Worship Together Blog

Daniel Doss Band at NWLC

Life as an artist is not all glam and fun. If you've ever talked to bands that travel, you know what these folks go through to play a 25 minute set for us to enjoy.

Daniel Doss and his band were schedule to fly out of Nashville at 8 pm on Thursday. The flight was delayed several times and ended up leaving at 2:30 am on Friday, which put them in Austin at 4:30 am. Since the flight was late, the rental car company was closed when they arrived. So they had to grab a cab to the hotel.

After 4 hours of sleep, Daniel and Derek (guitar) had to be at radio station KPEZ at 9:30 am to sing a 4 song acoustic set for the station's webcast.

Then it was back to the hotel to collect the rest of the band and head to lunch.

The band had a sound check at 2:30 pm and led their worship set at 3:30. They packed up and jumped in a shuttle back to the airport for a 6:30 pm flight back to Nashville and then an hour drive home to Clarksville, TN.

The worship set was incredible and the guys did an amazing job considering the lack of rest.

So the next time you feel whinny about having to do an 8:30 am Sunday morning service, remember your brothers and sisters out on the road.

Tomlin Teaches at NWLC

Whenever someone at the top of their game shares their insight, I tend to listen. Today Chris Tomlin taught a songwriting seminar at NWLC to a packed tent.

Tomlin's songs are sung in church more than any writer in the last century. Time Magazine said that he is the most sung artist in the world. Every Sunday, over 40 million people sing one of his songs.

It is unusual to write a song that ends up in the top 10 most sung songs in US churches. Over the last 15 years, there have only been a handful of songs that have accomplished that feat and never more than one song by the same writer - except Tomlin. Chris currently has 3 songs (How Great Is Our God, Holy Is the Lord, Forever) in the top 10 with We Fall Down and Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) not far away.

Chris would tell you that much of his widespread success is because he has surrounded himself with great people. Louie Giglio, Matt Redman, Jesse Reeves, Ed Cash, Daniel Carson, Matt Maher, JD Walt and Carey Pierce have all contributed to some of Chris' biggest songs.

Perhaps Chris' best talent is assembling pieces of songs into one meaningful package. Knowing what bridge will lift a song to new heights or what phrases will connect with believers around the world.

Whatever it is, Chris knows the magical twists that make a good song great.   

Maher and Leeland at NWLC

Matt Maher and Leeland led worship tonight and it was epic. The crowd of 2,000 was primed and ready to go for it from the first song.

We were watching from side stage so the unique angle allowed us to see the congregation fully worshiping. It was an awesome sight. God is doing some amazing things this week.

Here are the worship sets:

Maher
-Your Grace Is Enough
-As It Is In Heaven
-Hosanna (Hillsong)
-Great Things

Leeland
-Wake Up
-Yes You Have
-Enter This Temple
-Nothing But the Blood (Hymn)
-Angus Dei (Michael W. Smith)

Rush of Fools at NWLC

Rush of Fools led the afternoon worship session today at the National Worship Leader Conference in Austin. I'm amazed at the maturity and skill these guys have. They led 1,600 worship leaders (many who were twice their age!) in a powerful time of praise.

All our love goes out to Wes, Kevin and the band for all they do for the Kingdom. Keep at it guys and Godspeed!

 

Here's the set list from today:

-When Our Hearts Sing
-Rain Down (Delirious)
-Undo
-All We Ever Needed
-I Love You Lord (Laurie Klein)
-Sanctuary (the old chorus)
-Not To Us (Tomlin)

New Song Cafe LIVE with Rush Of Fools

We had a great New Song Cafe LIVE seminar with Rush Of Fools today here in Austin. They did an incredible job teaching and telling the story behind some of their songs including "Undo", "When Our Hearts Sing" and the brand new "Wonder Of The World".

Jimi and I also had the chance to introduce Chris Tomlin's new song, "Jesus Messiah" to the group as well. If you haven't heard it yet, head over to WorshipTogether.com and you'll find everything you need learn and lead the song.

Day 2 at NWLC (Gum Shoe)

Day 2 of the National Worship Leaders Conference turned out to be fantastic. Despite the heat (103 today), the AC finally caught up overnight. However, with the approaching tropical storm in the Gulf, the event coordinators decided to move all the exhibitors indoors in case of torrential rain. Much thanks to the guys who moved our stuff while we were in the worship service!

The only negative of the day was I (Jimi) stepped in a big wad of gum and didn't realize it until I had gotten in the rental car and stepped on the brake pedal. Between the brake pedal, the gas pedal and my shoe there was a string of hot sticky gum. There was no getting it off the car pedals, so I just stuck a napkin on it. I'm sure the rental car people are going to love that.

Day 1 - National Worship Leaders Conference

Gutie and I are in Austin this week at Riverbend Church for the 2nd annual National Worship Leaders Conference. I'm glad they picked Austin as a location and July as the time of year. It was 105 degrees today! Seriously, I'm not exaggerating.

This year the exhibitors got their own tent. Did I mention it was 105 degrees today? Yeah, you guessed it. The tent was about 95 degrees despite several industrial air conditioners.

Besides the heat, Matt Redman opened the event tonight to a packed house of around 2,000. He led some favorite songs and introduced a new song that everyone immediately grabbed onto. I hope to get it to you soon.

