Restart: My Road Toward Christ

I came from a family of hard-working skeptics, a home where believing in God was considered a weakness. My maternal grandmother was a person of deep faith, but my father’s family tree was planted firmly in self-reliance. My parents and their three boys grew up without much involvement in church or religious things—a home in which the name of God was rarely, if ever, spoken outside of profanity.

Growing up in southern California in the ‘60s and ‘70s, music, guitars, the beach and a growing hippie sub-culture heavily influenced me. A schoolmate’s house was across the street from us, and he had an older brother who lived in their garage. White smoke from burning marijuana wafted through the cracks in the garage door on a regular basis, and I was curious about the strange character related to my buddy across the street. One day while visiting my friend, the older brother lured me into the shadows of the garage to show me his drug stash and to reveal the satanic bible on a makeshift table next to what was a makeshift bed. I’d never given much thought to the subject of evil, or even God up to that point, so I readily grabbed the satanic bible I was offered and leaped to my feet to join his younger brother inside the equally disheveled house. I never felt safe in that place across the street, and my instincts always told me to run away.

            

A few summers earlier I was invited to join a vacation Bible club in a neighbor’s home about three or four doors down from my friend’s house. There I felt secure and was warmly greeted by the mom of the house before each meeting. The child who invited me to his home was also a schoolmate, and his family was deeply committed to a local Baptist church in town. There on those summer afternoons, I enjoyed the parables of Jesus, the regular-guy disciples, and other characters, especially from Old Testament Bible stories. I didn’t make a connection with God at that point in my life, but was intrigued with the love, acceptance and fun activities—free snacks were also handed out at the end of each meeting, and that was a major draw for me!

            

In 1973 The Exorcist was released. There were reports of creepy, supernatural occurrences on the set of the movie, and the subject of demon possession and demonology became a big topic of conversation across America. The satanic bible that I hid in the top of my bedroom closet a year earlier now had new meaning. I began to mull over in my mind the reality of good and evil; that there just might be a real God and a real devil after all.

            

I put these thoughts on hold through my two years in Jr. High School and, by my freshman year of High School, I met an older classmate who took me under his wing. We would hang out together after school, smoke cigarettes and occasionally smoke marijuana, and experiment with other drugs. When he wasn’t in school, my friend would break into homes and steal jewelry, cash, and anything he could pocket in his mad dash in and out of the stranger’s house. One time he brought me a diamond ring to hide for him until he could get it later. I knew it was wrong and felt guilty knowing a married couple was missing their cherished wedding ring.

I was surprised when my burglar friend all but disappeared from school one week, and our daily time together came to a screeching halt. A few weeks later he came to my house, this time with news that would alter the direction of my life. He spoke of his encounter with Jesus, and a man who visited him in juvenile hall, after this time getting caught stealing. The visitor, an evangelist named Big Jim Tucker, stopped by my friend’s room and told him that God loved him, had big plans for him, and that his misbehavior and all of his shenanigans could be forgiven, and that he could be restored to a brand-new starting place in life—just like a new baby has an opportunity to start fresh. He’d just have to reach out to God for forgiveness. My friend eventually said “yes” to Jesus, restarted his life, and then invited me to meet Big Jim Tucker and Jesus at a local gathering place for Christians.

That Friday night I found myself in a room full of other people who had recently restarted their lives in Jesus; they were reading the Bible and singing songs that sounded nothing like my grandma’s church music. I was curious, shy and scared, but I came back the next day to hang out again at Big Jim’s.

After a few weeks, I craved the love, acceptance, and care shown to me at Big Jim’s place. I went there every day after school. Easter Sunday was coming up that weekend and I accepted the invitation to join a carload of others to see a church play about Jesus’ death on the cross. During the play, I realized that it was Jesus I needed; that the devil was real and I needed to restart my life all over again with my eyes focused on God’s plans for my life and not my own. After the play, and returning to Big Jim’s place, a kind man asked me if I was ready to say “yes” to Jesus like my friend had weeks before. Unlike that dark shadowed garage with the satanic bible in hand, I leaped into a new life with Jesus, Bible in hand. I knew my choice was the right one and I was headed in the right direction.

The biggest change after that was that the Bible became my guidebook. I had to trust the words I read in the Bible every day to be true, and that no matter what, God would personally guide me through life. I was learning more every day about Him, trusting in Him—talking with Him. Even though I stumbled from time to time, I would be forgiven and He Himself would guide me back onto the True path.

I want you to know that this opportunity I was given by God can be yours, too. He wants to come into your life, help you restart and will help you get on the True path. Not only will you be walking with God in life, but also He wants to give you life that lasts forever. God wants to cut the chains that bog you down in life, tying you to things that are harmful. He wants to lift the weight of sadness and aloneness from your shoulders, to live a life with a positive future and a definite purpose. Won’t you say “yes” to Jesus like I did many years ago? He’s never left me, betrayed me or failed to deliver on a promise. He’ll be True for you as well!

Pressure Points

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)



Change is good. It can be invigorating and inspirational. Having to adapt to new procedures, lifestyle adjustments, money issues, etc, can come with change. With change it’s easy to look at life, and especially the calendar, as a series of obstacles to be removed—boxes where finished tasks are checked off.

I’ve found that relationships can suffer when change abounds. I call these times ”pressure points.” When things get busy, communication becomes more difficult, and worry and anxiety can take over our lives. Sometimes “drive-by” comments can be misunderstood, simply by how we say it.

Even as we are challenged with change, thoughtful conversation and communication must be prioritized, especially in marriage. What we say and do under stress can create relational barriers, and it doesn’t matter how well we get things done or adapt to our new jobs, school year, etc., we need to nurture our relationships.

