tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6526430582668263632024-12-18T22:20:24.644-05:00What else is going on in Worship CultureD&Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10454397915930356747noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652643058266826363.post-7557736709770582662011-09-21T15:37:00.001-04:002011-09-21T15:38:54.911-04:00

Reflection of “Multicultural Worship: Melting Pot or Fruit Salad?” by Pedrito Maynard-Reid. I have been told “if you work hard, you can do or be anything you want!” As great as this sounds and as true as the statement may be at times, it is not always possible to do so. Integrate and assimilation are probably two of the most difficult things to do anywhere at any time. And even then, even in

D&Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10454397915930356747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652643058266826363.post-46302784276679308712011-07-14T11:00:00.002-04:002011-07-14T11:02:50.959-04:00

When reflecting on this article and on multi-ethnic worship in general, there are three things that keep returning to my mind. I was very glad to see these items turn up in this article because they are things that I have thought about but had not been able to pin point. I thank this article for helping me better articulate my understanding of key issues to keep in mind when pursuing multi-ethnic

D&Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10454397915930356747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652643058266826363.post-11056732682093010412011-03-06T19:59:00.002-05:002011-03-06T20:02:06.322-05:00

First, I did not know that civilization was particularly doomed at one certain point in history. I know civilization always seems to be on the brink but I never figured there was one point in time where history as I know it would not exist. Now that I think of it there are many times where my current context hung in the balance. The battles between the Greeks and Trojans, the Revolutionary War,

D&Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10454397915930356747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652643058266826363.post-89019260464352901592011-03-04T17:24:00.003-05:002011-03-04T17:26:07.130-05:00

This reading was quite eye opening. I have always had a good idea of the American connection to Christianity, but I was very surprised to find how deep that connection ran. The main revelation for me through this book was seeing the where the idea “America is a Christian Nation” came from. Some of the founders of this country may have been Christians but the church tradition they established was

D&Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10454397915930356747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652643058266826363.post-44801351890809111642011-02-05T13:57:00.002-05:002011-02-05T14:20:15.398-05:00

I haven't written lately because I have been deeply involved in life. Not an excuse to not write... but good enough for right now.In reading for MWS 502 I have been studying the history and spirituality of Christianity. It is incredibly interesting to see the ebb and flow of strength Christianity has held in the world and it is also astounding to see the insane amount of variation and variety not

D&Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10454397915930356747noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652643058266826363.post-77341881903775612042010-10-10T21:03:00.003-04:002010-10-14T10:52:42.557-04:00

Why does anyone worship? What is the purpose? Some say that even if there was nothing in this Christianity for them they would still choose to worship God. That sounds so great but it isn't even a conversation worth having. Why? Because there is something in it for us, for me, for my life now and after - a better way to live, a loving Savior and communion with his Spirit. In return we are only

D&Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10454397915930356747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652643058266826363.post-30214416404480759582010-09-26T12:50:00.004-04:002010-09-26T13:10:16.461-04:00

This is the meditation on prayer I gave today as our church begins exploring spiritual disciplin and formation through corporate worship."We have a rich tradition of prayer here at Pope UMC as seen in the Pastoral Prayer element of the service. Every week we take a moment to make our requests known to God (Phil 6:4). We are going to shift things a bit today. Your prayers are important but they

D&Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10454397915930356747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652643058266826363.post-25325894757130306882010-08-09T13:29:00.004-04:002010-08-09T13:35:38.456-04:00

I have found that I best work on my projects in my head. The following was all in my head until last night. Actually, most of it was on bits of paper here and there, but I have been honing it down and I think I am at a good starting point. Please join in the conversation on this one. If you have any ideas or experience to share please do!1. Address a particular ministry issue relating to

D&Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10454397915930356747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652643058266826363.post-7103308422887919322010-08-03T08:54:00.002-04:002010-08-03T08:59:16.994-04:00

As I talk about worship, I easily find myself thinking “what is worship and how do we go about worshiping?” I am very pleased to find that most people when asked this question will say that worship is our lives. As the corny t-shirt says, we were “Made to Worship.” Great, we made to worship, but I seem to lose people when I talk about what being made to worship implies. If I had a dollar for

D&Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10454397915930356747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652643058266826363.post-44295382775707100462010-07-26T16:04:00.005-04:002010-07-26T16:34:43.611-04:00

What we sing about God is what we know about God. This is especially true in a contemporary worship setting. The songs we sing and the way we sing them shape our view of God and the part we play in Worship and His Story. If we are looking for a renewal of worship we need to start with the songs we are singing. With purpose, intention and time contemporary songs can be used, in context, to reshape

D&Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10454397915930356747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652643058266826363.post-20981720277270892712010-07-20T16:09:00.002-04:002010-07-20T16:17:51.911-04:00

As someone who has worked most of my life in the arena of Christian worship I know that one of the biggest struggles in worship planning, whether people know it or not, is song selection. Two posts ago I wrote about contemporary worship music and finding value in some of the more popular songs. So how does this fit with what I was rambling about in part one? It is easy to select songs on auto

D&Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10454397915930356747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652643058266826363.post-37768050466531411752010-07-19T09:41:00.002-04:002010-07-19T09:44:31.154-04:00

(Disclaimer – The following needs to be taken in the context of this blog. This Christ-centered blog about Christian worship and culture and should be considered as part of a whole. If it doesn’t seem like I am explaining enough it is because I have already or will eventually. Anyway, it is a blog so take it as seriously as you take any other form of unregulated media. Thank you.)This is a two

D&Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10454397915930356747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652643058266826363.post-66363557449287966422010-07-11T14:38:00.003-04:002010-07-11T14:47:28.029-04:00

