Thoughts on Song Selection

From time to time I'll be asked what criteria we use to evaluate new songs for congregational worship. Although these thoughts don't encompass every aspect of my own thinking, they are recommended reading:

http://stephen-miller.com/worship-outward-expressiveness/

A Lesson from NBC's "The Voice"

Some of you may be familiar with the NBC show "The Voice", a spin on the American Idol formula where the judges (who are well-known singers) actually coach contestants through the competition. One of this year's contestants is Anthony Evans, a gospel recording artist and worship leader and son of well-known evangelical teacher Tony Evans.

I was recently reading an interview with Anthony where he was talking about working with Christina Aguilera (his vocal coach) and the different approach he has to take on the show:

"The kind of singing Christina does is great and I love it, and I can keep up with her on a stage when it's about me. But in Christian music and leading worship, I have to almost think opposite of her; I can't sing like that when I'm leading worship. Even though I might have the ability to do it, I am trying to engage people into singing with me. I am not singing at them. The difference about being here at The Voice is that I am singing at people, and they want to be impressed. So my mindset has to flip, and that's been the hardest thing, thinking, Impress them. Do not engage them. You're not trying to engage their hearts. You're trying to impress them. That's my biggest challenge here."

I love the point that Anthony made - that when we lead people in worship, it's not about impressing them with our talents or giving them a performance to enjoy - it's about engaging them. As lead worshippers, we have to work against the cultural trends of American Idol and arena concerts where it's all about virtuoso performances to be enjoyed and applauded. Instead of using our gifts to attract attention to ourselves, we use our gifts to point people to Jesus. As Paul Baloche has said, "The mark of an effective worship leader is that they become somewhat invisible while God becomes the center of attention".

God is Able

This Sunday we are introducing another new song called "God is Able." P. Brian Rice will be preaching from Philippians 4:13, where Paul says that "I can do all this through him who gives me strength." I think this song will help us 1) prepare our hearts to hear from God's Word, and 2) respond to what we have heard through declaring this truth together.

Like any worship song, it is a means by which we might connect with God - or, as Constance Cherry says in her book Worship Architect - have a dialogue with Him.

On this Monday morning, I encourage you to take 5 minutes of your day and watch this video of Hillsongs performing "God is Able". Sure, you could check out what the musicians are doing, or the platform presence aspect - but I want you to just receive the message of this song. I want our hearts to be filled with this truth - that God is with us, for us, able to do immeasurably more than we could ever ask or imagine.

Platform Presence - What We Communicate Non-Verbally

Last fall we introduced this concept of "platform presence" - what we are communicating non-verbally when we are leading others in worship. We've been showing you a series of videos from Gateway Church in Texas, and I've been sending you links to watch our services on livestream. I want to see us grow as lead worshippers - and part of that growth will involve growing in our physical expressiveness.
The truth is, talking about "platform presence" might strike you as overkill, or uncomfortable, or unnecessary. C'mon, we're here to sing and play and call it a day, right? But here's the reality - half of what we communicate is non-verbal. If we were in a studio laying down tracks it wouldn't matter one bit...we could be yawning, slouching, look like we're flatlining. But we're not in a studio - we are out front, visible, and we have the responsibility of modeling what it means to be an engaged worshipper. This includes us instrumentalists as well as the vocalists.
We are always communicating something when it comes to our "platform presence" - nervousness, joy, apathy, intensity, etc. I may think I am communicating joy or engagement, but in reality it may be something else entirely (hence why reviewing video is helpful). Most of us have spent years singing and/or playing, working on our craft, to get to our current state of musical skill. It makes sense to think that it will take some time & work to improve our non-verbal skills. And I believe that the time and energy we invest in this area will pay dividends.
If we desire to worship God in a way that brings Him honor and fame we can't ignore what we are saying with our physical being. I want to do everything to make sure your (our) hearts are shining through. I don't want anyone to look up at us and question whether we are engaged with God. I love seeing our worship team exude authentic passion and joy. It is contagious and invitational.
Below are the Gateway Videos we have shown (most) of the team so far...if you haven't seen one or more of these please take a few minutes to watch them. In the spring we'll be asking you to do some self-evaluation and we'll be basing it on the concepts in these videos.

