Two Fives

Today is Karla Ruth Cox Worley's 55th birthday!

I am glad she was born, and so are my (3) sons, daughter-in-law, grandson, and yet-to-enter-this-world second grandbaby!

Last night when Elliott asked me how old I was, I told him. He then asked Karla (Lala) how old she was, and she told him that her birthday is today and that she will be 55. His eyes lit up, and I told him "two fives" - he held up both hands, fingers spread, palms facing Karla and said "two fives, Lala."

So today is "two fives" day for my sweet wife.

I am grateful that God made you!

Happy Birthday!

BTW - in this photo from a recent fun evening where she got to hang out with some neat girl friends, she "holds her own" among these young ladies half her age!!!

From Ghost To Smoke Monster

It's always fun to hear about/discover the latest stuff created by your kids.

Beginning with their first time they color a picture of you that for the life of you you cannot figure out how it resembles you, to that school project where they have to "track their life" in photos and articles and paste it to a piece of poster board that you had to go to (3) different stores at 11:00pm the night before to find, to the annual "what will I be for Halloween" this year (in this photo, he just wanted to be a ghost - well, a ghost wearing Mickey Mouse ears!)......over and over again, more and more "here's what I've created lately" moments followed.

This week I learned of Seth's (our oldest) latest "here's what I've created moment."

I know I am dabbling (is that a word?) in borderline dangerously "parental prideful" territory with this, but after viewing this, I was pretty amazed at this "making of"......

I'm his Dad - I am supposed to be amazed, and well - I am. You may view it kinda like "the making of a clock"...... If that's you, then I recommend watching the first 1:40, then skip over Seth's tutorial to near the end - 11:25.

However, I have to say that if I had had teachers like Seth Worley explaining things to me in the classroom in the way he explained how he created this video, I might have paid closer attention in class!

So, we never know what is next for our kids, but for now, I enjoy this and I share it with those of you who have 5-13 minutes to watch something funny, interesting, and entertaining.

Click HERE, then click on the photo of the smoke in the chair!

BTW - you don't have to be a LOST fan to enjoy this - take it from one who knows......

The Real (Better) Sports Story This Week In Nashville

I seldom blog about things like this, but I always want to be one who gives credit when credit is due.

If you follow sports at all, then you have read everything and heard everything this week about Bud Adams (owner of the Tennessee Titans NFL Football Team) and his decision to release QB Vince Young and therefore keep Head Coach, Jeff Fisher. The on-going, doing-their-best-to-keep-it-under-control feud had reached its limit with the end of the regular season, and something had to give.

Well, if you live in the Middle Tennessee area, that is pretty much ALL you are hearing about this week in the world of sports, and understandably so - the media loves (and creates) controversy in the limelight of professional sports and such controversy often produces drama, and we all know it's drama that makes headlines.

For me - the real (and yes better) sports story of this week wasn't/isn't about an arguably immature professional QB, his Head Coach and their boss.

It's about a man who reached an incredible milestone this week!

Belmont University Men's Basketball coach, Rick Byrd joined a select group with his Belmont Bruins' latest victory giving him his 500th victory at that school.

Belmont beat Stetson 70-53 on the road Wednesday night for Byrd's 500th victory at a program that jumped from NAIA to NCAA Division I under his tenure.

He is one of five active head coaches at that mark, joining Jim Boeheim of Syracuse (844), Mike Krzyzewski of Duke (809), Jim Calhoun of Connecticut (586) and Sacred Heart's Dave Bike (500).

Stop and read that last paragraph!

In a day and time when it's all about the money, better opportunities, championships, and so much more "ladder-climbing" - this man has spent 24 years consistently coaching Belmont teams to play their absolute best every time they take the court - often with far less skilled players than his opponent, challenged them to excel in the classroom, graduate, and move on to take their place in the world to make a difference.

He is one of the most respected college basketball coaches anywhere.

You don't have to take my word for it - read more HERE

I have never met the man, but I have attended many Belmont basketball games, and I sit close enough to have observed him interact with his team, and more importantly observe how his players respond to him.

Congratulations Coach Byrd! We need more sports stories like this one!

