Vinyl Records Rule

I'm writing this on the day after Christmas. More that a few times over the course of the day I've seen pictures of new vinyl record turntables up on Facebook that friends have posted, obviously a cool Baby-Boomer gift this season.

I've reconnected with that old turntable/vinyl record love affair recently—a flame that faded years ago after the CD player and digital music made their debut in the late-80s. Like many, I fell for what the experts told us was a better, sexier audio format. I've never quite forgiven myself for parting with many of the vinyl records I'd accumulated over the years—plastic treasures wrought with gift money and hard-earned scratch from my after-school job. I spent most of my paycheck on gas for my '65 Dodge Polara and at a record shop near where I grew up in Fullerton, California.

We called them "records" back then (I still do). Vinyl had limited space, so you were forced to pause and turn the record over after side-one was finished. You'd always be careful to hold the record by its edge to avoid leaving fingerprints and scratches on the shiny surfaces. After carefully lowering the needle, the invisible dust particles would make popping-sounds while finding the groove, then you'd settle in for side-two.

The record jackets were usually filled with plenty of reading material, a hypnotic widow into the fantasy world of the musician's lives. Over the years, I began to recognize the names of the musicians who played on my favorite records, and soon learned to anticipate those players on other records with other artists. I connected the dots between record companies, song writers, artists, producers, players, engineers and recording studios.

Those on-the-floor, between-the-speakers listening sessions were magical, and I still seek the "wonder" those times would bring. Even though most of my favorite records were made in recording studios less than an hour from my home in Orange County, L.A. seemed like a million miles away. Many of the artists I admired lived minutes from the Sunset Strip, and played in places like the Troubadour, the Whisky A Go Go and The Roxy.

For over thirty years I've made my career in music. And although I started out in the mid- to late-70s with analog tape, I have mostly recorded in a pristine, digital world. It's impossible to innocently sit and listen to music like I used to—especially many of the records I grew up with from the 60s and 70s. It's hard to listen without picking everything apart; I'd hear the out-of-tune vocals and the shifting tempos—it's driven me a little crazy sometimes.

But recently, after my buddy Kevin Shaw hooked me up with an old-school turntable, receiver and a couple of speakers, I coaxed what was left of my vinyl record collection out of retirement. Placing the needle on one of those discs, it all came back to me: the wonder, the pops, the warmth, the imperfections, the simplicity of a stereo image on two full-range speakers, and the beauty of analog. I've rediscovered that vinyl records rule!

Justin Timberlake—Teacher and Guide

I was talking to an old friend today who was a student at my first Worship Foundry school. He's now a grown man with a college degree and a new bride, but fondly remembers those two semesters he spent learning about the guitar in a context of worship. He said he'd love to start a Worship Foundry in his current church, where he says there's interest but no opportunity there for future generations of worship leaders to begin their journey as a worship musician—the kind of opportunity he had more than a decade earlier. I loved being a mentor to those students, many of whom are still playing in worship bands all over the country.

While clicking through the cyber edition of our local paper, The Tennessean, I discovered an article featuring Justin Timberlake and his budding ambition as a teacher and a mentor—at the ripe old age of 32. No one is too young to be a mentor, especially if you're Justin Timberlake and have millions of fans. (After seeing his amazing laser-light-laden performance on Saturday Night Live this past weekend, it's not hard for even an old fogey to realize his immense talent).

In the Tennessean article by Cindy Watts, Timberlake said:

“There might be another calling for me out there,” he said. “And it might be being a part of music in this way as a communicator and a teacher and a guide.” 

Might Taylor Swift be a potential student? He questioned what the multi-platinum-selling singer’s career will be “when she crosses over the threshold of adulthood.” 

“She’ll get her day in the sun when she’s ready to move the needle,” he said. “That was something I was very conscious of. I was in a group that was bigger than bubble gum (*NSYNC). Talk about stadiums. We played every stadium in the world, it feels like. It’s almost like, with anything, when you do settle into adulthood is when when people respect you in a different way. But there’s no question in my mind that that’s where she’s going, if she so chooses. For me I am sort of the oracle of the idea, and I’m also the communicator of it.” 

He also wants to break down genre barriers in songwriting. 

“When are we just all going to sit in the same room and go, ‘You know what? The clash of cultures is what it’s about,’ ” he said. “And to be honest, I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately, about how I’d like to be a part of it. That’s what I’m looking forward to in the next 10 or 15 years, helping these young kids who are songwriters make a career out of it.”

I am still passionate about being a mentor—so much so that I dedicated a chapter about it in my new book, Worship Foundry. I hope you pick up a copy so that you, too, can learn to create a worship school for your own church. I promise that it will be a blessing for your students, the church, the Kingdom, and incredibly fulfilling for you as a teacher and leader.

Merry Christmas!

The Dash Between the Dates

Having several songs published in hymn books over the years, I'm used to seeing next to my name, in many an author index: Jamie Harvill (1960-    ). It's comforting to know that the blank space remains; it lets me know that I have a future!

Author Kevin Welsh wrote: "There'll be two dates on your tombstone and all your friends will read them. But all that is going to matter is that little dash between them." That dash represents our legacy. Maya Angelou has said: "...Your legacy is what you do everyday; it's every life you've touched; it's every person whose life was either moved or not; it's every person you harmed or helped—that's your legacy!' What does that "dash" say of my life, even now, before my earthly journey is completed?

The older I get as a Christ-follower, the more clear it becomes that during much of that "dash" God is helping me to be conformed to the likeness of Christ. It represents surrender—an ongoing opportunity to be made better as a human and as a child of God. Paul, in Romans 5:4-5, says: "...we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us" (NIV).

Sometimes life is filled with extreme difficulty, but it can also be filled with great joy. And in the span of our lives, the thing that really matters is that we love God and love people. 

Walking past a cemetery, it's obvious that none of those interred there are ambitious, hungry, chasing after riches, or trying to "one-up" the neighbors. None of that matters to them—they've come to the end of their journey. As Christ-followers, God's been trying to get us to die to ourselves, forsaking the temporal for a greater reward in heaven, where we'll hunger, thirst, worry and feel pain no more. While still living within the dash, we can rise to meet God's purpose for us, as the writer David Roper says: "To make us great." 

This goal is not a part of the American Dream that we've been taught since infancy. Many continue to define the "Dream" as: owning a home and having a happy family, with some success often referred to as physical comfort and financial security.

In the T.S. Eliot poem, "Ash Wednesday," Dante's concept of the "low and high dream" is referenced: The "low dream" is to live for oneself, but the "high dream" is to live for the will of God. 

Let's forsake the American Dream, with its "low dream" aspirations of seeking comfort, for a life filled with opportunities to grow as Christ-followers, and to prepare for the glorious presence of God we will experience into eternity—while we still have "dash" left between the dates.

3 Ways to Measure Spiritual Success

2013 is almost gone. Now is the time when most people look back and take stock of how their year went—good or bad. I saw a Tweet written around Thanksgiving from Beth Moore that came from her own tear-filled recap of 2013. She wrote, "...sometimes what you're thankful for is that your family survived a hard year."

It has been a tough year for many, myself included.

What we sign up for as Christians is to be used by God. What often takes us by surprise, however, are the difficult periods of refinement we must go through in the process. Sometimes after an especially tough journey, it feels like I've crawled out of an industrial clothes dryer that was set on high! After my own challenges this year, with several trials—one after the other—I'm thankful to have survived. But what I need at year's end is a standard by which I can measure what God considers true success. Here are three important considerations:

1. Success begins with an offering to God (Worship)

The Bible is filled with stories of regular, everyday people—folks who gave what little they had to God:

—Moses held up a staff:  God told him to throw it down. Moses picked it up and afterward performed miracles with it and helped deliver a nation out of slavery (Exodus 4:1-5)

—David held up five smooth stones:   God used David and those stones in a slingshot to slay a giant (1 Samuel 17:40-48)

—A widow held up empty containers:  God filled them with oil; she went on to sell the oil to make good on her debts, and lived, both she and her sons, on what was left (2 Kings 4:7)

—The disciples held up 5 loaves and 2 fish:  Jesus blessed the meal and fed over 5,000 people (Matthew 14:13-21)

2. Success is loving God's people and doing His will (Service)

Our success as Christ-followers is not measured by the stuff we have, but by loving people, following Him in faith, and trusting in His Word. In John 6:38 Jesus said: "I came down from heaven not to follow my own whim but to accomplish the will of the One who sent me" (MSG). If we have followed after God in 2013—in big and small ways—we have succeeded!

