August 17th, 2011
As I begin to enter into another season of songwriting, I continue to hold a deep conviction within me to be someone who “adds” to the conversation creation is having about God, not someone who just regurgitates other artists’ creations (they probably did it better anyway). There are many incredible songs, and it can be so easy to just jump on the bandwagon and draft behind someone else’s momentum without ever seeking that intimate spark of inspiration for yourself. We can forever delve deeper and deeper into the being of God without fear of ever reaching bottom…yet often I settle for what I already know and what I have seen work in the past.
Settling for the mean, that which is safe and popular and acceptable and tested, is mediocre. Scripture doesn’t speak highly of mediocrity. We need risk takers. We need explorers to go before us and call us into new territory.
Are we as artists and creatives forging fresh tracks or following a paved bike path? As you relentlessly pursue the heart of God, where is He taking YOU? How can YOU uniquely add to the conversation?
I’d love to hear your thoughts!
August 3rd, 2011
For the last few years, this vintage suitcase has been the home for my DIY pedalboard:
It may not look like much, but for only costing $3 at Goodwill it did the job…with style! I had made a custom pedalboard by carpeting a 18″ x 24″ piece of MDF that fit inside the suitcase. All in all it was an affordable project! But as I travel around with all my gear, I’ve quickly learned that this pedalboard setup will not do…It was like taming a sea of snakes getting all the power strips and cables into the case! The board itself held all my pedals very well, but I wanted to figure out how to decrease its overall footprint and get rid of my wall warts and power strips.
I needed something sturdier, cleaner, and easier to transport . After a lot of research, I decided on the Pedaltrain 2 w/ flight case. The PT 2 measures 12.5X24X2.5 inches and weighs about 4.5 lbs, the flight case measures 25X18X8 inches and weighs in at 17 lbs. Just big enough to hold my essential gear (talk box didn’t make the cut) and just small enough to realistically fly/travel with.
There is even extra space in the flight case for a wah and any extra cords. A great feature of the Pedaltrain is the ability to mount a power supply underneath the board, saving valuable space on top:
The pedalboard itself is incredibly light and sturdy. The slat design allows for easy and tidy routing of patch and power cables underneath the board, allowing you a cleaner, more compact pedal layout.
I’ve already toyed with several different layouts and really enjoy how easy it is to move pedals around. I currently have all the pedals from my original pedalboard on the pedaltrain (wah is off the board since I don’t always need it and I can still carry it around in the flight case). This current configuration, including wah, expression pedal, and misc cords, clocks in at 43 lbs all packed up in the road case…7 pounds to spare when it comes to checking it on a flight!
I have a Lava Cable mini elc kit in the mail and will be putting together my own cables for a better fit and for better tone. This will also allow for a tighter, cleaner layout.
If you are in the market for a new pedalboard, I’d definitely check out the Pedaltrain series!
April 13th, 2011
“Acoustic-driven anthems and ballads with a touch of electronica that sings the melody of the hurting and healing.”
Here’s is a link to web version of an album review that will be published in the next edition of Worship Leader Magazine. Check it out HERE.
February 8th, 2011
This is a song I recorded a couple years ago for an art show/fundraiser my friends were putting on to raise money for Huruma, an orphanage in Kenya, Africa. I just stumbled across it again and decided to make it a free download, so enjoy! Click HERE and select “save as”.
November 12th, 2010
“Worship was great today”. We’ve all heard this and probably also said it…and most of the time we mean “the band was awesome” or “I really liked the songs they played.” This has been true for me at least.
Continue reading '5 Worship Misconceptions'
November 10th, 2010
This picture represents those moments that cause me to forget all the stress of work, the bills I have to pay, the decisions I have to make, the car I need to be shopping for, and the social media sites I “need” to visit. Its like a pause button, freezing into frame what really matters in my whirlwind of a life. Simplistic joy. Something that, if I get too distracted, disappears into the background. Those sudden pockets of clarity where I realize just how blessed I really am.
What are your little moments? What causes you to stop, smile, and turn off the noise?
October 6th, 2010
“Almost without exception, every great songwriter whom I know personally or that I’ve heard of or read about, uses a specific technique: Some free-associate on legal pads for hours and then pare lists of cross-referenced words or phrases down to related components that can by used in lyric lines. Continue reading 'The Songwriting Process'
October 5th, 2010
Danielle and I recently had the amazing opportunity to shoot some maternity pics with Promise Tangeman Wurzell, and awesome friend and photographer! Continue reading 'Maternity Photoshoot'
October 5th, 2010
A little while ago I was asked by SHRINK the Church to write an article on the evolution of the worship leader and the christian worship sub culture (in my opinion). I had a lot of fun writing it and thought I would repost it here. Make sure to check out all the awesome articles over at SHRINK the Church. Continue reading 'The Evolution of the Worship Leader'