Thanksgiving 2010

It seems that the past few Novembers have brought about a particular rhythm or cycle of winding down to the end of a year, and with that rhythm or cycle comes a time to get away during what is (having lived here for 30 years - in my opinion) the most beautiful time of the year if you live in middle Tennessee.

Last weekend, Karla and I were able to slip away and enjoy one of our favorite places. When we returned home on Sunday evening, we pulled into our driveway to find our back patio covered with leaves! What a breath-taking picture of God's beauty!

As I captured this moment with my camera, I thought about how my photos are reminders of how God blesses. Maybe we should all take more photos. I am convinced they would serve as constant reminders of how richly blessed we all are!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Ben Worley Is 18 Today!

Goodness.....our "baby" turns 18 today!!

Here are 18 things I love about you, Ben Worley:

1. The way you keep your room clean!
2. Your shopping sprees to Goodwill for used audio equipment!
3. The way you keep your closet so neat and nicely arranged!
4. The fact that you never fight with your middle brother!
5. That you are never sarcastic!
6. That you bring muffins home from work for the whole family!
7. That you can't remember what instruments you own because you continue to borrow parts from all of them to build new instruments!
8. The way you lead your band!
9. The music you make as a player!
10. The music you create as a composer!
11. The way you act in your brother's films!
12. That you will sit and watch a movie with your Dad!
13. The questions you ask!
14. The way you negotiate things!
15. The fact that a policeman would pull you over thinking you stole a big screen TV only to find out it was your newly constructed audio control console that you built and used for the first time in your show on Saturday!
16. That you play in the Student Praise Band - learning/playing/leading songs that point people to Jesus!
17. That you love your mom and dad and your brothers and your sister-in-law, and your nephew and your grandmother and your aunt & uncle and all of your Texas relatives and whoever else in your family that I forgot to mention
18. That you have lived for 18 years in this same house and brought a ton of joy to our lives!

Happy 18th Birthday, Ben Worley!
(now go and change your Facebook profile for those who might actually believe what you write!)

Oh, and if you have spent time reading this, I will let you figure out which of the above are NOT true.......(my kids aren't the only ones who can be sarcastic......)









BTW - Mom and I are convinced if you shaved your face and straightened out your hair, you really would be Shia LeBeouf........ (but then you wouldn't be Ben Worley anymore!)

Be Where You Need To Be

I have had many conversations lately related to people’s schedules and priorities and commitments. After all, it’s the end of summer - everyone is getting back into some sense of school schedule and have moved beyond what is now a 60-day summer.

Karla and I joke how much we hate August. It truly is a useless month. I grew up with school starting appropriately the day after “Labor” Day. In a period of 24 hours, the summer has ended and school has begun because we go from one day of “rest” to the next day of “new teachers/new classes/new beginnings, etc….”

What is the deal with starting school on August 12? Good grief……

When you are in “my line of work” as a person whose success is pretty much totally dependent on the involvement, faithfulness and contribution from “volunteers”…. well, it makes for interesting times to say the least.

It is amazing the number of “things” that people can juggle/maintain/deal with on a regular basis and somehow still find time for some level of commitment to the ministry of the local church.

We have just begun a new “season” of Choir Ministry. I divide up the year into - well, seasons - shorter, more focused periods of time that allow people to pick and choose if they can commit for 8-9 weeks at the 70% level.

Now think about that - 70%. Think about the things you currently spend the majority of your time, money, energy, affection, and allegiance. Tell me how effective you would be at those things at the 70% commitment level?

Before you think I have “lost it” and believe that a person’s commitment to a church choir should not be compared to…..well - quite frankly anything else - well, I agree.

BUT - if we are going to talk about how effective the Choir Ministry is at our church, and how important this ministry is to helping people encounter the presence and life-transforming power of Jesus Christ, then wouldn’t one think we should have at the very least a 70% commitment level?

The vast majority of the people even remotely involved in the Worship Choir Ministry of Brentwood Baptist Church have the best of intentions, do the best that they can given all the pressures of life, and contribute significantly to this ministry.