3. Success is being conformed to the image of God's Son (Spiritual Formation)

Living a life of faith is impossible for any man or woman to do; we cannot live the Christian life on our own. Thankfully, Christ redeems and indwells us, and lives the Christ-life through us. This journey may take us through some "lion, tiger and bear" moments in life, where it can be easy to give in to fear rather than trust God and walk in faith. I was reminded this year that God desperately desires that I be conformed to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29).

By using this method of measurement, I can celebrate many successes this year. God took what little I had and turned it into much more than I could have ever imagined. I pray that your personal recap of 2013 brings shouts of praise!

New Jamie Harvill Recording: "Songs for the Harvest" CD Sampler

Press here to purchase the complete CD today: $12 (standard USPS shipping included)

Cyber Monday: Book & CD Offer—Extended Through Christmas!

I've been away for a few weeks filling my batteries and having great family time! It's time to get back to writing and the joy that I always find communicating what's on my heart.

I am so happy to have completed two projects in the past few months which have recently been released; I want to take this opportunity, on Cyber Monday, to make them available together for the special price of $25, with free shipping! The book, Worship Foundry, and my new CD, Songs for the Harvest, are ready to ship and I will sign both if you purchase them directly from me. Please email me and I will let you know how to pay, and will get them out to you lickity split!

I pray that your Thanksgiving was fantastic and filled with generous helpings of gratefulness, family and friends~

Blessings to all,
Jamie

Press here to purchase the book and CD combo today!

Breaking Bad: Reconciling Life's Difficulties

It seem everywhere I read lately there have been several mentions in blogs, articles, etc., of how to reconcile bad things that happen to good people. If we are always looking for "fairness" in life, our expectations will produce a disappointing reality.

In college, while studying to be a pastor, the theological topic of "the problem of evil" would raise its head quite often. As mentioned before, while expecting "fairness" in everything, we are easily disheartened. This week in the news, 10,000 Filipinos lost their lives as a horrible typhoon that swept across their island nation. Think of that—10,000 people perished—moms, dads, kids, grandparents...innocent people who didn't deserve to die. And how can we wrap our heads around the recent school killings, or the brutal gassing of civilians in the Syrian Civil War? There are no easy answers, and perhaps, no immediate answers at all.

C.S. Lewis pondered of the problem of evil in a work called, "The Case for Christianity." He wrote:

“God created things which had free will. That means creatures which can go wrong or right. Some people think they can imagine a creature which was free but had no possibility of going wrong, but I can't. If a thing is free to be good it's also free to be bad. And free will is what has made evil possible. Why, then, did God give them free will? Because free will, though it makes evil possible, is also the only thing that makes possible any love or goodness or joy worth having. A world of automata—of creatures that worked like machines—would hardly be worth creating. The happiness which God designs for His higher creatures is the happiness of being freely, voluntarily united to Him and to each other in an ecstasy of love and delight compared with which the most rapturous love between a man and a woman on this earth is mere milk and water. And for that they've got to be free. Of course God knew what would happen if they used their freedom the wrong way: apparently, He thought it worth the risk... If God thinks this state of war in the universe a price worth paying for free will—that is, for making a real world in which creatures can do real good or harm and something of real importance can happen, instead of a toy world which only moves when He pulls the strings—then we may take it it is worth paying.”

In another work called "The Problem of Pain," C.S. Lewis helps to bring understanding to the process of God refining the hearts and souls of His dearly beloved children:

“We are, not metaphorically but in very truth, a Divine work of art, something that God is making, and therefore something with which He will not be satisfied until it has a certain character. Here again we come up against what I have called the “intolerable compliment.” Over a sketch made idly to amuse a child, an artist may not take much trouble: he may be content to let it go even though it is not exactly as he meant it to be. But over the great picture of his life—the work which he loves, though in a different fashion, as intensely as a man loves a woman or a mother a child—he will take endless trouble—and would doubtless, thereby give endless trouble to the picture if it were sentient. One can imagine a sentient picture [one which helps the beholder sense, feel, perceive or experience subjectivity], after being rubbed and scraped and re-commenced for the tenth time, wishing that it were only a thumb-nail sketch whose making was over in a minute. In the same way, it is natural for us to wish that God had designed for us a less glorious and less arduous destiny; but then we are wishing not for more love but for less.” 

My friend John Stanko, in a recent blog post entitled "Strength and Weakness," wrote of the Apostle Paul's difficulties and how he seemed to be failing when in fact he was actually doing the will of God while struggling through overwhelming circumstances. Stanko said:

"Paul saw that he was in his best position for success when he was in his purpose, but also facing his limitations, trusting the Lord to somehow make a way. And God always did make a way, even when he was in prison or on a sinking ship. Even when the ship was going down, Paul was fulfilling his purpose of taking the gospel to the Gentiles, even the Gentile ship's crew."

Our limitations, trials and difficulties make us stronger. As C.S. Lewis illustrated through the "intolerable compliment," would we trade the character God has formed in us for an easier life? That's up to each individual to decide. In Romans 5:1-5, Paul makes the claim which sheds light on the value of his own struggles:

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (NASB)"

We may never reconcile pain, unfairness, badness, evil and sin in this life like we do with our bank statements, but God will always use our suffering to create His likeness in us. We must be a willing vessel, ready to be formed by the Artist's skilled hands on His pottery wheel.

Worship Team Training Hangout with Jamie Harvill and Branon Dempsey

I was excited to join Branon Dempsey for an interview on November 6th, covering topics of worship in the church, including how to love and keep volunteers, ageism in the church, rock star worship leaders, mentoring, and some information about my new book, Worship Foundry. I hope you enjoy this informal chat, and thanks to Branon for adding my song, "Texas Toast," from my solo instrumental record, Songs Without Words, to the beginning of the video!








Order the new book today!

Worship Foundry: Shaping a New Generation of Worship Leaders 
by Jamie Harvill 

Harvest Songs

A month or so ago, I mentioned on Facebook and Twitter that I was going to start a new recording project. I included this photo of several acoustic instruments that I said will be used in the recording. At that time, I didn't mention the concept for the project that I was mulling around in my mind.

Fall is my favorite time of year. I have such great memories of when I moved to Ohio back in 1980, and the smell of burning leaves during Autumn permeated the air. The Fall took on a different feel for me there; in Southern California, where I was raised, there really was never a change of seasons, just lots of rain preceding the spring, then the killer SoCal weather—for which it is so famous—until the Santa Ana winds blow through in late Summer, reaching all the way to the rainy season again. The Southeast, here in Tennessee, has a more mild temperature, but there are four distinct seasons, none the less. It has always been my desire to write and record a batch of songs that the Fall inspired; songs that bring that crisp air and beautiful foliage to mind.

Fall in Gatlinburg, Tennessee

I can think of records I listened to back in the day, like Neil Young's Harvest, and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young's Deja Vu. Later, I would discover artists like Emmylou Harris, Ricky Skaggs,  Linda Ronstadt and the Eagles—their music brings about a longing for wide-open spaces and beautiful vistas. I have always wanted to recreate that feeling in my songs (that's what artists do!), and I made up my mind to do a record during the Fall—for inspiration.

I started about 6 weeks ago, and I'm almost finished with the 9 songs on the record. I used a heavy dose of acoustic instruments like banjo (a "ganjo," in my case), mandolin, fiddle, and a smattering of steel guitar—thanks to my new friend, Mike Scaggs. I've written some new songs especially for this project, and there will be some old favorites from my past on there like "Only Always," "Garments of Praise" and one of my favorite camp song-hymns: "At the Cross." I've also included a new song, co-written with the great Ginny Owens (also on her upcoming record), called "I Am Yours."

I'm not sure what it'll be called, but I pray the project will be a delight to play in any season. It will definitely have you longing for the crisp days of Fall, and reaching for a warm sweater to break the Autumn chill.

Knowing—Growing—Sowing

Regarding our personal lives, it's good to ask ourselves every once in a while, "What the heck am I doing?" I get in such a groove with daily routines that I become stuck in a rut! Church is much the same: we go through the motions each week and, from time to time, try to remember the reason we're doing what we're doing (like I do these days when I go into a room, stop, and try to recall why I went in there!).

