I’m concerned. 

I hear so many sermons that include vague statements like “Jesus can make a difference in your life.” And I’m conflicted. Of COURSE He can! He does! But that’s not the #1 reason why He came. 

So why isn’t the true, complete gospel preached more often in our churches? I don’t think some church attenders even KNOW the true biblical gospel, and they may be destined for hell (Matthew 7:14). Others have a vague sense that “if I believe God exists,” “accept Jesus into my heart,” or “believe that Jesus died on the cross for the sins of everyone in the world [so therefore ‘I’m covered’]” - that “mental assent” is all that’s required (even though “…the demons believe-and shudder!” - James 2:19). 

Do preachers think we’ll bore of hearing the gospel each week? Are they afraid people will be offended by hearing about God as a Righteous Judge who must punish sin? Will mentioning hell and sin and repentance and contrition clear out the pews?!

Even the songs on Christian radio talk generally about God “following us” with his love, and how that will make a difference in our lives. It’s not a bad thing to say, it’s just incomplete. Jesus came to seek and save sinners! (Luke 19:10) If preachers don’t present the true, complete gospel, people cannot be truly saved from spiritual death and hell. And there is no second chance after you're dead! (Luke 16:19-31) There may be false converts in our pews, our small groups, and our Vacation Bible Schools! The “Good News” won’t be received as the miracle it is unless we humans realize we are completely incapable of fellowship with God without Christ’s life, suffering, crucifixion, death, and resurrection being credited to us! 

So I’m concerned, and I want to do my part, as God sees fit to give me opportunity to teach or preach.

I will do my best to teach the Bible to kids, teens, or adults in any setting. I will strive to present the gospel clearly, completely, and in a biblically accurate (and age-appropriate) way. There is NOTHING more important in the universe!

Hello friends/family/fans! 

I thought it might be fun to give you the "quick version" of how I got into doing music/ministry/mentoring for kids & teens (and how Carrie Underwood's guitarist impacted my life!): 

• I loved baseball and surfing as a youth in CA, but my parents suggested I take piano lessons at age 14. (I did) 
• At age 15, a friend said, "You're a good singer.  You should join the high school choir." (I did) 
• The first day of choir, I was humming a song as I walked past Shawn Tubbs (now a guitarist for Carrie Underwood).  He said, "Hey! My band plays that song. You should come sing with us sometime." (I did)
• Then Shawn and I joined another band with a guy named Andrew (my first songwriting experience!) 
• In 1995, my mom suggested I join the "Summer Vocal Teams" at Mariners Church in SoCal (I did) 
• ...which led me to meet Craig and Diane Hodgkins.  Diane loaned me a Steven Curtis Chapman video, which inspired me to become an artist. 
• ...I started writing songs again, but the songs I wrote didn't song like "grown-up" songs! 
• Months later, Hermelinda Navarrete (a Children's Ministry worker at Mariners) suggested I sing and lead the 5th-6th graders (I did) 
• Then, when Trisha Graves (the Children's Pastor) didn't really like the theme song that came with a VBS curriculum in 2002, she asked me to write one (I did - "The Bug Song"!) 
• Then, after hearing several songs I'd written for the kids, a group of families came to me, offering to help me pay to record my first album (they did, I did!) 

And that's how God did it! 

I don't stand onstage next to Carrie Underwood like my friend Shawn does, but I have been delighted and humbled to stand onstage next to YOUR CHILDREN, pointing them toward Jesus Christ, God's son (and hopefully, brightening their day!).  I give God thanks and praise for that opportunity! 

Rob Biagi - September 21, 2017

My dad gave me some great advice; I wish I'd taken it! (YouTube video blog [Vlog] link: https://youtu.be/boY0C1Tm_Z0

We all want to give our kids an edge in life. We want them to benefit from the wisdom of our experience. But what if they're like I was, and they won't take their parents' advice? 

One word: mentors. 

My Music & Performing Arts Workshops (which begin next month Sep. 9-10 weekend in Mission Viejo, CA) will include a mentoring component. My aim is to help your kids find local, godly mentors to speak into their lives from time to time. I'll share about how my older brother mistreated me for many years, then repented and changed completely! I'll share how I have struggled with timidity and overcame it (2 Timothy 1:7).

