Worship Gear I Use

I always find it interesting to see what other musicians are using these days, so I thought I would share some of my equipment that I use every weekend.  I buy all my equipment from Ye Old Music Shop in Hanahan, SC. These guys hands down have the best prices and customer service. Check them out! 

Microphone-  Shure SLX24/BETA87A Hand-Held Wireless Condenser Microphone System  

                     Wired Shure Beta 87-A Mic

**These work best for my voice.  Its important to get something that works with your vocals.**

Acoustic Guitar- Breedlove  C25/SR with Breedlove case.

Electric- Fender Telecaster (Sunburst)

             Ibanez hollow-body

Guitar Picks- Dunlop Tortex Standard (I prefer the orange ones because I constantly lose pics)

Capos- Acoustic: G7th and Electric: Kyser 

Amp- Fender Blues Jr. III (Just got this amp and I am in love)

Effects: Pedal Train 2 with hard case for rack and power

            Keeley Compressor (Best on the market)

            Ibanez Tube Screamer

            TC Electronics Overdrive Mojo Mojo (Iphone Compatible)

            TC Electronics Flash back Delay (Iphone Compatible)

            Dunlop Volume Pedal

**When it comes to effects I keep it simple.**  

Set-List for Freedom Church 12-18-11

Freedom is Here- Hillsong 

Angels we Have Heard on High- Chris Tomlin Version 

My Soul Magnifies the Lord- Chris Tomlin 

Run Run Rudolph- Chuck Berry 

Revelation Song- Kari Jobe

He Is- Healing Place Church 

All Creation Sing (Joy to the World)- Steve Fee 

Freedom Church Set-List 11-20-11

I am really excited about our set-list this weekend. We will be introducing a new Elevation Church song called “Exalted One” off of their new album that will release on Monday November 21st. We are honored that they chose to send our band an advance copy of the album and all of their chord charts. I will say that this is a great worship album! Elevation is a big supporter of us at Freedom Church! BTW you can download a free track from their album at http://www.elevationworship.com/album/for-the-honor-release-date/

Set-List for 11-20-11

Set Free- Chris Tomlin
Exalted One- Elevation Church
The Lord is My Rock- Elevation Church
Unashamed- Starfield
How Great is Your Faithfulness- Matt Redman
It Was for Freedom- New Life Worship

It has got to stop…

Disclaimer : I am guilty as sin on this topic.  I have sought out repentance and this is an area that God is still working on in my life. 

I am seeing a disturbing trend with pastors and leaders in the Church today.  It seems like every time I turn around someone is taking a shot at someone’s church.  They find every reason to trash someone else’s church.  The sad thing is that it is normally a church in their own community.  Two reasons why I believe pastors/leaders church bash: 1. They are insecure about their own leadership  2. They feel threatened with that church.

I know that the American churches are in trouble.  I know that over the past 50 years denominations have been on a steady decline.  I don’t need to keep hearing all the negatives.  The Church does not need to hear how horrible they are at what they are doing. Maybe the reason they are not doing well is because they have been told over and over that they are horrible at ministry. Would you ever tell a kid over and over again that they are horrible at life? No you wouldn’t! Why? Because you know good and well that it would have negative effects on that child’s life.

Let’s try something different…How about we follow the model of Jesus and begin showing the Church what it can be? Jesus didn’t need to tell the blind man he was blind and He didn’t need to tell the dead that they were lifeless. They knew their conditions.  Jesus just needed to tell them there was hope and a plan for them.  They needed to hear His voice.  How about we encourage local churches rather than slam them every chance we get? How about we tell them what God can do through them if they will just follow His voice.

Hey pastor/leader rather than putting that Church down next time how about you write them an encouraging letter?.  Lay your pride down for a second and pick up a pen and write. How about when you ride by that church that you pray over it.

Maybe right now you will find yourself where I have been and need to repent over things you have said.  Whatever you have to do please do it.  The Church will never change if we constantly bash her.

Freedom Church Set-List 10-16-11

This weekend we will be in week 2 of our series Amazing Grace.  Our topic this weekend will be Graceful Confrontation. Be assured that Pastor Shawn’s message  will be powerful and life changing! Freedom people who are you bringing this weekend?

We are the Free-Matt Redman

Your Grace is Enough- Chris Tomlin

All We Need – Charlie Hall

Grace Greater Than Our Sin- Remixed Hymn

You Alone Can Rescue- Matt Redman

Forever- Chris Tomlin

Book Review: IR-REV-REND

Pastor Greg Surratt (Pastor of Seacoast Church) is one of the most humble men that you will ever meet.  I am a little biased because Pastor Greg serves as an overseer for our church. With that aside, he is very humble and transparent.  Its his humility and transparency that made his book IR-REV-REND an incredible read. Pastor Greg gives great insight to topics such as worship, family, doubt, money, and many others. His book is a must read for everyone! I promise you will laugh and will be hooked on his every word! You can purchased a copy of his book by clicking here. Below are some of my favorite quotes from the book!

“It doesn’t matter how many chariots the other guy has when God is on your side.” Pg. 3

“We will not believe in God most fully until we despair of ourselves more completely.” Pg. 44

“When things don’t go well, after the tears we usually look for someone to blame. Leaders make a handy, accessible target.” Pg. 56

“God has two things going for him that you don’t: Time and Perspective. He is never in a hurry and he knows the future.” Pg. 93

“Blessing always follows obedience” Pg. 124

“You need some separation to throw rocks. You need proximity to have influence.”  Pg. 164

Critics, you gotta love them

Critics…When you hear that word does it make your stomach churn? Its important to note here that not all criticism is a bad thing.  Some criticism can very helpful. An example of this is when my boss (Pastor Shawn Wood) tells me things that I as a leader need to work on.  I appreciate that criticism because he has a concerned interest for me.  He cares about who I am, so I don’t mind him speaking into my life.

Unfortunately  not all criticism is wanted. Negative critics can bring pain and hurt with the words that they use.  Our church from time to time takes shots from people in and out of the community (BTW this seems to be normal in church planting).  Does it hurt? yep! Does it hinder our mission of reaching those far from God? Nope! Heres why…Critics DO NOT dictate our calling as a church.  Critics DO NOT define who we are as a church. Critics DO NOT define me as a leader.  Pastor Perry Noble once said, “If Jesus and Paul could not please everybody then you can’t either”.  When critics attack you or your church you have to walk away with your character intact. You goal is for God to look at you and say, “thats how I would have handled it.”  You have to have tough skin and a soft heart. Be prepared when negative criticism comes your way!

My Current Reading List

Torn by Pastor Jud Wilhite

You may be experiencing a time of such darkness that you wonder if you will ever find “normal” again or look toward the future with hope. In Torn, Jud explores your questions as well as God’s answers—and God’s mysteries. With a pastor’s heart, he looks with you at practical ways to fight for joy, deal with anger and depression, and make the million tiny decisions that add up to a life committed to God, even when your heart is broken.

The Art of Curating Worship by Mark Pierson

The Art of Curating Worship promotes a new vocabulary to help worship curators work out how and why and where worship can best engage their community, inside and outside the church, in transformative encounters with God.

Ir-revend by Pastor Greg Surratt

Whatever you may think about the “typical” pastor, throw it out. Do they make bad decisions? Yes. Commit sin and experience severed relationships? Yes and yes. Pastor Greg Surratt is not perfect, and he unashamedly tells the stories that have strengthened his faith. He writes that the choice to follow Christ is never clean, is often scary, is usually clothed in mystery, and is always an adventure.

Whats Been Rockin my Ear-Drums