I am convinced that in our modern age of consumer church, by an ever-so-slight and a sometimes hard-to-recognize degree, we are veering away from the Church's simple yet profound original purpose: Helping to connect people with God.

This week, in the Wednesday morning men's meeting I attend at my church, I was thinking of our church's purpose in the community—these three words came to mind: to Know, Grow and Sow. It's probably cornball, and not at all original, but it reminds me that we should be all about people and not just designing incredible "big-top" extravaganzas of worship events each week. There is a place for worship services, music, preaching and fellowship in the life of our church (I just completed a 200-page book on the subject of worship), but to focus the majority of our fiscal budget, time and effort on producing events is out of balance.

To clarify: I am a proponent of killer music, excellence, and the "if you're gonna do it at all, do it the best you know how" approach. I love quality lighting because it helps me see what's onstage; I like good sound because it helps amplify even the smallest and most nuanced part of a sermon or musical arrangement; I like hi-def video because it helps me see the words to the worship songs, and I can be encouraged by my pastor's preaching in our Spring Hill auditorium, which is broadcast from our main campus, 20-minutes away in Franklin—and it can be seen at a later time online, too. Living in Tennessee, I am so very thankful for air-conditioning. I don't wanna go back to funeral fans and opened windows for comfort!

I am all for technology and the advancements that God has engineered to assist the Church throughout the centuries. But we must remember our primary purpose: to Know God and help others get to know Christ personally (through church services, events and outreaches and "circle-of-influence"-evangelism, etc.); to Grow spiritually (through various spiritual formation initiatives— from classroom learning to old-school one-on-one mentoring); and to Sow the Gospel and go into all the world, as the Great Commission commands (not suggests!). We are called to work along side God to help re-create in others what He has created through Christ in us. Ultimately, it's about fostering a community of people to (as the Westminster Shorter Catechism states): "...glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever."

I think there's probably a place for Christ-followers to sit in a comfortable building, watching the "pros" do church each week for an hour and a half. But as we refocus our purpose, the work of the Church is not for the professional Christians alone to accomplish. Rather, it's for every church staff member and volunteer believer, both young and old, to join together in the business of Knowing, Growing and Sowing!

Goodbye Pastor Chuck Smith

It was sad to hear the news of Chuck Smith's passing. For decades he was Senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, California. He slipped quietly away from his family and flock to be with the Lord last week, after an almost two-year battle with lung cancer. Chuck was 86.

I know that, ultimately, the death of a Christ-follower is a victory: we shed our mortal bodies to inhabit new, glorious ones that will never again experience struggle, sickness or pain. I watched Chuck's final sermon last week online. He preached in that old familiar sanctuary that I visited so many times back in the mid-'70s. Chuck made his way to the pulpit and sat while he spoke, an oxygen tube affixed to his nose to help him deliver a message on keeping the faith. No one knew at the time that this would be his last sermon from the pulpit. Looking at the video from that fateful Sunday morning service on September 29th, it was bittersweet.

So many came to the Lord over the years and grew mightily through Chuck's ministry at Calvary Chapel. I came to know the Lord and, in part, grew in my own faith through the ministry there. I am grateful that when the opportunity arose to minister to those shaggy-haired hippies back in the late-'60's and '70s, he said, "Yes!" While so many would turn their backs on the hippies, Chuck welcomed them into Calvary Chapel's fold. Many were barefooted, unkempt and unshaven—many of Calvary's members counseled him against it. His decision to reach out to those counter-culture dropouts helped set the wheels in motion for one of the greatest cultural revivals in America, not to mention the incredible Jesus Music and the subsequent worship renewal that was birthed out of it all.

Bittersweet—yes—because it's an end of an era for believers of my generation from the West Coast. Chuck made sure to raise up several leaders over the years who, in turn, helped plant several churches all over the world and disciple millions. The work will continue as those young leaders, many former hippies from the early days of Calvary Chapel, following Chucks example, duplicated themselves and raised strong leaders for successive generations.

God is honored through the life of Chuck Smith. I don't want to waste a single day messing around with worthless pursuits, and I would like to end my days knowing I finished the race as well as he did.

Worship Teams: Leading A Volunteer Army

Here's another excerpt from my new book, Worship Foundry, coming out on WestBow Press/ Thomas Nelson by late-fall of 2013. I am excited, to say the least, and hope you snag a copy of your own! I am also available to come to your church or organization to teach on the topics introduced in the book and certainly other topics, too, such as songwriting, if you like. I'd also love to join in with your worship team during weekend services to worship with you and your church while I'm there. Give me a shout at jamie(at)jamieharvill(dot)com.

Thanks for faithfully coming back to these pages each week, and I hope you've gained encouragement through the writings.

***

With most church activities, the work is done through volunteers—people who have families, jobs, and many responsibilities in their personal lives. I highly respect the time given by volunteers for events, rehearsals, worship services, community outreaches, building projects, etc., and that’s why I start and end on time.

The best currency for volunteers is appreciation. It’s important to convey appreciation during and after each event. It’s also good to have “hi-five” moments when an event goes over well, and equally important to make necessary corrections, with love, when something doesn’t go as well. Volunteers want to be a part of something exciting, life-changing, and carried out with excellence and efficiency. As a leader, it’s my responsibility to bring direction and discipline to the whole process. Volunteers want to feel respected, protected and appreciated.

Becoming an effective leader is a life-long process, and it’s important to invest in leadership, as well as spiritual and musical training. This book will speak of leadership throughout, but there are so many resources available in Christian bookstores. Books by contemporary authors such as John Maxwell and Bill Hybels, and even classics like “D.L. Moody on Spiritual Leadership” are available in print or in e-book form. There are seminars such as the annual Willow Creek Leadership Summit, simulcast from the Chicago-area main campus to local churches throughout the world. Training videos are available on the Willow Creek website to help you become a more effective leader.

"Volunteers want to feel respected, protected and appreciated."

It’s not too late to finish your college or graduate degree. There are many universities that offer online courses on leadership. The opportunity to complete what you may have started years ago can be invigorating. Any investment that makes us a better person, leader, minister, and musician is a good one.

Jesus’ Method of Leadership

Jesus made sure the disciples knew that the true essence of leadership was being a servant. He taught them through the humble task of washing the disciples’ feet. Even though some relented, Jesus pressed-in to make His point. In John 13:12-16, we see Jesus, the ultimate servant, in action:

“When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. ‘Do you understand what I have done for you?’ he asked them. ‘You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. (NIV)’”

There is no greater display of true leadership than in the life Jesus. His way of dealing with people, prioritizing His time (He did what He was called to do in roughly three years), and making courageous and unpopular decisions, is a great example of true focus, passion and purpose. His obedience to God is our example to emulate. His behavior inspires us to get up, get out and be the leader we need to be. Our understanding of people, human nature, and how to inspire a diverse team of individuals, with a focused goal, is imperative to effective leadership.

Worship Is the Whole Enchilada

It seems obvious, but it's a good reminder that worship is why we were created. It's fitting, on this beautiful Monday morning, to start our week with this statement from the Westminster Shorter Catechism :

Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever. 

Every human through time has had this in common—though many today don't realize it yet, or have walked away from God, knowing this Truth full well.

All of Life

Worship isn't limited to singing or the song set before the sermon. Rather as an act of continual prayer, worship is meant to fill each moment of every day (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Our bodies were intended to be temples of worship (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) and, according to Scripture, every believer is a priest, whose duty is to bring sacrifices to God (1 Peter 2:9). We offer ourselves to God in worship—living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to Him (Romans 12:1-2).

The priests of the Old Testament took turns serving in the Temple, facilitating worship 24-hours a day. The role of the priest in the Old Testament was to minister to God on behalf of the people and minister to the people on the behalf of God. Now, even in this modern post-New Testament era of worship, we must, like the Temple priests, serve God and worship Him on a continual basis. So, worship is meant to be an around-the-clock exercise. During our day, as we go about our business, we offer our joys, our fears, our jobs, our friends, our family, our wills, and our future to Him as we worship.

