Song Review: Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)

The story of Peter walking on water toward Jesus has always been a favorite of mine. As a worship leader, I've been looking for a song that did this story justice for so long. I want to recap that a bit if you don't mind. Here is one account of the story from Matthew.

Matthew 14:22-33 (NLT)

Jesus Walks on Water

²² Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. ²³ After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone.

²⁴ Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. ²⁵ About three o’clock in the morning^[a] Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. ²⁶ When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”
²⁷ But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!^[b]”
²⁸ Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”
²⁹ “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the strong^[c] wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.
³¹ Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”
³² When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. ³³ Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.

If we put ourselves in this story, and realize how doubtful we are in our everyday lives, it is no wonder that not many worship songs had been written about it.  In verse 28 we see that Peter's initial emotion was trust yet within minutes he gets reprimanded for having such little faith in verse 31. How and when did this change, or did it? 

I notice three things in this passage that happened. First, he sees the strong wind and the waves. I think this is where most people go wrong when they are stepping out in faith. It isn't often calm seas when Christians step out to follow God in big ways. Notice that Peter no longer was looking to Jesus but to the waves. I can't imagine what was going through his mind during those moments. He gets out of the boat and started walking on the water. That would trip me out, and on top of that there was plenty of distractions around! Wind and waves splashing in his face and he took his eyes off Jesus... wouldn't you?!?!

The next thing we see is that he was terrified! No kidding. Wouldn't you be scared? You just got out of a boat in a storm at three o'clock in the morning and notice that everything around is in utter tumult. You aren't on solid ground, let alone a boat, you are on water... everything you know about water as an experienced boatman comes to mind and you realize that you've never seen anything as heavy as you not sink!

The third thing we see is that he "began" to sink. I think the choice of words is interesting, it doesn't say he sank, it just says that he started. I don't know about you but if you have ever been in a pool you know that it takes longer to say a few words than it does to sink. So, we see him shout "Save me, Lord!" and Jesus grabs him. I wonder how long that took to happen?? Was it a split second or was it more like the torture of quick sand, where anticipation and anxiety can take over.  

Either way, it isn't from the comfortable church pew that he battles this out. Then Jesus' response is hilarious. "You have so little faith, why did you doubt me?" This got me thinking - what is it about our faith now. It seems that we need rationalization for everything, it seems faith is only a word and doubt is a constant reality.  Another thing I noticed is that Jesus recognized Peter's lack of faith and didn't reject him, but extended His hand and grabbed him. This leads me to one of the most simple and honest lines of the song "Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)" by Hillsong United.  In a place of uncertainty and failing,  Jesus has not failed and He won't stop now (end of verse 2).

This song is challenging. It recognizes the drive that Peter had to trust Jesus, but it calls on the Holy Spirit to be our strength in our most certain doubt and failures. My favorite part is the bridge (like just about everyone else that hears it). Maybe I needed the repetition of these words in my heart to speak truth regarding me stepping out in faith, or maybe I'm just not as smart as most people, but it took almost all 6 times through the bridge before it hit me. My trust has pretty small borders if I am honest with myself. I need Him to help me, I can't do it on my own.

Enjoy this song and it's powerful lyrics. If you read it through quickly you won't be doing yourself any favors. Allow God to speak to you through these words and step out on to the water in trust and faith.

Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) by Hillsong United

Verse 1
You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep, my faith will stand

CHORUS
And I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise, my soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine

Verse 2
Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sovereign hand will be my guide
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me
You've never failed and You won't start now

Bridge
Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters, wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger in the presence of my Savior

Here is the video... remember to let God be God in your heart and as you step out in faith. Put your trust in the most capable hands of Jesus and continually seek the Holy Spirit to bring us to a deeper faith in Him.


Original video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dy9nwe9_xzw 

5 Reasons to Co-write Worship Songs - by Claire Cloninger

I came across this article that is really true and may inspire a new level of creativity with the community of God. So, I thought I would share.  Read it over and then I'll add a few of my thoughts on the end... you can think of this as an unofficial 'co-write'.



5 Reasons to Co-write Worship Songs - by Claire Cloninger

1. Co-writing is fun.
For pure pleasure there’s nothing like entering a room with one other creative soul, blank paper, guitar or piano, a rhyming dictionary, an idea or two and the prospect of a great song just half a day away. What could be more enjoyable? There’s mystery at the outset and possibility at the finish line.


2. Co-writing is one way around writer’s block.
I remember when my friend and co-writer, Ron Harris, said of me, “Claire’s definition for ‘writer’s block’ is ‘writing with everybody on the block.’” I think he was joking, but actually I have often nudged myself out of a “block” by making a writing appointment. When feeling creatively stale, nothing rejuvenates like settling down to the give-and-take of fresh ideas or a string of fresh chord progressions. Makes me feel like Lucy stumbling out of the wardrobe into the snows of Narnia.

