Understanding The Flip Side of Procrastination.

Everyone Procrastinates but not Everyone is a Procrastinator.

Just before you skip past this write up, judging from the clichéd title, and the usual criticism accompanying procrastinators, and because over time, the term procrastination is viewed in bad light. It is so bastardized a word that today’s world trends tend towards rewarding speed or being the quickest or striving to be the first to get most things done. Nevertheless at some point, everyone is guilty of procrastination. Have you asked yourself some questions as to, what’s stopping me from saying yes? What’s holding me back from going on a date with him/her? What’s making me take a standstill approach to that client? Etc.

Over the years, we have been bombarded with sermons, seminars, book titles or articles trying to help us cure, defeat, and eliminate this so called "Bad Habit". But is it really that bad? I mean Procrastination.

Now let's define the word Procrastination. According to the web dictionary, it defines it as "the action of delaying or postponing something". So in other words, it can also be understood as the "art of managing delay" which could actually lead to greater success or happiness (Partnoy 2012).

Now let's put this in the right context, for those that are culprits of the above terminology, try to figure out why you procrastinate. I myself have been guilty at some point and tagged a procrastinator. For some reason, I felt bad until I stumbled on a book by John Perry titled, “The Art of Procrastination: a guide to effective Dawdling, Lallygagging and Postponing". Using himself as a case study, he realized and termed himself as a "Structured or Active Procrastinator". This means someone that does other things while he puts some things on hold. He deliberately chooses to procrastinate because he weighs things of priorities. While in contrast, unstructured or Passive Procrastination is indeed the traditional sense relating to procrastinators. These type are lazy and paralyzed by their indecision to act and fail to complete tasks in time. (Please don't be this kind).

So moving forward, since we have categorized procrastination into two (2) as earlier read, I’ll will now outline four (4) reasons why you should not worry about holding off that task, project or decision for a later date as opposed to today.

1. Procrastination gives insight as to what’s important. According to John Perry, your subconscious mind is often telling you something when you want to delay a task. For productive persons, the desire to procrastinate could mean that this task is not important and maybe should be delegated in order to pay attention to other things of greater importance.

2. A structured or active Procrastinator makes better decisions. As earlier defined, procrastination is managing delay and using the delay in gathering information, better perspective, better understanding, wisdom and judgment regarding a matter, which is a recipe for success. Overtime, we like to believe there is wisdom in snap decisions and sometimes there is actually. However, it is also important to think through relevant time periods of our decisions to come out with the best possible outcomes.

3. Procrastination leads to creativity. When assigned to tasks that seem daunting, procrastinating often leads to brainstorming or inventing a better idea or way to work through the task.

4. Finally, procrastination may reduce anxiety. There are always things we really do not want to do, things that makes us uncomfortable, anxious or even afraid. But putting away time to mentally prepare yourself in tackling the task may reduce anxiety.

In conclusion, some persons can breathe a sigh of relief knowing the category they should fall into and sometimes embrace procrastination. Now we see that it is not as bad as it seems. Examine your procrastination from all angles and listen to it. It could be indication that your gut is trying to tell you something.

10 Characteristics of a Worship Drummer

I really want to use this medium to appreciate everyone that took out time to read and comment on the first series of a Worship Drummer. I was really overwhelmed with the feedbacks I received. I love you all. 

As earlier stated in my previous post, this is the continuation of the series and I must say, it's quite a lengthy write up but I believe you're going to enjoy every moment of your reading time. I really took time to articulate my thoughts in writing and I once again believe it's going to be a blessing to my intended readers. So without much talk, let's delve into what I have for you.  

As always after reading, I'll love to know what you think in the comment section below. Gracias  

So beginning from the first number is the characteristics of the person of a Worship Drummer and it goes like this. 

1. We know our parts, and how to execute them.

As drummers, we are given the responsibility of steering a service dynamically. As a key foundation of any team, we should know the parts to the songs we play back to front. There isn’t anything wrong with tweaking parts for the venue or service style – however, it is always best to know the foundation of the song and know what makes it work and alter as necessary, rather than assume we know everything. No one wants that guy who just shows up and “jing it”.

2. We choose our gear wisely, and we work with others to create our voice.

Here’s where it gets a little technical. 
Your personal sound has so many factors, and gear is a major part of your musical voice. Get to know the venues you will be playing in and spend some time figuring out what gear will work well for you and your Production team so as to get a great sound and if possible the best. I think for worship drummers, cymbals play a major role in your expressions. Larger and darker cymbals played skillfully are a better option than smaller brighter cymbals. I recently just got a set of Zildjian cymbals with the help of my church though and this has greatly influenced my sound, so I’ll advise that worship drummers should save and plan to invest in important stuff like cymbals as it will influence a great deal of your sound.

For snare drums, I use a Tama snare with an Evans drum head because of the power of my strokes, also I love to keep my snare tight but not too tight cause I like to hear the resonance. Though on occasions and songs selection, I sometimes mute the head to get a compressed and dampening snare sound. I also like a good amount of body and crack from my snares.

