Check out this interesting segment:


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Since we never know what a new year may bring, we sincerely add the words, "If the Lord wills" to our conversations.  I look forward with great anticipation to what the Lord will bring in 2009.  My long-time favorite verse has been:

In the spirit of the "quote of the day," I thought you'd love this heart-warming story that I found through Brian McLaren's blog.

I love playing guitars and own a couple of Gibsons.  Of course, most of you know how much I love to sing.  I'm a tenor and was the original lead singer for Acappella.  I love leading groups, and have led various kinds of bands in the past.  Dealing with voice rest and voice overuse is a regular experience for me.  Recently I posted about how I enjoy Paul McCartney's creative talents and I recently posted a story about Beach Boy's Brian Wilson.  My friend, Roger Ferguson, shared some of these things with me.

What do all of these things have in common?  I believe many of you will find this Gibson Guitar Magazine interview that Courntey Grimes conducted with Jeffrey Foskett, Brian Wilson's band leader, to be most interesting.  Here are some excerpts:
 
CG: What has it been like being the Musical Director for Brian Wilson? What has been your biggest challenge there?
JF: With Brian, I am the one in charge on stage. Brian looks to me to make sure that everyone is at sound check on time, is singing the correct part and basically has it together. Of course he is totally capable of doing these things himself and often asks "who just sang that note?" when he hears something amiss. I think it's easier for him to rely on me to do the day to day business of keeping things flowing smoothly on stage. Everyone in this great band is a pro. There are no ego hang-ups, (except mine), and we have grown into a very tight knit group of singers and players. I think one of our highest compliments came from Sir Paul McCartney. I was having a conversation with Cameron Crowe recently and he told me that he was talking with Sir Paul about Brian and his band and McCartney's response was, "Oh they're the best band in the business, everyone knows that." That's quite a statement from such a luminary.
 
My biggest challenge is to keep my voice fit for the shows. As was the case when I was with The Beach Boys, in Brian's band I sing all of the highest notes in the show. I was never a guy to go hang out in the bar or stay out late, so I think that has served me well over the years. I don't talk after shows and talk as little as possible during the day. Although the guys in the band are used to my weird habits, sometimes that is misunderstood by the general public. I'm not trying to be rude by making hand gestures instead of carrying on a conversation with fans after the shows, I am simply trying to preserve my voice for the next night.
 
. . . Later in the interview Jeffrey goes on to say:

JF: I love that God has given me such a great gift in my voice and guitar playing ability. I sometimes say I hold the guitar as a way to get on stage and sing. I love playing guitar but I am not nearly the guitar player that I am singer. God has truly gifted me with a great voice. What I love most about my career is that I get to make a living doing something that I really love to do. I don't consider my job ... a job. It is truly a joy!

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To top off this interesting article, Jefferey Foskett has chosen at least one song written by my good friend Roger Ferguson to use on a future project.  Way to go Roger!  Now I have to post the star photo I took of you on our trip to New Zealand, so I can get a jump on the paparazzi.

Check out these quotes from our founding fathers on Jesus, Christianity and the Bible.  My friend, Caryll Rice, shared this information with us.  Hey Caryll, I spelled your name correctly this time.

If you set your iPod (or other listening device) to the "random" playing of songs, what would be your first ten songs?  I'd like to hear what your song list would be.  I wrote down my first random ten today:

1. AVB                      Legalistic Tendencies
2. Van Morrison         Wild Nights
3. Ralph Stanley        Shoutin' On The Hills Of Glory (with Ricky Skaggs)
4. The Fenians           San Patricios
5. Bonnie Raitt          Have A Heart
6. Acappella              May The Presence Of The Lord Go With You (unreleased)
7. Ink Spots               Your Feet's Too Big
8. Crosby-Nash          Immigration Man
9. Haven Quartet        Lo, How A Rose Ere Blooming
10. Mike Post             Theme To Hill Street Blues

The variety continues with my next round . . .