3. Co-writing diversifies your catalogue.
Songwriter Carol Bayer Sager’s songs sound like they were written by a string of different pop composers, from Marvin Hamlisch to Burt Bacharach to David Foster. Why? She co-writes with all of the aforenamed gentlemen.

I love the fact that due to my own co-writing, my catalogue can sound like Paul Overstreet one minute and Paul Baloche the next. The words are mine, but they have taken a ride on some wonderful melodies over the years by writers like Don Moen, Lowell Alexander, Robert Sterling and Gary Rhodes.

4. Co-writing can be done long distance.
I remember the day I received a tape in the mail on which I found Wayne Watson’s beautiful melody and the words “friend of a wounded heart.” My job? Make a song of it. What a thrill to receive a Dove Award for Song of the Year with Wayne that year for our song by that title. And we had never written in a room together. Though I prefer in-person collaborating, this job can be done by phone, e-mail, snail mail or pony express.

5. Co-writing is a microcosm of the body of Christ.
I marvel at those singer-songwriter-producer types who wake up one morning and say, “I think I’ll be a self-contained superstar!” They pick up the guitar, write a dozen hits, produce a killer CD and go on to win every award known to man. But most of us did not get all of the gifts. We got one or two. And we are usually strongest in one.

When I first took my songs to Nashville, I realized that every publisher who signed a song of mine was quick to introduce me to his “in-house tune man.” In other words, he liked my words, but he signed my songs in spite of my tunes. It was not long before I was co-writing.

Like the body of Christ, we in the songwriting community can benefit from each other’s gifts. We are challenged, sharpened and inspired by each other’s “strong suits.” And as we pool the best we have, the result is often that much better.

Originally posted on February 20, 2013 by Worship Leader on worshipleader.com. Seven-time Dove Award Winner, Claire Cloninger is a songwriter and frequent co-writer who makes her home in Fairhope, Alabama.



My Thoughts: 
I have a few additional reasons that I feel are just as important. 

1. It is an opportunity to get a theologian/pastor involved - As a worship pastor, there is nothing more annoying than a great song with NO SUBSTANCE or worse is Biblically misleading. You really want to use it because it is a great tune and a killer melody. But, the song that is interesting and biblically sound, it can be put on repeat and no one in the church would care.
2. Peer Pressure - I think I could just stop there... but I should explain. If you are anything like me, then you may rarely play the songs you write because "they just aren't right yet." For me, co-writing a song means that I might actually play it! It allows me to feel that it is not just my song, but that I am also honoring the co-writers and their expression of worship by playing the song. 
3. Peer Review - There is a reason why every doctorate program includes this little thing called a "peer review".  In plain words, they want to make sure you don't write anything dumb. They fact check, they comment on flow, and they make sure it is able to be understood. The same thing is beneficial with songwriting. Sometimes it is better to have more people commenting and giving productive input on the content, flow, and dynamics of the song. The worst thing would be to hide a song until you finally release it and it sucks. 
4. Wider Audience - Also, if two or three artists get together and co-write a piece (assuming that they are not contracted to write for someone) they are able to each use the same song on their own albums and it spreads to a wider audience faster than one they wrote by themselves.  
5. By The People, For the People - My favorite type of co-write is with a local church congregation or rather for a the church. I was able to collaborate with a guy on my worship team and with the pastors messages (and review) to write a song based on the sermon series we were doing. So, the first 'drafts' or 'trial runs' of the song tested the audience's response to various aspects of the song. After playing it a time or two we realized the final touches that were needed to make it more accessible to the church.   

So, now it is your turn to go co-write a song!  Find someone you trust and just ask them. PS> It might not work the first few times, but keep working at it. 
- Luke

A Brief Overview of the History of Christian Music (in the west)

Here is a fun little overview of the History of Christian Music. I think it is important to note that it is not an exhaustive analysis but an overview. I also think it would be wise to note that it has been shaped and streamlined toward the direction of Christian music in the West.  With that said, I really enjoyed this and wanted to pass it on.

A Brief Overview of the History of Christian Music - by Worship Leader Magazine

Worship - sermon series from Trent Vineyard

I came across these videos on worship from Trent Vineyard Church based in Nottingham, UK. Not only is John Wright's accent addictive to us American folk, but the content that we see in these videos is great.  I recommend sitting down and watching these to gain a new/refreshed perspective on worship.

