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Ministering to the
Church Musician
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September 3, 2007 |
MINISTRY TOOLS Bob Burroughs, Editor ********** SPONSOR
World Choir Games !
********* QUOTE "We have to do the best we can.
This is our sacred human responsibility."
Albert Einstein ********* SCRIPTURE Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers-- not because you must, but because you are willing as God wants you to be.
1 Peter 5:2 ********* PRAYER "Father, Creator, Giver of all good and perfect gifts, I thank you this day that You have called so many of us to be servant/musicians--lovers of chords, melodies, harmony, instruments, and all kinds of music to be used to honor and celebrate You. I offer thanksgiving for the inspiration You have given to composers through the centuries and that You are still providing inspiration for those who are writing in this day. I bless You for music. I bless You that so many styles of music are available to Your people and we can choose what we love and enjoy. I pray You will bless in a very special way those who serve you through the power of music and the impact it has on the lives of Your people. Give us wisdom, discernment, and gentleness as we select, choose and prepare our music for the Audience of One. I pray this prayer in the strong name of Jesus Christ, who obviously loved music and went out of the Upper Room singing. Amen." WHAT THINK YE ? More Than Enough? This Was a "God" Thing! There is a great lesson to be learn in the following Scripture passage--for those who are serving in a local church, and also any involved in teaching on an educational level. The lesson is found in Exodus 35, verses 30 through Chapter 36, verse 7. Read these words: He has filled them with skills to do all kinds of work
as craftsmen, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple,
and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers--all of them
master craftsmen and designers.
So every skilled person to whom the Lord has given skill
and ability to know how to carry out all the work of constructing
the Sanctuary is to do the work just as the Lord commanded.
Then, Moses summoned every skilled person to whom
the Lord had given ability. and who was willing to come
and do the work. They received from Moses all the
offerings the Israelites had brought to carry out
the work of constructing the sanctuary.
And the people...continued to bring freewill offerings
morning after morning.
So the skilled craftsmen who were doing all the
work on the sanctuary left their work and said to Moses:
“The people are bringing more than enough
for doing the work the Lord commanded to be done.”
Then, Moses gave an order, and they sent this word
throughout the camp: “No man or woman...is to make anything
else as an offering for the sanctuary.” And so, the people were restrained from bringing more
because what they already had more than enough
to do all the work. Read the last sentence again! The people--had to be restrained--from bringing more offerings--because the workers doing God’s work--already had more than enough--to do the work.
More...Than Enough! How long has it been in your church when the pastor has had to say to the congregation: “We can’t use any more offerings, Dear People!
We have more than enough." How long has it been in your music ministry that you have had to say to your people: “I’m sorry, people. We can’t use any more choir members,
or children’s choir workers, or orchestra players, or handbell ringers.
We have more than enough." When was the last time the Education Minister had to say: We have no more room for teachers in our Bible teaching sessions.
If you wish to teach, you'll just have to wait for an opening.
We have more than enough right now. Would to God--that even in our day, we might just once have the opportunity just once to experience in our churches the words: We have more than enough.
The great screen writer, Oscar Hammerstein II, in his book, Lyrics, tells the story of a photograph he once saw that was looking down on the Statue of Liberty. This photograph showed marvelous and intricate craftsmanship by the sculptor, which included the all-but-invisible hairdo which is rarely seen on Lady Liberty. Hammerstein notes in his book that the statue was crafted long before the era of airplanes and helicopters. So how could the sculptor have seen all the details? He saw all the details--in his mind’s eye--and since he was a premiere artist, he meant to finish off this part of the stature with as much care as he had devoted to the Lady Liberty’s visible features.
Hammerstein drew this conclusion: When creating a work of art or doing any other kind of work,
finish the job with perfection. Hammerstein has provided a major lesson for our throw-away, plastic and temporary generation--that will accept shoddiness and second-rate craftsmanship without question.
