{"id":10624,"date":"2013-10-16T21:56:02","date_gmt":"2013-10-17T04:56:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sharefaithblog.wpengine.com\/?p=10624"},"modified":"2017-10-11T15:27:12","modified_gmt":"2017-10-11T22:27:12","slug":"life-tide-interview-jenn-johnson-bethel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sharefaith.com\/blog\/2013\/10\/life-tide-interview-jenn-johnson-bethel\/","title":{"rendered":"Life is like a Tide – Interview with Jenn Johnson of Bethel"},"content":{"rendered":"

They are sitting in the ocean. Like actually, chilling in armchairs and sofas right in the California surf! In case you haven\u2019t seen it, the cover art for Bethel Music\u2019s newest album, Tides, demands a second look. The picture shows the worship team of Bethel Church, as if in a living room, except they\u2019re sitting right in the tide.There\u2019s a message behind this attention-grabbing image. \u201cLife is like the tides,\u201d they explain in the album trailer<\/a>. \u201cHighs and lows, struggle and triumph, constant change. But no matter the chaos, no matter the storm, He is the same.\u201d
\n\"bethel-music-TIDES\"
\nAt the recent release of Bethel\u2019s latest album<\/a>, we spent some time talking with Jenn Johnson. In the interview, she talked about the inspiration for the new album, the struggles of songwriting, and about the challenges and joys that come with the role of worship leader.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It Happened on a Mountain<\/strong>
\nAlthough the album reminds us of the ocean, it had its genesis on a mountaintop. Jenn explained, \u201cI had an encounter with the Lord on a mountaintop. I had been in a kind of a fog, just struggling to gain a breakthrough with some things. It was a difficult time. Ministry is fun, but it can also be a challenge. I went up on this mountain and spoke to the Lord: \u2018God I know you\u2019re with me, but please come closer. Let me feel you; let me know what to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve all faced the challenge that Jenn has faced, and we all recognize that smothering panic of indecision, the complete bewilderment of a mental fog, and the desire to know what to do from our God. Jenn\u2019s experience on the mountaintop was a breakthrough moment. \u201cHe sorted me out. He gave me clarity. I went from just knowing he was with me, to being able to feel him with everything I am.\u201d<\/p>\n

From her experience birthed the song I Can Feel You on the album. \u201cThat\u2019s really where that song came from \u2014 just that experience, identifying with the fact that we\u2019re human. We have these times where we know the truth, but sometimes we just need to encounter the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve listened to Bethel\u2019s music or attended one of their worship events, you may have had this same experience \u2014 that encounter with truth. It can be painful. But it is always life changing. We may face the constant swirl of the tides, but we know that we are grounded in the unchanging nature of our God.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What is worship anyway?<\/strong>
\nWhen we spoke with Jenn, we wanted to understand the heart of a worship leader. After all, much of what we do at Sharefaith is serve people like you \u2014 worship leaders and church volunteers. Worship is central to our ministry and yours.<\/p>\n

Although our primary task as worship leaders is worship, it\u2019s easy to lose perspective of what worship really is. Jenn explained how her challenge in this area led to a breakthrough in her view of worship.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was during a time when I was so busy. There were so many things going on in my life. I was in a hurry, and about to head to a conference to lead worship. But I felt like the Lord wanted me to sit down at the piano and worship. I was thinking, \u2018Seriously, Lord? You want me to go and sit down and worship?\u2019 I just shoved it off and rushed to get ready, but when I walked by the piano again, I knew: This is what God wanted me to do.<\/p>\n

\u201cI sat down at the piano and played some minor chords, and just sang out to God \u2014 \u2018What can I do ? What can I give you?\u2019 God\u2019s answer came clearly: \u2018I didn\u2019t want anything. I just wanted to be with you.\u2019 My response was just to sob and sob. I repented for viewing worship incorrectly.\u201d<\/p>\n

Worship isn\u2019t just what we do on Sunday mornings. Worship is a way of life. Worship is being with God \u2014 living with God, loving Him, whatever that means and wherever we are.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Worship Leader\u2019s Nemesis: Pride<\/strong>
\nIn a recent Sharefaith article, we discussed the challenge of pride in the life of the worship leader<\/a>. Nearly every worship leader can testify to pride\u2019s insidious assault. Bethel\u2019s amazing music has given them a lot of recognition. The greater the recognition, the larger the potential for pride. Jenn explained, however, that it\u2019s not all glamor and glory.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re home church worship leaders. This is what we do every single week. People aren\u2019t buying tickets to come to church and listen to us. They\u2019re probably tired, and maybe they\u2019re not really into music. So what do we do? It\u2019s about connecting to the heart of people. This is what keeps you mindful, and helps you to keep the main thing the main thing. We\u2019re worshipping God and serving people. We get to do what God has asked us to do, and show him to the best of our ability.\u201d<\/p>\n