Worship: PART 1

Worship: Part 1 from Trent Vineyard on Vimeo.
In the first talk of this series John Wright looks at God’s creation of the Universe and man’s creation of the temple, and unpacks the incredible access and invitation we now have into God’s presence as we come to worship.

Worship: PART 2

Worship: Part 2 - Reverent Worship from Trent Vineyard on Vimeo.
In the second talk of this series John looks at the ark of the covenant, our attitude as we come to worship, and what the bible has to say about reverent worship.

Worship: PART 3

Worship: Part 3 - Extravagant Worship from Trent Vineyard on Vimeo.
In the concluding part of this series, John Wright explores freedom in Worship, looking at the example of David in 2 Samuel as the Ark returns to Jerusalem.

For more info about this church visit: http://www.trentvineyard.org/

A Definition of Worship

My pastor gave me a great definition of worship the other day. I thought I should pass it along. This definition comes from the famed archbishop William Temple:

“Worship is the submission of all of our nature to God. It is the quickening of the conscience by His holiness; the nourishment of mind with His truth; the purifying of imagination by His beauty; the opening of the heart to His love; the surrender of will to His purpose--all this gathered up in adoration, the most selfless emotion of which our nature is capable.” 

I feel like I could do a whole study based on that 'meaty' definition. I like how it is HIM focused. So, often definitions that I read are 'us' based and it changes the whole dynamic to reorient our thoughts to focus on God.

Worship in times of sorrow - By Paul Baloche

Some of the hardest yet most inspiring times of worship occur during funerals. The raw emotions of sadness and loss are mixed with a sense of hope and eternal perspective.

The book of Ecclesiastes says, “It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart” (7:2 NIV).

In our fast-paced culture, funerals give us the rare occasion to reflect on the brevity of life and how each of our days are numbered. There is a sense of “coming to terms” with reality that our life on this earth will end. As Christians we find assurance in the promise of God’s Word that Jesus Christ did indeed die for the remission of our sins and rose again with the invitation to live forever through Him and with Him.

Songs of worship can be the most encouraging aspect of a funeral service or a time of intense grief. Part of my role as a worship pastor is to show up and “pastor” those who are grieving. Several times last year I was called upon to lead worship during memorial or graveside services. Silence can be powerful. Stillness consoling. Yet when a simple chorus or hymn begins with a guitar or human voice, you can feel something change in the air. Timely words sung at the right moment can bring a wave of comfort and release His faithful presence.

“Blessed be Your name when the road’s marked with suffering, when there’s pain in the offering, blessed be Your name.” “Open the eyes of my heart Lord, I want to see you.” “I can only imagine …..I will rise when He calls my name, no more sorrow, no more pain.” These are just a few of the songs that have served the moment and brought hope to those who have lost loved ones.

Sometimes we aren’t sure how to bring comfort in situations where someone is fighting an illness or recovering in some way. Often my wife and I have gone to someone’s bedside in the hospital or at their home and simply sang over them. With sensitivity to the moment, we pray for them and ask if they mind if we sing quietly and worship in their room. Some of my most profound moments with God have been during these times as tears flow and faith is released in prayer and song.

Scripture is filled with passages that exemplify praise in the midst of pain, promises of joy as we walk through profound sorrow.

“Why are you so downcast, oh my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God,” (Ps 42:5-6a).

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me … my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (Ps 23).

Shortly before a crazed gunman murdered her, Virginia Tech student Lauren McCain wrote in her diary, “Show me Your purpose for me at Tech, and on this earth. But, if You choose not to, I will still praise you and walk where You lead, not because I am selfless, or holy, or determined to sacrifice myself for what is right but because You are the delight of my heart; and I cannot live without You.”

Lord, give us all that same heart as we seek to console others in their time of mourning. For one day we will wish for someone to sing over us and help us to worship in the midst of our sorrow.

This article appeared in Worship Leader Magazine. 

Spoken Word G.O.S.P.E.L

A friend of mine shared this video with me and I was reminded of the powerful message that we can communicate through creative spoken word.  I would love to see more of this form of worship in our churches and communities.


 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gb7n9B_8m8

It is a great reminder for worship leaders to see that worship is not music. It is the glorification of God. It is when we give Jesus glory and not only when we sing. I love that this video uses spoken word/video/music/storytelling and graphic designing all to communicate one truth. The Gospel of Jesus Christ.

"Lord, help us to use the creativity that You have given us to glorify You"
-Luke

Soul Surfer coming soon!

Ok, so I'm pretty excited about Soul Surfer and it's theatrical debut on April 8th around the nation and the world. This is a true story about Bethany Hamilton and how she held on to God's love and strength to make it through such an amazingly dificult time after losing her arm to a shark.

Check out the trailer.