Perhaps, more often than not, we may find ourselves guilty of accepting mediocrity--average--because • we do not choose go the second mile
• we do not work with as much personal discipline as we should
• we find ourselves accepting less than our people are capable of giving
• we do not strive for the excellence achieved with bit more effort
By the way, the Tabernacle that was mentioned in the Exodus scripture was to be a Portable Worship Center for the ancient Israelites. Don't you think they could have gotten by with a simple tent-front type tabernacle, or perhaps even worshiped outside the tent of Moses?
But, please notice that even in a portable Tabernacle, God required nothing less than the best: the best craftsmen, the best designers, the best workmen. These men and women were filled with the Spirit of God and possessed the necessary skills, abilities and knowledge to do the task right-- the first time--without any retakes or start-overs. The idea of perfection and quality in service and worship to God continues even into the New Testament times. Colossians 3:23, says: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart,
as working for the Lord, not for men.
It is the Lord Christ you are serving. More than enough! No matter what area of responsibility you have at present or the area for which you will be responsible, each area should be a call-to-excellence.
This call-to-excellence is • not issued by man
• not decreed in any text book
• not taught in university, graduate school or seminary.
• not called for in local church bylaws
• not found in any job description that has ever this desk.
This call-to-excellence comes from God:
• who has specifically called us into His service
• to be one of His skilled craftsmen
• to serve in His vineyard
• to be responsible for adding branches and more fruit to His Kingdom
• to lift high the Cross of Jesus Christ w/ professionalism & good taste
• to challenge our people to stretch beyond themselves
• to accomplish more than we ever thought possible
• and, to keep alive the lamp of quality and perfection
What think ye?
LEADERSHIP General Colin Powell on "Leadership" 
Recently, it was my unique privilege to be at The Leadership Summit 2007, hosted by Willow Creek Association, to see and hear an interview with Colin Powell. It was a remarkable interview. I wish to share some of his leadership thoughts: 1. Class of Ideas—If you trust your followship, they should have input into what is going on in your organization--and--you should become a very good listener.
2. Only People Get Things Done—Your experience is necessary and vital, but eventually, your people have to get things done. Hear all the ideas and suggestions--then, make the decision and be firm to hold on to it.
3. Open Door Policy—This is probably the best policy General Powell ever had. His followship knew that they could cut to the chase and come to his office when they needed his advice, to share something in the chain of command that was not working as it should, or to express their opinion. Leaders who trust their people have their doors and ears open to them.
4. Probe the Organization—Find ways to communicate with and hear your people. They will begin to communicate with you when they feel you are interested in them.
5. Reward Good Performance—Good employees, staff, and people are hard to come by. When you find one or more, reward them and promote their excellence. And, leaders rid themselves and their organization of poor performing employees, staff and people. Why? Poor performers will cause good performing employees to slack off!
6. Be Prepared To Disappoint People—You can't please all the people all the time. You can't always be on top of all things. Somewhere along the way, you will disappoint your people. Accept it. Also, be prepared to disappoint people, meaning if they aren't exciting their job well, what you say or do may disappoint them but will be best in the long run.
7. Check Your Ego At The Door—The office, staff meeting or one-on-one time with employees is no time to exploit your ego. As the leader, you must remain open, fair, honest, and alert, and if your ego is in the room, you will usually fail.
8. Have Fun Along The Way—Fun helps settle your mind, spirit and personality. Leaders who don't know how to have fun in their jobs intimate their employees, staff and people. Life is too complicated anyway, so a smile or a hearty belly laugh ever so often is a welcome relief for all.
9. Rid Your Mind of Stereotypes—You can't an effective leader if you are consistently typecasting your staff. Give everyone whom you lead the opportunity to prove their merit without you prejudging them.
10. Things Always Look Better in The Morning—Tomorrow will always be better--or at least, there is hope that it will. Leaders show up ready to keep on keeping on.
11. Avoid War If At All Possible--War begats war. Killing begats killing. Look for a fight and you will find one. Leaders try, with all their heart and soul, to avoid any type of war.
