The question for today is one that I know we have all had to answer.  The bowl contains an assorted selection of candy bars. Krackel. Mr.GoodBar. Dark Chocolate.  You reach in and grab…?

The Classic Movie Society is convening this evening to view another classic movie.  The Little Rascals, remade in 1994, is easily a classic.  It’s a movie of youth. Boys being boys, girls being girls.  Clubs. Treehouses. Soapbox durby. Good guys and bad guys. Check out a few of these quotes:

“We are he-man woman haters/ We feed girls to alligators/ Our clubhouse burned down mighty low/ But we’ve got a plan to make some dough!”

“I… Stymie… Member in good standing of the He-Man Woman Haters Club… Do solemnly swear to be a he-man and hate women and not play with them or talk to them unless I have to. And especially: never fall in love, and if I do may I die slowly and painfully and suffer for hours – or until I scream bloody murder.”

“We’re goin’ to the race, we’re gonna win first place, and you have an ugly face!”

…Plus, this movie has killer outtakes! I can’t wait.  Off to watch…

Along with the GPRS, I’ve noticed a trend in drumming and finding good drummers.  A drummer’s skill can be directly related to how much he/she looks like Animal.  (Now before you get all bent out of shape on me, I know there are exceptions…) So, I’ve started the list with John Bonham.  Who else fits this mold?

Comment with a link so we can all view…

What makes a good studio project happen? Or, what made our project happen? Coffee.  Good musicians, good songs, and good vibe are all overrated. Coffee was the MVP.  We worked most days from 2:00pm until 5:00am.  If you listen hard enough, you can hear coffee brewing in the background of every song…

This guitar (Guild) is old as dirt. The strings were as dead as they could be AND the guitar was tuned down a 1/2 step! (giving it even more deadness) It was perfect for the songs we used it on.  This picture is me tracking “Comfort Ye” with the AKG 414 and toboggan (even though it was 93º in the studio).

Judging by the cymbal setup, this is me tracking drums for “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus”.  Zildjian K Constantinople 21″ Big Band Ride (via Dale Baker…used on Sixpence None the Richer’s Divine Discontent record), Zildjian K Constantinople Hi Hat BOTTOM w/New Beat TOP for a little bit of shine, K Custom Dark Crash (left), and 18″ Paiste 2002 Crash (right).

The OTI Crew.  From Left: James Childs (E.Gtr, Bass, Mandolin, A.Gtr), me (Drums/Perc, A.Gtr), Patrick Downing (E.Gtr, A.Gtr, Bass), Daniel Renstrom (Vocals, A.Gtr).  This picture accurately represents what it felt like in the studio.  We all look pretty grimey and look like we’ve had too much coffee.

Brody Harper started the #setlist (for those of you who don’t use twitter, #setlist=setlist hashtag) and I’ve loved seeing what other worship leaders are doing.  Again, for those who don’t use twitter: 1) start using it, 2) any time someone uses #_____ in a tweet, that information is compiled into one list.  It’s a really cool thing because now I can view the hashtag feed and see what everyone is saying about #______ subject…SO, I love the hashtag, but thought I would offer an explanation to why I chose the songs that I chose, the scripture that was read, the order of the songs, etc…all of which is hard to discern from a hashtag feed.

A few weeks ago, Daniel, Nick, and I (I probably had the least amount of influence…) put together a “Service Evaluation” document to help guide our worship planning and leading.  Here are a few of the key questions on the list that helped guide my song choices:

Was (How is) the Gospel clear in every element of Worship?

(How)Did the songs chosen help the Word of God to dwell richly among the congregation? (Col 3:16, Eph. 5:19)

(How) Did we communicate an “already, not yet” philosophy?

Below is my #setlist from Sunday morning along with my (brief) reason for choosing that song.

Hosanna // Hebrews 12:3 says “Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.” The pre-chorus to this song reads “When we see You, we find strength to face the day”.  I think it is important for the congregation to see and sing that seeing Jesus is essential for our endurance as believers.  When we don’t see Jesus rightly, we quickly become weary.

Glory to God Forever // This has to be one of the best chorus songs that hasn’t been released yet! I believe FEE will release this song on their upcoming album in October.  “Before the world was made, before You spoke it to be, You were the King of kings…”  God has eternally existed and will exist forever.  He alone is worthy of lives lived al for His glory.

There is a Fountain Filled With Blood // William Cowper is easily one of my favorite hymn writers of all time.  I think I can relate to him in many ways, but I think many other Christians could as well…if they knew his story.  (This song may turn into a separate post.)  Cowper struggled with doubt all of his life. He attempted suicide many times, and because he was unsuccessful, he felt as though he had offended God in an unforgivable way.  He goes on to pen this lyric: “The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day; and there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away”

This song needs (I say this, not the Lord…) to be a part of the church catalog.  This song does an amazing job of communicating the “already, not yet” philos0phy.  Though we are “seated with Christ in the heavenlies”, we still toil, strive, labor, fight, endure hardships, and grow in faith.

Before the Throne of God Above // Oh how different the Christian life would be if we understood that we have a great High Priest who “lives to intercede” for us. Daily.  (Is. 53, Heb. 4:14-16, Heb. 7)

I Will Sing of My Redeemer // A great Gospel song of response.  The church needs to sing “I will sing of my Redeemer, how He sought me while a slave; loosed me from the curse of sin and from the power of the grave.”  That truth is solid enough to build life and hope upon.

So, to turn this post into a question: What songs does your church do regularly and do those songs point you to the Gospel?  If you are a worship leader, how do you plan a service?