The Worship of God is Virtue (our highest purpose in life)


Virtue is not only equated with moral excellence, goodness and righteousness, but with purpose. In classic philosophical terms (teleology) it means: to fulfill the purpose for which something was created. In other words:

—The virtue of a hammer is to drive or extract nails
—The virtue of a guitar is to create music
—The virtue of lawn mower is to cut grass

If we misuse something—an acoustic guitar to drive a stake in the ground, for instance—the guitar will most likely end up in splinters, and the stake will probably not have budged an inch. Living in sin—deliberate disobedience to the known will of God—is a misuse of our lives, and it's the direct opposite of virtue.  Sin leaves us empty, frustrated and bereft of the good things God intends for us. Walking away from God leaves us broken and splintered like the acoustic guitar. But instead, if we invest our lives in the purposes of God, walking with Him and exalting Him daily, we are changed, and the world around us will be affected.

Since we were created to exalt God and fellowship with Him, worship is the ultimate virtue for humanity. Therefore in worship, we are fulfilling our true purpose—mentally, spiritually and physically.

_______________________________________

This is an excerpt from my new book, Worship Foundry, to be released on WestBow Press/ Thomas Nelson by the end of the year. Please check back for updates and come back often to read my blog! Blessings to all!

When God Says No

My big, self-inflicted assignment this week was to clean and rearrange my office. Part of this mammoth project was to empty out my gargantuan desk and move it to the garage, awaiting my son-in-law to take and use in his law office.

Last night Brenda was all ready to help me in this endeavor, but in the morning she woke up with one of those killer, once-a-year migraine headaches. My plans for the office and her plans to pray at church needed to be altered. We did manage to get some of the office stuff taken care of after her pain medication kicked in. When we sat down to rest afterward, Brenda reminded me of how God has changed our plans several times in the past through intuition or a pain of one kind or another. I look back through my life and remember the times when God said "no." Even though it wasn't the answer I wanted at the time, I'm now so very thankful for it.

It's hard to hear "no," especially when you're a 12-year-old and your dad says you can't go to the skating rink on Friday night with the older kids. It's hard to hear "no" when you've gathered the courage to ask a girl out on a date and she turns you down. It's hard to see your plans fall apart when you're set to purchase the home of your dreams and, for some reason, it goes to another buyer.

As an adult, I've learned to listen to God through His still, small voice—and even the bombastic voice that comes through discomfort or by way of an uneasy feeling. "No" and "yes," for that matter, can be communicated clearly if we really listen close.

When Brenda and I were first married, we took a trip to New Orleans and found ourselves wandering off the beaten path and into a dank back alley of the  French Quarter. We both felt strangely uncomfortable and sensed the instinctive need to bolt out of there, away from the shadows and the creepy spiritual vibes that seemed to reach out to us like ghostly fingers in the darkness. In fact, we ran straight to our car and left! I guess it was the goat skull and the satanic symbols that hung in a window of an old apartment that seemed to project the foreboding message: "You don't belong here!"

God usually gives us the choice to stay or flee. Many times we blame God for the consequences after diving headlong into questionable situations. The fact is, our gut can tell us a lot, and God gave us our instincts for a reason.

I read today about a recent study of participants who were forced to choose between two options based on instinct alone; they made the right call up to 90 percent of the time. Regarding the results of this study, Mark Prigg, science and health writer for the Daily Mail, writes: "Professor Marius Usher of Tel Aviv University's School of Psychological Sciences and his fellow researchers say their findings show that intuition was a surprisingly powerful and accurate tool." The findings showed, "Intuitively, the human brain has the capacity to take in many pieces of information and decide on an overall value...[and that] gut reactions can be trusted to make a quality decision."

Sometimes a headache can seem troublesome. Maybe, though—just maybe—by way of the intrusion, God is keeping us from a calamity that we would never have expected. Back in the day, when our parents told us "no," we most likely didn't understand. But it's only after becoming adults, after developing a higher sensitivity to instinctive warnings, that we understand it's for a very good reason—for our own good.

God doesn't have to explain Himself to us as he drags us by the scruff of the neck, back to the curb, just in time for an unseen car to whisk by and miss us by inches...there's simply not enough time! When God says "no," He wants to protect us, not disappoint us; He wants to bless us, not withhold from us. He may have a "yes" waiting in the wings—but we may have to wait just a little longer for it.

The Cheese Factory: A lesson in self-reinvention

Several years ago, at the suggestion of my brother Jon, I read a book called "Who Moved My Cheese?," by Dr. Spencer Johnson. It's a parable about two sets of mice and how they deal with life's inevitability: change. The following is from the publisher's description of the book:

"Sniff and Scurry are mice—non-analytical and non-judgmental, they just want cheese and are willing to do whatever it takes to get it.  Hem and Haw are 'littlepeople,' mouse-size humans who have an entirely different relationship with cheese. It's not just sustenance to them; it's their self-image. Their lives and belief systems are built around the cheese they've found. Most of us reading the story will see the cheese as something related to our livelihoods—our jobs, our career paths, the industries we work in—although it can stand for anything, from health to relationships. The point of the story is that we have to be alert to changes in the cheese, and be prepared to go running off in search of new sources of cheese when the cheese we have runs out."

I've been self-employed my whole career, and if anybody knows about running out of cheese, it's me! It's so important to flow with the seasons in life. One of the biggest mistakes that people make—and believe me, I've made many— is to wait until it's too late. The secret, as the book's message clearly provides, is to stay ahead of the curve.

I've witnessed two country artists who, even in the face of a changing music market and diminishing record sales, refused to surrender after their "cheese supply" started to dry up; these two guys are a study in self-reinvention.

Ricky Skaggs helped start the neo-traditional movement as a country performer in the eighties and maintained a high place on the music charts for over a decade. A new generation of artists emerged in the nineties who took country music toward a more pop sound. As a result, and after much soul-searching, Skaggs decided to return to his bluegrass roots. He also left his record company to start Skaggs Family Records, began to actively embrace his elder statesman role on the Opry, and continues to keep a busy touring schedule. Skaggs recently released a recording with Bruce Honsby and a new autobiography.

Over a decade ago, Marty Stuart decided to embrace his elder statesman role as well, and in recent years, has started his own TV show on a small cable network. Over time, Marty gained the respect of country music fans and professional musicians alike not only for his incredible talent, but also because of the high-caliber musical guests on his show. He gained new fans in the process—ones that probably never knew his music when he was climbing the charts as a young artist. Stuart's current band, The Fabulous Superlatives, are top-notch pickers and singers—solo artists in their own right, who've released music on Marty's own Superlatone Records label. Marty has one of the largest country music memorabilia collections on the planet, including priceless show costumes and instruments from country music's greatest stars. He has a packed concert schedule, and is considered by many—along with Skaggs and Vince Gill—to be a foremost country music ambassador.

Not bad for a second wind! These guys didn't wait for country music to come to them; they created their own music industry—what an inspiration.

As the "cheese" book suggests, it's probably wise to follow Ricky and Marty's lead and create a "cheese factory" all our own. Instead of waiting around for an invitation to do what we love (and for which we are highly skilled), let's make a plan, set some goals and head out with excitement toward the next season of life. That's what I'll be doing, my good friends!

The Power of Blessing

I saw a few weeks back that Ricky Skaggs, probably my all-time favorite country/ bluegrass artist, had a biography coming out. It's been informative and entertaining. The book takes the reader through the backwood streams and "hollers" of bluegrass history, involving Ricky's upbringing and rise to fame, with stories of early bluegrass pioneers, including his heroes Ralph Stanley, and Bill Monroe in particular.

The sweetest and most tender part of the book, in my opinion, comes in its last quarter. By this time, around the mid-'90s, Ricky's record sales had dropped considerably, compared to his "high cotton" days of chart success during the '80s. As a born-again Christian since his teens, Ricky had by this point recommitted his life to the Lord. Now he and wife, Sharon, were hosting prayer meetings in their home. On one particular night, Skaggs invited Bill Monroe, the Father of Bluegrass, over to one of the meetings. Monroe agreed to come, but when it was time for the couples to break out and pray, Monroe, who came alone, didn't have a prayer partner. So he asked Ricky and Sharon if they'd pray for him.

Skaggs revered Bill Monroe all of his life—ever since he was a little kid and first heard that old 1923 Gibson Loar F-5 mandolin pounding away over the radio from the Grand Ole Opry. He even got to play that very mandolin when Monroe visited his eastern Kentucky community for a local school house concert, and the inventor of bluegrass himself pulled the then 6-year-old Ricky up on the stage to play.

