Kim Gentes

In the last ten years few people would not recognize the impact that Saddleback Church, Rick Warren (its pastor) and the “Purpose Driven” books and ministries that have sprung up from this community. It’s no surprise then, when you talk to worship ministers in local churches around America that you hear them referring to Saddleback’s Rick Muchow (pastor and worship leader) and Tony Guerrero (Director of Creative Arts) for insights on music and worship. A few weeks ago, while at a worship conference, I was thumbing through a new book called “Attracting Quality Musicians” by Tony Guerrero. I was intrigued by the book because it spoke head-on to a specific topic that touches most churches in western culture. While I was standing at a vendor booth scanning the book, the vendor said to me “if you are interested in that book, you can ask the author, he’s right there”. Tony just happened to be walking by (he was teaching some classes at the conference I was at) so I had the chance to catch up with him and talk briefly. I was glad I did.

Tony Guerrero is a successful jazz musician of some notoriety, who has won popular acclaim in concerts, recording appearances and music reviews. He has quite a story of how God moved him into serving local churches, and eventually overseeing the music ministry at Saddleback church. Much of this story is shared in the pages of Tony’s book “Attracting Quality Musicians’, which is both enjoyable and well balanced in its treatment of the topic. In this work, Tony presents a concise, but complete, treatise for why and how a local church can go about “Attracting Quality Musicians”.

The book begins with several pages which address some philosophical and Biblical points related to the premise of putting quality music into the local church. I liked this because he took the approach of helping to bring everyone to the same place of understanding before launching into the mechanics of attracting and keeping quality musicians. Even if you don’t end up agreeing with his viewpoint, this book is an excellent scale on which to weigh your opinions. And in the end, there is plenty to discuss here. From foundations for why a church might want to improve their music, to identifying, engaging, pastoring, working with and keeping top notch musicians, Mr. Guerrero meticulously covers the gambit of issues that face anyone in local church music leadership.

Another thing I liked about the book was that Tony doesn't shy away from any hot button issues. Particularly, the topics of paying musicians, using non-Christian musicians, volunteerism and personal moral character is dealt with head on. This may be controversial to some, but Guerrero is upfront and clear about his agenda and perspective. Also refreshing was that the author presents the reader with other options, sometimes going so far as to articulate and explain how one could support alternate opinions. All along the way, we learn more about the author and the concepts by well placed personal stories and examples and quotes from others such as Tommy Walker, Buddy Owens, and Chris Falsom. The core of the book is a relatively short read at about 85 pages, so it is nicely manageable for worship leaders and musicians who (if they are like me) have limited spare time. But the book has an additional 40 pages of excellent interview material that helps to bring some additional voices to the discussion. Israel Houghton, Paul Baloche, Sally Morganthaler, Morris Chapman, Tom Brooks and others chime in with extended sections relating to the topics presented in the book. Not all of the opinions and feedback even agree with all of Guerrero’s points (though some of them do), which make the interviews a valuable part of this work.

Overall “Attracting Quality Musicians” is, as its subtitle suggests, “a guidebook and discussion” not a hard-line text for Tony Guerrero’s opinion. It is well-paced and invitational in its approach, leaving you feeling like you sat down and had a chat with Tony (ok, maybe several chats) about the topics covered. He clearly leaves you to make your own conclusions on how to approach church music, while presenting a fairly concise manual for the proven method they are employing in the ministry at Saddleback church. It is an important, well-thought, contribution to church music leaders everywhere.

Product Link  http://amzn.to/ogKNDq

Review by Kim Gentes

Revelation is something that must not only be received by the mind, but lived in the present reality of our bodies and spirits. In "The Worship God Is Seeking", pastor, worship leader and songwriter, David Ruis takes this difficult road of attempting to connect theology and passionate service. He succeeds wonderfully! This is a book that should be read by everyone, not just pastors and worship leaders and musicians. This is a prophetic message for all of us in the Body of Christ.

In the first 3 chapters, Ruis examines God-centered devotion in which the centrality of the Cross, the foundation of God's love, the necessity of the power of the Spirit, and the essential gathering of the community of Christ are the basis of "The Worship God is Seeking". As the chapters continue, David argues convincingly that true worship will be a journey not only marked by discovering God more fully as the fuel of all things "spirit and truth", but the center of creativity itself, as initiated by His actions at the creation of the universe. He goes on to link our relational connection to God as "Abba Father" as an important truth in unlocking authenticity and freedom in worship, not just in our culture, but around the globe.

