RussHutto.com

I have a massive list of blogs that I follow in my RSS feedreader. I follow a ton of blogs through Our Creative Community (a creative blogging community). Most all of the blogs I follow are somehow related to worship, church leadership, or creative arts. Here are some of the creme de la creme. If I follow you and comment regularly on your blog, you’re already worthy of being called a favorite.

But here are my TOP picks (in no order):

MandyThompson.com:
Mandy brings a very transparent and real approach to blogging about her experiences in songwriting, worship leading, and being married. She is an inspiring young woman and I enjoy listening to her music and reading about her journey to be a better songwriter.

mandythompson.com

FredMcKinnon.com:
Fred hosts Sunday Setlists each Sunday where worship leaders from all over the world share their Sunday experiences each week. It’s an amazing resource in itself, but Fred also offers great worship leadership insight and runs TheWorshipCommunity.com and HighestPraise.com both of which are excellent resources for worship leaders and worshipers alike. I enjoy watching Fred’s video worship confessionals from time to time and it’s neat to read about his great family (which I met last summer).

fredmckinnon.com

InProgress (Tammy Hodge):
Tam runs a great blog complete with a carefree writing approach and a real, authentic desire to express encouragement and ministry to her readers. I’m encouraged daily by the questions she asks her readers and I participate in conversation there regularly.

kassota.wordpress.com

Indian Lake Papa:
Papa isn’t a worship leader/songwriter/or photographer but he always makes my top list! Papa is amazing. I got to meet him in person in December of 08. I wish he were a member of our church family here in Valdosta, but I know that he IS a member of THE church which we’re all a part of through JESUS! Papa writes with authority. Each story he shares is encouraging and thought provoking and when he says he’s praying for his readers I know that he is. His blog is a ministry in itself and you’ll be encouraged just by reading it.

choicesrmine.blogspot.com

Clarus Photography:
Jon and Carrie are some of our best friends here in Valdosta. They have such a gift in capturing life moments in photography. If you’re in the Southeast and are looking for a non-traditional, but amazing photographer please look them up!

clarusphotography.blogspot.com

I’m always looking for ways to enhance my own skills in graphic design and in music/worship arts coordination and there is probably no better resource for free and diverse resources than the internet.

1. How Often Can I Introduce A New Song
(Paul Baloche): Paul talks about introducing new music and how much new music is too much.

2. Tips on Writing A Great Worship Song
(Jeff Deyo): Jeff talks about practical ways to craft a great song, including the importance of practice, trial and error, and collaboration.

3. General Worship Leading Tips
(Kelly Sparks): An older, but practical, text list of great tips.

4. 10 Tips For Worship Leaders: Enhancing Stage Presence
(The Worship Community/Lorie King): A great resource and ensuing discussion about creating an environment where worship is facilitated.

5. Worship Planning & Organization
(womeninworship.wordpress.com): A short list of organization tips that EVERY worship leader can utilize.

6. Building A Worship Band
(Ryan Sheeler): A few great tips on getting started with a worship band.

7. Worship Band Workshop Part 1
(Paul Baloche): A great video on playing with a worship band and how each instrument plays a role and fills a specific niche in the spectrum (pitches).

8. Presentation Slide Tips for Worship
(WorshipCraft.com): A simple easy to follow article about creating presentation slides for worship.

9. Worship Songwriting Tips from Fernando Ortega
(WorshipMatters.com): Bob Kauflin shares some songwriting tips and thoughts given by Fernando Ortega several years back.

10. The Worship Community Forums
(theworshipcommunity.com): A great resource for worship leaders and worshipers alike. Post your thoughts, respond to questions, answer polls, vent, encourage, learn, grow, and be part of a community of worshipers from all around the world.

Song: How Great is Our God by Chris Tomlin

Worship Ninjas: Mark Thomas (denverintranslation.com); Russ Hutto (russhutto.com)

Vid #1:

Mark breaks down this song and shows how he leads it from acoustic guitar. He mispronounces Russ’ last name since he’s never actually “heard” it pronounced live (only seen in the blogosphere), but after a throwing star contest in which Mark hits a dancing fruitfly at 600 yards, all is forgiven.

How Great Is Our God from Mark Thomas on Vimeo.

Vid #2:

Russ breaks down this song and shows how he accompanies the vocals with simple, straightforward chord shapes. At the throwing star contest he de-cigarettes a smoking camel at 400 yards, but it isn’t quite enough to win his family’s honor back.

How Great from Russ Hutto on Vimeo.

Tune in next time for more easy to follow song tips for Guitar and Keys.

Ok, ok. Just kidding.

But seriously.

This is the beginning of a great new series that I am putting together with the help of Mark Thomas (denverintranslation.com), and in the future, other online friends who are bloggers and worship leaders.

We’ll be taking songs for worship (popular ones and some originals) and breaking them down on acoustic guitar and keys.

Each post will contain 2 videos. One from Mark giving the guitar perspective and one from Me, Russ Hutto, giving the Keys/Piano perspective.

We hope you enjoy these vids and can glean a little bit here and there, especially if you’re picking up a new instrument or are just wanting to learn a little here and there.

Get ready the next post is where the goodness begins!

FROM THE STROLLER TO THE HOG

Today was a great day. We unveiled our new identity “look” – kind of a polished, focused version of our first 5 year identity statement. You’ve seen some of the graphics for our Love IN, Love UP, Love OUT series. We just kicked that off today.

You know how you have one of those wonderful ideas that is really going to bring home the message, ya know, the really big idea for the day? Well, we had one of those last week. The message today was basically a “Hey, let’s grow together!” kind of a message using 4 objects to illustrate the growth stages. It was basically a message (Love In) about how we love each other INside the church. We will be getting to loving GOD and loving those OUTside the church as well. Here are the 4 objects:

1. Stroller
2. Tricycle
3. Mountain Bike
4. Harley-Davidson

We created a great intro vid with our pastor being pushed in a stroller, riding a trike and a mountain bike, and then (live) left a whole lot of room for him to ride a harley into the theater and intro the message right there. Great plan. Good illustrations. Bad pre-planning. Somebody forgot to measure the width of the doors leading into the theater. The hog wouldn’t fit.

We had to settle for parking it right at the theater room door, which was still anice visual, but people walked by it as they entered and exited the theater instead of having the pastor ride it in. Which might have been a blessing in disguise, who knows.

Anyways, besides that, it was a great day.

SETLIST:

1. Most High (Hillsong): Key D. We hadn’t done this one in a while. It’s a great song. One of our ladies leads this one.
2. My Savior Lives (Egan): Key B. Pretty standard arrangement.
3. We Shine (Fee): Key Am/A. Almost exactly like the recorded arrangement ( a little lower) and without the “Kingdom is coming” ending. We just end with an acapella chorus while the congregation continues clapping.
4. Born to Be Wild: Transition video (recorded).

Part of Sunday Setlists, where worshipers and worship leaders from around the world share their crunk-ness. (We share our song lists and different creative elements of our gatherings).