~Line of Sight



~Body Language & Listening Positions




~Facial Expressions




~Working with Equipment

Tips to Keep Your Voice Healthy

Tim Carson is a vocal coach whose warm-up CDs I've used for several years. I've attended one of his vocal workshops and have appreciated his instruction.

Tim just posted a video on keeping your voice healthy during the holiday season. Check it out!

It Could Always Be Worse

As musicians we know there's always the potential for a "train wreck" on any given Sunday morning - of course we do our best to minimize the potential, but things happen. And when you're involved in one of those not-so-beautiful musical collisions, you just wish there was a drop door somewhere where you could go MIA for a few hours. Been there.

Well, in this Christmas season, take heart - it could always be worse! Check out examples A & B at this MUSICADEMY link!

Oh man, the video is a riot but I think the audio of the "Hallelujah Chorus" is more painful to hear!

For the Guitar Players...

Given that I've been playing guitar way less than I've been playing piano, I'm always looking to further refine and develop my skills on the six-string. So whenever I come across a helpful article I want to pass it along to my fellow guitar playing brethern.

Bob Kauflin recently posted an interview with Greg Hagan, a session player and worship leader. The article was posted in two parts:

http://www.worshipmatters.com/2011/01/25/interview-with-greg-hagan-on-becoming-a-better-guitarist-pt-1/

http://www.worshipmatters.com/2011/01/26/interview-with-greg-hagan-on-becoming-a-better-guitarist-pt-2/

Take a few moments to read over Greg's comments...without stealing his thunder, there was a few things that really stood out to me:

• The importance of keeping good time - we tend to think of this as more the drummer's role, but anyone playing a rhythm instrument needs to keep the groove steady. You'll tire of me saying this, but working with a click is THE best way to keep it locked in.
• This is a great quote: "If you play acoustic guitar, you really need to make sure your strumming pattern very closely resembles the kick and snare pattern of the song and make it your goal to not get ahead of the drummer. Ease up on the intensity of your strumming and focus on groove."
• Record (audio and/or video) yourself playing - we grow through intentional evaluation and adjustment

Parable of the Talents & Calling

Recently I've been thinking a lot about the idea of calling, and how we can more fully live into the things into which God has called you and me.

It began with P. Steve's message the first Sunday of the new year when he talked about the Parable of the Talents (Matt. 25:14-30). The way I interpret this story can be summed up in the statement "to whom much is given much is required." P. Steve pointed out that in the NT, a "talent" was a monetary measurement roughly equivalent to a million dollars. The master was entrusting a very large sum of money to his servants.

Although the parable speaks in terms of monetary wealth, I do think it's OK to interpret "talent" more generally, in the sense of special skills and gifts we've received from God (who is the Ultimate Giver - James 1:17). In our culture we think of talent more in terms of specialized abilities - such as, he has a real talent for playing football, or she is a talented teacher. If you are on the worship team you possess a certain talent, or perhaps multiple talents. You play an instrument(s), or you sing (maybe both). You've developed this talent to a point where it can be used to lead others into God's presence.

As P. Brian put it in his message this past Sunday, you "feel God's pleasure" when you use your talent in music to lead others in worship.

So how does this fit in with calling?

Jesus expects His followers to be faithful stewards of the "talents" that his Father so freely distributes. I believe He wants us to be maximize these talents to 1) glorify God and worship Him, and 2) minister to those around us. If you think about it, this is the essence of our calling. Sure, we each have specific "roles", be they vocational (to be a stay-at-home mom, or counselor, or investment banker), relational (to be a father or mother, husband or wife) or in ministry. But in each of these roles the calling is the same - to glorify God and minister to the people He's surrounded us with. Or, to put it another way, to live out the two greatest commandments: to love God and love others as yourself (Matt. 22:34-40).

So the question is, how well are we living out our calling with a capital C? How well are we stewarding the gifts, abilities, resources, influence that God has given us?

Here are some thoughts to ponder - particularly in the realm of continuing to grow as worship musicians:

• What area do I need to grow in from a musical standpoint?
• What skill would I like to improve in the coming year?
• What areas are showing signs of rust or are beginning to stagnate?
• How can I better connect my singing/playing with the goal of leading others in singing and worship?
• Is there a way I can my musical gift outside of Sunday morning?

That's just a short list...and by no means do I want to make talents & calling all about your singing and playing on the worship team. That's just one way God has specifically gifted and called us - but there may be - there are - many others.

Would love to hear your thoughts on this subject!

