Is your Worship Leader (or Band Leader) a jerk?

‘Cause if they are, you can go ahead and remove them from that responsibility

Well, at least for a little while…

This year’s theme – through a variety of means – has been made evident that leaders need to first be servants, and sensitive, respectful and truly listen to those they have been entrusted to lead.

I’ve heard that this year from a few people I respect:

Chuck Swindoll

Andy Stanley

Jeff Henderson

Malcolm Gladwell

Todd Fields

oh, and Jesus…

And my respect has grown for those I’ve seen put it in action.

My prayer is that every day I become more like those people. That I don’t ever lead in aggression based on insecurity, but that I’m reminded of and humbled by the honor to lead – no matter how many or who they are.

Wow – it’s great sometimes to just get everyone needed in one room and hash out great ideas. Brainstorm, refine and a plan of attack, all in one meeting. No emails, no mixed answers – you get the picture.

Today – along with the help of some always delicious Cracker Barrel – our campus music teams we able to refine our ideas into what we think will be a very cool Opener when we do our Christmas service on Dec. 20th.

So we’re pumped. All that’s left to do is fill in all the holes and gaps for 5 weeks of services until then!

Umm, yeah, that’s a whole different story…

Our Music Staff spent some time today listening through the entirety of our new North Point Live CD project, due out this December.

It was really cool listening front to back, and discussing song placement and last minute mix issues. We even cam to a consensus on switching around a song or two.

This next project has a LOT of raw energy, more than the other two we’ve done. And the songs are great. Narrowed from dozens (and dozens) down to 14 amazing songs.

You’d have to be deaf to be disappointed

Well, life seems to be slowly getting back on track.

Slowly.

We closed on both houses last Monday (back-to-back), which proved to be just this side of chaos. Buyer’s funding was late, so we had to close in escrow, which is common – but another bump we weren’t expecting.

The next day, the movers started loading the truck at 4:00 PM, and we didn’t get the keys to the new house until 5:00. So there was a little stress there, too.

But we knew it was all in God’s hands – and He was just reminding us that He was in control, and that everything would be fine.

And it was.

But to make last week a little more, ummm, interesting, we headed down to Florida after being in the house a grand total of 42 hours. This threw off Jennie’s nesting instincts, but it was for a great trip we take every year with Jennie’s mom & dad, Jennie’s sisters Kelly and Leah, and a friend each. Or in this year’s case for Leah, her husband Chris.

I only slept at the rental house this year, ’cause I needed one more thing on my plate I was asked to play at the Singles’ Labor Day Retreat, an annual function in Destin with over 600 singles from our campuses. And even a few partner churches this year!

Turns out it’s a pretty big to-do, with full band, staging and lighting – way more than I anticipated! So killer job to all involved!!

And so, it’s back to the proverbial grind, and a house full of boxes…. Fortunately this Sunday is relatively simple, although we’re doing a super fun Opener – so don’t miss!

The boxes, however, seem to be multiplying….

Well, the tough part’s over!

Last night we recorded our 3rd North Point Live worship record! And a giant thanks to all the High School students that created the impromptu mosh pit up front. Good times

Now it’s off to Nathan Nockles to work his post production magic. Few tweaks here and there, and it’ll be ready to roll…

Scheduled street date is late November / early December – just in time for Christmas!

Giant thanks to everyone who participated last night and made this project possible!!

Ohh, this is a good one!

Comment with your caption…

I really want to buy this for Ella.

But I won’t.

Partly because it’s not in the budget, but mostly because I know that Cooper would end up playing with it more, and I think that’d scar me…

Do they make a guitar with a truck or football on it?

Jeff Henderson did part 2 of his series “The Waiting Room” this past Sunday. The content is incredible, and Jennie and I felt like we were on the back, happy end of what he was talking about. Meaning that we were past the waiting room, and on to see the doctor…

What a difference a couple days make…

The doctor, apparently, has sent us back out to the waiting room. He’s not totally ready for us just yet.

Our story involves the selling our existing house, and finding a home that meets our current and future needs. We’ve tried to sell our home 3 different times over the last 4.5 years. And this time, miraculously, a contract was signed on our current home. After the contract was signed, we then started our search and now have a contract on a new home (contingent upon the final sale of ours, of course).

