Worship Fertilizer From Ad Lib Music

https://adlibmusic.com/schedule-a-call https://adlibmusic.com/233 https://store.johnmaxwell.com/The-21-Irrefutable-Laws-of-Leadership--Follow-Them-and-People-Will-Follow-You-10th-Anniversary-Edition-Hardcover_p_2780.html I’ve been getting up at 4:30 AM the last couple of weeks to spend quiet, uninterrupted time writing and editing my past Fertilizers. I’m putting them into a book to publish. You’ll notice this is the 233rd Fertilizer I’ve written. I started in 2009. I’m going through each one and painstakingly and cruelly editing them. Well, that’s a bit dramatic, and it’s pretty enjoyable to do. I cringe occasionally, but I like revisiting most of what I’m seeing. And some of it I just love! But I’m not doing it alone. For a mere $139 per year, I’ve hired Grammarly to help me improve my writing skills. Ok, so it’s just an app that scores your document, finds errors, and makes suggestions. But it’s making me a better writer. (See, I usually would’ve written, “It’s actually making me a better writer,” bu

https://adlibmusic.com/schedule-a-call https://adlibmusic.com/232 https://adlibmusic.com/023 Maybe we feel disoriented because God is trying to reorient us. As churches, we’ve been forced to rethink virtually everything about our weekly gathering rhythms. Naturally, we feel a growing anticipation for when we can meet again. Once this storm has past, what will you restart and what will you put to rest? And what if we don’t look at it as "when we come back" but "what God is inviting us into?" This is such a time of unusual opportunity. We must take the time to ask this question. "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." (Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV) "Jesus responded, "Why do you keep looking backward to your past and have second thoughts about following me? When you turn back you are useless to God’s kingdom realm." (Luke 9:62 TPT) Can you mow a straight line if y

https://adlibmusic.com/schedule-a-call https://adlibmusic.com/231 Lucas. Now you know how to say Luke in Spanish. Well, only if you pronounce it Spanishy. But do we know what to do when a messenger from God shows up when we’re just doing our weekly service? I was in my daily scripture reading in Luke 1. I felt a resonance with Zechariah and Elizabeth who were from…shall we say “a long line of worship leaders.” And Zach had just showed up to lead his weekly worship set. He was a good man, and godly. And “God showed up.” Or perhaps I should say there was heavenly activity. And he flipped out and didn’t know how to respond. He was “shaken and overwhelmed with fear.” Granted, an encounter with the Holy is overwhelming, affecting our whole being - spirit, soul, and body. But Zach’s response seems to be unbelief. He questions, which on face value could seem perfectly appropriate. The message was naturally impossible. But the angel’s response tells me there was something in his heart. It wasn’t innocent curi

https://adlibmusic.com/schedule-a-call https://adlibmusic.com/230 https://youtu.be/gqizuYHaw-k?t=1559 https://www.nirandfar.com/indistractable/ https://thehollisco.com/pages/next90 http://unite714.com/ https://louengle.com/pentecost/ https://lovingonpurpose.clickfunnels.com/sales-page1586430902957 http://brightones.bethelmusic.com/ Our lives feel a bit like this picture of Banda Aceh, Indonesia. The first picture is before the 2004 tsunami and the second picture is just after. I’m not trivializing the 230,000 people that lost their lives in that tragedy. It paints a powerful picture of what many of us feel in this time of global quarantine. As we slowly crawl through this time, we can get disoriented, discontented, distracted, disillusioned…lots of things. But stay the course, friends! I remember the end of 2008. I was working at Starbucks and my store closed on November 22nd. Now what? Well, it’s when I decided to jump into Ad Lib full-time. When I worked at Starbucks, I had to get up at 4:30 AM. And