This movie is an awesome represntation of the life that Christians should lead and points to Jesus as the way that Bethany made it through. You can read more at http://t.co/EvIG7kG and share the news about this movie. Let the name of the Lord be praised through this movie!

Luke

Leading Worship in a Small Group - Vicky Beeching

Here is a great blog that is super practical and helpful to worship leaders. Vicky has written some great songs and has traveled all around the world and led worship in so many types of settings. It is cool to hear some of the practical ways that we can learn from her expertise. And there are a ton of great things to think about here. If you are an experienced performer, it will be a good refresher and reminder, if you are new to worship leading or under 5 years old as a worship leader. This is gold!


____

Some worship gatherings, like weekend church or conferences, are reasonably big. But for many of us worship leaders, much of what we do happens in small settings, like house groups or prayer meetings.

Leading worship WELL in small group settings takes a totally different approach than leading in a big setting.

So here are my tips for making small group worship times go well.

Singing is awkward!

It’s crucial to remember that for the majority of the population,singing is NOT easy or fun, and is actually pretty awkward! There are virtually NO other settings in life, where people whoaren’t musical, get together and sing in a group - other than yelling at a football game!

For us worship leaders, singing is fun, easy and something we feel confident in (for the most part). Imagine something you feel really uncomfortable doing (for me that would be dancing!). Imagine being asked to do that thing in a small group of 10 people. Yup, awkward. Seeing singing through the eyes of non-musicians is the first step to leading well in a small group.

A way to make people feel more comfortable about this, is to break the ice by saying you know that not everyone likes to sing. So give people permission to sing, or not to sing and just listen, depending on how they feel. Yes, it’s ideal for us all to join in, as it’s a corporate expression. But it’s more important that everyone feels valued and comfortable, otherwise they may stop coming to small group altogether. Let people know that it’s ok if it’s only your voice singing. And it’s ok for anyone to sing out, even if their voice isn’t their biggest gift. Make people feel at ease.

Pitch it right!

Choosing the right key for each song is CRUCIAL for small group worship! It’s bad enough in a big church setting to have a song pitched painfully high or low, although sometime it can go un-noticed as a crowd can strain to reach higher notes. But in a room of 10 people, it’s very obvious if people can’t sing along.

I’d advise using lower keys in a small group, than you would at a weekend service. I usually take the songs down one key/tone for small group worship times. Men – when you lead worship us girls can’t usually sing along as the key is too high. Women – when you lead make sure that your keys aren’t too low for men to join in with. It’s worth asking someone of the opposite sex to help you choose keys for songs, by getting them to sing along to the songs when you are planning. See if you can find a key for each song that suits both men and women.

According to Andy Chamberlain, a friend of mine who often plays guitar for me in the UK, “a stereotypical man’s voice centers around Eb, whereas a stereotypical woman’s range centers around Bb. Quite a difference, but look at some of the worship songs written by women, many are in Bb, e.g. Shout To TheLord. So perhaps in that scenario, think of songs that are written in the keys of A, B or C”. Helpful!

Some songs just don’t work

Some worship songs have strong instrumental ‘hooks’, that the song will struggle to exist without. For example, once I tried leading “Don’t Let My Love Grow Cold” in a small group. The “doo doo doo doo doo doooo” guitar line that links the verses to the bridge was so crucial to everyone’s knowledge of the song. Without that guitar hook playing, there was an awkward moment of me strumming and a few people loudly humming the guitar line as it just felt so empty without it! Some songs have just become SO married to their arrangement that they just don’t work in a small setting…avoiding these is smart.

Another genre of songs that don’t work well in small settings, are huge anthems designed for large crowds. For example, I tried leading “Did You Feel The Mountains Tremble” in a small group, right after I’d been at a huge conference where we’d used the song. It didn’t work!

Some songs seem like they were written specifically FOR a large group… a bit like U2′s anthems that are designed to be yelled by a huge crowd. Big anthems often have a very wide range of notes, like Did You Feel, with a low verse and high chorus, that can be hard for a small room of non-singers to sing. They also tend to have big, long, high notes in their choruses and bridges, which can be tricky for less confident singers to belt out in a small setting. Be kind by choosing songs that will be easy to sing!

Older songs

It’s best to use older, very well known songs that are ‘classics’ in your church/denomination, rather than lesser known or new songs. This means everyone is more likely to know them and be able to join in. I do like to use small group settings as an opportunity to ‘test drive’ my new songs sometimes… but overall it seems best to stick to really well known songs in these settings.

