We got a visit from a potential drummer and aim to rehearse with him for about a month before putting him on stage.  His “audition” consisted of about 10 minutes of 12 bar blues.  I put him on the spot after the service when he jumped up and performed seemingly without effort.  We may be rocking a full band very soon!

It’s not that I don’t like playing acoustic, though I’ll likely go back to leading most songs on electric and jumping on acoustic when necessary, it’s just that I find myself avoiding some songs so as to not ruin their high octane mojo.

Here’s our setlist:

1. Everyday - Proof that United songs have staying power in my book.  This song hit the printer in 1999.  Wow.
2. You Never Let Go - On my short list of Matt Redman favs.
3. For Who You Are - kudos to my fellow guitarist Derek Varnum for pulling off all the fills on acoustic with delay.
4. Came To My Rescue - Marty Sampson is my hero.

What says you?

I broke my pick in the middle of the first song!  I never break my pick!

I started using Starpicks recently.  They stay grippy between my fingers just fine, but don’t try to use one when they break in half.  ElBen came to my rescue from the front row and pulled a pick from his pocket.  I know, I know, I should always have backups close by.  I was certainly disappointed by my lack of professionalism.

Here’s the setlist, friends:

1. Everyone (Praises) - love me some Desperation Band
2. You Reign - drop this Hillsong United puppy down to G unless you are a man that can sing like a girl
3. Consuming Fire - a killer Tim Hughes song that needs no commentary.  If you were expecting the Third Day version, you’re about 5 years too late.  Plus, I can’t sing like Elvis with a straight face.  Mac Powell, I mean.  Either way.
4. Hungry (Falling On My Knees) - there was a period of about 6 or 7 years where all I sang were Vineyard songs.  Sometimes I miss those years.

Ever break your pick and not have a backup?

I was excited about getting the book when I heard that it was set in the Florida Keys, though many of the geographical details are slightly fictionalized.  I was reminded of my trips to Key West in 1994 and 1995 as I read.  The plot was thick and hairy, as one would expect from the greatest horror author of our time, and I fully expect this story to hit the big screen.

Since I do not collect books around the house, I normally offer books to my friends before taking them to the local public library.  Sitting at Loco’s Deli with about 16 or 17 of my best friends, no one had an interest in reading it.

I jokingly asked our server Justin if he could read and wanted the book.  He’s an extremely nice guy and witty to boot.  I call him Son of Sam (sorry for the bad photo) and he calls me Moby.  After offering the book, he said that he already had a signed copy.  Signed???  Sent by his uncle.  Who’s his uncle?  Stephen King!!!

I never would have made the connection…Justin King from Connecticut.  He rattled off details of the family to prove his honesty, but I stopped him short.  I was jealous enough already.  So, his dad’s dear brother Stephen flies into St. Simons Island occasionally for vacation.  Maybe I can manage to become his gopher boy for a weekend, or something.

Thus concludes my summer reading, encouraged by Mark Lee.

Ever had a seemingly coincidental one degree of separation from someone famous?

Thanks to all who have encouraged me in my season of leading worship with two acoustics and djembe.  As a rocker at heart, it’s trying my patience for sure.  Our team did an excellent job leading the following set:

• King - many thanks to Tree63 for a tune that rocks my world
• No Other Name - Todd Fields
• In the Secret - keeping it old skool
• Hosanna - bringin it back new skool

After rehearsal Monday night, I decided to put our guitar player in his third backup position, drums, and put our percussionist on his second back up, bass, plus myself on electric.  We did a decent job playing through the following all-Hillsong list, but we’re not ready for prime time:

• In Your Freedom
• Devotion
• God of Ages
• You Reign

Now, if I can just be patient enough to wait until we have about 30 songs down, this 3 piece might just hit the road.

Leslie Brooke and I were sitting over at Fred McKinnon’s house right after the Jesus Culture version of John Mark McMillan’s How He Loves hit the stores and I was able to demo the song to him for our church (before they had the vids pulled off You Tube). John’s backstory presented at the Call sold me on the lyrics but Kim Walker’s performance sold me on the whole song.  I’m so glad that we had the song down and that the church was familiar with it by the time this sermon idea came along.  As a result, so many people were singing along that it gave even more power to the testimonies.

Btw, many thanks go out to my wife for being cool enough to buy me an EBOW that I use prechorus here!

Cardboard Testimonies at SSCC from SSCC on Vimeo.