In my seven and a half years as Crest Worship Leader, my focus has been to do my best to create an atmosphere where Scripture, prayer, and the music come together and bring folks into a meaningful and transformative relationship with God.

Even before I accepted the position at Signal Crest, I had played for many years in different churches. Back in my college days (when I had hair) I was playing music for a pretty large congregation each week.

Practice and perfect repetition were crucial. Our band would practice for two or three hours each week.

We had to make sure we got the music right.

We had to make sure there weren’t any mistakes.

If there was a sour note or a missed chorus, we felt that we had let the congregation down. Perfection was the goal because, in our minds, we were making music that was pleasing to God’s ear.

A few years later, I became a father, and I can say the most meaningful pieces of artwork I’ve ever been given were from my children. The colors may be off, the lines not perfectly straight, but that wasn’t the point. Because they loved me, they presented their drawings of blue skies with giant yellow suns and gorgeous rainbows to me, their father.

All out of Love.

And now, as I’ve gotten older, and hopefully matured a bit in my faith, I’ve come to look at worship in a similar way.

No matter how much I prepare, no matter how many guest musicians we have…
 

It’s not worthy of the goodness, majesty, and unending love of God.

So when the Crest Band plays each Sunday, we might play some wrong notes. Guitar strings will break, projector bulbs might burn out. Those types of things happen; but that’s not what I’m concerned with.
 
I want our service to be a place where we all slow down for an hour, love on our community, and thank our Father for what we have received… all while we focus on something that is bigger than ourselves.

I can say that I am blessed in so many ways. I’m so, so thankful. So how do I show my thankfulness? How do I show my love? I show my love through worship and through music. It's not perfect, but he’s never required that.

I give my Creator crayon drawings of blue skies with giant yellow suns and gorgeous rainbows.
 
I think theologian Thomas Merton sums it up perfectly in one of his prayers:

“… I believe that the desire to please You

does in fact please You.

And I hope that I have that desire in all that I am doing.

I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire…”

Thank you to all the love you have given me and my family over these many years. Love to you all!
Josh