Politicians are talking a lot right now. News commentators seem to have their own slant on what the facts of any given story are.
24 hour news cycles, non-stop music and videos, movies on demand, Christian radio, coffee shops, new clothes, the latest information on how to be healthy; it’s a never ending deluge for the affections of our heart.
Our hearts can only hold so much, of even seemingly good things before we feel tapped out and empty. [Read more...]
Why do we do what we do? Why is there music? Why has music become the only thing synonymous with “worship”?
Deep questions, but I think they are often left out of the equation… often avoided so we can continue to make this about music, and not really take the time to understand our role as Praise and Worship Leaders.
I do not want to take the time in this blog to uncover all the mysteries of the “WHY”, but I would like to challenge us to dig into this a little further for a couple reasons:
Understanding the WHY
If you take the time to discover why the musician became an integral part of the gathering of the believers it will help you love your congregation better.
If you truly understand the WHY, and really grasp your role in that, your leading will become less about your musical tastes and more about leading a congregation.
Truly knowing the role we play and knowing the WHY will take away the need for us to be narcissistic. (Not that any of us struggle with that!! LOL)
Vision Casting and Choices
Once you really know the WHY, it will help you discern who needs to be a part of your team. Once you can articulate the WHY, you explain your choices, and you can weed out people that do not fit into the overall scheme of things.
Finding people that truly are called to lead a congregation musically is a very different process from finding a lead singer in a band. There are different skill sets required for this. Talent alone does not meet the requirement. Vocal ability and charisma do not make you the right choice.
I would love to challenge all worship leaders to take a step back, review the roles of every person who participates in the music at your church, and ask the important question – do they fit into the model of WHY we do this thing we do!??
Understand… vision cast… and then – make choices! This is the role of the leader. Do not settle for talented people; find the called!
The people of Chile are hungry – and I’m not talking about needing food. That’s an issue, too. But the hunger I mean is far more essential…
I was blessed to be able to go to Chile at the beginning of this month for a praise and worship conference for South America, with artists Alberto and Kimberly Rivera, Don Potter and Ruth Fazal.
I thought I’d write about it because I believe [Read more...]
“So, if the Sons sets you free, you shall be free indeed.” John 8:36
An artist friend of mine, Francesca Battistelli, wrote a great song a few years ago… “On my own I’m so clumsy, but on Your shoulders I can see, I’m free to be me.”
So why don’t we give our own worship team the freedom to be themselves? Why don’t we give ourselves permission to be who God created us to be?
Instead, we try to “play it safe.” I want it to be safe… but I don’t want it to be safe!
Here’s what I mean – watch this clip from a recent Expressive Worship event: [Read more...]
A church has asked you to take over as worship leader. Congratulations! But now what? If you’re new to this world, you’re probably quaking in your boots, and feeling suddenly inadequate in every way.
You’ll be working with a group of musicians and singers – volunteers – some of which will be talented, and some not very talented at all. What now??
Well, let’s take one thing at a time. [Read more...]
Worship leaders around the world regularly visit websites that have downloadable praise and worship song charts to use for their praise team. It’s nice to be able to find lyrics, chord charts, or lead sheets for your favorite music, because it can make preparation and rehearsal times much more productive.
But when my team and I start rearranging worship songs to create a “worship moment” for your congregation, it can be difficult (if not impossible!) to follow that original chart during a rehearsal. [Read more...]
I have been surrounded lately by a whole bunch of people that never do anything wrong. They can mess up, sometimes really bad, and it is never their fault.
WOW – that is tough to do… be blameless.
I’ve run across people all over the country who have a hard time dealing with screwing up. They simply can’t take ownership of their issues – take criticism (even when it is asked for). They are like Teflon – [Read more...]
“It’s The Grinch! Scatter!”
I love that line from Jingle All The Way, when the cops bust in on an illegal toy company fronted by fake Santa Clauses; just hilarious!
Are you ready for the deluge of holiday well wishing from retailers? [Read more...]
Communication is 15% content (the words you sing). In every part of the music industry people have the idea that the words are everything; but it just isn’t true!
30% is the tone or emotion you bring it with. How many times have you heard a singer that really brings it emotionally, and you can’t even hear the words. But you’re captured by it – you’re saying “yeah, I dig that!…what are they saying?” You’re caught in their emotion because they’re passionate. And, hopefully, as a praise team member [Read more...]
My team and I regularly work with worship teams, training them to emotionally connect with their congregation, lead worship that has both form and Spirit leading, and to create memorable worship moments. I recently did some team training at Gateway Church in Dallas.
We also speak at worship conferences. In fact, next week I’ll be in Seattle to teach at the Christian Musician Summit.
One of the classes we teach at these conferences is a “hands-on” demonstration that lasts about an hour or so. And honestly, I can only get through about one-third of a song in that amount of time! [Read more...]
I remember the feeling. Too amazing for words really. Our band was invited to play in Sao Paulo, … [Read More...]
Politicians are talking a lot right now. News commentators seem to have their own slant on what the … [Read More...]
Several years ago there was a song by Leslie Phillips called Your Kindness. The chorus said, … [Read More...]
Why do we do what we do? Why is there music? Why has music become the only thing synonymous with … [Read More...]
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