But do not think the book aspires to some unreachable utopia. Ruis takes careful aim to ground his theological outline (which is heavily influenced by theologians N.T. Wright and Don Williams) in a lifetime of personal experience. Ruis's constant call in this book is for the church to focus on God, remember the community of Christ and show the fruit of worship through the fragrance of justice.

On the whole, this book is substantially more challenging to pastors and leaders than a simple book on worship. On practical terms, he covers everything from the place of artists and musicians in our churches to the importance of expectation in our gatherings. But this book is not really a practitioners guide as much as it is a prophetic challenge to the church. It is a distinct call to complete surrender to Christ, who has done all that is needed for worship, and an ongoing welcome to those who would walk in step with the advancing kingdom of God as we become participants that "let justice roll".

Product Link  http://amzn.to/omCmRp

Review by Kim Gentes

When I first began reading this book, it occurred to me that I had a generally low opinion of the acumen of the Christian leaders to write a good book. That notion was thoroughly destroyed by the recent work of Paul Baloche and Jimmy & Carol Owens. God Songs, is a stellar new book that triumphs in teaching the church how to write its new music liturgy, as it is inspired by the Spirit of God. As I began to read God Songs, I found myself getting lost in the book. I began pulling out old songs I had written, and started eating up each concept, page after page. The density of information in the book is substantial. So much so, that I found myself needing significant breaks to digest the materials. I suppose if I wasn't a worship leader and songwriter myself, I could have just perused over the details of the book. But for those who are involved in local churches or worship ministry, and have creative giftings, especially in songwriting, you will find God Songs is the first real "epic" to be written precisely for the purpose of helping to craft today's new liturgy for the church.

Without giving a complete chapter listing, you will have to trust me that this book covers, in detail, literally every single topic related to worship songwriting. Everything is included in this book: launching a new song idea; developing a single theme; crafting excellent lyrics that "sing"; melodies, harmonies and rhythms that enhance the song; marrying music and lyrics; stimulating creativity in the writer; getting your songs heard; developing your worship ministry; selecting songs that minister; and even a final kick in the pants to just get going and "do it"! The only problem with me listing my main topics I gleaned from the book is that someone out there is going to think "oh, Kim didn't mention this important item about songwriting, so maybe the books is missing that". Well, nothing could be further from the truth. Suffice it to say that you will not find a more comprehensive treatment of exactly how to create, develop and perfect the essential components of a worship song: lyrics and music.

As a product, the volume is really better thought of as a textbook than a conversational "how I did it" peice from Paul or Jimmy & Carol. In fact, while there is quite a nice conversational tone to the writing, there is simply too much to digest for a serious reader to walk through this book in an afternoon or even a couple of days. If you are a songwriter or worship leader, you will want to start this book with your notebook or shoe box of song ideas close at hand. You will find that you may have a one or two day stops in any number of the chapters, as you engage in the craft of songwriting. And that is the way it should be. This is as much a lab manual as it is a theory textbook. So don't be ready to just read a book on songwriting- be ready to write those songs!

In my mind, this book should really have a place as the text of a college course (or maybe 2 or 3) on songwriting- there is just that much excellent, well-written material to work through. I would look to Christian colleges around the country to seriously consider using this as the core course content for a songwriting track in music ministry degrees- it is that comprehensive and well written. Because of that, I could find only one relatively minor critique in the book- the layout. At one point, I discovered no less than dozen different styles and fonts used as I read. Along with regular highlight blocks, inset text items and centered lyric quoting, I found the layout almost distracting to the depth of the information being presented. Frankly, because the fonts and style changes so constantly, it made reading through the book a little more difficult than I think it may have needed to be. But again, this would be perfect for a course or class room setting, where you tackle just one chapter at a time and you aren't trying to read the entire book in a few days.

One of my favorite things about the book was the very specific details they gave to why some techniques work and others don't. And while you may not have heard of "the ubiquitous 3rd", "the nuance of feel" or the "cardinal rule" in arranging and performance, you won't feel like your being talked down to as you learn these things. The authors leave a wide berth for their own personalities and understanding by prefacing all they are teaching with an acknowledgement that each technique will work different for different people and songs.