https://adlibmusic.com/schedule-a-call https://adlibmusic.com/229 https://www.instagram.com/jesuscalling/ https://www.facebook.com/lifecenteronline/videos/1312623769125284/ https://youtu.be/qFdakrPNoN8 “You tend to feel in control of your life when our wills are in harmony.” - God (via Sarah Young) Control. Remember that feeling? Life in sync. Options. Gatherings. Freedom. Routines. Poof, eh?! As my wife read our devotional of the day, my heart perked up. …I can have a feeling of control simply by spending energy in aligning my will with the Father’s? Wow! The context for the quote that Sarah wrote in 2004 says: “On some days your will and Mine flow smoothly together. You tend to feel in control of your life when our wills are in harmony. On other days you feel as if you are swimming upstream, against the current of My purposes. When that happens, stop and seek My face. The opposition you feel may be from Me, or it may be from the evil one. Talk with Me about what you are experiencing. Let My Spirit gui

https://adlibmusic.com/contact https://adlibmusic.com/219 https://www.worshiptraining.com/media/bam-worship-teaching-bombs-and-how-to-use-them https://adlibmusic.com/216 I was leading worship and I felt like the congregation could take it or leave it.

https://adlibmusic.com/contact https://adlibmusic.com/218 https://youtu.be/3OMDxdkb_Po Disclaimer: This is NOT a post about Amy Grant’s “Angels” song. Look it up, young people. ​ In Costa Rica, I am pleasantly surprised at how kind drivers are. They let each other in to traffic. They honk, wave, or flash their lights to give you the right of way. ​There’s this kindness built into their culture. ​And as I’m driving and someone in front of me lets someone in, I’m thinking, “Why would you do that?!” ​But if I look up the street 100 feet, I’ll inevitably notice that I’m not really losing out because there’s traffic up ahead anyway. I would’ve stopped soon anyway. And it’s like this all the time. ​So it didn’t cost me anything, but it was kind. And in my (United States of) American way of thinking, I’m just so efficient, so ready to get there as quickly as I can. I’m trying to be productive, to get something done here! I want to be as expedient as possible. ​Because of the relational culture here, there a

https://adlibmusic.com/contact https://adlibmusic.com/217 I just learned the other day that one of the team members at one of my former churches took a break from the team and never came back. She’s at another church now. I was so sad to hear that. And even though I’m sure there were other reasons, I couldn’t help but think that if we had only had a better system, she wouldn’t have burned out. She was always cheerful to serve, did a great job, and volunteered to help if no one else was available. Yet, I knew inside that it stressed her to serve and that I wanted to care for her. I just didn’t have any accountability or intentionality in the way that I scheduled to make sure my people were serving at a livable pace for the long term. But I do remember serving somewhere that had great systems. It was 2008 and I look back on it with fondness, really: my thirteen months as a shift supervisor at Starbucks #13636, or as my friend Jeremy calls it “The Mermaid.” I’d most often ride my bicycle to work at 5:15 A

https://adlibmusic.com/contact https://adlibmusic.com/216 https://youtu.be/sF2lyAPI-eU Imagine calling yourself a chef. You have libraries of cookbooks…that you’ve actually read. You watch every show on Food Network and have even met some of the stars! You can even guess at the beginning of the show who’s going to get Chopped. You grocery shop and fill your pantries with supplies. You just love the smell of food cooking. But you have never experienced the moment when the whisk in your tired arm actually begins to make the egg whites form peaks. Worse, you’ve never fed anyone with the food you’ve dreamt about, but never made. That’s silly, right? But our imaginary friend has completely missed the core of being a cook. But follow me for a moment. What is the core of being a worship leader? Is it good musicianship? Is it pastoring your team? Is it discipling the congregation in worship? Is it serving your pastor? Is it leading great songs? Is it being able to “flow with the Spirit?” Is it being organized

https://adlibmusic.com/contact https://adlibmusic.com/215 https://youtu.be/qg1d26IYsyA I got off the airplane when we first entered Costa Rica, and the customs official asked me “¿A que te dedicas?” “Músico” I’d answer. I walked up to the counter when my number was called when I was signing up for the national healthcare, and the worker asked me “¿A que te dedicas?” “Músico” I’d answer. I moved from chair to chair as the “line” crept forward until it was my turn to see the doctor. He asked me “¿A que te dedicas?” “Músico” I’d answer. I was getting car insurance (after literally about a dozen other appointments and offices to get the car ready for this moment), and the agent asked me, you guessed it, “¿A que te dedicas?” “Músico.” What does “¿A que te dedicas?” mean? Basically, “What do you do for a living?” But literally it means “What are you dedicated to?” And “Musician” has been my answer. But what an interesting way of asking that question! I know that most of us don’t lead worship for a living (t

