Planning Center

Ok.

So here is a great website that I have been using for planning the worship service and scheduling the team. It has been great. I have had nothing but positive reponses from the Worship Team and it has helped clarify and customize the information that the team needs.

This is a screenshot of the website and it shows one thing that makes this program stand out from the rest. The tutorial videos are great. They have videos for everything, but my favorite is for the Volunteers.

There is a video that plays for each of the members as soon as they first sign on and set up thier member account. It is very simple and communicates exactly what the volunteers need to know. It is extremely user friendly and anyone who knows how to use a computer and the internet (even the basics) can figure this out. And anything that they do not know they can easily learn with this video. Watch it below.

Volunteer Training from Planning Center on Vimeo.

Also, another mentionable feature is the transposing of music... not only pdfs and chordcharts... but MP3s. They have a really easy to use system for transposing. It doesn't slow the track down and sounds pretty decent. The music quality is great and vocals are ok. But is is perfect for vocalists or musicians that would like to play along to the tracks in the correct key.

Finally, it interfaces well with CCLI and Songselect. Which makes it easy to get the correct copyright info and better yet, keep track of all the times and ways that you have used songs. I know that some of the other planning programs have this feature as well, but compiled with everything else... it just makes you smile.

I think the best part is that you don't have to pay per time you download, or use, a song. It may sound obvious... but I've looked around and seen that a lot. You are able to keep track of the copyrights so that you don't 'steal' useage, but you don't pay for every little thing. The plans are fairly cheap and easy to get set up.

I highly recommend this to any worship leader to help stay orginized and save a lot of time.

Book Review - Here I am to Worship

Aloha.

Tim Hughes wrote a book entitled 'here i am to worship' titled after his song. I had been neglecting it far too long and so i read it. It was a great book for worship leaders and musicians. I would highly recommend having your worship team read this because of the basic practical side of the book as well as the focus on our heart as worshippers.

Tim expands on and unpacks a quote by John Piper that I love, "Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is." Tim goes on to point out that 'Worship is our Highest Calling' and that worship will last forever. But, what about our time here on this earth. According to Romans 12:1 we are to offer our lives as living sacrifices to Him as worship. That is a here and now statement. Tim wrote, "We first worship the Lord then from that place we look to love those around us. We cannot worship if we don't also serve."

I love that connection. We are going to be worshipping God forever but that starts today in our daily lives. No matter what it is, as we do it unto God we worship Him(1 Cor 10:31). So... building houses, waiting tables, selling cars, pouring coffee, eating, drinking and yes even playing music is all worship when done unto God. We also worship by loving and helping the widows, the fatherless, the broken, the discouraged, and the damaged.

Basically, great book.

Here is the top 5 reasons to read it:

5. Tim even writes with an awesome accent.

4. This book portrays the heart and humility needed by worship leaders

3. It tackles the stuff worship pastors have a hard time saying.

2. There are some great practical tips for leaders and team members.

and the # 1 reason: What would Jesus do? ... he would read it.

my brother in law is awesome

My brother in law had some great thoughts about the Kingdom of God.

Check it out... click here

I need to go eat lunch... I promise to update soon. But, for now, read Brandon's stuff. He is good.

Aloha.

Hawaii

Aloha,

My wife and I just moved to Kauai, HI for the summer! We are looking forward to spending time with my family and enjoying God's creation.

The other day at worship practice we read Psalm 65. Take a look at these verses about God's beautiful creation and His character as the Creator... be encouraged.

^{Psalm 65: 5-13}

⁵ You answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness,
O God our Savior,
the hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the farthest seas,

⁶ who formed the mountains by your power,
having armed yourself with strength,

⁷ who stilled the roaring of the seas,
the roaring of their waves,
and the turmoil of the nations.

⁸ Those living far away fear your wonders;
where morning dawns and evening fades
you call forth songs of joy.

⁹ You care for the land and water it;
you enrich it abundantly.
The streams of God are filled with water
to provide the people with grain,
for so you have ordained it. ^{c]" style=" line-height: 0.5em; ">[c]}

¹⁰ You drench its furrows
and level its ridges;
you soften it with showers
and bless its crops.

¹¹ You crown the year with your bounty,
and your carts overflow with abundance.

¹² The grasslands of the desert overflow;
the hills are clothed with gladness.

¹³ The meadows are covered with flocks
and the valleys are mantled with grain;
they shout for joy and sing.