April 19th

A day is God's blank canvas given to each of us. Some mornings we roll out of bed with an excitement for what's in store. Other mornings we are annoyingly roused from a half-sleep after tossing and turning in our beds all night, only to reluctantly place a foot on the floor to start the day. For many of us a day is a block on the calendar that we quickly mark-off as we head toward a vacation or a much anticipated event. But some days are indelibly etched on our hearts and memories as a day that significantly changed us. Even though we spend a lot of time making plans to avoid catastrophe or financial ruin, an event can ferociously sail out of nowhere, over the high walls of our supposed security, and land violently like a mortar shell into the midst of our routines. For me, that day was April 19th.

On April 19, 1975 I received Christ as my Savior. My life forever took a turn toward God and ultimately in becoming a minister. My son was also saved on the same day, some 25 years later. The event that swept me off my feet in a way like no other was the day I learned my mother had died--April 19, 1997.

No matter how much we scheme, plan, manipulate or finance our little world, God has a way of showing us Who's boss. Whenever that fateful day comes around on the calendar each year, I am reminded of just how fragile my life is--the value of every single second given to me. The Bible says, "For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away" (James 4:14).

I searched and list here a few of the numerous, significant events that also transpired on April 19th:

1995--Oklahoma City bombing on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building by Timothy McVeigh
1993--The Branch Davidian Compound near Waco, Texas, is destroyed in a fire after 51-day stand-off; 76 people die, including 24 British nationals and 20 children
1971--Charles Manson sentenced to death (later commuted to life) for the Sharon Tate murder
1948--ABC-TV network begins
1943--Jews attack Nazi occupation forces at Warsaw Ghetto
1861--Lincoln orders blockade of Confederate ports (Civil War)
1775--Revolution begins-Lexington Common, shot "heard round the world"
1770--Captain James Cook 1st sees Australia

For The Rest Of My Days

I didn't grow up saying, "Mama, I wanna be a worship leader." In the home where I was raised, my parents ran as fast as they could from anything religious. My mother always said she didn't want anything to do with church. She was raised in a staunch holiness home where her mother was the spiritual leader and her father was indifferent. In my dad's case, his family was filled with non-believers. It was once said about his grandfather, who died in Australia in 1920, that even though he didn't profess Christ publicly, he lived his life as if he had. Needless to say, I was the product of two people who didn't make Christ the center of their lives and thus, their home.

My mom's mother took me to church when I stayed over for the weekend. My biggest memory was when she bought me new shoes one Saturday at Thom Mcan. Then, the next morning, she dropped me off in a Sunday school class. I was terrified because the room was filled with strangers. As soon as the cookies and fruit punch appeared, everything became tolerable. In the church service, the mono-toned preacher with his long, drawn-out prayers and sermon bored me to tears. The colorful, stained-glass windows portraying Bible stories were intriguing. But for a kid, it didn't connect regarding a relationship with Christ. The truth that did connect with me was how Grandma prayed. She prayed for our salvation (one day her prayers would be answered for each person in my immediate family). So fervent were her petitions at the dinner table, she shed tears of gratefulness as she thanked God for our food and His many blessings. We all giggled as our heads were bowed, but today I am so blessed to be a product of her faithfulness to God.

I was 14 when God invaded my life. All of the backyard Bible classes I attended during the summer in my neighborhood, my grandmother's faithfulness-- the sum-total of my spiritual experience up to then--clicked on like a light when I finally saw the reality of Christ. That glorious day when Christ came into my life was April 19, 1975 at 9:05 PM. I brought the news home to my parents, who's apparent reaction was, "Now what are we gonna do with this kid?" Their reluctance to be positive about my transformation began to turn the corner when, over time, my actions matched my testimony. I remember feeling such a connection to church and it's importance to my spiritual growth. I knew that God was calling me to serve Him in a special way.

When I first began to follow Christ I visited Calvary Chapel, Costa Mesa on Saturday nights and was mesmerized and inspired to be like the musicians who sang and played on the stage. I never aspired to be like the music guy at Grandma's church who flailed his arms and led songs that seemed really out of date. Calvary Chapel was doing material in the style I heard on the radio. I wanted to do that.