I know we live in a social media age. I know that kids spend 7 1/2 hours a day looking at their screens, sometimes wishing they were someone else. I know that a lot of adults think we've "lost" the culture war. Maybe it's true. But there is still hope! (Psalm 73:25) 

If you'll spread the word and help me get an audience of 8-18 year old kids & teens in Mission Viejo in 3 weeks https://www.mookidcity.com/worshipworkshop, I'll give it all I've got to remind them of who they are in Christ. I'll let them share their thoughts, and ideas, and creativity. And we'll have a BLAST singing, dancing, and performing a show for you! Click here to register your child(ren): https://www.mookidcity.com/worshipworkshop 

If you would SHARE my posts and links on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, I'd sure appreciate it. 

Pointing kids to Christ has ALWAYS been my favorite thing to do, and perhaps it matters more than ever these days. 

I welcome your comments... 

Rob

I was talking recently with a friend whose kids' faith in Christ stalled after high school. 

They had memorized Scripture, they had sung and danced to Rob Biagi songs as wholeheartedly as elementary schoolkids can, and they had prayed sincerely to trust Christ for the forgiveness of sin and to be a "new creation" (2 Cor. 5:17). But, as of now, their walks with Christ are stalled. 

So that got me thinking...what's our response when a child, or adult, professes faith in Christ? Do we rejoice and cheer loudly, as "all of heaven" does in Luke 15:7? 

Or do we say, "We'll see..." 

Wow.  I don't want to be THAT guy...but there is an element of hoping, isn't there? I hope the "decisions for Christ" we see in our ministries, families and neighborhoods are true conversions. Let's celebrate now...but time will tell (Matt. 24:13). 

Man!  The Christian life sure requires FAITH. 

I welcome your comments.

I played sports as a kid.  My parents wanted me to be well-rounded.  I'm glad they did!  No matter what activity breaks out at a social gathering, family reunion, or corporate outing, I can throw/catch/dribble/shoot/surf/run/skate/hit a golf ball without hesitation.

But when scheduling wouldn't allow BOTH baseball AND our High School Musical, I quit baseball quickly and decisively.

My dad and I had some tension back then, and I didn't feel heard or understood by him (he didn't feel heard or understood by ME, either!).  He did great overall, though.  

My dad was/is SUCH an example of loyalty, determination, work ethic, being a provider, loving his wife and kids, and having a great work/life balance.  And he humbly loves God, too.  Now that I think of it, I want to be more like my dad.  He would always ask me to play piano and sing "Just the Way You Are" by Billy Joel, while he sat and listened and got choked up.  We're alike in THAT way!

But I am one of those creative, artistic, sensitive types.  I don't fit in sometimes.  I don't want to talk about college basketball, ESPN, or business.  Maybe your kid is more like me.

If so, I want to help you understand and raise that sensitive, creative, artistic kid.  Tell me your story on email...info@robbiagi.com

And be encouraged! - Rob Biagi

Here's a big, wordy brain-dump of a new mission statement for Rob Biagi Music. Can you wordsmiths out there help me edit it down? 

"My heart for ministry is to find disengaged, disinterested, or shy boys* (like I was!), to help them identify their performing arts gifts, and to encourage them to STEP UP and USE those gifts for God's glory! 

Through weekend Performing Arts Workshops that cost $0 for host churches, I help inspire kids and teens to lead Kids' Worship, Youth Worship, and Adult Worship, and to one day become men who are ENGAGED, INTERESTED, and BOLD for Christ." 

*girls will be a part of the workshops as well. 

(Remember, this is just a brainstorm...)

Many of today’s church men are uninspired and disengaged, which is not surprising, considering that they were once elementary-age boys who were uninspired and disengaged.  Did the Church music, teaching, and storytelling of their childhood not "turn them on" and fire up their imaginations enough to ignite a true zeal and passion for Christ?  Did the Holy Spirit fall down on the job?  Certainly not!  Were the Kids’ Worship leaders of the ‘80s and ‘90s ineffective?  I don’t know.  But it gets me thinking about the up-and-coming generation…

I feel called to help boys (and girls!) at your churches and in your communities to discover the performing arts gifts that God has given them.  I will encourage them to USE those gifts in Kids’ Worship, Youth Worship, and even Adult Worship.  My team and I will do workshops to help them become better singers, dancers, songwriters, and (Lord willing…) evangelizers.  We will remind them (or TELL them!) that their gifts come from God, and should be used for his glory and his purposes! 

