{Day 8} School of Worship

worship this morning, Chris leading

Worship this morning was Jesus Culture + William Matthews - Kim Walker-Smith.

In other words, it was legit.

We opened with "Deep Cries Out," which is a fun one, and then did "Burning Ones," "I Want to Know You," and "Obsession." So good. This was my first time to worship from the front of the room, in front of the stage, instead of the back. Fun up there.

Brian Johnson spoke on songwriting for our main session. Highlights:

• "Music in and of itself is prophetic." - Brian Johnson
• "Songwriting isn't just self-expression, it is communicating how you feel and getting others to feel the same way." - Brian Johnson
• He emphasized that all his 'rules' were not rules, just guidelines.
• "Put lyrics to the joy and the passion and the emotion in the room," during congregational worship. - Brian Johnson
• "When you're passionate about something, that's where your anointing is going to be." - Bill Johnson
• "Write what you feel, not what you're supposed to feel." - John Mark McMillan
• "God never runs out of ideas." - Brian Johnson
• "Make the listener want to hear it again." - Brian Johnson
• Love the church. Writing to be famous will be very different than writing out of a love for the church and a desire to see her enter into the Kingdom.

Afterwards I stood in line to possibly volunteer in an upcoming Bethel music video. There were a ton of people wanting in, and they only need 60, so they're going to pick randomly from their list and email us if we're in. So we'll see what happens! :)

inside the Alabaster House

Then I went and soaked in the Alabaster House for about 20 minutes. I love it in there. It's so peaceful. Downside is that I'm always sleepy afterwards.



Went back to the main church building to pick up a parking pass - that I probably won't need - and encountered Kathy Vallotton. I don't know if I've yet commented on her awesome-ness. She is awesome. Omgosh. Anyway, long story short, I asked her to pray for me for something and she did, and it was really cool. I almost fell over, which would have been really awkward, but it was all in all really cool. That's a tell-you-later story, but yeah. She's incredible.

And now I'm home. We only had a half-day of school today because the Kingdom Culture conference is this evening. Amber (Alabama) and Dani (France) went to go experience Redding, and Jasmine (Dallas) is asleep. So it's quiet here, but I'm about to play the piano and/or journal and/or draw. I'll post later about the Kingdom Culture conference tonight.