12. Trust Your Instinct--Go with your gut! This usually is the best route.
13. Prepare to be Lonely--It's lonely at the top. Leaders are often the loneliest people in the building. Good leaders know how to avoid being lonely all the time!
14. Churches Should Take On Social Problems--Churches can be so much more effective than any government. Churches need to take on projects like clean water, AIDS, hunger, and poverty--not only in their communities but worldwide!
There you have it! These are powerful statements from a man proven to be a good leader. If you want more about General Powell's video interview, go to www.willowcreek.com/leaders
*********
INSPIRATIONAL CORNER WORLD INVADES THE CHURCH Rob Hewell  My friend, ROB HEWELL, Church Music Department, Ouachita Baptist University, Arkadelphia, AR, wrote these words recently, and I thought they might be applicable for today's ministry.
The world has invaded the church, and it has nothing to do with what people hear, how they sing, or what they see. Caution is necessary in those matters, to be sure. However, this intrusion--much more subtle in nature--is based on the idea that the most important things in life can always be managed and measured.
Today's expertise-laden church culture may have created an atmosphere where mystery and the supernatural are downplayed at the expense of authenticity. What happens when we seek total manageability and measurability in worship? Allow me to suggest the following possible outcomes:
• Personality and pragmatism replace passion.
• Worship is viewed merely as being useful for accomplishing other agendas.
• It ceases to be warmly relational at its core, becoming entirely rational in its focus.
• Worship as the "work of the people" is replaced by worship as a means of "working the people."
• God ceases to be the point of worship; something else takes His place.
Just as in everything else, God is the Source and end of worship. Don't we fight against His sovereignty in all matters when we operate under the perception that it's valuable for us to comprehensively engineer and gauge our congregation's worship experiences?
********* MARRIAGE SUGGESTION Love Can Be Express in Many Ways Expressed love for your spouse is more than kissing and hugging, although those two items are VERY important to a good marriage relationship. Expressions of love can be given in the very simple things of life. Here are a few suggestions:
• Seating your "love" at the dinner table--or opening her car door. It is sooooo simple, and it means sooooo much
• Saying "thank you" and "you're welcome" as often as possible
• Scribbling a "love stickie note" on the steering wheel of the car or on the bathroom mirror. My favorite, told by Dr. Chuck Kelley, President of NOBTS, was put on the commode lid for his wife, and it said, "Don't Flush Me Out Of Your Life! I Love You!!"
• Picking up your dirty clothes and putting them in the laundry hamper
• Making sure her car is always full of gas and serviced properly
• Picking up an flower arrangement and bringing it home for dinner
Now--go ye therefore and express yourself! PARENTS HOW TO MOTIVATE YOUR CHILDREN HomeLife, 2006 • Sidestep the Competition. Achievement is not about “beating the other person.” The most successful artists, athletes, and scientists are driven by a desire to improve their skills.
• Rejoice In Progress. Encourage your child to measure his/her efforts over a period of time. Keep an active portfolio of their work in art, writing, math, music and sports.
• Use Rewards Wisely. Avoid offering money for achievement. Keep incentives modest, but memorable--perhaps time alone with a parent doing a special activity! Rewards should reflect your family values.
• Be Supportive. Be present for school events, performances and sports. Praise your child for effort often and not just the final results! ********* BY THE NUMBERS Ten Reasons Seminaries Should Teach
Worship and Music to Pastors & Musicians
(Barry Liesch, The New Worship, pp. 238-39)
1. Worship is central to the ministry of every pastor and musician.
2. Music is central to evangelical worship, and the new worship has intensified this centrality: music forms up to 50% of most services.
3. A peer relationship between pastors and musicians is demanded in contemporary worship. This should be a priority between pastor and musicians.
4. Worship requires interdisciplinary study. Seminaries, as an institution, are most able to offer the variety of resources needed to provide a platform for teaching, planning and creating worship to pastors and musicians..
