What are we telling the coming generations about God?

Posted by Troy Friesen

Oct 29, 2009

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

Posted by Troy Friesen

Oct 14, 2009

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

Posted by Troy Friesen

Oct 1, 2009

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)