Great Resources - Cheap

Sovereign Grace Ministries is having their huge February blowout sale. I know this is a shameless plug but we benefit from so many of their resources I thought I'd pass on this opportunity for you to get them at hugely discounted rates. I would encourage you to visit their website and check out their books and CD's and perhaps pick up a few


Music:

• $5 – all downloaded sets from Sovereign Grace Music
• $6 – all CDs from Sovereign Grace Music

Books:

• $7 or less – on most books

My personal recommendations (but don't let that stop you from buying more):

Music -

• Psalms
• Come Weary Saints
• Songs for the Cross Centered Life
• Sons & Daughters
• Next 2009 Live

Books -

• Worship Matters
• Stop Dating the Church
• Worldiness
• The Cross-Centered Life

Not all Hymns are Created Equal

I want to suggest that it takes more than a great lyric to make a great hymn. Certainly, what a hymn or song says is of highest priority, but, unless a text is wed with a melody that is both singable and memorable, even the greatest lyrics are quickly forgotten. The reason "The Greats" survive the test of time is usually because their great texts are sung to great melodies that forever lodge themselves in our memory, making them accessible to us at any moment, in any place. This is one of the great powers of music - it's ability to cement those things associated with it (both good and bad) into our memory.

In his book, Christian Leaders of the 18th Century, J.C. Ryle offers his thoughts on the power of good hymns.

Good hymns are an immense blessing to the Church of Christ. I believe the last day alone will show the world the real amount of good they have done. They suit all, both rich and poor. There is an elevating, stirring, soothing, spiritualizing, effect about a thoroughly good hymn, which nothing else can produce. It sticks in men’s memories when texts are forgotten. It trains men for heaven, where praise is one of the principal occupations. Preaching and praying shall one day cease for ever; but praise shall never die. The makers of good ballads are said to sway national opinion. The writers of good hymns, in like manner, are those who leave the deepest marks on the face of the Church. (382)

Worship - the "Missing Jewel"

Here are excerpts from another great article from Chuck Swindoll regarding worship. The full article can be read by clicking here.

What exactly is worship? And is it all that rare? In 1961, while he was speaking to the pastors of the Associated Gospel Churches of Canada, the late A. W. Tozer said that worship “is the missing jewel in modern evangelicalism.”? I think he was a prophet ahead of his time.

Let me ask you: Do you worship where you go to church? “Yes,” you say, “I just love the Bible teaching at our church.” That’s not my question. “Oh, yes, the singing is wonderful.” That’s not my question either. I know you love the Bible. You wouldn’t support this ministry if you didn’t. And you probably love to sing. I’m not asking about those things. I’m asking, Do you worship?

My great concern is that we tend to play the game of “church.” We learn how to dress, learn how to sit, and learn how to look. We even learn the words of the songs. But what about our focus as we sing them? While we sing, “A mighty fortress is our God,” we’re thinking, Why did she wear a dress like that? “A bulwark never failing.” Did I turn the lights off on my car? We can do that and not even change our expression. That’s not worship—that’s playing the church game. When I am truly lost in wonder, love, and praise, I have to tell you, there are times I don’t even know my name.

I have been in meetings where the worship has been so, for lack of a better word, thick, so thick with His presence, that I lack the means to care for anything or anyone else, including myself. I’m completely lost in the praise of my God.

This is not related to whether you go to a charismatic or non-charismatic church. I don’t care if it is denominational or non-denominational. I don’t care if it’s urban or rural, large or small. You can have contemporary music or sing the most traditional hymns and still miss the wonder of worship. Worship is not linked to a denomination or dependent upon a certain style. It’s so much more than any of that!

What, then, is worship? Dr. Ron Allen, a classmate of mine during seminary and now a professor at Dallas Theological Seminary, digs deep when he writes,

“Worship is an active response to God whereby we declare His worth.
Worship is not passive; but is participative. Worship is not simply a mood; it is a response. Worship is not just a feeling; it is a declaration...

The English word worship is wonderfully expressive of the act that it describes. This term comes from the Anglo-Saxon weorthscipe, which then was modified to worthship, and finally to worship. Worship means ‘to attribute worth’ to something or someone.”?

He continues by explaining that we use the word too loosely when we say “he worships his car” or “she worships her children.” Unless his car has supreme worth in his life or her children are of the highest value for her, then we’re not using the term accurately.

That’s the missing jewel—worshiping God by ascribing to Him supreme worth, for He alone is worthy. Notice I did not say, “Worship Him by singing . . . worship Him by teaching.” We ascribe to Him worth in our teaching, in our singing, and in our prayers. He alone is awesome. That’s another word we’ve cheapened by attaching it to objects made by human hands. A car is not awesome. No movie is awesome. God alone is awesome. He brings out the wonder in me, which prompts me to search for ways to express His worth.