And servants of God must be bold, and step up.

So...I am looking for churches to host my Performing Arts Weekend Workshops for kids 8-18 years old.  Will you help me pull an event together at your church? 

After all, there may be a future worship leader or best-selling author in your community who just needs a little godly "push."  Let’s FIND THEM and ENCOURAGE them! 

Rob Biagi 5/31/2017

Recently, I spent the morning reading responses from you (my email list) about “What Your Kids are Doing Now?”  I was amazed at how many little Rob Biagi Music Fans grew up and are serving in Children’s Ministry and other places!  And there are many musicians in the group as well.  I enjoyed reading ALL of your responses, but here are a few highlights (sorry I couldn't include everyone): 

• “We love your music and the boys have grown up with following your family.” 
• “Thank you for the love and hope you bring to so many kids who are searching for their identity.” 
• “It was wonderful to see my kids sing and get into the motions of your songs, especially our son, who did not like to sing, let alone dance!” 
• “I remember one morning in 2008 when my son was about 8 years old.  They were taking up a special offering for you and your daughter's leukemia treatment and as he was getting ready for VBS he emptied his wallet into his pockets.  I asked him if he didn't want to save just a little bit and his response was, ‘I don't really need anything, and it's more important to save a life.’”
• “Our daughter, Emily, could not stop singing your songs.  For hours.  And hours.” 
• “…and just recently we were all in the car singing....after prompted by Connor ‘Hey mom, do you remember Rob Biagi - You’re a V.I.P. to G-O-D?!”  We LOVE that song!”
• “Thanks for your influence in my daughter’s life through your music!  She LOVES music, and I’m sure part of that comes from listening to you!” 
• “My daughter really got into your music when she was only a year old in 2005.  We were living in CA at the time and a certain radio station would play a few of your songs on Saturday mornings and sometimes in the afternoon during the week. She would run to the radio and dance to your songs.  Then during bathtime, she'd want me to sing your songs to her!  'Jesus the Soccer Star' was her favorite.” 
• “My daughter is entering high school next fall.  You could pray that God gives her a close friend who loves Jesus.” 
• “My daughter is actively involved in the music ministry at our church, playing the keyboard.  She has an amazing ear, sense of timing, and ability to pick up theory.  She sings, too, naturally picking up harmony, and has taught herself guitar.” 
• “Your music was fun and clever for us parents, too. I hope your ministry is blessed and it's good to know you're still making music.” 
• “My older two daughters had a passion for dance so when they were little they loved dancing around the house with all the hand motions and movement inspiration you gave!” 

Thanks for "playing along"!  If you’d still like to let me know what your "growing-up" kids are up to, email me at rbiagi@mac.com!

Sometimes my 12-year-old daughter Natalie surprises Kathleen and me with her wisdom, perspective, and knowledge.  I laugh and say, "She's high-level."

I'd sure be inspired to hear about kids who know their way around their Bible, or have stepped up to serve God and people in some way...

What about you?  What have YOU heard from kids?  My friend Tonja R. reminded me today that we "shouldn't sell kids short!"  They are capable of great love, great learning, great wisdom, great helps, great worship, great _________ (fill in the blank)!

I have a male Children's Pastor friend who leads the KidMin at a large church in the USA.

Last weekend, his church gave the congregation a special treat by letting the Elementary Kids lead worship for the adult worship service!  As my friend's eyes scanned the kids as they led worship, he noticed that out of the 80 kids who were leading, there were only 12 boys.  That's 15%.

While there IS a lot of debate about a man's role and a woman's role in society  today, the Bible is clear that men are to STEP UP (1 Peter 4:10), follow Christ (Luke 10:27), preach the gospel, serve, and lead!  We MUST get boys and young men started thinking this way.

Let's thank God for the men who DO step up to serve and lead in our churches, but let's also get creative and intentional about encouraging ALL boys and teen guys to use the gifts God gave them! - Rob Biagi

I had the chance to share Christ, uninterrupted, with an acquaintance yesterday.  He has a Catholic background, and thinks that all world religions (Judaism, Catholicism, Islam) "started with the prophets," so they must all be correct.  I tightened my lips, furrowed my eyebrows, nodded disapprovingly, and gently told him what the Bible teaches.

