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I don't talk much during worship. I give a greeting, and dismissal. Sometimes I'll respond to a quip from one of our pastors from the pulpit, but other than the occasional prayer, or leading a responsive reading, creed, or confession, I don't talk much. It's just not my thing. If you take a look at the text that we're injesting during a Sunday morning - the hymns, the choruses, and the preaching of the word, what more needs to be added? Nothing. Think about the inspiration of a song writer - whether it be a hymn writer from the 18th…

I've been reading a few disturbing blogs the past couple of days. I still don't understand people who are offensive for the sake of being offensive - and actually making it a part of their mission in life - Finding out what buttons to press, and pressing it. So as I'm reading these posts, I find people being offensive, again, for the sake of being offensive, and trying to disguise it as the Gospel. Is that what the Gospel is calling us to? Sharing our opinions regardless of who we're hurting? Is the Gospel calling us to proclaim hatred for…

I can't stand it. But I do like the first two weeks. And I really appreciate Simon!

So I revisited the Top 25 List on CCLI's website. You can view the list HEREI continue to be amazed at the number of old songs still very high on the top 25. There are so many artists now writing really great tunes, also taking old hymn texts and rewriting tunes. I think it's time we expand our repertoire and include some of the greater artists of THIS decade. By the way - Check out Ross Parsley. Not Rod, but Ross. He's written some great worship tunes. Heartfelt lyrics, and moving, easy-to-sing melodies. He has a project out called "I…

I've been told recently, in response to a comment about a certain technology problem I was having, that if we live by technology, we're gonna die by technology. Now it's true that the church in the past 20-30 years has moved to rely more and more on technology; not only in worship styles, but for preaching styles (film clips, headset mics, image magnification) welcome and greeting information (kiosks) and of course, IT. But I'm going to focus more on relying on technology for worship. Yes, we rely heavily on it. Our music style involves electric and acoustic guitars, piano :),…

I love my choir. Wednesday nights - from 6 to 7 is the hour of every week that I always look forward to. I wish I could get across to everyone that attends OMPC just how unique our choir is. We don't require music reading experience. We don't require attendance every week - in fact, no one takes role. We are merely a community of people that love Jesus and want to spend time in worship through singing.I've been amazed over the last few years at how God has brought people through the worship ministry, especially through the choir, and…

Do you ever think about Jesus laughing? How would other Christians, or more importantly, other non-Christians view Christ by watching you? I was thinking about this today as I thought about what the Church does or doesn't do in the name of being "Christian." I think that sometimes we forget that Jesus probably had quite a bit of humor in his life, his friendships, his ministry. It made me begin to wonder how people might look at me, or the worship ministry, or OMPC, or churches in Birmingha, and furthermore, what's the picture of Christ that they are getting? Do…

Thrilled to announce that our third son is here. Drennen was born Saturday.

Alright, so every year since I’ve been here we’ve opened ourChristmas program with a video montage showing most ofthe popular Christmas movies and their “version” of whatChristmas really means, or what the Christmas message is, orwhat the true meaning of Christmas is, etc. It’s funny thatthe only one that gets it right is Charlie Brown’s Christmas,back from 1965. The reason we use it every year is to serveas a reminder of that precious focus for the season of Advent.Advent becomes a refining time for me and the WorshipMinistry. Because of the busyness of the season, it’s so easyto get distracted,…

Yikes.