Let's Talk Worship

Don't Waste Your Cancer

2011-04-25T15:55:00.004-05:00

This post is a bit of a diversion from the usual "worship talk" stuff I normally post on this blog. However, in my diagnosis and treatment of Lymphoma my hope is that God is more greatly glorified in my life through the way I handle and respond to this cancer. So, in a way, it's about how to worship (giving God worth & glory) in the difficult times. One of the first places I went after

Now This Is Amazing!!

2010-12-10T09:22:00.004-06:00

Christmas music performed entirely on iPhones & iPads - AKA an iBand.

A Trend in Church Music?

2010-11-24T08:39:00.006-06:00

I recently received an email from a friend asking about a particular trend he's noticing in church music. He writes/asks:It seems to me like once upon a time church music ministry was about giving lots of people a chance to use their gifts and increasingly it's becoming more about the best possible "performance" Sunday morning. I'm not saying that those two are mutually exclusive, but am I

True Worship

2010-10-21T08:29:00.002-05:00

I received a nice card this week from someone in our choir which simply, yet profoundly, reminded me of what true worship is. The card said: True worship freely flows from hearts who've heard the melody of God's amazing grace.True worship shouldn't need to be coerced from those of us who have truly experience God's saving grace through Jesus Christ. It should be the natural overflow of a heart

Blog Facelift

2010-08-17T17:55:00.001-05:00

I've got a new look. It's clean, easy to read and hopefully you like it!!

Great Resources - Cheap

2010-02-05T15:42:00.017-06:00

Sovereign Grace Ministries is having their huge February blowout sale. I know this is a shameless plug but we benefit from so many of their resources I thought I'd pass on this opportunity for you to get them at hugely discounted rates. I would encourage you to visit their website and check out their books and CD's and perhaps pick up a few. Music: $5 – all downloaded sets from Sovereign Grace

Not all Hymns are Created Equal

2010-01-22T11:20:00.007-06:00

I want to suggest that it takes more than a great lyric to make a great hymn. Certainly, what a hymn or song says is of highest priority, but, unless a text is wed with a melody that is both singable and memorable, even the greatest lyrics are quickly forgotten. The reason "The Greats" survive the test of time is usually because their great texts are sung to great melodies that forever lodge

Worship - the "Missing Jewel"

2009-11-12T11:08:00.005-06:00

Here are excerpts from another great article from Chuck Swindoll regarding worship. The full article can be read by clicking here. What exactly is worship? And is it all that rare? In 1961, while he was speaking to the pastors of the Associated Gospel Churches of Canada, the late A. W. Tozer said that worship “is the missing jewel in modern evangelicalism.”? I think he was a prophet ahead of

November Hymn of the Month

2009-11-04T16:14:00.010-06:00

"I Am Not Skilled to Understand" AKA "My Savior, My God" Here's the story behind the song: Aaron Shust found the hymn "I Am Not skilled to Understand" in the One Year Book of Hymns, a devotional he was using. He was immediately taken by the words, but was unfamiliar with the tune. The lyrics/poem had been written in 1873 by Dora Greenwell expressing her incredible passion for her Savior and her

What are we telling the coming generations about God?

2009-10-29T09:48:00.002-05:00

Bob Kauflin articulates wonderfully the dangers of designing our worship services around our personal preferences. In our church services it's important that we find styles that multiple generations can sing together.This 3 1/2 minute video is a portion of his message from Psalm 78 given during the WorshipGod '09 conference.

Mean What You Sing

2009-10-14T14:39:00.009-05:00

I appreciated this email I received from a friend with the following devotion from Chuck Swindoll relating to singing with integrity. You can link to this article and others on the Insight for Living website by clicking on this posts title.Mean What You Singby Charles R. Swindoll Revelation 5:9-10 Nothing touches the human heart deeper than music. This is never more true than when a group of

The Arrogance of Legalism

2009-10-01T11:01:00.003-05:00

In C.J. Mahaney's book "The Cross Centered Life - Keeping the Gospel the Main Thing" there's a whole chapter on breaking the rules of legalism. He says the implications of legalism are staggering in their arrogance. "Legalism claims that the death of Jesus on the cross was either unnecessary or insufficient. It essentially says to God 'Your plan didn't work. The cross wasn't enough

The 12 verses of "Crown Him with Many Crowns"

2009-09-16T12:44:00.002-05:00

Our church has been focusing on the hymn "Crown Him with Many Crowns" for the month of September. There is some interesting background connected to this hymn, including how there got to be 12 verses.The song was originally penned in 1851 by Matthew Bridges (1800-1894), a former Anglican turned Catholic. Bridges wrote six stanzas, based upon Revelations 19:12, “...and on His head were many crowns.