Pressure points that come with change can create opportunities to rely on God.

"It's better to remain silent and be thought a fool than open ones mouth and remove all doubt" ­­- Mark Twain (attributed)

Whatever Happened to Service?

Whatever happened to service? I mean, when did it become the practice of companies, churches and individuals to let customers (current or potential) and/or visitors fend for themselves while deciding whether or not to join something, buy something, or just enjoy simple courtesy?

I was shocked a few years ago when a young mall cologne sales person began to argue with me about my choice of scent; she thought my choice was subpar and didn’t fall for the rubbish that “the customer is always right." I didn’t offer that statement up front, but as she brought it up, I began to ponder the validity of that old quote simultaneously as I fended off my anger, turned and walked out of the store.

Defining “Service”

I watched a movie last night where the plot line revolved around a grand hotel in Europe just before and during World War II. Though quirky and fatalistic in its depiction of life and humanity, there were moments of sensitivity and poignancy. One such was when the hotel’s concierge—an old-world perfectionist who ruled the hotel staff with an iron fist—began lecturing his new “lobby boy” as to the tricks of the trade and the mindset one must have to be a successful service person. The concierge said, “What is a lobby boy? A lobby boy is completely invisible, yet always in sight. A lobby boy remembers what people hate. A lobby boy anticipates the client’s needs before the needs are needed.” One could replace “lobby boy” in that quote with “service” and my point for this writing would be complete:

SERVICE is completely invisible, yet always in sight

SERVICE remembers what people hate

SERVICE anticipates the client’s needs before the needs are needed

Regarding Church

I think the hotel concierge’s wisdom from the movie can teach a few things to church leaders as well. First of all, we mustn’t make the mistake that our visitors and guests know anything about the church, its customs, physical layout, etc. Using a variation of what was quoted earlier, a connection team at a church must “anticipate the [visitor’s/guest’s] needs before the needs are needed.” All one has to do is put themselves in that vulnerable position of a first-time guest to make sure there are plenty of friendly connection staff ready and waiting to help with any need. Signage must be beyond adequate to direct guests to where they need to go. But just like any fine establishment, it’s best to break from your station to walk with the guests to their desired destination. Introduce yourself and make sure to remember their names so you can greet them afterward.

Also, a service mentality must persist beyond the “welcome” stage in a church. We must help guide frequent guests into the “next steps” of commitment, such as salvation, baptism, new members classes, small groups, etc. For example, when a traveler is driving through an unfamiliar town after a food, comfort and fuel stop, it’s important that there are visible directives to get back to the interstate, and that those directions are clearly displayed. It requires a redundancy of prompts to get us onto the main highway. The same redundant, painfully obvious prompts must be present to properly serve and guide our visitors, guests and regular attenders alike. Everyone is trying to find the onramp to the interstate, no matter how far along the road we are!

Service Wisdom

Here are some helpful service hints from experienced waiters—guidelines that translate easily into general everyday life:

-Do not let anyone enter the restaurant without a warm greeting

-When you ask, “How’s everything?” or “How was the meal?” listen to the answer and fix whatever is not right

-Never acknowledge any one guest over and above any other. All guests are equal

-Do not ignore a table because it is not your table. Stop, look, listen, lend a hand. (Whether tips are pooled or not.)

-Do not let a glass sit empty for too long

“And whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” Mark 10:44-45 (NIV).

When Worship Wasn't Cool

I think of the days when hymn books lined the pews in our churches and were used in worship services every week. As a traditional '80s minister of music, I would stand at the pulpit and say, "Please take your hymn books and turn to page number (fill in the blank) and sing verses one, two and five." Remember?

I have always been a fan of guitar music, especially classic rock. I'd played my acoustic guitar in worship once in a while back in the day, but in church I was mostly accompanied by organ and piano. I dreamed of the day when my kind of music—rock and roll— would be accepted in the churches I served.

Since the days of Promise Keepers, and through the great worship experiences offered during those events, pastors began to desire "more of that" in their own churches, and slowly opened the flood gates for full bands to take their church stages. I saw this development before my own eyes.

In the days preceding all of this, worship wasn't cool. I mean, for most churches, worship looked for the longest time like it had for two hundred years. This wasn't a bad thing, since classical music had dominated church and sacred music literature, and people were reading music and passing on the wonderful, Bible-rich songs that were pervasive up to that point. Music literacy is a good thing and I hope over time we don't lose it.

The Transition

I was raised in southern California in the '60s and '70s, and the influences of Maranatha! Music and Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa were present when I received Christ at the age of 14. The pop music of my early Christian formation became the soundtrack to my spiritual walk. But as I moved away from California to the southern part of the United States, I noticed that this pop-styled worship music was scarce in churches there, and the worship music wave that started on the west coast had not yet arrived on the shores of the east coast.

I remember back in the early ‘90s, during the days when I was an exclusive writer with Integrity Music, founder and then-owner and President Mike Coleman invited all of the writers and creatives to a company retreat. At dinner one night that weekend, Coleman lamented that the Christian music industry didn’t “get” worship and many companies resisted partnering with Integrity in producing this kind of music for the church.

By the time worship music took to the radio in the 2000s, it was an indication that the genre had "arrived." Once Michael W. Smith’s Worship hit stores on (ironically) September 11, 2001, worship music's importance began to rise in the eyes of the music industry.

Dream Come True

What has resulted over the years is a greater presence of guitar-driven rock in worship services, smaller vocal groups and an unprecedented use of staging and technology in churches. I am excited, to say the least—my dream is coming true!

However, as leaders we must make sure that the music doesn’t become an idol, that it doesn't take the place of the One we worship. We must be careful to raise up worship musicians and leaders with the proper perspective of music in the church: a vehicle to help the congregation sing together and connect with God. We must keep our music approachable, with singable keys and with words that are Biblically sound, lyrics that don’t rely on sensual imagery to describe intimacy with God.