5. Worship aids spiritual formation.
6. Pastors need a theology of worship and music for a better understanding of the arts.
7. Musicians need theological grounding and a better understanding of ministry and the nature of the church.
8. Pastors and musicians should share classes, practicums, and become comfortable with each other prior to their partnership in ministry.
9. Pastors should experience numerous, varied, quality worship experiences in seminaries and have opportunities to design and execute them.
10. Some pastors and musicians have gifts in both preaching and music. Why should only one be developed?”
THIS IDEA WILL WORK ! 
GETTING TO KNOW YOU One of the continuous frustrations of ministers of music is finding creative and innovative ways of helping choir members to get to know each other on a more personal and first-name basis--and still have time for rehearsal! Remember: the choir room can be one of--if not THE most intimidating places in the church!
Here are some suggestions that you may find worthy of consideration:
• NAME TAGS--with first name LARGE--with the voice part! This always helps, for the name tag is easily read and can be used over several weeks. Prepare the name tags and place them on a table. Ask the members to pick up their name tags and wear them in rehearsal.
• RECOGNIZE TWO CHOIR MEMBERS PER REHEARSAL--Have each one stand, introduce themselves by telling certain things as name, where they live, what they do (school, job, etc.) favorite dog/cat, favorite food, car, favorite color and anything else that would give insight information on this person. Those two people should get to sit in "special chair" such as soft-seated lounge chair or a decorated chair.
• MYSTERY CHOIR MEMBER - Select one person per week and post clues around the choir room, like in chairs, on walls, in the music--as to the identity of this person. First one to guess who the mystery choir member is-- even if it is in the middle of a song--wins a CD!
• APPOINT one person in each section to make sure everyone in that section knows all the names of those in the section. Give 4 minutes during rehearsal for these persons to allow people to call each other's names.
• COSTUME one or two persons per week--with a real costume or simply a choir robe--and everyone gets to ask this person questions during the entire rehearsal time as time allows! The costumed person is the "person of the week." Use seasonal themes as costume ideas.
These are for starters! You can be as creative as you wish to be ! Go for it! ******* PRAISE TEAM TIPS (New this issue) This is a new column for the next few first Mondays, written by my Texas friend, Joe Glass, who is a full-time computer geek, bi-vocational MoM, freelance composer, writer, clinician, husband and father. He plays keyboard, rhythm guitar, bass guitar, and--egg shaker? Need a Praise Team? Got a Praise Team? Want a Praise Team? If you have one or want to start one, this is the place to be! Lesson #1: Where's the bass line? A common question of the bass/baritones on Praise Teams is: "Where's my bass line?" Well--it ain't there.
Contemporary voicing is different from traditional or hymn-style voicing in that it is very closed--essentially being a three-part harmony. The soprano sings the melody, alto directly under her, and the tenor directly under the alto, with no missing notes in the chord between them. So you see, it is a very tight harmony. And yes, it can get really high for tenors!
The bass? What’s he to do? Well, he ends up doubling the melody! Sorry guys, but that's the way it is. But--it sure sounds good.
The rule of thumb is this: no female sings above the melody, and no male sings below the melody. That way, you keep that tight harmony throughout the song, unless you change it intentionally to a two-part or unison. Lesson #2 next month!
 Joe Glass ******** WORSHIP “A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him
than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word,
'darkness' on the walls of his cell.”
C.S. Lewis HUMOR THINGS YOU CAN LEARN FROM MOVIES • Large, loft-style apartments in New York City are well within the price range of most people--whether they are employed or not.
• If you decide to start dancing or singing in the street, everyone you meet will dance all the steps and sing all the words
• Should you decide to defuse a bomb, don't worry which wire to cut. You will always make the right choice.
• It does not matter if you are heavily outnumbered in a fight--your enemies will wait to attack you one by one by dancing around in a threatening manner until you have knocked out their predecessors.
• Honest and hard working policemen are traditionally gunned down three days before their retirement.
