For the last couple weeks, Jess and I have been praying about something specific for one of our kids. Rather than explain all the details, I’ll simply say that it’s important to us, but in the grand scheme of life – not to mention the world at large – it isn’t of utmost significance. We were reflecting on our prayers … Read More
AND THE GOVERNMENT SHALL BE UPON HIS SHOULDERS
Recently Jess and I released a brand new Christmas single, Unto Us (Isaiah 9), with a text based entirely on one of the most familiar Christmas passages in scripture. You can watch the video below and download it on iTunes here: http://apple.co/1jbWccj. The song also references one of our favorite pieces of music, Handel’s Messiah. With our involvement in various … Read More
BYE, DADDY!
Kids have needs. Lots of needs. Constant, mind-numbing, are-you-serious, can-mommy-and-daddy-get-a-break kinds of needs. Evan, our oldest, just started kindergarten this year, and at first it was a bit of adjustment. (This adjustment may have involved a few tears, some blood-curdling screams, and gym-full of kindergarten parents thinking, “Awww, poor guy. Well, at least that’s not my kid…”) Fortunately, he adjusted … Read More
ADDITION BY SUBTRACTION: THE PARADOX OF GENEROSITY
There goes Creflo Dollar again…making us all look bad! The megachurch pastor’s appeal to “friends from around the world” to help fund a $65 million Gulfstream G650 jet has made national news in recent months, and in the process has once again muddied the waters about what Christians truly believe about generosity. Painting with their (typical) broad brush, a recent … Read More
TO MY FRIENDS WHO PLAY COLDPLAY SONGS IN WORSHIP SERVICES
Dear Friends Who Play Coldplay Songs in Church Services, What in God’s name are you doing? Okay, intentionally inflammatory opening sentence aside, I mean that without a trace of sarcasm: what are you doing in the name of God? Don’t get me wrong. I love Coldplay. I love U2. And I love you, too. (Although, in the interest of full … Read More
STEP OFF THE STAGE
Worship leaders, there’s something that all of us need to hear. We need to hear it because we are in a constant battle with our egos, pulling us toward whatever is most visible, whatever gives us the most chance of recognition, whatever offers even the faintest glimmer of hope of advancing our status and position. Worship leaders, your most important … Read More
DO NOT SUCCUMB TO FALSE HOPE
Do not succumb to false hope. There is nothing about you that would give you any reason to believe that you will be different today than you were yesterday. (Wow, that was borderline depressing. Hold on; it’s going to get worse before it gets better.) We conceive of time in a linear fashion, but in cosmological terms we have simply … Read More
STUFF I HAD TO LEARN #3 – SONGWRITERS, YOU NEED SOMEONE TO TELL YOU THAT YOU’RE NAKED
About Stuff I Had to Learn: I’ve been leading worship for almost two decades now. I started out thinking I knew everything, while actually knowing very little. Now I’m painfully aware of how little I know, even though I know much more about my craft than I did seventeen years ago. Along the way there have been a host of people, … Read More
ADDICTED TO PRAISE
I am addicted to praise. Not praising God. Receiving praise. I’m addicted to it. And like any addict there is very little I would not do to get it. Give me a compliment; shower me with adulation; wax poetic about how awesome I am – I’ll do anything! No seriously, tell me how awesome I am. But even if you … Read More
STUFF I HAD TO LEARN #2 – REHEARSING IS A SKILL, TOO!
About Stuff I Had to Learn: I’ve been leading worship for almost two decades now. I started out thinking I knew everything, while actually knowing very little. Now I’m painfully aware of how little I know, even though I know much more about my craft than I did seventeen years ago. Along the way there have been a host of people, … Read More