Hello friends,

Just wanted to let ya know that the new Ryland Russell T-Shirts are in and ready for purchase. We decided to go with a really soft slim v-neck this time as they are all the rage with the youngsters these days.Sizes available are Small-2x and they are only $15.00.

They are up on the merch tab, or purchase them below.

Special thanks to my friend Marshall for being the model

RR

Sizes

Small Medium Large X-Large 2XL

1. It’s a time when people outside the church are naturally drawn to the church.  Even if it’s just to see little Billy sing in the children’s choir, people show up that normally don’t.  We spend so much time trying to get people to come into our doors (Which isn’t the best way to reach people where they are in the first place) and then we have these two times where it’s honestly easy to get someone to come.

2.  Both of these times are great opportunities to FOCUS our worship times.  When planning Easter I think that most Christians understand what we are celebrating (the death and resurrection of Jesus).  On any given Sunday the typical church goer doesn’t know what to expect besides a few songs, a sermon and probably a few too many donuts.  But on Easter, I feel like there is expectation.  An excitement to celebrate.  There is an open opportunity for God to speak, so I want to capitalize on that.
3.  With all the work that goes into these productions it gives opportunity for the church to serve in areas they might not otherwise.  This helps grow relationships and causes people to get outside their circle of safe friends.

There are a lot of other reasons,  but that’s enough for now.

Well, I’m in the midst of planning our Easter services for 2012 and I’m getting really excited!  I thought I would kinda recap and share what we did for Easter 2011 at CBC.
Our theme for last years Easter was “The Story”.  I have to qualify this by saying that this was before that title had been COMPLETELY overused.  Now it seems like every church or book or music tour is using that title.  In no way was it original to us, actually I assume we were late on the trend, but dang it’s getting played out.  Nevertheless, it fit our (my) vision

The whole idea was to communicate the story of the cross and resurrection and God’s grace and how that connects and intertwines with our story.  There were a lot of elements that went into our service, most of which utilized the 24ft by 13.5 ft huge screen we built and projected on using a rented HD 10K Lumen projector (more on this later).
There were a lot of cool video elements but the climactic point was a video we did with our people telling their stories.  We shot it about a month out and it was shown during the song “O the Blood” by Gateway Worship that we performed live.

* You can get the orchestration and click track that we used to sync up our playing to video HERE , we did this as a solo with Choir and band, not congregational worship.

Here is what our set list looked like last year….
Countdown
Easter Opener Video
Welcome
He’s Open Intro
True Love with Video by Phil Wickham
Shake Hands
Jesus Paid it All by Kristian Stanfill
O the Blood by Gateway Worship
Glorious by Paul Baloche
That’s My King video
Here is Our King by David Crowder Band
MESSAGE
All the Earth Will Sing Your Praises by Paul Baloche

I went ahead and linked to the different videos we utilized during songs and as transitional videos.  We started with a very cool opener that flowed directly into “True Love”  We achieved the flow by using the loop from Our Rising Sound for True Love and the intro fits perfectly under the He’s Open intro.

I wanted to use True Love as an opener because not only is it a great song but it opens and closes with the lines “Come close, listen to the story“, which obviously tied in great with the theme.  We also used Dan Stevers “The Wall” video all synced to click track underneath True Love.
One thing I always try to consider with Easter is that there are those people that always come to church once in a blue moon or maybe they haven’t been in a long time.  I try to throw in a very familiar song that everyone will know, so this year I went with Kristian Stanfill’s version of Jesus Paid it All.  Igniter media has a very cool video that we utilized during the song.

Glorious was a song we had been doing at CBC for a few weeks, great Easter tune.

Then we used the video “That’s my king” which is really powerfully done.  There are a lot of versions out there but this one is my personal favorite.  We set up the click track so the band played along with the video and built up into Here is our King.  Great high energy song to end our worship time with.

That’s all for now, if you have any questions let me know.   If you are planning easter this year for your church hopefully you can pull some ideas from what we did and what others have created.  Below are a couple of videos that I talked about above.  If you would like any of these resources with our loops (that were free) let me know.  Now, I need to finish planning Easter 2012!

RR

Well, consider this a new beginning.

Let me tell you what I’m going to be blogging about, so you can figure out if you actually will care about reading!

1.  I’ll be blogging about various adventures and happenings of the Ryland Russell Band as we play at different events, write music, and live life.

2.  I’ll be blogging about my weekly life as a worship pastor.  I want to talk about the things that I talk about with our worship team at CBC.  Worship thoughts if you will.  Things God is teaching me.

3.  Song reviews and resources:  I want to share thoughts on songs we are using and give resources such as loops and reason files that other worship leaders can use also.

