On any given week, if you attend Constance Free Church you'll hear an original song. God has blessed me with the opportunity to serve in a church where we don't just SAY we value creativity, we actually DO. We celebrate and encourage the use of creative gifts and our church often connects well with a piece of music that our team created.
That being said, there's actually one song I can't bring myself to keep in our repertoire right now.
I'm an expressive person, particularly verbally. I love to talk. I enjoy writing. I don't really have a shortage of opinions. I love "wordsmithing" and making sure that what I say and pen communicates well. So when I wrote the song Find The Words, it was a fairly personal expression. It was my way of saying, "God, you have given me a love for words and the irony is that there aren't words available to me which could adequately express my love for You, so I need You to look deep inside me to know how I'm really feeling - what I'm truly trying to say."
The problem? Most of the people who make up the church community I'm privileged to lead aren't exactly like me. I'd probably even describe them as "reserved." So the truth of the song means something entirely different for them. Instead of being a passionate expression of something they feel deeply, I've actually sensed that it was becoming an excuse - I'll just assume that God knows what I'm trying to say and this exempts me from any form of outward expression.
My goal as a worship leader has always been and will continue to be finding ways for the people whom I lead to connect most meaningfully with God. In addition, I think there are Biblical mandates for us to engage worship physically and emotionally, with body and mind. Our I-don't-want-anything-to-ever-pull-me-out-of-my-comfort-zone western culture, however, has made it acceptable to pick and choose our preferred modes of worship and I often confront significant resistance when challenging worshipers (and not just in my own local church community) to find the freedom in our worship that scripture describes. To my startling surprise, I discovered that my own song was actually encouraging the very thing that I have been working diligently to change.
So, for now, the only place you'll hear Find The Words is on the watchword:truth album. I long for the day when it'll get reintroduced to our church. But it'll have to wait until it's a meaningful expression to the people I'm leading and not just me.
Find The Words
by Dan Leverence
(c) 2010 It's A Stretch Music, All Rights Reserved
I wish that I could find new words to say expressions of my gratitude and thanks
For the life-giving, soul-loving, ever-present help that You have been
I wish that I could find new words to be a declaration of Your love for me
For the unending, storm-calming, mountain-moving strength that You have been
When I can't find the words
The real song I sing is composed deep within this heart of mine
Where only You find the words
I wish that I could find new words that may explain the things I feel in some new way
You protect me and shield me and show me every day what You have been
Words of praise on my lips - just a simple melody
But a symphony within is singing of Your majesty
Singing words that only You can hear
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Monday, January 9, 2012
WILTS: Murdered Son (by John Mark McMillan)
I'm introducing a new feature to middle:brained - WILTS (Why I Like This Song). There are an incalculable number of songs that I enjoy, but there are definitely some that I like more than others. Murdered Son by John Mark McMillan is one of those songs and we introduced it to our church this weekend as elements for communion were being distributed.
You set us up above all the stars
You set us on a high place by where You are
And while we were dead, You made us Your friends
And scattered our debt upon the winds
Glory to One
God's murdered Son
Who payed for my resurrection
Once from the dust, once from the grave
Daughters and sons from the ashes You've raised
And hidden our faults even from Your own face
And scattered our debt upon the waves
Glory to the One who overcame in death
Glory to the One who paid for my offenses
Glory to the One
Glory to the One
There's so much I like about this song, I scarcely know where to begin. I should say first that I really appreciate John McMillan's prophetic writing style. He reminds me of Keith Green or Rich Mullins - not stylistically. Rather, he has a depth to his music (lyrics, most notably) that transcends conventionality and provides modern, new music that has the power to make you think. In a world of fluffy kleenex music (stuff that can be used, then discarded - some of my own songs included), John Mark is writing theologically rich lyrics that deserve to withstand the tests of time.
There are several phrases that I appreciate in this song. The first is the title - "murdered son." When I first heard it, it made me uncomfortable but I was able to get past that fairly quickly. There are plenty of scriptural truths that have the potential to (and should) make us uncomfortable when we ponder them. Then I began to think about what this means - MURDERED son. He was wasn't He? But didn't Christ also go to the cross willingly? Can it then be considered murder? I like the paradox. I like that it's not clean and tidy and I don't have a problem singing some lyrics that actually make us think.