Basic Supplies

In a small room, things can be distracting that would go un-noticed in a big room. For example, if someone has a cough and needs a drink of water, or starts to cry and needs a tissue, or needs the bathroom but doesn’t know where it is… So think about all of this when you prepare to lead worship, and provide water and tissues in the room. Make sure everyone knows where the restroom (or “loo” as we call it in England!), is. That way no one needs to ask.

Unexpected Guests…

If you’re meeting in a home, pets can be really distracting (even though they are very cute!). Make sure Fluffy and Rover are shut away in a room away from the gathering, so that a four legged friend doesn’t suddenly bound into the room and break the moment!!! (The parent of a small child just told me, when reading this draft, that this can apply to small children too!)

Musician overload?

Choose the right amount of musicians for the setting. I’ve been to a few small prayer meetings where the number of people playing the music outnumbered the people not playing! If you have 10 people in a small group, one person on an instrument should be enough. Don’t overload the room with a full band!

Volume is also important… make sure it’s loud enough that people aren’t too aware of their own voices, yet not so loud that it’s uncomfortable. If you don’t have a loud voice, get a small amp, as it’s crucial that people can hear your voice above the others in the room, to know where in the song you are, and where you are going to next. A classic scenario in small groups is that the worship leader can’t be heard and the group lose their way. So make sure they can all hear you.

Watch the clock

In a church service setting, it’s easier to stay on track time-wise as there are other things happening in the meeting to cue you. In a small group meeting in a home, often it’s just sung worship and prayer, or a short teaching. There may be no clues as to when you are supposed to stop singing…so have a clock handy and keep an eye on time to make sure you know when to stop.

Don’t make it a ‘dirge’!

Sometimes when we’re leading in small settings, we can tend to choose much slower songs as they are easier to play without rhythm section/drummer. Avoid making the whole set slow though, or people can just get lulled to sleep! I’d start with a few mid-tempo songs, or even a fast song if you feel your strumming or keyboard playing can pull it off.

Tuning is crucial

If you’re leading on guitar, and your instrument is slightly out of tune on stage with a big band, it might go un-noticed. But when all the room can hear is your voice and your 6 strings, they need to be perfectly tuned. Bring a tuner with you, and tune right before you play.

Be aware!

Small groups are even more important than big meetings, to have your EYES OPEN. I’ve had a few embarassing experiences, where I led worship at house group with my eyes locked shut, then finally opened them to see that only one person was in the room…everyone else had sneaked out for a coffee next door!

I’ve also led worship with my eyes closed, for a room full of church staff. I led very passionately with fast songs and lots of energy. When I opened my eyes at the end of the set, no one was standing up – all were seated and looking very disengaged. Awkward! I was so out of touch with where they were at.

Having your eyes open means you can see whether people are (a) still present! (b) engaged. Leading worship is a pastoralactivity…so you need to be aware of how your ‘sheep’ are doing if you are going to be a good ‘shepherd’ of leading them in sung worship.

Lyrics

In small settings, you aren’t likely to have a powerpoint projection system. But people will still need the words, however well they might seem to know the songs. I’d advise that we always print out lyric sheets for each set… This is easier than songbooks, as it avoids people flipping around a book whispering “which song number was it?!”. I do a sheet per small group set, with the lyrics printed in a decently large font (as not everyone has great eyesight if you have a mixed-age demographic).

Restrictions

Another embarassing incident at small group, is when you get noise complaints! Always make sure that the room/house/venue in which you’re meeting is suitable for loud singing and playing instruments! If it’s a person’s home, make sure they’ve asked their neighbours first. If it’s a church venue, make sure that you’re allowed to make noise outside of normal church meeting hours. This seems more relevant to the UK, where we have smaller buildings, in closely built towns and cities. In the States and Canada it seems like the extra space means that most churches and homes are detatched with far less potential for noise problems.

Spare Guitar

Breaking a string when you’re leading with a band can be covered up, as the band can carry you to the end of the song. But when it’s just you on a guitar, with no other musicians, breaking a string is BAD NEWS! Always have a spare guitar right next to you, so you can grab it and keep going.

Post-modernity

There is a growing hunger among most of us for church to be more interactive. We are over the ‘being spoon-fed’ model of church gatherings, and want to contribute and participate in an interactive way. Small groups are a great opportunity for this… so think about ways that people could participate in worship… could people read out ‘spoken word poetry’…or bring a piece of liturgy…or share a piece of artwork? How could it be a group offering, rather than just a worship leader singing songs. Get creative! Small groups are the perfect place to develop this._______

I know that you loved this and were able to take something from it. Vicky is a great leader and has contributed a great amount to our modern worship culture. Make sure to checkout her website/blog that  

Beware of the Stage - by Paul Baloche

BEWARE OF THE STAGE

BY Paul baloche

27 MAY 2010

Within our American Idol/Rock Star culture, often the goal is all about having--and keeping--the spotlight. As Christians, we belong to a least-is-the-greatest kingdom that pronounces the exact opposite, and yet worship leaders must regularly wrestle with the dynamics of being onstage in front of crowds.

