It's been a trying week as many of you know (more about that later), but Lulu and I continue to move closer to our fundraising needs for the Sozo mission trip. Currently, we have 75% of what we need for the trip. $1314 to go. Not pocket change, but we're getting there. Thank you, dear friends.
I continue to be humbled by the generosity of my friends and family in supporting Lulu and me in our summer mission trip endeavor, especially in light of the devastating floods in Nashville this spring.
Somehow April slipped away from me, but I'm back in the saddle this month with May's offering of the songwriter's notebook. This month's song is The Kingdom of Heaven is Yours. I've been walking around with the idea and the chorus in my head for a while.
Wow! Thanks to all of you who are generously supporting my daughter Lulu and me in our endeavor to serve at the Sozo Festival in England this summer. As of today, we are 42% funded (see the pretty picture in the right sidebar). I purchased the airfare, which is the biggest single expense for the trip. The tickets were more expensive that we had hoped.
Because of last weekend's flood in Nashville one of our two water treatment facilities was submerged and knocked offline, making our water supply "critically low." Among other conservation steps, officials [...]
It's official. [gulp!] I purchased airfare to Europe today. Times two. This is for the mission trip my daughter and I are going on this summer. Airfare is a big step of faith, because it's the most expensive thing we have to buy and it's non-refundable.
(Photo by Mountain Heart as posted on Facebook). Here in Nashville we've had an eventful weekend that's shaken many of us to the core. If you haven't heard, we had [...]
I came across this video of Kim Walker speaking to worship leaders. Good thoughts on self-promotion and honor. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q66pavmT44o]
I came across this video of Kim Walker speaking to worship leaders. Good thoughts on self-promotion and honor. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q66pavmT44o]
My daughter Emily and I are planning to go on a mission trip this July to serve on staff at the Sozo Festival in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. The Sozo Festival is a 3-day gathering to equip and train young leaders (and future leaders!) of the European Church by promoting cultural and denominational reconciliation within the global body of Christ.
My song "Everlasting Arms," which debuted right here on this blog is now available to download from LifeWayWorship.com! It's a contemporary arrangment of "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms." This is [...]
Cory Asbury and team from iHop. I love this. Shake off your chains. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9vImS-zscc]
Cory Asbury and team from iHop. I love this. Shake off your chains. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9vImS-zscc]
This month's songwriter's notebook features "Spring Up, Oh Well." I wrote this song while reading A.W. Tozer's The Purpose of Man.
I had the privilege of leading worship with my friend Dave Durham during our church's annual missions conference. Dave did the lion's share of the planning before our three assemblies while I did most of the vocal leading during them -- mostly because he lost his voice after several performances of Fiddler on the Roof (Dave played Tevye).
This weekend Seth Godin learned a "shocking" truth that many of us have known for a long time: that ministry can be tedious, boring, and uninspiring. It can become "just a job." As a matter of fact, it will.
Oh my. This may be worth my finally buying an iPhone and switching to AT&T. What an incredible tool for songwriters.
No doubt that you, like me, have been saddened and disturbed by the Haitian earthquake and its victims. I've been thinking for a while about what (if anything) I should post about it here. There are, after all, better and more informed bloggers regarding the nation and the rescue efforts.
No doubt that you, like me, have been saddened and disturbed by the Haitian earthquake and its victims. I've been thinking for a while about what (if anything) I should post about it here. There are, after all, better and more informed bloggers regarding the nation and the rescue efforts.
I met someone for lunch yesterday.
Big news today: I have two hymn arrangements available from LifeWayWorship.com: "All Creatures of Our God and King" and "Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us." Come and get 'em here. Listening demos are $0.99, accompaniment tracks $1.99, and lead sheets $1.49.
It's no news to anyone how difficult it is to make a living making music these days. It's never been easy, but today's environment is especially puzzling. If you need proof, consider Seth Godin's post written two years ago using the failings of the music biz as examples of how not to do business in the current age.