My senior pastor, Randy, and I also appreciate the lyrics "once from the dust, once from the grave, daughters and sons from the ashes You've raised." If you're a literal thinker, "once from the dust" could mean the literal creation of son and daughter (Adam and Eve) and the fact that we are all descendants therein. But Randy and I surmise that "once from the dust" refers to our point of salvation here on earth and "once from the grave" means the resurrection of our bodies which Scripture talks about in the New Testament.
No matter how you dice it, this song is full of rich, solid theology and I'll tip my songwriting hat to John Mark McMillan willingly. On top of the lyrics, the song also has a catchy, singable, haunting melody that I find myself humming with regularity. He's written many other songs that are equally as compelling (someday I'll write a WILTS post about Death In His Grave) and I'm glad that he's a part of the worship leading and artistic community.
You set us up above all the stars
You set us on a high place by where You are
And while we were dead, You made us Your friends
And scattered our debt upon the winds
Glory to One
God's murdered Son
Who payed for my resurrection
Once from the dust, once from the grave
Daughters and sons from the ashes You've raised
And hidden our faults even from Your own face
And scattered our debt upon the waves
Glory to the One who overcame in death
Glory to the One who paid for my offenses
Glory to the One
Glory to the One
There's so much I like about this song, I scarcely know where to begin. I should say first that I really appreciate John McMillan's prophetic writing style. He reminds me of Keith Green or Rich Mullins - not stylistically. Rather, he has a depth to his music (lyrics, most notably) that transcends conventionality and provides modern, new music that has the power to make you think. In a world of fluffy kleenex music (stuff that can be used, then discarded - some of my own songs included), John Mark is writing theologically rich lyrics that deserve to withstand the tests of time.
There are several phrases that I appreciate in this song. The first is the title - "murdered son." When I first heard it, it made me uncomfortable but I was able to get past that fairly quickly. There are plenty of scriptural truths that have the potential to (and should) make us uncomfortable when we ponder them. Then I began to think about what this means - MURDERED son. He was wasn't He? But didn't Christ also go to the cross willingly? Can it then be considered murder? I like the paradox. I like that it's not clean and tidy and I don't have a problem singing some lyrics that actually make us think.
My senior pastor, Randy, and I also appreciate the lyrics "once from the dust, once from the grave, daughters and sons from the ashes You've raised." If you're a literal thinker, "once from the dust" could mean the literal creation of son and daughter (Adam and Eve) and the fact that we are all descendants therein. But Randy and I surmise that "once from the dust" refers to our point of salvation here on earth and "once from the grave" means the resurrection of our bodies which Scripture talks about in the New Testament.
No matter how you dice it, this song is full of rich, solid theology and I'll tip my songwriting hat to John Mark McMillan willingly. On top of the lyrics, the song also has a catchy, singable, haunting melody that I find myself humming with regularity. He's written many other songs that are equally as compelling (someday I'll write a WILTS post about Death In His Grave) and I'm glad that he's a part of the worship leading and artistic community.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Music Set | January 7/8
Here's the music set from January 7/8 at Constance Free Church //
All songs can be downloaded from the iTunes Music Store
You can also watch full-length worship services online (new services are added each Wednesday)!
All songs can be downloaded from the iTunes Music Store
You can also watch full-length worship services online (new services are added each Wednesday)!
Prelude
Depth of Your Mercy | watchword:truth | All Together album
Worship Set 1
Happy Day | Tim Hughes | Holding Nothing Back album
Holy Holy Holy (Savior King) | Gateway Worship | Great Great God album
Featured Song
Fade With Our Voices | Jason Gray | Everything Sad Is Coming Untrue album
Worship Set 2 (Communion)
Murdered Son | John Mark McMillan | Economy album
More Than Amazing | Lincoln Brewster | Real Life album
Your Grace Is Enough | Matt Maher | Empty and Beautiful album
There was a very special spirit in our worship gatherings this weekend. As we continue to study James 2, Pastor Randy challenged us to resolve to "love more" and taught a powerful message about how we (almost instinctively) judge others. This ugly part of our human reality manifests itself far too often in our lives and I know that I, personally, was challenged by the Holy Spirit speaking through Randy today.
