Beyond Sunday Worship

Worship Podcast

15 Ways to Spend Your New iTunes Gift Card

I know all you Apple fanatics out there got one or twenty iTunes gift cards from Santa and are sitting at your Macbook or iPad right now wondering, “What should I get?” I don’t know about you, but I want to make my iTunes cards count. I don’t take it lightly 🙂

So here’s what I’d recommend from some music I’ve enjoyed in 2010.

  1. Hammock: Chasing After Shadows, Living with the Ghosts
  2. Hammock: The Longest Year EP
  3. All the Bright Lights
  4. Arcade Fire: The Suburbs
  5. Broken Bells
  6. Casey Darnell: EP
  7. Elevation Worship: Kingdom Come
  8. Future of Forestry: Advent Christmas EP, Vol. 2
  9. Jesus Culture: Come Away
  10. Jonsi: Go
  11. Michael Olson: Sacred Invitation
  12. The National: High Violet
  13. One Sonic Society: Sonic EP
  14. Robbie Seay Band: Miracle
  15. Vampire Weekend: Contra

How would you recommend I spend my iTunes gift card (if I had one)?

Merry Christmas Giveaway!

First of all, Merry Christmas to you! Second, thanks for being such a faithful reader of this blog. If it wasn’t for you, this wouldn’t happen and we wouldn’t be able to share valuable information and encourage each other in such a unique way. Thanks for reading. I’m looking forward to 2011.

Now for the main event. I’m not sure who took this picture. I don’t know who these crazy people are. Especially the dude revealing his belly button for all to see on Christmas.

I have a prize for the person who writes the best caption for this picture. Leave it in the comments section. I will pick the one I like the most. Let’s spread a little Christmas hilariousness.

On your mark. Get set. Go.

What Makes a Worship Leader Successful?

There is what the ‘worship industry’ would tell us:

Write your own songs. Put out records. Go on big tours. Sell out big venues. Write a book. Repeat.

Those are good things, but it’s possible to have all that with a barren heart and fruitless ministry. And many will never get to do THAT.

So, what does a successful worship leader do? How does a worship leader leave a legacy? In your ministry as a local church worship leader, what are you working towards?

I don’t have an answer…just yet. I’m waiting on YOU. Leave a comment and let us know.

 

What's Your Favorite Musician Joke?

Bass players are just guitarists who never applied themselves.

Did you hear about the guitarist who was in tune? Me neither…

What’s the difference between a musician and a large pizza? A large pizza can feed a family of four.

How many guitarists does it take to screw in a lightbulb? 13. One to do it and 12 to stand around and say, “Phhhwt! I can do that!”

Drummer: someone who hangs out with musicians.

What do a vacuum cleaner and an electric guitar have in common? Both suck when you plug them in.

What do you do when a musician comes to your door? You give him the money and take the pizza.

Why can’t many vocalists get through the door? They either can’t find the key or don’t know when to come in.

Why are so many musician jokes one liners? So the band can understand them.

YOUR TURN: What your favorite musician joke?

 

Creating Unity on Your Worship Team

How many stories could we tell of rehearsals gone ridiculous? Services gone sour? Worship teams with too much tension? Think about it: many musicians of different ages, different styles, different expectations, different preferences, different spiritual expectancy, different everything? Sounds like a nightmare, doesn’t it?

It doesn’t have to be. How do we create a unified culture in our worship teams?

There isn’t much that could be more important. Unity is essential for victory. Imagine any professional sports team winning the championship while breathing down each other’s necks in anger and resentment. Not gonna happen.

So if unity is so important, how do we cultivate it? What can you do today to make a difference? Glad you asked.

I don’t think there’s one canned answer but here are some quick ideas that may inspire you:

  • Talk about your vision. All the time. People are drawn to visionaries.
  • State expectations up front to potential new members.
  • Have fun together. Laugh.
  • Pray together before, during, and after rehearsals.
  • Confront disrespect (in private) the DAY it happens.
  • Validate everyone’s opinions and thoughts.
  • When you see something good, praise it.
  • Meet periodically outside of church to hang out.
  • Study the Bible together.
  • Earn your team’s respect. Don’t just demand it.
  • Show up prepared for rehearsals and services.
  • Be an encourager.
  • Bring together the old and the young to talk about gear together.
  • Ask for your team’s opinion.
  • Come together, sit in a circle, and have people share what they appreciate about each person.
  • Sometimes you have to let people go who will not submit. Bless them and release them. That is OK.
  • Constantly improve what you do. Team members appreciate that kind of leader.
  • Raise money TOGETHER. Do an outreach TOGETHER. Do something meaningful TOGETHER.

Worship Leaders, I know there’s more. How do you unify your team?