18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Eph. 5:18-20)
Some thoughts on the need for praise in music from NT Wright:
Continue reading “The power of praise”One of the things that may confound some folks who wonder about me leaving the Pentecostal denomination I grew up in is how I go to a place that has liturgy. I mean, it “repeats” every Sunday! Where is the moving of the Spirit?
(Of course, no one actually asks me these things. Silence is the code these days.)
Continue reading “One of the beauties of liturgy”I believe in the love of God
It is an orphan’s wildest dream
It is a narrow little road
It is an ever-widening desert stream
Refrain:
Oh I, and I
I will leave this road
For the narrow
It is portrayed in the bread and wine
Let it fortify my bones
It is more than just a sign
It is the fountain from that desert stone
It is the path where the humble go
It is the narrow not the broad
It is the pathway down the hill
To the graveyard of the living God
The love of God is the hymn of hope
Let the needy join the throng
Let the widow hear and cope
Let the crippled rise to sing this song
— Mo Leverett, 1995, Justice Road Productions.
Listen to this powerful song HERE.
After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:
“Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.” (Rev. 7:9-10)
This song was sung in our worship service yesterday. It’s words soak into my spirit and lift me up!
In worship yesterday our song of procession was Luther’s great hymn: “A Mighty Fortress is our God.” What a beautiful reminder of who we are as the Church of Christ! Continue reading “The reminder of who we are as the church”
We have settled into an Anglican Church in our move south. There are several reasons for this change. It isn’t sudden for me. It’s been several years in the making. Continue reading “The beauty I find in liturgy”