But the bottom line is that this book is simply fantastic in covering a topic that has had no significant treatment to date: writing the worship songs for today's church. If you are a writer, or worship leader, who has a desire to write songs out of God's heart you won't find a better text book anywhere than God Songs. Not only do I highly recommend this book, but we have given it our Editor's Choice Award to help show our approval and appreciation for the great contribution made by the authors! Anyone interested in songwriting will not be disappointed in this book!

Product Link  http://amzn.to/r96Cgi 

Review by Kim Gentes

The last few days has had me pouring through a book that is proving to be a great resource for worship leaders, pastors, and worshipers alike. The book is titled "To Know You More" and it is written by Andy Park. The reading is very easy, but the content isn't fluff. So many other books on the topic of worship and worship leading are just more volleys in the ongoing debate of the "worship wars", but Andy Park rises far above those entanglements with "To Know You More".

View an interview with Andy Park.

An Interview with Andy Park, Author, Songwriter and Worship Leader

Q: Briefly explain your start as a worship leader.
Andy Park: I started worship leading when I was seventeen years old. I was in my first year of studies at UCLA and had just begun to enter into a real relationship with Jesus. Playing the guitar wasn't the most challenging part of worship leading-I had already been playing guitar for about six years. Singing in public was a challenge. So, with a good dose of fear and trembling, I jumped in with both feet. I learned all kinds of songs, devouring everything I heard from other worship leaders. I started leading worship in a small group among college students.

Q: What did you learn to do and NOT to do as a worship leader?
Andy: There are lots of things I've learned not to do, mostly by trial and error. For one thing, I've learned to choose songs that I have adopted as my own language for worship. I hear all kinds of great songs performed by other people. But I don't use a song in worship times unless it strongly resonates with my heart and connects me to God. It has to be something that I personally want to say to God and to the church. And it has to be in a musical style that works for me.

I've also learned over and over again to get the focus off myself and onto God. It's so easy to fall into the trap of introspection and performance versus worship. I try to stay away from evaluating the quality of a worship time based on how good it made me feel. It's really not about my feeling good, it's about approaching God with faith, singing honest prayer-songs and proclaiming truth.

Q: What would you say is the most difficult aspect of being a worship leader? What can you do to overcome it or work through it?
Park: The most difficult aspect of being a worship leader is dealing with the reality of living "between the times." We live in the age in which Jesus has unleashed the authority of his kingdom on earth. We see the outworking of his power in many ways-broken lives are turned around and healed. In worship, the Holy Spirit brings peace, joy and a striking revelation of God's power and beauty. But we haven't arrived at the point in history when the blessings of the kingdom are with us in unlimited measure.

So here's the rub-the windows of heaven aren't always thrown open in our earthly worship times. In the best of worship times we see so clearly and drink so deeply of the wine of the Spirit! And many times we feel disconnected from God. When you've drunk deeply the sweet wine of heaven in worship, it's hard to be satisfied with a "grape juice" worship time.

To deal with this tension, I remind myself that worship is all about faithfulness-doing, praying and singing what I know is right-no matter how much of God I can feel at a given moment.

Q: What does it mean to cultivate the heart of a worship leader? How does that happen?
Andy: It's all about a lifestyle. Surrounding yourself with people who love God. Immersing yourself in a culture that is saturated with all kinds of "God-things." Lots of worship, teaching, great books. What you pour into your heart and mind will come out in your worship "Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do" (Prov. 4:23). The one most important thing about leading worship is your heart. Also, to cultivate a heart of worship, we must be doing acts of worship. Serving the poor, the church, our family and friends.

Regarding cultivating the art of worship leading, that involves watching others do it and then doing it yourself. If you can, try to get some personal input from experienced people. But don't wait for the perfect mentor. Make it your responsibility to take initiative to expand your box of worship. Try new things, and ask for input from your pastors. See what works; see how the people respond. See what seems to lead people right into God's throne room. Also, so much of being a good worship leader is being a good people-person. You have to care for people along the way of developing a musical worship style. All of these issues are addressed in To Know You More.