I am hopeful for worship music and its acceptance as a sacred form of church music, and never want to see our music ministries become a surrogate means for our own musical ambitions. Thank God our kids don't have to play in clubs and bars like many of us had to do to hone our musical skills; they can learn and mature right in the church!

Oh yes, I remember when worship wasn’t cool, so let’s be thankful and wise stewards of this great privilege we now have.

Sweet Home Alabama

In January 1983 I rolled into downtown Mobile, Alabama after traveling all night, crumpled up in a tiny seat on a packed Greyhound bus.

Over the three proceeding years I worked with the Columbus, Ohio-based company, American Entertainment Productions (AEP). Through this first-time-away-from-home opportunity with AEP, I became fully immersed in the world of performing; I became a professional musician, whose skills as a guitarist and singer were finely honed in the crucible called “The Road.” As a bonus I learned to be a road manager and a front man for a world-traveling rock group. My three years with AEP took me all over North America, the Mediterranean and Europe. I was grateful for the opportunity, but longed for a chance to serve Christ and His Church through music.

Through the suggestion of some musician friends, I auditioned for the Christian group Truth. I made the cut as guitar player and, along with with all that I owned in the world, was picked up at the Mobile Greyhound station and brought to the Truth office in an oak-shaded house on Old Shell Rd.

Later that day I met Roger Breland and my life would never be the same.

During my 2 1/2-year tenure with Truth I learned about ministry and performing in various churches. I gained an understanding of different denominations—what to say and not to say in certain places—and learned how to conduct myself in host homes.

In September of 1983 Truth was invited to play for the chapel service at a local Christian school called Mobile College. In the auditorium that morning was a beautiful angel—an eighteen-year-old, first-semester freshman—worshipping the Lord during the congregational singing part of the presentation; I couldn’t keep my eyes off of her. I looked forward to hopefully seeing and meeting her at the school cafeteria directly after the service. Sure enough, she was there. I had to get a friend from the group to meet her first, then introduce me, because I was too shy to do it myself! Thankfully Brenda didn’t fall for the guy who introduced us, and I shook the hand of the lady that would one day become my wife.

A few years later in 1985, when it was time to leave the group and complete my education, Roger Breland helped me get into Mobile College. I married Brenda that Christmas and, fast-forward to the spring of 1989, we were photographed together at graduation with our two children, Josh and Betsy.

My brother Jon recently said that Mobile has always been a place of blessing for me: I wrote some of my biggest songs and signed an exclusive songwriter’s contract with Integrity Music in Mobile; I was ordained at a Mobile church; Brenda was born and raised in Mobile; we were married there—our kids were born there—all in Mobile!

When my mother passed away in 1997, we moved away for four years to be with my dad in North Carolina. For the past thirteen years we have called Spring Hill, Tennessee home.

And now after 17-years away, Brenda and I return to the place where we first met back in ’83, though these days it’s called the University of Mobile. Roger Breland—now Dr. Breland—having since left Truth after 31 years, has been the Vice President of Project Development and Director of the Center for Performing Arts at the university for over a decade. Once again I am serving under my old mentor, boss and friend, Dr. B, and wear the title of “Artist-In-Residence," which gives me the honor of working with students as a mentor and teacher and director of some of the performance groups on campus. I will also be working closely with the other guitar instructors, focusing on commercial guitar from a real-world, gigging-musician perspective. To top it off, my new book, Worship Foundry, fits perfectly as a text book for my classes. I am humbled with the opportunity to apply my years of experience in worship leadership, songwriting, arranging and producing at this wonderful institution, and am truly thankful for Mobile and its importance to my family and career.

So, I am looking forward to the new school year starting in mid-August. Many thanks to all who have supported us over the years, and especially to those who recognize that this new phase of our lives is a perfect fit and an answer to much prayer. I believe that this opportunity given me has been on God’s workbench since before the beginning of time. For this I am a grateful man.

Personal Sacrifice and Leadership

Dr. John P. Stapp

On October 14, 1947, flying the X-1 at Mach 1.07 at an altitude of 45,000 feet, test pilot Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier in the skies above what is now Edwards Air Force Base, near Lancaster, California. Yeager would later say, "The real barrier wasn't in the sky, but in our knowledge and experience."

Just two months later, a less famous experiment was to bring a new level of understanding to human flight, advancing not only the study of aeronautics, but proving the miraculous resilience of the human body, and, at the same time, displaying an important lesson in leadership.

Captain John Paul Stapp, a medical doctor and member of the Army Air Force Aero Med Lab, was studying the effects of high altitude flight--critical to the future of aviation. Could men actually survive for any length of time in extremely high altitudes? The "bends"—which is basically decompression sickness, arising from dissolved gases coming out of solution into bubbles inside the body—was a frequent underwater diving hazard, and a condition brought on while flying in an unpressurised aircraft at high altitudes. Stapp's experiments on this phenomena led to the discovery that if a pilot breathed pure oxygen for thirty minutes prior to takeoff, the extremely painful symptoms could be avoided—symptoms otherwise temporarily relieved by "bending," or finding a more comfortable physical position.

"I'm going to be the test subject."—Dr. John Stapp

The bigger story for me is about Stapp himself. During the studies, he would offer himself as a willing human guinea pig for experiments. In the scientific quest to solve more problems regarding flight and its effect on humans, Stapp was eventually assigned to the Deceleration Project in March 1947. He arrived in California in April 1947 with the specific objective of studying G forces and the survivability of pilots, both during and after a mid-flight cockpit ejection.

