I am often asked how it feels to play along side a famous musician. I think its cool because for my whole life I have dreamed of playing music with my heroes. As a result of the blessing of God, a lot of hard work, several bumps and bruises, and a lot of stubbornness, I am living that dream today.

Sometimes it’s disappointing when my imagination of a certain person doesn’t match up with reality. In most situations the more famous and the closer to icon status a person is the more genuine and loving they are. They have years of experience behind them and know how important the fans are to their survival as an artist. Sometimes it is the new artist that lacks the patience and understanding when it comes to dealing with fans. It is a common mistake in life to misjudge someone by the way they look or seem. The best way to deal with people is to treat normal people like rock stars and rock stars like normal people. It’s kind of like someone with new money that needs to prove their stature and adorn themselves with ostentatious outward displays of the trappings of wealth verses the millionaire that wears work clothes and drives a tattered truck. The unwise see a poor man coming and pay no attention. The wise make their inquiries and find that buried in that brown, dirty work-pant pocket is wad of $100 bills. My heroes love people just because and are not respecters of persons. No airs. No pretensions. No bologna.

I try not to make a fool of myself when I meet a hero. It is not a good thing to salivate, convulse, stutter or fall down when in their presence. I met a life-long hero a few years ago. As I reached to shake his hand he looked at me with a strange wince. I felt awkward but went on to finish the introduction and walked away puzzled. Later, feeling awkward about the encounter, I was leaving in my car and caught a glimpse of my chin as I glanced in the rear-view mirror. Right there, hanging like a ridiculous appendage, was a grotesque chunk of taco meat—a remnant from lunch two hours earlier. I’d hoped he didn’t think it was a hideous mole…or something worse.

I have worked with many of my heroes but none comes close to Charlie Daniels. He is a joy. He is also a KILLER entertainer. His ability to be a performer and a lover of God at the same time blows my mind. I used to listen to his Fire On the Mountain record with The South’s Gonna Do It Again as I was growing up in Fullerton, California. I have had the pleasure of sharing the stage with him several times and I’ll be seeing him again this Friday night.

When it comes to meeting our heroes one can never dream too big. Some heroes are a disappointment. Charlie is the real deal!

An update on my recent life-style change is due.

I have been high-blood-pressure free for 2 months now. I continue to lose weight and am down 30 lbs. and falling. My goal is 50 at 50 (down 50 lbs. for my half-century birthday–which happens to fall on Josh and Amber’s wedding day, July 10th). I am on track, but 20 lbs. in a month is a tall order! I am willing to do what it takes to lose the rest and to keep it off even if I need August to fulfill it.

Things seem to change in life by decades and involve things that roll. The first decade is stroller to bicycle; second is bicycle to car; third is a car to pushing a stroller & teaching the kids to ride a bike; fourth is teaching the kids to drive; and the fifth is gonna be staying active on the treadmill and movement in general. I want to forgo the decade when it all goes backward and I am being pushed in a wheelchair. My decision to make a big change in life now will make the difference for the rest of my life.

My dad is 83 and he is doing fantastic. His eyes are feeble with macular degeneration but he is still gobbling up books on the Kindle that Brenda and I got him for Christmas last year . He added years to his life when he made a serious life-style change and decided to quit smoking almost 30 years ago. I believe Pop’s biggest asset to longevity is his humor. He brings fun to every conversation and people just love him. I want to be like my dad: chronologically blessed, well-read, handsome and hilarious!

Weight-Loss Frustration

It being Saturday, I woke early to get the stuff done around the house in enough time to prepare for the weekend services at church. If I am not careful, the day will slip away and I will regret that I didn’t seize the opportunity to enjoy what Saturdays bring.

I remember those childhood days in the summer when I could get up at any time my body wanted, ate anything in sight, rode bikes with my friends and didn’t come home until the street lights came on. I had no restrictions on time or energy. My parents were very trusting of the neighborhood and weren’t too worried about the streets or the dangers therein. We basically had free-reign. Before I was 15, church never was a family priority. So from Friday night until Sunday night, we were absolutely carefree.

I wholeheartedly chose to be a musician and later a minister/ worship leader. So with that, my weekends became less a time of rest and relaxation and more of a time of work. Evenings are also limited because of rehearsals and performances. Sometimes I have a “leisure fantasy” and dream of the days when life was less complicated. In those fantasies I imagine I might enjoy getting my weekends back…lying around on a hammock, drinking Hawaiian Punch through a straw out of a hollowed-out pineapple. Then I am quickly zapped back into reality when I think of my life without playing music for a living . I don’t know what I would do if I couldn’t play my guitar, sing, write songs or lead worship. I would be sad…lost, really.

Well, I look at the time on the computer and see that it’s almost noon. That means I am soon to start my pre-service prep routine: look over the songs in the set-list, make my cheat-sheet, pray about God’s direction for the service, shower, dress, grab a guitar and dash to the car for the 40 minute, beautiful drive east on 840 toward Murfreesboro and World Outreach Church.

You know, come to think of it–my dream, as I was cruising the neighborhood on my imitation Stingray back in Fullerton in the 70′s, was to play guitar in a band…

When interviewed for a magazine a few days ago I was asked the question, “What would you say are the top three priorities for worship leaders?” My answers are simple but I believe that if heeded and practiced, they will bring fruit to your worship leading experience. My suggestions are based on the teaching of Jesus from Matthew 22:37-40 when He was asked what He thought was the greatest commandment:

Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (NIV)

1. Love God. This seems obvious at first but it is a commandment from Jesus. Loving God in every area of our life is our greatest testimony. When we have a passion for God in work, when we play, when times are smooth and when they are rocky, when we are with our families and our guard is down, our passion for God is obvious and it is contagious when others see us living what we lead.

2. Love people. We must live a singular life when we lead people. We cannot be one way with our close friends and then another with those we lead at church. If we lead by influence (and this, in my opinion, is the only way to lead), and we love and respect people–stopping to listen to their story and showing care and concern for them–they will follow us. A true leader is one who never has to force people to follow. If you find yourself coercing others to follow, you are not a leader. People will follow your leadership if you care for them.

3. Bring excellence. My pastor always encourages our team to bring our “A” game each service. We have five services each weekend and it can be easy to “phone-one-in” if we are not careful.

The best way for me to bring my best is to, first, be prepared. I believe proper preparation for our worship leading brings rest. I am relaxed and this, in turn, helps my team and the congregation to be relaxed (people have a hard time focusing on God when you are fumbling around as the leader).

Second, it helps to be focused. I try to train my heart and mind to zero-in on the task at hand for the hour or so before I lead. One tool I use to help me with this is to put a cheat-sheet (notes, keys changes, chord changes, arrangements, etc.) on the floor next to my mic stand so I can look down and find my bearings, if needed, as I proceed through the worship service.

Third, I think rehearsal is so important. I can hear you saying a collective, “DUH!” right about now! We have rehearsals on Tuesday nights so we then have a few days to study the rehearsal CD before we arrive back on Saturday afternoon to lead the services.

I find that all of these preps bring rest and there is no better way to lead others. When we have a passion for God and people while knowing where we are going in worship, and how we are going to get there, others will gladly follow!

I have many more things to say that I can’t write here in this one post. So, if you want to learn more, I want to give you an opportunity to join me as I am starting two new web-based schools offering virtual classrooms and personal coaching. I will be the main instructor for both tracks. One track is to train and strengthen the next generation of songwriters for the church called Song Schools. The other course, Worship Consultants, is for churches and worship leaders who want to improve leadership skills, team-building and worship services. You can find out more details about each course at songschools.com and worshipconsultants.com . Classes start in mid-July.