More coming tomorrow...

5 Tips to Planning a Good Meeting

Those of us in ministry leadership love to call meetings. I'm convinced most of the Starbucks boom of the last 5 years was a result of ministry leaders meeting with their teams!

Leaders love to meet because they love to talk. In fact that's usually why we meet, so we can talk and our peeps will be forced to listen to us! :) Then when we are done, we really feel like we've communicated though no one else spoke a word.

I've sat through countless meetings and led many myself. In all, there were only a handful that really warranted bringing everyone out and away from their families an extra night of the week.

Here are a few tips on planning and executing a constructive ministry meeting:

1.   Stop! Do you really need to call a meeting to communicate what you need to share? Could the information be sent in an email? Would it be more appropriate to call each person individually? You should only call a group meeting if the information is too sensitive to share in an email and is relevant to everyone in the group. 9 out of 10 meetings I attend should never have happened.

2. Once you decide that a meeting is the only option, give people a couple of meeting time options. If you have to lead the same meeting 3 times to accommodate everyone's schedule, then that's your job as the leader.

3. Send a detailed agenda in advance. If I am being asked to take time out of my busy schedule to meet, then at least give me the option of deciding if it's worth my time. I've sat through countless meetings where the leader gave a handout, then read it to everyone and that was the meeting. This only frustrates people.

4. Set a time limit and keep it. Don't say "I'm going to get you out of here in an hour" then rattle on for 2 hours. This says to the group, "you have nothing better to do than to listen to me babble".

5. Have someone take notes. If someone can't make the meeting, don't punish them by not sharing the meeting information. Have someone take decent notes that you can email to team members that could not make it.

Travis Cottrell speaks about Music In the Rockies

Travis Cottrell is known for embracing the rich traditional hymns of his childhood, along with the contemporary choruses of today, using this blended style of worship to help lead people from all generations and backgrounds into worship.  He currently serves as worship leader for the Living Poof Live conferences with Beth Moore. Alongside Mrs. Moore, Cottrell has ministered in 47 states and around the world.  Cottrell has recorded two live worship projects for Integrity Music: Unashamed Love and Alive Forever.  He currently is signed with Indelible Creative Group, and his latest solo project, Found, released November 2006. A Christmas project, produced by Brown Bannister and recorded with the London Symphony, is due for release October 2008.

Cottrell will be among the faculty teaching for GMA Music in the Rockies’ Worship Track.  Other worship faculty includes Jared Anderson, Vicky Beeching, Andy Chrisman, Carmen D’Arcy and Keith & Kristyn Getty.  To register, visit  www.musicintherockies.com. 

What do you look forward to experiencing at Music in the Rockies?
It is constantly on my radar to find out what I can be doing to EQUIP other people in their ministries, both musically and spiritually – to help them walk strongly in their calling.  So, I am looking forward to meeting new worship leaders others called to music ministry; to learn about their ministries….their struggles….their needs and how we can encourage these awesome servants, not just at Music in the Rockies, but also throughout the year. 

What would you say to current worship leaders about events like this one? 
Everybody needs safe community.  Music in the Rockies is a great place to open up and learn.  To grow.  To be prayed for.  To be encouraged. And, to learn in very practical ways how to communicate about Jesus within your spheres of influences.  Hey, all you worship leaders out there! Come join us...and grow! 

How do you define worship as a lifestyle? 
My definition of worship is based on Romans 12:1-2 - "I urge you, therefore, by the mercies of God, to present yourselves as LIVING SACRIFICES, holy and acceptable to God. This is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be TRANSFORMED by the RENEWING OF YOUR MIND, that you may prove the good, pleasing and perfect will of God."   

Living sacrifices. Die to yourself. Live for Jesus. That's worship. 

What was your inspiration for accepting the invitation to lead at Music in the Rockies? 
Any chance I have to serve His servants, I will do it. It's a biblical mindset I want to embrace - that every 'Paul' needs a 'Timothy,' and every 'Timothy' needs a 'Paul.' Music in the Rockies is a great opportunity to do just that because it designed to sow in to the ministries of whoever will come. That is an awesome thing.   

What is your prayer for all who attend Music in the Rockies? 
My prayer is that anyone who is there will receive fresh encouragement and direction from the Lord in their calling. Good advice is great. Encouraging community is awesome. Wisdom and knowledge from people who have gone before you is always good. But nothing compares to the divine revelation that the Holy Spirit gives to whoever asks for it. I pray that above all, all of us at MIR this year will receive - just like the Word says - a "spirit of wisdom and revelation, and a knowledge of Him." I pray that we will take time to be still and hear the voice of God. That is where the greatest power to walk in our calling comes from.

Does anyone here speak jive?

Do you remember that scene in the first Airplane movie where the African American passenger is sick but the stewardess can't understand what he is saying. Fortunately, an elderly white woman offers to translate because "she speaks jive".

How often in church do we speak in a language that the un-churched can't understand? We've all got our own religious language, or "God-speak", that only other Christian's (and sometimes only our church) understands. Do the un-churched in your service need a translator to understand what's going on?

I catch myself saying things like "give glory to his name" or "let's give him an offering of praise". While meaningful to those of us who have been in the church for awhile, imagine hearing these phrases for the first time!