5 Things Every Worship Leader Should Learn From Jimmy Fallon

Posted on March 20, 2015 by Mark Cole

By Josh Maze ~

No matter the guest, they’re the “absolute best” on the “absolute best” TV show or film. Isn’t it amazing that every. single. night… Jimmy’s “favorite” person is on the show… and we believe him? I believe him. I follow him. All the way to the desk where he is absolutely enthralled by the special guest. Completely engaged.

Late Night With Jimmy Fallon - Season 4

As a matter of fact, he’s so engaged – I’m engaged. I’m engaged through him. All the sudden I find myself interested in the guest / the subject / the conversation. Through Jimmy’s excitement & passion, I find myself involved. I never knew that I could become such a fan of some random C-list celebrity… but seeing Jimmy as such a fanatic about this person, here I am. Participating.

Here are 5 things every worship leader should learn from Jimmy Fallon.

1. He’s always smiling.
This may be the most important and underrated aspect of Jimmy’s career. He smiles. A lot. Like… constantly. And that’s really good because, he’s in our living rooms and our bedrooms. And we want happy / positive people in our home. Smiles break down barriers.

Smiles invite you in. Every worship leader who doesn’t smile while singing about Love… Grace… Hope… Jesus… is completely missing the mark. If you’re not smiling, you’re not winning. If you’re not smiling, you probably don’t look friendly. You might even be coming across too serious, overly spiritual, or arrogant. Let’s avoid that at all cost.

2. He’s got great energy.
It’s rarely hype. It’s always excitement. He loves what he does, and it’s obvious. But check this out… Jimmy Fallon has bad days too. He’s a human being. But you may never know it. We don’t see it. He presses through and does his job… making us feel at home.

People need a confident leader to bring the energy to the room. Energy is contagious. Bad / low energy is contagious. Great / high energy is contagious. Be yourself, yes. Be vulnerable, of course. But get excited about what you’re doing!

3. He’s humble.
I’ve heard a ton of different people make comments about Jimmy. “He’s awesome… He’s the best… I love him… I have a crush on him… He’s literally perfect…” (And those are just from my wife…) 🙂 But I have never heard anyone say anything about his ego, his pride, or his arrogance.

Yet – he’s one of the biggest stars in the world. He’s self-deprecating. He knows his strengths – He knows his weaknesses. He doesn’t take himself too seriously. He’s quick to laugh at himself. That’s endearing. I like being around people like that, don’t you? With his ratings up 27% in the households & up 40% in the 18-49 demographic. Yes. You do. We do.

4. He’s prepared.
Monologues, singing, dancing, bits, sketches, dialogues, interviews… he does it all. And he’s ready. We think we have something to get ready for on Sundays? Once a week? Imagine having to be fresh, funny, smart, & interesting 5 nights a week. He nails it. And yes, he’s got a great team around him that help him prep.

What can we learn from this as worship leaders? What can we take away? Very little excellent happens in life without proper preparation and planning. Let’s do our part to prepare, and let God do what only He can do.

5. He’s relevant.
‘Relevant’ isn’t my favorite word ever. But let’s remind ourselves… It’s a real word:

Relevant adjective rel·e·vant ˈre-lə-vənt relating to a subject in an appropriate way

If I tried doing what we do at Highpoint Church at the big Episcopal Cathedral down the street, it wouldn’t work. I’d be dead in the water. You have to speak the language of the people you are speaking to. You have to relate. You have to know who is in the room and have an idea of where they are coming from.

Jimmy’s show is so relevant, it’s ridiculous. The monologues are literally centered around the day’s news, the day’s gossip, and even the day’s tragedy. The interviews are centered around the film or TV show that just premiered or is about to premier. Why do so many churches miss this? We at Highpoint have decided to teach timeless truths in a timely way.
That’s a Non-negotiable.

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So, all in all, while Jimmy is leading us in the praise of the people he adores – like Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Tom Cruise, Justin Timberlake, or Brad Pitt.

We still have a lot to learn. If we are leading people in the worship of JESUS, how much more then should we be smiling, energetic, humble, prepared, & relevant? Jimmy, if you’re out there, I for one, am inspired to be a better worship leader. Thank you.

The original post is here.

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5 Reasons Why The Bible Is The Most Important Book You Will Ever Read

Posted on March 19, 2015 by Mark Cole

by Dan Buttafuoco ~

The Bible is the single most important book ever written. It is an eyewitness account of historical events of such magnitude that they have literally shaped the world in which we live. Without this book the Western world and a good deal of the Eastern world would be completely different today than if the events of this book had never occurred.

It is not too much to say that the events recorded in this book are claimed by a significant percentage of people who have ever lived on this earth to be the most important events ever recorded in the history of the world. This book is foundational to just about everything mankind will ever know or accomplish. It has directly led to massive undertakings of good will and charity. Because of this book, great projects have been undertaken, hospitals have been built, multitudes fed and clothed and orphanages founded.

