Hello...It's Me Again

So yes, it's been a LONG time since I've posted anything new on this blog. Those on the Living Word worship team know that I've had quite an eventful summer - the cancer diagnosis, treatment, relocating to a new house. Throughout God has proven Himself faithful, especially in my weakness. I have been humbled by the prayers and support of our extended family at Living Word.

All that being said, I'm ready to start a new chapter of life and ministry.

And, I'm committing to posting something on this blog at least once a week.

For the worship team members - you'll be hearing more at our all-team mtg. on Sept. 19, but I'm excited about the opportunity to examine the Psalms together. I'm hoping this blogsite will play a significant role in the study and application of this ancient hymnbook.

So, this is a new beginning. I'm excited about what God is doing and will be doing in the worship ministry here at Living Word.

Buckle up!

Trampling Over Death by Death

Yesterday I was getting a little exercise in by running around the church parking lot (I know, not exactly the most inspiring scenery, but hard to beat in terms of proximity) and the song "Christ is Risen" came up on my iPod. The song was recorded by Matt Maher, a singer/songwriter/worship leader; our worship team performed it a couple weeks ago for our Easter services. It's one of those songs that builds, both lyrically and musically, and by the time you get to the end of bridge you want to jump out your seats and shout "Amen!" OK, at least that's what I want to do.

The chorus starts with "Christ is risen from the dead/trampling over death by death" - a line inspired by the Paschal Troparion, the characteristic Easter hymn of the Eastern Orthodox Church. That phrase - "trampling over death by death" - is arresting and unexpected upon first listen. But the more I've thought about the it more I've come to appreciate the beautiful, surprising, scandalous truth that these words proclaim. One of the great ironies of the crucifixion is that in pronouncing Jesus' death sentence Pilate (and the religious powers-to-be) indirectly silenced the power of death forever. What Satan thought to be his crowning achievement turned out to be the very means by which his fate is forever sealed (Col. 2:15).

N.T. Wright puts it this way:

"...the cross is...not the world's victory over Jesus, but Jesus' victory over the world. Here is the mystery, the cunning, of the deep love of God: that it is bound to draw on to itself the hatred and pain and shame and anger and bitterness and rejection of the world, but to draw all those things on to itself is precisely the means, chosen from all eternity by the generous, loving God, by which to rid his world of the evils which have resulted from human abuse of God-given freedom."

The truth of what Jesus accomplished through his death and resurrection came rushing back to me as I was running laps - I'm pretty sure I picked up my pace a bit! I'm grateful that Matt Maher and Mia Fieldes (the co-writer) have given the church a song that powerfully reminds us of how our subversive Savior conquered death and opened the possibility of the "abundant life" (John 10:10) to us all.

You can listen to the song and check out the lyrics over at Worship Together.

"I Praise You for this Resurrection Madness"

Lord of such amazing surprises

as put a catch in my breath

and wings on my heart,

I praise you for this joy,

too great for words,

but not for tears and songs and sharing;

for this mercy

that blots out my betrayals

and bids me begin again

to limp on,

to hop-skip-and-jump on,

to mend what is broken

in and around me,

and to forgive the breakers;

for this YES

to life and laughter,

to love and lovers,

and to my unwinding self;

for this kingdom

unleashed in me and I in it forever,

and no dead ends to growing,

to choices,

to chances,

to calls to be just;

no dead ends to living,

to making peace,

to dreaming dreams,

to being glad of heart;

for this resurrection madness

which is wiser than I

and in which I see

how great you are,

and how full of grace.

Alleluia!

Ted Loder, Guerrillas of Grace: Prayers for the Battle, Innisfree Press, Inc. 1984

Keyboards in Worship

Hope your week is going well...and that you're able to spend some time reflecting on our Savior's passion. As a dad of two young kids I am keenly aware of how important is to continue to tell and re-tell the story of Jesus' death and resurrection to each other and to the next generation.

Now, on a completely different note (no pun intended) - here's a great article from MusicAcademy on using keyboard sounds in worship...a lot of what he shares is exactly what I would share - only he says it better.

http://www.musicademy.com/2010/03/keyboard-effects-in-worship-soft-pads-and-string-sounds/

Would appreciate your prayers for our multiple services this weekend...looking forward to seeing most of you at one point or another.

Blessings - Chris