After receiving “Living Life in the Zone,” it seemed that it could be a quite cliché little book. The thought of ESPN Christianity left me unsure of what to think. This is not the “deepest” study that you will ever do and will not be the most challenging. The challenge comes from within.

How real are you willing to be with yourself? Are you willing to ask others around you what they like or don’t like? Are you willing to ask you wife what she is most unsure about regarding your future? Are you willing to listen? The change happens in you and your desire to experience life new and fresh.

This book is based on the 40 ideal that God will bring about great change in 40 days. What is the loss if we are able to settle into God’s Word for 40 days?

If you have not done a study with a group of men recently, this is a great place to start. Order this today and meet a few guys at the local coffee shop. It may just change you life!

“Christians are not citizens of earth trying to get to heaven, but citizens of heaven making their way through this world.” – Vance Hamer

Living with Confidence in a Chaotic World was the most needed and wise follow-up to What in the World is going On? These books have covered A – Z on the grounds from what to expect in the coming months through handling the news and we are submersed in the chaos that will surround our souls for the next several years.

These books are recommended reads for anyone becoming afraid or others seeking further understanding and insight to what we will see in the days to come.

The wisdom that Dr. David Jeremiah has been blessed with becomes of value to all of us who take the time to delve into these books accompanied by the Scriptures.

Understand what is going on around you. Guide others to better understanding and never give up home for we know that there is coming a day not too far off.

Beginning the theme of all things good, I would like to invite you to visit TOMS Shoes. The Chief Shoe Giver, Blake Mycoski indeed has an uncanny ability to make things happen.

Understand, once you purchase a pair of shoes, in fact anything in the store, a pair of shoes will be given to someone else who does not have shoes.

This company is good and more than worth supporting.

Two words.

BUY IT!

This Bad Cat Mini is great and takes pedals beautifully. The only issue with this amp is that the tone seeps through every pore of this Cat.

It is awesome and has great cleans and tasty overdrive saturation. The treble with this amp is serious, but you can definately clean it up and tune it in when you are ready.

If you do not know about Bad Cat Amps go check them out. For those of you in the STL, check these Cats out at Killer Vitage for the best gear and coolest guys around.

Brian Regan is my favorite comedian. A true talent and skill. Check him out on tour.

What is it? Where is it? How is it?

Growing up through life we continue to look for a constant. Many seek out materials, some people, and some a belief of satisfaction.

Historically, the one and only person that anyone could rely upon has been Lord God and forever it will be.

The following pieces of this not will not discount that fact, which will forever remain, however, it will add to the continual trust in the storehouses laden with snow.

Something all of us look for through life is THAT PERSON! You know the person that makes your heart skip a beat. The person that will rock your world and still be hot when they are 177 years old, more realistically, the person that will be your best friend for life. We all search and yet few find. As it would appear, you would have a better chance finding a person who loves the Lord but never wanted to go to church, as the stats would show that a greater majority of evangelical church-goers are hitting up the return desk at the JP during the “Time of Response.”

Additionally, you will find it necessary to go through a great deal of heartache and grief in order to find THAT PERSON. From personal experience I understand this to its fullest capacity. The pain, the hate, the lost love, the feelings of regret, stupidity, failure, the hurt that you have put another through. For many life begins and ends with the hurt and a tall, flat rock.

But I am here today to attest to the fact that the Lord will pull you through and continue to bless. He will continue to create life anew and it is better than you can ever imagine. There are times that you could be lost in thought that nothing else will ever be able to do. Wrong! Life is good! He is God! Just listen and (frankly) grow up!

I wrote a note a while back about this beautiful girl and God. There was a time when I was completely lost in tracking down who I was going to marry. I always wondered if I was driving past her or if we were already great friends. My mother told me for years that if I would quit looking she would show up. Honestly, I had great friend who told me the same thing. Crazy thing is, it happened!

Now! I have the absolute love of my life. The hottest lil’ Southern belle. Cutest accent and animated expressions that could be compiled on any superstar. She is the greatest. Love of my life and most God-fearing woman I have ever met in my life. She is the most beautiful girl in Franklin,  TN, America, World, this side of heaven.

Kelly is her name and I am blessed immeasurably to be married to her! I live and breathe with this woman. We will create our own family and the greatest responsibility that any man could ever have was given to me within a matter of moments.