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Here are five primary reasons why you need to read the Bible:

REASON #1:
THE BIBLE HAS TRANSFORMED THE WORLD

Importance of BibleIt would be impossible to claim to be an educated person in today’s world without having at least some familiarity with the events contained in this book. Actually, all of the events contained in this book should be known by everyone.

  • A good number of people around the world read portions of this book every day. It is one of the most published and printed books in the history of the world. It has been printed in just about every known language (including braille) and each year, since it was first written, it has been the world’s greatest bestseller year after year. As time marches on it is continually printed in yet more languages. Collectors of rare books treasure it in every form.
  • The Bible was the first book ever put to the printing press. The man who first printed it, Johannes Gutenberg, was recently voted the most important man to have ever lived within the past 1000 years!
  • A good number of museums exist today which are dedicated solely to this very book and the events contained therein.
  • The Bible is available in every corner of the globe, even where it is illegal to own or read this book. It is available in electronic format and on CD as well. You can find it on the internet for free. Famous actors and personages regularly quote it. It was quoted by William Shakespeare many times in his writings.
  • Worldwide organizations and associations have been formed because of this book and its message, many of them existing for centuries. Together they represent multiple hundreds of millions of members.

REASON #2:
PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO DIE FOR THIS BOOK

Importance of BiblePeople have died torturous deaths simply to gain access to this book. You may, even now, be in a country where this book is discouraged or even banned outright. In many countries it is a crime to distribute or even possess this book.

  • This book has been praised, cursed, restricted, banned, desecrated, burned and fought over. People swear on it and at it.
  • Some have tried to eliminate it. All who have tried have failed. People have suffered exquisite tortures and loss of freedom and even their lives for printing it. This has occurred recently and over many centuries past, as well. It is, in fact, a regular occurrence in this world.
  • This book is simultaneously hated and loved. Once read it would be impossible to be indifferent to it; for its claims are monumental and beyond exaggerating. It provokes a strong response in either a positive or negative direction; you will either love it or hate it. It was meant to be so by design. It is so controversial that wars have been fought over its interpretation. Governments have toppled on account of it and kings have been deposed because of it. Most importantly, lives have been dramatically changed for good because of this book.

REASON #3:
IT’S THE MOST ACCURATE BOOK OF ANTIQUITY

Importance of BibleThe Bible is the most copied book of antiquity. Written over a time period of some 1,500 years, it was completed approximately 2,000 years ago. Yet, in all the centuries that have passed, none of its contents have ever been found inaccurate.

  • It has been translated into its present form directly from the original languages from a vast supply of ancient manuscripts sifted by the best minds and most competent scholars of our day and of many prior generations. It has been translated into every known existing language.
  • It is surpassingly accurate to the smallest details. Its contents, as translated, are as close to the original words of the authors as humanly possible. Only a few words of the entire book (a tiny, insignificant percentage) are in any doubt as to the original words and none of the disputed text affects the message of the book. Additionally, new discoveries of previously unknown ancient manuscripts continue to provide ever greater accuracy to the contents of this book.
  • It has been sifted, studied, commentated upon and dissected more than any book in history. Volumes of books have been written about it and if they were stacked on top of one another they would reach to the sky.
  • Where this book can be verified by external events such as archeology, geography, custom, politics, culture, known world history and writings in other ancient texts it has been so verified as to be accurate in all respects. New discoveries always support it, never vice versa. It has never once been proven faulty on single detail or fact, although many have mightily tried and failed.

REASON #4:
IT CONTAINS A LIFE-CHANGING MESSAGE OF FREEDOM

Importance of BibleThe Bible has liberated many from oppression by its clear teachings. It raises the dignity and rights of every human being ever born. It is truly an amazing and remarkable piece of writing. It contains clear teaching on the value and worth of every individual. It will astonish and surprise you and likely move you to tears.

  • It has freed minds and hearts throughout history. The events recorded in this book have generated more great works of art (and some not-so-great ones, as well) than any other subject matter in the history of the world. All the museums in the world, added together, could not possibly contain all of the artwork inspired by the events of this book.
  • This book itself represents true freedom. It has never been in the custody and control of a single group of people, unlike other important books. It belongs to everyone and it has been possessed by everyone, every culture and every tribe and race of people. Reading it will strike you directly in your heart. It has the “ring of truth” to all who love the same.
  • This book contains a message at its very core. It is a message to all people everywhere, in every time period, relevant to their everyday lives. It claims to be the very words of God… an audacious claim, for sure. It is for you to decide whether to believe the message of this book and apply it to your own life.
  • If you now know nothing about God, you will know a great deal about God after reading this book. If you believe you know much about God, you will know even more about him after you read this book. You may even decide to re-evaluate your knowledge of God after reading it.

REASON #5:
IT CONNECTS YOU TO HISTORY’S MOST IMPORTANT FIGURE

Importance of BibleYou may have heard of the “Godman,” Jesus of Nazareth, also called the “Christ” (i.e.”Anointed One”). You may even think you know Him. But if you have not read the account offered firsthand throughout this book, you will, in effect, know nothing definite about Him. The entire Old Testament points to His coming, and the entire New Testament testifies to His teachings and actions.

