As a kid, my mom wanted to make sure that my brother & I had significant male role modeling in our lives since she was raising us on her own. Beavers, Cubs and Boy Scouts were a normal part of my life until I was 12 or 13 and I’ve got tons of memories of camping trips, earning badges, spending time with other kids my age and the constant reminders to be prepared.  Read More

I recently missed three Sundays in a row at my local church because of back-to-back conferences and a ten-day tour through Canada. This is pretty rare but since we were going to have three different people leading worship over that time period, I wrote out some reminders to try and keep things consistent while I was gone. Maybe you have wondered how other leaders think about conducting their services. Obviously there is no formula when More

“What’s wrong with the church? What’s wrong with modern worship? What is it that would help most twentysomethings connect with God, and how would music fit in and encourage that connection?” Over the past year I have made a point of interviewing lots of twentysomethings and asking them for honest feedback regarding all things worship. I have been surprised and challenged by their responses. Following is a fictional yet common synopsis More

Rivers love the sea. Constantly on the move, there is not much that will stop them from their persistent drive toward the goal. One of the few reasons a river will stop its journey to the sea is when something gets in the way. Whether it’s a mass of land, a manmade dam, or a natural change in the landscape, something stops the flow. The worship of a congregation can be seen like a river driving toward the sea of communion with God. When More

What do Major League farm systems and worship ministries have in common? For both to be successful over an extended period of time they have to be future minded.

One afternoon you get a phone call from someone, on referral, interested in hiring you to perform a concert with his band.  Since your calendar is free for the date, no sweat!  Here’s a new opportunity to demonstrate your technical prowess on your instrument and tap into the extensive library of songs you have memorized over the many years of practice and performing.

Have you ever wished you could devote an entire service to worshiping God through music, song, and other expressions of worship?  Do you want a special time where you can have a bit more freedom without the constraints of what is required of a typical Sunday morning gathering?  Keep reading for tips on how to host your own "Night Of Worship".

Let's review. Lent is one of the most important seasons in the Worship Year, as it leads us to Easter - the high holiday of the Worship Year. Ash Wednesday begins Lent, and leads us over 40 days (not including Sundays) right up to Resurrection Day.  Here are some thoughts on how to choose your music.

If your church doesn't use hymnals or songbooks, the person handling the projection of lyrics plays a crucial role in enabling people to engage with truth about God. If they're frequently late in putting up lyrics, show the wrong verse, leave a blank screen, or project misspelled words, that can counteract whatever good leadership you might be exercising. That's why I want that person to be humble, trained, and faithful. It also helps when they More

What did Paul mean when he encouraged us to sing “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” (Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 5:19)? No one's completely sure.Most scholars agree he seems to be encouraging diversity in the songs we use to praise God. “Psalms” might be referring to the Psalter, “hymns” to songs that praise Christ, and “spiritual songs” to more spontaneous expressions. If that's the case, Paul is encouraging us to sing all our More