I’ve been privileged to serve in the ministry for twelve years, the last five being at my current church. How to approach Easter Sunday has always been a hot topic of conversation.

For years we put a special emphasis on our Sunday morning services. We knew this was when most of our worshipers would attend, so it just made sense to focus the majority of our attention on these services. I would typically select a 30 minute cantata with narration and congregational singing, then our pastor would have the rest of the service.

Several factors made us rethink this approach, not the least of which being the hit we would take in attendance at our Easter Sunday evening service. Honestly, it was a let down to lead a service that pailed in comparison to the morning worship. Eventually we decided to transform our Easter Sunday evening into a musical production format–similar to our Christmas programs–complete with drama, music, sets, etc. This ultimately became an outreach tool to reach our community for Christ, and it freed up the stress (and clutter?) of our morning worship.

Now, our Easter Sunday morning worship looks much like our other worship services. We might add an additional special music selection, or include a drama scene from the upcoming musical, but we have been able to focus primarily on the preaching, which is a good thing.

Last year was the first year with this new format, and it was a venture of faith. We had no idea how our church and the community would respond to this change. We were pleasantly pleased with the response. Our packed church participated in a phenomenal evening of worship. Our members rallied around the concept, and worked hard to invite their friends and associates. Souls were saved. Believers were encouraged. Christ was exalted.

How does your church celebrate Christ’s resurrection at Easter?

I’m excited about this year’s Easter program. But then, I get excited at just about everything we do at our church!

This program, entitled “I Stand Redeemed,” is an adaptation of a musical (Brentwood) called “Then Came the Morning.” The program is a collection of songs and narration, with an optional drama available for free download on their site. It is the powerful drama which was the compelling factor in deciding to choose this program. This is the second year we are doing this Easter production (more about that later), so not only were we familiar with it, but we were able to adapt it to fit our theme.

Here is the list of songs our choir, ensembles, soloists and orchestra will be using to weave the message of redemption together with the drama. (I’ve included links for the songs that we are adding to the program this year.)

• Redeemed! I needed an upbeat song to open the program that would help establish our theme. What better song than “Redeemed, How I Love to Proclaim It”? I thought I found an arrangement of it, but it was out of print, and the publisher dragged their feet in providing me permission to reproduce the song. So I wrote my own arrangement.
• He Comes to Us with Love. I love the message of this song which clearly acknowledges that we come to Jesus with nothing, and yet He offers us everything.
• He Touched Me. Over the years, I have learned that this song of personal testimony is loved by many. This solo feature arrangement with choir backup is a highlight of the program at our church.
• The Breaking of the Bread. This song reflects the Last Supper, and reminds us of the significance of the bread and wine. This song works well for an ensemble or small group.
• The Debt. This powerful song–perhaps my favorite in the program–is a bold identification with the sufferings of Christ on the cross, and a stark reminder that what He did on the cross resulted in the payment of the penalty of my sins.
• Lamb of God. A new addition to our program this year, this song is an offering of gratitude for the sacrifice of the perfect “Lamb,” Jesus Christ.
• Then Came the Morning. Easter is all about the resurrection, so this song is where things get exciting. This powerful anthem is a narrative of the events that took place at the resurrection.
• Stronger. Another new addition, this song of adoration emphasizes the reality that Christ is able to defeat sin and the grave.
• I Stand Redeemed. Our program culminates with this powerful anthem that seeks to answer the question, What does the resurrection of Christ mean to me? As born-again believers (people who have put their faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation), it means (among many wonderful things) that one day we will stand before God as His redeemed, and it means that, in His eyes, regardless of my faults and failures, I stand righteous before Him today.

Our goal? Simply put, we believe this program will be a tremendous blessing to believers, and an effective outreach to our community for the gospel.

What is your church doing this year?

Below is an audio interview I did with Paul Schmutzler at Piano Animato. He was interested in my background, and some of the creative processes involved in arranging music. Enjoy!

I’d like to see more commercials like this (which aired on Saturday evening, January 14th, 2012) on television:

The Bach Cello Suites are some of my favorite music. But you have to hear this take on one of the more popular songs. I just recently came across this video produced by The Piano Guys, and thought you might enjoy the level of creativity.

Recently I took my three children to a local play land at a fast food restaurant. It was a chance for me to get the children away from the house on a rainy day, and it gave my wife a nice break.

Towards the beginning of our time, I observed a father who was hollering at his boys. They weren’t even doing anything wrong; they were just annoying him. One of them had trouble with his shorts falling down, and the dad blew up at him about it. He kept losing his temper, saying, “Get over here! Right now!” Then, another one spilled drink down his shirt. That was the end. His dad ripped into him and said things like, “Now look what you did. Now I have to change your shirt!”

The dad’s behavior was embarrassing.

Then, towards the end of our time, there was a child who was being mean to my children. (Let’s just say there was blood, and lots of tears.) Now, my children can sometimes play a little rough, so when they are the ones being roughed up, I tend to be very forgiving, mainly because I know how it feels to be the parent of a rowdy child. After I consoled my kids, I observed the mother’s behavior. She simply took her son, held him, and said, “You are not allowed to play any more.” She was gracious, apologetic to me, and calm with her child. She didn’t raise her voice, yet she still dealt with the injustice that took place.

Even though her son might have been acting like a holy terror, this mother’s behavior was commendable.

