The ancient Celts were some of the earliest global converts to Christianity, and a very deep faith can be found in much of the culture. As I began to collect instruments from around the world, I studied the culture from which the instruments came and found this deep faith globally. It is inspiring to me to play these instruments because I feel a connection with my Christian brothers and sisters around the world...I am honored to represent them in a small way by playing the instruments of their culture. To us Americans, it may seem that most of Christianity resides in the US, but collecting and playing these instruments from around the world reminds me that the Body of Christ truly IS worldwide. One of my favorite praise songs of declaration is one made popular by the Newsboys in 2003 - it expresses global Christianity quite well:

In 2003 I was the featured musician at Global Oklahoma, a multicultural festival held annually at Rose State College in Oklahoma City. Australia was the theme country in 2003 so I was asked by the college to perform a didgeridoo concert. I enlisted the help of fellow musicians, Anne Cowles (violin) and Dustin Cooper (hammer dulcimer and hand drums) for a multicultural selection of songs from Celtic to Arabic. To hear some of the songs recorded live that day, click here.

Click photo for closeup

I am a musician who - though I read music - can hear something once and play it, so I most often play from lyric sheets with chords. If it has chords, I can play it on either piano or guitar. If it doesn't have chords, I can listen to it and write them out. I can transpose on the spot and I most always transpose songs into mid range keys which I feel are most suited for general congregational singing (i.e. the songs are neither too high nor too low for overall singing comfort). My method of providing music for a group, such as praise team, is to provide a lyric sheet which I prepare from my own songbooks or from CCLI, with chords. I don't often expect a praise team to memorize the music but I do expect them to be familiar enough with the music so that they don't have to concentrate on the music itself and are therefore free to concentrate on the Lord and the leading of the Holy Spirit. It's not more difficult to do so while using notated music but I find the less people have to look at or concentrate on music wise, the more they'll be free to concentrate on the Lord. My goal is to help people concentrate, and depend more, on the Holy Spirit. So I keep it as simple as possible.

I have owned my own professional sound equipment for many years and am experienced with setting up and operating sound equipment, as well as adjusting sound levels. Whether there is a designated sound person or I am setting up sound equipment and levels myself, this is a helpful tool in being a worship leader.

Over the past 26 years I have received excellent training, both formally (musically and ministerially), experientially and spiritually which is the reason I am the worship leader I am today. I continue to grow spiritually and musically knowing I have not "arrived" anywhere except "here" and there is always more to learn. I have had wonderful spiritual and musical mentors over the past 26 years whom the Lord has used to disciple, train and prepare me, and for many years have had the joy of being a spiritual and musical mentor myself, which I do in some capacity everywhere I serve. Some of my mentors have been Christian artists such as Darlene Zschech, Twila Paris, Dennis Jernigan, Reba Rambo, Cynthia Clawson, Teri DeSario, Kent Henry - all whom I have met and all whom have spoken over my life, personally and/or through song and/or prayer, prophetic and/or exhorting words. I continually listen to artists such as those along with others such as MercyMe, Steven Curtis Chapman, Hillsong, Charlie Hall, Chris Tomlin, the artists on all the WOW Worship series, as a part of my own worship times and to learn from anointed worshippers as the Holy Spirit speaks to me through their ministry.

I believe all that is done should be done with the most excellence possible unto the Lord because He deserves nothing less than the very best. Therefore, I prayerfully plan and prepare (practice) music when I am leading worship. For example, I will be prayerfully planning and practicing the music for a Sunday church service throughout the entire week before the service (I do so on my own whether or not I'm working with a praise team). This way whether leading by myself or leading with a team, we are prepared as opposed to "flying by the seat of our pants" so to speak. This does not mean worship is strictly from the page...to the contrary, I listen - and pray - while leading worship and follow the direction of the Holy Spirit. Often this means repeating phrases, choruses, or simply playing while the Lord quietly speaks to individual hearts. At times spontaneous worship will erupt and I will begin to sing in the Spirit, words of adoration and praise. As a worship leader within a church I recognize and submit to the authority of the pastor so I am also sensitive to pastoral direction. There have been times a pastor has gotten up and asked me to repeat a song or even to play a song that isn't "on the list" and I will follow that pastor's direction. Likewise, some churches are on strict time schedules and a set time is allotted for worship. When this is the situation, I work within those time constraints and I do not feel the Lord's anointing is any less than when there is no time limitation. It is the attitude of the heart, not the amount of time, that makes the difference.

Worship is a way of life, and is much more than singing songs, it is my lifestyle.