As I sketched out the "umbrella" illustration of God's hatred of sin and the protection Christ offers (The Umbrella Analogy), I prayed silently that the Holy Spirit would stir this man's heart.  I felt very good about what I said, but it's never enough.  But when Rob's words fail, God's power is enough to save!

The man agreed to read the book of John.  I will follow up with him to make sure he does!

I have a couple of Facebook friends and, my goodness, God seems to be blessing them.  Like crazy!  In their ministry, marriage, parenting, careers, finances, home, everything.  I'm continually tempted to be jealous, or at least to say, "Ummm...Lord?  I'm not asking to trade lives with them, but, uh, my little family has (what I see as) some basic needs here.  Please don't forget us over here..."

Horrible thoughts, I know, but it's a battle.

And I know many of you are struggling, feeling like there are some basic needs or situations that the Lord is keeping quiet about.  Maybe it's your health.  Maybe it's your marriage.  Maybe it's parenting your teenager, or an addiction you can't shake, or a heartbreak or disappointment you just can't get over.

We are commanded to quickly turn our thoughts to Christ (his earthly life was filled with suffering), and to "things above, where Christ is..." (Col. 3:2).  I believe Scripture commands us to "Imagine" what heaven will be like, in a perfect place where God's will is done.  So I'm giving you a free download of a song off my first album.  I hope it lifts your spirits, and shifts your focus toward heaven.

Since you bounced over to my website, please watch and share my latest Kids' Worship Leader Video Blog (Vlog).  I think it could really help the Kids' Worship Leaders at your church!

May the Lord bless you - the way He wants to!
​Rob & family

Guys like me are always asking kids to "Sing, Dance, and Worship Jesus!"

But what if kids are being bullied at school or online?  What if their sister is "the favorite," and they feel forgotten most of the time?  What if, no matter how hard a 5th grade girl tries, she just can't make herself look "beautiful"?

It's easier for us (mature, adult Christians) to remember that God is always good, and that "nothing can separate us from [His love]..." (Romans 8:38), but what about children?  Will THEY feel like dancing and celebrating the goodness, faithfulness, and provision of God when their daddy doesn't live at their house anymore?  Would YOU feel like dancing?

Of course, our earthly circumstances shouldn't dictate our feelings about God, but what if you're 7 years old?

Watch this video, and let me know if you agree or disagree with me...

Lots of people are facing discouraging situations in their relationships, careers, ministries, and finances.  I have been tempted to be discouraged (isn't that what it is, a temptation to sin by being discouraged and not trust God?) off and on for years.  But I never got TOO down, I guess.  And I am grateful to God for his grace in that.

If you're going through something difficult (let's face it: you probably are, and if you're not, you will be...), I hope that you're still reading God's word, still praying, still trusting, believing that God is at work in you.  We shouldn't necessarily pray that God would make our lives easier, we should pray that we "get out of His way" and have a humble, changeable, teachable heart, and a willingness to become more like Christ (who was a model of patient suffering!).

But I do wish good things from God for you, too.  We all need that hope, don't we?  Don't lose heart!

Have a good day, knowing that He is with you!

- Rob

Hello family and friends,

Well, God seems to want me making music for His kids (instead of Corporate America as I thought 8 months ago), so HERE I GO!

I feel like He gave me two new ideas:
1) to make lyrics videos to get my songs into new, tech-savvy churches, and
2) to write custom music and "jingles" and fun pieces for Children's Ministries (watch this video)

For the lyrics videos, I'm asking for your help with a crowdfunding campaign on the safe, secure crowdfunding site www.Kickstarter.com

For the custom music, I hope you'll help me GET THE WORD out!  I'll share my projects on social media and we will celebrate what God does together.

Thanks as always for your love and support as I have prayerfully figured all this out.

Love,
Rob (and Kathleen, Juli and Natalie) Biagi

Two Friday nights ago, I was sitting on my couch (people in cold temperatures are stuck inside "sitting on their couch" a lot, I've learned!).

