Time to go and say goodbye to my Grandpa. He may be here days, weeks, or months, but he wants to say goodbye.
"Lord give me the strength and sensativity to say goodbye and I love you to a man who has been a grandfather, father, and teacher to me for 31 years. Lord You give and take away, but my heart will choose to bless Your name at all times. For You are soverign, and You are always good."
Friday, May 23, 2008
Thursday, May 15, 2008
More Thoughts on Style of Worship
It had been a while since I rocked the Unashamed cd, so I put it in the old cd player at near damaging volume on the way to work. Remember cd's? Those shiny round things that we had o so long ago before Apple ruled the world. Is it too early to have this conversation? Maybe I'm just thinking in Geological time.
So my revelation happened in song one of the cd. This song as originally written and recorded has an almost dark color. The feeling that is presented is the artist's calling to her passionate beautiful Savior for mercy. The desire to cling to the cross and plead Christ's blood as a covering for our iniquities. When I hear Gretchen's recording of the same song it becomes an anthem of praise to our passionate beautiful Savior. Praise to our Savior for His work on the cross that has made us clean. In the original sound there is a desire to approach the Lord of hosts pure and blameless; the latter recording is a praise sent forth in the presence of the Redeemer.
So my thought would be; where does this character in a song come from? If the words are the same, is it only inflections and rhythm that create these differing colors? Often times I will sing the same song at different points in my life and it will mean something totally new to me. For this reason, it is good to read and re-read the same scriptures over and over. When we are called to meditate on the word, it is not so much a repeated chant that sends us into a transestential state, but to read Psalm 39 when life is great. Then when life is not so great, get back to Psalm 39. Same words, different application to your life.
So Gretchen is great at turning most songs into anthems of praise to our Lord. Is it just because she has a powerful voice? I would dare to say that her declaration of thanksgiving for grace mercy and justice comes from the realization and joy that Christ has already paid the price. We have already been redeemed by the blood. There is no reason for condemnation, it is time to stand up and walk in His grace. Be holy, as He is holy!
So my revelation happened in song one of the cd. This song as originally written and recorded has an almost dark color. The feeling that is presented is the artist's calling to her passionate beautiful Savior for mercy. The desire to cling to the cross and plead Christ's blood as a covering for our iniquities. When I hear Gretchen's recording of the same song it becomes an anthem of praise to our passionate beautiful Savior. Praise to our Savior for His work on the cross that has made us clean. In the original sound there is a desire to approach the Lord of hosts pure and blameless; the latter recording is a praise sent forth in the presence of the Redeemer.
So my thought would be; where does this character in a song come from? If the words are the same, is it only inflections and rhythm that create these differing colors? Often times I will sing the same song at different points in my life and it will mean something totally new to me. For this reason, it is good to read and re-read the same scriptures over and over. When we are called to meditate on the word, it is not so much a repeated chant that sends us into a transestential state, but to read Psalm 39 when life is great. Then when life is not so great, get back to Psalm 39. Same words, different application to your life.
So Gretchen is great at turning most songs into anthems of praise to our Lord. Is it just because she has a powerful voice? I would dare to say that her declaration of thanksgiving for grace mercy and justice comes from the realization and joy that Christ has already paid the price. We have already been redeemed by the blood. There is no reason for condemnation, it is time to stand up and walk in His grace. Be holy, as He is holy!
Monday, May 5, 2008
Sunday Am 4/29/08, Flesh and Bone
I'm a week behind with news on how it was leading worship last weekend with Andrew and Amanda, but in my defense I believe that this week was only 5 1/2 days long. I came to work on Monday morning, 100 phone calls, 600 miles and a bazillion emails later it was friday afternoon, and I hadn't even finished my timecard.