Even the typical "worship service" setup (platform, microphones, spotlights, etc.), for example, forces its leaders to walk dangerously close to those "rock star" elements while making sure the attention stays solely on God. There are many things that we can do to help us from being infected by our performance culture and as always we find timeless wisdom in the ancient text of scripture.

There is a Priestly model described in 1 Chronicles as “ministry to the Lord”. The Levites didn’t “lead people” in worship but instead were charged with the task of ‘singing praise to God both day and night, in the temple. They sang to the Invisible God - an audience of One. How often do we minister to God in private? Ideally, worship leading is publicly modeling what we have been doing privately. A healthy habit is to “practice” worship throughout the week by creating some alone time with God and by singing songs and prayers to Him. Often I will go into my church sanctuary by myself or with a few core members of my team and we’ll read scripture out loud, especially psalms, which is the vocabulary of worship. We’ll begin to play guitar or keyboard very simply to create a worshipful atmosphere while speaking and singing out psalms and heart-felt prayers. It may feel slightly forced at first, perhaps mechanical, but if you persist in “showing up” to bless the Lord in private, you will begin to sense more of His presence and authority in your outward, public ministry.

The other aspect of our ministry is Pastoral. Guitar players and singers are “a dime a dozen’ as the saying goes. But those who will give their time and talents in service to God and His people are rare. Jesus asked Peter, “do you love me?” Peter replied, “Yes Lord”. “feed my sheep.” Ask The Lord to give you HIS heart for the community that you serve. Before you dismiss your team from rehearsal, have them come to the front of the stage and look over the empty seats. Ask them to imagine the people who will be sitting there this coming week and encourage your team to pray for the individuals and families who will be showing up in those seats. This is a powerful exercise to help you and your team cultivate God’s heart and love for the people you serve.

I would encourage you to lean toward more of a conversational tone in your leading style as you begin your service. People don’t like being yelled at, manipulated, or artificially hyped up. Whether you lead fifty people, three hundred, or more than a thousand, aim for being as authentic and sincere as you can. We don’t have to be overly sanguine. People respond best when they sense someone being themselves. In fact I used to always pray something like this under my breathe before I walked on the platform. “Lord, at the risk of being boring, please give me the courage to be ‘who I am in You’– nothing more, nothing less.” We all battle our insecurities in different ways but practicing our ministry to The Lord and praying for the people we serve will take us a long way in distinguishing between performance and effective ministry.

Let’s determine to finish well by helping facilitate a lifelong conversation and sense of community between God and the people He has called us to serve.

Paul Baloche

Paul is the worship pastor at Community Fellowship in Lindale, Texas, and is married to Rita. His songs include ‘Open the eyes of my heart’, ‘(Hosanna) Praise Is Rising’, and ‘Our God Saves’. For more info, visit www.leadworship.com

"Church" or something like it

Here is a video I saw that made me laugh and then really sad. Watch it real quick then I'll talk:

"Sunday's Coming" Movie Trailer on Vimeo.

Wow.

So, the reason the video is funny is because it is so true to what we see in the church today. At least in most churches in California. Recently, I've had opportunities to see many types of churches, as well as hear what they are looking for in their worship service. Right on the website it reads: "Relevant Music and Teaching" / "Rockin Worship" / "Music that will make you feel comfortable" / "Music that sounds like the stuff on your iPod." Now, don't get me wrong, that tends to be the style that I like and what I end up gravitating towards, but so often we find ourselves striving to create 'the perfect worship experience' and we take the focus off God (Whether intentional or unintentional).

We have turned into a 5 step formula. We think that if we only have these certain things, we will see growth and change. But, we neglect to let God, through the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, change us to be more like Jesus in our worship. We neglect to give up our control of the service.

However, as worship leaders we are faced with a problem. We DO have to be aware of people in the church that don't know new songs, we DO have to be aware of moving the church to a new understanding of worship by using new songs, we DO have to be aware of the style that the church is made up of, we DO have to be aware of bringing an excellence in our worship(because using our gifts is our offering to God). So, this video hits on some of these issues that we deal with week after week.

Why do we end up worshiping a formula or a method in our Sunday mornings. I know I'm a little harsh in that statement, but if we are honest with ourselves, we have fallen victim to that thinking at least once. We start to think that this is the way that works, so let's just do that.