Okay, now it comes to electronics – do it well. If you need to invest in a good snare drum and cymbals, do that first. Electronics are a great added extra but are rarely used for me. I have used Roland SPD-SX drum pad, and I loved the electric and snare triggers sound and I’m planning to get one personally. So, I’ll stop there for now and when I’ve got my electric drum pad then I can go more elaborate on it.

3. We value relationships and make an active effort to build and maintain it.

As part of a larger body, the church, we need to have a good relationship with the people that we are serving alongside, and the people we are serving and beyond. I have found that the better my relationship is with a musician, music director, worship leader, Pastor, or MC, monitors and front of house engineers, technical directors or even knowing who is in the congregation that day, has made me more of an effective musician and leader myself. Know how your team thinks. Know where your worship leaders want to take the service, have your eyes open and be attentive to the congregation. Make eye contact with people. Engage with one another. As you build relationships you will get to know things about people that will help you to serve one another in even greater ways. Trust plays a major part in services – make sure everyone believes in you to have their back! It always makes it easier to serve with grace when you trust those around you and are trusted in return.

4. We are teachable at heart and consistent in nature.
“If you love learning, you love the discipline that goes with it—
how shortsighted to refuse correction!” – Proverbs 12:1 (MSG)
The Bible instructs us to keep a pure and teachable heart. And as leaders, we need to be a shining example of this. Always be open to feedback from others, and search it out. If people don’t give you feedback, ask for it. If you don’t feel like you receive enough feedback to learn from, start recording yourself when you play a service. A great way to learn is to critique yourself once you are removed from the situation by watching or listening back to what you did. You’ll be able to hear so many aspects of your playing and how you blend with the team that you can’t notice live. Be consistent in your approach to serving and seeking feedback. Consistency goes a long way in the Kingdom of God.

5. We practice moving in the Holy Spirit and bringing Heaven to Earth in our ministry.
We are leading people into the presence of God – therefore, it is our job to go there first. You can’t take your congregation to new heights with God if you haven’t been anywhere near Him. Make a conscious effort to seek out the Holy Spirit in your everyday life, and ask Him to help you to play with conviction and power – and to fill you with fire when you play. When you practice, practice speaking with the Holy Spirit through your playing. Prophesy with your hands and your feet. Learn the language of heaven. Spend time in your Bible and in Prayer. Don’t rely on simply knowing technique or parts, you need to couple that knowledge with your personal revelation of who God is and what He wants to do through you when you minister using your gift.

6. We know how to read our services, and are actively engaged in carrying them.
At my local church, our services start usually with prayers and it’s accompanied with worship sound at the background. So when the congregation starts trooping in, there’s already an atmosphere set for the service. We then start the service with around 20/25 minutes of Praise/Worship and then go into another moment of prayers and faith confessions, announcements, and maybe some extra worship. Then after, the senior pastor comes up with the sermon, thereafter tithe and offering, closing prayer, and a closing praise song.
Throughout these moments, anything could change at a second’s notice – because anything could happen and it probably will. So it’s your job to learn how to read moments in your church and know how to respond accordingly, to help steer the team in the right direction. In a spiritual sense as well, during the set, you need to learn to read your congregation and know when you need to pull back, and when you need to push forward in your playing. This is something that comes from the previous three points. As you develop your relationships, heart, and prophetic edge, you’ll be able to carry and create more beautiful moments of worship with your playing.

7. We are committed to innovating and moving forward in our capacity as leaders and ministers.
We are called to be moving forward in our walks with God and in our ministry of the Gospel. It is important that we never grow complacent in what God has called us to do, and if He has put it in your heart to minister to people through music, it is your job to steward that gift as well as you possibly can (see the parable of the talents – you are accountable for what you are given). For some, innovation could mean learning a new groove or fill, for others, innovation could mean spending a week in the studio writing parts for an album. Try new setups and gear, listen to all kinds of music, and actively make an effort to improve yourself and the others around you. Remember, innovation doesn’t have to be a radical change, it can be as simple as learning one new thing each day.

8. We are always approachable and genuinely place value on those who take the time to reach out to us.
“walk continually in love [that is, value one another—practice empathy and compassion, unselfishly seeking the best for others], just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice to God [slain for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance.” – Ephesians 5:2 (AMP)
As you practice these things and begin to improve your gift, people around you will notice your diligence and commitment to your craft. But it is always important to remember that with great influence comes great responsibility. I have always made it a priority to have time for people who ask me for help or advice and to be a player who is approachable on and off the platform. I have made some of my best friends simply by being an open book when they came up to ask me for advice after service or reached out to me online. As a leader, it’s your responsibility to build up those around you and help them to succeed. There is no room for gift-hoarders in the Kingdom of God. Early in the year, I read a book by Dr Myles Munroe and he said in one of the chapters about “giving our oil away to empty yourself”.  As someone who is anointed by God to minister, give your oil away. Pray for those who want to do what you do – lay hands on them and ask God to give them fire from heaven. Reach out to those who may not think they have much potential and help raise them up. Always have time for a young musician. Never allow yourself to become too busy to have time for others who could genuinely use your friendship, encouragement, and support.

