Posts by Jimi Williams
Leadership Development
I hope everyone had a great Independence Day weekend. Spring Hill is exploding as I write this blog. The haze is so thick it reminds me of Port au Prince in Haiti. A big thanks to Dave and Debbie Hall for having us out to the farm. It was a great time for all.
I wanted to take the opportunity to brag a little on Shivonne Hood. Shivonne led the worship team last Sunday and did an amazing job. Seeing her leading worship now, you would never know that she was lacking confidence a little over a year ago. I almost had to make her sing!
My wife, Jennifer, says that Shivonne is like a beautiful butterfly that has transformed before our eyes. I agree. It’s amazing what a little encouragement and opportunity can do. Who’s the caterpillar in your life who’s waiting to become a butterfly? Maybe a friend, co-worker or child. Your encouragement and a little opportunity just might be the launching point for them.
I’m blessed to be a part of a church that appreciates and gives space for people to develop. There is so much joy in seeing others succeed.
Thank you, Bridge family. I love you all!
Pastor Jimi
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Searching For God Knows What
So, I’m reading Searching For God Knows What by Donald Miller. I’ve been reading through all of Donald’s books this summer starting with Blue Like Jazz. I would recommend any of his books if you want a different, and many times refreshing, look at Christianity.
SFGKW spends a good deal of time talking about the fall of man. And how all of our problems and struggles originate with that original sin. He points out in the book that how we treat one another is often counter-Christ. I like to think that I’m an “equal-opportunity” friend, that I’m not biased or judgmental, but I know in my heart that’s not the case.
Isn’t that the problem we all have? Think about it. The first 4 of the 10 commandments deal with our relationship with God. The last 6 deal with our relationships with one another. When those relationships break down, or are not honored, sin happens. I’ve said before that love is the main thing. The more I study the life of Christ, I see that he was truly the “Lover of our souls”. The problem is that our version of love doesn’t measure up to what Christ demonstrated for us. I think sometimes it’s easier to love God than it is to love one another, except for the fact that one of the biggest ways we love God is to love others the way He loves us.
I need new eyes and a new heart. I need to see people the way that God sees them. I’m really trying to do that, but it’s hard. I see a jerk who cuts line at the deli or is impatiently riding my bumper. God sees a child who is hurting or is insecure. I see an angry mom who is yelling at her kids. God sees a frustrated child who wants more from life.
Anyway, I would recommend Searching For God Knows What to anyone. It is challenging my religiosity and unearthing things in me that I need to repent from.
Jimi Williams
Worship Pastor, The Bridge
Hymns, hymns, hymns
A few weeks back, we made an intentional decision to try and sing at least one hymn each week during our Sunday gathering. Josh explained a little of this a few weeks back, but here’s some additional information on hymns and our decision.
1. Many hymns have rich theological content. The lyrical structure of hymns provide way more real estate to map out complex ideas and deep meanings. A typical modern praise song would have a couple of verses, a chorus that is repeated and perhaps a bridge section. Hymns can have 4,5 or 6 stanzas, which tend to be longer than verses of a modern song. This structure gives the author more words to say what is difficult to say.
2. Hymns build a bridge to history. There’s something solid about the idea of singing the same lyric and melody that Christ followers sang a hundred or two hundred years ago. This connects us historically to many church fathers and countless believers throughout the centuries. In addition, hymns build bridges to current history. If you grew up in church, chances are you sang hymns, unless you were born in the 80′s (Josh). When people visit the Bridge, we love them enough to sing a song that they might know.
3. Not all hymns are great. Just like there are a lot of poorly written worship songs today, there are poorly written hymns as well. Some are just downright hokey. This is not blasphemy as some may think. Hymns were the modern worship songs of the day, many of which were new lyrics put to old folk or bar tunes. So don’t get high-horsed on me. The great hymns have stood the test of time, but there were many, many more that thankfully did not make it.
4. Not all hymn language is relevant. Many of the hymns we sing are from the 18th century, so they contain a good amount of monarchical language. There are lots of references to crowns and diadems. Not necessarily language we use every day. So as we sing, we either have to avoid songs with this type of language, or understand it, so that we can place it in the right context. A good example is from last Sunday when we sang Come Thou Fount. There’s a line in the song that says “Here I raise my Ebenezer, here by Thy great help I’ve come“. Most folks have no idea what that means, but the reference is from 1 Samuel 7:12 and it means the “stone of help”. Samuel set up a monument stone and called it “Ebenezer” to remind Israel of God’s faithfulness and help. Our “Ebenezer stone” would be the cross, because it’s a reminder of what God did for us. Now that I know this, the hymn takes on a whole new meaning for me.
I’m so excited for our church as we push ahead into the new things that God is doing and at the same time, we are extending a hand backward to bring along more brothers and sisters with us in the journey.
Jimi Williams
Worship Pastor, The Bridge
Front Porch Spirituality
I am writing this blog from, yes, my front porch. It’s about 9 pm and tonight is the quintessential Tennessee summer night – a little humid, a little warm, lighting bugs, etc. I love summer. I love being outside. I think God created us to love His creation. During a long cold winter, especially when it’s overcast, my soul struggles. I need fresh air, sunshine and, well, good ole Tennessee summer nights.
Summer is also a great time to meet neighbors and build new relationships. Just tonight, Jennifer and I were two yards down at the home of some fellow Bridgers. Just some chit-chat, but really important stuff. In the summer, lots of people are outside. Unlike the winter, when everyone hibernates, hoping spring comes before the milk and bread run out.
So my point is, don’t miss it! Turn off the tube, get out of the kitchen. Cook some meat out of doors and practice community. Go introduce yourself to your neighbors that you’ve lived next door to for 3 years but have never met. Throw a Frisbee, catch a lighting bug, get some mosquito bites.
Whatever you do, just get outside! God could use you sitting on the couch, but He probably won’t!
Have a great summer and meet lots of people, Bridge family. And maybe you’ll want to invite them to church or over to have some of your meat that you cooked out of doors.
Jimi Williams
Worship Pastor, The Bridge
Hope For Haiti
I spent last week with 7 other Bridgers serving with Mission Haiti. Driving through the devastation of Port Au Prince and seeing hungry men, women and children in every village, it is easy to ask the question “Where is God?”
On the outside it would appear that God has abandoned the people of Haiti and that His wrath is being poured out on the land. But just underneath the surface there’s life. Like a fresh budding leaf straining its way through the charred earth, you have to look closely to see it. Haiti may be broken on the outside, but on the inside it is being renewed daily.
I was told by a missionary serving there that before the earthquake there were over 200 registered voodoo priests. Today, there are just over 60. There are many stories of radical salvations acc0mpanied by various signs and wonders.
No, God has not abandoned Haiti. In fact, there is much evidence of his power and grace.
I am in the process of creating a slideshow for this Sunday. In looking for music, I settled on the song “Beautiful Things” by Gungor. The lyrics really capture the beauty and pain that is Haiti.
Beautiful Things by Michael and Lisa Gungor
All this pain
I wonder if I’ll ever find my way
I wonder if my life could really change at all
All this earth
Could all that’s been lost ever be found?
Could a garden come up from this ground at all?
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us
All around
Hope is springing up from this old ground
Out of chaos life is being found in You
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us
You make me new
You are making me new
Jimi Williams
Worship Pastor, The Bridge
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