Every day, when I take my "used to have cancer" meds, I'm reminded that I used to have cancer! (CML Leukemia)  My doctor says it's basically gone, but it'll come back if I don't take a super-expensive little white pill every day.  (I know, I know - you think it's a big pharmaceutical company CONSPIRACY...!)  For now, I'm just grateful that I'm in remission!

There are some side effects of the medication, so sometimes I quietly wish I could "time travel" back a few years.  But other times I think "Man!  I've got to stay in pretty-good physical condition so I can dance and sing with kids and families!"

On the other side, the Bible warns us not to become fitness fanatics: "For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come."

What's your motivation for staying in pretty-good physical shape?  Do you remember that your body is God's? (1 Cor. 7:23)

A few years ago somebody made a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4vQf_OAgR0. A guy in Scotland named Graeme found the video and starting using it for his puppet ministry.

Years later, Graeme found out that "The Bug Song" was my song, and searched the Internet to see what other Christian songs I had for kids. He found "You're a V.I.P. to G-O-D" (and posted a video on "Rob Biagi Music" Facebook Page posted January 5, 2013). He also started following me on Twitter @robbiagi.

One day I tweeted, "Does anybody out there in the Twitterverse know how to make cool lyrics videos? I could sure use them!" Graeme answered, and offered to help me. He eventually created this lyrics video for my song, "Before I Go, I Stop": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQbxaBoIbpo&feature=youtu.be

Today, www.worshiphousekids.com agreed to offer it for sale to churches and Children's Ministers who want to have "Before I Go, I Stop" on their playlists for Kids' Worship at their churches. Hooray! Praise God, and thank you Graeme!

I have a few friends I can call at 3am if I'm stranded somewhere. And whaddya know? - they're from my church!  What about you? Tell me about your "church friends" (comment below).

If you're a true Christian, I'll bet your best friends are church friends. They'd almost have to be, if Christ is the most important thing in your life, how could you be best friends with someone who rejects the King of the Universe? (or maybe you could - I'd like to hear your comments as well...)

I attached a new song, "Church Friends Are the Best" to my email list.  I hope you and your kids like it.  It's one of my favorite songs on the CD.  It was inspired by two girls at my church - Lucy Ann and Cosette - the tightest young "church friends" I've ever seen!

And thanks to all of you moms, dads, and Children's Ministers who are "church friends" of my family and me.  "Church friends are the best, ah yes!"

With joy,
Rob, Kathleen, Matt, Juli and Natalie B.

I'm the KIDS Ministry Music Leader at my home church. Some people say my church is lucky to have me there leading kids' worship. Maybe. Or is it I'M LUCKY to have the chance to lead the kids and watch their families grow in Christ?

I don't sing all my own songs during kids' worship.  And you shouldn't do all one artist's (or company's) songs, either. It's like going to a buffet and only eating the soft serve ice cream. Sure, it tastes good, and it's easy to work that machine, but it's a "milk" product, and it's not that good for you.  You need MEAT. Spiritual meat!

And when they introduce a new recipe, bread, soup, or dessert - try some! Put it in the mix! Don't keep getting the same thing you've always gotten. There might be a new flavor that makes your tastebuds dance and sing!

As always, I welcome your comments.

What makes Kids’ Church motions “good” or “not good”? Is it their complexity? Simplicity? Hipness? Learnability?

It’s all of these. Truth is, you may be losing kids’ interest (especially the boys) if your motions are:
 - too girly
 - too complicated
 - too simplistic, repetitive, or “mellow”

If your ministry kids “check out” during worship time, you’re missing a POWERFUL chance to reinforce the truth you’re teaching from God’s word (which IS the point of church – you’re not just “entertaining the kids,” are you?!)

So – consider re-working your existing motions to be:
 - simple enough that kids "get it" (or much of it) right away
 - complicated enough that a part or two will challenge them
 - memorable enough that kids REMEMBER the Lord Jesus Christ (or whatever Christian attribute you’re singing about!)

Kids want to dance and sing…look at the popularity of the “Just Dance” video game! Just make sure you’re setting them up for success, and a challenge, and a memorable time they’ll want to build on next week!
Check out the best motions in the business here.  