  • His name has been used to bless people and it has been used as a curse word by those who despise Him. People have been healed and set free in His name. One thing is for sure: when you meet Jesus in the pages of this book and understand who He claims to be it is impossible for you to remain indifferent to Him.
  • This story is either the biggest fraud ever perpetrated on mankind or it describes Jesus as exactly who He claims to be: the Supreme Lord and Ruler over all of mankind and the very creator God of the Universe. Logically speaking, this is either a nice poetic story created from a fantasy with an intent to deceive you or a clear and accurate picture of God, who is our judge (both mine and yours). You decide. If you think you know about God already, consider the source of that “knowledge” and examine if this book may, in fact, be a better source for true knowledge about the one true Creator God that made you and everything else, both known an unknown in this Universe.
  • People are free to reject this book and what it says. God made us “free moral agents” to choose as we desire. Yet, people violate the teachings and wisdom of this book at their own peril.
  • Because of the main person in this book, Jesus of Nazareth, time has been split into two main epochs (B.C. “before Christ” and A.D. “anno Domini” for “year of our Lord”).
  • Each year, over a billion people celebrate His birth, His death and His bodily resurrection from the dead.
  • Jesus is the only religious leader ever to make the claim that He has risen from the dead. All others are dead and buried. Abraham is dead. Moses is dead. Mohammed has died and remains dead, Buddha is dead, Gandhi is dead. Only Jesus claims to be alive. Even Muslims revere Jesus as a holy man and a great prophet. All told, about half of the world today accepts that this Jesus was a great and remarkable personage.

CONCLUSION

Keep turning the pages of this remarkable book. Read it with an open mind and open heart. It contains pure truth about God, about life, the nature of mankind and our own hearts as human beings. The Gospel of John is a wonderful place to start, but read the whole thing — Old and New Testaments. You’ll be amazed what you discover about God, and about yourself.

If this God is indeed your judge, before whom you will someday give an account of your life, it really is important that you are aware of who He is and the simple thing He asks of us before that solemn time comes. In essence, this book will help you to deal with that very event for which we are all destined. Be warned: you will not be the same after you read this book.

Content ©2013 Daniel P. Buttafuoco

The original post is here

Start reading the Bible here:

Dan Buttafuoco, an attorney in New York City, is president of the Historical Bible Society.

Check out my Mark’s new book.. “Leading Worship ~ Notes from a Grand Adventure’ available in Kindle or Soft Cover Editions.  This is a great gift for the musician or worshipper in your life.

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6 Ways to Plug the Power Back Into Your Rehearsals

Posted on March 18, 2015 by Mark Cole

by Branon Dempsey ~

Maximizing Your Time

No matter if you rehearse during the week, or all-in-one-shot Sunday, it can be a waste of time or a value to others. Think about the uses for home electricity. Without it, the simplest task would be problematic. When we experience a good and productive rehearsal, our team is better prepared and energized to lead. The result is a worship service that is vibrant, confident, and full of life.

As you read below, keep in mind that these are suggestions, not rules. Every church and rehearsal setting is different. My hope is that you can acquire some of these ideas and make them work for you. Wherever your team may be, it might be time to plug in and recharge those rehearsal batteries.

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Get Organized

You may have experienced the all-too-familiar scenario: the rehearsal starts at 7pm, people show at 7.15pm and the amps aren’t cranking until 7.30pm. Stragglers, pow-wows and talk-time now land us at 7.45pm, and it’s already 45 minutes into “rehearsal,” and we haven’t even touched the music. This repetitive weekly event can often lead team members to eject.

Make A Plan

This involves the overall rehearsal time, down to the individual songs. Beyond writing out the set list, think about which songs deserve the most time to rehearse along with the tough parts. Keep track of your players to handle certain songs and team rotations. Jot down your musical ideas in order reference them in the moment. Out of habit, I will put minute markings per song, indicating the length of time to work each tune. Next, I’ll scribble-down notes about the key, tempo, trouble spots and when to change-out the drummer (just kidding).

Be Early On Time

Having the simple things ready to go like music and charts is huge. Go through your music, and notate what needs fixing. When your finished, make those copies and bring them to rehearsal. Maybe do a walk through on your stage to clean up trash, reorganize music stands, cables, etc.

Preparing your own gear is another added benefit: change those guitar strings and swap out that old sustain pedal. Create your own catalogue of music, kept in a folder and easy to locate. Don’t forget that pencil. Plan to arrive early at rehearsal and get your gear ready. If meeting time is 7pm, your downbeat time is 7pm. Vince Lombardi once said: “To be on time is to be late, to be early is to be on time.” (a.k.a Lombardi Time)

30-20-10 Rule

When leading a rehearsal, your time management is to serve the members of your team. Rather than rehearsing three songs for two hours, I follow what I call the 30-20-10 Rule. Let’s say we have five songs, we’ll take 30 minutes total to work trouble spots – that’s 5 min per song. Take 20 minutes (4 minutes per song) to run the set top to bottom without stopping, and the last 10 minutes of rehearsal for questions.

