Fluency

Quote from Tullian Tchividjian, pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church.

We, too, ought to experience God with the totality of our being in worship. Worship services ought to inform the mind intellectually, engage the heart emotionally, and bend the will volitionally. God wants thoughtful worshippers who believe, emotional worshippers who behold, and obedient worshippers who behave. God-centered worship produces people who think deeply about God, feel passionately for God, and live urgently in response to God. Therefore, when we meet God in worship, we should expect a combination of gravity and gladness, depth and delight, doctrine and devotion, precept and passion, truth and love.

Read the whole article, Worship is a Big Deal.

I was exposed to this hymn written by John Newton on the Challies blog.

Though I grew up in a tradition where hymns were the dominant form of congregational signing, I don’t think I had heard this one before.

Having read the words I was intriguer to hear it song.
I found it on the iGrace music online hymnal (for those who want the music they have the piano and guitar music available to print).
And a rendition on YouTube (below).

Before watching the video, ponder the words.

Approach, My Soul, the Mercy Seat

words by John Newton
based on Ps. 32:5-7

Chorus: Approach, my soul, the mercy seat,
Where Jesus answers prayer; 
There humbly fall before His feet, 
For none can perish there.

1. Thy promise is my only plea, 
With this I venture nigh; 
Thou callest burdened souls to Thee 
And such, O Lord, am I.

2. Bowed down beneath a load of sin, 
By Satan sorely pressed, 
By wars without and fears within,
I come to Thee for rest.

3. Be Thou my shield and hiding place, 
That, sheltered near Thy side,
I may my fierce accuser face, 
And tell him Thou hast died!

4. O wondrous love! To bleed and die, 
To bear the cross and shame,
That guilty sinners, such as I, 
Might plead Thy gracious name!

©1998 Kevin Twit Music.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Additional Verses
courtesy of Michael Lyman

5. “Poor tempest-toss-ed soul, be still;
My promised grace receive;
I’ll work in thee both power and will;
Thou shalt in me believe.”

Just added this to my iTunes library.

All Must Be Well

from the album, Watch the Rising Day.

By Matthew Smith

Through the love of God our Savior, all will be well
Free and changeless is His favor, all is well
Precious is the blood that healed us
Perfect is the grace that sealed us
Strong the hand stretched forth to shield us
All must be well

Though we pass through tribulation, all will be well
Ours is such a full salvation, all is well
Happy still in God confiding
Fruitful if in Christ abiding
Steadfast through the Spirit’s guiding
All must be well

We expect a bright tomorrow; all will be well
Faith can sing through days of sorrow, all is well
On our Father’s love relying
Jesus every need supplying
Yes in living or in dying
All must be well

I am often moved by the deep words of old hymns, but I tend to enjoy newer music. So today, taking a break from reviewing my sermon for tomorrow–I caught up on blog reading.

One of the blogs I read, Challies.com posted a conversation with Matthew Smith–who put to music an old German Hymn (see below).  Great lyrics and with a wonderful reminder.  I’m going to add it to my music library.

You can also listen his performance of three songs live on the Relevant podcast.

The Long Goodnight

Tim Challies
07/03/10

Earlier this week I was chatting with Matthew Smith, he of Indelible Grace fame. Matthew has just finished recording a new record (a personal album, not an Indelible Grace album) and he allowed me to listen to it. There was one song in particular that gripped me. The words come from an old German hymn of unknown authorship which was later translated by Jane Borthwick. It was printed in Hymns from the Land of Luther under the title “The Long Good-night” (originally “Ich fahr dahin mit Freuden”).

Matthew has adapted this into a beautiful song titled “Goodnight.” It is a song about the sadness of death but also the hope of resurrection and reunion. Here are the words and the embedded audio so you can listen in and read along. If you really like it, you can go here to buy it for just $0.99.

I journey forth rejoicing
From this dark vale of tears,
To heavenly joy and freedom,
From earthly bonds and fears;
Where Christ our Lord shall gather
All His redeemed again,
His kingdom to inherit.
Goodnight, goodnight till then!

Why thus so sadly weeping,
Beloved ones of my heart?
The Lord is good and gracious,
Though now He bids us part.
Oft have we met in gladness.
And we shall meet again,
All sorrow left behind us.
Goodnight, goodnight till then!

I go to see His glory,
Whom we have loved below:
I go, the blessed angels,
The holy saints to know.
Our lovely ones departed,
I go to find again,
And wait for you to join us.
Goodnight, goodnight till then!

I hear the Saviour calling,
The joyful hour has come:
The angel guards are ready
To guide me to our home,
Where Christ our Lord shall gather
All His redeemed again,
His kingdom to inherit.
Goodnight, goodnight till then!