9. We are humble and pure in heart.
“The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous [those with moral courage and spiritual integrity]
And His ears are open to their cry.” – Psalm 34:15 (AMP)
It’s always a humble reminder that Jesus didn’t come to condemn the world or to tell us how great He was and force us to worship Him. He lived a simple life, proclaimed the truth and promises of God, and allowed Himself to be humbled even though He had every right to exalt Himself as King. As servants of God, let’s never get caught up in the rostered positions we have, the platforms we minister on, the people we know or serve with, our presence on social media, the gear we use, or even the Church we are from. Whilst all of those are great things, and it’s an honour and privilege to be entrusted with influence – let’s keep the main thing the main thing. If we aren’t doing everything for Jesus, knowing it’s not in our own strength, there’s no point at all. Make it a point to commit your gift to God daily, and ask Him to give you humility from heaven and allow you to keep a pure and untainted heart.

10. We carry the vision and heart of Jesus.
This is the most important point of all. As ministers, we are called to represent Jesus well. It’s our job to honour our Pastors, Leaders, and Congregations as we work together to lead and impact lives, and ultimately see souls won to Jesus and see people have encounters with Jesus. Never lose sight of the vision of your house, what you are graced to do, and the mandate on your leaders’ lives. Honour your leadership in word and in prayer, and ask that God will help you find your place in the vision. It’s a whole lot easier to serve week after week, year after year, without getting burnt out, if you believe in what you are doing Heart and Soul. Never stop asking God to fill you afresh, even when times get hard or you start wandering away from Him. It’s amazing how much grace and peace God has to give those who humble themselves before Him.

11. We raise those around us with sound teaching. [BONUS]
“You’ve been raised on the Message of the faith and have followed sound teaching. Now pass on this counsel to the followers of Jesus there, and you’ll be a good servant of Jesus. Stay clear of silly stories that get dressed up as religion. Exercise daily in God—no spiritual flabbiness, please! Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever. You can count on this. Take it to heart. This is why we’ve thrown ourselves into this venture so totally. We’re banking on the living God, Savior of all men and women, especially believers.” – 1 Timothy 4:6-10 (MSG)

I added this one in for good measure. What you do is not who you are, it’s all about leading others to Jesus. Take what you’ve learnt and share it with others! Don’t be afraid to be the person that others can look to. Don’t get caught up in religion. Keep Jesus the main thing, be passionate and love what you do, and always give your best to learn and grow and mature in your walk with God as you strive to become a better worshiper and player. Excellence honours God.

Thank you for your time and God bless you.

The Person of a Worship Drummer

I would start by saying I'm a worship drummer by personal discovery and would love to share my little knowledge on this topic. It’s a great privilege to play music for the Lord and I believe musicians and singers are the gatekeepers to God’s presence for the church and the whole earth. All believers are called to be worshipers, but the worship leader and team members have a significant role in being the curtain raiser into God's presence. We are not better people or God’s favourites. We were just made to “create a space” where we can all meet with the Lord.  That’s our job, our calling. 

Therefore, the spiritual life of a musician affects how they worship. If you just play the instrument and press into the presence of God you are only doing half of the job. I personally believe if you are not pursuing the Lord like the “lead worshipper” you could be dead weight in a worship band. I know that’s strong talk, but I’ve seen it happen. Musicians and singers who don’t join the worship leader in the pursuit of God seem to wear them out. When you are pressing deep into the worship experience with your worship leader, you're in sync and in that atmosphere, there's something that's bound to happen.

Lemme share my experience and routine for a normal service day. Before worship kicks off, I have my personal prayer time where I talk to the Lord about what He would like to see happen.  Even as I prepare my drums and its accessories, I tell God, play through this hands and feet. My ears, mind are opened to hear and receive the things of the spirit. My band and lead worshipper plays and sing from the throne of Grace that’ll be acceptable before you. Let every chord played and stroke hit heals someone of their challenge or problem. This and many more I talk to God about before the music starts to play and I say this each time I mount my instrument.

As the worship continues I listen and cue into any prayer and song that comes forth and I intentionally connect and stay in tune with the spirit of the house. Now when the song list extends beyond the usual to let’s say spontaneous moments, musically I have no idea what I will do next.

As I keep playing and worshipping, sounds rise out of me, like the groaning of the spirit in prayer. A loud cymbal crash, a thundering tom fill, or maybe a light tap of a cymbal or triangle, or… who knows … maybe I’ll just keep a steady pulsing groove moving along, I just undergird what’s happening at the moment. The actual notes or technique of playing is no longer a concern. Yes, I’m “in tune” and unified with the team. I am also reaching out to the Lord and praying for His purposes to be fulfilled.

So, I hope with this short write up, I've been able to really portray the role of a worship band and worship drummer in specific. More write-ups will follow after this and coming after this write up will be 10 characteristics of a worship drummer. So please stay tuned.

If this article is a blessing to you, please share and comment. You never might know who needs to read this and it is my dream that we really do have worship drummers that convey the mind of God through the expression of their giftings.


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