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The Power of Kindness

By Mary-Kathryn Leave a Comment

Several years ago there was a song by Leslie Phillips called Your Kindness. The chorus said, “It’s Your kindness that leads us to repentance, oh Lord. Knowing that You love us no matter what we do, makes us want to love You, too.” 

I often think about the words to that song because, in my own life experience, I’ve found them to be so true of God. He is infinitely more kind toward us than we could ever imagine Him to be. He exceeds our expectations each and every time we come to Him. When we expect the very worst, it’s His kindness and forgiveness instead that floods peace into our hearts.  

When I think about God as Heavenly Father, [Read more...]

4 Things to Remember When Doing Only 1 Song

By Tom Jackson 2 Comments

It isn’t easy to work with just one song. Whether it’s a solo in church, a special event appearance, or even an audition – the pressure is on! You have to be ready to “bring it” right away.

After years and years of judging contests and observing the 1-song showcase or audition, the cold, hard truth is that I can [Read more...]

The Lost Art of Conversation: loving and caring

By Leann Albrecht Leave a Comment

I learned much of my genuine love and concern for people from my parents. In fact, my father never met a stranger. On the sidewalks of town, at the gas station or shopping at Sears, he knew how to draw people out, even if only for a smile to brighten their day.

He valued people. Their opinions, experiences, their joys and sorrows were of importance to my father. I have to admit, [Read more...]

The Lost Art of Conversation: conversational narcissism

By Leann Albrecht 1 Comment

We all have friends who constantly talk about themselves for hours on end. If by some miracle, we get a chance to interject a personal thought, it is met with a blank stare and the subject is quickly escorted back to something that relates to their life.

I call them “conversational narcissists.” [Read more...]

The Lost Art of Conversation: the “me” syndrome

By Leann Albrecht 1 Comment

I have a dear friend (I’ll call her Susan) who lived in another city so we didn’t get to see each other often.

Susan, like many others, suffered from the “me syndrome.” Every time we got together, her wall of words pelted me like a machine gun as I listened to the endless details of her life.

Invariably, at the end of our chats, I would walk away unfulfilled and disappointed because it seemed [Read more...]

The Lost Art of Conversation: a 2-way street

By Leann Albrecht Leave a Comment

Leann Albrecht - worship leader, speaker and author

In the beginning, God created the universe by the spoken word. The book of Genesis recounts those first moments. “And over the darkness God said, “Let there be light” and there was light.”

After He finished His exquisite expanse of earth and sky, He added one more living form called “man.” Adam and Eve were created to have friendship with God and He conversed with them in the Garden of Eden.

We are creatures designed to be able to speak, listen, and understand each other. Conversation simply means: [Read more...]

Mystery of the Sunday Soloist

By Amy Wolter 9 Comments

There’s a mystery to solve here at Tom Jackson Productions, and I’d like to get to the bottom of it!

We got an e-mail from Glenda, who sings solos at her church every few weeks. She’s only been singing for a year, and said for awhile the people seemed to enjoy it – clapping and complimenting her after the services.

Then she found out that she was singing off-key all that time and was of course embarrassed. She then took two months of vocal training and improved, even getting the courage to sing with her eyes open and use gestures to really bring out the meaning of the songs.

Then she says, “OK, here’s the weird part. [Read more...]

It’s Not About the Song

By Tom Jackson 2 Comments

It’s pretty common for soloists and musicians to think that their audience has come to hear these “great songs” that they’re going to play! Singer/songwriters especially feel that it’s all about the song. But it’s not.

What it is about is an emotional connection with your audience. [Read more...]

Stop Thinking and Start Loving

By Tom Jackson 2 Comments

Stop thinking when you’re on the platform! I mean it. If you’re standing in front of the congregation and thinking about what you’re going to say, where you’re going to move, what notes you’re trying to sing, what the lyrics are, how do you look…

Or here’s another one, there’s another soloist or musician in the crowd, so you’re singing or playing to them; or there’s someone important in the congregation, so you’re thinking about how they like what you’re doing…. well, if you’re thinking on the platform, then you’ve already lost.

Here’s the problem with “thinking” on the platform. [Read more...]

Stop Thinking and Start Loving