Bill Monroe's mandolin.

Now, thirty-plus years later, Ricky stood there before the elder statesman, and this time he asked Mr. Monroe to pray a blessing over him. Ricky explains that he got on his knees at Monroe's feet and asked him, "'Would you bless me like a father blessing a son; would you pray that I'll be a caretaker of this old music?'" Monroe agreed, bowed his head and said these words over Ricky—ones that he'd never forget: "'Lord, would you just give Ricky the love for the old music, like you've given me through the years, and help him carry it on? Bless him and his family.'" Ricky went on to say,"With his hands laid on me, he gave me his blessing. (p.283)"

Speaking a blessing over someone doesn't have to be a sophisticated, fancy event, or a verbose statement filled with theological phrases and religious mumbo-jumbo. It is a powerful gesture of love, faith, hope and belief in someone. I believe everyone has the power to bless, and it's something that is said verbally and not inferred; it's spoken clearly to those we bless, and not left for interpretation. Even telling someone "I love you" or "I'm sorry" is a blessing in itself.

The spoken word is powerful. I want to use my words to leave a positive legacy in people's lives, especially within my own family and to those with whom I work closely. Lord, help me speak a blessing to someone today!

Figure It Out On Your Own, Kid!

I've finished the book, Worship Foundry (press here to purchase), and it's being prepared now for print and e-book. I'm excited that Westbow Press, a division of Thomas Nelson, will release it—hopefully by Christmas, or soon after. I have published bits and pieces of the book on this blog over the past several months, and I wanted to post its introduction here today. I hope you enjoy it!

___________________________________________



It was a life-changing decade for me, but by 1979 I was in a quandary as to what to do with my life. A small church in my neighborhood needed a young leader for their youth group. As a 19-year-old, I was only a year or so older than some of the ones I would be leading. I jumped into the job wet behind the ears. Only four years earlier, in the spring of 1975, I made Christ my Lord, and now I was called to step up and be a leader—no longer just a follower.

I soon realized how the pastor of that small church was disrespected and bullied by the very congregation he tried to lead. I made a mental note that I would never find myself in that kind of situation. But all of us who have spent time in ministry have learned that church leadership is in stark contrast to simply being a church member—one of the flock. Unfortunately, the pastor of that small church would continue to be bullied, and his ministry was basically reactionary; he spent most of his time dodging stones that the church counsel would fling at him.

At that early, tender stage in ministry, I had no mentors or anyone to come around and tell me that being on a church staff could be something fulfilling, something that could actually bring joy. By January of 1980 I was invited to leave Fullerton, California—the place where I was raised and home of that little neighborhood church—to tour the world as a professional musician. I put ministry on hold for a time. After all, who would want to invest their life in ministry when the very people you serve become the enemy? Regrettably, many ministers have come to ride out their careers just like the pastor of my first church: hunkered-down in a defensive position. Could ministry be fun? Could there be a place in a church for a musician like me? Could I become a full-time minister and encourage others to be the same?

A year earlier, during the fall semester of 1978, I asked one of my professors at Golden West College—who was also a Christian and a music professional—if he thought I should become a secular musician or a Christian musician. He seemed amused at first, but said that I'd have to figure that out on my own. It seems as though I've been figuring things out on my own ever since. I must say that the Lord has guided me through it all, but in the ensuing thirty-plus years since those early days, I have come to realize that not much has changed in the Church. I feel it's about time we seriously mentor young people, to help guide them, to help form them into effective ministers—way before they enter college and before they go on to seminary. I eventually returned to ministry, but what I would learn in college wouldn't be near enough to prepare me for the real-world of working on a church staff and leading people.

We have an incredible opportunity to raise up dynamic, Spirit-filled, well-equipped, powerhouse ministers to take the Gospel into the 21st Century. Great musicians and ministers are in demand, but we have done a poor job of putting especially those with a high-degree of musical talent onto our church stages without first giving them a solid foundation in leadership, ministry team building, theological, musical and technical training, and proper time for their own spiritual formation.  In short, I feel that many of the young worship leaders of our era are fatherless; they have been put out there in ministry because they are good guitar players, singers, performers, artists, or whatever. They've been given a platform without proper oversight, support and training. The results can be damaging to the individuals and to the churches they serve.

This book, Worship Foundry, is a self-contained mentorship program of sorts. Its pages encompass just about everything I would want a student of worship to know—the most important items that I feel a successful worship leader must have in their toolbox. If there was a desert island list of things I would leave with someone, these pages contain the nuggets that I feel will get them started on the path to success.

A foundry is a factory that produces metal castings. Worship Foundry is not a factory, but it's a way through which worship leaders, ministers and musicians of all ages can be shaped, formed by the hand of God, purified with fire, and made into vessels for the Holy Spirit to use in a world that sorely needs Jesus.

Excellence vs. Perfection

Some have equated excellence with perfection. I want to dispel this notion by breaking the two words down into bite-sized pieces. In defining each concept, I hope to help others avoid the destructive sink hole of perfectionism that I've fallen into from time to time. We can find success, peace and satisfaction in life even though we're imperfect people in an imperfect world.

Excellence

I don't see excellence as a destination but rather a road trip— heading out on a God-journey toward bigger and better things that He has planned for us. We need to remember that "...we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10-NIV)"

My granddaughter, Charlotte, will turn one year old in September. The pediatricians say that she's right on target in overall health, development and size. She tried to crawl up our stairs last week, and if it weren't for us hovering over her like helicopters, we would have spent the rest of the day in the emergency room. You see as a baby, Charlotte is doing extremely well; I would consider her an excellent baby. If one were to measure her behavior and physical abilities compared to an adult, though, we would be worried. Thankfully, Charlotte is living up to her baby-sized potential.

Excellence is in play when a person or an organization is operating at their highest potential. They may not have all of the resources, or the strength of the next guy, company or church, but they are maximizing their capabilities and giving it everything they've got. The good thing about excellence is that it has nothing to do with the "next guy." Pursuing excellence is not a destination—it's a state of mind that helps us focus on the best possibilities for our personal lives, our families, our businesses and churches. While on this journey we can still make mistakes, learn from them, and get back on track.

Perfection

Perfection is an unreachable destination. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines perfection as: being flawless; free from fault or defect. Unfortunately, we humans have lost the race when it comes to perfection. The Bible defines sin as transgression (violation; crime) against the law of God. In archer's terms, sin is a result of failing to hit the mark of perfection—we've missed the bull's eye! But glory to God, Scripture says: "For just as through the disobedience of the one man [Adam] the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man [Jesus] the many will be made righteous. (Romans 5:17-NIV)"

God canceled our sin-debt through the blood of Jesus. Through faith in Christ we no longer have to worry about being perfect: Jesus, the Spotless Lamb, became a perfect sacrifice on our behalf! Perfectionism will always frustrate and disappoint because we will never live up to its demands. When we try to attain perfection in business, as artists, in church, in relationships, etc., we will never be truly content. There will never be perfect symmetry on earth, perfect people, or perfect organizations—and certainly not perfect churches. We need to deal with that fact and get on with life.

Excellence vs. Perfection? I choose to travel on the road of excellence. I may hit a bump or two along the way, but I know that if I fix my aim on pleasing God, and offer my very best in every circumstance, I'll hit the bull's eye every time.

You Can't Pick Your Own Legacy

In a recent NBC interview with Chris Witherspoon, Oprah Winfrey spoke of leaving a legacy, and recalled an earlier conversation she had about legacy with her mentor, Maya Angelou. Oprah said: 

“I think the work you have done speaks for you. I remember when I opened my school in South Africa. I said, 'This will be my legacy. This school is going to be my legacy.' And Maya said, 'You have no idea what your legacy will be! Your legacy is what you do everyday; it's every life you've touched; it's every person whose life was either moved or not; it's every person you harmed or helped—that's your legacy!' So I don't think about it. I just try to live it.”

We may not be able to pick our legacy, but we can choose to live each day with the desire to serve others—to love, to forgive, and encourage as we follow Christ. We can live to glorify God and, in the process, hope to leave a positive impact on the world around us.

