Am I In Sync?
It was 1984. Apple launched Macintosh (yes kids, Mac’s full name was Macintosh until 1999). The Terminator came out. Prince’s hit Purple Rain was everywhere.
In the midst of all this, a little Christian music artist was asking a question in his classic satirical form. His quirky stage antics, relentless energy, and contrarian messaging made him a fan favorite. For some. His name (as the subject may have given away): Steve Taylor. He was always on the fritz, reported on the meltdown at Madame Tussauds, wrote about a Marvel comic book Saturday matinee fairytale boy hero, and wanted everybody to (not) be a clone. (I wonder how he feels about multitracks…) All of it thick with satire.
One of his classic hits was called “Am I In Sync?”
The story follows two characters through their unsuccessful pursuit of fame and meaning. He uses a musical device I don’t remember any other song using. One instrument repeatedly goes off tempo. It makes any musician uncomfortable. (The song should be played in every training session for a worship team incorporating a click.)
Read the lyrics to the chorus, two, three, four:
Am I in sync?
Paint a picture on a subway train
Carve my name in a video game
Am I in sync?
Out looking for the camera crews
Sell my soul for a second on the evening news
Am I in sync?
Live 'til the bubble pops
Hold my breath when the big one drops
Am I in sync?
Immortality is what I’m buyin’
But I’d rather be immortal by not dyin’
Spoiler alert: this Fertilizer isn’t about playing songs at the right tempo.
It’s more elemental than that. I’m asking us if we are in sync with the Father.
Worship ministry, family dynamics, work, and regular life are more than enough to throw the best of us out of sync with Him. We get bumped and try to regain our poise. We get disappointed and try to fill the hole with scrolling. We struggle with the long-haul disciplines and peter out.
But He waits. He waits for us. Every morning. And throughout the day.
I’ve been listening to YouTube Music (since my kids are eternally stealing my Spotify). Every sixty minutes, the music stops, and the little pop-up asks me if I’m still listening. At first, it was annoying. But I’ve started using it as a little reminder to check in with the Lord, to “get back in sync.” Just a short prayer, a little reconnecting.
We’ve gotta find ways of staying in a place of abiding with Him. We can LITERALLY DO NOTHING if we don’t. (His words, not mine)
My family and I recently put a 24-hour sabbath day into practice (from Sunday evening to Monday evening). My favorite part is that we power down all our devices and put them in a box. It’s beautiful and freeing. I’m no legalist, but I get this sense of God’s favor as we follow His design for our rhythms. And I feel much more in sync.
Over decades of coaching leaders, I’ve met Artists who were amazing musicians, Shepherds who excelled at creating community, Educators who raised up effective musicians, and Producers who had every cue perfectly timed. But if they ever neglected their own life with Jesus, you could tell.
And I’m not exactly saying that the Priest Fader is the most important one, but I do wish that all of us would build our life and ministry on the Priest’s habits:
Building a relationship instead of just a service
Preparing their heart and not just a set list
Worshiping while leading worship
Talking with God and not just about Him
Enjoying Him and not just working for Him
If I think about the last 168 hours (one week), do I see way more time “preparing for God” or “meeting with God”? Join me in shifting this balance?
And because Steve Taylor would probably appreciate a parody of his own work, here’s an alternate chorus for us worship leaders:
(Am I in sync?)
Got a new patch for the Nord Stage 4
Bought the plugin everyone’s looking for
(Am I in sync?)
Watching YouTube at a quarter past two
Learning what the megachurches always do
(Am I in sync?)
Running tracks till the laptop drops
Holding my breath when the network stops
(Am I in sync?)
Building excellence is what I’m tryin’
But I’d rather build disciples before dyin’
-Dave Helmuth
Author of the Five Faders and Founder of Ad Lib Music
Am I In Sync? (Nº 489)
Why do some leaders succeed at building lasting worship ministries while others fail? In the Five Faders, Dave Helmuth explores the process of development and breaks down the lies, myths, and traps keeping you from being the fruitful leader God desires. Using decades of evidence-based insights, Dave reveals how understanding what motivates you is the first step in becoming a Five Faders Leader.
With our framework for becoming the best Artist, Shepherd, Priest, Educator, and Producer, you'll learn to slide each Fader up or down as Love requires you in each moment of leadership. Through relatable stories, insight gained from years of coaching worship teams in every kind of setting, and step-by-step advice, readers learn how to become the healthy expression of their Fader, build a culture of honor on your team to bring out the best in everyone, and be the most effective leader in the ever-changing landscape of ministry. Whether you’re looking to relieve frustration, increase confidence, or outlast change, this book offers the tools to become a Five Faders Leader.
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