The most compelling e-mails that I receive from choir members are hands down the ones that tell me that the reasons why they can’t be at a rehearsal or lead on a Sunday morning are because they have to care for a sick relative, the ones who tell me they can’t be at our choir retreat because they are counseling a married couple on the edge of divorce, the ones who are working two jobs to make ends meet, the single Dad who has his kids that night and he needs to care for them, the ones who are serving in preschool ministry instead of the choir that morning because immature parents who said the would serve simply didn’t show up to serve, the uncle who is helping his nephew move into college because that kid’s Dad passed away this summer and that new college student needs a “dad-figure” in that moment …… I could go on and on…..

The people who send those e-mails are telling me a very important and powerful reminder - they are “where they need to be”

All of this is challenging me to ask (as I always try to ask) the right questions, and in this case, maybe the right question we should ask each morning when faced with multiple “places to be”…….Lord, where is it YOU need me to be?

I truly believe that if we answer that question honestly and consistently, then more times than not we will “be where we need to be!”

Aqua-what?

This is one of those "what was I thinking?" moments......

Today was my family reunion (my mom's side) in central Texas - specifically in Kyle, TX. Kyle is located on I-35 between Austin and San Marcos.

We should have been there, but we didn't make those plans. Too bad.....

Too bad because my mom would have loved for us to have been there, and THEN......

I forgot that Brad Paisley was doing this - (see photo)

They call is Aquapalooza. Check it out. Brad sets up on the shore of Lake Travis, and the whole dang audience (at least most of them) are enjoying the show from their boats!!!!

How stinkin fun is that?

Sorry I missed out on the family reunion, and sorry I missed out on the Brad fun. I know I don't have a boat, but I might have been able to finagle (how does one spell that word) a ticket or two!!!????

10 More Things Currently Making HUGE Impressions On My Life

1. This photo of my grandson - a nap after the beach is the best!
2. Karla's new office at church - we actually rode to/from work together last week - WOW!
3. Our new summer intern - Elias Anderson from Liberty University
4. My college roommate, Chris Wommack's visit to Nashville this week!
5. Lunch with David Hamilton and hearing all about his trip this weekend to Californiw to experence the premiere of his latest Disney project this weekend - You HAVE to see -
THIS VIDEO INCREDIBLE!!!!!
6. Carol Cymbala (Director of the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir) being our guest in Wednesday night's choir rehearsal - but Jason Michael Webb may have "stolen the show"....but then Sister Jean may have made the greatest impression - she is 73 years old, an original member of the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, and travels everywhere with Carol as her prayer support and friend!
7. Hearing from someone (this week) for the first time in 33 years!!
8. Lunch with Dick & Mel Tunney - what an incredible ministry team they are!
9. Meeting with a 25-year-old who has one of the most incredible futures ahead of them!
10. Completely fired up about our services tomorrow - June 13

10 Things Currently Making An Impression On My Life

1. The song, Come As You Are by Pocket Full Of Rocks
2. My son, Seth's Adventure Now 3 Video Series for Fuge Camps - (60,000 students will witness it this summer!)
3. The song, You Are Faithful by Michael Boggs
4. My son, Ben's Adventure Now 3 Video Series original musical score AND his original musical score for the CentriKid Camps video series entitled, Kitchen Bink
5. Reflecting on getting to spend Mother's Day with my Mom
6. My son, Matt's work ethic particularly related to Flood Relief
7. My pastor's sermon on forgiveness
8. The possible re-scheduling of the Community Hymn Sing
9. The song/arrangement of Lean On Me by Patti Austin - (who turns 60 in August - ridiculous!)
10. Getting to mow Seth/Arley/Elliott's yard - seriously....might be the most therapeutic thing I do each week.....

Platforms - Tony Morgan

I read and saved this back in January. As I re-read it today, I felt led to post on my blog.

This is powerful stuff....and for more on Tony Morgan, go HERE
____________________________________________________________________
There are no shortcuts to having a platform. You have to earn it.

No one owes you a platform.

Sometimes someone who is trusted can help you get a moment on the platform, but you still have to deliver to keep it.

The harder you try to have a platform, the harder it is to get it.

If you do what you’re designed to do and you are faithful to stick with it over time, there’s a good chance you’ll have a platform.

Not all platforms are created equal, but all have the opportunity to positively impact the lives of others.