Leading with my brother and sister again was awesome. I was almost an hour late for the practice on thursday, but nobody killed me. What a great team; Amanda, Andrew, Guy, Lou, and Leigh-Ann (the hardest working chica in the worship business). A moment for Leigh-Ann's ability to rock a tamborine in the right hand, shaker in the left hand, ready the rain stick with her right foot, sing harmony, and do it all into one mic and balance it perfectly. Guy and Lou are the most dynamic bass/rhythm section I have played with. Those guys work off each other amazingly. During the practice we joked about the fact that if you get three Gonzales' to lead a service, you'll get 45 minutes of worship and three songs. Turns out, sunday am was 45 minutes of worship and three songs.
Sunday Set:
Flesh and Bone; S.McMillan, Amanda
Announcements
And Can it Be; C.Wesley, Andrew
Sing My Love; S.McMillan, Leigh-Ann
You Gave Your Life Away; P.Baloche, Andrew
I Love Your Presence; D.Clark, Dave (deleted)
Sermon
Not To Us; C.Tomlin, Dave
Andrew can only be described as the gentelman worship leader. His style is so smooth. Of course he's been doing it the longest, but Andrew is a throw back to a different style of piano led, free flowing worship. Songs do not begin and end with awkward page turning and instrument tuning between songs. The worship offering begins then rolls seamlessly into the word. The direction that worship style has moved in the last decade is to guitar led electric sound with more instrument solos and driving beats. The ebb and flow of a piano led style of worship is unique and intimate.
Leading the charge for the plugged in, Bobby D at Monterey, electric sound is Amanda. I have said many times that when I grow up, I want to be my sister. I would describe her sound as very bare. She takes every song that she leads and presents it as her offering, open and bare, not hiding behind her talent or merit. She takes the song, cuts it in half, aligns the halfs in two rows and waits for the fire! Amanda expects the refining fire. She anticipates it, yearns for it, and runs to it. Her sound is raw and unsettled, but her passion is purity in her offering.
All in all, I was blessed by the opportunity to stand next to my family and friends and worship the Lord together. I am blessed to be surrounded by talented people who have a passion for worship.
Leading with my brother and sister again was awesome. I was almost an hour late for the practice on thursday, but nobody killed me. What a great team; Amanda, Andrew, Guy, Lou, and Leigh-Ann (the hardest working chica in the worship business). A moment for Leigh-Ann's ability to rock a tamborine in the right hand, shaker in the left hand, ready the rain stick with her right foot, sing harmony, and do it all into one mic and balance it perfectly. Guy and Lou are the most dynamic bass/rhythm section I have played with. Those guys work off each other amazingly. During the practice we joked about the fact that if you get three Gonzales' to lead a service, you'll get 45 minutes of worship and three songs. Turns out, sunday am was 45 minutes of worship and three songs.
Sunday Set:
Flesh and Bone; S.McMillan, Amanda
Announcements
And Can it Be; C.Wesley, Andrew
Sing My Love; S.McMillan, Leigh-Ann
You Gave Your Life Away; P.Baloche, Andrew
I Love Your Presence; D.Clark, Dave (deleted)
Sermon
Not To Us; C.Tomlin, Dave
Andrew can only be described as the gentelman worship leader. His style is so smooth. Of course he's been doing it the longest, but Andrew is a throw back to a different style of piano led, free flowing worship. Songs do not begin and end with awkward page turning and instrument tuning between songs. The worship offering begins then rolls seamlessly into the word. The direction that worship style has moved in the last decade is to guitar led electric sound with more instrument solos and driving beats. The ebb and flow of a piano led style of worship is unique and intimate.
Leading the charge for the plugged in, Bobby D at Monterey, electric sound is Amanda. I have said many times that when I grow up, I want to be my sister. I would describe her sound as very bare. She takes every song that she leads and presents it as her offering, open and bare, not hiding behind her talent or merit. She takes the song, cuts it in half, aligns the halfs in two rows and waits for the fire! Amanda expects the refining fire. She anticipates it, yearns for it, and runs to it. Her sound is raw and unsettled, but her passion is purity in her offering.
All in all, I was blessed by the opportunity to stand next to my family and friends and worship the Lord together. I am blessed to be surrounded by talented people who have a passion for worship.
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