The idea is to work backwards: begin with each song’s toughest part first to the easiest, address the transitions, and move to the next song. This plan takes about an hour, give or take depending on the music material and needs. The purpose is to stay on task and finish on time without missing a beat.

Rehearsal Time is Not Practice Time

Another large problem in rehearsals is people not knowing their music. We are busy people with many excuses. Practicing at home is a must have before entering rehearsal. Ask any professional live, studio or orchestral musician, and they will tell you the same. When you arrive, you simply rehearse what you’ve practiced. At this pace, your Sunday mornings become a run-through and not another rehearsal.

In your rehearsals, when a song sticks out and not jiving,’ immediately fix it. Never rehearse mistakes. Don’t run through your set trying to make it perfect. In reality, you want to look for the mistakes in order to improve the song. When the problem goes un-addressed, most likely you will repeat the same mistake in a real service. Make it right and move on. Another big component is communication: keep it clear, positive, concise and never point out anyone publically. Lastly, make it fun.

Ending Well

When you finish rehearsal, thank people for both their time and commitment. Remind them of the musical points mentioned and confirm your meeting time for Sunday. Take that extra time as well to check on others to make sure everything else in life is cool. Pray for one another and be there for one another.

Before you know it, making music will be more fun, more productive and more meaningful. Plug the power back into your worship team and make your next rehearsal one that people will remember.

Copyright 2014, Branon Dempsey | Worship Team Training® | Administered by For His Music. All Rights Reserved.

Check out my Mark’s new book.. “Leading Worship ~ Notes from a Grand Adventure’ available in Kindle or Soft Cover Editions.  This is a great gift for the musician or worshipper in your life.

 

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Worship Leading Tips: Timeless Songs

Posted on March 17, 2015 by Mark Cole

By Gary Durbin ~

As constructing a sermon is to a pastor, so constructing a worship set is to a worship leader. You want to have solid content and memorable hooks that will stick with your church as they walk away.

For a worship leader, song selection is a very important and delicate, weekly task.

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I don’t view myself as an entertainer, therefore I want my church to be able to easily engage, participate and sing the songs every week. That being said, I try to select SINGABLE songs! Novel idea, right? It doesn’t sound very profound, but it seems to be somewhat of a lost art.

What I’ve found is that the songs that seem to be the most accessible for the church are those songs that are timeless. They are those new or old songs that have that timeless, ageless quality. Timeless songs are songs that could have been written this week or 300 years ago. If we as worship leaders embrace them, I believe we can more effectively help our churches embrace God in corporate worship.

Here’s some qualities I look for in a timeless song:

1. SIMPLE MELODY – Think of the most popular songs that have been passed down from generation to generation. Most of them have a memorable, simple melody line. The melody is the key to a great song. The more complicated the melody, the harder it is to sing. I’m not saying that every great song has a simple melody, but if you want most of the people in your church to sing a song, a simple melody will enable that greatly.

I was in a work shop at the National Worship Leader Conference one year, when I heard Nathan Nockels critiquing a song. He talked about keeping the melody simple, which means to limit the fluctuation in the notes of the melody line. I think the reason the Beatles’ songs have stood the test of time so well is because of their gift for writing memorable, yet simple melodies. It doesn’t have to be complicated to be great and when it’s simple, more people will be able to sing it. Keep it simple!

2. AGE ADAPTABILITY – A timeless song is an ageless song. It’s melody is simple enough to be adapted to any generation. A timeless song can be sung by my 7 year old daughter or my 81 year old grandpa. When you look at your setlist, is it geared for just one age group or can it be embraced by multiple generations? The church is a multi-generational organism and a healthy church accurately represents that.

I am, in no way, suggesting a blended style worship set. That can sometimes be more confusing than constructive. I’m simply challenging that we use songs that are simple and accessible to the past generations all the way to the next generation.  One of the timeless songs I use is “10,000 Reasons”. That’s a great example of a song that’s embraced by every generation in my church.

I expect my generation and younger to like most of the songs I use, but there’s nothing sweeter to me than when I hear a compliment from someone who’s 30 to 50 years older than me. It tells me that most everyone was able to engage in worship in the same hour. That means I’m serving the whole church and not just one demographic of it.

3. STYLE VERSATILITY – A song that stands the test of time is largely preserved by it’s versatility. When you strip all of the instrumentation away, do you still have a great song? When a song is too dependent on the accompaniment, it’s versatility is extremely limited.

The obvious examples of versatile songs are the revised hymns that we’ve all heard in the past decade. A timeless song can be played by a rock band, acoustic set or an old-school piano and organ. When you have style versatility in a song, it’s life-span is drastically increased. I think one of the greatest examples of this is “All Creatures of our God and King”. It was written in the 1600’s, yet it is easily translated to today’s popular style. Why? Because of it’s versatility. When you’re looking for a timeless song, test it with different styles.