This One is for the Drummers...

Since I posted a link to an article for bass players a few days ago I felt it was only right to give something to the other half of the band's foundation, the drummers.

http://www.worshipmatters.com/2010/05/21/three-keys-to-becoming-a-better-studio-or-any-kind-of-drummer/

It goes without saying that the bass and drums go together like peanut butter and jelly - they are the glue that holds the band together and keeps the groove tight.

Helpful Post for Bass Players

If you know me you know I'm a big fan of Sovereign Grace Ministries and their worship director Bob Kauflin. The latest post on his blog (worshipmatters.com - link on the right) is titled "Becoming a Better Bass Player". If you are a bass player you should check out this post:

http://www.worshipmatters.com/2010/12/03/becoming-a-better-bass-player/

Good thoughts on continuing to develop your skills as a bass player. I feel blessed to work with such skilled players (that goes for the whole team too).

Something to Ponder

“Music is the river on which the Church’s worship is carried. It offers us not only the God-glorifying experience of ear-pleasure; but more importantly, singing unites our minds and bodies and spirits in a way that enables us to bring our whole selves into worship, both individually and corporately, communicating at the deepest levels with our Creator. Those who lead the Church in song are called to this fulfilling work: to invite God’s people to use the breath of our bodies to commune with the One who gives us breath” – Calvin College Pamphlet

Top 10 Do's and Dont's for Worship Drummers

For my drumming brethern...this article is both insightful and funny...worth a look

http://www.musicademy.com/2010/10/top-ten-do%e2%80%99s-and-don%e2%80%99ts-%e2%80%93-drummers/

Vocal Blend - The Spice Analogy

You may recall that I took a few moments at our Sept. worship team meeting to talk about the "continuum of style", illustrated by a diagram I drew on a whiteboard (actually, it's still up there, and believe me, that says a lot more about how often we use the whiteboard than the profundity of my diagram). When I say "style" I mean a genre of music, like pop, jazz, gospel, etc.


When it come to "style" each of us have different backgrounds and influences. Some of us lean more towards jazz or R&B; others more rock and independent. Clint loves drip-hop (inside joke). So the reality of being a part of a larger team is that there are any number of various styles of singing & playing "in the mix" when we come together to lead others in worship.

Why is this important to understand? Because, by definition, singing & playing as a "team" assumes that we are striving to create a unified sound on any given song/set. Not uniform (meaning no room for interpretation, personal touches, etc.) but unified. So, with the awareness that we all fall somewhere on the style continuum, you can see that achieving a unified sound doesn't just happen. It requires awareness, intentionality, and humility.

Acknowledging that we all have different influences, instincts and sensibilities, how do we come together as singers and players? At some point all of our various instincts must boil down to a blend that's appealing - much like all of the spices that go into a soup have to blend together well enough to be appetizing. Too much of any one spice will overpower the soup. Likewise, put in the wrong spices for a certain recipe and you may have a culinary disaster on your hands!

Some thoughts on achieving the unified sound:

1. Awareness - being aware of our musical influences and sensibilities is so important. Maybe you've never thought much about your own - but you have them. Having an awareness of these will allow us to appreciate what we bring vs. what someone else might be bringing. We can't assume that the other person will interpret something the same way.
   
   
2. Intentionality - with an awareness of our style, we become that much more intentional on what we will be contributing to the "mix". As the band leader communicates what he/she is looking for - something close to the original recording, or something altogether different - I need to (as a singer and player) consider how I can support that vision. For instance, I like to add the spice of a triplet piano feel (a style made popular by bands like Coldplay) - but this probably won't work on "Only a God Like You"! So, I switch to more B3 sounds to support the style that the leader is shooting for. Or, if you're a drummer, you may love tom rolls, but unless we're doing a cover of Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight" it may not be appropriate. I'm having fun here :)
   
   Each band/team gravitates towards a musical center...you can see a hypothetical illustration in the above diagram. Being aware of our team's musical center - at this time and place, pop/contemporary/rock - we thus tailor our contributions to support the musical center. Does what I'm singing/playing compliment the center?
   
   ALSO - This has significant implications for those of us who are vocalists - see below.
   