35 years have passed. A worship revolution stormed the church and has made a way for guys like me to fulfill our calling as worship leaders. It's amazing to see so many churches writing and arranging their own songs--putting together stellar bands. The future is bright. Now I realize that people probably look at me as one of those religious guys I saw at Grandma's church as a kid. God forbid! I hope you don't misunderstand me when I say that I never, ever want to be religious. I don't want to be the guy who, when he prays, changes his accent and uses words that are never used in normal conversation (if I ever seem to be heading in that direction, please stop me and remind me what I said here!). My goal is to lead people to the throne of grace where Christ meets us without condemnation--where fear is not welcome and faith is nurtured. I want to help connect these spiritual possibilities to the lives of everyday people, young and old. If I can lead people there--in a relevant way-- and God's anointing is present, I don't know a better way to spend the rest of my days on this earth.

All-Consuming Tech-Lust

I've been itching to get a new cell phone. It's not that I need one--it's just that the new Android phones look so cool and...the flesh is so weak. I have had a Blackberry Storm since November, '08, and had a BB Pearl before that. If you are into email and a really good, solid phone that keeps tickin' after way too many trips to the blacktop, Blackberry is great. Verizon tells me it's time for my two year upgrade and, like I said before, my hankerin' for a new gadget has got me checking out all my options.

What happened to the days when we had to keep a dime in the bottom corner of our bill fold just in case of an emergency? (That's right, kiddos, a dime for a payphone!). Didn't we manage to survive without cell phones? I can remember the rotary phones that we had as a kid. The only phone my family had for years was hanging on a wall in the kitchen . The cord was stretched into a tangled mess from constant finger-twirling, and could never be straightened out in a million years. The length of the cord dictated our distance from the wall...as well as our privacy. Then, in the 80's, some brilliant soon-to-be millionaire figured out how to apply wireless technology to home-phones and we left those pesky cords in the dust. Now, every kindergartner has his own cell phone number, accountant, lawyer, masseuse and maid.

Once we adapt to new technology it's hard to go backward. I like my phone, my laptop, wireless internet, satellite TV and radio. It would be like sticking your hand in a lion's cage if you tried to take my stuff away. Our tech toys become an integral part in everyday life once we start benefiting from their genius. My problem is when a toy becomes uninteresting and too familiar-- that's when I start hankerin' for a new fix.

The Blackberry has proven to be a good, reliable friend. My biggest complaint is when it freezes up or gives me a low-memory message. In the hunt for a new one, I, as a loyal customer, will probably hold-out for another Blackberry. But if Verizon ever gets the Apple contract from AT&T, I will drop it like a hot potato and snag an iPhone. I bet, even then, my tech lust won't be abated. I'm learning that most of the time we don't do the consuming, the products consume us.

They'll Change Your Life!

Whenever my dad sees a couple in a store, carrying a child or pushing them in a grocery cart, he almost always stops them in their tracks to make the same comment, "Kids will change your life!" Even though some of those bewildered parents look back over their shoulder at the old guy walking away and wonder who that bearded man was, my dad doesn't give a flyin' flip--partly because he is 83 and mostly because he knows what he's talking about. He raised 3 boys and was married for just short of 50 years before my mom, without warning, passed away 13 years ago.

Getting married and having kids are both an exercise in ignorance. Kind of like eating sausage: if we knew too much about the ingredients and how it was made, we probably wouldn't partake. Marriage and parenting not only demands more from us than we originally thought but also gives us so much in return.

Brenda and I were married at Christmastime in 1985. We were so poor, the homeless felt sorry for us. We started out living in a one bedroom apartment and within a few months we found a charming little house to rent who's owners knew Brenda since childhood. We had made the decision that we wanted kids and, vavoom, after 4 months of marriage, Josh was on the way. So many people thought we were crazy for starting so soon--especially since I was a freshman at Mobile College and we barely had a nickel to our name. Nevertheless, we blissfully took the challenge that was to become a lifetime commitment. Josh was born just a year and a month after our wedding day. We had to adjust our schedule to his as he demanded to eat, be washed, changed and paid attention to, all on his time--and he certainly took no consideration for our needs. We were all too happy to have Josh in our lives. A year and a month later, Betsy joyfully came into our lives.