The goal of this post is not to promote old hymns. God does not care about the date of a song, as long as the heart is right behind it. This post is about helping our people engage in corporate worship. Singing a song can be one of the most unifying elements for a group of people to do. A worship setlist that does not accomplish that is an oxymoron.

Psalm 100:2 says, “Worship the LORD with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy.”

This is not a suggestion. This is a command.

As worship leaders, let’s have a heart for God, His commands and His church, no matter what demographic they belong to. Let’s give them songs they can sing. Timeless songs can be a very effective tool in this mission.

What are some songs that you think are timeless? 

The original post is here.

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How to Practice True Meditation

Posted on March 16, 2015 by Mark Cole

by Stefani Yorges, Ph.D. ~

In this world of busy schedules, noisy offices, and invasive technology, people are hungry for the peace that quiet meditation can bring.  But meditation has become associated with a mystical ritual practiced by eastern religions, so most Christians have removed the word from their vocabulary.

Meditation

The word is actually used frequently in the Bible:

  • David said, “Oh how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long,” “I meditate on all Your works,” and “I meditate on You in the night.” (Psalm 119:97, 143:5, 63:6). He was also concerned about the quality of his meditation, saying, “Let the words of mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight” (Psalm 104:34, 19:14).
  • Joshua encouraged the Israelites to meditate on the Book of the Law all day long for it would bring them prosperity and success (Joshua 1:8).
  • Paul told the Philippian church to meditate on whatever is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8).

Biblical meditation is reflecting on God’s Word. It involves calling to mind, thinking over, and dwelling on the ways of God. Meditation is defined as focused thinking – a skill obviously useful in prayer and Bible study. It is a means to let His truth have a full and proper impact on your heart.

Proper meditation involves filling your mind with God’s truth, rather than emptying your mind as in Eastern practice. Eastern-style meditation involves repeating a mantra, which Webster’s dictionary defines as “a mystical formula of invocation or incantation (as in Hinduism).” The goal is to move into a trance-like state and progress to the point where “spirit guides” appear to lead and instruct you.

In true meditation, there is only one Holy Spirit you should be seeking, not multiple spirit guides. You only want the Holy Spirit speaking over your life; anything else is going to lead you astray. Satan has always tried to imitate the power of the Holy Spirit by offering deceptive alternatives. But the Bible says, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are from God…Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God” (1 John 4:1-3).

If you open up your spirit for guidance and direction, make sure it is not a counterfeit. In true meditation, the Holy Spirit can lift your burdens, change your perspective, and renew your mind. Psalm 119 lists some of the benefits of meditation including guidance, wisdom, discernment, insight, and heightened obedience. Exactly what we need today!

For more from Stefani:
1.  Follow her on Twitter here.
2. Get a FREE guide on how to renew your mind here.
3. Check out her coaching services here.

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What Makes A Great Worship Song?

Posted on March 14, 2015 by Mark Cole

I recently saw three questions asked on a Facebook ‘Worship Leaders +’ group. Brent Milligan asked: What qualities or attributes of a worship song make it something that people love to sing and can really get into? Why does EVERYBODY sing on 10,000 Reasons? Why do Tomlin’s songs go over so well in so many churches?

Great Worship Song

I thought some of the responses were particularly good. So I wanted to repost some of them. Which of these posts resonates with you?

Dave Duncan: Digging into my notes from a past conference where Don Moen spoke about what makes a “good worship song”:
Catchy, memorable, true, emotional, culturally accessible, original, universal theme.
“10,000 Reasons” and many Tomlin songs fit that criteria. So do many others, but culture plays a big part in what works and what doesn’t at any given church.
Delivery plays a part, too. The same song played two very different ways can be very differently received by the same congregation.

Peter Hamm: Andy Piercy at the NWLC last year said a lot of stuff that I thought was golden in the songwriting seminar.
He talked about the balance between the 3 elements of song – words, tune, beat (rhythm and cadence of words)…
But here’s the thing… people can only concentrate on two at once. Words and tune, or words and beat or beat and tune.
A lot of the “bad” worship songs I’ve heard don’t understand that.

Derek Charles Johnson: 10,000 Reasons has a hymn-like quality to it…that’s why I think it goes over well in my church. They like hymns.

Dave Duncan: Think of the common denominators for many of the popular worship songs: it’s easy to listen to and remember the melody, it has words that flow in a somewhat consistent meter, it contains words that are true/Scriptural, it’s in a singable range (this is a bit of a moving target, but generally speaking…) and the arrangement is probably not too complex and follows one of but a few common patterns. In other words, the popular songs probably don’t challenge the listener to do more than just listen AND is inviting them to maybe join in.
It’s that simple to me.

Erick Bieger: From a purely musical perspective it’s all about the hook. You nail down that one melody that you can’t get out of your head and you build around that. Throw in lyrics with theological depth that are easily singable – you win.