10 Ways To Be a Better Bandmate

I spent six years, virtually non-stop, touring on the road with several bands. While in tight quarters with others for such long periods of time, I learned ways to survive the road. Individuality can become nonexistent, and you tend, out of necessity, to make decisions as a band rather than as individuals. Some days you want to crawl up in a ball and disappear, but you can't. So you adapt.

Most musicians will tell you that if they had to choose either a great musician or a good travel companion for a spot in the band, they'd choose the travel companion, because life on the road is usually twenty-two brutal hours of travel and two blissful hours on stage. So a good "bus hang" will make life much easier. You can always improve as a musician, but someone's character won't change until they're willing. As a consequence, prima donnas or  "rock stars" may find themselves abandoned at a rural truck stop or rest area if they're not careful! 

On tour (I'm 3rd from L) somewhere in the Mediterranean, 1982

Most people, those in church worship teams included, will need to make personal sacrifices when joining a band. The best advice for newbies is to start with the Golden Rule, found in Matthew 7:12:  "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. (NIV)" 

Here are a few practical ways to become a welcomed member of any band, even if you weren't the best guitarist at the audition.

1. Try to be even-tempered

Being a good-natured person will keep you around longer than the moody, self-centered lead singer that you are currently tolerating. Remember: the squeaky wheel may get the grease, but it can also get replaced!

2. Don't demand your own way

It's okay to do your own thing once in a while after you have done the group thing several times (choosing restaurants, activities, movies, etc.). In the long run, be a good team player. They'll get over it when you need to stay back at the hotel once in a while.  

3. Don't be an over-picky eater

Don't be so finicky that the group always ends up having to meet your need for certain kinds of food at every stop. McDonalds may have to suffice when you're busting it to get to the gig. You'll survive.

4. Carry your end of the music

Be a good musician in the band. Do your wood-shedding, learn your part, confess mistakes, take care of your instruments, and help make the band a success by improving as a musician yourself.

5. Be punctual

Be on time; don't let others consistently wait for you at call time. You're just saying to the rest of the band: "I'm more important than you--I deserve to be waited on; your time is not important to me." Beware: the band may get sick of it and leave you behind. I've seen it done.   

6. Help tear down, set up, unload and load gear

Get your hands dirty. Beyond your musical place in the group, make sure you are doing your share of the driving, loading suitcases, lifting, pulling, plugging, unplugging, duct taping and rolling cables before and after the gig. Rock stars and prima donnas get left behind at truck stops (there's a theme going here--The Sopranos, anyone?)

7. Give fellow band members their own personal space

Be sensitive to others in the band, especially early in the morning before their first cup of coffee. Proverbs 27:14 says, "If anyone loudly blesses their neighbor early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse. (NIV)"

8. Be courteous and be ready to forgive 

Cramped spaces lead to short fuses. Again, choose to be a good "bus hang" and think before you speak. Be full of grace when you suffer a wrong. This kind of bandmate will become not only a road-survivor, but a road-saint, with legendary status among other musicians (you'll be first in line for a gig when there's an opening in their band)! Nashville is full of great pickers who'll never get a gig because they lack social intelligence.

9. Pull extra weight for a bandmate when necessary

Be the first to step in and offer to bring relief to a fellow bandmate when they're sick, when they've received some bad news from home, or if they need to spend time with a visiting friend or relative. This will come in handy when it's your turn to be "needy." (Warning: this "get-out-of-jail-free card" is very precious, and if caught abusing it...well, see the last sentence of #6)!

10. Carry "extras" to help out when you (or others) lose or break things

I used to travel with a drummer who carried extra guitar picks, strings, pens, pencils, batteries, etc. He saved me and other bandmates from doom more than once. Be the "go-to-guy" in your band when things go wrong. Your forethought may earn you even more "get-out-of-jail-free cards" for the future!

There are many other ways to be a better bandmate. Please leave your thoughts in the comment section. Happy trails, fellow road dogs!

Living In Tech World: Confessions of A Church Sound Engineer

Andy Bussey, a sound engineer, technology design consultant, and personal friend, has been working in church technology and with tech teams for many years. I met Andy while we both were teaching at conferences around the world with various worship companies. Andy has been on staff at major churches across the US, and knows the daily frustrations, triumphs and challenges of a growing church. 

Being a musician myself, I find that there can be a barrier between the worlds of music and tech. Sometimes we can never get on the same page in order to communicate effectively. But when we do, the results can be astounding! Andy Bussey is a talented engineer, but has a deep understanding of working with people and building teams.

Andy likes to joke about the differences between musicians and technical people: coming from two different worlds, sometimes we can drive each other crazy in the process of creating music. But by necessity, we must cooperate. 

In a recent conversation I had with Andy, he said, "What we do as technicians is to bring together the art and the science and try to empower and support the musicians. Musicians tend to dwell in the "right-brain," artist area of what they enjoy doing. Technicians tend to lean into that "left-brain," logic area. And so crossing that divide, and being able to communicate and understand one another is sometimes a careful dance!"

Here is a portion of the conversation I had with Andy about the marriage of worship, music, people and technology. 

______________________________________________

Jamie: "How can technicians and musicians better communicate?"

Andy: "You have to find a language that the two understand.  With all the people I've worked with in the past, I've had to [find a common language].The most successful relationships I've had with artists are the ones I've been able to create a common vocabulary and an understanding with. The more you communicate, the more you understand and can help each other."

Jamie: "What's the most important job of a church tech person?"

Andy: "The first and foremost is heart. I've always told people that I prefer somebody who maybe doesn't have a strong technical background, but has a heart for what they want to do, rather than somebody who has all the skill-sets but is lacking the heart or understanding of a servant. In the context of what we do in church, first and foremost, I look for people with heart and a desire for excellence, the desire to serve one another and to come together to accomplish great things the Lord has given us. And then, with that, we can begin to teach, train and equip on the technical side of things."

Jamie: "You've got to have people on the tech and music teams who cooperate with each other."

Andy: "You've got to enjoy [working together] because it's not always easy. You may have a service where the musicians can't hear and the technician is having a hard time, and you get into the trenches of trying to pull stuff off…You need to live together in the trenches, and to be able to enjoy it with one another, and to enjoy the ministry and the fruits of your efforts, and build a team."

Jamie: "At what point in its life does does a church need to think about using technology in a serious manner…employing in-ear monitoring, making use of stage lighting and video, for instance?"

Andy: "It's never too late! I often tell small churches they have obstacles that large churches don't have: the proximity of microphones to the main speakers because you're in a small room…the acoustics, and all of the other things they have going against them. I really feel for the small churches. They have a lower budget; they don't have as many resources available to them to buy all of the expensive gear; they have a smaller group of people. 

Jamie: "How should small churches go about purchasing gear while looking at future growth?" 

Andy: "They need to look at the music they're going to do--the formation of your band: Is it more of a small praise band or is it more of a [traditional] set-up with an acoustic piano and a choir? Looking at all of the ways you're going to use your facilities, and starting to look ahead as far as you can is always best. Look into the technology and have a plan, even though you can't buy everything right now; at least you'll see where you need to be…and all your resources--all your dollars--are in a common direction, toward a common goal, instead of just being scattered, buying things as you really need them."

Jamie: "Is it good to bring in a tech consultant, as opposed to using a local music store, to help your church with its tech needs?" 

Andy: "Absolutely! You can't hurt from gaining knowledge. However, you ask a hundred audio engineers how to mic a piano and you'll get a hundred different answers. You will get a different preference of how to do things with different people. However, the technology--the board, the speakers, and different things--you really can't hurt from experience outside of the music stores. Music store people know their gear and how to sell it--a lot of them just don't understand the application…The church's application is very unique, You need to get expertise from people who know that kind of genre of using the equipment."

Jamie: "Would it benefit a small church to think about using a digital console?"

Andy: Originally digital consoles were designed for use in a [recording] studio…The needs of a studio are different from those of live sound. They [eventually] designed digital consoles that allow the end user to get to things in a live situation. For instance, with EQ: if you have feedback, you need to get to that feedback as fast as possible. But in digital consoles previous to this, [the EQ function] was buried in layers of menus. So finding the right digital console is important, and it allows you to store Friday night's service, Sunday morning's service, or the youth group's, and to re-call all your settings. Gone are the days of having to take pictures [of the settings].  So, really leveraging a well-designed digital console for a live PA in church is a strong mechanism for empowering your volunteers [to help with] all the needs…in your situation."