We made it! To a whole new decade. But do you have hope? This isn't hype. It's something that will carry you through the ups and downs of the next 10 years. Rather watch this week's Fertilizer? https://youtu.be/qg1d26IYsyA https://adlibmusic.com/contact https://adlibmusic.com/214

https://adlibmusic.com/contact https://adlibmusic.com/213 podcast@adlibmusic.com https://www.eventbrite.com/e/drums-and-sound-clinic-tickets-86608740073 https://adlibmusic.com/Tony If you’ve ever said (or heard) any of these phrases, I have something to tell you about. One drummer hits too hard, one too soft Our drums sound terrible, dead, too loud, or like they are not part of the mix Our sound people don't know what to do with the drums The drums drown out the vocals If we balance the sound with the drums, everything is too loud. Our drummer has been begging to lose the electronic drums in favor for "real" drums. How can we do that and can our room handle it? We have 3 different drummers - jazz, rock, heavy metal - and every Sunday the drums are different in the mix. Nobody claps People walk out because it's too loud I don't like the way the tech mixes my drums We can't agree on how loud the mix should be I am afraid of drums What am I talking about? Well, this coming February we’re offering a one-of

https://www.acts-online.org/give https://youtu.be/wO6nxd8o-iI https://adlibmusic.com/contact https://adlibmusic.com/210 Imagine your worship team on a retreat. On a missional retreat in Costa Rica. Step into the cozy mountain lodge, the break you need to laugh and pray and worship together awaits. We will lead you through team times and opportunities for solitude. You’ll grow deeper in your relationships with Jesus and each other. Be reinvigorated in your purpose as a team. Retreat, recover, relaunch! And then, step into the shoes of another part of the Body of Christ, right here in Costa Rica. Help build a home for a family in need (with Homes of Hope), serve in a children’s home (Roblealto or Hogar de Vida), give practical helps for a church’s worship team, or partner with other missions groups here (VidaNet, YWAM, Praying Pelican Missions), etc. Afterwards, regroup at the lodge with its large living room and beautiful fireplace. Be nourished together over intentional conversations and savory meals wh

https://youtu.be/tAmU08XWjJo https://accidentalcreative.com/resources/manage-your-day-to-day https://adlibmusic.com/contact https://adlibmusic.com/209 You’ve likely been at rehearsals where someone starts to play something in between songs and some or all of the band picks up and begins to play along… …only to get scolded or scorned by the leader (or the timekeeper), reminding you to "get back on track with the music we’re rehearsing!" Of course, there’s value in rehearsing the music. But what value does just "jamming" have? Any? Loads! Or maybe this sounds familiar. The electricity was out (or you couldn’t schedule a full band) so we had an acoustic Sunday. With a more relaxed atmosphere, we had a few minutes before the service so we just started jamming a bit. It was fun, and something about it was so captivating to those listening, that I looked up at one point and saw several people taking videos with their phones. What?! Here’s what I’m contending for: Jamming is one of the core disciplines of gr

https://adlibmusic.com/contact https://adlibmusic.com/208 "Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success." My Dad had written this quote from Edward Everett Hale and stuck it in his bible (that my Mom gave me several years after he caught his heavenward chariot). Is your team "working together?" Like really working? And together? Firing on all cylinders? What would it look like if you’d describe your team as "working together?" Not a measure of that, but in its fullness? Every time we walk alongside a church’s worship team as coaches, we ask ourselves the question "What would this team look like if it was the very healthiest version of itself?" See, we’re not used to all the unhealthy habits that you’ve grown accustomed to. We don’t feel tired from helping things get better like you may be. And we can see the great possibility that your team has…and can help you get there. But I think a very important part of the process for your team’s success is for you to

