I believe in the calling of a worship songwriter.

It's a unique skill set and responsibility. It's not just about your ability to observe life and articulate how you feel about it. You're also a theologian - you study TRUTH and distill it for people to sing. You serve the church in their expression of worship.

Of course, this isn't easy. You need to keep a pulse on our shifting culture while resting your heart close to the unchanging Word of God. The message never changes, but your methods will.

You picked up this book because you want to write worship songs. Maybe you want one of your songs to appear on the top CCLI for thousands of worship leaders to sing. Maybe you want to write a song for a youth retreat you're leading. Maybe you don't know what you want and you're exploring ideas.

This book is about your passion to spread God's glory. I'm here to commission you: Write worship songs. Pursue God with intensity. Make the study of His glory your highest aim and write down what you see. Become a student of His greatness.

We'll talk about some ways to make your songs more accessible for the church to sing. Matter of fact, this is a step by step guide that will teach you exactly how to do that. Thanks for joining the journey. To a generation of songwriters who are in love with Jesus, passionate for His church, and committed to spreading His glory,

DavidWhile you are reading, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me. You can best reach me on Twitter (@dsantistevan), or on my Facebook Page.

We have a good time! If you’d like to reach me in private, feel free to email me@davidsantistevan.com.

Table of Contents

IGNORE

WORSHIP

CLARIFY

SHIFT

UNLEASH

DECIDE

ENLIST

EDIT

TEST

RELEASE

Appendix 1: How to Find More Time to Write

Appendix 2: Practical Tools for Effective Songwriting

Contact

About

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1.IGNORELet go of all advice, expectations, criticism, and just write.

Writing worship songs is hard.

Not because the act of writing takes time (which it does), but because of all the pressure associated with it. I can hear people say, “You are writing songs for the church to sing. Don’t screw it up for everyone!”

Sure, that's a huge responsibility. But what you need at the very beginning of your songwriting process is not pressure, instruction, structure, teaching and feedback.

You need to write.

Simple as that. No filter. Give yourself the freedom to sit down and do whatever you want. The editing and collaborating will come later.

Don't worry if your melody is the same as "How Great is Our God". Go ahead and copy it.

Don't freak out if your chord structure is a simple I vi V IV.

Don't try to be innovative.

All of that will come later. When you realize that, you free up your mind to just create, get into a state of flow, and just love the process. Get lost in your creative zone.

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Songwriting Is Easy, Right?It's a myth to think that great songwriters simply create without struggle - that the more talented you are, the easier songwriting is.

Not exactly.

Rather, every time they write is another round in the ring with fear.

They face the same insecurities.

They battle the same doubts.

They stare down the same struggles.

The difference? They ignore the scary voices and write.

They don't allow anything to hold them back. They stare insecurity in the face - fear in the face - struggle in the face - and they overcome.

Leonard Cohen said it well:

He’s right. Stop romanticizing the songwriting process. Don’t wait for angelic voices to inspire you.

Songwriting is good, old-fashioned work. You just need to show up.

Feeling insecure? Check.

Doubting my ability? Check.

This feels too difficult? Check.

Perfect. You’re on the

right track.

“I wish I were one of those people who wrote songs quickly. But I’m not. So it takes me a great deal of time to find out what the song is. I am working most of the time.”

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Beware of the “Hit” SyndromeWe’ve all been there. Before we allow ourselves space to create, we’re already thinking about writing a “hit”.

Stop it. That will only paralyze your creative process.

Refuse your desire to hit the Top 10 charts, especially this early in the game.

Stop judging, critiquing, editing, and comparing.

You need to lay bare your soul on paper. Light your heart on fire. Capture something that moves...you, and only you.

Trying to write a hit this early in the game will stifle your songwriting.

Action Step #1: Ignore any and all advice.

Ignore songwriting principles about structure, melody, and theme.

Ignore the other tips in this very book...for now.

Actually, put this book away and go write something. It's OK, we'll wait until you're done.

“Stop reading this book and go write

something.”

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It’s not that your worship songs aren’t catchy enough. It’s not that they need more lyrics, better arrangements, and slicker production.

It’s the fact that they’re not saying anything. Your lyrics are dry. They were written in 5 minutes after you stumbled on an incredible melody.

The only problem with this approach is that it’s just noise. And it doesn’t serve the church well.