One of Stapp's sleds, now at the Aerospace Museum, Alamogordo, NM

A 2000-foot-long track, built out of welded tubes with a sled atop called the "Gee Whiz," was already
constructed at Edwards AFB—then called Muroc—to test rockets in WWII.  The track was designed to withstand 100 G of force, but it had a meager 50% safety factor. In December 1947, after eight months and 35 test runs with 185-pound crash-test-dummy named Oscar Eightball, Capt. Stapp felt his team had gained enough experience to attempt a manned run. The willing leader said of the test subject Oscar, "We're not going to use these. You can throw this away. I'm going to be the test subject."

Stapp during a test.

When Stapp began his research in 1947, the aerospace conventional wisdom was that an 18 G force against the human body would be fatal. His tests challenged that notion and, as a result, the studies helped establish a standard strength requirement for aircraft seats at 32 G. Also, his studies helped establish requirements that led to the 3-point system of seat belts in automobiles.

Stapp was born in Brazil to a family of American missionaries. His early experiences on the mission field may have helped establish the leadership principles that were prevalent during his career, which I summarize here: Lead by example through personal sacrifice.

Stapp's leadership example is a great lesson for all who desire to step out in front of the pack. I would follow Stapp anywhere, but I probably wouldn't want to take a ride in "Gee Whiz" for all the money in the world!

The Nashville Number System

I use the Nashville Number System every day. It makes things simple for me when I'm trying to keep a song structure to one page, but more importantly to remain nimble when needing a quick key change.

I find this system helpful but limited at times, especially when a chord chart can more easily display a greater amount of definition to a complex piece. Plus, when numbers go out of the key for certain song passages (flat 6, flat 7 chords and more), it can be challenging for some to do the quick "which chord is that?" dance in the middle of a song.

For the most part, this system will be a great friend to any musician who needs a quick reference to a song's basic roadmap.

Remember, this system won't make you a better guitar player and won't be able to improve your tone! It will, however, help you get your act together before band rehearsal.

John Bohlinger is a great guitar player in Nashville and a contributor to Premier Guitar Magazine, both as a writer and frequent host for Premier Guitar's popular artist Rig Rundown video series on YouTube. The following is from an article published in 2010.

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The Nashville Number System Demystified

John Bohlinger

I did a session a little while ago with a guest keyboard player who had painstakingly transcribed every note he planned on playing. He was über-prepared but regrettably misguided, because once the singer decided he wanted to try the song up a half step, this guy was screwed. When I handed him a number chart, he looked like he was going to sob, pee his pants, and then hide. The poor [guy] was an egghead who knew a lot about music but never took the time to learn the down-and-dirty stuff that working musicians use every day: the Nashville Number System.

Literally, everybody working a decent gig in Nashville reads number charts—including every good engineer and drummer, even though they’re not playing notes, per se. It’s a brilliant system that allows players to change keys to accommodate any moody singer immediately. They can be written quickly and sight-read easily after a bit of practice. Much like chord charts, they don’t give you the melody, but you can write out simple signature parts in numbers. For those who haven’t yet learned the Nashville Number System, I present to you the keys to the kingdom.

Everybody writes charts a bit differently. Mine tend to be sloppy, but they all have the same basic format. In short, a line is usually four to eight measures. Each number denotes the scale degree of your key signature. All standard symbols for music apply.

FIGURE 1. An example of an eight-bar progression written with the Nashville Number System

In Figure 1, the upper right-hand corner (the circled “G” that looks a lot like a “6”) tells us that we’re playing a waltz (that is, in ¾ time) in the key of G. That means G is our 1. Measure one is a G. Measure two is a straight G for the first two beats, then a G with a B (3) in the bass on the last note of the measure, leading us into the C (4) chord for measure three. Play a straight C (4) for the first two beats, then play the G (1) over B (3) as a passing chord to A (2) minor for the fourth measure. Play a D (5) Major 7th for measure 5, then a straight D for the first beat of measure six. Play two beats on a D (5) with an F# (7) in the bass for the rest of measure six, then resolve back to our G, strumming three quarters for the 7th measure and hit a single whole note strum for the eighth measure. Then follow those repeat signs and do it again. 

If your singer wants to modulate to A, the A is now your 1, D is your new 4, etc. It’s amazing how much information you can convey with just a few numbers and symbols. Figure 2 shows a list of a few symbols that you will eventually see in Nashville Number System Charts. Next time you’re recording or learning a song, write a number chart. Eventually, you’ll be able to read them without thinking so you can get down to just playing. 

FIGURE 2. 

Common Nashville Number System symbols.

Life's Serendipitous Moments: Roby Duke

I was surfing the web on this lazy Sunday afternoon and wondered how an old acquaintance from my California days, Roby Duke, was doing.

In the years since 1979, when we first met at a Calvary Chapel event (not sure where or when), Roby would become a well known Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) artist. He would even go beyond the walls of the church in the decades following by adding his distinctive voice to Hollywood mega-hit movies like "Titanic" and "Pirates of the Caribbean."

I guess he saw something special in me, a wet-behind-the-ears 18 or 19-year-old (he would have been a mere 22 at the time). Maybe it was my guitar playing or singing, or maybe my budding songwriting chops. He would introduce me to some of his friends, and we spent several hours in his tiny apartment in Orange County—sharing our newest songs, and singing and jamming on our acoustics.

Since I'd come to know the Lord in 1975, after attending several Saturday night concerts at Calvary Chapel, Costa Mesa, I was beyond flattered when, a few years later, Roby would show interest in my talent. I can't remember exactly how we met, but I was well aware of his immense talent ever since he showed up on the Calvary scene from Mississippi.  He was one of those guys who, soon after arriving in L.A., was invited to play on the Calvary Chapel circuit, all over southern California—his bluesy vocal smoothness was jaw-droppingly awesome. He would become well known in CCM circles across America, and highly respected after his first record, Not the Same, was released in 1980. His music defied the typical Christian sound that was being churned out at the time—his music continued to buck the trends throughout his career.