So, hopefully I can give something of value to the inter webs and the worship community here.

Ryland

My first camp week I went down with my church to Falls Creek (The birthplace of Mindy and I’s relationship .  It was a great time and I have to give props to my friend Cody Dunbar for the job he did leading the main sessions.  He has grown a lot as a musician and worship leader since the days of recording in Tyler Glaze’s dorm room at UCO.  I remember doing a show with him for his first CD release in OKC and having some fun doing acoustic deals together.  The kids from my church really connected during worship and I give the band credit for a lot of that.  As a worship leader it’s always a little weird to be in audience.  Weird in a good way.  Musicians know how hard it is to let go of watching the guys on stage and critiquing every thing that happens.  God has allowed me to release some of that and it’s very refreshing to be a part of the body during worship.

My second week of camp I got the opportunity to lead worship for KMAK Camp.  It was a ton of fun but it also stretched me as a worship leader.  This was my second experience leading for 3-6 grade kids.  It amazes me how so many of them are uninhibited or “undignified” in the worship times.  Sure, some of them just think worship is doing silly songs with motions, screaming and dancing but some of them really do get it.  Besides, I think that the church can learn a little bit about not caring what others think and just letting go in worship.

My last week of camp was at Grand Lake Baptist Assembly in Grove, OK.  The band and I were really excited to head back to Grand Lake.  We have done two other camps there in the past and it’s always a great time.  This year was no different.  The worship was very genuine and God protected my voice over the week.  I have a habit of losing my voice at this camp, not sure if it’s allergies or what.  From late night water slides to some intense dodge ball games, the week was a blast.

The only bad part was that the guys and I went swimming in the lake not knowing that it had some toxic blue green algae in it.  But alas, we all came out unscathed.  At the end of every summer stretch I always end up saying the same thing.  ”There’s no place like home”.  It’s good to be back with my two kids and wonderful wife.  In those three weeks I feel like Isaac and Hope grew up a ton.  I’m thankful that God has allowed me to have a beautiful supportive family and a “job” that I’m called to and love.  Looking forward to next summer!

Let me just say that playgrounds with a two year old are stressful.

You see, Isaac is Mr. Independent when he gets in those kind of environments.  He wants to do everything the big kids do, go down the big slides, slide down the fire pole.  Everything inside of me wanted to hold his hand the whole time we were there, even carry him in my arms to make sure he didn’t trip or hurt himself.  But I restrained as much as I could.  I followed closely behind as he ran all over the playground equipment.  I pushed him in the swings.  I caught him at the end of the slides.  It was so hard to let him do things that I thought we too dangerous for a two year old, but in his mind he didn’t know the difference.

Then the inevitable happened……Isaac fell off a small step he was climbing and got a tiny bloody lip and a face full of dirt. I swooped in and picked him up, wiped the single tear and cleaned his face off.  I then decided it was time to go, and as we were walking to the car I thought to myself “I wonder if this is how our heavenly father sees us?”

How many times in my life has he diverted me from the ledge that I was sure to fall off of and guided me to the correct path?  How many times has he followed close behind me ready to catch me if I tripped and fell?  How many times has he picked me up and wiped the dirt off my face and said it’s going to be ok?  I believe our Heavenly Father protects us from things we will never know, gives us enough freedom to fall and bust our lip at times so we will cry out for our Dad to come pick us up and clean us off.

This whole parenting thing is the biggest blessing of my life.  God continues to teach me about His character through my children.  They truly are miracles.

Since we are snowed in under 21 inches of white stuff, I finally have time to write a post.

A month of 2011 is already in the rear-view mirror so I thought I’d give you all an update on what has been going on with the band and what this year holds.

Last year was a year of change for me and my family.  2010 brought our precious daughter Hope, a new church, a new job, a new city, a new house etc etc.  It was definitely the craziest year we have had as a band and a family.  With my new position as the Worship Pastor at CBC Owasso the band and traveling got set to the side for a while as God allowed me to lead in the local church again.  We feel so blessed to be where we are at.  We’ve definitely  learned some things this year.

I think God likes to be a buzzer beater sometimes in our life.  What I mean is that he waits until we are at our final moment of desperation and then he makes the half court shot, completes the hail mary, and wins the game.  God has been teaching me about his faithfulness, the power of prayer, and how he is in control of all things.  We are not forgotten.  For instance: Our old house had been for sale for nearly a year without a single offer, then a pipe burst, the house is a mess, an older couple drives by and comes in and looks at it and BAM, makes us an offer.  When we least expect it God comes through.  We close on the house Feb 10th.  If this would not have happened we would have had to start paying two mortgages, yikes!