Raising children is a blinding endeavor involving thousands of hours of minutiae. Their growing needs constantly shift our living patterns and challenge our patience. From the first step our children take on their own to the independence of riding a bike and staying over night at a friend's house, they are slowly moving away from us. All of the baths, meals, clothes washing, playing, naps, kisses, bruises and cuts, living and learning are such a blur until you come come to a clearing and realize your kids have graduated from high school.

We just saw Toy Story 3 and related to the mom who looked at the recently vacated room of her son who was going away to college. She pondered the memories that hung like crayon drawings on the walls of their lives over the past 17 years and simply inhaled, lifted her shoulders and exhaled in silent lament. We spend our young years teaching our kids to live on their own and before we know it, we are on trial because it is our burden to let them go. Even though our kids left home 2 years ago to live on their own, we are still their mom and dad and forever will be looking out for their well being, albeit from a distance.

As Josh marries Amber in a few weeks, just like Betsy married Adam last year, Brenda and I will look forward to one day seeing our grandchildren being born into homes that, we are confident, will be full of love and nurture, just like ours has been. Kids will change your life and bring blessings that two ignorant newlyweds could never imagine.

Free For the Taking

I got tired of cutting away the weeds from around the broken-down lawn mower in my backyard. This has been happening for the past three seasons since my new mower has taken it's place. Isn't it funny how patient we can be with clutter and junk that piles up around us? In the case of the mower, and a derelict grill for that matter, it was time to find a proper site for burial.

Cable and satellite TV is littered (pun intended) with shows about clutter. From the fairly innocent pack-rat who has trouble throwing out uncle Ted's clown figurine collection to the mentally/ emotionally challenged person who has to make a trail through the head-high collection of trash that fills their homes, junk seems to be an American obsession. My two favorite shows on TV revolve around junk (or treasure--depending on how much money you can squeeze out of it!). Pawn Stars (sorry, but that's what it's called) is about a pawn shop and the days in the life of the owners and family members. It is crazy the kind of money that folks can get for simple items that I would have no trouble tossing away. The other show is about antique dealers who scavenge people's old barns and out buildings for hidden treasure called American Pickers. There is always a market for what we consider castaway items. For several years I have used Ebay to unload items that have some sort of marketability on the internet. Once I sold a collection of old magazines, for instance, that brought in enough money, less the expenses, to take my wife out for a nice steak dinner.

So, last Saturday, after I circled the dead lawn mower for the last time, I had a bright idea. I wheeled the poor thing out to the curb along with the old grill and made a sign that said, "Please take us! FREE!" As soon as I hammered the sign into the ground and turned around to go back into the house, a truck slowed down to read the sign. I hurriedly made my way to the door and quickly closed it behind me because I wouldn't want to seem vulnerable at that point. Sure enough, the driver snatched up the grill and whisked it away to a new home. It wasn't an hour later that another thrifty, young man saw the sad looking lawn mower and tucked it away in the back of his truck. Now, the sign was left standing alone, evidence of good, responsible recycling in action!

The backyard is finally rid of it's clutter. To make room in our closet, I think my wife has her eye on setting both pairs of my beloved Croc sandals out on the curb for a stranger to nab. At least we have a sign ready to let the neighborhood know they are free for the taking.

Words

When in a book store, my first move is toward the discount section. I have discovered treasure there at times. Two days ago, while visiting Books-A-Million, I found a cool little book called Why Do We Say It? for 7 bucks. In it there are a series of stories behind hundreds of words, expressions and cliches we use on a daily basis. Most of us have no idea where the words or phrases we are saying come from because of the unusual, convoluted history leading back to their origins. This book, by the way, is probably best qualified as "good bathroom reading".

Nevertheless, my interest in etymology is piqued as I peruse the pages of this little yellow book of facts. For instance, the word "budget" comes from the French word meaning briefcase or leather bag that held the financial papers for the House of Commons in England. "Sour Grapes" comes from an old fable where a fox can't get to the highest grapes on the vine and walks away saying, "Well, they're sour grapes, anyway!" The word, "idiot" hasn't always meant a mentally challenged person. Originally in Greek the term meant a private citizen who held no public office. It morphed over time into the meaning of one who couldn't take part in public affairs (Wow, that's exactly how some elected officials treat us common-folk after they are voted into office...like we're idiots!).

