I have always been a fan of David Crowder Band. I know a lot of people say that their music serves better for youth ministry, which is true for a few songs (We Wont Be Quiet, No One Like You, You Are My Joy, etc.) – but a lot of their music is very deep in writing and context. Their metaphors and writing style continue to draw me in and I am extremely excited about their upcoming CD release:: How He Loves

With that said, here is my song of the week::

I have one of the best jobs in the world. Leading worship at Freedom Church is one of the best opportunities that anyone can ever accept. And even better, I get to co-lead with one of the best worship leaders on the planet, Blake Goss as well as partake in one of the best worship bands, Freedom Live.

Leading worship has been something that I have been passionate about for the past few years of my life. I was only recently introduced to leading a short 2 1/2 years ago. During my junior year of high school an old student pastor of mine invited me to lead for the middle school group since the usual worship leader wasn’t going to be there. I had never sung before. I have never played a musical instrument before. I basically had never done anything that embraced the idea of leading worship.

I went in the day of, did a very rough practice with the band and took the stage. Ever since then, leading worship has been an unbelievable passion that I have. Looking back on the day, I will never forget the opportunity that Andrew Graham, the student pastor at the time, gave me. Since then, I have begun to “evolve” as a musician but still have a LONG way to go.

A few years later, during my freshman year of college, Pastor JR Lee and Todd Lollis invited me to lunch to tell me about Freedom Church. I grabbed lunch, ended up visiting the church, and got a random phone call from Blake one day asking me if I could play acoustic guitar since their usual guy wasn’t going to be there. Ever since then I have been able to co-lead with Blake every Sunday.

I love and have embraced this aspect of worship and service to God. It is an amazing privilege to lead at Freedom Church and experience what God is doing in and throughout the church.

Blake and myself get an excellent opportunity to embrace the culture of Freedom Church and, in turn, respond to that through writing music. We have been writing songs for particular series and ideas that have sprung from Freedom Church and have incorporated them into our worship on Sunday mornings. You can check out more about writing music here.

This upcoming fall we will be entering into the studio to produce our first ever CD that will be a response to our first year as a church. This is going to be a great opportunity for not only our church to have but also for other churches to hear our songs, and hopefully utilize them within their culture. We want our music to be God-breathed, Freedom inspired, and open for others to use. We believe that God has spoken life into our music and are extremely excited about getting this CD out to the public.

If you ever get a chance, be sure to swing by Freedom Church and experience what God is doing in the church. We exist so that people who are far from God can experience life in Christ. My avenue is leading worship. Other people get an opportunity to respond through greeting, ushering, setting-up, tearing-down, etc. Everyone’s part is equally as important so that the people who walk through our doors can encounter God and pursue a relationship with Jesus Christ.

What do you currently do at your church to help people who are far from God experience life in Christ.

If you can’t see the video, then click here.

OR

The Fray or Kanye?

How could you be so heartless?

Had a few people recently ask what gear I use on Sundays at Freedom as well as when we travel around as a band. Here is a short overview of what I use. Nothing too extensive, but enough to get the job done.

Quick Background
I usually do a combination of things when we play. I either play lead guitar, am leading a song vocally, or doing simple rhythm. I co-lead with Blake Goss, the worship pastor at Freedom, as well as share the stage with other incredible musicians/singers on a weekly basis.

Now For The Gear
Guitars: Fender Stratocaster (Electric), Alvarez AD625C (Acoustic), and I have a Fender American Telecaster (on the way)
Amp: Fender Hot Rod Deluxe
Pedals: Line 6 DL4, Boss DD-5 (with tempo pedal), FullTone Full-Drive 2 Mofset, Boss TU-2 Tuner

In the process of making some more purchases to ramp up my gear, but this is working for me now.

What gear do you currently use on Sundays, traveling, etc?

Okay worship leaders, you can play along too…

Currently, what is the number 1 song that your church is playing that is resonating with you?

You love it. Sing it. Constantly. In Your head. ALL DAY LONG.

Comment below on what song is totally consuming you right now that your church is doing.

