Durbin Boys Road Trip

Movie Monday XX

This is a post that you can participate in on every Monday. I'm a big fan of the cinema, so I decided to break up the Monday blues by talking about movies.

I unfortunately went and saw the movie "Knowing" over the weekend. It was one of those movies that really was building and had you on the edge of your seat...and then they ruined the entire movie with a generic ending. Very disappointing, but I still dig Nicholas Cage, so...

What's your favorite Nicholas Cage movie?

Gotta go with "Face-off"...My wife would agree with excitement.



your turn...

My princess eating seefood

Gotta love that face, and how about those manners...

Word Wednesday .::38

Word Wednesday is posted every Wednesday. Each week I post a scripture that I've read that week that has spoken to me in a fresh way. I believe that if we read God's Word every day, He will give us at least one scripture every week that will impact us. Sharing Scripture with each other is like iron sharpening iron. Leave a comment and share a scripture that has impacted you this week.

Here's the scripture that stuck this week:

John 3:30 ESV

"He must increase, but I must decrease."

Isn't it ironic, don't you think...that as we call ourselves Christians, and we take on the name of Christ, that we fight pride? Philippians says that He, Jesus, Creator of the universe, humbled himself. Isn't it ironic that we claim Christ, and still battle pride? It's an oxymoron. The answer to pride is always praise. Pure praise of God will always bring humility. He must increase and we must decrease. John spoke a mouth full in this sentence. If we learn to do this simple challenge, we will live a fuller life. The life of worship. The life that we were meant to live.


What's your Word?

Song Writing::::FEEDBACK

These posts on songwriting are not written from a professional point of view. These are just my thoughts as I experience new aspects of the craft. The best part of these posts will be your input.

Have you ever had someone criticize you? Has anyone ever gave you a truth about yourself that hurt? How did you handle it? Did you get defensive or did you listen?

Everyone needs a Simon Cowell in their life. We need somebody that will tell us the truth. I have people in my life that will be straight with me, but not that many. It's like when you have some food on the corner of your mouth, or your fly is unzipped...you need someone to let you know.

The same applies to song writing. Once you start writing songs for the church, songs that people will listen to and sing every week, its important that you put a lot of care into the quality of your writing. Getting feed back is one of the quickest ways to get an honest look at a song. Think about it. Since you wrote the song, you are immediately biased in some way or ways. If you don't get people's opinion, you may never know how good or bad a song really is.

When I started leading worship in church, I found out really quick that the worship leader is one of the most critiqued positions in the church. If you asked certain people how they liked the music, you would sometimes hear some harsh things. "It's too loud!", "We need more hymns!", "The mix was bad!" It's a tough thing to hear all of that, because you are the one that gets the credit and the blame. One day, a man came up to me after a service, who I knew didn't like anything I was doing. That particular morning, I introduced a song that I had written, and quite frankly, I really enjoyed singing it and worshiping with it. I remember really getting lost in worship during that song. Anyway, the man asked me if I had written the new song. I said yes, and he said he could tell. I then asked how he could tell, and he said something that has stuck with me ever since that day. He said, "I could tell, because you were really into it as you were singing it, but can I tell you something? Don't forget about us." At that moment, God spoke to me through that man's words. God taught me, right then, that as a worship leader, I am to never forget the crowd. The worship service was not about me worshiping. I can do that on my own. It's about leading all of us in worship. When I am connecting to God, I still need to stay connected to the crowd that God has put in front of me.

The only reason that I learned that lesson was because I simply listened to some feedback. My song writing process always culminates with feedback. I write a song. A day later, if I still like the song, I'll record a demo. Then I give those demos to several people in whose opinion I trust. I've gotten some great feed back that have improved my songs and song writing. I've changed lyrics, melody lines, titles, etc. All because someone was honest with me. Technology has brought this to a whole new level. I have made friends with song writers all over the country, and I can easily email them a song and get a great critique. I've had people even change the way I feel about a song. Sometimes, I'll realize how bad a song is, and sometimes someone will point out a great song that I thought was mediocre at best.

I saw Al Pacino interviewed one day, and he was asked what the most important part of acting was. Without hesitating, he said, "Listening." He said, "If you don't listen, then you won't know how to react." To hone our skills as writers, we have to be willing to listen to some honest feedback. Don't deflect criticism. Listen to it and absorb it. It hurts, but its worth it, and our songs will be better for it.

How do you get feed back?

Movie Monday XIX

This is a post that you can participate in on every Monday. I'm a big fan of the cinema, so I decided to break up the Monday blues by talking about movies.

I still haven't got over how amazing the animated flicks look over the last decade...

What's your favorite pixar-like animated movie?

Mine would be Shrek. I remember seeing it in the theatre and laughing a lot.



your turn...

Worship Confessional 03.22.09

No video today...crazy day. We had a great service. Definitely a theme of the holiness of God during the music. The sermon was "passion", and praising God for His holiness should be a passionate time. I was missing my pianist and keyboardist, but it sounded great. "Holy is the Lord"...such a great song.