Stop Writing Songs…Instead, Do ThisI once heard an interview with Passion founder, Louie Giglio.

He was talking about Chris Tomlin and his ability to crank out fantastic worship songs all the time. “How do you top ‘How Great Is Our God?’ or ‘Our God?’” he asked.

He simply answered his question: “Songs don’t come from you…they come through you.”

When I first heard this, I was mystified and annoyed.

OK, let’s not get super spiritual and say, “Songs don’t come from us!” We need to put in the work to make great songs. But the more I thought about it, the more I knew Louie was right, even though I didn’t want to believe it.

2.WORSHIPDo you know the missing ingredient in your worship songs?

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Worship songwriting is more about listening than it is working.

It’s more about connecting with God than it is studying a craft.

Don’t get me wrong – worship songwriting is still blood, sweat, and tears. You must work at it.

But it’s much more about how we position our lives.

God has a song that he wants to sing. He’s just looking for a vessel who’s ready – a person who is listening.

As songwriters we need to identify what is on God’s heart.

God, what are you saying to your people?

God, what are you saying to me?

God, what is on your heart?Too often we resort to quick cliches and mesh them with catchy melodies.

If your life loses its posture of dependence on God, desperation for God, and dedication to God's mission, you'll have nothing to write about.

Great worship songs are born out of worship.

Positioning yourself to hear God is about the contexts you allow yourself to be in. If your only influence is pop radio, you may have great melodies, but yawning lyrics.

Let’s talk about your songwriting contexts.

Songwriting=

Listening

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5 Songwriting Contexts You Need

Here we go:

What’s the missing ingredient? It’s your context.

In order to write the best songs you need to hear what God is saying. Dwell in His presence. Serve His Church. Feed on His Word. Live His mission. Rest in His quiet.

Your best songs are waiting to happen.

Action Step #2: Write down each of these 5 songwriting contexts. Under each one, write down how you’re fostering them in your own life. The harder you seek after God, the better your songs will be.

1. His Presence – If you want to write powerful worship songs, you need to get in His presence. Worship songwriting isn’t just a matter of finding the time and being creative. It’s about being transformed by God.

2. His Church – Worship songwriting can never be divorced from the local church. It can never be isolated from living in community with broken, hurting, beautiful people. Stay connected and keep serving.

3. His Word – This may be most important. Your worship lyrics should reflect a mind that is fixed upon truth. Your lyrics should reveal that you spend time poring over Scripture. In all honesty, you want His words…not your own.

4. His Mission – It’s difficult to write great worship songs if you’re standing still – avoiding mission. The best songs will arise when you are living in community, reaching out to a broken world.

5. His Quiet – Endless noise surrounds us, which doesn’t help our ability to write worship songs. We need to enter God’s quietness and rest. We need to hear His still, small voice with clarity.

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3. CLARIFYIs your song about one central idea? Or is it unfocused?

After you've spent time worshiping, it's likely that you captured a seed of inspiration.

The temptation at this stage of the game is to pretend you're done. You feel awesome. God just gave you an incredible song.

But in all honesty, the work has just begun. You need to clarify.While the first step of writing whatever comes to mind and ignoring advice is a great starting point, it's a mistake to think you're finished.

The best songs are songs about one idea. If your song bounces from the glory of God to the obedience of the church to the fire of the Holy Spirit to the awesomeness of your passion to the river that flows from the wind of His rain, something is wrong.

And don't tell me that God gave you that. God is a much better songwriter :)

That's not to say God doesn't speak to us as songwriters. Matter of fact, that's exactly what we're listening for. I once heard Brian Doerksen say that God gives seeds. It's our responsibility to care for it, water it, and see it grow.

God doesn't give songs. He gives seeds. What are you doing to grow it?

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Clarify Your IdeaSo what is your song about? Try narrowing it down to one topic. Cut out or rework the phrases that don't fit with one central theme.

There are two steps to this process:

1. Clarify Your THEME

Is this one song or potentially two, three, or four? Make sure your song is about one idea.

2. Clarify Your THEOLOGY

Are you pulling your thoughts from Scripture or simply from your head? Engage with God's Word. Rework phrases to be more Biblical.Action Step #3

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4. SHIFTContent with your song? Try a completely new direction.

At this point in the game, you may have a sweet melody and thoughtful lyrics. You're proud of your creation. You can't wait to get this song recorded and into the hands of worship leaders across the world. You may be convinced it's a game changer. It very well may be.