New segment of my blog about whatever song I have been listening to/relating to/loving during the past week (as well as songs that Blake and I have talked about potentially doing at Freedom Church).

Hope it helps provide inspiration if you are looking for songs to simply listen to or lead in your church.

Feel free to leave comments regarding songs that are currently moving you.

Enjoy!

VERSE 1:
Tear down the walls see the world
Is there something we have missed
Turn from ourselves
Look beyond
There is so much more than this

PRE CHORUS:
And I dont need to see it to believe it
I dont need to see it to believe it
Cause I cant shake this
Fire deep inside my heart

VERSE 2:
Look to the skies hope arise
See His majesty revealed
More than this life there is love
There is hope and this is real

PRE CHORUS 2:
Cause I dont need to see it to believe it
I dont need to see it to believe it
Cause I cant shake this fire burning
Deep inside my heart

CHORUS:
This life is Yours and hope is rising
As Your glory floods our hearts
Let love tear down these walls
That all creation would
Come back to You
Its all for You

CHORUS 2:
Your Name is glorious
Glorious
Your love is changing us
Calling us
To worship in spirit and in truth
As all creation returns to You

BRIDGE:
Oh for all the sons and daughters
Who are walking in the darkness
You are calling us to lead them back to You
We will see Your spirit rising
As the lost come out of hiding
Every heart will see this hope we have in You

Best tabs and chords I have found so far:

http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/h/hillsong_united/tear_down_the_walls_crd.htm

http://guitarpraise.blogspot.com/2009/06/tear-down-walls.html

Been listening to the new United album for the past few days as well as went to their concert last night.

All I can say about the new album is: WOW!

The music, writing, composition, passion, heart behind the project is phenomenal. I also love the fact that they are rising up a new generation with a new style and new heart towards this music. You can hear the new style in the way songs are written, the way they are sung, and the way they are played. The CD has “next generation” written all over it.

Here are a few thoughts from the CD (and concert) that I think all worship leaders should take into account::

1. it’s not about complexity but simplicity. some times as worship leaders we try to write, write, re-write, and then write some more. Rather than coming up with cool ways to say the same thing we have been saying for years, write simply from the heart. You can tell that these lyrics have that concept written all over it. The words are simple. The words are life-changing.

2. be worshippers, not leaders. i know that the title says “worship leaders” and I know some people change it to say “leaders of worship” but I say extract the idea of leading and engage with God, the creator, when you are playing. If you are worshiping, wholeheartedly, authentically, unashamed on-stage, then you will be ultimately leading the crowd through that engaging worship. Blake, the worship pastor at Freedom, has been breathing this verse’s life into us before every Sunday morning experience: “And when I am lifted up from the earth, all men will be drawn to me.” John 12:32 – in this regard lift up the name of Jesus and he will draw the people unto himself.

3. bring the kingdom of God here. this falls right in tune with the previous point. one of the pastors from Hillsong made this point last night and it has been stirring within me ever since. In the old testament the temple was used to contain the presence of God; a place where heaven and earth met. Christ was crucified. The veil was torn. God’s “presence” was released. When we accept Christ our body becomes a temple, a dwelling place for God on earth; we become the vessel between heaven and earth. We are the ones who are capable of bringing the Kingdom of God here – through the power of the Holy Spirit in us! Through your worship bring the Kingdom of God here!

Again, the CD is phenomenal and God-breathed. If you haven’t had a chance to purchase it,  jump on iTunes and spend the $10. You won’t be dissappointed.

The lyrics to  this song have helped me get through this week.

Read through them, in both perspectives.

Maybe they will help  you as well.

You:

I know i need you
I need to love you
I love to see you, and its been so long
I long to feel you
I feel this need for you’
And i need to hear you
Is that so wrong?

