Next week, I fly to Columbus, Ohio, to encourage a worship and creative team. I’ll be rehearsing them and leading the Sunday services as part of the training weekend. In preparation, I’m sending them notes on one of the songs we’ll lead.

I was speaking with a church that has been without a staff worship leader for nearly a year.

I love Costa Rican “dichos” - idioms or sayings that get thrown into almost every conversation.

Do you love rehearsals as much as I do? I admit sometimes they are more fun than the actual service.

I’m working with a worship team that has been trained well.

My dear friend, George Yellak, allowed me to eavesdrop on a conversation with one of his team members.

I remember asking my Dad, “Do I have to?” when asked to clean my room or do my homework.

How many times have you heard, “It’s just rehearsal. They can miss or be late…”?

It’s always good to give 100%. Unless you’re donating blood. (groan)

I was rehearsing the team and we were deciding how to arrange a song.

Many of us hate personality tests because we feel like they box us in.

What is it like to be at one of your rehearsals?

“Well, I’m standing up here, so I’d better be playing something.”

The worship leader put a message out to the team. It said:

How do you show up to rehearsals? Would you describe it as "fully prepared?"

I love questions.

When you went to your worship team rehearsal this week, what skill did you plan on working on with your team?

What’s the most important musical part of a song? Melody. It’s the DNA, the unique fingerprint. Which brings up the next question…how do I learn melody, especially if I don’t read music or don’t have the musical notation available?

Why do I need to know how to build a song?

Because knowing how to build songs enables…so many things.

I love what Todd Henry says in his podcast The Accidental Creative: “It is the age of creativity. Cover bands don’t change the world. Don’t be a cover band. You need to find your unique voice.”