worship
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A Worship Leader’s Take on the Caleb Flynn Case
I don’t often write on current events. I’d rather write about the timeless truths found in Scripture, literature, and music than chase trending tragedies. But I cannot stop thinking and grieving over the Caleb Flynn case, not just because he was a former worship leader but because his mistress was a current one. As a… Continue reading
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Church Family, Don’t Take this for Granted
We frequently talk about the freedom we have in the U.S. to gather for corporate worship. When you stop to consider the atrocities facing Christians around the world, the extreme blessing of our freedom to worship together becomes apparent, as does the tragedy of taking such freedom for granted. But although our corporate worship does… Continue reading
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Learning to Lean: On Walkers and Worship
An old man. Muscles previously sinewed from hard labor and long hikes have atrophied. Hands once tanned and leathered from daily chores shiver in too-thin sheets of papery skin. His broad shoulders declare that he was once a champion wrestler. Now, slightly stooped, they denote him a determined worshiper. He stands. Perhaps he wobbles a… Continue reading
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What If I Don’t Like My Church’s Music?
When visiting Crossway’s headquarters over the summer, the publishing team and I were chatting about how wonderful God’s timing is. Without necessarily planning to do so, Crossway ended up releasing several resources for musical worship within the same few months including The Sing! Hymnal, Spirit-Filled Singing: Bearing Fruit as We Worship Together, and What If… Continue reading
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Stopped Pipes & Stubborn People
Pipe organs are temperamental instruments. True to their name, they seem to live—and die—like biological beasts. They fluctuate with humidity and temperature. The smallest bits of dust can set them wheezing. Occasionally they refuse to play—or to stop playing—for no clear reason, and never when convenient. Knowing that a freshly-tuned organ awaited me, I was… Continue reading
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A Prayer for Worshiping Gently
Have you ever considered musical worship as an opportunity for gentleness? And don’t you think we could all benefit from more gentleness in this age of outrage? As you sing with your church family tomorrow, I hope you will treat those around you humbly and tenderly, even as you sing joyfully and boldly. Let’s pray.… Continue reading
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A Prayer for Worshiping Faithfully
Where has the week gone? The checked boxes of my to-do lists suggest I used the week productively, but I can hardly remember what I’ve done. Every Saturday surprises me and I cannot believe Sunday is back again. I admit that I’m tired. Happy and healthy, but tired. I understand the temptation to sleep in,… Continue reading
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A Prayer for Worshiping Generously
If forced to pick a synonym for goodness as a fruit of the Spirit, I would choose “generosity.” There is certainly more to it than that, but this is a blog post not a theological treatise. (Also, “A Prayer for Worshiping Goodly” just reads…not goodly.) So, as I prepare for worship tomorrow, I am tuning… Continue reading
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A Prayer for Worshiping Kindly
It’s Saturday, which means it’s time for another worship prayer based on the fruit of the Spirit. “Kindness: Tuning to Usefulness” was one of my favorite chapters to write in Spirit-filled Singing. I hope the following prayer, based loosely on that chapter, encourages your heart and focuses your mind as you prepare for worship: Heavenly… Continue reading
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A Prayer for Worshiping Patiently
Funny enough, I thought about not posting a fruit of the Spirit prayer for worship this week. But that wouldn’t be very long-suffering of me, would it? That’s what patience boils down to: long-suffering. Bearing with one another. Enduring. Carrying on. Waiting it out. Persisting. So this weekend, let’s persist in prayer and praise, together.… Continue reading
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A Prayer for Worshiping Peacefully
I’ve been sick this week, which is never fun—especially when I know I still have to get up early and work on Sunday. But perhaps now more than when I’m well, it’s important to focus my heart and pray over tomorrow’s worship. God of all comfort, encourage us as we gather tomorrow (2 Cor. 1:3).… Continue reading
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A Prayer for Worshiping Joyfully
I cannot believe it is already Saturday afternoon. It feels like I barely finish Sunday services before I’m already back for another round. But even if time does not slow down, I hope you will join me in pausing briefly to pray over tomorrow’s worship. Our Lord, who made us to sing and who rejoices… Continue reading
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