1. A. W. Tozer in The Best of A. W. Tozer, as quoted in Making New Discoveries (Anaheim, Calif.: Insight for Living, 1996), 29.
2. Ron Allen and Gordon Borror, Worship: Rediscovering the Missing Jewel, as quoted in Making New Discoveries (Anaheim, Calif.: Insight for Living, 1996), 30.

Adapted from Charles R. Swindoll, Insights (August 2003), 1-2. Copyright © 2003 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide.

November Hymn of the Month

"I Am Not Skilled to Understand" AKA "My Savior, My God"

Here's the story behind the song:

Aaron Shust found the hymn "I Am Not skilled to Understand" in the One Year Book of Hymns, a devotional he was using. He was immediately taken by the words, but was unfamiliar with the tune. The lyrics/poem had been written in 1873 by Dora Greenwell expressing her incredible passion for her Savior and her intense gratitude for what Christ did. The song also expresses the truth that we don't always understand the mysteries of theology or understand God's perfect plan, but we can always trust that God is in control.

The tune to the hymn was no longer familiar to Aaron or his church so he put a new tune to it and started using it in church services. Two years later he completed the song by adding the chorus. The song has as become extremely popular under it's new title "My Savior, My God" and has unlocked the hymn for a new generation.

[Resource: More Songs For Praise and Worship 4, published by Word Music Group]

What are we telling the coming generations about God?

Bob Kauflin articulates wonderfully the dangers of designing our worship services around our personal preferences. In our church services it's important that we find styles that multiple generations can sing together.

This 3 1/2 minute video is a portion of his message from Psalm 78 given during the WorshipGod '09 conference.

Mean What You Sing

I appreciated this email I received from a friend with the following devotion from Chuck Swindoll relating to singing with integrity. You can link to this article and others on the Insight for Living website by clicking on this posts title.

Mean What You Sing
by Charles R. Swindoll

Revelation 5:9-10

Nothing touches the human heart deeper than music. This is never more true than when a group of Christians sings heartily unto their Lord. Many a cold heart on skid row has melted as the strains of some old hymn lingered in steamy streets and sleazy alleys surrounding a gospel mission. When congregations sing the praises of the King, even the demonic hosts stand at attention. "The powers of darkness fear when this sweet chant they hear, May Jesus Christ be praised!"

Such moving melodies hold out a warm welcome to strangers, comfort to the broken, refreshment to the lonely, and affirmation to the discouraged. Great music from God's people instructs and reproves, blesses and relieves.

Charles Wesley, perhaps the most prolific hymnist of all time, realized the value of corporate singing as he wrote, "O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer's praise." There is nothing to compare to that sound. Nothing.

But have you noticed the fly in our melodic ointment? It is not a lack of beauty or harmony, nor is it insufficient volume or intensity. It is, plain and simple, the presence of words with an absence of meaning. We sing well, but we fail to heed the message hidden behind the bars.

Stop and think. There's a line in "Take My Life and Let It Be" that always makes me pause as the words stick in my throat: "Take my silver and my gold, not a mite would I withhold." Imagine! Not even "a mite"! We all sing that with such ease, yet I have known few who wouldn't withhold something. Including me.

Last Sunday after the service our congregation sang "I Give All My Witness to You" . . . and then we left. We all got into our cars, drove away, and most of us have not seen one another since. What's been happening? Has He had our witness? Have the days that passed been that much different than two weeks earlier? A month? Those thoughts haunt me.

Think of each song or hymn as a promise to God, a binding statement of your commitment. Picture the results of this commitment as you sing it with gusto. Then, after the song has ended, apply it with the same gusto.

God not only loves a cheerful giver, He honors a sincere singer.

This Sunday put yourself into the lyrics of each hymn, considering them your own personal credo. See what a difference it makes.

Excerpted from Day by Day with Charles Swindoll, Copyright © 2000 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. (Thomas Nelson Publishers). All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission.

The Arrogance of Legalism

In C.J. Mahaney's book "The Cross Centered Life - Keeping the Gospel the Main Thing" there's a whole chapter on breaking the rules of legalism. He says the implications of legalism are staggering in their arrogance.

"Legalism claims that the death of Jesus on the cross was either unnecessary or insufficient. It essentially says to God 'Your plan didn't work. The cross wasn't enough and I need to add my good works to it to be saved.' "

Thank God for His saving work found solely & wholly in the cross! If my salvation were even partially dependent on what I could contribute there is no way I could accomplish it!!

Paul tells us the same thing in Galations 5:2-4:

Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. (ESV) (emphasis mine)