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Checking out Posterous to see if it will take away my Tweetdeck for iPad woes.

As I approach 40...

Here's a little blast from the past. Yes, that's me playing bass.  Yes, I had hair.  And yes, we were playing songs by Quiet Riot.  A LONG time ago...

#twittersabbath & #fbsabbath

This is something that I've been stewing on for a while. In my thought world, I'm striving to be more and more "present", with God and with others. I think I'm wired up like Dug from the movie "Up", wanting to say "Squirrel!" to every distraction.




With this in mind, the implications on my life from Twitter and Facebook are that they move me further and further away from being present in the moment. Here are just a few situations I find myself in (maybe you can relate):

1. I will often go into what I'm calling "reporter mode", so that whatever I'm experiencing, I'm thinking about how I will shrink it down to 140 characters of less. Not truly experiencing the moment. (particularly tempting on vacations where I want to impress people by how much fun I'm having)

2. I find myself checking to see if people have responded to my status updates as a means for approval. Not really living where I am.

3. While talking to someone I attempt to split my attention between them and my phone screen. This, of course, makes the person (often my wife) feel less than valued. I think we've all been in on both sides of this equation.

4. I have Tweetdeck installed on my computer with notices that pop up whenever someone posts. This is like crack cocaine for the attentionally distracted person. I usually am not as productive as I can be when this is on.

All that to say that I'm proposing for myself and others to take a Twitter and Facebook Sabbath each week. One day (24 hours) where I fully disconnect with the social networking web world and strive to be fully present with everyone around me and God. A couple of notes:

1. I'm trying hard to let go the urge to save up posts on my Sabbath day so that I can double up on the next day. Step away from Evernote, citizen!

2. God desires a glad heart toward this, so if I bring a grumbling heart, I might as well not do it.

3. I think that one cool thing that I might want to report on later is how my taking this Sabbath affected my relationships with others and God.

So, I'm giving this a try. On the day that I do this, I'm using the hashtags #twittersabbath and #fbsabbath.

What do you think? Is this worth it? Might you join me? Love to hear your thoughts.

Killing Time at the Health Dept

We spent 2.5 hours waiting to get school vaccinations for Anna.  Made a little video of our experience:

Lessons Learned from a Bar Gig

I'm in a band called Vanakkam, which had the chance to be part of a team of people who went to India last March. We played several concerts in the Tamil Nadu region of India. It was a fantastic experience for us all.



This past Friday, We had the opportunity to partner with Dan Blacketor and The Rhema Project. We were part of a concert at a bar called Legend's on the campus of Notre Dame. It was a fundraiser which featured the band "The Ricki Lake Effect" (great guys!) while Vanakkam was the warm up act.  On Saturday/Sunday, we then served at Granger Community Church, helping lead worship for all four services.

I think we learned a few lessons on the way.

1. First, we found that the art we performed had both missional elements and attractional elements in it. At the bar, we were literally going to the people. We made some cool connections with the Ricki Lake guys and others who were there. At the same time, it was attractional. We helped people gather for a great cause and later in the weekend to worship God in church. This is the essence of what we'll be talking about at our conference this Fall called "The Genius of AND".

2. We have a deeper sense of community. Our band has played and practiced so many times recently that I think of ourselves more like a family than a band. I love these people now at a much deeper level than I did before we began this journey back in February as we prepared for India. The weekend was just a further deepening of that.

3. We are better musically. Our Friday night set was the tightest I think we've ever played. We now know what's coming up and how we can intuit what the others will do. For people who have played in bands a while, this is a normal thing. Since our teams have been rotating for years at church, this is new for us. (More news on this in a later post)

4. We feel USED. (in a good way!) It is amazing to think that God not only used us "over there", but continues to use us "over here" to bring glory to Himself. How this fully plays out has yet to be seen.

We're excited as to where God is taking us, not only as Vanakkam, but as an entire worship team at GCC. These lessons, I think, will continue to teach us more of the "how" and certainly the "why" of a vibrant arts ministry.

Location:Notre Dame, IN

Worship That is Grounded in History

Been reading some Glenn Packiam's blog. Processing this thought:

Our worship is not an attempt to praise God for some arbitrary attribute. Instead, as we look to God's actions within space and time-- His great works of creation and salvation-- we see who He is and begin to worship. Certainly, emotion can and often will be involved. But it is not a floating, emotion; it is an emotion that is genuine not generated precisely because it is attached to a historical event. That means a worship leader's first job is not to generate emotion; a worship leader is there to remind people of God's great acts of creation and salvation in the past, and to point them to the moment God's salvation and new creation come to pass in fullness (Rev. 21).

What are the implications here? This seems to give a grounding to our worship that we desperately need. However, I'm wondering if even a bigger picture of worship needs to be painted for our people. I agree that worship (in the congregational setting) is way more than emotion. At the same time, I wonder if it is more than reminding our people of his past/future work. Our God is the great "I AM" - eternal and ever-present.