But here's what you need to do: try a new direction.

I don’t mean to deflate you or discourage your progress, but we “creative” types are very connected to our art.

We hold it with tight fists. Matter of fact, the criticism of others can often deeply offend us as we coddle our "heaven sent" creations.

Your song needs to be pushed, stretched, and developed.

Refuse to be satisfied. Refuse to settle.When an athlete trains for the Olympics, they need to be pushedpast their physical limitations.

If they only run, swim, or jump a distance that's comfortable for them, they'll never reach the top of their game and compete for the gold.

Approach your songwriting like an Olympic athlete. Push. Expand. Innovate.

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Sound the Same?You’ve probably noticed that all your songs sound similar. That’s normal, and often a good thing to have a unique sound. You have a writing style that is natural to you. But at this stage, challenge it.

Don't settle on your original idea too quickly. Push yourself in a new direction.

Here are a few ideas:

1. Try a different melodic direction2. Change the tempo3. Change the key4. Alter your phrasing5. Mimic another writer's style6. Write on a different instrument7. Write without an instrument8. Alter the time signature9. Try a new verse idea10. Try a new chorus idea

10 Tips for Taking Your Song in a New

DirectionReview these ten tips and take your song in a new direction. Don’t throw out your original idea, just shelve it for now.

Action Step #4

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5. UNLEASH Don’t play it safe. Let your heart bleed onto the page.

What makes a good song a great song? Sure, there are tons of answers.

But what I believe to be the most important element is unleashing your heart. To let your raw emotion spill onto the page. To lyrically and melodically rip your heart open.

What makes "How He Loves" such a great song? Why has it resonated with so many worshipers across the world?

John Mark McMillan unleashed his heart. He held nothing back. Using rare, descriptive (some would say irreverent) language, he captured a heart cry for the church.

At this stage, that's what your song needs.

Don't try and be safe. Express the fullness of what's in your heart. Capture raw emotion. Lay bare your soul.

Forget about trying to fit into a box. Great writing isn’t just about being accurate. It’s about feeling.Think about it.

The worship songs you love were written from a burning heart. You can feel it. You can tell when a writer is trying to hit the top 10 or when he’s facedown before God.

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5 Tips for Unleashing Your Heart In Your Songs

1. Is there a more unique way to word any of my phrases?2. Can I express something in a more Biblical way?3. What language can I use that will connect deeper with my generation?4. If I got rid of all my “filters”, what am I really trying to say?5. What lyrics and melody really move me?

Action Step #5Go through the 5 questions and rework some of your phrases. Don't allow any “filler” language. Make sure each phrase resonates deep within your soul.

Pour your heart out.

“Say what you need to say”- John Mayer

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6. DECIDE You can’t tweak forever. It’s time to make a decision.

Do you know the greatest struggle artists face? Deciding. Killing your options and making a decision is downright scary.

No song ever feels ready.

You’re afraid everyone will hate it.

But your song needs to be heard. You need to make a decision and get it out there.

I want you to think about your favorite work of art. Maybe it's a song, an album, a book, a painting, or a building.

In order for that creation to see the light of day, someone had to make a decision. Someone had to say (in light of possibly hundreds of options) “This is what I’m going to create.” Other options were shelved.

This is the direction.

These are project managers. They own the responsibility for finishing. The reason this is so scary is that you're not sure if it will work or not.

But I'm about to tell you why that's a good thing.

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If you are 100% confident in your project, it's probably too safe. It's probably too predictable.

If you are scared out of your mind, afraid of failing, and unsure if this song will even work, you're on the right track.

Become a Project ManagerIn a sense, you are the project manager for your art.

Early in the creative process, you need to brainstorm and get as many ideas as possible on the table. But no longer.

It's game time - time to take charge and own responsibility for finishing.

Think about it. How many unfinished songs have you written? How many times have you gotten too stuck and too scared to call your song “finished”?

Action Step # 5So you've clarified your theme. You've decided on a melodic direction. You've got your lyrics on paper. Your song is beginning to take shape.

At this stage your song isn’t finished, but you need to decide on a lyrical and musical direction. That’s not to say we hold it with clenched fists, unwilling to change.

But for the sake of the creative process, you need to decide. Got it? Good.

Let’s keep going.

DECIDE

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7. ENLIST Feeling stuck? Don’t be afraid to get some help.

