Chapter 2 (KTBAEWL)

The second chapter of, Keys to Becoming an Effective Worship Leader, starts off with a question, "How can I lead worship?" In this chapter, Tom goes into how we all have doubts especially with God and the way he leads us. We question ourselves asking if we can actually lead people or if God is really behind the work that we are doing. "We have failed the Lord on numerous occasions so why would he stick with us?" (Kraetuer 147). Kraeteur continues with saying how much power we have because God is with us. We all have doubts but if we focus on Him and have unconditional faith for him then he will lead us. We will fail him time and time again but God will never leave us.

This chapter was intriguing because he talks about a sensitive subject such as doubts. Everyone has doubts and we all know it but it is wether we acknowledge it or not that matters. We have to stay focused on God especially through worship. If we don't then our connection with him and the connection we are trying to make to him through the audiences will not happen. This chapter teaches us to stay strong and to always know that we always have God to lean back on. No matter how many times we fail, he will always be there, watching out for us. "When we understand that His mercy can cover any failure, it will be easier for us to continually believe He can use us" (Kraeteur 165).

Chapter 1 (KTBAEWL)

To start off the first chapter of Tom Kraeuter book, he begins talking about reassessing one's values. Tom had interviewed an elderly man, the man starts going into detail as to how he has abandoned all of his ideals from his youth. But he also goes on to say how his revisal of his values changes all of time, the things that you think are important right now wont be important years from now. He realized his values when he was in his youth did have a lasting value but they are not meant to be held on to forever. Tom then reflects this conversion into his worship, he goes on to say how he worshiped the Lord mostly with deep and intense gratitude but then he realized you don't always have to verbalize your appreciation for God...He knows. He had hit bottom when he realized he was not leading worship with all of his heart but the never ending mercies of our Savior touched him and showed him the right path. Tom says in this chapter, "Here's the bottom line: if I am not in constant pursuit of a close relationship with the Lord...then I will have nothing to give" (Kraeuter 116).

I liked how Tom was talking about his values and the values of an older man. It really makes you think about the future and how your life right now will be completely different years from now. He talks about all different areas of his life and his values at the time especially in worship and how his mindset changed while he was getting older. Also he helps me help understand how I want to worship. I want to let God use my body as a vessel for him to go through and touch other people. I don't want to close myself off to him and let that be expressed in my worship. Chapter 1 was very interesting and I can't wait for the next chapter :)