In the setting at GCC, I believe that our people need the reminder that our God is HERE. A God whose presence is sought is surely a God who will reveal Himself. I desperately want our people to collectively and individually connect with God. These encounters, as seen in the stories of so many Bible characters, produce worshippers. I think what Glenn is getting at here is the balance of Spirit and Truth (John 4:24). So much of modern worship music is written in "the Spirit", that having a better grounding in the Truth of God's works (present and future) will helps balance our expression of worship.

Any thoughts?

Listen, then Listen: Life Lessons from a Voice Lesson

Last week, Tim Carson, of Vocal Artistry, coached me to help improve my game in singing. He gave me two fundamentals that could apply right away that I think are applicable to music, but also to life in general.

He told me two things:

1. LISTEN to singers who are modeling the style/sound that you are striving for.

2. Then LISTEN to/record yourself singing songs like those you wish to emulate. Then compare and tweak.

For #1, Tim recommended Billie Joe Armstrong from Green Day for me to get my sound to be lighter and brighter. I'm more and more aware of not only what Billie is doing, but HOW he's making the sounds he makes. This makes me better. Not that you'll hear me singing in Green Day style the next time you hear me, but I'll apply his technique to produce my own sound.

This applies to all types of learning.  If we want to be a better guitarist/bassist/drummer, find the best guitarists/bassists/drummers to try to learn from.  Many websites make this easy.  In life as well, finding people who can mentor us in the how to live well is essential to living well ourselves.  Jesus is the prime example of this.  He shows us the best way to live, the life of a truly humble servant.  Emulating this example can help us so much on the journey.

For #2, Tim told me to record myself or listen to myself over a loudspeaker system at least weekly.  Having studied voice for many years, I have a reasonable ear.  I just need to get the honest feedback that hearing sound from outside of my head can give me.  Now with iPhones/digital cameras it is very easy and cheap to record oneself.

In life, this means finding people around you who are willing to not blow smoke at you.  We all need straight shooters like the prophet Samuel, who ultimately called King David out of his life of sin.  Because of encounter, David was moved to repentance.  Ultimately, the adulterous murderer is most remembered for being a "man after God's own heart".  This was in part due to the courage of Samuel, who spoke with honesty to the King.

These are two lessons I'm working on.  We'll see how my singing/life is ultimately affected.  Hopefully for the better!

A Servant's Prayer

I've been reading Ken Gire's "Moments with the Savior" devotional. This morning I read this pray which I felt I had to share:

"Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank you for the work you have entrusted me to do. I ask only to be worthy of that trust.

Help me to be faithful in very small things, realizing it is there where I will learn to be worthy of your trust in greater things.

Help me to be faithful to the great treasure of the gospel you have placed in my care. Keep reminding me what a wonderful message it is so I would be eager to encourage others to trade their sin for its forgiveness; their anxiety for its peace; their despair for its hope.

Help me to realize how much work there is to be done. Lord, so that when I arise, it would be to serve you, and when I lie down, it would be to rest from work well done.

For all the times I have left that work undone, Lord, I ask for your forgiveness. Forgive me for the times I have served your halfheartedly and for the opportunities to serve you that I have hidden in a piece of cloth because of my fears.

Please Lord,

Be with me when I am fearful
To make me faithful.
Be with me when I am faithful
To make me fruitful.
Be with me when I am fruitful
To make me humble.
For it is only by your grace
That I was chosen to serve you;
only by your strength
That I am even able to serve;
only by your faithfulness
that I am still serving you today...

Father's Day Wish

"Sometimes, if you stand on the bottom rail of a bridge and lean over to watch the river slipping slowly away beneath you, you will suddenly know everything there is to be known." - A.A. Milne

Beauty is appreciated best at a slower pace. I like John Ortberg's reminder in "The Me I Want to Be" to "try softer". Dads, this is my wish for us today. Take time to enjoy the moments.

6 Things I'm Excited About

A few things I'm excited about:

1. Had THE BEST time with my wife in Riviera Maya, Mexico last week!  I definitely married well.
2. Looking forward to heading down to the National Worship Leader Conference in Kansas City next month.  Going to spend some time talking with other worship leaders from United Methodist Churches about best serving our denomination.  Should be good some good discussion time.
3. Thrilled to introduce a new Hillsong worship song called "Our God is Love" this weekend at GCC BEFORE the actual release of the CD!
4. Getting my broken iPhone screen fixed by my friend @jasonpowell who I've decided is a tech mastermind.
5. Going CANOEING with my family tomorrow down the Dowagiac river.  Yee haa!
6. Looking forward to the release of Toy Story 3 tomorrow night.  Very fun site here.

So, for now, that is some goodness.  More later.

A Matter of Pride

I'm writing today to ask your help.  Okay, really, I'm kinda begging for it!  Take a short look at this: 

Allie and Chris Nanni: 737 votes 

Robert Wozny: 430 votes 

Brandon Siegel: 402 votes

 ErinCamilleri: 325 votes

 Paul Phair: 287 votes

 Dr. Rob Riley: 233 votes 

Lynn Ducat: 184 votes 

IdaWatson: 146 votes

 Lisa and Dan Vukmirovich: 24 votes!!!!!!!!

