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A Humorous Look @ The Worship Wars

5/30/2013

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http://www.hpcisp.com/~kls/hymnsvscontemp.html



Hymns Versus Praise Songs
A Humorous Look

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, 
and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, 
giving thanks to God the Father through him. 

(Col 3:16-17 NIV)


                                                                                                                                                                           
Praise Songs explained...


Not long ago a farmer went to the city one weekend and attended the big city church. He came home and his wife asked him how it was. "Well," said the farmer, "It was good. They did something different, however. They sang praise choruses instead of hymns." 

"Praise choruses," said his wife, "What are those?" 

"Oh, they're okay. They're sort of like hymns, only different," said the farmer. 

""Well, what's the difference?" asked his wife. 

The farmer said, "Well it's like this - If I were to say to you:

`Martha, the cows are in the corn,' well that would be a hymn. If, on the other hand, I were to say to you: 

`Martha Martha, Martha, Oh, Martha, MARTHA, MARTHA, 
the cows, the big cows, the brown cows, the black cows, 
the white cows, the black and white cows, 
the COWS, COWS, COWS are in the corn, 
are in the corn, are in the corn, are in the corn, 
the CORN, CORN, CORN,' 

Then, if I were to repeat the whole thing two or three times, well that would be a praise chorus." 

(author unknown - from an email circulated a few years ago)

                                                                                                                                                                      
Hymns explained...

A young, new Christian from the big city attended the small town church one weekend. He came home and his wife asked him how it was.

"Well," said the young man, "It was good. They did something different, however. They sang hymns instead of regular songs." 

"Hymns," said his wife, "What are those?" 

"Oh, they're okay. They're sort of like regular songs, only different," said the young man.

"Well, what's the difference?" asked his wife. 

The young man said, "Well it's like this - If I were to say to you, `Martha, the cows are in the corn,' well that would be a regular song. If, on the other hand, I were to say to you: 

Oh Martha, dear Martha, hear thou my cry 
Inclinest thine ear to the words of my mouth. 
Turn thou thy whole wondrous ear by and by 
To the righteous, inimitable, glorious truth. 

For the way of the animals who can explain 
There in their heads is no shadow of sense, 
Hearkenest they in God's sun or his rain 
Unless from the mild, tempting corn they are fenced. 

Yea those cows in glad bovine, rebellious delight, 
Have broke free their shackles, their warm pens eschewed. 
Then goaded by minions of darkness and night 
They all my mild Chilliwack sweet corn have chewed. 

So look to that bright shining day by and by, 
Where all foul corruptions of earth are reborn. 
Where no vicious animal makes my soul cry 
And I no longer see those foul cows in the corn. 

Then, if I were to do only verses one, three, and four and do a key change on the last verse, well that would be a hymn." 

(author unknown - from an email circulated a few years ago)

                                                                                                                                                                            
Putting it all in perspective...

And He also told this parable to certain ones who trusted in themselves that their worship style was the only acceptable form: 

Four men went up in to the temple to pray, two traditional music directors and two contemporary worship leaders.

One of the traditional music directors stood and was praying thus to himself, 'God, I thank Thee that I am not like many other church musicians: untrained, unrefined, undignified, or even like these contemporary worship leaders. I program only the finest art music; I present only those works truly worthy of Thee.' 

One of the contemporary worship leaders was standing off to the other side, praying like this: 'O Lord, I thank You that I am not like many other church musicians: stuffy, inhibited, stuck in a rut of boring and irrelevant music of the past. I present only the very latest songs and reach people where they're at.' 

In another corner the other traditional music director and the other contemporary worship leader were kneeling and praying together. 

The traditional music director prayed: 'Lord God, You know how easily the striving for artistic excellence can become idolatrous. When I use my gifts, may I always remember that they come from Your hand, and that You delight in all of the genuine gifts of worship which Your children bring, in all of their variety.' 

The contemporary worship leader prayed: 'God, I only know four chords on the guitar, and I am not a polished performer; but I thank You for Your grace in allowing me to come near in worship, and for the privilege in leading others to Your throne. Thank You for all the different ways that Your people can praise You.' 

"I tell you, these last two went away with their offerings of worship received by the Lord, rather than the others; for God is not so much concerned with the style of the musical gifts you bring, as He is with the humility of heart and genuineness of love with which you bring them." 

(by Ron Man, a Pastor of Worship and Music, in Church Musician Today, May 1999) 
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Isaiah 53:5

5/8/2013

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"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5 KJV)


Let me break it down for you... I used the Strong's Concordance for a better understanding of each word.