3. Humility
   When we're trying to achieve a unified sound we will - if we're doing it right - be consistently asked to lay aside our own personal instincts, influences, styles for the sake of the common goal. Let me again be careful to say that it's not a matter of leaving all sense of your musical identity on the sidelines! We each have a unique musical story worth celebrating. But, if all of us think our own interpretation needs to be heard we are going to end with a sound that is, at best conflicted, at worst, schizophrenic. So we listen to what the leader is asking for. We listen to each other. Above all, we SERVE THE SONG!

VOCALS
This idea of being "unified" is especially important for vocalists. It's the difference between having 3 soloists or 1 unified voice. You can't have one person singing soulfully, the other person singing straight and the other with a folksy approach - well, you can, but it won't be a pleasant experience. We need to strive for a unified sound.

Came across a helpful video that goes into some detail on how vocalists can blend better - thinking about tone vs. breath, active listening. It's not just a matter of supporting vocalists making their voice jive with the worship leader, it's everybody being aware of their styles and adjusting to serve the song!

CCLI TV video clip

This Week - Psalm 6 thru 10

We are in the 2nd week of our journey through the Psalms. Last week we were to read Psalms 1 through 5. This week we are reading Psalms 6 through 10.

Last night at rehearsal I shared that as we read through the Psalms (really any Scripture passage) the Holy Spirit can often direct our attention to a particular word or phrase. That's not to invalidate the need to read Scripture in context (both the immediate and overall) or to ignore what the text meant in its original setting. But it is to say that when we ask the Spirit to illuminate God's Word (shed light, bring understanding, make alive) we often find a certain word or phrase will capture our hearts and minds.

This was the case for me last week as I was reading Psalms 4 & 5. In Psalm 4:7 David says, "You have given me greater joy/than those who have abundant harvests of grain and wine" (NLT). When I read that I thought, wow, Lord...is this true of me? Are You what brings me the most joy and satisfaction? I remembered Pastor Aaron's message on idolatry and the question he posed to us: "What - at this moment - are you trusting in?" I believe the Spirit brought my attention to that verse so as to provoke me to examine my own heart.

In Psalm 5: 7 David says, "Because of your unfailing love, I can enter your house" (NLT). When I read the word "house" I thought of God's house - the tabernacle/temple in the OT, the church in the NT. As lead worshippers we "enter" God's house every Sunday (think of the Psalms that say "I will enter His gates with thanksgiving...his courts with praise"). But if we think that we can come into God's presence based on our own merits, talents, righteousness - we are sadly mistaken. If I'm honest, I know in my own heart I've been guilty of this faulty thinking.

For me, the thinking goes like this - if I've fulfilled my spiritual "do's" and avoided the spiritual "dont's" I'm worthy to come before Him. But David says it right - it is only because of God's unfailing love that we can enter into His house and experience His presence. A thousand or so years after David wrote this psalm the true heir to His throne - Jesus - would become the fullest expression of God's unfailing love towards us. 1 Timothy 2:5 -"For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and people. He is the man Christ Jesus" (NLT). There's nothing I can do to make myself presentable before God - it's only through Jesus that I (we) can come.

As you read in the Psalms take note of those words, phrases, or verses that grab a hold of you. Spend some time reflecting on why those words are sticking out to you - perhaps a situation you are in, or a prayer request, or a sin you are struggling with - a place where God wants to meet with you. Also, I've found it helpful to read from a few different translations as different translations often bring out nuances and give fresh renderings to these ancient texts. Biblegateway.com is a great resource to compare translations.

NOTE on COMMENTS:
I've modified the layout so that comments now appear below the actual posts. To leave a comment click on the comments link and type away. You don't need to have a Google account or ID to remark, it's open to everyone.

Recap of Fall Kickoff Mtg.

This past Sunday we had our fall kickoff lunch mtg. for the worship team - thanks to those of you who attended. I especially appreciated the time of sharing we had at the end, and the opportunity to pray for one another. It's rare that we have most of the team at one place at one time, so it was good to reconnect, however brief our time was.

Wanted to post a quick recap of what we covered, as well as some upcoming dates:

• Thank you for your continued faithfulness, excellence and commitment to this ministry. It's a joy to serve alongside each of you in the high calling of leading others in worship.
• This should go without saying, but it's important to be dialed into the teaching when we're on the worship team. It's a good thing to catch up with each other. But, as much as possible, let's refrain from a lot of chatter during the message so we can maintain an environment (in the backstage area) that is conducive to active listening. If you plan on going out to sit with your spouse during the service, please be aware that for the other service there will still be people following along with the message on the TV. Consider the time before and between services for conversation.