Mixing metaphors is something that is quite common. Taking two or three pithy statements and merging them can bring about embarrassing consequences. We are oblivious to the origin of a saying and look silly when someone brings the resultant error to our attention. I have actually heard someone say, "He kicked a gift horse in the teeth." In the movie Back To the Future, Biff eviscerates a common phrase when speaking to Marty McFly, "Why don't you make like a tree, and get outta here!"

The English language can be so complex with it's multiple rules and laws, making it almost impossible to get through even this blog without the spell/ grammar check lighting up and pointing it's skinny, judgmental finger at my writing inadequacies. I choose to simply ignore the intimidation, make the changes and move on. The next time I use a metaphor, an expression or even a simple word, my little yellow book will remind me that there is probably a deep back-story behind it. I am best served to heed Abraham Lincoln's advice when he said,

Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.

Gatlinburg

Brenda and I are in the midst of a much-needed diversion to the Smoky Mountains. We have a nice little hotel in the heart of Gatlinburg, TN...walking distance from a plethora of t-shirt shops, caramel corn and funnel cakes. For those who have never heard of this little vacation spot in the hills of east Tennessee, it is "state fair meets beautiful mountains"...a veritable playground of the middle-class and the unknown. Since the oil spill in the Gulf, we were thinking that the vacationers would re-route their plans from the beach to the mountains. At this point it seems Brenda and I won't be trampled by crowds...yet.

Our favorite spot here is a little preserved pioneer community called Cade's Cove, just over the hill from Gatlinburg. Sometime in the 1930s the government roped off this little valley protecting it from the ravages of progress. Going to the Cove is taking a trip back in time to the days when mountain people with English, Irish and Scottish roots populated Appalachia. Their handiwork is evident in the cabins, smokehouses, churches and mercantiles, necessary for survival in this then remote part of the world. The roads around the community are maintained as modern connections between homesteads and community buildings. The speed limit is so slow, grandma could probably keep up with her walker. But as soon as you get to a site, you must park your car and walk to it. In many cases, you can walk into the cabins and see the rough-hewn and hammered markings on the wood from more than a century ago. I love to put some cool music on in the car, creating a soundtrack that accompanies our trip around the pioneer community.

The other indulgence that we never miss while in Gatlinburg is visiting the many outlet malls that are strewn across the valley. It's not like they don't exist where we live. We just love to zig-zag in and out of each store until we tire and need to duck into a shady corner, regain our strength and start again. I have to say that I get relaxation from it all.

When families come here, they know that they can afford to splurge a little. It's not like the rich and famous who take trips to Europe or Hawaii with their families. Those are the mega-vacations that most of us dream of and will probably never see. We can fill up the car with the kids and grandma, drive a couple of hours and spend a few days in this blue collar paradise. The reason folks flock here is because we can pretty much afford it. I hope that there will always be an affordable getaway here. The economy, as it has been and looks like it will continue to be for a while, is such that many families are taking "stay-cations" instead of vacations. I prefer to play it cheap and spend a few days in the Smokies amidst the sweet-scent of frying funnel cakes and the sweaty tourist who, just like me, are looking to recover our sanity before going back to our work-a-day worlds.

Enjoying the Moment

Last October Brenda, my brother Jon, his wife Beth and I went to Atlanta to see U2 in concert. It was the first time for each of us to see them. There are only a few bands or artists that I want to see live in my lifetime and U2 was one of them. They are truly of my generation as Bono was born in 1960 just like me. Edge is the same age as my brother Jon, born in 1961.

