Monthly Archives: January 2009

Lessons Learned from My Dogs- #1 Let It Go

January 26, 2009   Russell Martin   1 Comment

I have 4 dogs and a cat. Each one has their own personality and quirks and I love them all. The amazing thing is that for the most part they all get along, even the cat. What has suprised me though is how, by watching them interact, I have learned some really great lessons.

I thought I would take a chance to break from my usual posts about chords, or music, or worship, to share some of these insights with you from time to time.

This evening we were sitting in the living room watching tv. As usual Jaeda our Cocker Spaniel was on the back of the couch, Ultra had claimed the love seat and Honey, the Lab/Greyhound was laying in the middle of the floor chewing on a nylabone. That’s when Mia, the fourth dog, walked right up to Honey, put her mouth on the nylabone and took it away. Mia walked away about five feet, laid down and began to chew on her recently stolen treasure.

I know if that had happened to me I would have done one of two things. Either gone over and taken it right back, or gone and complained to a higher authority about how something had been taken from me and it wasn’t fair.

So what was Honey’s response? Honey looked at Mia, then got up, walked over to the “toy” box and picked out another chew toy. She did not growl, she did not whine, she just moved on. She could have held on and fought but she just let it go.

What did I learn? Sometimes it’s best to just let it go. I recall this verse from 2 Timothy.

“Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.  2 Timothy 2:23″

As I look through my day I can see countless times where I get into a discussion or argument that really doesn’t matter in the end, when the best thing for me to do would be to get up, go find something else, and just let it go. Earlier in the verse 4 it says:

“No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer.”

Before getting involved in one of these discussions, or arguments I really need to ask, “Does getting involved with this have anything to do with what God is wanting me to do? Does it please Him?” This question even cuts out those things that may not be harmful, but just are not relevant to me or my ministry or my calling.

So my question to you. How much of your day is spent in discussions, arguments or quarrels when it would really be best to just walk away and let it go?

Why is this important to do?

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Sunday Setlist- 01-25-09

January 25, 2009   Russell Martin   9 Comments


Again it was a great Sunday. Our message this week was “Fishing and Following” brought by Pastor Danny Wayman. The music was awesome too, except I forgot where my capo went on “Jesus Messiah.” Luckily I was able to correct the problem. 

Here are the songs.

Fork In the Road- I brought this to the band from my first CD. They do a great job with it.

Revive Us Again- A great redo if this old hymn. 

Jesus Messiah- Except for me almost starting in the wrong key because of the capo, it went well

Flower in the Field- Kerri’s Song from her first CD.  

Here I Am Lord- We did a quick redo of this hymn. Fit great with our topic of following Jesus

We also used this video about if the church marketed like starbucks.

 

And that’s just what we did this Sunday. Be sure and check out what others did on Fred McKinnon‘s Sunday Setlist Worship Carnival #27

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Youth Bands: Who provides the equiptment?

January 19, 2009   Russell Martin   5 Comments

Our bass player was playing at practice three weeks ago when her strap came off and her bass landed right on the input jack, busting the jack, solder joints, and a good portion of the body of the bass.  I was not sure if the bass would be repairable or how long it would take to fix or for her family to replace.

So I got to thinking, “Do many youth programs and bands have instruments that belong to the church for the kids to play, or do all the kids play/bring their own gear?  Our band uses all my gear including my PA, drum set, bass amp, and guitar amp and effects, but they play their own instruments (I play left handed).  So, what do the rest of do with their youth bands?  Do I need to look into buying some instruments and equipment through and for the church?

Jason Huffman is the youth director at Palestine FUMC. He shares his own thoughts about ministry and more on his blog.

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Sunday Setlist 1-18-09

January 18, 2009   Russell Martin   2 Comments

bread and wine

bread and wine from Creativemyk.com

This was another good week at Williams Memorial UMC and the Xperience service. It was Communion Sunday for us and we also had a baptism during the service. So the church celebrated it’s newest member and the Lord’s supper all on the same morning. 

Oh.. the sound problems were greatly reduced… actually had no problems at all this week. The guy who installs our stuff came by and set the squelch.. turns out that was the biggest problem. We also bought some padded room dividers and put them along the back of our room. We meet in a cafetorium style meeting room with flat walls and a concrete floor. So the dividers helped alot.

We were missing our keyboard player, and a few vocalists.. so the mix was different but it worked well.

Here are the songs with itunes links

My Savior Lives- This was the first time for us to try this song. We introduced it at the beginning of the service and will start working it into our set in future Sundays.

Meet With Me- This is just one of those songs for our congregation that I can start and they will sing and I can back away and listen to the congregation. I introduced it to them only 2 years ago.

I Stand Amazed- Two things about this song. Somehow it ended up during the offering (when everyone is sitting down) so It felt kinda weird singing I STAND Amazed while seated.. the other thing is we were confused as to whether we were ending on the 4 chord or the 1 chord… Oh well… it worked 

Breathe- We did this with nothing but piano and vocal. Kerri sang great and I added a little harmony. We used this as our song during communion.

Our Great God- At my last church someone handed me a CD of some random tunes and this one was on there. From that point on I have LOVED this song. I introduced it to my current congregation during Christmas and used the words to the hymn Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night for the lyrics and then used the normal chorus. Worked awesome.

Oh.. since our liturgical reading included Psalm 139 we used this video from igniter media group.

And that’s just what we did this Sunday. Be sure and check out what others did on Fred McKinnon‘s Sunday Setlist Worship Carnival #26

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Iphone Audio Applications

January 14, 2009   Russell Martin   3 Comments

Over the past few weeks I have shared posts highlighting some of my favorite iphone/touch applications for musicians. If you enjoyed those make sure and check out this post on churchaudio.blogspot.com for some audio apps that might be helpful as well. And if you missed them, check out iphone apps for musicians part 1, part 2 and part 3.

