It's been too long since I've posted…and there are many reasons for that. I'll spare you the boring details. But beginning at 8pm on June 30. I will be officially fasting from Facebook, Twitter, etc. for ten days while on vacation. 

Count 'em. Ten. 

The Cottar Crew will be UPALO (unplugged and logged off) and enjoying some sequestered time on the beach chasing waves, getting sunburned, and being silly. 

In the meantime, I hope you can take time to reboot. Recreation is re-creation. Rest is NOT a second-class use of your time. Take time to worship the Creator and enjoy His creation. I get the strong sense that, on my deathbed, my regrets won't be  the relationships of family and friends I've been blessed with! And, just for kicks, here's a sermon I gave a few weeks ago titled, "Worship: What Matters". I'd love to get your thoughts!

(Thanks to Bob Kauflin, CJ Mahaney, and Louie Giglio for helping me grow in this..). 

Click here to view the embedded video.

If you haven't gotten word yet, go ahead and mark your calendar for March 11-12,

at Highland Lakes Conference Center on beautiful Lake Travis.

Special guest speakers will be Chuck and Robin Bryce!

Check it out! 

Thanks to @mrcrum for the graphic! 

 Check it out! 

Click here to view the embedded video.

I ran across this via Bobby Gilles a while back and, well…it's agreed: some songs are worse than just 'train wreck'. And I'm really trying to be charitable here. Really, really, really. But as Gilles said, everything you need to know NOT to do (from writing a song to interpreting your Bible) is here in one video. In fact, these guys may want to consider sponsoring my Exploding Head series. But I'll leave it to you to judge. 

Just….wow. 

Click here to view the embedded video.

When he chooses it (over the blue pill), everything changes. The blinders come off. Neo begins to learn the truth about his existence, his potential, and the role for which he was created.

I met with a local worship leader yesterday over coffee. We talked passionately about worship, scripture, and grace. But mostly Scripture. An hour and a half later, I left challenged, refreshed, and free in new ways because of the truth of Scripture and the power of brotherhood.  

Originally, I found this via Bob Kauflin. It's a video from the WorshipGod08 conference where Ryan Ferguson is reciting Psalm 25. It's a 4 minute proof text of the fact that you and I don't know the Bible. 

Click here to view the embedded video.

What would happen if we always heard/read/thought about Scripture like this? With this kind of life-giving thoughtfulness? If we read it with lips that believed its power? If we heard with ears that were hungry for life? 

What are you going to do about it? You can take the blue pill and go back to sleep…or take the red pill and see how far the rabbit hole goes.

I'm sure there's more to come…

UPDATE: we already have one house show that needs to be booked! Thanks for the $500 donation to get us started!

As a worship leader and amateur sound guy I realize there can be areas of tension between the stage and the booth. Between 'us' and 'them'.  But the goal of the worship leader and the sound person should be identical: to provide as few distractions for the worshipper as possible. I'm blessed to work alongside a worship staff and a media team who see our goal as one-and-the-same. But every now and then, we pass around this list (which I blatantly stole and adapted from the creative mind of Nathan Sutliff) just to remind ourselves…

10 Things Every Worship Leader Wishes Their Sound Person Knew

1. Sorry, that equipment is not in the budget.

2. I realize when I ask for more of “me” you just put your hand on the knob, looking at me without actually turning any knob at all. Tricky, tricky…

3. An acceptable volume level is not when less than 10 people complain.

4. Vocals and melody are really the most important thing for a congregation to hear.

5. A drum cage is a great way to control the sounds of our drummer (however, I am not opposed to chains…).

6. Microphone cues aren’t mere suggestions like the speed limit.

7. When you do a good job, I look good, when you do a bad job, you look bad. That's life.

8. You don’t own that booth; you are part of a team.

9. Batteries, batteries, batteries.

10. You are a vital part to making people experience worship. Thank you for your hard work and dedication. This is something I don’t tell you enough and should tell you more.

Of course, you have to consider the other side of the coin… 

10 Things Every Sound Person Wishes Their Worship Leader Knew

1. It may not be in the budget, but you should never buy microphones that are 2-for-1. Seriously. You get what you pay for, so don’t be cheap if you want better sound.

2. You have no idea if I am turning that knob or not when you want more in the monitor, so trust me.

3. Do you want a good mix or acceptable volume level? In our church, it’s one or the other.

4. My job is basically to make louder whatever you give me. A better mix starts on stage.

5. A drum cage makes the drums sound like they are in a box… that is the reason you never see them in real life.

6. More speakers doesn’t mean 'louder sound'. It means a fuller sound at a lower volume level and better coverage. 

7. Do you want me to mix or produce? Because that one guy is completely overplaying…

8. I can achieve anything with enough coffee.

9. Soundcheck time is not practice time.

10. My goal is not to draw attention to myself, but help point the congregation towards Christ. Thank you for what you do. Without you, I wouldn't have a place to serve. 

It always gives us a chuckle and helps us refocus our priorities. Whether you lead worship with a full band, piano and organ, or a vocal mic and iPod, the goal is the same: to create a worship environment with minimal distractions. Jesus said, "If I be lifted up, I will draw all people to myself." By working together, we can be undistracted in worship as we proclaim Him. 

There are certainly other ways to read the Bible other than ‘in 90 days’, but here are the reasons why I’m doing it this way (and why I think it will be helpful to do this every year) : 

1. If God made sure his words were recorded for us, why wouldn’t I want to read all of them numerous times?

2. Reading large portions of Scripture regularly slows me down so I can think about life from an eternal perspective. Still within the first 20 days, and I’ve had tearful moments of revelation and times of seeing things with fresh eyes.

3. In my daily life, I am constantly bombarded with images, philosophies, thoughts, reasonings, and attractions from the world, my flesh, and the Enemy. I need large quantities of God’s thoughts, empowered by his Spirit, to resist them.

4. I trust my own thoughts too much at times and it’s good to be rebooted with God’s thoughts as much as possible. 

5. Each time I read through the Bible, I’m humbled as I realize how little I actually know and understand God’s Word.

6. Reading a lot of the Bible helps me more easily see how it all fits together, and gives a fresh perspective to the biblical narrative (which perhaps was never intended to be 'nibbled on' in the first place.)

7. As a worship leader and student pastor, I want people’s faith to rest on God’s Word, not my music or my opinions. I want Scripture to be the overflow of my heart, not something I occasionally use for a desired emotional effect or dig into because I have to teach a lesson.. 

8. As a husband, father of three, and resident of planet Earth, Scripture is my primary how-to manual to marriage, parenthood, and life. You and I should be able to recite it better than the USAmerican pledge of allegiance… if my allegiance is to Christ.

I know reading completely through the Bible sounds pretty ambitious or intimidating. But if I can do it, so can you. There are multiple plans out there from which to choose.

What are you currently doing that's challenging you spiritually? 

This year, students from our sister church, New Life Baptist, will be joining us as we explore the Scriptures and worship together. Pray for all of us over the next few days!