• All grocery shopping bags contain at least one stick of French bread.
• Once applied, lipstick will never rub off-even while scuba diving.
• Should you wish to pass yourself off as a German or Russian officer, it will not be necessary to speak the language. A German or Russian accent will do.
• The Eiffel Tower can be seen from any window in Paris. • A man will show no pain while taking the most ferocious beating but will wince when a woman tries to clean his wounds.
• A detective can only solve a case once he has been suspended from duty. ANTHEM REVIEW YOUR GRACE STILL AMAZES ME, Shawn Craig & Connie Harrington, Arr. by Dennis Allen, Orchestration by Kyle Hill, Genevox Music Group #06330-2249-7, Orchestration # 0-6330-2251-9
This wonderful chorus is so singable! Most congregations or contemporary worship groups can easily learn the melody--and the words are so very personal. The chorus speaks it so clearly: "Your grace--still amazes me!"
This arrangement is by my friend, the very talented and gifted writer, DENNIS ALLEN. The vocals are excellent and the keyboard work is also excellent. And Dennis' accompaniment doesn't always follow the melody line! Way to go, Dennis!
The opening verse to m. 11 is an optional solo and the men join there, but this can be a male solo, allowing for a very nice duet. The choir will enter at M. 18 with gusto! Dennis gives us a very sense of a key change in m. 30, but it remains in the original key. The next verse is almost antiphonal in style. The highlight, to me, comes in the last three pages and the excitement builds dramatically and the tempo broadens, till m.65, and the sound gradually dies in a very nice mp ending. Personal word: I'd hold the last note all the way through to the end. It would be so dramatic! Good job, Dennis! CD REVIEW  SEA CHANGE is quite a remarkable CD by one of icons of Christian music, none other than KEN MEDEMA. Ken is a multi-talented, extremely gifted singer, pianist, lyricist, improviser, synthesizer programmer, percussion junkie, and a "studio rat!" On this new album, Ken goes to the depth of his artistic giftedness to bring his heart and soul to the listener. He plunges us below the sea surface and explores with prophetic honesty the human condition, bringing to the surface the real life issues that face each of us everyday, and brings glimpses of joyful ecstasy, deep reflection, conflicts that will cause you to search your inner soul, and provides unique spiritual encounters as only Medema can do.
Medema's voice, styling, vocal energy, keyboard mastery and his passion for life always stirs my soul. I love to hear Ken sing, whether in person or on a CD. He just gets to me. I think he will get to you on this new album, so full of creativity and energy. Three of the cuts ministered to me in a special way. TIME is a "prayer for time," as Ken says in the album notes. He takes his cue from Ecclesiastes, and expounds on the "time" scriptures so well. He is begging, like we are, for TIME--time to sit by a lake, watch the stars, watch a tiny baby sleep, hold a little girls who is sleeping, and the power of this text will move you to tears. FREEDOM TREES is a powerful statement about the democracy in which we live, and if we are not vigilant about protecting these freedoms, they will gradually disappear. Listen to part of his text: And they're chopping down the freedom trees
That we hoped would grow so tall.
And they're burning the wood to heat the mansion
That stands behind the wall.
And the arbors we once dreamed of are shrinking day by day.
And we do not even see it or we look the other way. In the second verse, he speaks to an issue that has just happened in Minneapolis, MN--and this album was completed BEFORE the collapse of the Interstate bridge! And the bridges we were building that would cross the gulfs between
Have fallen into disrepair such as we have never seen
And friends have turned to enemies and it's treats instead of talk
And the war planes cross the chasms where people use to walk RISE UP is based on the Biblical story of the man at the pool waiting for someone to put him in the water. Medema challenges us to attend to complacency, unleash our passions and encounter the impossible with God helping us to see change and be changed!
MME urges our readers not to miss the excitement, creativity and energy of Medema's new album. You will love his keyboard and synthesizer playing and his vocal work--but the texts of his music will challenge your thinking! For a play on words, "Just GET It!"
