#4: secretly wanting to be part of the refuge band

Donning v-necks, awesome hair, and sometimes flannel, they grace the stage of 2nd Baptist Church every Thursday night. They are...the Refuge band. Now, given the unholy (or perhaps very holy) amount of musical talent wandering around Ouachita, unfortunately some Chris Tomlins and CeCe Winans-to-Be's will not be able to be a part of the Refuge band. It's just not numerically possible or practical to change up who's playing lead or who's on keys every week. Perhaps, you are a student who has been disappointed by this reality. Maybe you, now a senior, have hoped every fall that this would be your year--the year your worship-leading dreams come to fruition and you, too, get to own that v-neck, son. Well, don't lose heart, my friend, for I have created a list of viable ways for you to up your chances of getting that spot in the Thursday-night line-up.

1. Sit next to James Taylor at Refuge.
Don't hold back as you belt out those harmonies during "Revelation Song." Drum on the pew, so he sees that you also have rhythm. If he's prayerfully closing his eyes, bust out that steel guitar and let your gentle rifts waft into his ears as you drift your way into his melodious heart.

2. Don't waste an opportunity.
Dino's Karaoke nights. CAB coffee houses. Jam sessions on the Bridge. These are your times to shine, friend. Sure, maybe other people are singing Beyonce or Damien Rice songs, but that doesn't mean that you can't break into a little Matt Redman. Make sure when you play, you highlight your ability to make a capo-switch in 3 seconds flat and smoothly pray a prayer for the sole purpose of a key change. Like the old saying goes, there ain't no party like a Hillsong party.

3. Network, network, network.
The surest way to get invited to jam with the Refuge Band is by befriending its leader. Keep an eye out for any up-and-coming worship leaders amongst your classmates. Who's been invited to play at Noon Day? Any guest leaders on Thursday nights recently? Who's that carrying their guitar to the caf? Any names coming to mind? You know what to do: befriend them so fast they don't even know what hit them. If skills of observation fail you in this mission, don't hesitate to have a friend create a diversion in the CM office while you pilfer through the Ministry Leader applications.

4. Inception.
If all above methods fail, you+ Leo DiCaprio+ that guy from "500 Days of Summer"+ a crazy suitcase with an I.V. thing attached to it= fool-proof plan. You'll be in there like swimwear faster than you sing the bridge of "How Great is Our God."