Archive for May, 2014

“Why Has My Congregation Stopped Singing?” published

Friday, May 23rd, 2014

The American Church Magazine just published an article I wrote called “Why Has My Congregation Stopped Singing?” It’s a practical article about things churches can do to increase participation in worship. I visit so many churches every year, and I see the same things over and over again – I just felt compelled to write it. Now that I have, the response has been tremendous! It was a real struggle for me to keep it to the length the magazine asked for. Maybe I should make it a book?

You can find it here – let me know what you think and what your church does well or could improve in the comments!

Maranatha Spring Tea

Sunday, May 18th, 2014
At Maranatha Baptist's Spring Tea

At Maranatha Baptist’s Spring Tea

Last night I got to do the speaking and music for Maranatha Baptist’s annual Spring Tea. This was just a beautiful event. It’s held in a very standard gym, but it was amazing how the women transformed it, and they had worked so hard to make it lovely for all the women coming! This is an outreach event they do every year for their family, friends, and co-workers, and we heard afterward that several women started a relationship with the Lord that night. There is nothing better you could ever tell me! They treated me so kindly, it was just a pleasure to be with them. Thanks for having me!

Just bragging a little…

Monday, May 12th, 2014
Rachel finishing a round.  She's in the center with the bun.

Rachel finishing a round. She’s in the center with the bun.

Allow me a mom moment here. All of my kids do interesting and sometimes unusual things, and this week I got to take our younger daughter, Rachel, to compete in the nationals for archery. She qualified last year too and got eighth in the country! Since my only experience with archery was at summer camp as a kid with arrows shaped more like boomerangs, I am lucky to still be alive. We have no idea where she got this talent.

Nationals were held in Louisville, KY and we took my mom along too – three generations together for girl time. It’s a really interesting thing to do, actually. There are thousands of archers from all over the country and they are competing hundreds at a time. Rachel has moved up an age division, so this year she was competing against her grade and also the two above it. She had an arrow go bad in the second to the last round, but she still tied her personal best competition score and took 22nd. We were so proud of her! I don’t know how she does it, but she stays cool as a cucumber.

Thanks for letting me brag a bit. Hopefully I’ll get to do it again next year. 🙂