The CD is available from www.kenmedema.com, $15.00. Check it out!
MUSIC MINISTRY NEWS WRONG EMAIL ADDRESS - alas! MME provided an incorrect email for PAUL HILL last month. Several caught the error. His correct email address, should you wish to congratulate him on receiving his DMA degree, received last week from Shenandoah Conservator, Winchester, VA--is phbaton@comcast.net
CONFERENCES Webinar 
Create and Maintain Momentum with Your Choir!
Join us for a Webinar on September 18 What, you ask, is a Webinar? It is an online seminary--done on the web! It is a great idea! Read on. Would you like to have a choir that is growing so much you have to add chairs each week to accommodate them? Sign up for this Webinar and learn how to manage and grow your choir beyond your own ability to do so.
Learn from a choir builder how to put together a dynamite Leadership Team and let them help you communicate your dream with the choir members.
Learn how to assimilate guests into your choir and make them feel special enough to join your organization.
With a Webinar, there is no hotel expense--there is no travel or meal expense! You do it all this from your desk!
You can sign up today at www.jimfaull.com/webinar
Webinar Title:
Create & Maintain Momentum With Your Choir
Date: Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Time: 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM EDT
 Jim Faull System Requirements PC-based attendees: Windows® 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server, Vista Macintosh®-based attendees: Mac OS® X 10.3.9 (Panther®) or later
Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat--at your own desk 
7th ANNUAL CHRISTIAN SINGERS WORKSHOP
Presented by
The Voice House and Atlanta Christian College
VOCAL AND PRAISE TEAM MASTER CLASSES
Friday, September 28, 2007
1-5 & 7-9 PM
WORKSHOP CLASSES
Saturday, September 29, 2007
9 to 6 PM
SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER:
DR. SCOTT MARTIN
Academy of the Arts, Denver, CO
********* 
Kempke's Winter Conferences Music Florida--January 7-10, 2008
Center Pointe Community, Orlando, FL Premier Choral Conference, including 16 reading sessions, 5 premieres, special eminars and concerts, including Mark Schultz. Also, a 2-DayPro Audio, Video & Lighting Expo
and a full day Children's Choir Leadership Workshop. Winter Music Texas--January 22, 2008
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Ft Worth, TX. Join us for a full day of reading sessions! Go towww.kempke.com for all the latest information and to register today!
********* 
Pine Lake Music wants to be your one-stop source for all of your music resources!!Whether it’s shopping at www.pinelakemusic.com or calling one of our sales people at 800-241-3667, we want to help in the search for the best resources to fit your ministry needs. And for MME readers, we’ve created a special web page just for you! There will be different offers each week--new product specials, extra discounts, special conference pricing, pre-release recordings, and other surprises-- something special EVERY week. Be sure to visit our website: www.pinelakemusic.com/MME. Bookmark it NOW and visit EVERY week to see what’s special for MME readers. These MME specials will appear each weekend and vanish on Friday. (psst: there’s already something there now--just for you) ATTENTION CHURCH KEYBOARDISTS! Don't miss Marilynn Ham at Pine Lake Music for a one-day teaching event September 22--9:00-4:00. MME readers can save $20 off the $45 registration price by calling 800-241-3667 and asking for Beth. Don't forget to tell her you read about it in MME to save the $20.
Two new resources that are a MUST for all choral directors and worship leaders are: "Choir Builders"--a book of exercises and songs designed to improve your choir's choral blend and diction. Rollo Dilworth, a music educator, choir director, and best-selling choral arranger, has created this resource from his vast experiences with his own choirs in churches and choral clinics across the country. All of the songs have piano accompaniment or use the ACC CD, which is included in the book. MME readers save 25%! "Living Praise" is a worship resource designed for a church wanting to blend hymns with popular praise choruses. This book also includes a CD-ROM, with music pages for your rhythm section, vocalists, instrumental parts, and PowerPoint files. AND, the ACC CD for ALL 21 songs in the book! There are also numerous medleys already created to enhance your worship service. MME readers save 25%! Read more about both of these products and save $$ by visiting www.pinelakemusic.com/MME ********* 
CHOIRFEST 2008
The Huntsville Choral Festival
April 3-8, 2008
First Baptist Church
Huntsville, Alabama
IT IS NOT TOO EARLY to plan on you and some of your best singers to come to ChoirFest 2008 and be inspired and challenged under the direction of Anton Armstrong, the conductor of the famed St. Olaf College Choir, and one of the outstanding conductors of our day.