Relationships are the foundation of a platform. If you can’t build relationships, you can’t have a platform.

The person who yells the loudest doesn’t necessarily get the platform.

If you never stop and listen, you probably won’t get the platform either.

If it’s just about you, you don’t have a platform.

You’ll lose your platform if you don’t continue to use it for positive change. You have to move people to a better place.

You’re more likely to leverage your platform if you tell stories that engage both the head and the heart.

You’re more likely to keep your platform if you ask questions.

If people can’t have access to you and your daily life, your platform is probably shrinking whether you know it or not.

Platforms are established over time and lost in an instant.

Lots of people want a platform, but very few are gifted to have a platform and even fewer are humble enough to keep it.

February 24, 1979

31 years ago on this date, Karla and I said "I do" in front of family members and a small gathering of friends in Dallas, Texas. (we were married before video camcorders were invented,
so a few photos were the best we could come up with to capture the ceremony!)


Our life together has never been boring and always fascinating!

I am thankful for our family, our amazing friends, and our incredible sons.
I am also thankful that God brought Arley into our lives, and now Elliott.

I love you, Karla Ruth - you bring laughter and joy to my life!
Let's see if we can do 31 more years!!

Time Stands Still - Part 2

1970 Thomas Jefferson High School Baseball Team - San Antonio, Texas

Coach Arnold is standing at the far left end of the second row.

Can you find me?????

What a fun group of guys - everyone should be a part of team - always!

Time Stands Still

I received a most memorable phone call today sitting at home on a beautiful, (and unusual) warm sunny February day.

The caller ID said Frank Arnold. Realizing that I had written a letter (remember those?) to this person earlier this week, I was not surprised, but then again, very surprised to see that name pop up on my phone caller ID.

Why?

I have not had a conversation with this person in 40 years!

Frank Arnold was my high school baseball coach. I graduated high school in 1970.

One week ago, he was "deservedly" inducted into the
San Antonio Sports Hall Of Fame

When my mom told me this, and then was able to get his home address, I wrote him to congratulate him and to tell him the difference he made in my life.

Coach Arnold was a great coach - he believed in me way more than I believed in myself. The longer you live, the more you realize how important people like Coach Arnold are in your life.

What a joy to "catch up with him" over a 20 minute phone conversation.

Today, I truly feel like time stood still - I visualized being on the field as a 17-year old as this man hit hundreds of grounders to me to make me a better second baseman, but more importantly, his demeanor and his encouragement to challenge me to be more than I believed I could be.

He was grateful for my letter. I was grateful for his presence in my life at a time when I most needed that kind of influence.

Thank you, Coach Arnold, and again - congratulations for the honors bestowed upon you - they are well-deserved!

Music Can Become Boring - Jesus Can't

Since Thanksgiving, every time I sat down to write something in this space, I could not think of anything to write. That's just really sad. Not because I have anything important to say or that people are dying to read my blog (wow - narcissism abounds!), but because there is a ton of stuff going on in my life and ministry right now, and I should be writing about it. For whatever reasons, I can't seem to organize the words in sentences in a way that I believe might be the least bit interesting or helpful to another human being.

December was a very busy month (terrible understatement) of Christmas worship services, our Christmas Concert, and then our Christmas Eve Services. I was able to take two consecutive Sundays off (don't get to do that very often!), and now am back at it in a new year.

After 17 years of worship services and ministry in the local church, I can honestly say that 2010 will be my most challenging. Isn't it interesting that I can already see that, and we are only 8 days into it? There are many reasons, and I will try to be more intentional about sharing the reasons why as the year unfolds.

For now, we have new services and a new campus launching in the next 45 days, and so very much to do in preparation for them!

Some wonderful perspective came upon me today from one of my favorite people - Bob Kauflin. His most recent blog post (Reflections On Turning 55) is powerful. I encourage you to read it HERE

Happy New Year!

Thanksgiving 2009

I spent most of my absolutely beautiful Wednesday before Thanksgiving in my office that has no windows working away on many different tasks that I thought needed to get done before the Thanksgiving break.

My day had a most wonderful interruption by a brief trip down the hall to our new Chapel where I found David Hamilton and Michael W. Smith rehearsing Christmas music.