Now you pulled me near you
When we’re close i fear you
Still I;m afraid to tell you
All that I’ve done
Are you done forgiving?
Or can you look pass my pretending?
Lord I’m so tired of defending
What I’ve become
What have i become?

i hear you say “my love is over,

God

Its underneath, its inside, its in between
The times you doubt me, when you can’t feel
The times that you’ve questioned ‘is this for real?’
The times you’ve broken, the times that you mend
The times you hate me and the times that you bend
Well my love is over, its underneath
Its inside, its in between,
These times you’re healing
And when your heart breaks
The times that you feel like you’ve fallen from grace
The times you’re hurting
The times that you heal
The times you go hungry and *are tempted* to steal
In times of confusion and chaos and pain
I’m there in your sorrow under the weight of your shame
I’m there through your heartache
I’m there in the storm
My love I will keep you by My power alone
I don’t care where you’ve fallen, where you have been
I’ll never forsake you
My love never ends, it never ends

It never ends.

Headed out Thursday in the AM to Unleash up in Anderson, SC at NewSpring Church. I am extremely excited to head up their with a bunch of Freedom partners and re-connect with Brad Cooper and Davey Blackburn (the student guys over at NewSpring church). Those guys are doing phenomenal things up their and I’m pumped to continue to learn from them.

Last year Freedom had just launched (3 months in) and we brought a few of our staff with us (about 6 total). This year we are completely stepping it up! We are now 1 year and 3 months old and are bringing 30+ partners with us to share in the vision that God has set on Pastor JR’s heart as well as learn from one of the best churches in the ENTIRE WORLD!

It’s going to be an incredible time to invest in our partners as well as connect with them on a deeper level and show them that God has HUGE things planned for Freedom Church and Acworth, GA. I continue to stand by the fact that we seriously have the best group of partners on the entire planet and Freedom Church could not happen without them! They seriously understand and believe that we are here to “reach those who are far from God so they can experience life in Christ”

It’s going to be a great time and I’m already ready to leave….just 1 more day…

I posted about this song a while back, when I first ran across it online.

Since then, this song has absolutely consumed my worship. The words, the passion, the melody, the drive – everything about this song makes me want to stand up and shout. It’s one of those songs where the emotion builds up inside of you, continuously as the song progresses, right in line with the drive of the song – and as the song crashes so do you – emotionally, spiritually, physically.

From beginning to end, this is one of the most lyrically felt, true songs that I have ever experienced:

‘Open our eyes, to see the things that make Your heart cry. To the be the church that You would desire. A light to be seen. Break down our pride, and all the walls we’ve built up inside. Our earthly crowns and all our desires, we lay at Your feet.’

‘So let hope, rise, and darkness tremble in Your holy light. And every will see JESUS our God. Great and mighty to be praise. God of all days. Glorious in all of Your ways. The majesty, the wonder and grace. In the light of Your name.’

‘With everything, with everything, with everything – we will shout forth Your glory. With everything, with everything, with everything – we will shout forth Your praise. Our hearts the cry, be glorified, be lifted high above all names. For You our King, with everything, we will shout forth Your praise.’

This is the song that we as a church need. And I don’t mean church as a building, but church as the body. The hands, the feet, the eyes – everything. We all play an intricate part in the most beautifully sown together story ever known to man. Everyone – equally represented – in the body of Christ. ‘We will be YOUR hands, we will be YOUR feet, we will run this race for the least of these.’ - This is what the body is called to do. It is our job. It is our duty. It is our obligation.

It’s not even necessarily the music that gets to me – sure the instruments help drive emotion – but its the last few minutes of the video that ignites my soul because it is the part where it all comes together. The crowd leads, the crowd takes charge, the crowd owns their role as the body. They lift high, as one ‘WITH EVERYTHING, WITH EVERYTHING, WITH EVERYTHING – WE WILL SHOUT FORTH YOUR GLORY!’ – This is our calling, this is our role – to spread HIS fame to all of the world:

‘To bring justice to where there is injustice. Hope where there is hopelesness. Peace where there is anxiety. Love where there is fear. Salvation where there is brokeness. And now may this God, our God, the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ. That great shephard of the sheep, equipped you with everything good for doing His will. And may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ to Him be glory forever and ever. And may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.’

This is my prayer.

Hillsong – With Everything from With Everything on Vimeo.