2011 Band Stuff

• Traveling again – Check the schedule for more upcoming dates.  We just got back from FBC Bowie in Texas and it was a great time.
• Writing – God has really begun to lay some new songs on my heart, I look forward to sharing with you all as they develop.
• Recording – Yes, a new CD is in the works.  Stay posted for more info

Well, that’s enough rambling for now.

RR

I never wanted to be the parent that posts every little cute thing that their children do on Facebook, but alas that is what I’ve become.  With good reason, my children are pretty amazing!  I mean, my son, he can…

• count to ten followed by “TOUCHDOWN!”;
• Say a ton of words including love you, mickey mouse, and chinchilla.
• Terrorize our dogs so much that they run away and end up in the petsmart parking lot.

My daughter is amazing in her own right.  Hope can eat, sleep, poop and try to avoid being squashed by her big brother. I am truly blessed to have two beautiful children.

Many of you know how we never thought we would have children of our own, but God’s plan showed otherwise.  If there is one thing I can say about having children is that the whole experience points you to God.  From the moment they come into this world they are a miracle designed by God.  When I first held both of my children I was overcome with tears of joy.  Their births brought me to praise God for his provision and blessings.

Other times I see a picture of how God sees his children.  My son has the coordination and balance of his mother (which is not a good thing) so he often falls.  It’s when he reaches out for his daddy with arms open wide wanting me to hold him that I see that picture of how we as Christians should cry out to God in worship and desperation, arms open wide wanting our heavenly father to hold us.

Of course there are the times when they cause me to turn to God because I realize that I can’t do this parenting thing on my own.  Any parent knows your kids can drive you crazy, I’m not sure how people who don’t pray make it through child rearing.  But I also have become a more fervent pray-er on behalf of my children.  I pray God’s protection on Isaac and Hope.  I pray that they come to know Him as their savior.  I pray that God gives them good health.  I pray that God makes them better than myself.

The scary thing is that my son emulates me.  He puts on my shoes and tries to walk around, he runs for my guitar anytime it’s within reach.  He tries to throw balls like his Dad.  I hope and pray that my example is a Godly one, one that points him to Christ.  I’m lucky to have been part of a Christian legacy and I now have the privilege of continue that in my own family.

Now, before you start thinking that I am un-American, let me assure you that I buy Chryslers, I ate apple pie today at lunch, and actually have a candle that smells like our nations past-time (thanks to stephanie bowman).  I’m just not sure singing these songs, in the context of our sunday morning worship is the right place.  Are they great songs? Yes.  Do they bring God glory?  I guess they can if sung with the right heart.

Instead, we will be focusing on the fact that we are free in Christ.  How we were once slaves to sin, but by his grace we have liberty.  About how our nation needs a revival through Christ and how that starts with each one of us.  I’m thankful every day for the men and women who fight for our freedoms, which include the freedom to worship.  I believe we live in the greatest country on the planet.  But as a worship pastor, I need to direct people to the greatness of our God, not the greatness our our land.  Thoughts?  Am I crazy?

This is the date that I was officially ordained and licensed into the Gospel Ministry. It was a sweet time with my church family at Central, my friends, and Mindy and I’s Family in attendance. My Dad and Mindy’s Dad both spoke words to me that I will cherish. At the same time it made me sad for others who don’t have the influence of a Godly Father in their lives that stands and tells them they are proud of them and the man they’ve become. It was a night filled with prayer, praise, and PETRA references. If you don’t know who PETRA is then you’re probably under 20

So at the end of the service I was presented with a fancy shmancy framed certificate of ordination.It’s evidence of the people who have poured into me and helped me to be who I am today.  I’ve never been one who cared much for certificates. I always lose them, mess them up or throw them away. I guess I’m just not very sentimental, plus I figure that an award isn’t worth all that much if it got printed off a copy machine, I’m more of a trophy guy. My point being though, that while the certificate will be framed and hung in my office, it’s way more than a piece of paper.  It’s evidence of the people who have poured into me and helped me to be who I am today. It’s a testimony of God’s calling on my life.  It’s a reminder to be a man of God in all that I do, to be set apart for his work.  I pray that it will never lose it’s luster or meaning.

How do you describe God? Is it a cop-out to say “He’s indescribable”? For years when I would try to write a song for my wife I would end up telling myself “It’s just to hard to put into words what we have.” Every song I would write would never do justice to our love, so I’d throw it in the trash. Well, the Bible has descriptions of a all powerful, eternal, loving, just, HUGE God. How can we fathom who he is?

People ask sometimes “What’s the first thing you will ask God when you get to heaven?” Well, when I’m standing in the presence of God Almighty, I’m pretty sure I’ll be speechless.

So, how do you describe the indescribable?

Here’s a cheesy youtube video for you hear the song in case you haven’t heard it.