I went to Best Buy last week to get the Blu-ray of the Los Angeles show from the 360 Tour that we attended (unfortunately, our show wasn't on the disc). In the behind-the-scenes section of the DVD, a tech person who helped develop the unusual alien-like staging commented that in life most of us spend more time thinking about the future and the past than the present. He went on to say that concerts force us to live in the present. I agree. The beauty of entertainment is that it helps to suspend our logical mind and allows our imaginations to come out and play. Isn't it interesting that we can be looking at a movie screen, a stage, or a television and be transported past the reality that we are looking at reflected light and be swallowed whole into the drama or performance? We become less aware of ourselves and dissolve into the story or the music. To me that's enjoying the moment. It is something that we don't get enough of in our busy lives.

Bono sings a song on the DVD from the All That You Can't Leave Behind CD called Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of. The chorus says:

Don't say that later will be better now you're stuck in a moment
and you can't get out of it

My prayer is that I might learn to enjoy the "now" in my life. I can't live in the delusion that tomorrow might be better. I don't own tomorrow...but, I do have this moment. Brenda is here with me-- we are stretched out, watching the U2 Blu-ray on our HDTV and the sound is phenomenal. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else but right here, right now. There's no better place to live than in the present.

The Mystery of Music

Music is an audible medium. But communication between great musicians is without words. I cannot explain the spiritual nature of making music. Where does it come from? How do we hear harmony? Why is music almost like food in many, if not all, cultures. Some of these questions may be answered by someone smarter than the likes of me.

I had a great time last night playing with some fantastic Nashville pickers. There's something easy about those guys...not regarding their playing abilities (they are musical monsters!) but their easy-going, light-hearted approach to what they do. The amazing thing about Nashville pickers is that they work off of a musical short-hand called the number system. I won't go into details about the technical side of the Nashville Number System here but generally it was developed by a studio singer in the middle of the last century to indicate when the band is to change chords. The numbers represent the steps in a chord progression, allowing the band to change keys quickly if the singer needs to do so in the recording session. The beauty of a session musician is that they know how to fill in the flesh on the musical skeleton that the number system suggests.

The mystery of music is especially puzzling to me because I can't explain where it comes from in myself. All I know is that I have been singing harmonies to records since I was a small child. My mother was a by-ear piano player and her father and his father were musician/ singers. It must run in families. Playing guitar is not a technical thing for me. There is somehow a direct connection between my soul and my fingers. I hear a melody in my heart and, with the help of a good, in-tune guitar and tube amp (pedals, too!) I can turn a thought into something other people can experience.

I found an interesting interview in the American Chronicle from May 9, 2008 where veteran guitarist, Steve Gibson (he was picking last night along with drum legend Eddie Bayers on keys...say what?), illustrates the craft of a Nashville studio picker:

"Take the rhythm section we use for George Strait records: Eddie Bayers, Stuart Duncan, Glenn Worf, Paul Franklin, Brent Mason, Mac McAnally, Steve Nathan, Matt Rollings and myself. We all know each other so well that when some little spark flies through the room, we instinctively know what to do. This may sound mystical, but it's really true. Something flies off of someone's hands and somebody else grabs it - instantly, mind you, without even thinking - and adds the next set of molecules to it and passes it on. There's nothing in the world that feels as gratifying."

As a musician, this is what's so exciting. Our efforts are only complete when we can see that you, the audience, are enjoying what we are creating.

Stand Still

I think it's cool that God asks His kids to do things totally against the grain of human nature. All things supernatural are contrary to human nature. Our propensity to sin leads us away from God, forging a stubborn independence from His will and provision. Our flesh depends on it's own strength for survival. But God's desire for mankind is that we trust Him alone to meet our needs through faith and grace (unmerited favor). An illustration of just how backward we humans have it is found in this conundrum from Henry Blackaby's study, Experiencing God: “Don’t just do something. Stand there!" Henry goes on to make his point:

"We are industrious people. We always want to accomplish something. The idea of doing God’s will sounds exciting. Once in awhile, someone says, 'Don’t just stand there—do something.' Sometimes individuals or churches are so busy carrying out plans they think will help achieve God’s purposes that they don’t bother to find out what He actually wants. We often wear ourselves out and accomplish little for the kingdom of God."

"Jesus said, 'I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me' (John 15:5). Do you believe that without Him you can do nothing? Sure, you can keep yourself busy. You can immerse yourself in activities, programs, meetings, and events, but they will not have any lasting value for God’s kingdom..."

