The Power of K-Pop and a Lesson in American Pop Music History
I've had four opportunites to travel internationally. I love experiencing other cultures. One thing that has struck me on each trip is this: no matter where in the world you [...]
What About the Choir?
Palestrina Boys Choir. Photo credit Vimeo.com The poor church choir. For many, it symbolizes a stuck-in-a-rut, irrelevant, and out of date model of Sunday morning worship. Still for [...]
Stay in the Moment
This is a continuation of an earlier post on effective worship leadership. Click here to see other related posts. There are many distractions on the platform. "Are we playing in [...]
Wallflower Jesus?
The following is a repost of a prior publication Photo courtesy Randi Anglin (tonepix.com) My pastor once preached from the Gospel text of Jesus turning water into wine at the [...]
On Purpose
The following is a repost of an entry that initially ran in 2009. Photo courtesy of Randi Anglin (tonepix.com) A few years back I read a book called The Purpose of [...]
Thankful Thursday
It's been a week of continued birthday celebrations for Scooter Man and settling into the rhythms of fall. My gratitude list for the week: 11- yr. old boys, roller [...]
Leadership comes from the top
This is a continuation of an earlier post on effective worship leadership. Click here to see other related posts. I once worked as a substitute teacher in Nashville's public school [...]
Thankful Thursday
Happy last Thursday of September, friends. Write your thankful lists. Here's mine for the week: The once-for-all atonement of Jesus Home studios and "good voice" My wife's nursing license and [...]
Thankful Thursday
I continue to learn about trust, being wise, yet not leaning on my own understanding, and making effort to rest. And grace. Did I mention trust? My gratitude list for [...]
Thankful Thursday
Wow, the weather has been incredible here in Middle TN. Challenging times, but still much to be thankful for. Here's my list for the week (it's kind of geek-heavy). Pastoral [...]
David Foster’s Advice to Songwriters
A friend of mine posted this on Facebook the other day. I think it's worth reposting here. If you don't know his name, David Foster is a respected musician, composer, [...]
Thankful Thursday
Back to back political conventions can leave us with the tendency to point fingers, blame, and cut each other down. Stay above the fray, friends. How? Gratitude is a start. [...]
Stay – the songwriter’s notebook
When I was in Kansas City back in July I visited the Prayer Room of the International House of Prayer (IHOP). One common complaint I hear about worship music is that's [...]
Thankful Thursday
Scooter Man helps dissect the ailing iMac. We've been served a major wallop with our computers and electronics recently. About two weeks ago, while I was working on [...]
Sunday Setlist August 12, 2012
This post is part of the Sunday Setlist blog carnival. It's a glorious Sunday morning in Nashville at 73 degrees. Worship at The Table at St. George's was likewise refreshing. [...]
Thankful Thursday
It's started. The first full week since the end of my employment. The big themes the Lord is having me reflect on are trust, rest, and surrender. So, if it [...]
Create Breathing Room
This is a continuation on an earlier post on effective worship leadership. Click here to see other related posts. An effective worship leader allows worship to breathe. One of the most [...]
Thankful In All Seasons
I was lucky. I met Lara in high school. We've been best friends ever since. This week we celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary. We're just getting started. The rest of [...]
Thankful Thursday
I'm wrapping up my final week with my current employer. Lots of unanswered questions about what's next. Still, we have hope and gratitude. My list for the week: My bride [...]
Thankful Thursday
50 Years Happy Thursday, friends. Count your blessings. Here's my list for the week. My mom and dad and their 50-year marriage. If this were the only item [...]
Lessons from Crowder
Photo credit: NewReleaseTuesday.com Last night 1700 of my closest worship-leading friends and I had the opportunity to worship with David Crowder (aka "Crowder" these days). I've seen him [...]
Grateful for My Heritage
I grew up in blue-collar Free Will Baptist churches where our worship music consisted mostly of congregational singing, accompanied by a pianist (usually my mother). We sang traditional hymns. To [...]
Thankful Thursday
My list from this week. The privilege of being an American, the freedom I enjoy, and the men and women who sacrificed to make it so Encouraging words regarding our [...]
I Just Want to Be with You – the songwriter’s notebook
I had the opportunity to attend the Hymnish songwriter's retreat back in April. I blogged about it earlier. One of the draws to the retreat was the opportunity to co-write [...]
Thankful Thursday
Summertime Popsicle Liturgies and grandmothers Eager students and a teaching outlet Solid counsel to live from the heart A morning visit with an 82-year old inspiration Be [...]
Andy Griffith Memories
Photo credit: CNN.com Among my favorite memories of childhood is staying up until 10:00 to watch reruns of The Andy Griffith Show. Dad and I were big fans [...]
Sunday Setlist at The Table
This post is part of the Sunday Setlist blog carnival. I had the pleasure of playing at The Table again this morning with Aynsley Martingdale, Rachel Mello, Rob Higginbotham, Mike [...]
Thankful Thursday
It's scorching hot in Nashville this week and going to get even hotter this weekend. Still, there's so much to be thankful for. Here's my list for the week. Lunch [...]
Effective Worship Leadership
I first experienced what has become known as "contemporary worship" in the early nineties. It was so very different. I loved it. The whole premise of seeking God with abandon [...]
Thankful Thursday
It's been a week of running and gunning for me as I'm starting to phase out my current job responsibilities and make way for whatever comes next. I want to [...]
Finding Inspiration During Uninspiring Times
Hymnish Songwriters Retreat 2012. Photo credit: Brian Wahl. flickr.com/photos/brianwahl As a songwriter, your aspiration is to inspire others. However, the challenge of professional writing and life in general [...]