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Sunday Setlist 1/11/09

January 11, 2009   Russell Martin   8 Comments

When we started rehearsing today, my thoughts were that this was not going to be a good morning. If you follow me on twitter or facebook you know what I am talking about.  On Wednesday we had installed four brand new wireless Sure microphones and when installed there were a few cracks and buzzes but I thought we had worked them out. Sunday morning, as we began rehearsal, the gremlins reared their ugly head and the microphones again were cracking. Luckily we had the old microphones, reinstalled them and we were good to go. 

When things don’t work well I start worrying. I know I shouldn’t but we also had a guest singing with us this morning and I wanted everything to work well, you know, so she didn’t think that this is how it always was. So I really spent my morning worrying about pleasing people and not God. I think there is a verse about that. Thankfully God worked even inspite of me and the morning was great. The band sounded awesome, and the vocals did a great job. And yes.. the microphones worked great.  It turned out to be one of the best Sundays that we have had so far.

So with all of that here was our Songlist

Wade in the Water- (Based on Eva Cassidy Version) Our service this week was on the Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist.  Having the voices of Shelly and Kerri this song was a natural choice for us to use to kick off the service.

Cover us- (The Sonflowerz) We heard this on the Song Discovery 72 CD. We actually will be working 6 or so songs from this CD in the next few weeks.

Stir In Me (Todd Proctor) They were doing this song even before I got here and it has made it through the years. I think it’s because it’s easy to sing and the band loves to play it.

Did You Know? and Thank You For Loving Me- (Shelly Wilson) The band loved playing this song off of Shelly’s latest CD and the best part was that she was here to sing them live with us. 

You Never Let Go-(Matt and Beth Redman)- Our pastor ended his sermon talking about the fact that no matter how we feel God is always there no matter what. I didn’t know really how his sermon was going to end but this song fit perfectly.

To view what other churches did this week visit Fred McKinnon‘s Sunday Setlist.

 

 

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A Wednesday Funny

January 08, 2009   Russell Martin   1 Comment

Working at any job I used to think the worst days were Mondays. But I have learned that Wednesdays are the days I tend to dread more. Yesterday my friend Russ Bowlin sent the entire staff this video. Apparently his goal was to inspire, and encourage us all this tough point of the week. I can tell you, I was inspired.

Hopefully Wednesday videos will become a weekly tradition.  To read some of Russ’s slightly more serious thoughts you can follow his blog at http://russbowlin.blogspot.com/ or catch him on twitter @russbo

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Sunday Setlist 1/4/08

January 06, 2009   Russell Martin   No comments

So each week I answer the question, “How did Sunday go?” “What did you sing?” It’s a great chance to reflect on what happened good and bad. I want to say thanks to Fred McKinnon for setting this up on his blog. Be sure and check out what other worship leaders are doing for their Sunday Setlists.

This week’s order of worship

Xperience Order of Worship 1-4-09

Opening Song- I just Want to Celebrate (4) Our drummer came to us and said he wanted to sing this song. Yeah it’s the old Rare Earth Tune. I know there are varying points of view on using secular music. What do you think?

Welcome and Announcements

Worship Song -Salt and Light (1) 
Worship Song -Revive Us Again (3) Kerri found this on the song discovery 72. Great new rendetion of a great hymn.

Children’s Sermon

Time of Prayer

Offering- In the Light (2)


Video- Isaiah 60  

Scripture- Matthew 2:1-12

Sermon- Marvelous Light

Invitation- How Great is Our God (5)-

Closing Song- Band Playing

The whole service went pretty well. Seemed like it would be a light crowd to begin with but it all filled up 5 minutes after the service started. How was your Sunday?

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Iphone Apps for Musicians- Part 3

January 03, 2009   Russell Martin   1 Comment

This post is third in a series where I have highlighed some of the most useful apps for the iphone and ipod touch that I have found for my ministry leading worship. Here are the final 4.

Evernote-Their website says “Evernote allows you to easily capture information in any environment using whatever device or platform you find most convenient, and makes this information accessible and searchable at any time, from anywhere.”  I have just begun using this software and haven’t started using it to it’s full potential but it looks promising. The ability to sync online and iphone is good. I could definately see it useful when purchasing equipment and making comparisons.

Twittelator- If you are a twitter user this is a great app to have. It is my primary form of interacting on twitter. I can send photos, direct messages, and replies. It also supports the location feature so everyone can know exactly where you are. It does from time to time get overwhelmed if you are following a large number of people who update very often but all in all it does well. There is a free version and then Twittelator Pro which costs a few dollars.

Pandora- I wrote about this a few months ago for the desktop version. The Pandora program for the iphone works just the same. Enter a song or artist and it will create a station based around the sound characteristics of that artist or song. The result is a play list that is similar in style that you can listen to all day long. I have used this both on the edge and 3G networks as well as Wifi. As long as you have a signal you can listen. The downside is you cannot listen to it and do anything else on your phone. Until apple lets us run two programs simultaneously.

BONUS APPLICATION FOR MUSICIANS

Gigbaby- A four track recorder with drum machine and metronome? Yeah and all for under a buck. I wouldn’t produce any records with it but great for recording song ideas. This was not in my original list but I ran across it the other day and have loved it since.

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Free Background- Garden Angel Blur in 4 Colors

January 02, 2009   Russell Martin   No comments

One of the most downloaded backgrounds on this site has been the Garden Angel Blur that I made from a photo I had taken this Summer at one of my work camps.  I thought maybe someone would like it in a color other than green… so here they are. Click on the image once to go to the gallery, and then again to view the full sized image. Then right click and save. You are free to use them for your worship services, announcements etc.. It would be cool if you would let me know how you used them.

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