Great songs aren't written in a vacuum. For your song to reach its highest potential, you need to enlist some help.

Co-songwriting can be extremely difficult. Personalities collide. Your ideas get shot down.

But nothing will mature your writing more and take your songs further than co-writing.

Collaborative songwriting is important for a few reasons:

1. It Empowers New Writers 2. It Generates Better Ideas 3. It Creates a “Team” Mentality 4. It Focuses Your Team on a Mission

If you lead worship in a local church, consider gathering your team for a songwriting retreat. Or create a “mastermind” group of songwriters in your area.

In bringing writers together, it’s important that you have a plan in place or nothing may get done.

Having pre-planned, thought-out sessions will give your team a creative kickstart.

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5 Co-Writing Session Ideas

1. Random Writing

This is where you break out and have people share random ideas. No specific focus, no specific plan. Usually certain writers have song ideas that have been stirring in their head for a while and they’ll share them here. It’s a good way to break the ice and allow any ideas to surface.

2. Prophetic Writing

Pull out a whiteboard and ask your team, “What is God speaking to our church? What do our people need to declare? What is on the heart of God for us?”

It’s amazing what happens as your team prayerfully engages with the church’s mission. It teaches them to serve, lead, and love people through their songwriting.

3. Sermon Series Writing

Once again, pull out the whiteboard and brainstorm. Lay out upcoming sermon series’ and have your team spit out ideas related to those themes. Then break out and give each group a specific sermon series theme.

Set a time to end for idea sharing with the rest of the team. This is effective because creativity soars further under limitations.

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4. Spontaneous Worship Writing

This is where you challenge your songwriting groups to simply worship together. Start with a familiar song and gradually start to sing out spontaneous expressions of worship. Record the whole thing. Some of our best songs result from this.

Want to know why? Because the best worship songs are born out of actual worship. Profound, right? But it’s typical for our teams to get lost in strategy rather than lost in His presence. If we want to capture the heart of God in our songwriting, we need to train our writers to write out of a place of intimacy with Jesus.

5. Scripture Writing

Pull out a passage of Scripture and begin to sing it. The Psalms are particularly good for this, but don’t limit yourself to just that. The goal is not necessarily to write word for word from the Bible, but to get your ideas from the Bible. It’s a great way to co-write because you avoid the awkwardness of sharing your own idea. You can blame the Scripture!

Quick Tip:

Evernote is greatfor group writing. Here

are some quick tipsfor how to use it as a

songwriter.

Action Step #7Share your song with another writer. Ask for input. Most likely, they will help you see something that you missed. You’ve worked hard, which makes you too close to the song. Ask for an honest, unbiased opinion.

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8. EDIT Say what only needs to be said. Remove the excess.

How are you feeling? Take a deep breath. You're almost there. The journey of your song is almost complete. Now it's time to gather all the data and do your final edits.

Remember at the beginning how we mentioned that songwriting is a responsibility? We're not just crafting songs that express how we feel. We are expressing theology. We are crafting anthems for the church to sing.

For your song to truly resonate in the hearts of hungry worshipers, you need to trim the excess. Say what only needs to be said.

Embrace brevity, but be descriptive.

A Quick Encouragement From David:

Throughout every stage of this process, it’s easy to get discouraged. This is by no means a pain-free system. Sometimes you experience writer’s block. Sometimes you feel inadequate compared to another writer.

I just want to say: keep going. Embrace your uniqueness. Learn to enjoy the hard work. Submit to the process. You have something to say.

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Is my song about one central idea?

Have I gotten rid of weak words?

Have I considered the input of other writers?

Is my melody singable to the average person?

Does my chorus soar?

Do my verse lyrics lead well into the chorus declaration?

Does my bridge add an exclamation point to the song?

Is there enough space in my phrasing? Can I enunciate easily?

Have I brainstormed alternatives to overused, weak rhymes?

Have I tried multiple chord progression options?

The Worship Songwriter’s Editing Checklist

Once you've done your edits, it is now time to test your song. Congratulations!

Action Step #8

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9. TEST Before you call it “done”, test your song during worship.

When I write a new song, I always like to test it in a worship service before I call it "finished". Why is this?

Because your song may sound amazing to you, but if it doesn't connect with the hearts of worshipers, it needs to be tweaked. Because our goal isn't just to write songs that we love - we're writing for the church to express her worship.

