Current Set List as of 6/28/2014

Artist	Song
Bill Withers	Ain't No Sunshine When She's Gone
Bill Withers Bob Dylan	Use Me Tangled Up In Blue
Bob Dylan	The Times They Are A'Changin
Bob Dylan	Like A Rolling Stone
Bob Dylan	It Aint Me Babe
Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band	Night Moves
Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band	Turn The Page
Buffalo Springfield	For What It's Worth (What's that Sound)
Cold Play	Viva La Vida
Counting Crows	Goodnight Elizabeth
Counting Crows	Mr. Jones
Credence Clearwater Revival	Bad Moon A'Risin
Credence Clearwater Revival	Down on the Corner
Credence Clearwater Revival	I Heard It Through The Grapevine
Dave Matthews	Long Black Veil
Dave Matthews	Space Between
Dobie Gray / Uncle Kracker	Drift Away (Gimme the Beat Boys)
Don McClean	American Pie
Elton John	Rocket Man
Eric Clapton	Wonderful Tonight
Etta James	I'd Rather Go Blind
Garth Brooks	Friends in Low Places
Goo Goo Dolls	Iris
James Taylor	Something In The Way She Moves
Janice Joplin	Bobby McGee
Jimmy Buffet	A Pirate Looks At Forty
Jimmy Buffet	Margaritaville
John Denver	Country Roads
John Lennon/Paul McCartney	Help
John Lennon/Paul McCartney	Let It Be
John Mayer	Daughters
John Mellencamp	Jack and Diane
John Mellencamp	Little Pink Houses
Johnny Cash	Folsom Prison Blues
Johnny Cash	Hurt
Johnny Cash	It Aint Me Babe
Johnny Cash	Ring of Fire
Johnny Cash	Long Black Veil
Johnny Horton/Dwight Yoakim	Honkey Tonk Man
Joni Mitchell	I Wish I Had A River
Lady Antebellum	Need You Now
Leonard Cohen	Hallelujah
Louis Armstrong	What A Wonderful World
Lynyrd Skynyrd	Simple Man
Lynyrd Skynyrd	Sweet Home Alabama
Marshal Tucker Band	Can't You See
Neil Young	Heart of Gold
No Doubt	Don't Speak
Old Crow Medicine Show	Wagon Wheel
Otis Redding	Dock of the Bay
Otis Redding	I Heard It Through The Grapevine
Pearl Jam	Better Man
Pearl Jam	Black
Pink Floyd	Wish You Were Here
Pure Prairie League	Amie
R.E.M.	Losing My Religion
Rich Mullins	Surely God Is With Us
Rich Mullins	You Did Not Have A Home
Simon and Garfunkel	Homeward Bound
Simon and Garfunkel	Mrs. Robinson
Sinead O'conner / Prince	Nothing Compares 2 U
The Band	The Weight (Take a Load Off, Fanny)
The Beatles	Come Together
The Black Crowes	Hard To Handle
The Eagles	Desperado
The Eagles	Take It Easy
The Fray	How To Save A Life
The Georgia Satellites	Keep Your Hands To Yourself
The Head and The Heart	Lost In My Mind
The Indigo Girls	Closer To Fine
The Rolling Stones	Beast Of Burden
The Rolling Stones	Mother's Little Helper
The Rolling Stones	Paint It Black
Tom Petty & Heartbreakers	Candy
Tom Petty & Heartbreakers	Learning To Fly
Tom Petty & Heartbreakers	Mary Jane's Last Dance
Tom Petty & Heartbreakers	Running Down A Dream
Train	Drops of Jupiter
U2	All I Want Is You
U2	Desire
U2	One
Van Morrison	Brown Eyed Girl
Van Morrison	Into The Mystic
Van Morrison	Moondance
Waterdeep	Completely Known

Song List for 10/19/2013 - Cal's

Ain't No Sunshine - Bill Withers
All I Want Is You - U2
Can't You See - Marshall Tucker Band
Completely Known - Waterdeep
Folsom Prison Blues - Johnny Cash
Free Falling - Tom Petty
I'd Rather Go Blind - Etta James
Iris - Goo Goo Dolls
Jack and Diane - John Mellancamp
Little Pink Houses - John Mellancamp
Margaritaville - Jimmy Buffet
Moondance - Van Morrison
Mother's Little Helper - Rolling Stones
Mr. Jones - Counting Crows
Mrs. Robinson - Simon and Garfunkel
Nothing Compares 2 U - Prince/Sinead O'connor
One - U2
Somthing In The Way She Moves - James Taylor
Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynryd
What A Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd
Wonderful Tonight - Eric Clapton

Inspirational: Chad Jones

This is an amazing story. Take 6 minutes, watch this and then if you agree, share it with someone who needs encouragement to keep going in a tough spot.