Curtis Kent Toneworks: yes. everything must be accessible. The melody, the key, the lyrics, rhythm of the words, everything. IF this is present and the theology is sound. THEN you have a great congregational song.

Bill Horn: I would also add that there are certain songs that resonate or ring true within believers. Most often it is something that is directly from Scripture or very connected with Scripture, but you know it as soon as you sing it together. I like to describe those statements or phrases as “very true.” There is no question or hesitation for any of us that it is something we should be singing together.

Roz Jeffcoat Garland: Just one more comment… what we as worship musicians and leaders sometimes forget is that we learned the song by reading the music or a chart… other than seeing the words on screens, or in a bulletin, we are asking the congregation to learn the song by ear (rote) which is a lot to ask. How many times does it take doing it (considering that we have a week between Sundays) before they can really “lose” themselves in the music, in the worship experience and just SING it from the heart? I think it’s hard to really get into the music as a congregation member if you are still struggling with 15 different melodies, hooks, turnarounds, tags, pre-choruses, bridges, etc and all you have to lead you is your ear and the words. Just remember how it feels to be in a church where you Don’t know the music and are just standing there.

Mark Cole: I also think God’s anointing on the song and songwriter is a major factor in the success of a song, but that is harder to quantify. 

Question: So what do you think makes a great worship song? What elevates a song to making a congregation want to sing it again and again? Why do some songs thrive and others fail?

 

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Good Advice From A Very Remarkable Book

Posted on March 13, 2015 by Mark Cole

I have been reading through the book of Proverbs every month for over 30 years. That means I have read it at least 360 times. There is so much wisdom in that book that I still learn and glean from it daily. Here are my favorite proverbs and advice from that Book of Wisdom.

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– The purpose (of the Proverbs) is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair. 

– Follow the steps of good men instead, and stay on the paths of the righteous. For only the godly will live in the land, and those with integrity will remain in it.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek His will in all you do,
and He will show you which path to take.

Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones.  

Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. Then He will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine. 

– Don’t reject the Lord’s discipline, and don’t be upset when He corrects you. For the Lord  corrects those He loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom He delights.

– Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them. 

– If you can help your neighbour now, don’t say, “Come back tomorrow, and then I’ll help you.”

The path of the

– Drink water from your own well— share your love only with your wife. Why spill the water of your springs in the streets, having sex with just anyone? You should reserve it for yourselves. Never share it with strangers.

– Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you. Rejoice in the wife of your youth. She is a loving deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts satisfy you always. May you always be captivated by her love.

– Wisdom speaks: I love all who love me. Those who search will surely find me. I have riches and honor, as well as enduring wealth and justice.

– Only simpletons believe everything they’re told! The prudent carefully consider their steps.

– Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.

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– Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.

– The lips of the godly speak helpful words, but the mouth of the wicked speaks perverse words.

– Without wise leadership, a nation falls; there is safety in having many advisers.

– Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything.

– The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

– A fool is quick-tempered, but a wise person stays calm when insulted.

– Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and become a slave.

– Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children. Those who love their children care enough to discipline them.

– Those who fear the Lord are secure; He will be a refuge for their children.

– If you listen to constructive criticism, you will be at home among the wise.

– Fear of the Lord teaches wisdom; humility precedes honor.

– We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.

– Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.

– Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.

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– A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered.

– The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to Him and are safe.

– Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish.

– People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the Lord.

– Discipline your children while there is hope. Otherwise you will ruin their lives.

– Don’t say, “I will get even for this wrong.” Wait for the Lord to handle the matter.

– The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?

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– Do you see any truly competent workers? They will serve kings rather than working for ordinary people.

– Don’t envy sinners, but always continue to fear the Lord. You will be rewarded for this; your hope will not be disappointed.

– If you fail under pressure, your strength is too small.

– The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked.

– Patience can persuade a prince, and soft speech can break bones.

– It’s not good to eat too much honey, and it’s not good to seek honors for yourself.

– A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.

– Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but a person is tested by being praised.

– Fools vent their anger, but the wise quietly hold it back.

– Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to Him for protection.

Charm is deceptive

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9 Things Skilled Songwriters Do Differently

Posted on March 11, 2015 by Mark Cole

By Clay Mills ~

Throughout my 20 years as a professional songwriter, I’ve noticed there is not always a huge difference in talent levels between most creative people. Why, then do some songwriters seem to have an over abundance of fans buying their music and other writers struggle to sell the first song? The answer is there is not a huge difference in skill most writers process, but there is a little. And that extra 5% makes a BIG difference. I’ve also noticed that skilled songwriters shared some common mental habits. The good news is that these habits can be adopted through practice. Here are 9 traits that can help us over the hurdles to accomplishing our songwriting goals.

Treble Guitar

1.  Skilled Songwriters write whether they feel inspired are not.  

We all know how easily the words and melodies flow when we’ve been inspired by a life event to create. But skilled writers know to be a master of their craft they must write whether the feel like it or not. They are in love with writing and enjoy writing on a near daily basis. They realize they don’t have to wait on inspiration to strike. They began the task and invite inspiration to join them.