Roby would speak with me in his molasses-like, slow-and-sweet southern drawl, reminiscent of my own Tennessee roots, running deep on both sides of my family. His demeanor and laid-back style made me feel at home. (My childhood—though being raised in the suburban sprawl of the L.A. bedroom community of Orange County—was smothered in southern accents and southern-style food; our dinner table was frequently filled with southern delights when mom and grandma crafted huge feasts for my extended family, especially during the holidays).

I remember going out to dinner once with Roby and his friends Harry Browning and Laury Boone. I couldn't get over that I was sharing the table with the sister of Debbie Boone, whose song "You Light Up My Life" shot up the pop charts a few years earlier. I felt special, honored and overwhelmed at the time. In only a year I would relocate to Columbus, Ohio, to begin a life as a full-time musician on the road.

As I came upon the news today that Roby passed away from a sudden heart attack on the day after Christmas in 2007, I was shocked and saddened. We never got together again after I moved away. I wish I could call him, or write to convey my appreciation somehow; I'm so sorry that it's too late now.

He was a big guy back in 1979, but in more recent photos he seemed to have lost several pounds. Now that I'm coming into my mid-fifties, it's not unusual for guys like me, with extra weight around the middle, to discover they have heart problems. My own bout with high blood pressure has encouraged me to make several life-style changes. I don't know what led to Roby's heart attack at 51, but I don't want to go early—too many cool things are going on in life for me these days!

I'm grateful to Roby and others who spent time with me and encouraged me to do what I've continued to do even today. Life is so incredibly full of serendipitous moments—many of which we pass right on by. What would my life have been like if I had not met Roby Duke? I guess I'll never know.

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Here's a video of the final performance that Roby did at Calvary Chapel of Thousand Oaks, California, two days before his death. As you can see, Roby was one incredibly gifted white boy with the soul of a Delta blues singer!

The Small Town Church Is Alive and Well

Jamie and Doug Chappelle at Thelma Baptist, Wetumpka, Alabama

My hope was restored in "small town church" this past weekend.

Brenda and I were invited by an old friend, whom we'd met many years ago in Mobile, Alabama, while newly-married and brand-new parents to Josh and Betsy. Since those formative years, my friend Doug Chappelle went his way and we went ours, following the calling God had on both of our families. Doug went on to become a senior pastor and I continued on my path as a worship leader and song writer.

Fast-forward to the beginning of this year, 2014.

I received a call from Doug to come to his rural church on the outskirts of Montgomery, Alabama. He asked me to encourage his praise team with a Saturday workshop, and to lead his congregation in worship on Sunday.

When driving up to the church property, you are immediately greeted by a traditional white steeple that rises high above the red-brick facade, characteristic of so many churches in the rural South. The property is lovingly maintained, and the rows of pews that fill the sanctuary make their way to a fairly traditional stage, with a piano on the left, but with the modern exception of a small band setup on the right. The pulpit has been replaced by a comfortable bar stool-type chair and a high-top table to hold Doug's notes while he preaches.

As I made my way through the teaching notes I put together for the Saturday workshop, the team members, including several from the student worship band, leaned forward in their seats, engaged and anxious to learn. They were excited to raise their level of musicianship, making an effort to better serve their congregation as leaders in worship. The team also has a choir of about 40, and Bill, their music director, brings much enthusiasm and heart to his leadership.

In the service, I was blown away by the two-minute-warning countdown video that included a segment with a rundown of the week's announcements, led by a very talented young lady who could easily make the cut on a local news team here in Nashville. In the middle of the service, they showed a video testimony of a couple who had recently given their lives to Christ. The video spot was well-produced and edited, with the flair of any CBN 700 Club piece.

When I came back to the microphone to lead the second half of worship, I told the congregation that they were the coolest small town church in America. The sanctuary erupted in applause.

The care with which they treated us, their generous offering and the outpouring of interest in my CDs and book made me blush, to be honest.

Most churches with a steeple out front and a cemetery out back are holding on for dear life; the startup churches that have exciting, explosive one-liner-names are taking the young people away, one family at a time. It's sad, really.

There is room for all kinds of churches in all kinds of settings. But with a pastor like Doug Chappelle, and a strong ministry team surrounding him—with a heart for people, a foundation on the Word, and the leading of the Holy Spirit—small town churches can still be an effective beacon in the community.

I'm convinced: where there is life, people will flock to the hope and encouragement that flows from a Christ-centered place of worship. I saw it there in abundance at Thelma Baptist Church, in Wetumpka, Alabama, this past weekend.

Worship Foundry: Leaving a Lasting Legacy

Brian Easterday is wearing a t-shirt from the first ever semester of Worship Foundry. Over ten years later, the book of the same name is out, and I'm looking forward to starting another worship academy for students someday soon. This, my friends, is what I'm passionate about, along with serving the church and helping believers connect with God through worship.

Please check out the video promo below and get yourself a copy of the Worship Foundry book, on sale now.

Click here to purchase the book: Worship Foundry

ALSO: Check out my new CD!

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Worship and Persistent Prayer

Brenda and I have the honor of co-teaching at a marriage retreat this weekend. In one of the the sessions, Brenda will bring an important message about prayer as it relates to worship, faith and obedience. I want to share her message in advance as I feel its content is vital to our success as Christ-followers. As you will see, Brenda is an incredible thinker, writer—and to top it off—she's incredibly beautiful!

