Thanks for sharing, Seth. I'm a worship leader in Detroit, MI (friend of your bro Brandon), and I definitely feel the "pressure" he describes in planning worship services.
I just wrote a song called "Hope Is Rising" (aronericakirk.blogspot.com/2009/11/hope-is-rising.html)and played it this past week at church and so many people connected with it-- I think because the song admits our brokenness, our faults, and our "dark nights," but because of Jesus 'hope is rising' amidst it all. It's like Mclaren said, true art (and worship) admits the ugliness and brokeness, but points toward the beauty of Jesus in it all.
so much truth here. I do believe that there are some experiences of worship that leave us empty because the artist is creating out of an attempt to "market God like an infomercial" rather than "reach for the truth."
I also believe that the condition of our hearts toward God determines the depth and honesty of the worship experience; a condition of being grateful for God's goodness, mercy and grace, rather than selfishly demanding what we can get out of Him or expect of our worship leaders.
"When we recognize that life is a gift and we are overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude, when we fill every moment with praise for God's goodness and thanks for His generosity, we find wholeness, and our hearts increase in their capacity to experience and give love." Erwin McManus, Uprising
3 comments:
Thanks for sharing, Seth. I'm a worship leader in Detroit, MI (friend of your bro Brandon), and I definitely feel the "pressure" he describes in planning worship services.
I just wrote a song called "Hope Is Rising" (aronericakirk.blogspot.com/2009/11/hope-is-rising.html)and played it this past week at church and so many people connected with it-- I think because the song admits our brokenness, our faults, and our "dark nights," but because of Jesus 'hope is rising' amidst it all. It's like Mclaren said, true art (and worship) admits the ugliness and brokeness, but points toward the beauty of Jesus in it all.
Thanks again and God bless.
"And when you're honest about the ugliness of life, that's a beautiful thing." Amen... I liked that. Who is Brian Mclaren?
so much truth here.
I do believe that there are some experiences of worship that leave us empty because the artist is creating out of an attempt to "market God like an infomercial" rather than "reach for the truth."
I also believe that the condition of our hearts toward God determines the depth and honesty of the worship experience; a condition of being grateful for God's goodness, mercy and grace, rather than selfishly demanding what we can get out of Him or expect of our worship leaders.
"When we recognize that life is a gift and we are overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude, when we fill every moment with praise for God's goodness and thanks for His generosity, we find wholeness, and our hearts increase in their capacity to experience and give love." Erwin McManus, Uprising
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