Jamie: "Let's talk about the trend nowadays of creating video venues--either on-site or off-site--to help churches grow into new communities while continuing to use the main campus, or lead, teacher in all spaces, helping to create continuity and efficiency."

Andy: "There's a trend back to smaller groups where people can relate to one another. We want to meet the needs of different types of people in different types of venues. So instead of using resources to build one huge building, it was a great strategy for us to build small venues in different communities [Note: Andy is speaking of a church he once served in greater Pittsburgh, PA]. Some of those small venues are on the same campus; at our large campus we ended up with three venues. Then, we started to create little campuses around the city of Pittsburgh."

Jamie: "Through this multi-venue concept, a church of 10,000--while divided up between several campuses, venues and services--can still enjoy the benefits of a large church, while remaining a smaller congregation within their own community. I'm currently serving in an off-campus video venue and it seems, like the one I serve, most churches utilize a live worship team. The preaching is then provided from the "main campus" by video. I find that people are already accustomed to looking at video screens during live preaching, anyway. So it isn't a leap for people to adjust to the preaching  from a video in another venue!"

Jamie: "Moving on to another subject, how do you recruit and train your tech team members?"

Andy: "We had [at the Pittsburgh church] a handful of volunteers who did all the work…our guys got burned out. So we changed the way we thought about our team. Traditionally you'd say, 'We'll look for technical people to recruit.' And we changed the way we thought about that. It's important with leadership in church, and leadership in general…to duplicate ourselves. Often, we get volunteers but we're afraid to let go of some stuff because we're not sure if the volunteer is qualified enough to do it as good [as us]. We had to look at loving people first.  There [are] always things that need to get done that can be done by non-technical folks. So, instead of me being the "sound guy" for the church, my job in leadership is to be the guy that lifts up sound guys for the church…my ultimate goal is to get my hands off the board and raise up other people [for the job]…my role has to change in leadership from doing the sound to support others doing the sound--loving on others, and building a team that cares for each other…People want to start being a part of that team…I raise them from a personal level, then I sow into them for the technical, teaching them how to run sound, [and] how to run lighting. I think it's most important, again, to cultivate the heart, care about people, and then impart the knowledge."

Jamie: "How early should we start  technical planning for an upcoming service?"

Andy: "Last week (laughs)! It's very important as a technical person to stay in communication with the musicians and knowing what their needs are. Right after service I ask them how things were, and I start putting a list together of what to work on this week. Being able to get in before the next rehearsal, fixing the things that need to be fixed, getting ready for the things that are on the list for rehearsal, and having your ducks in a row, allows you to be right on it. So when the musicians begin to practice and rehearse, you can address any new things that start to come up, rather than scurrying around, fixing things that should have been fixed the week before. Being prepared way in advance is so important, so that you don't have to feel rushed. At crunch time, if you're just starting to address issues you had last Sunday, you're behind the 8-ball--you're way behind. You're not going to have the ability to enjoy and support the worship on Sunday morning."

Jamie: "One last thing: what "golden nugget" can you share that has helped you as a technical person in ministry and worship?"

Andy: "If your accomplishment, or the personal value in what you do comes from people telling you you did a good job--that rarely happens for the technical people because the only time they really get noticed is when something goes wrong--it's very difficult when the value of your efforts come from your actions. We really need to be able to have a prayer life, and a relationship with the Lord in such a way that I can rejoice in the successes I've had…When I used to do things for the respect of others, I would get very frustrated. Now, my joy comes from serving the Lord. It allows me to trivialize the tough spots, and get a whole lot more joy out of worshiping God with my gifts."

A Dress Code For Worship Teams?

Everyone on the worship team is considered a leader, and church leaders should exemplify Christian character in conduct, appearance and speech. The list of the fruit of the Spirit, from the passage in Galatians 5:22-23, is a great place to start when describing appropriate behavior for Christ-followers. According to The Free Dictionary, modesty is: regard for decency of behavior, speech, dress, etc., and modest clothing is designed to prevent inadvertent exposure of parts of the body.

Godly behavior doesn't draw attention to self, but seeks to exalt the Lord. Therefore, it's important that both men and women who take the stage during worship services make wise choices about how they present themselves through their behavior and dress.

Style can be so subjective. Everyone desires to be stylish to some extent, but it must be made clear that any clothing worn on stage that promotes sensuality must be corrected before taking the stage.

A proper dress code must be determined for each church. For instance, I was once a worship leader at a church that required all of the men to wear a jacket and slacks during Saturday and Sunday evening services, and a suit and tie for Sunday morning services. There were no jeans allowed, ever, on stage during the weekend services. Women were required to wear knee-length dresses at all services. The church I currently serve allows me to wear jeans and a t-shirt during worship, ladies are allowed to wear slacks—quite a contrast in dress requirements. Interestingly, the style of music for both churches is similar: modern worship.

A Modest Interpretation

Due to the wide interpretation of what modest apparel actually is, there must be someone on the team who is given the authority to discretely help the offending person make a change in apparel before the worship service begins (a guy for the guys , and a lady for the ladies). If proper training is given to each new member of the worship team before their first service, and a clear list of do's and don'ts for appropriate dress are given, then for the most part, these uncomfortable pre-service discussions and outfit changes will be unnecessary. If a person continually makes poor choices about their outfits during worship, it may be a cue to let them take a break until they fully understand the dress code and comply.

Again, those who are on the worship team are leaders, and a place on the stage is not so people can see how cool we look, play or sing. It's rather an opportunity to serve the Body of Christ, and to be as transparent as possible while leading worship, drawing the congregation's attention to the Lord.

Make sure that guest musicians, speakers and singers know your church's dress code in advance.

Teach the congregation about appropriate dress for church, too. Casual environments are rife with regular attendees who make poor choices of what to wear during worship. Growing churches will have to address this often, especially in anticipation of the summer months.

A Little Help From My Friend

My good buddy--worship leader, singer and teacher, Leanne Albrecht--wrote a very helpful blog post about proper stage dress for worship. She says: “So, girls…let’s be kind to the guys. Don’t make it difficult for them. Think of them as a best friend who needs your help to keep a clean thought life. When they look at us, let their first thought be of Jesus...”

She goes on to say: “The same is true for the guys. Tight clothing is not only uncomfortable but distracting. Be kind to the ladies...We, as Christians need to set a higher standard. A standard that is moral. One that promotes the attitude of Jesus and a lifestyle of purity; one that delights our soul instead of our 'fleshly' senses.”

Here are a few more helpful fashion guidelines from Leanne:

• “Necklines should not expose cleavage.”

• “No tight-fitting clothes for ladies [or gentlemen]; no see-through fabrics. Keep in mind that thin, 'clingy' fabrics are less 'forgiving' than heavier ones . If you’re on the stage, remember physical shape is accentuated with bright lighting.”

• “Also, for the platform – skirts should be to the knee. Remember, most stages are elevated which makes the length of a skirt appear shorter from the audience level. If you are sitting on the platform, make sure when you are seated that the skirt is designed to give adequate coverage.”

• “No exposed midriffs.”

______________________________________________

“Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.”
Psalm 51:10 (ESV)

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”

Matthew 5:8 (ESV)

“And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”

Philippians 1:9-11 (ESV)

“Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD?
And who shall stand in his holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to what is false
and does not swear deceitfully.
He will receive blessing from the LORD
and righteousness from the God of his salvation.”

Psalm 24:3-5 (ESV)

What Are We Leaving Behind?

The book, Worship Foundry, is complete! I will make final corrections, graphs and proper reference notes before handing the document over to another who will format and ready the book for the electronic download and paper editions. 

I offer here a portion of my final chapter, one that may very well be the most important in the book. I'm excited that soon you will be able to own a complete, organized version of all the teachings I've shared here in this blog over the years! I'll be offering it for sale (maybe even as a free, limited-time digital download on Amazon.com) very soon.  

Even though writing a book is daunting, it has given me hope of the possibility that there may be other books in the days and years ahead. Thanks so much for reading...come back often!

_________________________________________

Since becoming a Christian decades ago, I have always sensed God's call to help others. Nothing energizes me more than helping young people connect with their life purpose and to see them flourish in their relationship with the Lord!

