Whether our instrument is our voice, our guitar, a piano, or some other musical instrument – It is hard to escape the simple fact that we are musicians.  I am sure that we have all reached out to our mixer at some point and said “hey, can I get a little more of ________ in my mix?”  In my church, I have the luxury of having a full stage of personal AVIOMs and a slew of great FOH guys mixing on Yamaha PM5D boards to create a great sound to begin with.  “Getting a little more of __________” is as easy as turning up a knob.

What isn’t as easy to accomplish is getting a little more GOD in my mix.  Sometimes the rehearsals and the mechanics of the songs are enough of a distraction to somewhat drown out God in our own personal mixes despite what the house sound hears.  Keeping God the center of your own personal attention in the midst of worship is every bit as important as it is the focus of the congregation’s attention.  I dare say that if you are losing that important focus – it becomes harder for you to help direct others into a more God-centered worship.

How, then, can we “get a little more GOD in our mix”?  Here are some tips that I think are key in this process:

1. Don’t ask God to show up for worship – but expect rehearsal to be closed off to band only!

Wow.  Don’t we do this a lot?  Our rehearsals aren’t just mechanical.  They are extensions of our worship.  Begin your rehearsals with a prayer.  End your rehearsals with a prayer.  If you are struggling during rehearsal or if you are dealing with a problematic song – pray about it during the rehearsal.  This shouldn’t be a “you” thing – but, rather, a band thing.  Invite God into your rehearsals…and you, in a sense, invite Him into the band.  He isn’t just part of the audience or “that Guy that you hope shows up on Sunday.”  He should be your Chief Worship Leader…your Principal Front of House Guy…your LEAD Guitarist…you get my point.

2. Don’t spend 10 minutes throwing together an order of worship.

This is one of my biggest pet peeves.  If your intention is to stand on a stage and sing songs…then, by all means, pick out a few songs that seem to flow well…maybe even a few in the same key or that use the same keyword – and call it an “order of worship”.  In contrast, if you want something God designed and God inspired…then pray about what God would have you to lead for a particular Sunday service.  Spend some time in the Word studying the topic of the week.  Pray some more about what God would have your to sing.  Spend more time studying the Word.  There will come a time when you’ve prayed and studied that an order of worship that is natural and flowing will come forth.

3. Let the Spirit lead…don’t try to lead the Spirit

Don’t force something because it “feels right” or “looks Holy”.  If it sounds good musically…do it.  If it looks good artistically…create it.  Do it, however, on their own merits.  Don’t try to “create” something “in the Spirit” but, instead, allow the Spirit to lead each thing you create naturally.  It isn’t something you can control.  It isn’t something you can harness.

A good FOH guy or gal can tweak just about anything in a mix.  When it comes to having the perfect mix, however…it just isn’t “right” without a little more “HIM” in the mix.

Click the video above to be transported to the Help Haiti Live website and help Compassion International while having the entertainment night of your life….LIVE!

Every once in a while, I’ve asked you to do something worthwhile – because you can – and because it makes sense to do it.  This is one of those times.  I love my pastor to death.  He and his family are awesome examples of life that firmly believe in doing what they can for others.  Their desire to help others has led them to brig several children into their homes who, otherwise, would not have the best lives in their current countries.

The Hood family is beautiful and diverse – and are looking now to adopt a special needs child from the Hunan Providence of China.  I can assure you, Isaiah will have one of the best homes in the warmth of the Hoods’ arms.  We’d like to ask you to help “bring Isaiah home” by buying coffee.

Here’s the pitch – skip buying your next bag, tin, or container of coffee from the store and just buy a bag or two from this store.  The proceeds will help with the Hoods’ adoption costs and help make a profound difference in a little boy’s life.

That’s the pitch…its YOUR turn to knock it out of the park.  The link to buy is here.

http://justlovecoffee.com/hoodfamily

Click on the above image to download the Capo Transposition Chart in Adobe PDF format.

We’ve created a new Capo Transposition Chart to help you better understand how to play the same key in a different shape.  Let’s face it – we all love the G’s, C’s, D’s, and A’s of the guitar…and many would love to play using only those shapes.  This chart will help you find the key you are playing in – and learn how to use familiar shapes to help you play in the same key using a capo.

HELP HAITI LIVE – Help spread the word!

“Help Haiti Live” is a concert event that we truly believe in.  The concept was created out of the heart of Shaun Groves – and will be live streamed via his latest project site at www.helphaitilive.com .  You can click on the image above to go to the site now.  I encourage you to do so and bookmark it.

As of this current post, there are auction items posted on the website that you can bid one in support of Compassion International’s relief fund for Haiti.  The auctions include an autographed Gibson guitar and tickets to watch a live-taping of Hannah Montana.

I am personally asking the 12,000+ monthly supporters of this website to do what they can to support Compassion, Shaun, and (most importantly) the people of Haiti.  Visit the site today – and do what you can to support the cause.

WHAT IS “HELP HAITI LIVE”?

“Help Haiti Live” is a ticketed concert event taking place at Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN, on February 27th, 2010 to benefit Compassion International’s Haiti disaster relief fund. The event will also be streamed live at HelpHaitiLive.com for those who cannot attend the concert in person.

100% of on-line donations through HelpHaitiLive.com will go to Compassion International’s Haiti disaster relief fund. 100% of net proceeds from ticket sales will go to Compassion International’s Haiti disaster relief fund.

“Help Haiti Live” is a production of Shaun Groves and  Synergy Production Group for Compassion International.

WHAT IS COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL?