• I know many see the worship team as a primary source for fellowship, care, etc. - and we're certainly glad that we are creating an environment where we can all feel free to share openly and honestly. But, we (myself, Gordon, Connie) would strongly encourage you to participate in a growth group or mid-sized community (if you are not already). I know we all have busy schedules, but we need to do "life together" with other believers. I know how much I need it, and how much I benefit from it in the long run. Check out the groups and communities Living Word has to offer.


• I’m encouraging us to read through the Psalms together. The goal is to read 5 Psalms a week, going through all 150 in order. Most of us (at one point or another) struggle with maintaining regular time in God’s Word. So, knowing the rest of the team is going through the same passages might help us be more consistent. There’s no better book to be familiar with as a lead worshipper than the Psalms. Below you'll see more info on the Psalms reading schedule.

In terms of upcoming events...

• Oct. 8th (Fri) - Encounter Worship - "The Names of Jesus"


• Oct. 16th (Sat) - Bonfire at Bonnie Lauer's - begins at dusk - details to follow

Regarding the Psalms...

• The goal is to read through 5 Psalms (in sequence) a week...so this week (week of Sept. 19th), we'll read Psalms 1-5. You can find the text here at Bible Gateway (NIV). Here's a handy-dandy Bible iPhone app.


• I handed out some introductory notes (from the ESV Study Bible) on Sunday. They can be downloaded here.


• PLEASE feel free to interact with the posts I'll be making on the Psalms. My goal is to do one post a week on how I'm interacting with the Psalms in my own devotional time. It'd be great to hear how God is speaking and revealing Himself to you as you are reading along.

Looking forward to the Fall!

Desert Song

Last Sunday we introduced Brooke Fraser's "Desert Song" to our congregation. This is an example of a song that I think works on multiple levels - memorable melody, great Scriptural truths, poetic lyrics and timely message. In a season when many are experiencing financial difficulty, job losses and the ripple effects those can have on families, this is the kind of song that the church needs to be singing.

Before we went out for services we spent some time as a team reflecting on the lyrics of "Desert Song".

Verse 1
This is my prayer in the desert
When all that's within me feels dry
This is my prayer in my hunger and need
My God is the God who provides

Verse 2
This is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flame

Verse 3
This is my prayer in the battle
When triumph is still on its way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I'll stand

Chorus
I will bring praise
I will bring praise
No weapon formed against me shall remain
I will rejoice
I will declare
God is my victory and He is here

Bridge
All of my life in every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship

Verse 4
This is my prayer in the harvest
When favour and providence flow
I know I'm filled to be emptied again
The seed I've received I will sow

CCLI Song No. 5060793 © 2008 Hillsong Publishing (Admin. in U.S. & Canada by Integrity's Hosanna! Music) Brooke Fraser CCLI License No. 10491

As I meditate on these words several Scripture passages come to mind...

• Ps. 63 - David's words (in the context of his own desert experience) speak of thirst and praise
• 1 Peter 1:7 - Peter speaks of being refined by the trials, and on V2 Brooke directly quotes in the line "a faith proved of more worth than gold"
• Isaiah 54:17 - the prophet speaks of the day when God will restore His people, with the promise that "no weapon forged against you will prevail" - a line from the chorus
• Romans 8 - V3 speaks of us being "conquerors" (Rom. 8:37) and "co-heirs" (Rom. 8:17) in and through Jesus Christ

Now that you know that this song contains some precious biblical truths, let's sing and play it with a passion and awareness of God's presence!

Bonus:
Came across this powerful video - Jill McCloghry, one of Hillsong's worship leaders, shares a personal story involving "Desert Song". It's worth your time.

Preview of Next Encounter - Names of Jesus

I always look forward to our times of corporate worship - but I especially look forward to our Encounter services. The opportunity to spend extended time in God's presence singing, reflecting and responding - and to do so with folks who've made a point of being there - is sweet indeed.

The theme for the October Encounter is "The Names of Jesus." As I was looking at possible songs for the evening, I came across a Delirious song called "How Sweet the Name" from their Kingdom of Comfort album. I loved the melody and piano instrumentation - and I immediately identified with the song's personal lyric. We'll be doing the song during a more intimate of worship.

Enjoy the preview...