http://bit.ly/Psalm149 https://adlibmusic.com/contact https://adlibmusic.com/207 It was a tough day. I was in the kitchen, making dinner. The kids were asking for snacks (why do my kids always ask for snacks when I’m cooking?!?) My wife was having a bad day. It was hot. I had decided that peeling, hand grating, and sautéing camote (purple sweet potato) was a good idea. I quickly regretted it halfway through the first one. “I told you to buy a food processor before we moved to Costa Rica,” my beloved reminded me. Ugh. And then I heard this sound coming from...well, I thought it was the front porch, but upon further investigation...it was the "baño." At the top of his lungs, my precious 9 year old Louis singing. “‘Cause the enemy has been defeated, death couldn’t hold You down, we’re gonna lift our voice in victory, we’re gonna make our praises loud…” A smile broke over my face at that sound…pushing back the darkness in our house, as his singing did. A few minutes later, he came and asked if he could he

https://adlibmusic.com/contact https://adlibmusic.com/206 I’m a lawbreaker, a rule breaker. I once answered an internet poll asking "Describe yourself in three words" with "I am a rebel." (It might take a sec to let it sink in) So when I see a scripture that gives me something to do that nobody can put a law against, my heart leaps. "Against such things there is no law." I take that to mean that we can do as much of this as we want. We can go for thirds even. I get so excited!! But what is this glorious thing that we can just go to the absolute limit with? Things like… affection for others exuberance about life serenity a willingness to stick with things a sense of compassion in the heart a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people we find ourselves involved in loyal commitments not needing to force our way in life able to marshal and direct our energies wisely I think of it this way. Nobody will mind if I do more of any of these things. And with a lofty list like that, it’s easy

https://adlibmusic.com/contact https://adlibmusic.com/205 I remember one of my favorite things to do when a regular customer came into our Starbucks and I was on the bar (the one making drinks). There’d be a line and I was making other drinks, but I’d hurry myself and make the drink just like I knew the customer would order it. By the time he got to the register to order it, I’d hand it to him. BAM! I loved serving like that! It’s been over a decade since I worked there, but I still remember how it felt. And I know he was very pleased to be served like that. And while pleasing people is a trap, pleasing the LORD is the very essence of worship. I was reading Psalm 123, and was struck hard by a phrase at the end of verse two. It read: We keep looking to the LORD our God for His mercy, just as servants keep their eyes on their master, as a slave girl watches her mistress for the slightest signal. What a heart posture! Imagine if we’d do that more as worship leaders and team members! I mean if pleasing

https://adlibmusic.com/contact https://adlibmusic.com/204 If you can hit a 90+ mile per hour baseball with a piece of wood just three times out of every ten tries, your grandchildren will experience wealth. This is the reality (in the US) for Major League Baseball players. If you’re able to hit the ball three out of every ten at bats, you’ll be a millionaire. I kinda wish it was like that with worship leaders. Not the millionaire part, but the “winning” part. It’d sure take the pressure off, right? What pressure do you feel when you’re leading? I bet they are tied directly to your church’s values. Here's what I mean. If you’re an attractional church, you might feel these pressures: look good, act competently, speak well, bring the energy, perform near flawlessly, and stick to your allotted 13 minute and 47 second slot… If you’re at a charismatic church, you might feel these pressures: respond to the prophetic word, sing in the Spirit, reach a climax of high praise… If you’re at a denominational chu

https://adlibmusic.com/contact https://adlibmusic.com/203 https://www.facebook.com/pg/FincaCanaanda/photos/?tab=album&album_id=503720366419118&ref=page_internal When we signed up for 12 weeks of language school, my wife added a fitness class for me (because I’m…not yet thin) and the kids. We thought it’d be playing games, learning sports, and a little kid-friendly "working out." Our first day almost killed me. Granted I’m transitioning from a pretty sedentary lifestyle to one that is much more active, but it was tough. There was a little sliver on my cap that wasn’t drenched in sweat by the time we were done. See, our fitness instructor Tony is a professional bodybuilder who has transformed his mountainside home into something he calls "Fitness Rustico" (just take off the "o" for the translation). He could call it Mountain Crossfit. He has a small futbol field, a climbing wall, a number of exercise stations, and trails that go up and down the steep slopes of the mountain. For example, the other