Life is worth living! God is worth trusting! Kelly is amazing and I believe for every guy out there God has made a Kelly for; additionally, I believe that God has created a God-fearing man of integrity out there for every young woman. [Note: I am not promoting myself as a flawless individual. Allow me to step out of the immediate role at this time. As previously stated, if you know me, you would know that I have my own flaws.]

This note is simply to give out hope for all who have yet to find and encouragement to those that have been found. God is love and the gift that He has given me in Kelly is incredible. I couldn’t buy it. I couldn’t find it on my own. I can’t claim it. It had to be given. Kelly is the greatest gift in my life and if you have been around her at any point, you would have been touched by her as well.

God is good and Kelly is hot! What more could I ask for!?! KELLY IS MY WIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Many of us are always on the look out for a great music or a great book. Always in the search for great art. My request is that you check out and purchase an album by Jimmy Needham this week.

Jimmy Neeham offers a unique sound that we have been seeking for several years. The beautifully intricate melodies draw you in to find the depth of a message that we all believe and lacked the voice. The truth in the lyrics tell a passionate story that stands worlds away from the looped and meaningless mess that siphons the attention of the masses in the music arena.

The first listen through of this album took four times longer than the length of the album due to the appeal of the instrumentation that would often mesmerize while slipping in these lyrics that my ears delayed to acknowledge. It is refreshing to hear the message shared accompanied by the savory musicianship.

The depth and passion of this album will wash over you like a rocky mountain spring and recalibrate your mindset to become more attentive to others around you. As we are meant to pay attention and attend to all worshippers this music may become the fuel in your life to make it one more. A ministry in and of itself within your mp3 player.

What are you waiting for?

Check it out already!

Seven Things Worship Leaders Wished Their Senior Pastor Knew… September 6, 2007

I did this post on Tuesday…and in it said that Lee would be doing a post in response next week…well…he did one this week and I am posting it here.  Thanks Lee!!!

I’m certainly not an expert in leadership or the mystery that is God’s Church, but here is my take on what Senior Pastors should know from a worship leader’s perspective.

#1 – Have an enormous, God-sized vision.

Any worship leader worth having wants to be a part of something greater than himself.  Trust me, if you have a huge, compelling vision, you won’t have to break the bank to hire someone truly gifted.  Case in point: when we started interviewing Justin Land to come on board as an associate worship leader, he told us that he loved the vision of our church so much that he and Rachel were moving here from Missouri to get involved regardless of the job offer. That’s a strong vision.

#2 – Take a risk with the finances.  pay for talent.

When i was hired in 2000, Perry and the elders were taking a big financial risk.  They told me that they felt convicted that God would provide and that i would need to spend all my time focusing on the needs of the church.  one thing they said was that any good staff member should pay for themselves in 3 to 6 months.

#3 – Set the example.  Be a person worthy of authority.

Let me put it this way: if you are lazy, expect laziness from your staff.  If you aren’t passionately in love with God, expect moral failure and disunity in your staff.  Perry won’t broadcast this, but ever since i have known him, he gets up at 5am or earlier, spends an hour or two with God, and then spends hour or two in the gym.  And then he hits the office.  So, when i go into a meeting and he tells me something i don’t really agree with, i keep my mouth shut and i listen before i say anything in response; i know he walks with God and i have tremendous respect for that.  It’s much easier to follow a leader who is more disciplined than you.  If you want a humble staff, be humble.  if you want a staff that is anything… you must be that, first.  your staff will reflect your own character.  so, if your staff is lazy, doesn’t value excellence, or is disconnected from culture, look no further than your own mirror for the reason why.  Everything rises and falls on leadership.  Be a Proverbs 15:33 leader.

#4 – Prepare.  Value excellence.

Like Tony Morgan the Wise says, “time is the most valuable commodity.”  Preparation buys you tons of it.  You will not get the best work out of your creative people if you are preparing your messages week-of.  try planning your series out 6 months in advance and your messages 3 weeks in advance, and watch your creativity level soar.  I really believe that you can hear the Holy Spirit better if you give him more than 2 days to help you prepare a message.

#5 – Allow your worship leader room for creative failure.