I. WORSHIP A GREAT GOD

In order to worship God, we need to understand how big a God He is (Deuteronomy 10:17).  “God is infinitely bigger than your biggest problem or your biggest dream. His grace is infinitely bigger than your biggest sin.”  There is no limit to God’s power. Let that sink in.  There’s nothing he can’t do.  He has good things in store for us and wants us to ask Him for them.  BUT He also wants us to worship Him, recognizing what a good and faithful father He is.   

We all seek to give good gifts to our children, and keep them from harm.  God feels the same way about us.  He has the advantage of anticipating what’s ahead (Jeremiah 29:11)—and its good! because He already knows all about it.  The enemy’s job is to make us doubt that God would WANT to do those things for us.  The enemy seeks to deflate our enthusiasm.  The enemy seeks to diminish our sense of anticipation for the future.  God wants to lift us up, encourage us and take us to new heights.  He has so much good in store for us; it is literally beyond our imagination (Ephesians 3:20). 

Never say “Will He?” (this deflates our prayers)

II. GOD RESPONDS TO OUR WORSHIP

Part of our worship is prayer.  When you consider worship, it really is a type of prayer.  God always responds to our prayers.  ALWAYS.  He will never forget us, forsake us, or leave us hanging.  He’s in the room when we’re praying.  He’s particularly interested when we are praying and worshiping with others (Acts 1:14).  Spouses especially!! 

The enemy will do everything in his power, and with the entities at his fingertips, to thwart our prayers and worship (1 Peter 5:8).  He will distract, sidetrack, push back, fiddle with, trip you up; name it – he will do whatever it takes to stop you from praying and worshiping.  Make it your mission daily, and even multiple times a day to pray and worship. 

Be specific – write it down and circle it

III. PERSISTENCE IS KEY 

Praying and worshiping God with persistence are essential.  Faithfulness to your spouse, to your church, to your commitments adds power that is unseen.  The widow wore out the judge with her persistence (Luke 18:1-5). Jericho was brought down with persistence (Joshua 6:1-20).  Moses got Pharaoh to release the Israelites with persistence (Exodus 11:1). Illness is cured with persistent treatment and meds.  Weight loss is accomplished with persistent exercise and diet.  Skill is achieved with persistent practice.  DON’T GIVE UP.  Today is the only day you have to worry about, so just win today’s battle.  You CAN do it.  And remember, people are watching (Hebrews 12:1).  Your victory may be the very thing that changes the direction of someone else’s life. That’s reason enough to keep praying and worshiping.  Honor God publicly by sharing your victory (2 Timothy 2:2). 

Success is a derivative of persistence

Worship Artistry: Mastering the Disciplines

Mastering the skill of an effective musical artist requires a lifetime of practice, patience and persistence. Many people call it quits way too early while on the road to musical maturity. They either get discouraged—because it's too tough or it's taking too long—or they are intimidated by others who are more advanced.

Artists like Linda Ronstadt have worked an entire career to perfect their craft. In an article from Rock Seller Magazine, Linda tells of three areas upon which every musical artist must concentrate in order to grow as a performer. I believe what Ronstadt says is applicable to worship leaders as well:

"I always say there are three elements that go into music. There’s story, there’s voice and there’s musicianship. Some people are stronger in one area than another. I was strong on story and strong on voice but not as strong on musicianship but that came later and I learned after a while. I thought I just couldn’t learn because I didn’t have it. I didn’t realize people spend years in conservatories honing these skills. (laughs) And I never did any of that. I couldn’t read music and wasn’t very proficient at an instrument, which was a huge mistake because I could have been. I can pick up the guitar and play it but I never really worked at it because there were so many good guitar players around. I mean, why bother? That was a big mistake" (Article by Ken Sharp—Rock Cellar Magazine, Oct. 3, 2013).

Let's apply Linda Ronstadt's three elements—voice, story and musicianship— to the role of  worship leader, singer and musician in the church.

Story

As worship leaders, artists, musicians and singers, we must always convey honesty in every song we present. We must learn to deliver the message with the emotion, tenderness, tragedy and earnestness that each song's story demands. Our skill in song delivery is what will help a congregation believe what we're singing. Our goal is that they join us on the journey toward the throne of God.

We not only tell the story with our voices, but with our body language and our facial expressions as well.

Voice

Linda Ronstadt's voice is spectacular, and most of us will never attain her stature as a singer. But we can still be effective worship leaders, even with all our flaws and shortcomings.

There are four basic qualities—especially in modern worship— that are essential for a lead vocalist: 1) to sing on pitch, 2) to avoid excessive vibrato, 3) to have vocal character that fits well with pop music stylings, and 4) to blend well with other singers.

In worship, the congregation is the lead singer. So it's important to choose keys that are suitable for our congregations to sing. Below is a simple diagram that shows the limited range of an average congregation. Choose song keys that allow the melodies to stay within these musical margins, and I bet your congregations will sing along like never before!

(Diagram: courtesy of Jamie Harvill, from his book, Worship Foundry)

It's essential to also mention that a tenor and soprano's vocal ranges fall comfortably within this congregational singing range. Altos and baritones, while keying songs for the melody to stay within this range, may find it difficult to sing.

Whatever your particular vocal range, worship the Lord with everything you have. Always be yourself, and allow your unique vocal quality to shine.

Musicianship

One of the greatest hinderances for worship leaders and singers is a lack of musicianship. It's important to know the technical ins and outs of music when working out songs and worship sets. Take Ronstadt's advice and become proficient in chords and harmony.

Learn to recognize and break down the inner workings of each song you use. Study music theory. Gain knowledge about each instrument in the band and how to communicate with your musicians in a musically literate way. Learn to pick out vocal parts and to articulate dynamic nuances to your singers. These skills will garner respect and confidence from fellow staff and team members. 