A description of Baptism

I agree with this description of baptism. What do you think?

Lists and Leaders

I have often been known to hand down lists. The kind of list I'm referring to is a collection of actions to take; maybe even a check-list to accomplish. This works well with my kids. My daughter gets so overwhelmed at the thought of cleaning her room that a list of what steps to take -- and often in which order -- becomes very helpful to her. She has no vision for a clean room, only a mandate by me that she achieve one.

I make lists for myself because I forget things if I don't. I have no milk at the office kitchen currently because I haven't added it to a grocery list yet.

Unfortunately, as useful as lists are in many situations, they can be harmful if I use them in the wrong place. I have the luxury of serving with many leaders on the various teams I oversee. Leaders are people with vision for what is to be accomplished. Leaders want to accomplish what you want to accomplish as badly as you do. (re-read that... I swear it makes sense!) Leaders have to be treated differently than workers… not that they are any more important. They are just two different roles.

If I hand a leader a list of things to do, I’m removing the title of Leader and relabeling them a worker… someone who simply does tasks. Leaders don’t need lists to follow; they need to have the vision clarified and then be released to accomplish it. It’s fine to have expectations regarding the finished product. If you are a director over an area, the results need to meet with your expectations.

And actually, that’s the hardest part. Hashing out the vision for the finished product is hard work, but it’s the most important thing you can do for a leader. Make sure you’re clear on what you’re shooting for and then get out the way. Save your lists for your kids and for shopping trips.

I hope this is helpful,

Corbett

"US" Keys to a good vocal blend

It’s an inside joke among worship vocal teams. But it’s one of those jokes that make you grimace more than it makes you laugh.

How many times have you heard this in a soundcheck before the service? One of the vocalists will ask “Excuse me, Mr. Soundman, but could I get more of me in the monitors?” More often than not, this is a telltale sign that the vocal team has handed over, by default, the whole concept of vocal blend to an often-frazzled, overworked soundperson who just feels lucky if the equipment doesn’t blow up that week.

I don’t believe that the vocal blend is primarily the job of the soundperson—he or she already has way too much to worry about. A pleasant vocal blend is primarily the job of the vocalists, and if a good blend is there from the start, the soundperson can add the polish to make it spectacular.

Begin At The Beginning

What should be the role of the worship vocal team? In my experience, the objective of the vocal team, whether they’re a mass choir or a small ensemble, is to add depth, texture and power to the lead worship vocalist.

In other words, the worship leader’s vocal forms the predominant sound, and the worship vocal team supports the lead vocal. But without a clear objective or strategy, vocal teams typically sound like a bunch of people singing more or less together (usually less).

True Blend

A true vocal blend is developed far away from microphones and soundchecks. It starts by establishing a clear objective and then with a mutual commitment from everyone to listen and contribute to a “unified sound.”

How does a team start to develop a “unified sound”? First, sit down together and honestly analyze the unique attributes that each vocalist brings to the mix. Who is the loudest singer? Who is the softest singer? Are there stylistic differences? Do some of your vocalists sing with a broad, classical vibrato? Do some sing with an alternative edge?

There are two things to keep in mind at this point: 1) subtle differences can create a pleasing dynamic to an overall blend; and 2) not-so-subtle differences can be huge obstacles to a good blend, so everyone must be willing to modify their originality for the sake of the unified sound.

Listen For The “Us”

It’s a simple, yet inescapable truth: if you want to blend with each other, you have to listen to each other. More specifically, you have to stop listening only for your individual sound; and start listening for the group’s unified sound. If you like acronyms, it’s a natural…listen for the “Us.”

Here’s how you start. At a vocal rehearsal, step away from the mics, monitors, and stage; and gather around the piano or guitar, or simply huddle in close and sing a capella. Choose a simple, familiar worship song and start to sing. Have everyone close their eyes if it helps the group focus…and really listen. Ask yourself, “Am I singing too loud so I’m sticking out?” Then pull back. Or, “Am I singing too soft?” Then sing louder. Also ask yourself, “How does my vocal style fit with the group as a whole?” If necessary, modify it to fit the group.

