I’m headed to Nashville today to get things ready for the production of our live recording on February 11.
I’ll just note that the security people are particularly grumpy this morning. No Christmas spirit at 5:30 AM. Humbug.

I’m really pumped about this album, which will be the first true recording Elevation has done. But I’ll be honest with you. It’s kind of weird for me to switch back into such a purely musical gear now that I’m a pastor.

A few years ago most of my creative energy was poured into music. Particularly songwriting. I carried around notepads, index cards, journals and napkins full of partial song lyrics and ideas. I hummed melodies into digital recorders, old school tape recorders, and my cell phone so I wouldn’t forget them. I played guitar while watching TV, feeding the dog, talking on the phone, driving my car… well, you get the point.

It was a fun season. I produced 2 pretty good albums during that time, and wrote dozens of songs which I taught people in worship services. Some of them were actually good.

But life has changed. My days and my pursuits are a lot different now. All of my creative bandwidth is devoted to leading and preaching for Elevation Church.
I cannot overstate how much mental, emotional and spiritual energy it takes to have a fresh and impactful sermon prepared every week. And to plan the next 3 series far enough in advance to allow maximum innovation.

Add to that the way you pour your heart and soul into developing, refining, casting and implementing the future vision of the church as a pastor, and songwriting/music just can’t ride shotgun anymore.

Not to mention that I want to (not just need to, I desire to) spend all the free time (what’s that?) I have with Holly and my new best pal, Elijah.

If I sound depressed about all this, I’m not.

I love this new season! I embrace it. I love being a pastor and a dad. I love preaching to the same people every week, building on a foundation. I live for the privilege of leading my family and our staff (in that order). I feel like I’m in the zone right now, and I wouldn’t change a thing.

I led worship for Elevation for our first 7 months, but I was always looking forward to handing it off like a hot potato once I got the foundation built.

Not because I don’t love it. I do. I was and am and forever more will be a music junkie who could spend $50 a day on iTunes if I were rich. And when I lead a song now and then on Sunday morning, I still feel a tremendous passion and anointing for leading people into the presence of God.

But sometimes you have to let go of the good thing for the best thing.
I’m not saying that being a pastor is intrinsically better than being a musician/worship leader.

It’s just better for me. Because God has called me to zero in and give 2000% of my focus and brainpower to leading our church. And it’s an honor!

I think a lot of success in life and leadership revolves around discerning and enjoying your next season. And right now, with all that’s going on in and around me, life should be about who I need to be to and for my family and our church (again, in that order) than my interests, hobbies, and skills.

With all of that said, I am so looking forward to leading worship and doing production for this CD. I’m looking forward to the next 2 days that we’ll spend hammering out the details. It will be fun to wear the rocker hat for 36 hours.

I know that sounds like I’m contradicting myself.
“I’m giving up music, and as I type this, I’m going to produce our next CD.”

But see, I don’t mean that I’m giving up music. I mean that I’m readjusting its priority/demand on my life.
As Larry Brey put it, my involvement in the music of Elevation will now be more about vision/projects than the week to week affairs.

I hope I’ll be able to write songs semi-regularly again one day. And I don’t want to let my gift atrophy. But I know what my main calling is, and I’m simply obsessed with fulfilling it, first and foremost.

I’ll ask one question, and then I’m out:

Is there any good thing you need to give up for a better thing at this point in your life?