When will we be the church that is relevant because that is where the Holy Spirit is leading them? When will we be a church that changes as best as they know how as the Holy Spirit is leading them?

Granted, the Bible speaks clearly about having order in the services, but I want to suggest that you can be creative and open to changing without losing order. I feel like we have done a dis-justice to that verse (1 Cor. 14:26-40) and applied it to things that it was not meant to be applied to. I digress.

We need to find a balance between intentionality to help people worship and following the direction God is leading your church. I feel that if we err on one side we should follow God's leading. But, I've seen many churches that will go REALLY far towards just getting people in the church door. Turning our worship into entertainment.

"Lord, as we lead your people in worship, allow us to follow you and be intentional to lead and not perform. Lord, help us to be worshipers and not entertainers." -Luke

___

To see the original post click here or go to http://insidenorthpoint.org/media/2010/05/05/videos-for-drive-10/

Glorious - by Paul Baloche and Brenton Brown

Here is a new song by Paul and Brenton. It is a great song about our risen Savior. Listen to it real quick...

Amazing lyrics. I love the strength in the verses, yet the simplicity of the message. The premis of this song is this, that Jesus is alive and we are not in service to a dead king - He is alive. That is incredibly significant to our lives as Christians, we are not bound by death and sin anymore, why??? Because Jesus is alive. We stand in this truth and this hope.

The verses speak of the cross and of the resurrection, but the chorus speaks out of the mystery and implications of both the cross and the resurrection and says,

"Glorious, my eyes have seen the glory of the Lord.

Glorious, He stands above the rulers of the earth."

I think it is a powerful message as we are in the weeks just after Easter. We serve a risen Savior, a living God, a resurrected Ruler a God who is glorious. He has conquered the grave and sits beside the Father and rules together over the universe. 'He is above the rules of the earth.' Because of this act, our God reigns. We know that the Father, through Jesus is in ultimate control of this world. We know that He appoints the kings/rulers and He has power to remove them.

Here is a video with the song story:

So, as we look to this new post-Easter season, let's remember the story and the power of Jesus. Let's remember that our God, three-in-one, is Glorious and above all. Let's remember what it means to be Easter people - forever changed by the work of Jesus on the cross.

Great album review blog by rockharborworship

Original Post:

MATT REDMAN’S “WE SHALL NOT BE SHAKEN” ALBUM REVIEW PART 1: INTRO AND FAITHFULNESS 03/30/10 | BY ROCKHARBORWORSHIP

The heavens ring, the saints all sing,
“Great is Your faithfulness”
From age to age we will proclaim,
“Great is Your faithfulness”
How great is Your faithfulness

This is the first of four blog posts I will be composing in order to review fellow worship artisan and songwriter Matt Redman’s newest album “We Shall Not Be Shaken”. These posts will not necessarily be a commentary on every song as much as they will be my findings of key theological threads & content throughout all the songs. Let’s dive in.

In everything from the title of the album, to the track names, to the lyrics and meanings behind them, Redman has imbedded the most prominent theme of this record: God’s faithfulness. God’s unchanging, unfailing, everlasting presence. Songs like “We Shall Not Be Shaken”, “Through It All”, and the anthemic choral cry of “How Great is Your Faithfulness” are really the backbone of the album. This was Redman’s goal for the record. He says,

“This album praises God’s steadiness. We’re being reminded how shakable earthly things are: job losses, home foreclosures. When we traveled to Korea, there were high profile suicides due to the failing marketplace. So it feels appropriate now to address the economy in a worship song. Nothing in the Psalms was ever detached from its era.”

Nothing could be truer about our world and its state today. More than ever people need to hear about a faithful God, a God that has been around through every broken and failing economic system, through every corrupt government, and every natural disaster. For me the only appropriate thing to sing sometimes is “You are faithful! Jesus, You are faithful to the end!”

The track “We Shall Not Be Shaken” uses simple poetic language to declare unbreakable truth in an era of utter brokenness. This intentionally Psalm-like song is one of several that Redman has penned out centering the listeners attention on the unmatchable constancy of the one faithful God. He declares over and over again the resounding message of God’s dependability.
Throughout many verses on the record, Redman contrasts our reality with His reality. In “Through It All” the world is filled with “broken promises and so many empty words”. Listening to the track we get a sense of pleading from the worshiper to God saying, “Have mercy on this world. Be with us.” Then Redman contrasts this to God’s reality: “God of unbroken promises, always You keep Your word”. In a sense he answers the question.