There are only a very few places left in the 300-Voice Choir for this outstanding event and because of space, no more will be accepted. You can secure full information at this web site: www.choirfest.com
The ChoirFest 2008 organizer, HUGH BALLOU, invites MME readers to sign up for the FREE CONFERENCE CALL with Anton Armstrong, September 11, 8:00 PM EDT. Go to the ChoirFest home page mentioned above and click HERE to sign up to be a part of this call. BITS AND PIECES MME wishes to express our deep appreciation to our September sponsor, the INTERKULTUR Foundation, a German charitable association, which has been active in planning and carrying out international choir competitions for almost 20 years. INTERKULTUR hosts up to 10 competitions per year, welcoming participants numbering from several hundred up to 20.000--for the WORLD CHOIR GAMES--with choirs coming from more than 140 countries. These people gather to be part of a peaceful festival regardless of political or ideological differences. Experiencing this and regarding the huge international network of contact persons, INTERKULTUR has become the largest organizer of choir competitions in the world. MME encourages our readers to check out their website, www.worldchoirgames.com.
RESPONSE to the weekly MME has been more than we ever anticipated! There has been almost 160,000 hits on the CREATOR website since August 6. MME readers have expressed appreciation for MME now being a weekly issue. Thank each of you who have visited the CREATOR website and logged onto MME, and thanks for looking around the site! Professionals tell us that the average time spend on a website is 31 seconds. The average time on the CREATOR website is 5.2 minutes--amazing! Thanks! We are always open to your suggestions--and to help you anyway we can. If you have specific topics you wish one of the MME weeks would address, let us know and we'll work on your request. Tell your friends to log on to the CREATOR site and register. They will enjoy the issues, too.
FINAL THOUGHT Esther and I had the privilege of attending The Leadership Summit 2007--August 11-12 at the Willow Creek Campus in South Barrington, Il. Ten from our church made the trip. I want to give MME readers a simple, factual statement: This was the best, most exciting, and informative
leadership conference I have ever attended--bar none! Every pastor and staff member--of every church--in every city or town, regardless of size, should be in attendance for The Leadership Summit 2008 next August 7-9. With more than 130 locations across North America, nearly every church has a Summit option in a church within 50 miles of your location. if you choose to do a satellite location. 
The messages, given by outstanding, well-known, prove, successful, and totally honest speakers will challenge you and your staff to find new and innovative ways to be better leaders and inspire your followship. You will go back to your church renewed, refreshed, and read to use your newly acquired leadership skills!
To receive the lowest rates, go to www.willowcreek.com/leaders and register by October 30! If you sign up now, you can experience the Summit in person at Willow Creek for as low as $265 per person. Or, register your team at a local Satellite for as low as $135 per person. OK! I think I know what you are thinking! Why should I go to something like this?
• You will experience is how to turn your vision for your church or program into a plan for your people.
• You will learn the concept of the team experience.
• You will learn how to lead outside your comfort zone.
• You will learn how to focus on your role as a leader. I have been in a leadership position for over 50 years and I have attended many conferences, workshops, and retreats that focused on leadership but The Leadership Summit is the best. I encourage every MME reader to go to the website, look around, listen to some of the speakers from August '07, and budget to go in '08. You will be glad you made the commitment. If you have any questions, I'll be happy to answer them for you if you will email me at bbur65@aol.com
The extravagant grace of Jesus Christ be with you.
Bob Burroughs 
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