This Monday and Tuesday - November 30 and December 1, Michael will give a Christmas Concert in Dallas with the Dallas Symphony conducted by David Hamilton. They needed a place to go over the program prior to their arrival there in Dallas.

Selfishly, what a nice pre-Thanksgiving treat!

I came home early today, and after Matt, Ben, and Ben's girlfriend, Marissa worked diligently all day in the yard raking and bagging leaves (much to the sighed relief of my neighbors in the cul-de-sac who were beginning to wonder if caveman lived next door!), I decided to mow the front yard.

Isn't that crazy to mow the yard at 5:00pm on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving?

I am grateful for so much this Thanksgiving.

About this time every year, we have what is called our "year-end reviews" at the office. We complete these forms, sit down with our immediate supervisor and go over the "form" and talk about the year. It is always an interesting and healthy exchange that contributes to the effectiveness of me accomplishing what is expected of me.

I listed the following (23) things on my review for 2009 -

1. Celebrated 30 years of marriage
2. Buried my father
3. Knee Surgery
4. Writing - (2) Different Worship Articles for Brentwood-Benson Choral Music Publication
5. Teaching - (5) different sessions on worship leadership at LifeWay Worship Conference at Ridgcrest
6. Consulting - served as consultant to the President of Anderson University in Anderson, SC to help them lay the foundation for a worship leadership degree
7. Co-Producer Annual Nashville Symphony Community HymnSing - becoming more and more of a mission field/outreach challenge and opportunity
8. Hiring Process For New Associate
9. Helped Jeremy Busler with the overall transition from 100% access to him to less access to him "for my needs and the needs of this campus' ministry" while supporting and assisting him in laying the foundation for South Campus Worship Ministry
10. Coached / Mentored Jeremy Busler, Michael Boggs, Shelly Johnson, Jeremy & Maribeth Johnson - established new relationship with Mike Harland
11. Highly Successful Fall Choir Retreat with guests - Dave Williamson, David Hamilton, and Dr. Deen Entsminger - choral professor from Belmont University
12. Highly Successful 09-09-09 Choir Rehearsal with largest choir rehearsal attendance ever at BBC - special guests, Travis Cottrell and Bill Gaither
13. Hosted and taught (3) classes on Worship Choir Leadership at the bi-annual TBC Music Ministry Leadership Conference
14. Established the additional worship service support position of Stage Manager and immediately "grew" the roster of Producers and Stage Managers from 6 to 8 members who are all highly trained and equipped to handle the details and flow of our Sunday Worship Services
15. Coordinated guests and other additional worship leaders - Steve Green, Michael Boggs, David Hamilton, Jeremy Busler, Shelly Johnson, Jeremy & Maribeth Johnson, Kids Choirs, Good News Singers, Mike Harland, Deaf Church-Led Lord's Supper
16. Coordinated (6) different and definitely unique Summer Sundays in the absence of the choir & orchestra - string quartet, bluegrass, VBS-team, 70-piece Orchestra, 4 pianos, David Hamilton & band - jazz morning.
17. Christmas CD - (including for the first time - Kairos and South Campus)
- and all the related mission outreach efforts associated with it
18. Christmas Eve Services - coordinating efforts to "start over with blank piece of paper"
19. Coordinated, documented, and led weekly worship planning meetings keeping all involved and necessary parties "on the same page" with regard to programming, "messages", "must do's", and attempting to stay focused on the main objective of our worship services - to the extent that that was possible.
20. Assisted, supported, and empowered Jeremy & Maribeth Johnson to further the Music Missions partnership with South Africa as they led the 2009 team in March.
21. Continued to help develop the Masi Choir CD project - getting Michael W. Smith and Jars Of Clay recorded on the CD.
22. Through our 2007 partnership between Michael W. Smith and Living Hope, MWS contributed his portion of the royalties from CompassionArt Project - $5,000 thus far.
23. Led Worship Choir through devotional book - Humility - True Greatness by C.J. Mahaney.