Pursuit of Biblical Worship

2009-06-12T10:07:00.005-05:00

I read 2 things today that struck me as important elements to remember when pursuing Biblical worship.My generation isn't the first to think about and pursue Biblical worship. In other words, there is great value in studying and using resources (hymns, sermons, discourses, etc.) from those who have gone before us. We aren't starting our pursuit in an historical vacuum (Heb. 12:1, 22-24), so

'Common' Church Music

2009-05-28T15:54:00.004-05:00

I was recently sent the following Donald Hustad quote from a friend working on a paper."'Common' church music - that which is intended for congregational participation - must always be 'popular', that is to say, simple and non-professional. When used in worship, this music assumes by association a sacral symbolism. It becomes 'sacred' music language. In any period of spiritual renewal, old

What Happens When We Sing?

2009-05-21T09:52:00.006-05:00

I've posted a great message by Bob Kauflin given at the Desiring God conference in September related to singing and the power of music in our worship. Below are notes from it if you would like to read them (I did not write these) or if you want to see the session, the video is here It's a bit long but well worth the listen. I hope you'll take the time.

I'm back! (hopefully)

2009-05-05T14:15:00.002-05:00

Just a quick post (after 9 months) to say I hope to be back posting on a regular basis again. Sorry to any of you who might have been following my post that it has taken me so long to post again. Life got the better of me and this blog just wasn't a priority. Hopefully I can jump back into the worship dialogue on a regular basis. For now, I've added a few links to the sidebar of recommended

A new definition of "Worship Leader"

2008-08-14T10:42:00.004-05:00

As I read books and articles on worship I'm always interested in other peoples definitions of worship. These definitions always give insight into the authors thoughts on the subject. Bob Kauflin has recently released a book called "Worship Matters" in which he defines the task of a Worship Leader. His definition is:A faithful worship leadermagnifies the greatness of God in Jesus Christthrough

The Height of Irreverance?

2008-08-05T22:20:00.004-05:00

I recently returned from the WorshipGod '08 conference in Gaithersburg, MD (Washington DC area). Sorry there's not much going on in the picture but at least it's proof I was there.The focus of the conference was the Psalms in worship. The worship times were rich and the messages and seminars for the most part were helpful and refreshing. I imagine as I continue to process the things from that

Feeding Sheep or Amusing Goats?

2008-07-15T21:00:00.017-05:00

Piggy-backing off the last post related to the appropriateness of entertainment in our worship, I've copied some quotes from Charles Spurgeon's "Feeding Sheep or Amusing Goats?". He has a few choice words on the topic. An evil is in the professed camp of the Lord, so gross in its impudence, that the most shortsighted can hardly fail to notice it during the past few years. It has developed at

Worship is NOT Entertainment

2008-06-22T21:19:00.003-05:00

I pulled this off another blog. It's so easy to get sucked into the "entertainment" mindset even when it comes to our sacred act of worship.The call for entertainment in worship in our time is often cast in a particularly seductive form. Entertainment is often sold in the name of evangelism. We are told that we must make worship interesting and existing for the unconverted so that they will come

The High Calling of a Song Writer

2008-04-28T21:04:00.004-05:00

There is often criticism today that much of the contemporary Christian music being written is light on theology, doctrine, and content, and heavy on sentimentality and needless repetition. While my post today is not meant to be a debate on the value of CCM for the church, I do want to make a few observations, especially as it relates to those songs we choose to use, or write, for corporate

10 Questions to Ask About Worship

2008-04-19T19:22:00.011-05:00

I was recently reviewing a chapter by John MacArthur in the book "Fool's Gold?" which ended with 10 questions pastor's, church leaders, and congregations should be asking about the worship music they use. I welcome your comments as you evaluate the music your church sings or plays in worship (yes, even those of you that attend my church).Is your church music

Growing in Physical Expressiveness in Worship - Part 5 (last)

2008-04-08T21:09:00.011-05:00

In this last part of the series on physical expressiveness in worship let's talk about how do deal with the commands in Scripture regarding corporate worship expression (i.e. "Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy." - Ps 47:1). There's some really good stuff in here. In a set of unpublished notes from a course he has taught, Iain Duguid suggests that three

Growing in Physical Expressiveness in Worship - Part 4

2008-03-25T16:20:00.004-05:00

Sorry for the delay in making another post. Preparations for Easter celebration at our church took over for a few days. I hope everyone had an incredible resurrection celebration. We are winding down our discussion of physical expressiveness in worship. I realize there are varying views on this issue. I hope the stuff I've been posting has at least stimulated you to think about the proper