It's truly amazing how God uses today's modern technology to spread the oldest and most tried, tested and true news - The Word of God!  And at church this Sunday, I've never been so amazed, humbled and proud at the same time, as I was when someone told me they had quit smoking because of a BLOG I'd written.  Read on....

in 2008, All Praise Ministries turned 10 years old. Wow. I could go on and on about those ten years, but I'm not one to look back very much.  There are some that say you need to remember from where you came in order not to repeat your mistakes. But God tells me we can be renewed everyday, and that's how I choose to live. So, that said, lets look at All Praise in 2008 and down the road into the future.

Over the last year, so many people have contributed to the efforts of All Praise Ministries, and for that we are thankful. But the contributions I most adore are the prayers that so many offered up in 2008. I can't tell you how many people reached out to simply say, "we've/I've been praying for you," or "what can we pray about for you?"  Those people showed a willingness and an intuitiveness to help where we needed it the most, in the spiritual realm. Bless you. It's my prayer that you'll keep us on your prayer list in 2009.

Of course, those of you who gave monetarily did so because you also believed in our mission of helping churches and other music ministries reach the lost with their efforts. And that's exactly what we've been doing..

Please read on:

As the title suggests, I've been less than diligent in updating this website. It's been so long since the last blog, e-letter or email, updating you on the happenings surrounding the ministry. Well, let me take this short moment to say that some big news is coming. Soon. And we're very excited about it, Our hope is that you will be excited as well!  What is it? I can't say today, but soon. Very soon.

What I CAN tell you is that a lot is happening and God is preparing us for something so large that I'm not sure my little mind will be able to wrap around it. But isn't that how God often works?

God is so stinking huge and so grand. In fact, even what seems to be the most enormous and daunting tasks to us, are merely infinitesimal parts of His greater plan for our ministry. WOW! That blows my mind.

Going so long between blogs also means I haven't posted our weekly worship sets in a long time either. So, here it is for the last 4 weeks. Read on.....

It's amazing how coming back from vacation one can feel so alive and so misplaced at the same time. It was great to disconnect for a week with my bride, but dude, coming right back into the flow can be hard to do. But leave it to our incredible worship team to make it easier than it felt.

So, since 1994, I've never, EVER taken a full week away from a computer. But this week, it's just me, my wife, and the Blackberry (I'm not totally nuts.)

We're heading to Hilton Head Island for some fun in the sun, a lot of quiet time with God and just some face-to-face time with my incredible wife.  I'm the most blessed person I know, and here's why.... (read on)

Today was fantastic. Our Summer youth intern preached and we were all blown away.  Some times, you here pastors say that and wonder if they mean it.  Man, Eric Stapleton is the real deal! He had the entire congregation in the palm of his hand, speaking on, "Love Like Jesus."  I love his quote, "They will NEVER see Jesus until you LOVE like Jesus." Jot his name down... you're going to want to remember it one day!

As I told you, Today's set list was going to be a bunch of oldeis but goodies. We typically shy away from anything older than about 2006, but today, instead of the entire band, we had a three piece (guitar, drums and bass) and two singers. It rocked, as we played some of the songs I use to do back in the day:

1. Love The Lord - Lincoln Brewster
2. Your Love is Deep - Jami Smith
3. I Could Sing of Your Love - Passion version
4. More Love, More Power (our own version)

We leave Saturday for HIlton Head Island. Can hardly wait to read books, ride bikes, eat at great restaurants, and enjoy the company of my beautiful wife.  May not even take the laptop!

But you can keep up with me on Twitter for sure!

Check back here tomorrow for another Trait of a Successful Worship Leader - #6.

Or, read 1-5 here:

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It’s been one week since I posted a blog, so here goes something of a potpourri of thoughts and events from the preceding week. I’ll keep it short and interesting.  In this week's blog:

-- Thanks for the support
-- 1 Corinthians is changing my life
-- The worst mistake I’ve ever made on stage.
-- Something new – that I stole.

Read on...

In this, the final posting about my nephew’s death, I want to first say thanks to so many people who have sent messages about this wonderful young man, Roger Davis. Your condolences are appreciated. Even though we weren’t as close to Roger as other members of the family, the loss was heavy, and your thoughts, prayers and comments made it a bit lighter. Secondly, if you haven’t read parts one and two, do that first, then come back to this conclusion. Otherwise, read on:

Like they used to say in the old-time cliffhangers from the silent film era,  "our story begins where we last left off."

Here's a blog post unlike anything I've ever posted before. It's personal and literal and it has nothing to do with worship, yet, somehow, everything to do with worship...

Not sure I've ever had a week like this. One so hectic, but God so in it.

It all started Friday: My Wife went to the Beth Moore conference in Atlanta and I was left to entertain her teenage brother, and my teenage nephew and niece. Not a bad job, they're awesome kids, but keeping them motivated to do more than watch YouTube was a challenge. Friday afternoon, my phone rings, and its our lead elder. Our pastor was out of town to do a funeral for a friend in Ohio and his return flight had been canceled.  It appeared he may not make it back for the Sunday service.  I hung up, called pastor Dave and he (big gulp) asked me to preach (on top of leading worship) if he couldn't get a flight back. Of course, I accepted. Immediately I asked the teens to go back to watching YouTube and listening to music while I prepared a short sermon.  I prayed, prepared and felt pretty good about the task at hand. Little did I know how this weekend was about to play out.  Read on...

In today's Blog:

You may be wondering why a worship leader and chairman of this ministry would be spending a weekend in Nashville with the legendary Garth Brooks. I have been a worship leader for 18 years, but I’ve been in the commercial radio business for over 30. From hosting radio morning shows to becoming the Programming VP of several companies; from leading a group of broadcast consultants to my current fulltime gig as the Director of Programming and Operations for a major radio corporation, Country radio has always been my specialty. So when Garth Brooks invited some of the nations best Country Radio Programmers to his Nashville home for a weekend-long press conference and one-on-one sessions, I took the bait.
Read on....

SO I'M IN NASHVILLE TO SEE GARTH BROOKS.
Yep. Thats' right. And the trip has already started with a bang.

For those of you who know my secular history, you'll know that me being in Nashville isn't a new thing. Country radio  and Country music has always been a huge part of my life and continues to be so today.  Of course, nowadays, I'm always looking for the Sacred angle on things, and this trip started off with just that.... a sacred moment. Read on...

3 Days, 7 Churches, 300 Teens and 46 Souls Saved!

I was asked to lead worship for a youth rally/seminar in my old hometown.  I hadn't as much as sang a Christian song in that county since I left for brighter lights some 18 years ago.  In fact, I never thought of my hometown as a very spiritual place. Sure, 90% of the population attend church frequently, but tradition and complacency seemed to be the agenda - not righteous living - and certainly not modern Praise & Worship styles. At least that's what I had assumed.

                                 Read more and see the photos!