A few verses that really seem to capture this theme are Psalm 136 and Psalm 100. In Psalm 136 David pours out his heart in worship. He sets the call as something that God has done that is deserving of praise and the response is the repetitive, ongoing, never-ending “His love endures forever” or as another translation puts it, “His loving kindness is everlasting”. Psalm 100:5 gets it in one verse, “For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations”. From age to age He has always been. Isaiah says that He never sleeps nor slumbers. He his always watching, always loving, always in control. He takes care of the birds of the air and the lilies of the field and knows when a leaf falls to the ground. When there is no sign of Him anywhere, He is really all around us.

Right from the get-go of the album with the first few songs, Redman makes a declaration of the faithful God who saves.

Cheers!

____

To see the original post by Rockharbor Worship click here.

Worship in the Bible

The word worship appears in the bible many times having many different Hebrew and Greek origins. Looking at the meaning and usage of these words can be extremely helpful to help us find the meaning of worship and establish a biblical foundation for our worship. We can also see other examples of worship in the Old and New Testament by examining the scriptures closely and applying with it our knowledge of the meaning of worship.

Let's look at some Hebrew and Greek words regarding worship. I grouped similar Hebrew/Greek together as many scholars do to better understand it as a whole.

Words and Meanings:

שחה shachah [H] & proskuneo [G]-"depress," "bow down," "prostrate","bow down in worship", "to adore" = It points to an inner and outer homage to God with awe and surrender. (Gen. 22:5, 24:26-27, Ps. 66:4), (Matt. 2:2, 2:11, Jn. 4:24) Other words that have a similar expression are: caghadh [H] - "to fall down", "to bow down" (Job 1:20, Isaiah 44:15, 17, 19 and 46 : 6)

עבד avad [H] & latreuo [G]-"to serve," "to minister," "to work" = Worship as service implies a total lifestyle of allegience to God. (Ex.3:12, Ps. 100:2, Duet. 6:13, 10:12-13), (Acts 24:14, Rom 12:1, Phil 3:3) Other words that have a similar expression are: abhadh [H] - also abhodhah "to serve", "to work", " to labour", "to be bound", "to enslave" (Exodus 3:12) / therapeuo - "serve," "heal," "tend" "to relieve", "to wait upon menially" (Acts 17:25) / atsabh - ‘carve,’ ‘fabricate,’ ‘fashion,’ is once given ‘worship,’ i.e. ‘make (an object of) worship (Jer 44:19) / also: threskeia [G] (see next section for more details)

ירא yare [H] & phoboumenoi [G]-"to fear, "to respect" = To fear God and have reverence and respect for Him and move toward service. (1 Sam. 12:14, Duet. 8:6, Eccl. 12:13, Job 1:1, Prov 3:7), (Acts 9:31, Acts 13:16, Rev 14:7). Other words that have a similar expression are: sebomai [G]-"to revere", "to fear", "to adore - devout", "religous worship" is used 10 times one of which is (Matt. 15:9) / threskeia [G]- "to observe commands", "to observe religiously" is also used as "religion" it can be "will-worship," "ceremonial observance," "an act of reverence" , = It has the root idea of trembling or fear and also identifies more of a ritual or form of worship. (Acts 26:5, James 1:26-27, Col 2:18)

ידה yadah [H] & exomologeo [G]-"to give thanks," "to make confession," = This was more than a gratitude expression, it also meant a confession of God being God. (Ps 136:1, Phil 2:10-11)

So we see the four basic expressions of worship: bowing down, service, reverence, praise/thanks (confession of gratitude). Each of the primary expressions has many facets and worship concepts that go with them which helps us apply them to our lives and 'live out' worship.

Worship is our response to God yet it is made possible through Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit at the command and will of the Father. Worship is now available to us! Wow. Jesus sacraficed. We are made clean. AND we are adopted into the family! We are children of God. We are pure. We are righteous. We are no longer bound by our sins. We have reason to Worship! "I have a reason to sing, I have a reason to worship (BrookeFraser)".

Let us come to God with celebration and give thanks for the wonderful and mighty God He is, and let us fall down before Him with homage and surrender as we begin to catch a glimpse of His power. Let us realize, as our faces are on the ground, that He alone is deserving of our reverence & fear then move toward action & service as we surrender with a lifestyle of allegience to Him. Let us Worship.

He is worthy.

Sources Used:

Crannell, Philip Wendell. "Worship," International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia. Edited by James Orr. Blue Letter Bible. 1913. 1 Apr 2007. 3 Mar 2010. type=GetTopic&Topic=Worship&DictList=4#ISBE>

Webber, Robert E. "Worship Old and New" Copyright (c) 1994, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, MI

Muchow, Rick. "What does the word 'worship' mean?" Unpublished document from an E-mail.

Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Definition for 'WORSHIP'". "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". bible-history.com - ISBE; 1915.