I'm starting a new series today. I'm calling it "the songwriter's notebook." Here's the idea. I'll video myself singing a song that I'm working on. You leave your comments below.
I'm starting a new series today. I'm calling it "the songwriter's notebook." Here's the idea. I'll video myself singing a song that I'm working on. You leave your comments below.
New Year's Eve with four small children has its challenges. There's no dragging them to late-night, grown-up parties, and you can forget trying to find a babysitter. Here's how we'll celebrate tonight.
I started this blog earlier in the year and it has been quite the learning experience. I wanted to thank you, dear reader, for taking the time to read this blog, whether faithfully or sporadically. I pray that you will enjoy some peace during this Christmas season, that your heart will yearn for "Him whose birth the angels sing," and that you will allow Him to transform you into the image of Himself even more in the new year. I'm looking forward to 2010. Merry Christmas.
This year my wife and I will celebrate our 15th Christmas together. Early in our marriage we became interested in observing Advent in our home, especially once we had children (which we did 11 years ago). Neither of us came from families or churches that celebrated this season and we've had to find our own way of "doing" it, but it has been my favorite tradition that our family embraces.
Today I'd like to introduce you to my friend Chad Johnson and his mission organization, Come & Live. At the heart of this organization is the paradigm shift to encourage musical artists to serve, rather than to seek ways to be catapulted into larger-than-life caricatures that often self-destruct.
Last week I had the opportunity to head out to Lebanon, TN to LifeWay's distribution center. They have regular chapel services there for the employees. Leading worship is one the things I enjoy the most about my position and the chapel services in Lebanon offer a really unique experience.
My pastor recently preached from the Gospel text of Jesus turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana in Galilee (John 2). He spoke about Jewish weddings and how they are often loud and raucous affairs. I have only been to one, but can attest that it was quite the party. He then led us through an interesting exercise where we imagined Jesus at the wedding.
Ed Stetzer brings up the issue of worship music again on his blog post, "How To Test Your Music." He offers seven tests for songs to pass before they should be used in a worship service.
Yesterday was my first experience as a guest worship leader at Christ Community Church.
John Mark McMillan posted a recent entry to his blog concerning his song, “How He Loves.” With the right audience, this is a really powerful song regarding the passionate love of God. Some people get hung up on the second verse, specifically the phrase “sloppy wet kiss” in the line “So Heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss.”
While I was in Pennsylvania this weekend, I got to catch up with my old friend Milton. I haven’t seen him in over ten years and I welcomed this opportunity.
Proverbs 4 says "guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life."
Communion is a weekly tradition at our church. Typically, the person leading communion shares some sort of teaching or devotional thought related to the observance. I was asked to this. Now, I'm getting more comfortable leading worship, playing my instrument, and singing, but speaking still causes me a bit of anxiety. I knew I should do it, however, so I accepted. Here's what happened.
I'm reading a book titled The Purpose of Man by A.W. Tozer. It's very good. The book's basic premise is that God creates everything with a purpose in mind. Everything. Nothing is accidental or created without reason.
OK, all of you worship leaders, mosey on over to The Worship Community's website and read the post titled "Don't Try to Impress Me" by Sarah Markley.
Last week I had the privilege of going to Leawood, KS for the National Worship Leader Conference. The conference seemed to offer a lot of great workshops from "Worship, the fruit of our lives" to a songwriting clinic with Tommy Walker.
So, I'm in Leawood, KS representing LifeWay at the National Worship Leader Conference. I got here a day before the conference actually starts, so I thought I would check out the International House of Prayer that I've heard so much about. I'm so glad that I did.
A wonderful tradition has started among my closest circle of friends. The idea was first implanted into my heart by my then-pastor, Don Finto. In many cultures around the world, there is a "coming of age" ceremony where a young person is affirmed by his or her elders and is recognized as "one of them."
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