I don't want this post to seem like I'm being irreverant in any way whatsoever. I think it's perfectly to do some analysis of worship music because songs in and of themselves are not God-breathed Scripture (unless of course we're talking about the Psalms, haha).
In talking with a couple of my friends this weekend I was reminded of a lesson from my class in college, "Worship in the Church." The class brought up the topic of worship songs and that some were fireworks and some were stars: Both were extremely popular but fireworks die after and while and stars live on.
Who hasn't heard "Friend of God" one too many times? I have no quarrels with the song and I happen to love the bridge (if I had been the writer I would have made the entire song just out of the lyrics from the bridge...which would have killed the song even faster). However, I killed it myself when I led worship at my youth group, I might have killed it when I led worship in Bethlehem, it was killed where I previously attended college and I've heard of it being killed in several other places. Yes, like the bad guy from the horror flicks - when you think it's finally dead, it comes back yet again.
For fun - what are some fireworks from way back when that you can remember being popular but never want to sing again? What are some stars from the past that have lived on? How about popular worship songs now - are they fireworks or stars?
It's the worship leader's job to choose songs that will facilitate worship in the hearts of God's people but sometimes we just never know until we try it. Regardless of the song, however, we must always remember that a song doesn't ordain praise, it's God that ordains praise from His people. So, if you find yourself in the middle of a worship service and you can't connect to a song, or this is the time that you've heard "Friend of God" one too many times, remember that worship isn't about a lyric or melody. It's about a God who loved us so much....a Savior who loves us so much that "He'd rather die than live without us."
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
What's the most complicated thing in your life?
I'll tell you all what's the most complicated thing in life:
Trying to sign in to your blogger account when you have countless emails and countless passwords that you never quite got around to writing down.
Anyway, what's been on my mind lately? Well, in the past few months I've reached several milestones - I've graduated from college, started schooling for my master's degree, moved to Concord, NC, then moved to Pineville, NC, got married, had my 22nd birthday (which means that I passed the last possible positive birthday party although I'm seriously looking forward to my 23rd birthday which will grant me access to renting a car...), I nearly drowned in a man-made-simulated-white water rafting ride (which was quite a nice thrill I must add), and found numerous cockroaches in our apartment. Not all of these milestones were positive. Actually, only one of them wasn't positive. I'll let you guess which one.
Amidst all of our activities, I've found myself rather bored lately. One of the reasons for my boredom is probably that I quit my day-job. Or that I haven't had a day-job in a long time. My initial main reasoning was to focus on school work and now I feel as though I should be available for ministry within my apartment complex and church-related activities.
I was quite discouraged the other night because I was unsure of my decision to not take up a full-time job elsewhere which would secure us financially and enable us to bless others, start a family, and move into a non-cockroach-infested home. I spent my evening talking to God and asking for direction and giving Him some suggestions as to how my situation should pan out. Eventually I went to bed just as discouraged as I was a few hours prior.
Today, out of nowhere, I was encouraged by seemingly nothing. Our circumstances haven't changed, I don't feel any bit of a different direction, I still would love to get rid of our non-paying tenants (yes, the cockroaches), but I feel peace with where I am. I can't credit this to myself as faith because a few days ago I was close to thinking about giving God some ultimatums (don't even try it, haha). Peace came from God and reminded me how close He is, how much He cares, and how deeply He loves...me.
My lesson to pass on: Go ahead and persevere. Some people are discouraged or feel dry for days, months, or years at a time, but don't give up. Persevere. This doesn't mean wait and whine for the next season of your life or that you should sink into a rut and get used to life as it is. It means enjoy now, don't waiver from His will for you, continue to trust Him even when you don't feel like it, and thank Him for what you have (spiritual, relational, emotional, physical, material).
God, teach me to be content in all circumstances, whether I have a little or whether I have much.
Trying to sign in to your blogger account when you have countless emails and countless passwords that you never quite got around to writing down.
Anyway, what's been on my mind lately? Well, in the past few months I've reached several milestones - I've graduated from college, started schooling for my master's degree, moved to Concord, NC, then moved to Pineville, NC, got married, had my 22nd birthday (which means that I passed the last possible positive birthday party although I'm seriously looking forward to my 23rd birthday which will grant me access to renting a car...), I nearly drowned in a man-made-simulated-white water rafting ride (which was quite a nice thrill I must add), and found numerous cockroaches in our apartment. Not all of these milestones were positive. Actually, only one of them wasn't positive. I'll let you guess which one.
Amidst all of our activities, I've found myself rather bored lately. One of the reasons for my boredom is probably that I quit my day-job. Or that I haven't had a day-job in a long time. My initial main reasoning was to focus on school work and now I feel as though I should be available for ministry within my apartment complex and church-related activities.
I was quite discouraged the other night because I was unsure of my decision to not take up a full-time job elsewhere which would secure us financially and enable us to bless others, start a family, and move into a non-cockroach-infested home. I spent my evening talking to God and asking for direction and giving Him some suggestions as to how my situation should pan out. Eventually I went to bed just as discouraged as I was a few hours prior.
Today, out of nowhere, I was encouraged by seemingly nothing. Our circumstances haven't changed, I don't feel any bit of a different direction, I still would love to get rid of our non-paying tenants (yes, the cockroaches), but I feel peace with where I am. I can't credit this to myself as faith because a few days ago I was close to thinking about giving God some ultimatums (don't even try it, haha). Peace came from God and reminded me how close He is, how much He cares, and how deeply He loves...me.
My lesson to pass on: Go ahead and persevere. Some people are discouraged or feel dry for days, months, or years at a time, but don't give up. Persevere. This doesn't mean wait and whine for the next season of your life or that you should sink into a rut and get used to life as it is. It means enjoy now, don't waiver from His will for you, continue to trust Him even when you don't feel like it, and thank Him for what you have (spiritual, relational, emotional, physical, material).
God, teach me to be content in all circumstances, whether I have a little or whether I have much.
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