Set list w/Itunes links:
Holy - Brenton Brown
Holy, Holy, Holy - HYMN
Radiance - mine
Holy is the Lord - Chris Tomlin

Also a part of Sunday Setlist.

Beautiful Sight

This is a rare occasion, so I celebrate it everytime. For now, my inbox is empty, which means progress. Just thought I'd celebrate it with you.


What's a sign of progress for you?

Word Wednesday .::37

Word Wednesday is posted every Wednesday. Each week I post a scripture that I've read that week that has spoken to me in a fresh way. I believe that if we read God's Word every day, He will give us at least one scripture every week that will impact us. Sharing Scripture with each other is like iron sharpening iron. Leave a comment and share a scripture that has impacted you this week.

Here's the scripture that stuck this week:

Luke 20:46-47

46 “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts,

47 who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

Wow...these statements can definitely make you unpopular, quick. Unfortunately, as Jesus was dealing with the religious people of His day, it can also apply to a lot of Christian leaders of our day. I love what Louie Giglio said once: "Pride is basically saying you've never really seen God." The best seats, the nicest clothes, and great performances are not success in God's eyes, but they are, unfortunately, signs of success in the world's standards. Hmmm...what kind of success am I striving for?


What's your Word?

Jade Shopping

We Jade run around Best Buy the other night. See if you can keep up with her.

Movie Monday XVIII

This is a post that you can participate in on every Monday. I'm a big fan of the cinema, so I decided to break up the Monday blues by talking about movies.

I live in hurricane land, Florida, so...

What's your favorite disaster flick?

I actually really liked Deep Impact with Morgan Freeman as President. I haven't seen it in a while.



your turn...

Worship Confessional 03.15.09

Song List w/Itunes links:
Desert Song - Hillsong
Not to Us - Chris Tomlin
Radiance - Gary Durbin (not recorded yet)
O Praise Him - DCB

Also a part of Sunday Setlist.

Word Wednesday .::36

Word Wednesday is posted every Wednesday. Each week I post a scripture that I've read that week that has spoken to me in a fresh way. I believe that if we read God's Word every day, He will give us at least one scripture every week that will impact us. Sharing Scripture with each other is like iron sharpening iron. Leave a comment and share a scripture that has impacted you this week.

Here's the scripture that stuck this week:

Luke 14:34

"Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored?"

This made me evaluate my flavor today.


What's your Word?

Can you do the cigarette mash?

My, my, how far anti-smoking ads have come. Here's one from the 80's:

Movie Monday XVII

This is a post that you can participate in on every Monday. I'm a big fan of the cinema, so I decided to break up the Monday blues by talking about movies.

This past week there was buzz about "The Watchman", so...

What's your favorite real-life comic book movie?

I'm not a comic book guy, but I think I would have to go with the X-Men movies. So much diversity and different elements to them. My wife even likes those.



your turn...

Worship Confessional 03.08.09

Set list w/Itunes links:
Blessed Assurance - HYMN
Glorious Day - Todd Agnew
Let Us Adore - Hillsong
Our God Saves - Paul Baloche


Also a part of Sunday Setlist.

Difference Makers

Tomorrow at Bethany, we're starting a new sermon series, called "Difference Makers". I made this little video to intro the sermon every week. I went back in time to 1996, and used an old CCM Jaci Valesquez song for the video, and it works. It seems like commercials on TV like to use old songs.

What do you think?

Word Wednesday .::35

Word Wednesday is posted every Wednesday. Each week I post a scripture that I've read that week that has spoken to me in a fresh way. I believe that if we read God's Word every day, He will give us at least one scripture every week that will impact us. Sharing Scripture with each other is like iron sharpening iron. Leave a comment and share a scripture that has impacted you this week.

Here's the scripture that stuck this week:

Luke 6:27-31

27 But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.

29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either.

30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back.

31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

I am really enjoying Jesus' teaching more than I ever have. Not because its easy or fluffy. His teaching is really challenging to everything. It's easy for us to get caught in a survivalist, self-preserving mind-set, but Jesus doesn't teach that way. For me, personally, His teaching motivates me to give more than take or preserve.

What's your Word?

What's he thinking?

I wonder what's he thinking here.

Movie Monday XVI

This is a post that you can participate in on every Monday. I'm a big fan of the cinema, so I decided to break up the Monday blues by talking about movies.

Last was the Oscars, so...

What's your favorite "best picture" winner?

Without a doubt, mine is Rocky. Yo, Adrian!



your turn...

Worship Confessional 03.01.09

Set List w/Itunes links:
Your Grace is Enough - Chris Tomlin
(Amazing Grace - Spontaneous)
Break Through - Tommy Walker
My Peace - mine
You Never Let Go - Matt Redman
Everlasting God - Brenton Brown

Also a contribution to Sunday Setlist.