You hired a musically creative person.  Hopefully, if they’re worth the money you’re spending on them, they will be better at being a worship leader than you are.  So, you should give them some room to experiment and be creative.  Sometimes, i get about 10 steps ahead of our people.  It’s the job of the senior pastor to know his people and what will reach them the best.  If you’re doing this well, you’ll probably have to hold your creative people back a little.  This causes tension, but it’s healthy!

#6 – Move your worship leader to his area of strength

One of the things i’m most thankful for is that several years ago, Perry allowed me the opportunity (at my request) to step down from the senior management team to focus on being more of a musical director in the creative arts area.  I’m a musician to the core, and am not a gifted manager.  As a senior pastor, you may find that your worship leader hates management.  find an awesome manager for your Sunday morning experience, and let your worship leader be what God has called him to be.  This is a good concept for your staff as a whole.  If you are passionate about putting people in their sweet spot, you’ll get joyful, world class work from gifted people.

#7 – Value the personal life of your worship leader.

Your worship leader is a very visible part of your church.  if he fails morally, it will dramatically hurt the church.  when i was hired (when we only had 100 people coming every week), Perry told me that my family would be my first ministry, and that for as long as i was a staff member, NewSpring would do whatever it takes to make God, then family, the priority of my life.  Perry’s always been there for me as a friend.  God’s in command of my career, but i would consider it the highest honor to serve NewSpring Church for the rest of my life.

I know i’ve been pumping Perry up a lot, but Perry would freely admit that he’s not the perfect leader.  The only person who can claim that title is Jesus. In seven years of ministry, though, Perry’s character has remained true.  and I’ve watched him go through absolute hell on earth.  From time to time, worship leader friends of mine will ask me what i think of a church that has just offered them a job.  My response is always contingent on the character of the senior pastor.

Pastors, you have a dangerous and high calling.  if you think planting a church is just a fun idea, you’re out of your mind.  If you aren’t called to do it, you should do something else… anything else.  God doesn’t need you to do his work for him.

While podering the life in a corporate office and ever living for that of a church office on the weekends, I began to think of ways that both the church and the corporate world could ‘help’ each other.

What items could each entity could learn and grow from the other? This is one. ALL THINGS GOOD!

Enjoy!

Over the extended weekend my wife and I traveled to Nashville, Tennessee. With that trip, one would expect to find exceptional churches full of incredibly gifted musicians, with the best tone you have heard seep from the stages of any church in the country.

It makes sense.

Tone is king!

Right?

Sort of.

On Sunday morning, we worshipped at the Christ Church. Allow me to interject, if you need to hear a word from the Lord or a great time of worship, this is the place to go! Worshipping at the Christ Church is like determining the best time to retire while sitting on the beaches of Long Boat Key. It’s good! From your observance, this is what worship was meant to be. The only thing missing is God asking “Is there is anyone sitting  here?”  pointing to the seat next to you in the pew. This place will make a grown man cry. And this is no emotional high, so tread lightly.

So this is what I walked into the service expecting.

My list of expectations, if you will:

• Huge, rockin’ grand piano – Check!
• Incredible vocals – Check!
• Great bass – Check!
• Smart aux percussionist – Check!
• Grooving acoustic drums
• Whaling electric guitar
• One great show

The first four I got, the next…not so much.

From a musician’s perspective, the mere sight of electric drums is almost enough to make you walk back out the door. To have no electric guitar?  That is unheard of these days!

And what about the show?

I entered the sanctuary with the wrong expectations, but was forced into the middle of the something I have been searching out. Instead of crazy guitar solos, I got the voice of the Lord. One word was enough to shake my world.

As worship leaders, is this not exactly what we are seeking for our fellow worshippers to experience everyday? We practice and practice to sound as good as we can in order that others are drawn into the  presence of the Lord, with us. This is our true purpose. This is our one and only goal.

The fact that there were no acoustic drums and no guitar began to shake my previous notion of the ‘tone’ of worship. In ‘tone’ I mean, the sweetest sounds you can get out of your respective instrument.

For me, this is clearly not the primary drive any longer. Setting the obvious back to it’s rightful setting, drawing people into worship is number one and everything else becomes auxiliary. Do continue to practice and become better better at your intrument and search out the best tone.

For all enthusiasts:

1. It’s part of the thrill
2. Psalm 33:3 “Sing to him a new song; play skillfully with a loud noise.” (KJV)

Do not halt the pursuit of great tone or ability, rather always be mindful of WHO you pursue.

To the LORD alone be all glory!