...To Exude Excellence

Excellence. Only recently has this word even attempted to be applied with strength and precision in my life. Actually, up until about 6 months ago, I didn’t even know what that word could ever mean. I mean, what does a boy from Mississippi who moves to Nashville to be around music EVER need excellence for? Better yet, why hadn’t I ever tried to pursue it? I’ve been thinking about these things and I can only really come up with one real solution….this crap is hard work!

It’s a typical scenario. You have someone who has a little bit of talent given to him (or her for the ladies) with a lot of drive and heart and he could really go far. It happens all the time. How often do you hear someone on the radio, on a tv show or even at a live venue and think to yourself “Wow, I could do what THAT person is doing”.

Take a different perspective…and this is the kicker that happens ALL of the time. You have someone who is stupid talented. I’m talking about the guys that can play, sing, write, compose circles around those jerks on reality tv making loads of money off of a karaoke contest. Yes, THOSE people. More times than none, “those people” have no drive, no communication and most certainly no excellence in their work.

Currently I am a worship leader. I am a full time musician. It’s more of a controlled setting and that’s something that I’ve never been used to. In my former circles, I used to be what I like to refer to as the “wing man”. No, I’m not talking about the guy that goes with you on a blind date “just in case” you have to make a getaway. I’m talking about me here….the guy that let the breeze take him wherever. I had no idea what excellence could be and how it could affect every waking aspect of your performance.

Yeah I know….quite an epiphany, huh?

Here’s what REALLY boggles my mind, though. How can I, a Christ follower be anything less than excellent? Am I doing myself and other people a disservice if I come unprepared for a weekend?

Yes. Yes, I am. And on top of that, I would be held accountable. Much like a boss at a job, I would be held accountable if I showed up on a Saturday night or Sunday morning and had nothing ready whatsoever.

So then, whether you are a Christ follower or not, the sheer fact remains that the idea to “exude excellence” is foreign in our society. Whether you’re working for the city making minimum wage (like I did), or in retail (also like I did), or 7 figures (like our reality show karaoke friends…..oh, NOT EVER me) exuding excellence is more than just a Biblical principle…it’s a way of life.

An Awakening

i live in Nashville. Music City U.S.A. The epitome of everything that is music. you can find any brand or type of music you want.

obviously, there is the country genera which is what this town is famed for. not exactly my cup of tea, but it still abounds here.

then there's the Christian music scene. the gma's. the church's "answer" to the music of the world. there's just one problem with it all...it's that whole "there is nothing new under the sun" thing.

case in point. i went to hear a friend play a showcase at the Gospel Music Association's annual event. think of it like a big Grammy party. he was excellent and i know he's going to do great things musically in his life.

however, as i was standing there...listening to the other acts i found myself needing to leave with a quickness.......and that's EXACTLY what i did.

i walked to my car and called my fiance' and the first thing out of my mouth was, "baby, this is NOT my scene". just a few years ago, i thought that it could be. maybe SOME kind of possibility would lead me there. but tonight i felt a different vibe....an uneasy vibe.

as i walked down the hall, i could only feel the symptoms of such a self serving, egotistic, processed feeling of a watered down version of the real message that should be so passionately conveyed in a real, honest way. think of it as more of a lens rather than a focus.



let's face it...Christians only make music for other Christians. there is a whole marketing outlet out there specifically geared for one purpose...to pimp the praise.

never before has being a "worship leader" been such a loose term amongst Christ followers. it's almost as loose as the term "Christian" has become in our culture. when people will follow a formula, making the status quo a bear market. they are less worried about leaving so much as a fart stain on society and are more consumed about being noticed. (cause it sure as crap aint for the money)

don't get me wrong, there are some really great people with amazing attitudes and larger than life hearts in that same industry like in every industry. but, just like every industry...those people tend to be run over and forgotten.

will it go away? no. i hope it doesn't. i hope it (the industry) has left enough room to change.

to embrace musical culture
to compensate their musicians properly
to enrich integrity

you know what i mean? basic, Biblical principles.

it's time for change. real change.