Take Ronstadt's advice and do your best to hone all three elements: story, voice and musicianship. Our teams and congregations will surely be blessed, but most of all, God will be honored!

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CHECK OUT JAMIE'S NEW BOOK: 

WORSHIP FOUNDRY

You'll find a goldmine of helpful hints on how to be more effective as a worship leader. Click here: Worship Foundry, to purchase your copy today!

When Worship Hurts

Last week I landed my blog post with this statement:

"Worship—our response to a great and glorious God—will be the fuel that propels the church forward, even into evolving cultures, style changes, through difficulties, famines and stock market crashes. Worship is the priority of the church. All activities—evangelism, spiritual formation, ministry, corporate worship, etc.—must lead to the great result: the praise of His glory (Ephesians 1:11-14)."

I cannot overemphasize this. As I look at the church in America, it seems we've veered off of the main path. I won't go into the same issues that I wrote about last week, but I do want to offer here today what I think is the most important act of worship from any believer or any church.

Is it singing worship songs or preaching? No. Is it reading our Bibles? No. Is it a consistent early-morning time of devotion? No. Is it being an incredible neighbor? No. Is it going to church, giving tithe, teaching a class? No. I could go on and on, but what I really want to highlight is where many American Christians draw the line: when worship hurts.

What? Worship can hurt?…..Yes! True worship is expressed to the fullest when our sacrifice of praise costs us dearly. It's when we are brought to our knees, when more is required from us than what we see is humanly possible (as if any work of God is "humanly possible")... That's when we come face to face with true worship.

Worship is obedience—to whatever extent God demands.

Scripture has much to say about this:

Jesus, in John 14:15, said: “If you love me, keep my commands" (NIV).

Another time, as Jesus was speaking, "...a woman in the crowd called out, 'Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.' [Jesus] replied, 'Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it'" (Luke 11:27-28, NIV).

There is a big distinction between "hearing" the Word and "doing it." 

James 1:22–25 states: "But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don't obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it" (NLT).

"By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome" (1 John 5:2–3, ESV).

Abraham is one of the greatest archetypes of faith and obedience.

"By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore" (Hebrews 11:8-12, NIV).

In Genesis 22 we see the obedience of Abraham, who's willingness to offer his own son on an altar was the ultimate and most painful and costly form of devotion to God.

"When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, 'Abraham! Abraham!' 'Here I am,' he replied. 'Do not lay a hand on the boy,' he said. 'Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.' Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son" (NIV).

In Genesis 22:18, this terrifying tale of absolute surrender to God was summed up with the declaration: "…and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you [Abraham] have obeyed me” (NIV).

Our troubles may seem to be a curse. When we are passing through the "valley of the shadow of death," it may seem that we've been abandoned by God. But this is where worship is most painful and costly—and possibly where our worship is expressed to the fullest: When we keep on going in obedience, with the Word of God on our hearts and His promises on our tongues, even when our pathway is obscured by darkness and doubt. During challenging times we can be comforted by an entry in Paul's own faith-journal from 2 Corinthians 1:8-11,which recalls one of the many difficult points in his life. We read of it here :

"We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many" (NIV).

Let's stay the course and, through obedience, allow God to be glorified…even when it hurts.

Church: What Are We Missing?

It doesn't take Sherlock Holmes to see that many churches in North America today have become more and more consumer-oriented. I'm amazed how we as Christ-followers have fallen into doldrums with what church is all about. It's kind of like Christmas, when all of the presents have been opened and we didn't get what we were expecting; we're left dissatisfied.  I can hear a distant echo of U2's Bono singing, "And I still haven't found what I'm looking for..."

Many of our churches are like an athlete who looks well and fit on the outside but, unaware, harbors serious medical problems on the inside. Yes, many a modern small-town church sanctuary—with all of its staging, lights and sound—probably blows away any local entertainment venue for miles. Many of our facilities are gorgeous, wonderfully constructed and clean, and have safe and secure nursery and childcare facilities. They have a winsome, capable staff, social media presence, and maybe even a place on the schedule of a local cable channel.

"But we still haven't found what we're looking for..."

We all prayed back in the 80s and 90s for a way out of the stagnant post-WWII church culture that had led to a decline in church attendance. In 1990, we looked to George Barna's book, The Frog In the Kettle, and found that if we didn't make changes to the way we approached church, and ignored the ever-morphing cultural landscape in America, that those generations following ours would never want to set foot in a sanctuary—for the first time or ever again.

So, here we are, after the huge "Community Church" push that came out of the purpose-driven and seeker-sensitive influences that preceded and accompanied  the "Frog in the Kettle" book era. As a result, and to attract people, many denominational churches ditched their "Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, fill-in-the-blank" name tags for ones that made their theological persuasion obscure. Now the trend is to name churches like our youth groups—with summer blockbuster titles such as: Ignite Church, Explosion Church...Kaboom! Church!

Does a name change actually change anything?

There is even talk about age discrimination in the church today. I've heard in some circles that a 35-year-old musician may be too old to play on a church stage. (Thank God, at 53, my church lets me be the Music Director, and I still rock my electric guitar every Sunday). Many full-time ministry positions in churches have become part-time, and as a result are potentially allowing various ministry needs to fall through the cracks. I get it: In the age of spiraling medical insurance costs, and with a stagnant economy, we all need to cut back.

The bigger concern is: Are we really fulfilling the Great Commission—to go and make disciples (Matthew28:18-20)— or are we just building churches? There's a HUGE difference in those two philosophies. I believe when we're making disciples, we're growing the church not just in numbers, but in depth—one soul at a time. In comparing the two philosophies, building churches is all about the big—the masses, events, breaking through culture, and can lead to a corporate mentality. Making disciples, on the other hand, happens one person at a time; it's up-close and personal, can get messy, and it's much slower, resulting in smaller numbers than the other.