I went on iTunes and listened to all 13 clips from my "Grown-Up Kid" album, and what I heard made me happy!  The songs are well written, the lyrics are fun and clever, it's well produced and well performed by the band and me!

I thought, "Man!  Kids in more churches need to hear these songs.  Why haven't they?!"  THE REASON IS: they need Lyrics Videos like this (click here).  I could only afford to make them for two songs.

Will you help me pay to make more?  Lyrics videos are expensive to make ($500-$2,000 apiece), and I don't have the money (which is why we moved out of California 19 months ago).  Email me at rbiagi@mac.com if you can help.  Thanks so much! - Rob Biagi

I read Facebook once in a while, and most of what I see is people promoting others' creativity (or their own selfish accomplishments...).

But if you're always reading what others have written, you'll never write YOUR devotional, or song, or play.  If you only sing what others have written and produced, you'll never write your own lyrics and melodies.  If you only learn to "trace" or copy someone else's drawings or art...

I know, I know, you might create something lousy.  EVERYBODY DOES when they start out!  Still, you should consider turning off your device and being creative.  You and your kids will have some laughs, and who knows...?

When I was a kid, I sang at the dinner table.  I didn't realize this.  My Dad would say, "Robbie, don't sing at the dinner table...!"  So I'd stop.  For about 30 seconds.  Then I'd start humming.  I didn't realize that either.

Now, guess what?  My kids sing at the dinner table!  I haven't decided if should "shush" them...

Still, you'll often hear my wife Kathleen and me saying, "JULI!  Less Shrek the Musical and more homework, please!"

So it got me thinking...where CAN a kid bust out and sing?!  Not at the dinner table...Not in the grocery store...Not in their classroom...Not in a restaurant...

Ding-ding-ding!  AT KIDS' CHURCH!!  If you're not letting kids (especially BOYS) sing, cheer, grunt, holler, and GET LOUD, you're denying them that ONE CHANCE in the ONE PLACE where they won't get flak for being loud kids!

Here’s a quick synopsis:

• Summer 2013 was busy with gigs.
• Fall and Winter 2013 – not so much.
• No gigs, and too little income to even re-manufacture CDs and t-shirts (you've probably noticed most of my CDs are "out of stock").
• Was Rob Biagi Music finished?
• Kathleen and I wondered.  We were tempted to worry.  We prayed.
• We moved to Indiana to lower our cost of living (we were bummed to leave my son and his fiancée).
• Here in Indiana, I tried selling mobile apps and working at Costco.  Neither worked well.
• We did, however, find a good Bible-teaching church!
• We’ve made some good, nice friends.
• I decided to start training some young adult performers to lead Kids’ Concerts.
• I think it will work!  I believe my songs are quite good.
• In the mean time, I have set up my recording studio gear and started writing song ideas again.
• I’ve also been making calls to Children’s Ministers in the Midwest, introducing myself.
• We still don’t know how things will all work out, but that’s God’s part.

What we are sure of is this:

1. God loves his people (Romans 5:8)
2. God does whatever he pleases (Psalm 115:3)
3. God will take care of his people (Matthew 6)
4. God’s people should not love their earthly lives (John 12:25)
5. God’s people should set their minds on things above (Colossians 3:2)

We hope that YOU are sensing God’s nearness as he leads you through the ups and downs of earthly life.  Whether you’re “flyin’ high” or “scraping your sorry tush on the bottom,” we hope you are seeking the God who created you.  He is good, regardless of our circumstances down here!

- Rob Biagi, December 2013

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.

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!

Why do I do so many different styles of music production on the same CD?  I've always loved LOTS of musical styles, but also...

When I listen to music that's "aimed at" my daughters, it drives me crazy when every song on an album sounds the same...

I loved the Disney music of "The Little Mermaid," "Beauty and the Beast," and "Aladdin," because the tempos, styles, and attitudes of the performances varied so widely.  Even with repeated listenings, I always found some new "ear candy."  Maybe you're the same way...?

If you are, you might LOVE my new album!  The styles range from Def Leppard to Doo-Wop, from Punk-Rock to Pirates, and from Surfer to Serious.  Dude.

Let me know if you've got a favorite song on "Grown-Up Kid."  These songs are filled with God's word, and I'm so glad you're listening.

With joy,
Rob