Plus, what can sound so amazing to us in the confines of our room, may not be that great. It needs to be “field tested.”

Here are some contexts you should test it in:

1. In a small group2. During the "altar time" at the end of a service3. Medley your chorus with a familiar hymn during service4. During a worship time with the church staff5. In your worship team rehearsal

In this stage you're not asking for feedback. You've already done that. Here you’re trying to see your song in action - to see if people "get it”.

If you've followed all the other steps, your song should be in great shape. Now it's time to step back and watch God use it!

A Quick Encouragement From David:

Don’t be afraid if your song doesn’t “catch on” immediately.

Sometimes it takes people hearing it a few times for them to engage.

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10. RELEASE You can’t tweak forever. It’s time to share your song.

Isn't it easy to hide behind ideas and not actually do anything? I have notebooks full of song ideas I never developed. What separates the pros from the amateurs is the fact that they finish. They discipline themselves to write and they see it through to completion.

They realize they could tweak forever. You, my friend, could tweak till your life’s end.

But that's not going to happen. It's time to take the leap.

Stop Talking And Start DoingYou and I could have the greatest conversations in conversational history and not actually do anything with our lives. We do a lot of talking and not enough doing.

Forgive my intensity, but do you know what I fear?

I fear standing before God with a handful of ideas that I never acted on. Talents that I wasted. Songs I was afraid to write. Opportunity squandered because I was too busy talking about it.

I don’t want to hand these talents and ideas back to God and say, “I was too busy thinking about these. I was too scared to risk my reputation. Fear of failure got the best of me. Sorry, God.”

Will you be known for your ideas or for your action?

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The Worship Songwriter’s Editing Checklist

Ideas are plentiful. Action is rare. Finding someone to criticize, complain, and even develop ideas is common.

Think about all the great records that were never recorded because someone was scared. Think about the innovative blogs and books that were never written because someone isn’t an “author”. Think about all the people that want to change the world but are waiting for the opportunity.

The rare person is the one who seizes opportunity, takes it by force, and sees projects to completion.

Don’t just camp out on the sidelines criticizing everyone else’s action. Do something.

Put Your Ideas to WorkIdeas are important. Without ideas we’d have nothing to act on. But it can’t stop there. You must do them…for God, for you, for us. We are waiting.

“But I Don't Feel Like It!”

Sometimes I really don’t feel like writing. Sometimes I don’t have much to say. Quite often I feel like giving up.

I write everyday because if I didn’t I would probably stop writing entirely. Small compromises would drain me. Daily accountability reminds me that I’m capable of more than I realize.

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So What Are You Going To Do?I’m happy you have a worship song idea…where’s the song?

It’s awesome that you want to “do great things”…what have you done today?

Greatness starts by the choices you make today. All you have is today. All you have is the moment in front of you.

How are you seizing it?

Go and be The Worship Songwriter you were meant to be.

We are awaiting your creations.

Thank you so much!I so appreciate you taking this journey with me. Writing this book has been a joy and sharing it with you has been even better. Thanks for your support of my writing!

I would love hear what you thought of the book. If you can, please leave a comment at http://davidsantistevan.com/the-worship-songwriter-ebook. Or, you can reach me in private at me@davidsantistevan.com.

Lastly, if you’re not already, you can follow me on Twitter (@dsantistevan) and come hang out on my Facebook page.

Thanks again!

David

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The Worship Songwriter’s Editing Checklist

Appendix 1:How To Find More Time To Write Songs

Do you wish you had more hours in the day?

Wouldn’t life be amazing if you could come home from your day job full of energy, spend quality time with your kids, listen to your wife, have a family dinner, and then work on your your songwriting craft into the evening?

Then, you lay your head down for a full 8 hours, awaking with a smile on your face and a jump in your step.

But it’s never that. The day job is a grind. You come home exhausted. Your house is a mess. Your kids are screaming for mess. Your kids are screaming for your attention.

Your wife needs help.

Responsibility is thrust upon you and you struggle to find the time to write.

You feel like a slave to the never ending cycle of urgent needs.

Don’t mistake me. Raising a family and having a job is wonderful. I’m not suggesting you leave it all behind in order to pursue your songwriting. Many artists in the past have tried this and by the time their third marriage is over, they realize what they’ve lost in order to pursue their craft.

My point is, it’s possible to pursue your craft in the midst of a busy schedule. All it takes is a little intentionality and focus.