I read a Tweet from Saddleback Church pastor Rick Warren today that stated, "God gives (you) enough time to do His Will. If (you) can't get it all done-(you are) doing stuff out of His Will or doing it a wrong way." God does not require us to be in a hurry, but to discover what He is doing and get in the midst of it. We will arrive at the correct destination at just the right time when we are in His will.

God is calling me to "stand still" regarding some initiatives in my life. My tendency is to "work it" and "push" and "struggle" until I get the results I want...after all--isn't struggle godly? No. Sometimes waiting and watching is what God desires from me. Sometimes He wants me to wait in the bushes and watch for His salvation. 2 Chronicles 20:17 says, "You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you..." (NIV).

God, help me to trust You with my life. You have an amazing perspective on my days on earth from beginning to end. As my Alpha and Omega, please reveal to me what You are doing so I might join You in Your work. Help me not to get it backward and find myself, like Pastor Warren pointed out...doing stuff out of Your Will or doing it a wrong way, altogether.

Meeting Our Heroes

I am often asked how it feels to play along side a famous musician. I think its cool because for my whole life I have dreamed of playing music with my heroes. As a result of the blessing of God, a lot of hard work, several bumps and bruises, and a lot of stubbornness, I am living that dream today.

Sometimes it’s disappointing when my imagination of a certain person doesn’t match up with reality. In most situations the more famous and the closer to icon status a person is the more genuine and loving they are. They have years of experience behind them and know how important the fans are to their survival as an artist. Sometimes it is the new artist that lacks the patience and understanding when it comes to dealing with fans. It is a common mistake in life to misjudge someone by the way they look or seem. The best way to deal with people is to treat normal people like rock stars and rock stars like normal people. It’s kind of like someone with new money that needs to prove their stature and adorn themselves with ostentatious outward displays of the trappings of wealth verses the millionaire that wears work clothes and drives a tattered truck. The unwise see a poor man coming and pay no attention. The wise make their inquiries and find that buried in that brown, dirty work-pant pocket is wad of $100 bills. My heroes love people just because and are not respecters of persons. No airs. No pretensions. No bologna.

I try not to make a fool of myself when I meet a hero. It is not a good thing to salivate, convulse, stutter or fall down when in their presence. I met a life-long hero a few years ago. As I reached to shake his hand he looked at me with a strange wince. I felt awkward but went on to finish the introduction and walked away puzzled. Later, feeling awkward about the encounter, I was leaving in my car and caught a glimpse of my chin as I glanced in the rear-view mirror. Right there, hanging like a ridiculous appendage, was a grotesque chunk of taco meat—a remnant from lunch two hours earlier. I’d hoped he didn’t think it was a hideous mole…or something worse.

I have worked with many of my heroes but none comes close to Charlie Daniels. He is a joy. He is also a KILLER entertainer. His ability to be a performer and a lover of God at the same time blows my mind. I used to listen to his Fire On the Mountain record with The South’s Gonna Do It Again as I was growing up in Fullerton, California. I have had the pleasure of sharing the stage with him several times and I’ll be seeing him again this Friday night.

When it comes to meeting our heroes one can never dream too big. Some heroes are a disappointment. Charlie is the real deal!

Still A Loser

An update on my recent life-style change is due.

I have been high-blood-pressure free for 2 months now. I continue to lose weight and am down 30 lbs. and falling. My goal is 50 at 50 (down 50 lbs. for my half-century birthday--which happens to fall on Josh and Amber's wedding day, July 10th). I am on track, but 20 lbs. in a month is a tall order! I am willing to do what it takes to lose the rest and to keep it off even if I need August to fulfill it.

Things seem to change in life by decades and involve things that roll. The first decade is stroller to bicycle; second is bicycle to car; third is a car to pushing a stroller & teaching the kids to ride a bike; fourth is teaching the kids to drive; and the fifth is gonna be staying active on the treadmill and movement in general. I want to forgo the decade when it all goes backward and I am being pushed in a wheelchair. My decision to make a big change in life now will make the difference for the rest of my life.

