check out the blog i wrote on Worship Leaading...

This blog originated HERE

Does Performance Have A Place in Worship

If I was smart enough, I would love to be able to coin a brand new phrase. In fact, that is my goal – to find another term that says performance without saying performance! Confused? Here is what I mean…

In the church, we have been taught that performance is wrong. That it’s arrogant, it is self-centred, and there is no room for it in leading worship! Well, I have a slightly different take on that.

We tend to look self-conscious on the platform. We often appear a little timid while we lead or sing in a church because we know we are not to draw attention to ourselves. The entire reason we act the way we do on stage is to deflect the attention to God.

However, the exact opposite happens. When we do not act as though we have authority on stage – when we act as though we are “too timid” – we appear nervous. Therefore, we cause the entire congregation to stop worshipping and start praying for us because we look so uncomfortable! (OK, I am being a little dramatic, but you get the idea!)

One of the definitions of “performance” in the dictionary says “the act of presenting a piece of music.” So how should we present our music? A few ideas come to mind…

1. Authority. Tom talks about authority a lot! Bono = authority on stage. Now, I know you are saying under your breath “…but I am leading worship.” Exactly! If Bono can have authority in a rock show, and Sting can have authority in a rock show…how much more authority should we have, as we attempt to lead the congregation into the Holy of Holies!

We stand in the authority of the One who created everything. The One who gives you breath has called you to lead your group of people into His presence. Now that is authority! We need to allow ourselves to act in HIS authority and actually lead the congregation.

2. Humility. True humility is taking on the authority given by God and standing in it! The tough part of leading worship is not singing well or playing well or picking the right songs. The tough part is acting in His authority. Being what He has called you to be is the difficult part. It’s easy and comfortable to stand and sing…it is not so easy to act in authority and lead!

3. Faith. It is a huge step of faith to act on the authority given to you. It is uncomfortable, it makes you feel uneasy, there is a little fear involved as well…but when you allow yourself to take risks and act on faith, not fear, you will be amazed at how the “singing of songs” is transformed into a time of worship.

By the way, another definition of the word “performance” is this: “the act of doing something successfully.” And, after all, isn’t that what we want – to successfully lead worshippers to God’s throne?

Kevin Pauls, Live Music Producer

The good and the bad...and FAITH

In a moment of deep reflection i felt inspired to talk about the things that I have been wrestling with over the last few years.

There have been many "carrots" dangled in my life regarding music...many ups and downs in our personal life, challenges with "calling" - feelings of desperation, anxious moments, mountain top experiences...The gamut of emotions and of experience...The good The bad The ugly as I like to say...So how does this effect my faith? How do I relate to God in the good times? How do I relate to God in the bad times? Does my current circumstance dictate my faith, my joy or my state of mind???

I would love to hear how you have dealt with the ups and downs and what those experiences did to your faith.

Please get involved...this is very important dialogue!!

talk soon!!

the love dare DAY 21 - Through the filter of Faith

Backyard Concert Series - found this video...

day 18 - LOVE DARE

2010 - a new look, a new project and some TV

2010 will see a new look to the "true musings" blog as well as a new look to the www.kevinpauls.com website! The new look will be fresh and will also take on the look of my new project ANOTHER LISTEN.

Another Listen is available on-line but we are also going to be releasing it nation-wide this spring via a hard copy CD. We will have it in all Christian Bookstores across Canada and via iTunes around the world. We will also be having a nation-wide tour...ANOTHER LISTEN!!

Well - I hope you are not sick of Wendy and I and the LOVEDARE We are not quite halfway...so a lot more videos to come and a lot more "fun" blogging! We are really enjoying it! I love the fact that we wake up every morning and we are supposed to work on our marriage!! It has it's challenges, but it is worth it!

So you are seeing us on 100 Huntley Street, but I am also on another TV show debuting on CTS (actually it debuted on the weekend) It will run for 13 weeks...see if you can find it and let me know if you do watch!!

also...sign-up for my e-newsletter - all people that sign up for 2010 will receive the first single from ANOTHER LISTEN, called Truth Is Marching On!! Spread the word!!

Take care...and be TRUE to those you love!!

Kevin

Wendy Update - Haiti Trip - Jan 13

100 Huntley Street brief interview...Jan 13

Our "profile" for the LOVE DARE

Wendy is OK!!!

Wendy is OK!!!!

I want to thank everyone for their kind words and prayers…A lot of you knew that Wendy left for Haiti yesterday morning. The only thing that you did not know was that she had an overnight layover in Ft. Lauderdale!! WOW – I have never been so glad to know that she had a long layover!! She would have been landing right at the time of the devastation if the flight had of been direct…

Your thoughts and prayers and kind words meant so much! Just the fact that you cared enough to get in touch and find out what was happening was so great!

Wendy is fine!! We will know this morning if the airline can continue to Haiti or if they need to turn around and come home…I have a feeling the team wants to go and help…don’t know if that is possible. I will keep you all informed here as well as on twitter and facebook!!

Thanks so much!!

Kevin

Wendy's Gone...HELP!!!

2010 - The Year of POSSIBILITIES!!!!

I love this time of year! The endless optimism, the big dreams, the goals and objectives, the clean slate...you know - all the stuff that goes with the turning of the calendar.

Well this year is a year in which I think my music, my marriage and my life for that matter will see incredible "positiveness" Is that even a word??

A) Wendy and I are on 100 Huntley Street for the first 40 days of 2010, doing the LOVE DARE! We are doing dares for the first 40 days...called the love dare. This is from the book/movie Fireproof. (by the way, Kirk Cameron looks just like my brother Frankie)

B) I am one of the judges in a TV Show, similar to American Idol, called Gospel Dynamic Duets...it airs on CTS January 16th!
(more to come on that!!)

C) My music has finally got some momentum after Christmas...Lot's of good press, The Christmas CD sold well...and there are a lot of things in the works for 2010!

NOW - this is not the first year I have felt good about the year to come...but - my belief in this is stronger than ever.

I will be blogging more than normal because of the LOVE DARE so - don't get sick of me...come by often and hang out...this will be a fun year!!

talk soon,

Kevin

day 4 - REALLY??

Ok…I am finding that I have to be a little more crafty to surprise Wendy!! We both know what the dare is and so we are both watching out for it. She says something nice and I am asking…was that the dare?? (LOL)

The dares are great…being positive, gifts, nice love notes etc…but when you both know what is coming it kind of takes the “fun” out of it. I am going to take this as a challenge and try to go over and above to the point where Wendy is caught off guard…

I will see if I can do it!

Kevin

Day 2 - something unexpected

Well…she beat me to it!! Coffee in bed while she let me watch sportcentre in bed…LIFE IS GOOD!! We have a great day today with friends and so it might be another “easy” day. When real life is not upon you and you are still kind of on vacation it seems to be a little easier to be NON-Negative…I will let you know how the day goes…

I have to come up with something “unexcpected”

stay tuned…

Love Dare begins...

Well, DAY 1 – I think i got through this one unscathed! Wendy and I seem to walk through the day without saying anything negative…I did have to stop her a couple times…SHE LOVES SARCASM!!!

Seriously, the negative comments are not really a huge problem…you think…until you try not saying ANYTHING negative. You catch yourself many times – a little dig here or there. It is comments that don’t seem like you are being negative, I mean you are not yelling or even upset, you just are not uplifting and therefore can totally be seen as negative!

Well – I did seem to get through today without being negative…I was positive in my comments and Wendy was positive to me…

A good start…2010 – A GOOD YEAR SO FAR!!

Kevin