Compassion International is a Christian not-for-profit ministry dedicated to the long-term holistic development of children in poverty.

Our ministry of Christian child development is two-fold:

1. We work through the local church to provide child development programs that release children from spiritual, economic, social and physical poverty, enabling them to become responsible, fulfilled Christian adults.
2. We speak out on behalf of children in poverty, informing others of the needs and potential of children and motivating and equipping them to become increasingly involved in holistic child development.

HOW DOES MY DONATION HELP COMPASSION HELP HAITI?

Relief supplies (e.g., water, food, cooking items, hygiene kits, medical supplies, temporary shelter, blankets, etc.) are being delivered to Haiti through our staging area in Florida and our two supply warehouses in Haiti. They are being provided to over 15,000 children and their families.

Water purification tablets, tents and tarps, medical supplies – for our church partners, local hospitals and our medical team’s use – are being provided as well.

Rebuilding of homes and restoration of our church partners’ facilities will be handled as part of our future relief efforts.

Your donation continues this work for months to come.

IS MY CASH DONATION TO HAITI EARTHQUAKE RELIEF EFFORTS APPLICABLE TO MY 2009 TAX RETURNS?

Yes. Charitable contributions made before March 1, 2010, in response to the Haiti earthquake can be claimed as itemized charitable deductions on your 2009 tax return instead of waiting to claim these on your 2010 tax return (see The House of Representatives bill H.R. 4462 passed 1/20/10).

As with any tax concern, please consult your own professional advisor to learn how a gift to Haiti relief bill will affect your tax situation.

HOW AND WHEN DID COMPASSION START?

Compassion began in the heart of one man moved by Korean War orphans in 1952. Reverend Everett Swanson was on a successful preaching tour in South Korea when he encountered the bitter poverty of Korea’s unwanted children. He knew he had to do something.

Upon his return to the United States, Everett established a program that allowed caring people to provide food, shelter, education, medical care and Christian training for Korean orphans. That program was, and remains, the foundation and core of Compassion International.

WHAT IS COMPASSION’S MISSION?

In response to the Great Commission, Compassion International exists as an advocate for children, to release them from their spiritual, economic, social and physical poverty and enable them to become responsible and fulfilled Christian adults.

WHERE DOES COMPASSION WORK?

Today Compassion works in 26 countries. In Africa, we work in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Togo and Uganda. In Middle America, we work in the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua and Mexico. In South America, we work in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. In Asia, we work in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

DO CHILDREN HAVE TO BECOME CHRISTIANS TO RECEIVE HELP FROM COMPASSION?

No. Children are welcome to participate in a Compassion project regardless of their faith. Compassion’s program, however, is unapologetically Christian and every Compassion project is connected to a Christian church or ministry. We want children to have the opportunity to see living faith in action, hear the gospel and be discipled in the ways of Christ. But neither they nor their families are under any compulsion to become Christians.

One of the most difficult things to do sometimes as a worship musician is to learn that your instrument is not the most dominant force in the band.  It is a scenario that plays out everywhere on Sundays across the globe:  a worship leader who leads playing piano knows exactly where all 88 keys are and plans to use them all at least once;  a guitarist who has one volume…loud; a drummer who loves his fill-ins….no, I mean REALLY loves them…and plays them often during verses and all throughout the chorus – usually in about ten different tempos.

Don’t laugh – you may be one of them and you just don’t know it.  If I were to be asked what I look for in a worship musician – it is maturity…plain and simple.  That maturity doesn’t come with age – it comes simply by knowing how to fill in the gaps with his or her instrument and understands that they are but a piece of a large puzzle.

How do you reach this maturity?  One of the biggest pieces of advice I can give is to learn one simple concept:

“Our worship team has to give 100% – but not every band member can be that 100%.”

This is better known as the 100% Rule.  Think about it in this manner – take, for instance, “The Heart of Worship”.  Let’s assume we have a four piece band – acoustic, electric, bass, and drums.  What if each band member played their instrument at it’s max potential?  What if the lead guitarist shredded a solo in every measure or just power-chorded the whole lot?  What if we added a bass guitarist who deviates from the root notes and opted to explore every string of his bass at every fret?  Add to that an acoustic player who strums the same rhythm throughout the song…loud and proud.  To top it all off, we have a drummer who thinks the song he is playing is “Wipe Out”.  The song would sound strange, wouldn’t it?

If each member of the band realizes that he or she is merely a portion of that 100%, then we get a completely different sound and fill.  Nothing sounds out of place.  Everything melts together and each part fills a different space.

Sometimes, making that 100% means pairing a bass player with a drummer that already have a great communication down.  To me, as a worship leader, these are the two most important parts of the 100%.  If the bass and drummer can’t find a grove together and play “in the pocket” – you can forget about anything else falling in perfectly.

Sometimes that 100% means saying something like this to your piano player before you rehearse.  ”Here’s something I want you to try for this song : During this song, I want you to leave your left hand completely off the keyboard.  The bass can take care of the root – I want you to find those perfect moments to fill in a space in the music some soft arpeggios.”

Sometimes it means telling a lead guitarist to not play at all for a portion of the song and find appropriate spaces for some casual diamonds.  If you have two guitarists it may mean ensuring that, if one is playing in the 1st position, that another is playing a different shape higher on the neck.

We are all pieces of a greater puzzle.  Searching for creative ways to fill a different portion of space and, sometimes, knowing when to just be silent – are some of the best characteristics that a mature worship musician can possess.  What piece of the space will you fill this Sunday?