It was good for me to see that. As I seek a proper balance in my parenting (not authoritative, and not permissive), it’s helpful to be handed some real-life experiences to observe.

This past weekend our church hosted a parenting conference. It was—hands down—the best conference I’ve ever attended, probably in large part due to the fact that it was extremely practical and helpful for my current situation as a father of three young children. I gained many valuable insights from the conference, but one truth that really hit me was the reminder that we are to lead by example. This is an obvious element of leadership, and an important part of parenting.

In a recent office reorganization, I came across a paper that was handed to me by a former colleague at a Christian school where I taught music. This teacher had asked his students to write a paragraph about one teacher they wanted to be like when they grew up, and why. One student chose me. It was a very interesting paper. My fellow teacher gave me the paper, and he wrote at the bottom, “You are being watched.”

I kept that paper, not just because the student was a smart kid (anyone who wants to be like me is smart, after all), but because it’s a reminder that I am being watched. My testimony matters. What I do and say is being observed. I’m not an island to myself.

It’s important to remember that we each have influence. There’s a fella I run into regularly who continually reminds me of the influence I have on his children and others. Honestly, it kind of scares me. At the very least it keeps me in check and reminds me that my faithfulness to God not only matters to me, but it matters to a whole lot of other people.

In the end, our goal as Christians is to be like Christ (the perfect example). Let’s further purpose to encourage those within the scope of our influence to be like Christ, and I can’t think of a better way to do that than by being the right kind of example.

I recently saw this shocking video online. The video itself is not shocking; it’s the message that is.

To fully understand it, you might want to read this scripture first:

The tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be (James 3:8-10).

I guess a better question is, Could this be me? It kind of puts things into perspective, doesn’t it?

Our church recently presented a special service that we called the Tender Mercies Service. It was an opportunity for the church to be reminded about God’s greatness and care for His children during our difficulties and trials. It was a memorable service. I’ve provided it here for you to watch.

So in my quest for the perfect look for my website, I updated my blog design with the Standard Theme. Nothing short of awesomeness, I believe. Simple, and sweet. It’s still being tweaked, but the basic concept is in place. What do you think about it?

For you blogging and website design techies, the internal debate I commonly hold involves whether I should have a “static” front page, with merely a link to the blog, or have the main page be the blog. For now I have chosen to put the blog on the main page. For one, I use this site quite a bit to inform you, the reader, of new songs available, and when I’m not doing that, well, I’m blogging. So it just sort of made sense to keep the blog front and center. If you look around, you can still find the free piano songs (which are wildly popular), and the choral music listing. (Be forewarned, the next sentence contains a shameless plug.) And, yes, there’s still a link to that piano CD, which is still available for purchase or download.

Speaking of internal debates regarding blogging, on occasion I admittedly have questioned my motives for blogging. What is, in fact, the reason I even have a website? I suppose it wouldn’t be entirely truthful to say that it’s not about self-promotion. I am, indeed, promoting what I do. (I’d like to think that at least one or two sales of my music were made as a result of this website.) But it’s my prayer that I promote what I do with the motive of being an encouragement to you and your ministry. So I guess I view this website as an act of service, a part of my ministry.

In the final analysis, if there’s anything good that comes from this website, it’s not because of me. It’s because of Christ.

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20).

People often ask me how I have time to write music and keep my day job. (I don’t think I write all that much music; but I guess some people think I do.) It’s true: you make time for what you enjoy. And I enjoy writing music. Truthfully, it’s my No. 1 hobby.

The main thing that keeps me excited about writing music is the fact that I often get to see it be used in a specific way. Whether it’s being sung by our choir or an ensemble, or being played by our instrumental ensemble, or even as a solo, it’s just enjoyable to write something you know is going to be used in a tangible way.

Occasionally I will write a song for a specific publisher, or for a specific project that may never involve me actually using the piece. But my most inspiring music usually comes when I’m creating for the groups and ensembles that I serve with on a regular basis.

If you have the bug for writing music, I’d encourage you to write music for whatever groups you have the opportunity to be a part of. Use them as your “guinea pigs.” Make it an enjoyable experience. Encourage feedback and suggestions. You never know how helpful it might be. (I once completely changed a section of a song based on a random suggestion from a friend.)

We live in a world in which your worth is based on what you achieve and accomplish. It seems that one’s value is based on one’s level of success. Tragically, this thinking has seeped into the church.

And yet, this thinking goes completely against the teaching of the Bible. God doesn’t emphasize success, but rather faithfulness (see Psalm 31:23; 101:6; Proverbs 28:20; Matthew 25:21; Luke 16:10; 1 Corinthians 4:2; Revelation 17:14). In fact, it seems as though He could care less about my achievements, especially if they are not marked with complete obedience and submission to His will.

We don’t serve an overbearing God who demands our complete and utter success. Instead, He’s more interested in our faithfulness in the process. Instead of being discouraged by the outcome, let’s keep our eyes on the plow.

Even in ministry work, it’s a continual temptation to evaluate my success and worth based on what I do. The truth is, God will never be impressed by me. I recently heard someone say that there is nothing I can do to make God love me more, and there is nothing I can do to make Him love me less. That’s encouraging.

Ironically, this actually motivates me to want to do more, to press ahead, and do great things for God. That’s a good thing to desire, with a great motivation. Scripture reminds us that we are to be “stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58). God wants me to be diligent; He’s going to take care of the results.