As we worshiped together, something special was happening in our midst. One of my favorite moments was hearing the church singing Holy Holy Holy together and the new chorus that the Gateway church team crafted beautifully. I also enjoyed introducing Murdered Son and am planning to share some separate thoughts about this song in a different blog post sometime soon.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Music Set | December 31/January 1
Here's the music set from December 31/January 1 at Constance Free Church //
All songs can be downloaded from the iTunes Music Store
You can also watch full-length worship services online (new services are added each Wednesday)!
All songs can be downloaded from the iTunes Music Store
You can also watch full-length worship services online (new services are added each Wednesday)!
Prelude
Today Is The Day | Lincoln Brewster | Today Is The Day album
Worship Set 1
Everlasting God | Lincoln Brewster | Let The Praises Ring album
With One Voice | watchword:truth | All Together album
Mighty To Save | Hillsong | Mighty To Save album
Featured Song
Show Me How To Love | Sidewalk Prophets | These Simple Truths album
Worship Set 2
Revelation Song | Gateway Worship | Living For You album
I'm Singing | Kari Jobe | Self-Titled album
I took a little time off between the Christmas and New Year's holidays, so Jennifer Malinak led worship in my absence as we began a new series called "Radical Resolutions," based on James 2 and part of our ongoing study of the book of James.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Music Set | December 24/25
Here's the music set from December 24/25 at Constance Free Church //
All songs can be downloaded from the iTunes Music Store
You can also watch full-length worship services online (new services are added each Wednesday)!
All songs can be downloaded from the iTunes Music Store
You can also watch full-length worship services online (new services are added each Wednesday)!
Prelude
Shining Down, Shining Bright | watchword:truth | The Manger Of Our Maker album
Worship Set 1
Joy To The World (Unspeakable Joy) | Chris Tomlin | Glory In The Highest album
The Manger Of Our Maker | watchword:truth | The Manger Of Our Maker album
Away In A Manger | Traditional | n/a
Featured Song
My Heart Your Home | Watermark | All Things New album
Worship Set 2
Angels We Have Heard On High | Chris Tomlin | Glory In The Highest album
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing | Traditional | n/a
Forever Reign (Christmas version) | One Sonic Society (alt lyrics by Dan Leverence) | One EP
O Holy Night | Traditional | n/a
Talk about an exciting culmination to our month-long celebration! Christmas weekend was nothing short of amazing. We had four identical services that were really really great. Pastor Randy delivered some powerful devotional thoughts about transferring the title of our heart's home to God and we followed up with a powerful song of commitment (My Heart Your Home) that Julia Redding sang. Our entire worship experience was beautiful and I left with a sense of God's nearness ...
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Music Set | December 17/18
Here's the music set from December 17/18 at Constance Free Church //
All songs can be downloaded from the iTunes Music Store
You can also watch full-length worship services online (new services are added each Wednesday)!
Prelude
Resounding Joy | watchword:truth | The Manger Of Our Maker album
Worship Set 1
Mighty To Save (Christmas version) | Hillsong (alt lyrics by Dan Leverence) | Mighty To Save EP
Glory To God Forever (Christmas version) | Fee (alt lyrics by Dan Leverence) | Hope Rising album
The Manger Of Our Maker | watchword:truth | The Manger Of Our Maker album
Worship Set 2
Adoration (Christmas version) | Brenton Brown (alt lyrics by Dan Leverence/Joel Bowers) | Adoration album
O Come All Ye Faithful | Third Day | Christmas Offerings album
So God had plans that were evidently different than mine for this weekend. After attending our Saturday afternoon venue (Unplugged), I went home feeling "strange." That strange feeling escalated into all out flu and I spent most of the overnight hours prostrate on my bathroom floor so I didn't have to stray too far away from the porcelain receptacle that kindly accepted my "gifts."
Around 5:00 am, I managed to get myself upright, in some clothes, and drove myself to church. But after throwing up again in the restroom at church, I decided an alternate plan was in order. Thank heavens for my amazing team! Scott was able to step in and did a great job leading worship with nearly no prep time. It's taken me a few days to get over the flu, but thankfully I'm feeling better in time for the big weekend ahead!
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