2.  Skilled Songwriters are process-oriented.

Skilled songwriters are focused on the act of writing. They are caught up in the moment while they are writing. Able to block out external distractions as well as internal. They use the process to stay focused and the overall goal as the rudder to steer their efforts. They are deliberate in their work, which allows them to avoid being over-emotionally attached to or judgmental when it comes to the song at hand.

3.  Skilled Songwriters can write what they feel in ways that make sense to others.

Again, skilled songwriters think about what they are writing in terms of how others might interpret it. Songs are a conversation with the listener. If the writer/singer is feeling the impact of the song but the audience is not then it’s not an effective song. It’s also a good habit to get feedback from mentors and people who you respect to make sure your songs are received the way you’ve intended.

4.  Skilled Songwriters appreciate different perspectives.

It’s difficult to be a skilled songwriter if you are not be open to ideas that are different from your own. This doesn’t mean agreeing; it simply means being open to all sides. When sitting down to write a song, this ability to look at the situation from all angles gives the skilled writer extra depth when writing a lyric. And affords the creator options to writing the song the best way possible.

5.  Skilled Songwriters keep learning.

It has been reported that people learning to juggle increased the grey matter in their occipital lobes, this is the area of the brain associated with visual memory. When the same individuals stopped practicing their new skill, this brain matter disappeared. Similarly when songwriting there is a “use-it-or-lose-it” phenomenon that occurs. Skilled songwriters are always learning more about their craft. they study other songs and songwriters. And write often!

6.  Skilled Songwriters cultivate a curious nature.

How does one cultivate curiosity? Simply, by asking questions and refusing to accept things at face value.  Skilled songwriters want to know how, what, when , why and where? It’s this curiosity that drives them to dig deeper into understanding human nature and write songs that resonate on a deeper emotional level.

7.  Skilled learners are good observers.

Skilled Songwriters study the many details of life around them and pick up on the things that are most useful to them; filtering out the rest. They are observant whether they are reading a text or listening to a sermon at Sunday morning church. They know that truly great ideas for their art come from everyday

8.  Skilled Songwriters are  frequently trying things.

Why is this important? Trying new things keeps the brain sharp. But it also keeps your creative channels open. We are most creative when we are exploring. Trying new grooves, rhyme schemes,  chord changes, etc, lead us to new creative places we never imagined going. Skilled songwriters know that doing the same thing over and over again lead only to creative ruts and boring songs. Skilled songwriters also know this is even more importantly applied to living life. Learning new hobbies and exploring the world around them can only lead to more fodder for their art.

9.  Skilled Songwriters always keep the big picture in mind.

Skilled songwriters know that writing is often a roller coaster of victories and valleys. Some days the creative juices are overflowing and other days you can feel like a frustrated beginner. There are times when the world is applauding your art and times when even your closest friends question why you do it. It’s the ability to look at the big picture that allows the skilled songwriter to ride the highs and lows with knowing faith that in the end the world is a better place because of music and art. And that struggle is often  a necessary ingredient to creating great music.

Clay Mills
Pro Songwriter/Producer/Seeker of Song Knowledge

The original post is here.

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Picking A Great Digital Stage Piano For My Worship Band

Posted on March 6, 2015 by Mark Cole

Have you come to the point where you need to upgrade your Digital Stage Piano? I have spent 10 years on the road and 30 years playing in churches and I’ve tried almost everything along the way. I’m especially fond of Roland, Yamaha and Nord products.

Stage pianos

In my quest to get the best-bang-for-the-buck I’m going to compare my 3 favorite stage digital pianos in the $2000-3000 range. These keyboards all have 88 weighted keys and have hundreds of different sounds. I’m especially looking for great acoustic and electric piano sounds, B-3 with Leslie effects, pad and string sounds. I also want ease-of-use, great layering capabilities and the ability to easily change sounds on the fly. So here are my 3 top picks.. Tell me what you think?

They are all great keyboards, it really boils down to what sounds and what keyboard feels the best for you. I’ll give you my personal choice at the end.

1. Roland RD-800 Stage Piano ($2499)

2. Nord Piano 2 HA88 ($2999)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoxzUhzjDy0&t=50

3.  Yamaha CP4 Stage Piano ($2299)

As I said, they are all great keyboards but my vote goes to the Roland RD-800. It has some of my favorite sounds but it is also extremely easy to use. You can blend and change sounds quickly and intuitively. When you are in a live church situation with multiple keyboard players and teams, great sounds and ease-of-use are extremely important.

Question: Which of these keyboards is your favorite? Do you have another recommendation beside these three?

Check out my new book.. “Leading Worship ~ Notes from a Grand Adventure’ available in Kindle or Soft Cover Editions.  This is a great gift for the musician or worshipper in your life.

This blog is part of my vision to train over 100,000 worship leaders around the world. If you would like to support this vision you can help by giving any amount through this PayPal account.

Comments from Facebook:

David Straley: They’re all excellent keyboards. You really can’t go wrong with any of them. And since your church is paying for it, the price difference probably isn’t that important to you. (It might be if that weren’t the case.)

