Am I In Sync?
It was 1984. Apple launched Macintosh (yes kids, Mac’s full name was Macintosh until 1999). The Terminator came out. Prince’s hit Purple Rain was everywhere.
Mix Priority
Our congregations hear it every week, without fail.
What do they hear? Each of our audio techs has their own mix priority. Sure, there’s the variation of “Bill runs it loud, Ed runs it soft,” etc. But do we give them something to shoot for? Do they know what a win is?
How Do You “Strum” On The Piano
Most weekdays at 4 PMish, I give one of my kids a music lesson.
As you may imagine, they are not typical lessons. I either start playing an instrument to spark their curiosity, or I ask what song they are working on or what skill they’d like to strengthen.
Look Each Other In The Eyes
The best wedding day advice I received: “Don’t forget to look each other in the eyes.”
With all the details, all the planning, all the preparation, all the stress, all the expectations, all the pressure…did I mention the details? It’s easy to miss the moment.
Support Musicians
I was in a Guitar Center in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, with my musician pastor. Yes, we played several of the most expensive guitars. No, we didn’t play any of the forbidden riffs on the electric guitars.
Once A Month
Lou has a lawn care business. He’s good at what he does. His customers are usually happy, and he’s making a decent living. He has eleven employees who work diligently in the heat of the summer sun.
Well, actually, I should say “had.” It closed earlier this year.
Recover
A worship leader once wrote this after leaving his church staff position:
“I need a little bit of space to recover from the battlefield before I go to the next war…”
Little Tests
Week after week, we stand in church during worship and wait for the lyrics to appear. Well, most of us never see the lyrics, but our congregation does.
Recipes
Many mornings, I’m on breakfast duty. One of my favorite kitchen tools is our griddle. It’s big. 720 square inches of cooking area. That’s about the same as ten 12-inch sauté pans. When you’re cooking for a family of nine, that comes in real handy.
Fractional Priority
One of our Denver coaches (Orin) was telling me about the latest rage: part-timers are now being called “Fractional Employees.”
Why?
An amazing, Jesus-loving drummer approaches you after church on Sunday and asks about joining the team. He’s available, hungry to serve, and you’re really drawn to him.
Plan In Bulk
If you can help it, never plan one week at a time.
Make More Excellent Music
We want to make excellent music. And by “excellent,” I mean the best we can do with what we have. It’s a continuously moving target. It’s personal - you don’t become excellent by comparing yourself to others but by comparing yourself today to yourself yesterday. Movement matters.
Tell Me Your Story (Podcast Interview)
I was interviewed on the More Than a Worship Leader podcast, and he sent me the questions beforehand so I could prepare. I wrote my answers out and am sharing them with you for this week’s Fertilizer. (Make sure to respond to the questions at the end.)
What’s Your Secret?
You want to be a good steward of the leadership opportunity God has given you, right? You want to help your team be more confident and comfortable as they serve. You want more capable, Godly people on your team. You want to experience joy as you pour out each week. You want to complete your calling to the very end. You want to experience fullness.
Close Singing
Just under a month ago, worship leaders, pastors, and teams from 22 churches in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, gathered to learn about some foundational aspects of worship.
Punt
On a long enough timeline, we all need to punt. What does that mean?
Why Songwriting?
I sat in the senior pastor’s office as we hammered out the details of the 12-month coaching program we were beginning with their leaders. Something he said, so flippantly, still haunts me after ten years.
Hire From Within
After two and a half decades of supporting churches in your worship ministry, we’ve noticed something. The longer we’re around, the more the church personnel change. While we do know some leaders who have been at the same church since 2002 (when Ad Lib started), many have moved on. Even though some leaders feel like fixtures, even they are no longer leading worship.
The Last Five Percent
We helped unload a shipment of ten 4x4 crates containing donations for needy families. Since they had no further need for the crates, the Central American Mission Projects (CAMP) leaders said we could have them. With my help, the three youth I had brought along began disassembling them. Each crate was made of about 80 screws, six 4x4 sheets of 3/4-inch plywood, and other assorted support lumber.