Q: Describe the purpose of and your hope for To Know You More.
Andy: Over the past 15 years I've done over a hundred worship seminars. Since my traveling schedule is limited, I wanted to pass on in written form the things I've learned. For many years I've felt that one of my primary tasks should be to "teach these great truths to trustworthy people who are able to pass them on to others" (2 Tim. 2:2). It's not that I've come up with reams of groundbreaking new information. Lots of the content of the book is timeless truth from God's Word applied to our contemporary worship setting.

In my seminars and in the book, I've simply taught what I've learned from experience. (And I'm still learning). For those who are new to this model of worship, there may be all kinds of new insights that are gained. I hope and expect there will be helpful insights in these pages for people from all kinds of different worship traditions. For some, the heart behind the worship model will be the most helpful, while for others, the practical how-to's and examples will answer their most pressing questions.

Q: What does this book offer pastors and other church leaders?
Andy: Understanding a worship leader's world is essential for the pastor who wants to nurture and cultivate musical worship leaders. I think this book will help church leaders understand the challenges facing a worship leader and give some advice for supporting and guiding the worship leader. Having healthy co-worker relationships is huge in developing a vital worship ministry.

There is also an applied theology of worship peppered throughout the book that address a pastor's concerns for balance and depth. Key values and priorities, with the Bible as a foundation, provide the non-negotiables for the worship practices of a local church. If a church leadership team is on the same page regarding the goals and boundaries of worship, it's much easier to build a worship ministry and sustain it over the long haul.

---

Andy Park is a co-pastor and worship leader at the Surrey Vineyard. He has led worship in small and medium churches as well as megachurches and large conferences. He is also a songwriter whose credits include In The Secret (I Want to Know You), Precious Child, My Delight, Only You, The River Is Here, Blessed Be The Name, We Will Ride, Yahweh, Yet I Will Praise, and Wonder Working God and he has led worship on numerous Vineyard recordings, including The River is Here, Blessed Be the Name and All I Need. Andy lives with his wife, Linda, and eight children in Surrey, B.C., Canada.

This book is many things. First, it is the most concise practitioners guidebook (especially in the area of pastoral development of the leader) ever written on the topic of contemporary worship leading. In contrast to other works by contemporary worship leaders, Park is exceptionally well thought as a pastor, while still maintaining the perspective and personal experience of an excellent musician and songwriter.

Also, the book is written with some excellent scriptural depth. Andy Park has the unique perspective of having served years as both a worship leader, pastor and senior pastor in various churches (big and small). He speaks candidly about the experiences of each role related to worship. While having a thorough grasp of Biblical underpinnings for his life's work, he is able to communicate scriptural truth from both reference text and real life. A rare combination to be sure.

But "To Know You More" is as much a story as it is a textbook. Conveying the life one of the most prolific worship writers in our time, this story is one we can all enjoy and learn from. From the endorsements of the all the well-known personalities (M. Redman, B. Doerksen, etc) that speak of the honesty of this book, I can assure you they must have also read the book. I would venture to say that you might even find this book too honest at times, because it will squarely challenge you on your own motivation.

Because Andy Park is so well known, I am sure many of you will be interested in this new book right off. But others may just be hearing for the first time about him. To help you get acquainted with him, we have also published a recent interview with Andy Park right on the website. To see an overview, list of features, and table of contents of the book, check out his book at the Amazon link below.

Also, remember to check out the new online interview with Andy Park.

This book should be required reading for all worship leaders and pastors. Really.

Run, don't walk, to get a copy of this great worship resource! This is such a great resource, I am giving it the Editor's Choice Award, and it is very deserving.

Amazon Link:  http://amzn.to/o6p4OU

Blessings in the Father,
Kim Gentes

I stopped recommending a plethora of books for people to read who are trying to get a common-sense grasp of one of the most conjectured topics in Christendom- hearing God. Now I recommend they read this book first. It has such breadth and practicality to it, it really leaves no stone unturned on this topic. Well organized and well thought, the book is not simple, but is simply read. Some books on this topic easily burp with sectarian or theological bias, but Willard doesn't fall into that trap. Instead, he retains clear convictions while being spectacularly Biblical.

In the end, he gives excellent fore-thought for the person who might want to actually take his book to task through action. Like "Divine Conspiracy", this book has many generations in shelf live. No serious investigation into this topic should pass over this book.

Amazon Link http://amzn.to/105pgmd

Kim Gentes