I closed my eyes and April disappeared. The last post I made, for the three of you reading this, mentioned me going in the studio to record. Okay, so I made it downstairs a few times and have sat down at the piano and thought about what songs I’ve written that could be a consideration. I even had a meeting with a producer friend to discuss the possibility. So, the plan is still on. Now I’m trying to decide whether I want to begin with Christmas or non seasonal music. That is where I am with the recording today; deciding. I think I’ll go back downstairs today and see if anything clicks. I’ll keep you updated.

Regi

Hey,

I thought I’d let whoever reads these blogs know that I’m planning to go in the studio really soon to start recording a new project. So far I have one song on the list. I’ll update throughout the process. Style is always an issue. I love inspirational ballads, contemporary worship and R&B. Nonetheless, we will get it figured out and I’ll let you know as we move forward.

Peace,

Regi

I’ve written some thoughts about worry on Facebook and Twitter so I thought I may as well write about it here. Consider this question: In the last 30 days have you worried about anything? Think about it. Most of us probably have to say yes but, the question is – what do we really gain by worrying? In Matthew 6:24-35 we read “do not worry” four times. It’s there for a reason.  When we worry we’re saying we aren’t sure if God will do what He says. Worry is simply lacking trust and faith. And, when we live with a lack of faith it keeps our worship on a tight leash. I don’t know about you but I don’t want my worship to be restrained because of worry.

One writer suggests “worry is a thin stream trickling through the mind and that when encouraged it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained.” I can vouch for this statement from experience. I’ve experienced times of worry where my entire day or week was consumed. Morning, noon and evening. But I always notice how worry doesn’t help. All it does is further discourage. So, here’s an encouragement to you. If you’re worrying stop and if you haven’t started don’t start. The more you focus on your problem the bigger it becomes. And, it causes everything else including God to seem distant and blurry. But, when you look past or through your problem you will find that it becomes smaller and blurry and God becomes bigger and stronger. He is waiting for you so what are you going to do about it?

Until next time,

Regi

It’s been some time since I’ve posted. That seems to be the norm on many sites I’ve visited. We all start with a plan to write something every week which becomes every month and before we realize it two months have passed. Nonetheless, I’m here today to talk about Worship Weekends. In the upcoming months I have scheduled an interactive weekend with a number of church music ministries. We arrive on a Friday evening and share a meal. Afterall, food is an important part of the day right? Sometimes it’s pizza and sometimes it’s steak. I tend to like the steak best but regardless of the food, spending time with people who share a desire to become worshipers is a wonderful way to spend the evening. I don’t come to the weekend as the expert. In fact, I’m learning how to make worship an attitude as well. What I enjoy is the opportunity to talk openly with others and share songs and thoughts that seem to always benefit and encourage everyone involved. A couple weeks ago I flew to Baltimore, MD where I joined with a choir, worship team and band to discuss how we can make worship part of our everyday life. I should also mention that while I was in the Baltimore area I enjoyed several crab cakes that were worth the bad plane ride I endured to get there. Friday evening’s devotion and time of worship and reflection is always my favorite part of the weekend. Okay, so I enjoy the weekend service as well but there’s just something about the Friday time together that always makes me glad I made the trip. I’ll try to post something more on the structure of the weekends really soon. And, if you want to find out more about a Worship Weekend in your church please let me know.

Until next time,

Regi

Have you ever felt like you were spinning too many plates? I have and this past year I realized I had to stop spinning so many. When I looked at the important areas of responsibility, mine included a publishing business, a recording studio, my family, a new magazine at Experience Worship, songwriting, Worship Weekends and leading worship at Christ Church Nashville. And, each one has impacted my life in a positive way which made it difficult releasing any one of them. However, it felt like I was running from one thing to the next in order to keep plates from dropping to the floor and breaking. That’s really not the way I want to live. I believe God deserves the best we have to offer, and because much of my quality time was being spent between ‘too’ many things then something had to give. After deliberating with God, my wife and the 4 walls of my office, I decided to step back from my position at Christ Church. Wow, that was tough. Afterall, I spent more than 8 years leading the congregation in worship. And, with 3 services each week, that’s nearly nine-hundred total worship services. To take it a step further; that’s more than three thousand five hundred songs I’ve led from the same stage. While it wasn’t an easy decision, it became clearer as I walked, talked and prayed with the Lord. I think it’s much easier to keep doing what we do right? At least that’s the way I felt. Believe it or not, we can even become used to chaos. 

Today was the first day I didn’t have to attend a worship staff meeting. It felt odd but right. My mind suddenly feels like there’s more space, more time to think, more focus on the remaining list. A good friend recently suggested that as we age it’s important to narrow our path. In one word, simplify. That word found it’s way to my heart and mind and has now become an action verb for my life. I’m not quitting everything. I’m not giving up. I’m just thinking different, working smarter and planning time with things that mean the most in my life, like studying my kid’s faces, leaving work early to get home to my wife, taking a walk to reflect, writing a song underneath a shady tree, listening to the birds sing their lullaby, pausing after saying ‘how are you’ to take in what someone says, praying more and reading more. It’s more than a bucket list. I think it’s a life fully lived. Too often we spend much of our lives running in what becomes a big circle. Keeping up with everyone else and the image for what? Some may say Regi’s having a mid-life crisis but I say I’m not waiting until I’m 65 to enjoy my definition of a full life. I’m going to do it now while I have my kid’s around me to enjoy it with; before they are out of the house. Before I wake up and wish I would have done it sooner.  

This past December we took a much needed vacation. It wasn’t to visit New York (although it’s one of my favorite places) or Disney, but rather a small, quiet and reflective cabin near a stream. Okay, so the property was amazing and is surrounded by a stunning view but the main point is that there were no nightly fireworks, no tall skyscrapers, no Broadway musicals, no Pirates of the Caribbean ride. Just quiet. Outdoors. Snow. Animals. Mountains. More snow. When my wife asked our son, who is 8 what he liked most about our visit he said, ‘the quiet’. See, I think from an early age until the end there’s something important about quiet and peaceful moments. I’d like to suggest you find some place like that. Maybe it’s a long walk or a drive in the car. Unplug from the electronics and take a look at your life to see if there’s one plate or two you need to stop spinning. It may be just what you need to lessen the stress. Try it and let me know.

Until next time,

Regi