Sunday Setlist: June 10, 2012
This post is part of the Sunday Setlist blog carnival. My friend Aynsley Martingdale is the Music Leader for The Table at St. George's Episcopal Church in Nashville. The Table [...]
Zip, Zoom, Zing! – the songwriter’s notebook
Well, it's an exceptionally beautiful summertime here in Middle Tennessee which means, among other things, Vacation Bible School is happening in churches all across town. I believe in VBS. Towards [...]
An Update
Wow. It's been 11 months since my last post. That post was telling of a start to a brand new job in a brand new industry. This post is telling [...]
A Change of Season – Thankful Thursday
One of the biggest lessons I've been learning over the past ten years or so is that life is made up of seasons. 14 months ago my young family entered [...]
Playing for Rob Still’s Sozo Festival Fundraiser
My good friend Rob Still is hosting a house concert and webcast as a fundraiser for his upcoming European mission trip, which will include the Sozo Festival. The concert is [...]
Sunday Setlist for June 25-26, 2011
This blog post is part of the Sunday Setlist blog carnival. I'm wrapping up a busy weekend of worship leading. I was booked for this Sunday at Christ Community Church [...]
Thankful Thursday
I don't care what the calendar says, it is indeed summer in Middle Tennessee. My morning runs are having to get early to beat the heat. This morning I ran [...]
I Can Do Most Anything – The Songwriter’s Notebook
I'm finally back with another Songwriter's Notebook post. I've been waiting a while for this one. Back in the fall, I had a conversation with a children's music editor. It [...]
Sunday Setlist – May 29, 2011
This post is part of the Sunday Setlist Blog Carnival. Memorial Day weekend had me headed up McMinnville, TN way to lead worship for Christ Community. How pleasantly surprised my [...]
Thankful Thursday
Happy Memorial Day weekend, dear reader. I'm a day late, but grateful just the same. Here's my list. Learning opportunities Heart-to-heart conversations New worship and worship leading experiences A friend [...]
Sunday Setlist: May 15, 2011
This post is part of the Worship Community's Sunday Setlist blog carnival. I had the privilege of leading worship at Holy Family Anglican Church in Hendersonville, TN yesterday. It's a [...]
Thankful Thursday
That was a good burp. It tasted like Ramen noodles! – my 9-yr. old son during his first night in the woods Rocks. Dirt. Creek. Frogs. What else does a [...]
Thankful Thursday
Busy week here at the Riggs house and for yours truly. At the moment, I'm preparing to co-host a Songwriter's Cafe podcast with my friend Wisdom Moon, take my son [...]
Who Is This Child?
So, I'm planning on taking my 9-year-old son on his first backpacking trip next week. I'm in the habit of testing my gear before a trip. I thought I'd include [...]
Thankful Thursday
To all my readers in the South, I hope that you and yours are OK after a couple of days of horrific thunderstorms / tornadoes / flooding. The sun is [...]
Songwriting Hero: Paul Simon
I'm not saying his theology would warrant a visit in my church's pulpit, but I still love me some Rhymin' Simon. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVTlueB-ReI]
Thankful Thursday
I hope you're all having a meaningful Holy Week. It's been a busy week for me and I haven't been great at taking as much time as I'd like to [...]
Thankful Thursday
Greetings, Reader. I pray that you are walking in hope today. My gratitude list this week. Being OVER a nasty stomach virus A great city to live in Exciting new [...]
Thankful Thursday
Dang. It's the end of March and it's still cold in Nashville! Next week should welcome spring, I can feel it. ... This week I've been busy attending the Songwriters [...]
Tin Pan South Starts Tonight!
The annual songwriter's festival known as Tin Pan South kicks off tonight. The name comes from a play on "Tin Pan Alley," which was a collective of music publishers and [...]
Podcamp Nashville Thoughts and Reflections
This last weekend I attended and volunteered for Podcamp Nashville, the annual "interactively savvy un-conference" for creatives, tech-geeks, and entrepreneurs. It was eye-opening and inspiring to see and hear folks [...]
Thankful Thursday
Another day. Another gift. And more reasons to be thankful. My list for this week. Bridges not burned and reconnecting with old acquaintances Wise counsel from experienced business leaders and [...]
Thankful Thursday
Happy Thursday, dear reader. The sun is shining in Middle TN and gratitude is the choice I make. Here's my list. St. Patrick and his life of faith (check out [...]
Leading Worship in Times of Crisis
Leading worship well is not easy. Many different people come into your assembly with as many different thoughts, ideas, challenges, and levels of faith. But how should [...]
Musicians Must Adapt and Diversify
Interesting piece on NPR this morning regarding online music services and their search for investment dollars. Nutshell: investors are still spooked by the music industry’s digital makeover turmoil. However, some [...]
Thankful Thursday
It's been a difficult week as my family and I walk this "thin-ice" season of life. Difficult decisions are being made, but we keep our heads up and feed our [...]
Thankful Thursday
It's been a difficult week as my family and I walk this "thin-ice" season of life. Difficult decisions are being made, but we keep our heads up and feed our [...]
Michael Hyatt’s Take on Social Media and the New World of Book Publishing
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5j2SpVOJsE&feature=player_embedded] Thomas Nelson CEO Michael Hyatt speaks about social media's effect on book publishing. I'm launching a business that starts with a little book I've self-published on the Nashville Number [...]
Michael Hyatt’s Take on Social Media and the New World of Book Publishing
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5j2SpVOJsE&feature=player_embedded] Thomas Nelson CEO Michael Hyatt speaks about social media's effect on book publishing. I'm launching a business that starts with a little book I've self-published on the Nashville Number [...]