What would I have become
If you’d never stopped to pull me through
What would this life had done
If you’d never whispered liberty
I heard you sing so sweetly a song of love

Jesus how sweet the name
The name that saves
Jesus how sweet the sound
The sound of grace
The sound of praise
The sound that saves

So many songs I’ve sung
But there’s none more beautiful than you
And here I’ve found myself
So I’m happy to be lost in you
I hear you sing so sweetly, a song called love

Every soul needs a saviour

Rhythms

Back in June we had an Encounter worship service. For those of you unfamiliar with what Encounter is all about, the tagline for every Encounter service is "slow down-savor-worship." We want people to come and enjoy God's presence as they "unplug" from the pace of modern life. More singing, more creativity - it's a totally unique experience.

The theme for the evening was "Sacred Rhythms" and the main Scripture text was Gal. 5:25: "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit". One way we illustrated the idea of "keeping in step" with God's Spirit was through the use of percussion - a lot of percussion!

John Hogan, a professional drummer/instructor, came up from NC to lead the routines (as well as a workshop). His wife Melody is a visual artist, and her artwork was featured the last couple of months in our church coffee bar (you can check it out here). It was a pleasure to get to know both of them back in June, and I'm glad they'll be returning this weekend.

John will once again be leading some of our drummers in a reprisal of the floor tom routine that ended the Encounter service. Don't miss it - it will start both services this Sunday, Aug. 29!

Below is a video of the percussion routine (think STOMP) that opened the Encounter service. Enjoy!

Trampling Over Death by Death

Yesterday I was getting a little exercise in by running around the church parking lot (I know, not exactly the most inspiring scenery, but hard to beat in terms of proximity) and the song "Christ is Risen" came up on my iPod. The song was recorded by Matt Maher, a singer/songwriter/worship leader; our worship team performed it a couple weeks ago for our Easter services. It's one of those songs that builds, both lyrically and musically, and by the time you get to the end of bridge you want to jump out your seats and shout "Amen!" OK, at least that's what I want to do.

The chorus starts with "Christ is risen from the dead/trampling over death by death" - a line inspired by the Paschal Troparion, the characteristic Easter hymn of the Eastern Orthodox Church. That phrase - "trampling over death by death" - is arresting and unexpected upon first listen. But the more I've thought about the it more I've come to appreciate the beautiful, surprising, scandalous truth that these words proclaim. One of the great ironies of the crucifixion is that in pronouncing Jesus' death sentence Pilate (and the religious powers-to-be) indirectly silenced the power of death forever. What Satan thought to be his crowning achievement turned out to be the very means by which his fate is forever sealed (Col. 2:15).

N.T. Wright puts it this way:

"...the cross is...not the world's victory over Jesus, but Jesus' victory over the world. Here is the mystery, the cunning, of the deep love of God: that it is bound to draw on to itself the hatred and pain and shame and anger and bitterness and rejection of the world, but to draw all those things on to itself is precisely the means, chosen from all eternity by the generous, loving God, by which to rid his world of the evils which have resulted from human abuse of God-given freedom."

The truth of what Jesus accomplished through his death and resurrection came rushing back to me as I was running laps - I'm pretty sure I picked up my pace a bit! I'm grateful that Matt Maher and Mia Fieldes (the co-writer) have given the church a song that powerfully reminds us of how our subversive Savior conquered death and opened the possibility of the "abundant life" (John 10:10) to us all.

You can listen to the song and check out the lyrics over at Worship Together.

Electric Guitar Lead Riff on "You Have Saved Us"

Another post for the electric players - wow, two in a row!

As you know, we introduced a new song, "You Have Saved Us" by Paul Baloche, back in January. I remember an afternoon when one of our electric guitar players called me and shared that he was trying to figure out the lead riff the electric does at the beginning of the song. He had an idea of how to play it but it didn't quite sound like the recording. I could tell he was (initially) a little frustrated with how challenging it was to replicate this deceptively simple riff.

I actually contacted the guy who plays electric on the recording (Ben Gowell) and although he didn't respond to me directly he happened to post an instructional video on YouTube just four days ago. In the video he shows you how he plays the riff and how he incorporates the delay pedal. Needless to say delay is something you hear A LOT of in modern worship songs - a nod to the tremendous influence of bands like U2 and Coldplay.

Anyway, here's the video - remember, he is playing it in the key of A, whereas we do it in G.