At the end of the review form, we are allowed to make additional personal comments.....
I wrote the following that sums up my heart on this day before Thanksgiving:

"Another interesting and often difficult year of personal stuff intertwined with the load that comes with this position. I continue to marvel at what God does since I consistently wonder how things can ever get done in my limited capacity of energy, knowledge, and skills! I am grateful that God has sustained me thus far through year 16 - never in my craziest dreams could I have imagined......and in and through all of this, I still believe we have yet to see God's best work -and at least for me, that's what keeps me going..."

Happy Thanksgiving to anyone who read this entire blog entry!!

P.S. I miss you today, Dad.....

Mid-November

The longer I do what I do, the more I realize how my work and pace have certain patterns to them. I know that gearing back up in August for the intensity and work load of each Fall is a ton of work with a ton of things always going on.

This Fall was no different.

When we plan for, prepare for, and record our Christmas CD, we have to do that early in the Fall in order to get everything done in time to have CD's by Thanksgiving. Add to that the weekly planning, the planning for current and future growth, and let's just say it pretty much stays crazy.

A few years ago, Karla and I decided we would take a break every Fall right around the time when we have completed the Christmas CD project and it is no longer in our hands with any further deadlines to meet.

This year, for our time away we ventured into some new territory (literally)....

My first ever visit to the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee. The closest this Texas boy had ever been to this area was to drive by it on I-40 headed east.

It was a great weekend getaway - perfect weather and gorgeous views.

God sure did good when He created all of this!!

Happy 2nd Birthday, Elliott!

My grandson is 2 today - can't believe it!

What a joy to everyone he meets!

So grateful for the time spent with him on Friday.....

love you, E.....

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year!

No, I am not talking about Halloween!

It has been since October 2006 since I have felt this way.

This weekend, we will finish up the production of our 2009 Christmas CD. We have produced (8) of these since 1997. (I have tried to avoid that predictable high-expectation of "the same" for each Christmas, so that is why we have not created one every single year for Christmas.)

I must admit that I have missed this process these past two years, and I did not realize how much I had missed it until we got into the whole thing. Wow, what a process.

Choosing songs, determing how they all flow together, who should talk on the CD and what they should say and why, choosing the people who should sing whatever solos and other stuff on the CD, allowing some of most creative people ever created by God to do "their thing" - whether that is producing a lead vocal, creating appropriate artwork that reinforces the title and theme, or creating just the right underscore - or balancing and mixing everything to sound just the right way......all of this is simply amazing to be involved in!

I have spent the better part of today dealing with ALL of the above! While over-the-top stressful at times, it is so completely gratifying to be in the middle of such a rewarding experience.

This year, through a series of "God-orchestrated" opportunities, we will be partnering with a wonderful ministry out of Newport News, VA called MILITARY MINISTRY - an international ministry arm of Campus Crusade For Christ. They will take 5,000 of our Christmas CD's and send them to US troops currently serving in the Middle East. They will receive them in time for Christmas. I can't imagine what it must be like to experience Christmas in those conditions half way around the world.

(To get a really great understanding of how they will send these CD's to our troops, click on the 6 Pillars VIDEO and pay close attention to Pillar 4 - Rapid Deployment Kits - our CD's will be included in those!)

I pray God will use this CD to bring hope and comfort this Christmas to all who hear it.

We plan to have actual CD's on hand by November 20. All proceeds will go to pay for the production of the CD and benefit our missions ministry at church.

Hope you will get a copy - it truly is a wonderful collaboration of some of the most beautiful Christmas music ever written - I really do mean that.....but then, I will let you be the judge of that!

Happy 17th Birthday, Ben!

This guy is 17 years old today.

Ben, you bring immense pleasure to the Worley home!

I love your passion for music - creating it, playing it, listening to it, and conducting it!

One day you will watch your kids grow up in front of you wondering what they will become.

I am grateful I have had these 17 years to watch you grow up, and I can't wait to see what's next for you.

For now, enjoy your today - your birthday!!

I love you, and thank you for making those the last three words you say to me every night!

Happy 87th Birthday, Dad!

I know that birthdays don't matter in heaven, but they matter to those of us who are still around trying to make sense of our time here on this earth.

Just wanted you to know I was thinking of you today on your earthly birthday.

I miss you, and in honor of you, I found this old photo.

You always blessed the lives of everyone around you.

I am sure you are doing the same in heaven!