I'm probably best known for my columns in Worship Leader Magazine from 1995 - 2001 and my current articles at Integrity Music. I thank the Lord (and a great editor, Melissa Riddle) for such honors. I've written a couple of books, and my work has appeared in CCM, Worship Leader, Christianity Today, Rev, and other places. Over the years, I've written several hundred songs; many of these have been praise-songs, and the BQ and I have written them together. You can listen to a handful of them on-line by clicking here.
Only recently, I've begun to grasp that a biblical definition of worship must include justice and compassion for the downtrodden, and am taking personal steps of obedience. These are only baby steps, and I'd be grateful for any wisdom that will help me in this journey. I'm also learning about supplementing our live worship with virtual tracks - again, we're in the early stages and looking for insight from others who have been down this road.
My past ministry adventures include a decade or two serving at The Church on the Mountain in Oregon; the Mt. Hood Community is where I grew up and came to know the Lord. I spent those years working with Pastor Mike Whisner, a true hero of the faith and friend. I traveled extensively as (half of) Art and Leo with another friend, Paul Arthur Rydell. More recently, I served as Worship Development Missionary for American Missionary Fellowship in the Pacific Northwest. In this role, I taught conferences and otherwise encouraged and equipped churches to improve the quality and impact of their worship.
I love the Lord, I love people, and I love a Big Purpose; the best of all worlds is when I can help God's people connect to their Big God and find their Big Purpose. Redeemed men and women are - as David said - the "glorious ones," and the ultimate human endeavor is to declare God's glory. Sometimes I wake up at 3:00 a.m., knowing I have the best, most exciting, life-changing job in the world. Under my hood, that's the revving engine.
More? Okay, but remember - you asked! It's no secret that I'm particularly fond of my Beauty Queen and kids, but I also have a soft spot for good food, good music, and a decent guitar. I think a Film Noir movie is hard to beat, particularly if Bogart is in it. For two years, I studied the guitar under recording artist Paul Chasman, and I've taught for a local community college. My areas of expertise include cooking and writing, but I'm not too bad at teasing 12-year-old Megan, either. I doubt the validity of criticism if it fails to resonate with love for God or for people. I'll pick authentic over "slick" every time. Formality troubles me. I need to feel like I'm part of a team, and I think co-workers should be friends. I scan the world around me, observing patterns, and tend to process verbally. I read a half-dozen books at once (usually non-fiction), then ponder the key principles of those books for years. Details and routines weary me to tears. Myers-Brigg identifies me as a classic ENFP temperament; I'm an activist, a shepherd and a reporter by nature (I actually covered a newspaper beat for several years). In the DISC analysis, I'm a "High I," and my Enneagram is a Four with predictable wings. In Strengths-Finder, Ideation. There's a down side to these characteristics, but thankfully God isn't finished with me - or YOU - yet. He's promised to complete the good work He's begun in each of us.
That's More than Enough, but if you need to know more formal stuff about me, I've included links below about how I met Jesus Christ, how He called and equipped me for ministry, and more. (These are some of the documents required by the Evangelical Free Church of America when I was credentialed for ministry.) Jesus is the Star, and I'm always surprised and happy when He lets me play a supporting role.
I'd be glad to e-mail with you about things that really matter! Feel free to touch base any time.
Blessings, Phil Christensen
(Updated 2008)
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