We're in a situation here where I feel like we're out in the community (on billboards and posters).  We're representing our church, Granger Community Church to Michiana, and in actuality, I'm kind of embarassed.  We're flat out in LAST PLACE as of today.  It starts to scare me, since we're not only representing our church, but I think, to some degree, Christians. 

I wonder as people look over the voting stats if they get a sense of what kind of generosity the church shows?  To be honest, it's a pretty rough representation of the sharing hearts that I know from most of the people I serve beside.

I believe that we can show our community that the Church, not just our church, is truly generous!

It's crunch time.  We can't wait any longer.

We need for everyone to pray about what they might do to support this and then act quickly if that's what is needed.

You can vote HERE. 

We need you!  Your help is critical.  Thanks in advance!

We're Dancing with Our Stars!!!

We need your help! Please vote for us for the Center for the Homeless (South Bend, IN) Dancing with Our Stars benefit contest/auction! All donations benefit the Center and are tax deductible. Click the weblink below to vote. Each vote is $37. You can also attend the "contest" on Friday, April 23rd - 6pm at the Hilton Garden Inn (near St. Mary's). Love to have your support!!! Thanks.

To vote, click HERE

Cool Video

This is a new video from the Michael Gungor Band:



Love it!

A Vukmirovich Family Tradition

Kid's Christmas Song

A few people have asked where to get the Kid's Christmas song "Heaven Came Down" that we wrote and performed this weekend. Anna, my daughter sang it! Here it is. You can download it for FREE!

Christmas Carol (of the Bells)

Dicken's Christmas Carol in 1:30-

Christmas Carol of the Bells from Granger Community on Vimeo.

Worship Leader Tip #2

Know your people. (Part 1 - the congregation)

This seems way too simple to even be a tip, but the truth is that many leaders will miss out on how they can best lead their congregations simply because they don't take the time to get to know them. We've all heard the saying that "people don't care what you know until they know how much you care", but it really holds true. Taking the time before or after services to engage in conversations with the people we serve is critical to their trusting our leadership.

This can be especially evident if there is a generational gap between the leader and a majority or core of the congregation. With the movement toward more contemporary styles in music, many churches are hiring younger people to help lead their congregations in worship. What this means is that there is often a gap between the leader and the core of who he/she is trying to help worship God.

It is all the more critical for this leader to intentionally and regularly connect with trusted advisors in the age group/generation that they serve. Scheduling a weekly lunch with a few people and asking tough questions like: What do you think about song selection? How is the volume? Are you able to sing the songs? Any theological concerns? Note: This does not mean that if you are trying to change the target age of your congregation that every preference of the older generation should be catered to, but these concerns certainly should be considered. Creating unnecessary division is just plain foolish.

A theme that I'll hit on quite a bit in these posts is asking a question that my brother, Jason Miller, brought up: "What is helpful?" If we're trying to facilitate a connection between God and our people, we need to first fall on our knees and ask God, "what for this service, season, event, etc will most help our people worship?" Then, truly, asking trusted people what they find helpful in worship can help us grow our churches in thriving worship communities.

Worship Leader Tip #1

I've thought a bit about what it means to help others worship God. I'm gonna try to throw a few ideas out there to see if they might be helpful to other people who are "in the trenches".

Worship Leader Tip #1

KNOW WHO YOU ARE

This is critical for people who are leading. A lack of authenticity is something that can smelled a mile away. A mistake that many young worship leaders make is that they find a particular person that they admire and then begin to emulate their style. Emulation is not bad in and of itself, but when it starts to eat away at the nature of the individual, becoming a sort of costume or mask, this is not good.

I started off "back in the day" highly admiring the leadership and skills of Tommy Walker, who was and is an influential leader in the worship music field. I bought all of Tommy's CDs. I got the DVDs. I went to concerts. I even got the headset microphone that is his trademark. (I even left it on once while I was in the restroom... but that's another story!) Besides his hair, since I have very little, I was a kind of mini-me of Tommy. I kinda lost my own voice in all of that.

As I've matured, I've found that pulling ideas from various artists/leaders across the spectrum of music has helped me form more of my own sound. Do I still borrow/rework/recycle ideas? You bet! But now the emphasis is much more on what is helpful for the people I lead and not so much about me finding my identity. Reminding myself with verses like Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God has prepared in advance for us to do." This has helped me realize that God made me uniquely for the tasks He calls me to.

When people see the "real deal" on the stage, someone who is comfortable in their own skin, there is something contagious about them. Shakespeare said in Hamlet: "This above all: to thine own self be true." Great wisdom. Living out of a God-honoring, authentic self, is the best way for all of us who lead others to show them Jesus. Hope this helps.

4 Chords Song at Innovate09

This turned out pretty good for an element that was sort of a last minute add:

Thanks DC for posting it!

New Song for 1st Wednesday

Hey everyone,

Excited to debut the song "Standing (We Look to You)" tonight at 1st Wednesday. We have a great drama/media that leads into it. Praying that people's hearts are drawn closer to God. That we would hold onto every promise that we read in Scripture. God is faithful and able. Hope you enjoy! Link HERE.