Love Has Come
by Mark Schultz
Album: Come Alive

Well I know this life is filled with sorrow
And there are days when the pain just lasts and lasts
But I know there will come a day
When all our tears are washed away with a break in the clouds
His glory coming down and in that moment

Every knee shall bow every tongue confess
That God is love and love has come for us all
Every heart set free every one will see
That God is love and love has come for us all

For anybody who has ever lost a loved one
And you feel like you had to let go too soon
I know it hurts to say goodbye
But don´t you know it´s just a matter of time till the tears are gonna end
You´ll see them once again and in that moment

Every knee shall bow every tongue confess
That God is love and love has come for us all
Every heart set free every one will see
That God is love and love has come for us all

Oh and on that day we will stand amazed
At our Savior God and King
Just to see the face of amazing grace
As our hearts rise up and sing

Glory glory hallelujah
Thank You for the cross
Singing glory glory hallelujah
Christ has paid the cost

Glory glory hallelujah
Thank You for the cross
Singing glory glory
Christ has paid the cost

And every knee shall bow every tongue confess
That God is love and love has come for us all
Every heart set free every one will see
That God is love and love has come for us all

Love has come for us all
Love has come for us all

And every knee shall bow every tongue confess
God is love and love has come for us all
Every heart set free every one will see
God is love and love has come for us all

Every knee shall bow every tongue confess
God is love and love has come for us all
Every heart set free every one will see
God is love and love has come for us all

A free album

several good songs.

I love theologically accurate moving worship music.

I listen, then bought, Only  Your Blood from the album Over the Grave from Sojourn music.

If you are on Facebook you can listen to a number of their songs (or their Myspace page).

This past Sunday I finish a brief 3 part series, Worship in the Book of Revelation.  Revelation gives us wonderful image of God—Sovereign Holy King (ch 4), Redeemer who gives hope (ch 5).  I have been reminded increasingly that worship, since it centers on God requires submission.  As I look through all the “worship hymns” in Revelation and see the way the book ends—I am reminded that an encounter with God always leads to worship.

Any “worship wars” or “crisis in worship” seem to have at their root a failure to encounter God.  When we encounter God, we are changed and He is worshipped.  When we encounter God our eyes are either fixed on Him or at least removed from us.  When we encounter God worship is always transformational.  When we encounter God worship is real and relevant.  When we encounter God worship is no longer about style.

Surveying the Crisis of Worship

from R.C. Sproul

There is a crisis of worship in our land. People are staying away from church in droves. One survey indicated that the two chief reasons people drop out of church are that it is boring and irrelevant.

If people find worship boring and irrelevant, it can only mean they have no sense of the presence of God in it. When we study the act of worship in Scripture and church history, we discover a variety of human responses to the sense of the presence of God. Some people tremble in terror, falling with their faces to the ground; others weep in mourning; some are exuberant in joy; still others are reduced to a pensive silence. Though the responses differ, one reaction we never find is boredom. It is impossible to be bored in the presence of God (if you know that He is there).

Neither is it possible for a sentient creature to find his or her encounter with God a matter of irrelevance. Nothing—and no one—is more relevant to human existence than the living God.

Coram Deo: Do you find worship boring and irrelevant? If so, pray for a renewed sense of God’s presence.

Psalm 95:6 “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker.”

Psalm 34:1 “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”

Psalm 50:23 “Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; and to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God.”

Quote from John Ortberg

Those of us who are older tend to under-estimate the difference between generations. We think that what feels comfortable to us will not—or should not—be a barrier to those who are younger. Those of us who are younger tend to over-estimate the difference between generations. We feel as if those who are older are a different species and could never understand our experience. One of the most important concepts along these lines has to do with the notion of connection. Who feels “connected” at our church?

I used to think that connection had primarily to do with relationships. But it does not. Connectedness is a separate notion. It has to do with whether or not, when I enter a church, it feels like a place for “people like me.” How people dress, how they talk, what the music is like—many details create a sense of connection or disconnection.

If I feel connected, I am likely to overlook how disconnected people of another generation may feel. So we have to have constant conversations about the experience of people in our generation at our church. We will never be able to make all people feel totally connected at all services. But at least we have to be aware of the dynamics.

Just hear this song for the first time today in the car.  I was struck with its simplicity and clear message.  So I looked the lyrics up online (see below). Even though the title is “Song of Jabez” it should not be equated with the popular book by a similar title.

By the way, John Waller is the artist who wrote While I’m Waiting from the movie Fireproof.

The only place I found it to post is as the background for this video--focus on the song.

Song of Jabez

lyrics by  John Waller and Scott Johnson
music by  John Waller

According to Your will
According to Your will
I’m praying, I’m praying.
According to Your word
According to Your word
You hear me, yes You hear me.
According to Your heart
According to Your heart
You answer, when I pray

Father bless me indeed
You’re all that I need
Expand my horizons beyond what I see
Put Your hand upon me,
and keep me from evil today
This is what I pray

According to Your plan
I’m waiting
Yes I’m waiting
According to Your hand
You lead me
You lead me
According to Your love
You seek me
When I stray

Father bless me indeed
You’re all that I need
Expand my horizons beyond what I see
Put Your hand upon me,
and keep me from evil today
This is what I pray

The only blessing that I seek
Is to know You’re using me

So Father bless me indeed
You’re all that I need
Expand my horizons beyond what I see
Put Your hand upon me,
and keep me from evil today
Father bless me indeed
You’re all that I need
Expand my horizons beyond what I see
Put Your hand upon me,
and keep me from evil today…

According to Your will
According to Your will
I’m praying.