Today during Worship Time with the Preschool kids at my church, I thought to myself:

1. Do the kids feel comfortable? I want this to be a good experience for them...
2. Is the music too loud? I don't want to hurt 'em
3. Is the music loud enough? I don't want to bore them
4. Is that my tennis shoes I smell?
5. Did I pick good songs for them?
6. Why isn’t Bailey dancing and singing? She's usually into it!
7. Do I really need to be wearing a microphone? I think they can hear me without it
8. What part of the song comes next?
9. Annabelle is such a funny kid!
10. Should I let a preschooler pray on the microphone?
11. I need more tech help at this service!
12. There are lots of kids here today!
13. Some of the kids are SO shy…I wonder what to do to make them comfortable with me…?
14. Do I smell cookies?
15. The kids don’t seem to be "playing along" with this song…
16. Are the motions too hard?
17. Is it too theologically advanced for them?
18. Naw...this is working!  This is fun!
19. Why don’t more people join the Worship Team?  It's just me and one girl at this service...
20. Is there a key change in this song or not?
21. I wonder if they can see my stomach when I lift my hands like this?
22. That looks like Pastor Mark's kid.  She's so BIG now!
23. I should really get some better jeans…these are kinda faded…
24. I wish the teachers would do the motions more “full-out,” then the kids would follow their lead
25. Why did that girl’s parents put her in a “Spoiled Princess” shirt?  That's not something to be proud of or aspire to...!
26. Wow – the sermon is longer today…
27. Should I do another song to fill the time?
28. Noah and Cole are running in circles and fighting…should I break them up?  No one else is...
29. I wonder if the kids sing this song at their houses?
30. Oh yeah...the garage door opener isn't working at our house...
31. I’m kinda sick of this song – I wonder if the kids are, too?
32. God – am I doing a good job representing you? I trust that you are doing great ministry through me and this music…

And that was during ONE SONG!  ...and you thought leading Kids' Worship was just singing and dancing!

KIDS Ministry at our church is using wireless mics, speakers, cables, and even PEOPLE from the main stage “Big Church.” What about you?

Ask your “Big Church” soundman what gear and accessories he’s no longer using that Children’s Ministry can have or borrow. You’ll probably find:
- speakers that sound better than what you’ve got now (“Big Church” used them as “monitors,” but they’re now using “in-ear monitoring systems”)
- microphone cables (because they’re now using wireless mics)
- Acoustic drums (because they’re now using electronic drums to “control onstage volume”)

If you’re not a Children’s Minister, pass this Blog info along to the KidMin people at your church! It might be useful to them!

Happy New Year, everyone! Here’s to great ministry and Christ-following in 2013…Rob Biagi & family

I am so, SO grateful to all of you who celebrated the release of my 4th album project, "Grown-Up Kid," with us at Compass Bible Church on Monday night!

We celebrated with friends from far away (Hesperia, CA!) and nearby (our "church friends" from Compass Bible Church). Many of you guys bought CDs and I hope you're enjoying them!

My mom and dad love the new songs, but they kinda have to (ha ha).

What about you? I sure hope you're enjoying them. Are you? Do you have a favorite new song? Can you tell "what I was going for" with certain songs, styles, and sounds? Will you use the songs in your Kids' Church programs? Do you think people will like the new album?

Obviously, I'm very excited to see what God will do with these new recordings. And thank you again - SO MUCH! - for your support. Thanks again to Compass Bible Church and to my hard-working assistant at CBC, Beth Paulson. BP: you and your team had the auditorium looking AMAZING!

Thanks again everyone. See you as soon as I can! - Rob

Does your church have highly-committed teachers who serve on Saturday night, then come back for "Big Church" on Sunday morning?  Are they always prepared and ready to teach the word of God to the kids?  That's what it should be - teaching the word of God to kids!  It's not entertainment (though it should be fun), it's not childcare (though infants' noses do need wiping), and it's not a "putting in time" (1 Cor. 15:58).

I'm delighted to say that my church - Compass Bible Church - has a KIDS Ministry full of servants like that - from infants through 6th grade.  I hope your church does, too!

And let's remember to thank and encourage the ones who reinforce the teaching we're doing in our homes!

Today's featured "New-Song-a-Day Preview" (#8 from my new CD, "Grown-Up Kid" - on my website homepage and YouTube Channel) is a song called “Loud House.”

I wasn’t writing about my family home specifically (although we do get pretty loud at times), but I do think that sometimes a “loud house” can be a joyful place – and a church that worships God wholeheartedly is the best kind of “loud house”!

Is your house a loud house? Post a Facebook or YouTube video of a loud, joyful, worshipping scene in your family home, and I’ll send you a free album download!