A recently-released study concluded that smiling and happiness is indeed contagious.  Are you surprised by the findings? Of course, I immediately thought about the worship leaders' role in "setting the tone" for celebration in the assembly.  Do you believe that worship leaders should be trained the way we expect/demand ministers to be trained?  If so, why do we "hire" preachers with years of college (including many with graduate-level training), yet the majority of our song leaders / worship leaders are untrained volunteers?

That's exactly why we began the Worship Leaders Institute.  We have scheduled our next Institute for February 24 - 26.  I'm the lead instructor and will be joined by several others who will work intensely with a limited number of qualified candidates.  An emphasis will be placed on stage presence and worship planning.  The institute includes video-taped labs and individualized instruction.  I pray that more congregations will realize the importance of singing/worship and invest in their leaders.  Space is limited.  For more information, contact Derek Sachs.

Did you know that there is about 11 million pounds of junk orbiting the earth?  Read more about the solar system's biggest junkyard here.

Remember when video phone conferencing was just a dream of the future?  Today we "Skyped" with our youngest daughter, Allison, who is studying in Vienna, Austria.  It was so amazing to be able to hear and see her as she tilted her computer camera to share the view of Vienna from her room.  How amazing!  And to think that the service is free?!  Thanks to Jim Shoenard, who set up Skype on my Mac for such video conferencing.  I saw this technology in action earlier this year in the home of Mike & Rebecca Shepherd while visiting Brisbane, Australia.

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Speaking of technology, I added an application to my iPhone called "Shazaam."  If you point the phone's microphone toward the music you are listening to (example - toward the speakers in a restaurant), in a very short time, it can "name that tune" for you.  Isn't that amazing? And to think that the application is free?!

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Anthony told us that Acappella's concert in Berrien Springs, Michigan this past weekend was amazing.  He reported how the guys signed autographs for one hour after the concert!  Anthony passed on a testimony from one of the concert attendees who spoke of leaving the Lord during a dark period of his life; yet, he attributed his eventual, positive turn-around to the influence of Acappella's music.  I never tire of hearing these kinds of testimonies.  I wish we had documented all of them.  The ministry of Acappella continues!

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We're already booking dates in 2010 for Praise & Harmony workshops.  We still have dates available in 2009, but it feels good to be booking over two years out. 

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This period of time is unusually busy.  I haven't taken a day off in almost three weeks, but the projects are all very rewarding and ministry-focused.  In the midst of the busyness, it's comforting to think about the special trips ahead.  It was also an unbelievable treat to experience the hospitality we enjoyed in Morgantown this past weekend.  Let me back up . . . After going to mission churches overseas and moving from church to church regularly, I was pondering how our travels mimic Paul's missionary journey model in some ways.  It's a very biblical model - traveling from church to church.

However, while staying in Morgantown, I realized that the apostle Paul never had it so good.  These fine folks put us up in the finest hotel in town, as we stayed on the 11th floor (having to use our key in the elevator to access that special level.)  Instead of renting a car for us, we were provided a Jaguar for the weekend (my first time in this luxury car).  On the day we arrived, we were treated to a scrumptuous fellowship meal outdoors at sunset with the sweetest Christians.  It was a stunningly beautiful setting - a 200 acre farm, boasting miles and miles of scenic, rolling-hill views.  I jokingly said, "Life is hard."

The worship and singing was intensive and a demonstratively moving experience as all ages offered their best in the assembly.  Later this week, I'll post more photos from this special visit with the Morgantown church.

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I began this post on the topic of technology and will conclude with a mention of my brand new Facebook page.  I guess I'm late to the party?  After receiving an invitation to join alumni of Williamstown Bible College by getting set up on Facebook, I quickly found out first-hand just how many friends and acquaintances are already avid Facebook networkers.  As they say, "Better late than never."  Check out the right column and you'll see my badge to Facebook.  And to think that the service is free?!