If your team is ready to commit to the “Us,” you’ll be amazed how quickly your signature blend will begin to emerge. It’s fun. It’s exhilarating. And that’s just the starting point.

Now Step Up To The Mics

Once your group has developed your blend away from the microphones, getting a good vocal mix through the sound system becomes much easier. Everyone already knows the adjustments they have to make to achieve the “Us,” so the soundman can start with everything level and then tweak as necessary.

There are many other vocal details to cover (ending consonants, timing, dynamics, harmony structure) but knowing how to develop your group’s signature blend is foundational.

It all starts by listening for the “Us.”

--Paul Herman

10 Things Every New Believer Should Know

(via Brian Mavis)

Recently, a twenty-something friend became a Christian, and he asked me, “What are the top ten things for a new Christian to learn within the first year?” (Apparently, he is a David Letterman fan.)

This is a wise question because if you are off by a few degrees at the start and you travel that path for a while, you will be off by miles later. I know that from experience. I have been a Christian for over twenty-five years, and God has had to redirect me on multiple things because of what I mistakenly believed early on about being a Christian. And it is better to learn sooner than later.

So here are the ten things (not necessarily in any particular order) that I thought my new Christian friend should sink down deep into his heart, head, and hands as he travels his first year with Jesus:

1. The one thing that the Bible emphasizes more than us loving God and people is that God loves us. He loves us first and most. God isn’t in heaven plucking a daisy saying, “I love you” when you obey and “I love you not” when you sin. He cannot not love you (Rom. 5:8 and 1 Jn. 4:16).
2. Your motivation for and the purpose of learning, serving, worshipping, giving, reaching, reading, praying, etc. is to grow relationally more in love with God and people (Mt. 22:36-40).
3. You not only are saved by grace, but you grow by it, too. A common trap for new and growing Christians is trying to clean up their lives without God’s help. This is a false equation: The less you sin = the less you need God’s grace. You can’t sin less and love more without the strength of God’s grace.
4. Don’t trample all over the Great Commandment (love God, love people) trying to obey the Great Commission (go and make disciples). New and enthusiastic Christians often do this. Instead, lead people to Jesus by loving people to Jesus (1 Cor. 13:1-3). If they ask you why live the way you do, humbly and simply share with them why you put your hope in Jesus.
5. Love your neighbors—your literal neighbors—the ones you have, not the ones you wish you had.Do this because you are a Christian, not just because you want them to be Christians.
6. Focus on Jesus, His cross, His resurrection, and His kingdom. When you confessed Jesus as the living Lord and Messiah, you never said—and will never say—anything more meaningful. Jesus is God with skin. No other “religious leader” (Moses, Buddha, Muhammad) is His equal. They were mere men; Jesus is God who became a man. He is the center and circumference—the hub and rim of all of life and creation. All of the world’s greatest gifts—love, life, truth, grace, etc.—have a name. Jesus.
7. God cares about your whole life, not just your “spiritual life.” It is a mistake to think that God is only concerned about a section of your life called “your soul” or “your spirit.” God cares about and is to be Lord of all of your life—personal, emotional, social, familial, financial, physical, vocational, sexual, intellectual, and so on.
8. Love other Christians who go to different churches (or no church at all) and who aren’t like you. Unfortunately, many Christians and churches view their “brand” of Christianity as the only true or most true type of Christianity. They may not think they are the only Christians, but they do think they are the best or most right ones. This is a prideful and sinful attitude that grieves Jesus and dismembers His body. Strive for unity in the body of Christ by praying humbly and thankfully for other Christians.
9. Pray with your Bible open. There are many different spiritual exercises (fasting, solitude, serving, etc.), but the two most important ones are communicating and communing with God through prayer and listening to and learning about God through the Scriptures. Prayerfully read about Jesus (in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). Prayerfully read about the beginning of the church in a book called Acts. Prayerfully read some letters written by Christians for Christians—some good ones to start with are James, Philippians, and Ephesians.
10. Find a Christian mentor. You will need help and encouragement in this journey with Jesus. Ask an older Christian (of the same gender as you) to mentor you. Look for someone who displays the attitudes and actions that were described above. Be a blessing to them in return.

Christianity is not a list, but a life; it’s not a chart, but a charter. But new Christians will learn new things. Some of those things will be true but not important. Some things will be off by degrees that can lead them astray. Other things will be just plain wrong. Help new Christians learn to follow Jesus by being their best at what matters most to Him.