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The Problem With Our LivesThe problem with our lives is that we try and pursue too many things at once. Sure, you have your list of non-negotiables.

You must go to work every day.

You must love, spend time, and take care of your family.

You must, please, brush your teeth.

You must eat (I usually don’t have to work too hard at remembering this).

But beyond the essentials, I suggest you experiment with focus.

Strive to aim your discretionary time on songwriting for a season. You’d be surprised how much extra time you really have.

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The Worship Songwriter’s Editing Checklist1. List Your Non-Essential Activities – We all have them. We sit in front of the TV for a couple hours. We read. We go to the movies. We sit around and do nothing. Go ahead, write down your list. Then, move to the next step.

2. Schedule Your Songwriting Times – In place of those non-essential activities you typically engage in, schedule songwriting time blocks for a one week period. Your goal is to keep an appointment with yourself and just write. There’s nothing wrong with those other activities, but in order to form a new habit, you need to focus like crazy.

3. Share Your Plan With Those Closest To You – Maybe it’s your spouse, maybe it’s your parents, or your roommate in college. But you need to share your plan for a little accountability. Ask them to help you keep your songwriting appointment with yourself. If it’s your spouse, make sure they are in agreement with your goal.

4. Just Write – Don’t worry about song quality or song quantity at this point. Your main goal is to draft ideas and just write. Even if you’re not happy with any of your ideas, it’s a victory if you kept your appointment with yourself.

5. Review – How did the week go? Do you feel this is a sustainable schedule? What needs to be tweaked? At this point, examine your schedule and see if this is something you can continue to do.

Finding More Time To Write SongsI want to get very practical today. In order to find more time to write songs, try this step by step process:

I know it sounds simple, but it’s often the simple steps that help us actually get something done. Don’t allow a full schedule to rob you of your songwriting gift. Reclaim it and watch your creativity flourish.

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Appendix 2:Practical Tools for Effective Songwriting

1. Evernote - Essential software! Record audio & write lyrics on your smartphone while it syncs across all your devices.

2. Write Room - My favorite app for distraction-free writing.

3. Day One - The best journaling app on the market. Helps you build a writing habit.

4. WikiRhymer - Online rhyming dictionary

5. Master Writer - An all-in-one suite for songwriters.

Software Books

1. God Songs by Paul Baloche, Jimmy & Carol Owens

2. Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott

3. A Hunger For God by John Piper

4. The Knowledge of the Holy by A.W. Tozer

5. The War of Art by Steven Pressfield

6. Do the Work by Steven Pressfield

7. Steal Like An Artist by Austin Kleon

Blogs

1. My Song in the Night

2. Jeff Goins, Writer

3. Leadworship.com

Music (WorshipSongwriters I Love)

1. Matt Redman

2. Reuben Morgan

3. Brian Doerksen

4. Tim Hughes

5. Stuart Townend

6. Jason Ingram

A Quick Word:

Included here are some songwriting resources. Whether it’s reading books, blogs, or studying the writing style of your favorite songwriters, be active in your development. Never stop learning!

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Contact

Blog: http://davidsantistevan.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/dsantistevan

Facebook: http://facebook.com/david.santistevan

Email: me@davidsantistevan.com

Copyright

Copyright @ 2012 by David Santistevan. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means - except for brief quotations in published reviews - without the prior written permission of the author.

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The Worship Songwriter - David Santistevan

About

My name is David. I write songs for my church and sing them.

I lead worship at Allison Park Church in Pittsburgh, PA.

I write a blog for worship leaders at davidsantistevan.com

I have a beautiful wife (Emily), a wonderful son (Tyler), and I used to have the craziest dog in the world.

In addition to writing about worship songwriting, I love to travel and speak on this topic as well. You can contact me about my availability here: me@davidsantistevan.com

One more thing: you’re awesome for reading this. Enough said.

I’m of the belief that no idea is an original idea. We all have our influences. Many thanks to the songwriters who have influenced me: Matt Redman, Brian Doerksen, Dave Pedde, and Reuben Morgan. Thanks to my wife for supporting me through all the late nights and early mornings. I love you. Thanks to my worship team for putting up with me and giving your all week in and week out. Thanks to Billy Chester (aidemstudios.com) for the incredible cover design work.

Jesus - it’s all from you, through you, and for you...I live.

Thanks...