From my experience, Yamaha and Roland’s weakest point is their organs. But Nord is apparently well-respected for theirs. I heard a gal play Nord’s organ (and she was a real organ play) and it was fantastic.

But for those who do have to pay for their own keyboards, may I suggest that you get an older one? You can get a 10-year-old keyboards (or older) which still sounds terrific. I mean, like really good.

And for those who are on the road a lot, may I suggest that you go a whole other route. That’s this: consider getting rack-mount synthesizer modules and drive them with a low-cost controller keyboard. This is more work for setting up, but it has a powerful side-benefit: when your keyboard breaks (not if) you can replace it with a new, low-cost controller, but still keep all your sounds and your painstakingly crafted configurations. You can buy older MIDI modules at a low price and they still sound terrific, too.

And of course, you can also go with Software synths + a controller, if you’re into that. Also a lot cheaper than a new Nord, etc.

Tom Keller: Go into the Roland in detail. You have complete control over every aspect of their sounds. They model a lot of their organ sounds from Hammond B3. Nord is an amazing piano. It has awesome electric pianos and organs, but that’s pretty much the only place where it shines. Rack mount synths are good, but you don’t have control on the fly. That’s why I like work stations such as the FA-08 or the Korg Kronos. I’d play all of them and get a feel for them all before dropping a giant load of cash on one. Take your time and look at as many as you can!

Dusty Sturk: The Nords also do great synths (fully controllable) and vintage effects. One other selling point for Nord is that you can download and swap out sounds whenever you want with their editing software. I have found that aspect quite useful when looking for specific sounds for certain songs. It is a pretty invaluable feature. The Korg allows downloaded sounds, but they charge quite a pretty penny for them, as opposed to Nord, which is all free.

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10 Harsh Truths That Will Improve Your Life Instantaneously

Posted on March 4, 2015 by Mark Cole
By Lolly Daskal,  President and CEO, Lead From Within, Twitter:  ~

(slightly edited by Mark Cole for a Christian perspective)

Everyone wants to make an impact and live a life they can be proud of. But anyone who has ever known success or even been around the block a time or two knows that life comes with some hard realities.

Success takes hard work and commitment, but what happens when situations change and success evade us?

Maybe we have to start looking at the hard truths that show us whether we’re standing in the way of our own success.

Maybe what’s needed is to spend some time praying, rethinking, revamping, and restructuring our approach to give us the best chance at moving forward successfully.

harsh-truths

Here are 10 harsh truths–they may not be fun to hear or think about, but they can help you improve your life immediately.

1. You can’t control a lot of things–but you can control how you respond.

In life and in business, many things are outside your control. But there is one thing you can always control–and that is yourself, your reactions and ideas.

2. Life isn’t always happy–but there’s value in both the bad and the good.

There is tremendous pressure on all of us to be happy. But life is sometimes difficult and painful. When you let go of the idea that only happiness has value, you can accept life in all its glorious complexity.

3. Most things don’t last forever–and that’s a good thing.

Whatever the situation or emotion, there’s great freedom when you can learn to let go, make the experience a part of who you are becoming, and move on.

4. We can do our best and still fail–and it’s not our fault.

As leaders we have a tendency to be hard on ourselves. But when you let go of perfectionism you can accept that you did your best, whatever the outcome. Hope and pray for the best and expect great things–and if that doesn’t happen, let it go.

5. You’re not everyone’s cup of tea–and that’s OK.

It’s been acknowledged again and again that you can’t please everyone. But if you focus on staying in favor with yourself and God, you can fly above the approval of others.

6. The past is gone–but you can build a great future on its foundation.

We’re all inclined to spend time analyzing the past. It’s valuable up to a point, but beyond that it’s just a recipe for paralysis. Hold onto what you have learned, let go of any pain, forgive and move forward into the present–and from there, the future.

7. The approaches of others are not your concern–acceptance is.

Each one of us is unique in our own way, and that is what makes this world so fantastic. What is right for me may be wrong for you (within God’s parameters) –all we can do is to let go of judgment and accept one another for who we are.

8. Some people and situations are harmful–and there’s strength in walking away.

Once in a while, you encounter a person or situation that’s just wasting your time, sucking precious resources and energy from your life. It may not be your place to judge, but that doesn’t mean you have to allow toxicity to hold you back. Just leave it behind you.

9. Deceit and games don’t fuel careers–trust is the key.

Life and business are built on relationships, and like partnerships, marriages, or friendships, trust and authenticity are the key components.

10. Many things you can’t choose.

You can make excuses, blame others, embrace the toxic and wrong–or you can follow a brighter path. It’s up to you.

When you let go of the bad ideas in your life, it’s not about weakness–it’s about realizing that you can change and choose well and you are strong enough to let go of the things that may be holding you back.

Many things you can’t choose–but you have a choice in everything you do. Pray, trust God and move on to the good things He has in store for you.

The original post is here.

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