"But he (Christ Jesus our Lord) was wounded (bore into, wedged/pried open) for our transgressions (rebellion), he was bruised (crumbled, broken
                                                                  into crumbs/pieces) for our iniquities (perversity): the chastisement
                                                                  (discipline/punishment) of our peace ["those punishments by which our
                                                                  peace, our reconciliation with God, was to be purchased" (Wesley)] was
                                                                  upon him; and with his stripes (blueness, weals, black and blue marks) 
                                                                  we are healed (mended by stitching, cured, repaired as if by a skilled
                                                                  physician)." (Isaiah 53:5 KJV)

                                                                  WHOA.

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Helpful chord site for worship leaders

5/7/2013

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http://www.upfrontworship.com/worshipsongs.html
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Dan & Lauren Smith "The Revive Project"

5/3/2013

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UDecide Christian Talent Search Finalists -- AZALIAH

5/3/2013

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kNOWING sCRIPTURE -- bIBLE gATEWAY RESOURCE (VIDEOS)

5/2/2013

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What can you get out of studying the Bible? In this series of talks, Dr. R.C. Sproul discusses the many different facets of reading, studying, and interpreting the Bible.

  • Why Study the Bible?
  • Private Interpretation
  • The Science of Interpretation
  • Literal Interpretation
  • Literary Forms (Part 1)
  • Literary Forms (Part 2)
  • Reading the Bible Existentially
  • The Explicit and the Implicit
  • Paralellisms
  • Scripture and Culture
  • Principle vs. Custom

                                            CLICK THIS LINK TO GO TO BIBLE GATEWAY'S PAGE

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May 1st, 2013

5/1/2013

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SPONTANEITY IN WORSHIP
Bob Kauflin » Worship Music
 
Bob Kauflin is teaching on worship at Mars Hill Downtown Seattle, and you're invited.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________


If planning is classical music, spontaneity is jazz. Both are important for serving the church faithfully with our gifts.

Pursuing spontaneity isn’t simply about breaking our routine or being creative. We want the Spirit to manifest his power through us in as many ways as possible so people’s hearts and lives can be affected. Spontaneity can be a means to that end.

SPIRIT-DIRECTED SPONTANEITYFrom passages like 1 Corinthians 12 and 14, we see that the early church exercised spontaneous spiritual gifts that were “manifestations of the Spirit for the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:7). Martin Lloyd-Jones encouraged preachers in such Spirit-directed spontaneity, and his comments can easily be applied to those who lead congregational worship:

    Do you expect anything to happen to you when you get up to preach in the pulpit?… [S]eek His power, expect this power, yearn for this power; and when this power comes, yield to Him. Do not resist. Forget all about your sermon if necessary. Let Him loose you, let him manifest His power in you and through you. (As quoted by Tony Sargent in The Sacred Anointing, 57)

FREEDOM TO RESPONDSpontaneity give us the freedom to respond to present needs and promptings and can increase our awareness of the Spirit’s active presence. This could include an unplanned comment, a prayer, a Scripture reading, or a prophecy. Smaller churches may be able to do this more frequently, but even in a large church we can make room for unplanned moments. Whether your church is big or small, it’s important that contributions are evaluated by a pastor. Valuing spontaneity doesn’t negate the need for wise leadership.

Charles Spurgeon shared these wise thoughts about spontaneous impressions:

I have been the subject of such impressions myself, and have seen very singular results. But to live by impressions is oftentimes to live the life of a fool and even to fall into downright rebellion against the revealed Word of God. Not your impressions, but that which is in this Bible must always guide you.
(From Sermon #878, A Well Ordered Life)


However, “to live by impressions” is different from simply being receptive and responsive to them. If our feet are firmly planted in the sufficiency of God’s Word, we are then more prepared to benefit from listening for the voice of the Spirit as we lead.

Here are a few practices and principles that have helped me grow in spontaneity, both spoken and musical, over the years:

  1. Don’t plan to do too much. Too many items on the agenda limits interaction with the Spirit and the congregation. If this happens, we can’t repeat songs or parts of songs for emphasis, and we certainly can't expect anyone to have time to actually think about what we’re singing.
  2. Practice musical spontaneity alone. Sing your prayers or Scripture, make up a new melody to familiar words, or make up new words to a familiar melody. Break out of your routine.
  3. Practice spontaneity with your team.  That sounds like a paradox, but it’s helpful to work out with your band how and when to listen for your direction. Some musicians do this naturally, others don’t have a clue.

Spontaneity isn’t an end in itself. But it can open doors that will enable us to regularly experience a fresh awareness of the Spirit’s presence when we gather.



http://theresurgence.com/2010/10/28/spontaneity-in-worship
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