I'm sure many churches have accomplished both philosophical goals to some extent. But I still think it's important that we look back on the past 25 years and evaluate if we've really "found what we were looking for."

We desperately continue to find ways to fill the chairs in our sanctuaries, and we're willing to do whatever it takes to populate our services. Some of the most talked about modern models of evangelism and church planting are healthily being debated:

- organic vs structured
- attractional vs sent
- monologues vs social action and conversation
- events vs relational mission

A hybrid approach is most favored among many, including church planter Jonny Woodrow from England, who says, "[We need] all of them! We need to break down a wall that has divided the organic, sent, relational and conversational church from the structured, attractional, events-based, monologue church. The debate along the wall is all about which will be more contagious: which model will spread faster and more efficiently? But beneath this debate, the real divide for many is over which side encapsulates the most authentic experience of New Testament Christianity."

As far as I'm concerned, through all of the debate and the myriad of models, our goal is still Jesus' simple command from Matthew 22:37-40:

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). 

Worship—our response to a great and glorious God—will be the fuel that propels the church forward, even into evolving cultures, style changes, through difficulties, famines and stock market crashes. Worship is the priority of the church. All activities—evangelism, spiritual formation, ministry, corporate worship, etc.—must lead to the great result: the praise of His glory (Ephesians 1:11-14).

I hope we find what's missing, make corrections, and get on with "church" as it is meant to be. There are souls in the balance.

Promoting a Creative Environment in the Worship Team

A good work environment is a top reason many stay at a certain job for a long time. Churches can expect the same thing, even with their volunteers. The environment in which we serve is crucial. Most of the responsibility—beside the attitudes of the individuals on our teams—depends on leadership.

One of the best books on music I've read in a long time has been Making Records: The Scenes Behind the Music, written by the great music producer, Phil Ramone. In it, Ramone defines the role of record producer as roughly equivalent to that of a film director, creating and managing an environment in which to coax the best work out of his performers.

Worship leaders can help or hurt the emotional environment of their teams by either fostering an uplifting, supportive vibe in rehearsal and performance, or one that is critical and uptight. As a music producer, worship leader and music director myself, I try to avoid being critical, too demanding, judgmental or negative. A person with an artistic temperament will fold like a lawn chair when the environment is full of negativity and verbal criticism—especially when they feel degraded in front of others. Musicians and singers are artists, so good leaders must be mindful to foster camaraderie within the team, and a positive, nurturing atmosphere during rehearsals and in the services—if they hope for a sweet spirit of worship to flourish in their church. 

How do we foster a creative environment? "'Joviality,' says Ramone, 'taking your time…Convincing people that they are really good and getting them to play at a new level, that's what I look for. And understanding what the assignment is [in our case it's leading our congregations to the throne of God through worship], because that's forgotten for most of the time. People can perform and play well, but the actual intent in what they're trying to do in the music can be lost. Trying to get everybody on the same page is what being a good producer is about'" (Sound On Sound, April 2005).

Producer John Burk, after Ramone's death in 2013, recalled co-producing Ray Charles' Genius Loves Company with the legendary producer. He said, “It's funny: If you weren't paying attention, it would seem like Phil was this guy hanging out, telling stories and making everyone laugh. From him I learned how to create an environment. He knew how to get the flow right and let the artists work at their own pace. He used to say half the battle is letting them know that you care about them” (Phil Gallo, Billboard Magazine, March 30, 2013).

As worship leaders, we can learn much from Phil Ramone. We must be sensitive to maintain a creative environment for our teams. To push beyond the emotional limits of our team members will only lead to diminishing returns.

Chasing Chariots

With a new year comes new opportunities as well as challenges. While there is so much to look forward to, there are also a host of things to overcome: fear, limited resources, and lack of strength and courage—just to name a few.

With this I'm reminded of what Moses said to the Israelites in Deuteronomy 8:2, "Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands" (NIV).

After nearly thirty nine years as a Christ-follower, I'm closing in on the forty year mark—the amount of time the Israelites accumulated in the wilderness—plenty of time (one would think) for any level-headed person to trust that God would come through in challenges, difficulties and set-backs. But why does God allow problems to seemingly block progress in my spiritual journey, and why do I fail to trust that He will be there for me?

Later in the Deuteronomy 8 passage, Moses says:  "[God] gave you manna to eat in the wilderness, something your ancestors had never known, to humble and test you so that in the end it might go well with you. You may say to yourself, 'My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.' But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today" (verses 16-17, NIV).

Even before the forty-year wilderness jaunt, Israel was witness to God's rescue as He led them out of Egypt toward the Promised Land. There they seemed to be stuck without hope, wedged between an impassable body of water and an eminent massacre by a fast approaching Egyptian armada.

When faced with challenges my first tendency is to panic. I see things like most of the Israelites probably did on their way out of Dodge: I measure my resources and my own abilities and immediately gulp with the realization that I will surely fail on my own!

To surrender is exactly what God wants me to do! 

In Exodus 14 we see the narrative of God's miraculous rescue of Israel from the Egyptian army: "Moses answered the people, 'Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still'" (verses 13-14, NIV).

"Be still," God says, but I am inclined to run out and chase those chariots, thinking that I can fend off the threat of my adversaries. I'm seriously mistaken and terribly defeated when I do.

I'm embarrassed to say that I have chased chariots many times in the past thirty nine years of my God-walk. Lord, please forgive me. Help me to remember that, at the end of my strength, Your mighty hand is ready to intervene—You're excited to show power and victory in my life.