But things got “interesting” on Monday, the day after the sermon, when we found out that our buyer was denied their anticipated USDA loan, even after being pre-qualified. (Obviously she needed that pre-qual to sign the contract on our place.)

So now she’s on to try an FHA loan, and the already-extended Due Diligence time is quickly running out. And Jennie and I are waiting with baited breath, and I don’t know how much more emotional torment we can take right now.

You see, it’s more than just selling a house for us. It’s become personal. We’ve scoured the county for a new home that meets our family’s needs, only to be met with existing contracts and questionable short sale after short sale – something we’re not willing to deal with. Add to that the question as to what we’ll do about our daughter, who’s scheduled to start Kindergarten in a couple weeks.

Right at the height of our frustration, right as we seriously pondered moving away from our friends and community to a different county, we believe God provided that sacrificial lamb like he did with Abraham.

Because on the backside now waits a house that we have fell head over heels in love with, and one that is in our daughter’s school district. She wouldn’t have to change schools at all! It’s a beautiful home in a lovely neighborhood with more than we could ask for. And most importantly, it’s under our budget. And it’s the only one in the county that we’re found that does that. It literally completes a laundry list of requirements we have in a home, which is why we believe, at least right now, that God has provided that home as a promise to his children.

It’s become, for us, the desert and Canaan. The wandering and the promised land. The past and the future.

But today, we still don’t know if our buyer is approved, the clock is ticking, and I’m feeling that promise slip slowly through our fingers.

So that’s where we are today. Back in the Waiting Room…

But we are grateful to even have the opportunity to move, and my wife and I pray together daily for God’s will to be done in this situation. We know that it is now beyond our control, and so we surrender it to Him.

Hey Fun Seekers!

Yes, I’m alive – although life has been all consuming these last 3 weeks or so. My mind and body have been so, so far away from normal life.

Our family took a much needed trip to my parents place in Canada (we drove! with kids!), and we’ve been in the whirlwind process of selling a house, getting a contract signed on it, signing a contract on a new house, and now having our buyer having some trouble with her financing!

AHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

We’re only moving about 3 miles away – so no work or school changes (thank God!)

Oh, and we’re ramping up for our next live album recording on August 13th – the day after we are scheduled to close on our current house.

Add to that a few projects on the side, and I’m pretty frazzled at the time being.

BUT – fear not, I’ll start posting again and often, and keeping y’all updated with some of the crazy things going on right now.

So if you think about it, please say a quick prayer for our family as we go through this process, and that God’s hand of peace and wisdom will guide us.

Thanks!

Reid

OK, you’ve heard me drone on and on about having something ENGAGING at the top of the service. Sometimes it’s a peppy Opener, or at least a semi-captivating individual doing a welcome. Followed by some great worship featuring some kickin’ tunes. Of course

This week was no exception. To celebrate Father’s Day we did something that we first did at DRIVE, and that we stole from the show “Ellen”.

Yep – Blindfolded Musical Chairs, hosted by the always funny, engaging, and occasionally pleasantly irreverent Clay “Scrog Dog” Scroggins.

We had pre-selected 4 fathers out of the audience – not plants or ringers, just guys that we asked to play about 10 minutes before each service.

The best part were the pictures of funny eyes on the blindfolds!

You can’t NOT laugh. Good times…

WORSHIP:

So once everyone’s had their funny bone tickled, it’s a whole lot easier to sing. It seems like crowds come alive after something in the opening slot has really caught their fancy and helped them let their hair down. That’s another great reason to have something light, fun and engaging right at the top of the service – it actually HELPS worship!

However, Blindfolded Musical Chairs and a video welcome by Andy, streamed from Browns Bridge, ate up a lot of time, so we only did two songs. But every once in a while, that okie dokey.

So we did:

All Because of Jesus

Everything

It was a great mix of energy and passion, old and new. A song that’s getting a little old in the tooth and another that’s caught on over the last couple months. And strong songs for each worship leader – always a plus!

EAST BAND – Mike Gleason, Brad Long, Danny Grady, Scott Meeder, Pat Malone, Jared Hamilton, Ryan Stuart

WEST BAND – Todd Fields, Brad Avery, Brad Gage, Brad Bretz, Chris Arias, Karyn List

So yeah, we had 4 Brads – 1 on East and 3 on West. Next time we’ll shoot for all on one stage