As most of you know, in addition to running this ministry, leading worship and consulting churches, I also run a group of 6 radio stations in Columbia, SC.  I have been in the radio business since the age of 12, and other than ministry, I've never done anything else.  In such a secular industry, I've seen it all. From drugs, sex and Rock-n-Roll, there's not much I haven't experienced when it comes to human behavior. And in 45 years of life, I've never seen what I saw yesterday. Read on....

The South Carolina

Department of Revenue

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)

#6: Submits to Authority

So, you're a worship leader. You have tons of talent, ideas and God has called you to implement them at the first church you land at. Yeah, right.

Early on in my life as a lead worshiper, I was full of fire, fresh ideas and a desire to please God and others. I like to think of myself that way today, but with one huge difference - maturity.  In my teens and early twenties I was convinced I knew exactly how God wanted me to lead worship. As a result, I can recall at least a couple of times when I disregarded a pastor's instructions or a mentor's advice - all for the sake of doing what God had called me to do. And I can also recall the outcome of my decisions. Not good.

As a worship consultant, I encounter many different dynamics between senior pastors and worship leaders, and the most destructive is.... (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:

#1
#2
#3
#4
#5

Trait #1 was Willingness to Learn
Trait #2 was Leadership
Trait #3 was Leads by Example
Trait #4 was Loves Others

For Trait #5... Read on:

If you’re like me, you’ve read 1Corinthians 10 many times. And like me, you may ave been quick to discount its relevance in today’s society. After all, Paul was talking about a specific issue for a specific time, right?  Nope. There’s so much more there for us to understand that I’ve already planned several sermons on verses 23-31. The meaning and importance of this often read but often overlooked passage is complimented and supported by 1Corinthians 8 as well.  So what do they have to do with us worship leaders? Everything. Read on.....

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 my secular job, Broadcasting, I work every day with research. Music research, audience research and demographical research.  Understanding the audience consumes most of my days at the office. With everything around us changing so rapidly, it's important that we understand our product, but more importantly, we need to understand the audience.  In my role as a Worship Leader and coach, I find myself needing to make decisions based on the same criteria as I do in radio - who is my audience, and what do they need to hear or see in order to move in a positive direction? Read on...

Is it just me, or would the world be a better place if I were the only one living in it? Of course I'm being ridiculous, but I'm so sick of having to endure people who seem to take offense to every subject concerning the church.  I've lost count of the number of times I've heard someone say, "that offends me."  Is there any doubt that most of those who get offended are the same ones who never find a permanent church home. The same ones who fight the system. The same ones who complain about the worship, the pastor, the youth team. You know the type.

Read on...

In today's Blog:

Trait #4: Loves Others

In Hebrew there are three words related to Love that are important in the role of leadership:

1. Hebrew word ahab - spontaneous, impulsive love (250 times in OT)
2. Hebrew word hesed - deliberate choice of affection and kindness
3. Hebrew word raham - to have compassion, brotherly love

In order to be a successful leader, you must practice these three types of love. Otherwise your team will not be as cohesive or committed as you may like them to be. I've always believed that commitment from the troops is a reciprocal act back to the leader. What you sow, you will reap. Sow love, respect and commitment and that's what you'll most-likely get back.

Do you love your team members? Ask yourself these questions: (read on)

Trait #3:
Leads by Example

I went to a worship leader's house one night to discuss why his ministry wasn't moving forward.  The church was growing slightly, but he felt as if he couldn't get his team over the proverbial hump. (Is there a proverb about humps? There should be. But I digress.)  His specific concern was a feeling that the members of his team didn't respect him.  Sure, they knew he was an awesome musician, great vocalists and writer.  They also were aware of his attention to detail and organization.  No doubt, everyone who served with this guy recognized him as one who could handle the duties of a worship leader. So he couldn't understand why he still had this overwhelming sense of disrespect from the Praise and Worship team. But it didn't take long for me to figure it out. Read on.....

Trait #2: Leadership
It's happened a lot. I get asked to attend a worship team's rehearsal. The night goes something like this...

10 Traits Successful Worship Leaders Must Possess:

I've been doing this whole worship consulting thing long enough to realize three things about myself:  First, I don't know everything.  Secondly, I never will know everything (at least not in this life,) and finally, I don't want to know everything.  I have trouble enough practicing and teaching the things I already know.  Sometimes it amazes me that churches pay me, an imperfect and broken vessel, to tell them right from wrong. But they do, and with that, comes a lot of responsibility to never stop learning.  The desire to learn and be taught is the number one quality a worship leader needs to have in order to continue leading his people closer and closer to God. And there are others. In fact, 9 other qualities you must possess to be effective in your ministry.

As the worship conference gets closer, it's forcing me to get out of my comfort zone in several areas. However several positive things are coming out of that. Like (a) realizing it takes a team to do anything correctly, and (b) I stink at asking for help.

Read on:

With the Excellence in Worship Seminar getting closer and closer, we thought we'd ask you, the true worshipper,  which sessions you'd most likely attend if you were/are attending in November. Please take this brief, one page survey to help us help you!  And thank you!

CLICK HERE TO TAKE SURVEY