Because I am a teacher, a professional musician since the age of thirteen, and my passion for music, worship, songwriting, and all-things-guitar is burning bright as ever, I tend to find myself drawn to help people who are talented, yet humble--willing to learn, and hungry to grow as Christians and musicians. Living near Nashville, Tennessee, I see many people migrate here to pursue their dream of making it big in the industry. But I tend to stay away from folks who's ambition is to simply “make it big” or to “become a star” because I've seen those self-centered dreams crash to the ground and break into a million pieces. They eventually wander back to where they came from. Rather, what I'm drawn to is the talented person with the desire to become the best Christ-follower, musician and leader they can be.

I was taught early on in my Christian training to leave a legacy—to train others and to help perpetuate the skills I've learned through teaching new generations of ministers, musicians, artists and leaders. This reminds me of the merchant and craft guilds of the Middle Ages. Back then, craftsmen were trained over several years, starting as an apprentice, working for free under a master craftsman for between 5-9 years. They would then advance to the paid-position of journeyman, continuing to work under the master. One day, they would attain master status themselves, when they could open up their own shop and train apprentices, and the generational process started over. This system of training helped pass down skills, discipline, excellence and quality to new generations, and effectively helped maintain a standard of quality for goods and services, benefitting the Medieval consumer.

College and seminary worship programs are necessary, but we must begin to train future ministers and musicians as early in life as possible. Why can't we have training centers in the local church for young people and new converts, where they can be tutored by “master craftsmen” to be released into the world as top-notch ministers and musicians...even before they go to college and seminary? I believe the church has attempted this, but I think we are intimidated by the enormity of the proposition. Still, it's up to the local church to meet the challenge and rise to the task.

There are three general ways to train potential worship musicians and ministers in the church.

1. In a hand-picked, one-on-one mentoring relationship
2. As a hand-picked group of students, in an ongoing, open-ended basis
3. In a general classroom format, open to everyone, on a semester-basis

Mentoring

I thank God for the mentors that came into my life and helped train me for the ministry. I have been guided, molded and counseled by some of the greatest musicians, songwriters and ministers in the world.

I am grateful for people like Mary Lewis who, back in 1976, reached out to me and invited me to play guitar for the youth choir when I was a new believer (and very rough around the edges). I am grateful for Stan Morse, arranger-extraordinaire for American Entertainment Productions, who believed in me and told me so by whispering in my ear during rehearsal one day: “You're good; you're gonna make it in music one day!” As a fledgeling songwriter and a young minister of music in a small Mobile, Alabama, church, the piano player, Nancy Gordon, unselfishly invited me to write with her after I recognized her name as the author of a song the choir was rehearsing. Her invitation opened doors to the folks at Integrity Music, where I would one day become an exclusive song writer. I thank God for Gerrit Gustafson, who sat with me, critiqued my songs, and wrote a check to help me purchase the multi-track cassette recorder on which the demo for “Ancient of Days” was recorded.

These were unselfish acts of Godly people who saw potential in me as a writer, musician and minister. I want to bring the same blessing to some unsuspecting young person who crosses my path, to spend time helping them meet their goals and aspirations.

When we recognize persons of exceptional ability and potential, we might be the very person God wants to use to help them in their formative process. Be wise, though, in choosing a candidate because one-on-one discipleship—whether it is spiritual in nature or for technical training—is best suited between persons of the same gender. This cannot be over stated. There may not be a temptation to cross a professional line, but it's important to never project the appearance of impropriety, or give anyone an opportunity to misinterpret the relationship. Therefore, it's best for guys to disciple guys, and girls to disciple girls.

Pray about a candidate first, then invite this person to talk about their future—what they want to accomplish through their gifts and abilities. Then, if they are willing, help create a plan of action with goals and directives, with built-in periodic evaluations as to their progress. Give the disciple an opportunity to “shadow” either you or a person on your team—so they can get hands-on experience in their field. This student/teacher mentoring can last as long as both parties determine.

Group of Hand-Picked Students

This process can a very effective and efficient use of your time as a teacher. The training is much like the one-on-one process of discipleship just mentioned, with goal setting, evaluation, and hands-on training. These students can be gleaned from those who rise to the top of a general classroom format of training.

I want to spend the remainder of this section on leaving a legacy to lay out the structure of a student ministry-based music and worship program I started several years ago.

Worship Foundry

As a teacher, songwriter and musician, I spent a significant amount of the 1990s teaching classes on worship in conferences held in the States and all over the world. During that time, many churches in Asia, and other continents of the world, were making great strides in adopting a modern worship approach to their music programs. Companies like Integrity Music and Maranatha! Music rose to meet the need and sent teachers like myself all over the globe as “musicianaries.” Language barriers didn't stop us as we were given translators for all of our classes.

I remember thinking that this type of training doesn't need to be limited to a one-and-done regional conference that happens every year or so in someone else's church. This could be accomplished on a week-to-week, ongoing basis in my own home church. In other words, I asked myself: Why can't we have our own school of worship here in the town where I live? (This was in 2001, two years before the School of Rock movie came out). A big barrier to this idea for a local music school was organization. I felt it was important to administer the program to suit the church I was serving, to be self-supporting, and to bring on teachers who were considered "masters" at their craft. A tall order, indeed!

So many people are intimidated by ideas like this. I certainly was at first. But a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step! I talked with the pastor over the next several months and we decided to start what was to be called Worship Foundry when school resumed after the summer break. In the course of two semesters, we enrolled dozens of students. Many of the kids that were in the program have since made the leap into full-time ministry, and are still playing, singing and leading in churches all over the nation. I later served a church where I implemented this program again, and it was even more fruitful and successful than the previous one.

Here's a breakdown of the Worship Foundry program:

1. Class offerings were chosen (guitar 1 & 2, bass guitar, keyboards, vocals and tech) and teachers were asked to commit to at least one semester--to teach for an hour per week
2. Tuition was established at $5 per week for each student, and there were scholarships available so that no student would be left out
3. Accounting was to be done through the church, and each teacher was to receive a monthly check as an independent contractor. Most classes had at least 10 students the first semester
4. It was to be open to everyone, regardless of ability, and students were asked to pay tuition each week
5. The Sunday evening program was to begin with 10-minutes of big-group worship, then students were  to be dismissed to their breakout classrooms
6. Sensitivity was given to other church events to avoid conflicts with the church calendar. The schedule was determined before the program commenced, so families could make personal plans
7. Each teacher was required to develop their own lessons and to submit a teaching plan. It was necessary that they be endorsed by the pastoral staff, along with being cleared to work with children, using appropriate background checks
8. At the conclusion of the semester, the number had grown beyond the 50 that started on the first week
9. Plans were made to expand classes when the second semester started
10. When implementing Worship Foundry at a second church, Fender Musical Instruments provided electric and acoustic guitars, basses and amps, along with accessories for the students to use during the teaching sessions at the church

In the second semester, the new church moved the time slot for Worship Foundry to one that wasn't conducive to the schedule of many of the students. In order for the program to function properly it's important to find the optimal time in the student's schedule in order for them to participate. In this particular case, Sunday afternoon at 3PM just didn't work for all involved.

For the two years that Worship Foundry operated, it was an incredible success. I look forward to helping others create a unique opportunity to serve their local churches with a teaching program like the Foundry.

It wasn't perfect, but Worship Foundry proved that a comprehensive worship and music program can be launched and maintained in a small church. There are areas that will need to be customized for churches, most likely in the way of funding and payout for teachers. I chose to let students pay a weekly tuition fee. This created a dual commitment between the teacher and student. You may choose to offer a program free of charge with a volunteer teaching staff. Either way, the important thing is to raise up a new generation of worship singers, musicians and technicians to then be graduated into the adult program, over time. The apprentice form of training can prove to be an effective method in equipping young people in the church, especially in the area of music and worship,

 Even if the Lord tarries, people are still going to be gathering each week in churches or living rooms to sing songs of praise to God a hundred years, even a thousand years from now. They, too, will require strong leadership. Therefore, it is the responsibility of each successive generation to train up the next generation of Christ-followers to serve the Body of Christ.

Though musical styles come and go, and technologies continue to evolve, the need for strong, undaunted, God-fearing leadership will remain the most important human ingredient in a growing church. I hope that what I've sown here in these posts over the last three years will reap a bountiful harvest in the hearts of Godly leaders, who will place the glory of God above personal gain, and service to others over selfish pleasure.