He is by far one of the greatest gifts God has ever given me. I hope I get to share his mansion in heaven because I have a hunch it will be far grander than my own!

Throwaway Worship Question in Auckland

I’m preparing to leave New Zealand, where I’ve been investing some days in the lives of arts leaders and pastors.  Today, in a coaching session with about thirty leaders, one of them asked about the beginning of a Sunday morning worship service, and how to avoid worship songs that feel like “throw-aways” because so few people are engaged, or even on time, for the worship experience.  Everyone else in the room immediately resonated with this challenge, and it provoked some animated dialog.  I found myself oddly amused at how so many of the same issues affect churches literally all over the world.  Together we explored various ways to call people to worship, and how to model full engagment from the front, hoping to draw others in.  One guy also pointed out that sometimes we need to simply recognize that as artists and worship leaders, we need to “get over ourselves” and allow people some transition time as they come into church, full of other concerns and anxieties.  Our arts teams have already prepared themselves and been in rehearsal that morning – while others in the congregation are attempting to abruptly turn the switch from everyday life to the sacred space.

We explored all kinds of issues today, and I don’t think a single concern from these leaders was something I haven’t heard before in other settings.  Yet we all find it to be incredibly valuable to hear that others wrestle with similar challenges, that we are not as alone or as unique as we think, and that this kind of ministry truly is daunting and sometimes overwhelming!  At the same time, we agreed that most days we still feel abundantly blessed for the privilege of ministry.  I sensed from so many of these leaders a phrase I’ve often said myself:  “I can’t believe I get to do this!”  As always, I walked away feeling inspired by the perseverance and courage of these leaders, certain that they gave more to me than I contributed to them.  So now it’s off to Australia, where I will do two days of workshops with women in church leadership.  I miss home, but I must say it’s great to feel some warmer air!

A Good Day in Christchurch

Though I've been to New Zealand before, I've never had the chance to go to the South Island.  Yesterday I taught at a beautiful downtown church called "Majestic" located in the city of Christchurch.  I met some highly devoted arts leaders and pastors though, including a large group of young people who are just starting out in ministry.  The host church experiments with a variety of art forms, and showed us one of their spoken word/dance pieces which was very powerful. I am so very grateful for the privilege of serving over here - the incredible opportunity to speak into the lives of these leaders and remind them of how significant their ministry is.  In the country of New Zealand, only abou 7% of the people go to church on a given Sunday.  Like most of Europe, this is an increasingly secular culture where few churches truly prevail.  Yet these servants keep on persevering, bringing light into the darkness.  They inspired me...

 

I had a true Sabbath today, including a walk to a park that overlooks Auckland where sheep were grazing, a band performed a medley of Disney tunes, and families gathered for picnics and long walks.  Summer is waning here, but the temperature was nearly 80 degrees!  Tomorrow I will meet with another group of arts leaders and pastors at a local church.  I look forward to coming alongside these leaders as well, and allowing God to use me as a conduit for their encouragement...