My dad is 83 and he is doing fantastic. His eyes are feeble with macular degeneration but he is still gobbling up books on the Kindle that Brenda and I got him for Christmas last year . He added years to his life when he made a serious life-style change and decided to quit smoking almost 30 years ago. I believe Pop's biggest asset to longevity is his humor. He brings fun to every conversation and people just love him. I want to be like my dad: chronologically blessed, well-read, handsome and hilarious!

Weekends

It being Saturday, I woke early to get the stuff done around the house in enough time to prepare for the weekend services at church. If I am not careful, the day will slip away and I will regret that I didn't seize the opportunity to enjoy what Saturdays bring.

I remember those childhood days in the summer when I could get up at any time my body wanted, ate anything in sight, rode bikes with my friends and didn't come home until the street lights came on. I had no restrictions on time or energy. My parents were very trusting of the neighborhood and weren't too worried about the streets or the dangers therein. We basically had free-reign. Before I was 15, church never was a family priority. So from Friday night until Sunday night, we were absolutely carefree.

I wholeheartedly chose to be a musician and later a minister/ worship leader. So with that, my weekends became less a time of rest and relaxation and more of a time of work. Evenings are also limited because of rehearsals and performances. Sometimes I have a "leisure fantasy" and dream of the days when life was less complicated. In those fantasies I imagine I might enjoy getting my weekends back...lying around on a hammock, drinking Hawaiian Punch through a straw out of a hollowed-out pineapple. Then I am quickly zapped back into reality when I think of my life without playing music for a living . I don't know what I would do if I couldn't play my guitar, sing, write songs or lead worship. I would be sad...lost, really.

Well, I look at the time on the computer and see that it's almost noon. That means I am soon to start my pre-service prep routine: look over the songs in the set-list, make my cheat-sheet, pray about God's direction for the service, shower, dress, grab a guitar and dash to the car for the 40 minute, beautiful drive east on 840 toward Murfreesboro and World Outreach Church.

You know, come to think of it--my dream, as I was cruising the neighborhood on my imitation Stingray back in Fullerton in the 70's, was to play guitar in a band...

3 Priorities of A Worship Leader

When interviewed for a magazine a few days ago I was asked the question, "What would you say are the top three priorities for worship leaders?" My answers are simple but I believe that if heeded and practiced, they will bring fruit to your worship leading experience. My suggestions are based on the teaching of Jesus from Matthew 22:37-40 when He was asked what He thought was the greatest commandment:

Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (NIV)

1. Love God. This seems obvious at first but it is a commandment from Jesus. Loving God in every area of our life is our greatest testimony. When we have a passion for God in work, when we play, when times are smooth and when they are rocky, when we are with our families and our guard is down, our passion for God is obvious and it is contagious when others see us living what we lead.
 

2. Love people. We must live a singular life when we lead people. We cannot be one way with our close friends and then another with those we lead at church. If we lead by influence (and this, in my opinion, is the only way to lead), and we love and respect people--stopping to listen to their story and showing care and concern for them--they will follow us. A true leader is one who never has to force people to follow. If you find yourself coercing others to follow, you are not a leader. People will follow your leadership if you care for them.

3. Bring excellence. My pastor always encourages our team to bring our "A" game each service. We have two each weekend and it can be easy to "phone-one-in" if we are not careful.

The best way for me to bring my best is to, first, be prepared. I believe proper preparation for our worship leading brings rest. I am relaxed and this, in turn, helps my team and the congregation to be relaxed (people have a hard time focusing on God when you are fumbling around as the leader).

Second, it helps to be focused. I try to train my heart and mind to zero-in on the task at hand for the hour or so before I lead. One tool I use to help me with this is to put a cheat-sheet (notes, keys changes, chord changes, arrangements, etc.) on the floor next to my mic stand so I can look down and find my bearings, if needed, as I proceed through the worship service.

Third, I think rehearsal is so important. I can hear you saying a collective "DUH" right about now! We have rehearsals on Sunday morning at 7 AM, right before the services. So it's good to be prepared in advance to hit the ground running. 

I find that all of these preps bring rest and there is no better way to lead others. When we have a passion for God and people, while knowing where we are going in worship, and how we are going to get there, others will gladly follow!