I am now posting the long awaited results to the project I was working on earlier this year. My last two posts entitled "Picking the Best" were mainly thoughts and ideas on corporate worship song selection and from those thoughts this project was born.This project was twofold – 1) The first mission of this project was to gain some perspective on CCLI’s top 15 Hot 100 songs. I really wanted to

D&Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10454397915930356747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652643058266826363.post-26423253941170867892010-04-08T11:04:00.003-04:002010-04-08T11:31:08.855-04:00

As it turns out, my last post really planted a seed in my heart and gave me direction for my MWS 501 final project. With the help of five other individuals we are analyzing the top 15 CCLI Hot 100 songs. CCLI is the licencing body of all Christian music recorded for "worship." If you want to legally use that (insert totally awesome new worship song here) you have to go through CCLI. They also

D&Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10454397915930356747noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652643058266826363.post-4512700084711601362010-03-31T10:19:00.002-04:002010-03-31T10:31:57.664-04:00

A few posts back we wrote on why the process for picking good songs for worship is important.The next question is, "well, how do you go about picking good songs, and what is a good song anyway?"A good friend of mine took some time to put together a sound criteria for what makes a good song for worship. The first thing to think about when looking at a song is that songs for worship need to be

D&Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10454397915930356747noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652643058266826363.post-60424903839308111532010-03-30T14:03:00.003-04:002010-03-30T14:08:05.504-04:00

My final paper for MWS 501 "Theology of Christian Worship" is due.If you would like to read, enjoy!"The Celebration Banquet"

D&Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10454397915930356747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652643058266826363.post-68973995547852646272010-03-13T11:35:00.003-05:002010-03-13T11:44:28.048-05:00

Luke 6:45- "For out of the overflow of the heart his mouth speaks."This seems to go both ways. What our heart says/feels/experiences is shown by our words. But, our words (even those not spoken out loud) can change or effect our hearts.If someone tells themselves enough times that they are awesome at something, their heart eventually begins to believe it. We see this on American Idol all the time

D&Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10454397915930356747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652643058266826363.post-23603913410923161352010-03-07T19:31:00.000-05:002010-03-07T19:32:24.380-05:00

Reading Touching the Alter, brought to mind that whole “Kid in a candy store,” image! My first thoughts on how to reflect on this book was to pick a few of the essays I like and expand upon them. However, I was so impressed with all of the writers; I didn’t know what to do! Everything was so excellently written and offered academic takes with such practical application. After reviewing my notes

D&Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10454397915930356747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652643058266826363.post-85304747225984598022010-02-02T21:34:00.000-05:002010-02-02T21:35:20.210-05:00

Engaging with God was a bit of a struggle for me. It was thick in places and revealed some deep issues I have been harboring for quite some time. Honestly, it was a bit scary coming to terms with this issues that have been stored up in my heart. But now on the other end, I feel like my heart has been set free! For such a long time I have been frustrated with the Church especially when it comes

D&Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10454397915930356747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652643058266826363.post-16322965347123526082010-01-13T17:49:00.003-05:002010-01-14T09:33:31.193-05:00

My MWS 501 week intensive at the Institute for Worship Studies has come to an end. Part of my final project for the class is a paper entitled "Essential of Worship." Basically, we have to take all that we will read/have read, learned and discussed, and synthesize it into what we believe to be the essential points of Christian worship. This small outline is nowhere near finalization. There is a

D&Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10454397915930356747noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652643058266826363.post-55853813464710658182010-01-10T23:09:00.002-05:002010-01-10T23:13:12.468-05:00

One of the great aspects of my MWS 501 class is that at the end of every day, each student gets a chance to lead the class in a time of worship and reflection. It is a time where we can put our individual spin on and put into practice some of the concepts that we are learning. We have 6 students in class, so it really works out for each of us to have a chance to lead. Tomorrow is my turn!Honestly

D&Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10454397915930356747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652643058266826363.post-59121502474310830642010-01-08T22:49:00.001-05:002010-01-08T22:49:29.786-05:00

I wish I could just comprehend what is going on right now. My body is tired, my brain is in a state at the cross roads of melting and enlightenment, I have come to moments of anger, fits of discouragement, and times of tremendous, overwhelming, joy. I guess that is the best way to describe it: overwhelming joy. I am beginning a journey that has been planned for almost three years now. I am

D&Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10454397915930356747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652643058266826363.post-19678080044826371072009-12-29T15:01:00.003-05:002009-12-29T15:42:09.989-05:00

For some reason 2 am is when my brain best functions. Not if I wake up at 2, but if I am up till 2, hold on to your hats, because I turn into an idea machine... Not really, but some of my favorite blogs have come out of late nights of talking and thinking. The few sermons I have written were all products of 1 AM closing shifts at my last job... get home at 1:30 AM, get in bed...bing...Idea and

D&Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10454397915930356747noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652643058266826363.post-2435546023775701562009-12-17T08:04:00.002-05:002009-12-17T08:10:05.118-05:00

We complain that God does not make himself present to us for the few minutes we reserve for him, but what bout the twenty-three and a half hours during which God may be knocking at our door and we answer, "I am busy. I am sorry." Or when we do not answer at all because we do not even hear the knock at the door of our heart, of our mind, of our conscience, of our life. So there is a situation in

D&Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10454397915930356747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652643058266826363.post-88749654127843908662009-12-01T11:07:00.002-05:002009-12-01T11:46:46.399-05:00

In reading this article Church within a Church by Greg Warner (Click the link to read the whole article) several things struck me....so I am just going to comment on a few in red so you know where the quote ends:"But multiple worship services don’t work for every church. What makes the difference?The one essential ingredient, according to pastors and consultants alike, is an outward focus.

D&Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10454397915930356747noreply@blogger.com0