That\u2019s the crux of the issue \u2014 displaying God and loving people. Maintaining this mindset helps us to fight the foe of pride. \u201cWe just get to show who he is, and the message we feel that God has called us to bring. I\u2019m honored to do that\u201d Jenn explained.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Shoes on? Or shoes off?<\/strong>
\nIf you\u2019ve been to a Bethel concert, or seen them on Youtube<\/a>, you may have noticed that Jenn prefers the shoeless approach to worship. Before she heads onto the stage, she removes her shoes. We had to ask her about it. Why do you take your shoes off?<\/p>\n

Jenn\u2019s response was laughter. \u201cThat question always make me laugh. I love it. Okay, so super honestly, I love high heels. But if I\u2019m not wearing high heels, I wear flip flops, and not much in between. But on stage, I tend to slip if I\u2019m wearing flip flops. And when I wear high heels, I\u2019m focused on not falling. So, I just go barefoot. That way, it\u2019s not a distraction to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

The question of shoes on or shoes off, however, leads to a bigger question about worship. Jenn isn\u2019t concerned about what people think about her during worship. She learned this lesson early in life \u2014 as a seven year old girl.<\/p>\n

\u201cI remember being seven years old, sitting in a little chapel in a Christian school. I had decided that I didn\u2019t care what anyone thought. I wanted to raise my arms. I wanted to worship. But no one else was doing it! So I made the decision to care more about worshipping him in freedom than in caring what people think. And something broke in my life at a really early age.\u201d<\/p>\n

Years later, Jenn\u2019s heart is still the same. \u201cGod taught me to worship with abandon, not worried about what I\u2019m wearing or what I\u2019m doing, or but just to worship him, magnify him, expres him, and listen to what he\u2019s saying to his church.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Where do the songs come from?<\/strong>
\nIf you\u2019re a songwriting worship leader, you\u2019re probably familiar with the experience of coming up with songs, or trying to. If you\u2019re not a songwriter, you\u2019ve probably wondered where these songs come from. How does a songwriter create new worship lyrics?<\/p>\n

We asked Jenn, \u201cAre you just living life, playing with the kids, then a melody comes into your head and you drop everything and run to the piano. Or does the Bethel Team come together and have creative sessions? How does songwriting work for you?\u201d
\nJenn\u2019s response was really helpful. \u201cIt\u2019s different for every songwriter and every song. I can speak from my experience and my process. For most songs, they\u2019re birthed in a spontaneous time in worship. That\u2019s probably the biggest song starter.\u201d<\/p>\n

But songs don\u2019t simply flow in a stream of pure creativity and direct revelation. \u201cWriting songs is probably 60% easy. The other 40% is really difficult. I think God designed us that way \u2014 to dig and find Him.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mountaintops and Valleys \u2014 Daily Life as a Worship Leader<\/strong>
\nWe\u2019re human. Everyone has bad days. Whether it\u2019s the kids misbehaving, trouble at work, or trouble in relationships \u2014 struggle is part of life. We asked Jenn, \u201cHow do you set issues aside on these days, and still walk on stage to lead others into worship?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jenn responded with a story.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy life was changed in Nashville in about 2004. We were there leading worship at a conference. Brian\u2019s dad, Bill, was the speaker. It had been a rough day. The kids were sick. We had been traveling, struggling with delayed flights…There were so many problems!<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was extremely frustrating, and I was grouchy. It had been a bad day. But there we were, on our way to a worship event. I\u2019m trying to stir my heart for worship. Sitting next to Bill in the car, I mumbled \u2018Mommy hat off. Worship hat on.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cI made the comment half joking, half bad attitude. (I\u2019m just being super honest.) Bill just kind of leaned in to where I was sitting and told me in a beautiful way, \u201cThe problem is, the worship hat should have never come off.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cHis comment changed my life. It really changed my perspective of what I call worship. Whether I\u2019m home changing dirty diapers, or I\u2019m on a stage leading worship for thousands of people, it\u2019s all worship. We\u2019re called to live a lifestyle of worship. Coming together to sing a song isn\u2019t the goal of worship. Everything we do \u2014 every detail of our lives \u2014 is an act of worship unto him. It\u2019s not how well you played on the stage; it\u2019s how did you treat the person in the grocery store?\u201d<\/p>\n

Bethel Music unleashes a fresh approach to Christian music The songs on the new album cover the gamut of a disciple\u2019s journey \u2014 struggles, and triumphs both. Yet each song is saturated with genuine hope and optimism of a godward vision.<\/p>\n

Listening to Tides is an experience of intense and passionate worship. Each recording is fresh and contemporary, but contains the warmth and energy of corporate worship that Bethel is known for.<\/p>\n

The name Bethel means \u201chouse of God,\u201d and recalls the Old Testament story account of Jacob\u2019s vision of God. Jacob came away from this experience with a big promise and a changed heart.<\/p>\n

Bethel Music seeks to lead worshippers into a close encounter with God, where the worshipper can do nothing but submit to his glory and be changed by his power. You\u2019ll find, as we did, that their new album is more than just an awesome collection of music; it\u2019s an awesome vision of a glorious God that will turn your heart to him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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