Antipsalm
Before reading this, put this in your ears. Ready? Now read this:
“The Lord doesn’t care about me at all. There’s always something that I’m struggling to have. I have to trudge, sweating through arid, rocky deserts with no place to rest and no sound except the pounding in my own head. I have no idea where I’m going and no idea why…”
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
Improving Your Worship Experience
How can you improve your worship experience?
There are at least two perspectives as you read that question. One says, “yes, I’ve been wanting to up our game for the worship experience!” The other says, “I don’t like that you call it a ‘worship experience.’”
Confidence
The note ringing out from the bass in my hands was jarring and dissonant. I quickly stopped it and frantically tried to find out which key we were playing in. If you had been in my head a few moments before, it might have sounded something like this...
Singing With A Click?
“Should the singers have click in their ears?” many a worship leader has asked.
I can almost feel the visceral reactions as you read that.
The Five Faders Book is HERE!
Have you appreciated receiving the Worship Fertilizer or any of the many resources from Ad Lib Music?
Can I ask you a big favor?
Stop Turning Away Middle School Band Students
I’ve never known what to do with orchestral band instrumentalists who want to join the worship team. It feels like they come from a different world. But there’s hope for us!
Did Jesus Lie About The Whole Yoke Thing?
I was overwhelmed during a season of life and ministry that felt so heavy. I felt no traction. I wanted a clear, big picture to shoot for and a simple strategy for making daily progress.
The Berkey Water Filter and the Scarcity Mindset
“Dad, aren’t you going to use filtered water to soak the oats?” Aspen scolded.
Functional To Flourishing
I was talking with an audio coach in rural Illinois and we were reflecting on the realities that many churches don’t realize how far from their potential they have settled for, how they’ve grown accustomed to simply functioning on the lowest possible rung.
Need A Suppository?
I was reviewing a worship video recording for a local church. I was struck by the singular thing they could do to improve their music quickly and increase congregational engagement exponentially.
How To Avoid Song Killers
Every week, our team sets about the task of creating music to worship with. We create spaces where our congregation can meet with God. And we do it primarily through the tool of music.