“Write with the door closed and rewrite with the door open”

How does this strike you?

Bob Kauflin:

1. Aim to write the next worldwide worship hit.
2. Spend all your time working on the music, not the words.
3. Spend all your time working on the words, not the music.
4. Don’t consider the range and capabilities of the average human voice.
5. Never let anyone alter the way God originally gave your song to you.
6. Make sure the majority of your songs talk about what we do and feel rather than who God is and what he’s done.
7. Try to use as many Scriptural phrases as you can, and don’t worry about how they fit together.
8. Cover as many themes as possible.
9. Use phrases and words that are included in 95% of all worship songs.
10. Forget about Jesus and what he accomplished at the cross.

“Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.”

Jeremiah 15:16

Christ came:

“to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace” (Luke 1:79).

What if our songs were so drenched in passion for Christ, exalted Biblical visions of Christ, and so magnified Christ that they helped accomplish this verse in people’s lives?

This is what I enjoyed most about my time away:

• Mount Hermon, California – absolutely beautiful. Massive redwood trees, great weather, beautiful retreat center.
• Hanging out with Bob Kauflin – Bob was one of the keynote speakers who I was able to get some one on one time with. I’ve rarely been so affected by a person – visible love for God, love for people, and all around great guy.
• Hearing Derek Webb speak and sing – marvelous.
• Visiting random Mexican restaurants with my Dad.
• Drinking an iced blended coffee at ‘Coffee Cat’ that was even better than a Starbuck’s Frappacino.
• Realizing the highest calling as a worship leader/songwriter is ministering in a local church setting to a specific body of people. Super-stardom should not be the highest goal of a minister.
• Getting to record my song ‘Rising Glory’ for a potential CCLI TV broadcast!
• Having a roommate named Socrates – what a great guy!
• Connecting with Ben Gowell.
• Meeting some great songwriters and worship leaders from around the country.