Don’t worry,  I’m not at work on Thanksgiving day. Earlier this week our office was invaded by an Indian, and this was the footage. Happy Thanksgiving!

[QUICKTIME http://www.stevenfurtick.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/27.mov 460 259]

I take large responsibility as the senior pastor of Elevation Church for setting the atmosphere in our worship experiences.
A lot of this is probably just my personality, so I’m not suggesting others should do it this way too.
But I don’t stay backstage during the whole worship set on Sunday mornings.  I like to get out into the atmosphere and set an example for our people by worshipping God wholeheartedly.
I usually only get to enjoy one or two of the songs of the worship set due to the demands of preaching 4 times back to back at different campuses.

But when I do get out there, I go for it.  I don’t stand with my hands in my pockets like I’m too cool for school, or like the senior pastor is above worshipping God.

I also try really hard (and it’s difficult!) to break out of critical evaluation mode and get after the presence of God with my whole heart.

David is a great example of a leader who modeled worship for the people he led.  Nobody “out-worshipped” the king of Israel.  He demonstrated passion for God publically and privately.
I want to do the same.

Our worship leaders have told me before that it means a lot to them when they see me lifting my hands or playing air drums on the front row on Sundays.  When they see their leader engaged with God, it fuels their confidence to lead the people higher.

No one can go where the leader has not first gone.  I can’t think of a better application of this than our corporate worship experiences.
Leaders, let’s set the atmosphere.

In the words of David:
I will extol the LORD at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
My soul will boast in the LORD;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
Glorify the LORD with me;
let us exalt his name together.

Psalm 34:1-3

Leaders: it’s our job to set the atmosphere.  That goes for department heads who are running meetings, parents who are cultivating households…anyone who leads anything must own this responsibility.
If your home environment is cold and chaotic, warm it up.
If the temperature of your meeting is frigid, reset it.

One of the only weekly meetings I lead recently got stuck.  Same conversations every week, no new conclusions.  My first inclination was frustration with the people in the room: Come on guys, bring me something fresh.

But it’s my meeting.  The atmosphere is my responsibility.  I have access to the thermostat like no one else.
So I started shifting the meeting around:
Where we met changed weekly-someone else’s cramped office one week, my house the next, etc.
How we started the meeting was adjusted to reflect priorities and manage energy.
I added a few new people to the meeting to infuse increased insight.
I even started having a few unhealthy snacks brought in to kick start creativity.
(If you can’t get creativity flowing through Holy Spirit synergy, you’ll have to settle for a sugar high.)

These small shifts started to change the atmosphere-in some ways that were dramatic, and in other more subtle ways.
(We’re about to change that same meeting again, breaking it into two more focused meetings.  We felt the atmosphere getting a little chilly, so it’s time to adjust accordingly.)

Altering the temperature by just a few degrees can radically affect your environment.  And it’s your responsibility.

Last year I challenged our people to express gratitude to someone who had made a worthy investment in their lives.
In honor of Thanksgiving week, I’m issuing the challenge again this year.

1.    Pick someone in your life (the first person who comes to mind is probably the correct choice) who has blessed you-whether they know it or not.

2.    Send a letter, email, or post a blog telling them thanks.

3.    Be specific in what you thank them for.  Specificity is more meaningful than profundity.  You don’t have to write outstanding prose.  But if you chronicle in detail some ways they’ve blessed your life, they’ll savor every word.

4.    If possible, do it before the sun goes down tonight.

Gratitude is one of my core values.  It goes hand in hand with generosity.
Your words of gratitude may turn someone’s entire week-month-year around.
You’d be surprised.

There’s got to be more to Thanksgiving than putting on 3 ½ pounds.
Go be grateful today.