Self-help worship...doesn't.

I have a bad habit of being overly critical of worship music. Or maybe I should say had? I'm not sure, but I know The Lord has done a lot about that attitude over the years, and I no longer require things to be in my preferred key or style for me to worship the King of Kings. You may disagree after reading.

Now that I've said that, I'm about to be critical of worship music.

But maybe what I'm about to criticize isn't actually worship? At least maybe not worship of the Creator. Here goes.

It looks like Webster has a nice concise definition of the word for us to go on, so let's start there.

noun: worship

the feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity.

I've been noticing a tend in a lot (please note: not all) of recent worship music that while it still tends to express reverence and adoration for a deity, a lot of it tends to revere and adore a different deity: us.

I don't want to name names or pick on too many songs in particular here, but I just picked a very popular recent song and from beginning to end it had 43 self references. That's just the I's, Me's and My's. When you include instructional lyrics concerning the decibels of our worship, that adds another 31. So that's 74 references to ourselves and how we should be singing.

How many references to the deity we are supposed to be revering and adoring? 24. That's actually probably on the high end compared to some others that come to mind.

So there's that. There are also seemingly tens of thousands (OK, maybe not that many, but it sure feels like it!) of songs right now about giants being killed. Worship leaders seriously have it in for the giants right now. Sorry giants! Reminder: it's not about us.

Still we go on an on about breakthroughs, as though Jesus promises not only that he is with us, even to the end of the age (Matt 28:20), but also guarantees our preferred outcome to every struggle we may come across. Question: was it a breakthrough when most of the Jesus' disciples were martyred? Jesus himself promised that we will have trouble in this world (John 16:33), but he will be with us through it all, even if that trouble results in our end.

Here's the thing: when that trouble comes, I don't want to focus on myself. I don't do well with trouble. I want to focus on the one who is sovereign over everything that ever was, is and will be. Rom 8:28

There's an old Watashi Wa song with the lyric I have learned that depression comes when our eyes are on ourselves. I have both seen and experienced this more times than I'd care to admit. When things are low and life is hitting me with everything it can, the last thing I need is more of me.

Speaking as someone who is currently very much depressed, there is a great irony to this trend in worship songs.  They tend to have the opposite intended effect despite all the self-help lyrics.

When I finding myself singing about me, my breakthroughs, my giants and all the rest, I don't come away hopeful. I don't really come away any more empty than I was in the first place. But when I sing about Jesus and his goodness, his mercy, and the fact that he made himself man and died not just for me but for everyone and more importantly for his infinite glory and that he is coming back to make everything perfect in his eternal plan, then I come away full! Filled to the brim with comfort and joy in my smallness. That is the kind of worship my soul needs, and more importantly, it's the kind of reverence and adoration the King of all Kings deserves.

Psalm 148 English Standard Version (ESV)

Praise the Name of the Lord

148 Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
    praise him in the heights!
² Praise him, all his angels;
    praise him, all his hosts!

³ Praise him, sun and moon,
    praise him, all you shining stars!
⁴ Praise him, you highest heavens,
    and you waters above the heavens!

⁵ Let them praise the name of the Lord!
    For he commanded and they were created.
⁶ And he established them forever and ever;
    he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.^[a]

⁷ Praise the Lord from the earth,
    you great sea creatures and all deeps,
⁸ fire and hail, snow and mist,
    stormy wind fulfilling his word!

⁹ Mountains and all hills,
    fruit trees and all cedars!
¹⁰ Beasts and all livestock,
    creeping things and flying birds!

¹¹ Kings of the earth and all peoples,
    princes and all rulers of the earth!
¹² Young men and maidens together,
    old men and children!

¹³ Let them praise the name of the Lord,
    for his name alone is exalted;
    his majesty is above earth and heaven.
¹⁴ He has raised up a horn for his people,
    praise for all his saints,
    for the people of Israel who are near to him.
Praise the Lord!

Hi.

Hello! I've decided to maybe write some things some times. And for some reason, I've decided to do it on my old blog where I'm sure all sorts of embarrassing things I've thrust upon the world some 13+ year ago live. New non-13+ year old content coming soon!

As the Story Goes.

All my devotion is an insult to God Unless every bit of my practical life squares with Jesus Christ's demands. - Oswald Chambers

make your mark

I'll Have What He's Having.

Friends, I have news. Tomorrow night I will be playing rock & roll with my band at The Light Club. It's at 7:00 pm central standard, and probably costs like $5. We're opening, so we'll be right away at 7:00. I would love to see you come and dance.

they'll love us for our instruments

Silly?

Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear.
Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair.
Fuzzy Wuzzy wasn't fuzzy, was he?

it's something you choose

With his Mononucleosis.

So I've been diagnosed with The Mono. Doc says I don't have more than a few weeks to live. So I figured I'd better start doing stuff that matters, that really makes a difference, ya know? With that in mind, I set out to beat Ninja Gaiden for Xbox... on Normal. And succeeded! Might as well put me in the dirt now. But in all seriousness, seriously. The only prescription for Mono is to drink lots of stuff, and sleep and don't stop. You might think to yourself, "that sounds pretty easy, I want Mono!" I thought the same thing, but it's a little harder to put into practice you see. The drinking part, no problem. Sleeping is a little more difficult when you wake up every half hour due to the horrendous pain in your throat. Hence the blog at 7:30 in the morning. I've actually been up since 5:00, but that's neither here nor there. I've run out of things to say.

better together

Secret Shopping.

Today, I have questions.

Remember back in the day, when commercials for different pain/suffering relievers came on the TV? Pain was always shown in the form of lightning bolts, the color red, or even red lightning bolts. This is no longer so, my friend. Now all we have to indicate pain and discomfort is poorly rendered CGI monsters. I'm not scared of stupid looking monsters, so seeing a monster jump in someone's nose will not make me buy anything. The prospect of lightning hitting my head however, is terrifying, and I will buy any product that insures that will not happen, or make it better in the event that it does happen.

Also, why is The Juliana Theory selling purses?

all you need is love

Don't you believe it

Remeber, today is the day of deception. Be careful.

we both lose to win

With His Monosynth

Here's a gear update:
I'm planning on possibly getting one of these. I'd split it with my friend Aaron and we'd use it to make songs.

I'm also looking at getting a synth of some kind, but have no idea what to get. I thought to myself "maybe I should do some research on various synths". So I did... then my head exploded.

i think i'm falling asleep

Tidal Waves

Look! It's me, posting again. What's new since the last time? I've purchased many, many CDs, and only one sucked (Yellowcard). I picked up everything from old U2, to Eager Seas, to live Cure, and even Keith Urban, which was meant to be a surprise... but didn't work out. If you don't know, I also got a car. I used said car to see Anberlin in Fargo-Moorhead, among other things. I've bought more jackets and shoes as well. I went rollerblading for the first time this year last Thursday, and there will be much more to come. I'm also in a band called Electric City (I know, it was supposed to be the cd, but what can ya do). Oh, and I watch absurd amounts of Smallville. All in all, it's been quite the new year. Most things have been good, some have been... not so good... but in the pure sense of ratios, I suppose the good should outweigh the bad, theoretically. But now I'm rambling and you're bored, I'm sorry. We'll talk soon. Night.

fate fell short this time

i was thinking earlier how it would be funny if i posted on april fool's day that i was engaged. turns out, it wouldn't be that funny.

Not much to say.

Don't worry, I'll update soon enough.

i'll fight their archers with tanks

Happy New Year.

And so shall it be.

the unthinkable happened

Prepare the way.

Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am - so much greater that I am not even worthy to be his slave. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. He is ready to seperate the chaff from the gain with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, storing the grain in his barn, but burning the chaff with never ending fire.

I think you know who I'm talking about... Yup, it's Tanner.

I hope Jesus still lets me into Heaven.

the first time that you opened your eyes

Tan's word is law.


Shooter Jennings
Put The O Back In Country

The title track describes Shooter's brand of country as "a little country and a little rock and roll/a little neil young and a little george jones/a little merle haggard and a little bit of the stones/a little bit of cash and a whole lotta waylon." I think that's a pretty fitting description actually, but if you want to just call it Outlaw Country, that's probably easier. The main point of this cd is to not be radio country, at least by today's standard. The irony here is that the title track sounds the most like radio country out of anything here. Aside from a case of title-trackitus, I really enjoy this album. They do a great job of making a solid country cd with some nice rock guitar here and there. Every track is definately solid enough to stand on it's own, but my favorites are 4th of July (the single, I think), Sweet Savannah, Manifesto No. 1, and the hidden track My Song for You (which is basically why I bought this cd in the first place). If you're thinking about buying this (Tan), I really can't think of any reason not to, especially since it's only $9 at Target.

Alright, there ya go. Now that I've completely changed your life with the best review ever written, The OC is calling me. Later gators.

god knows it's hard to let someone new in

Careful planning was needed.

Ok, I don't have much to say here. I bought a country cd today that's not Johnny Cash. I picked up Shooter Jennings "Put the O Back in Country". I really enjoy it so far. It's not like most radio country you here, more like old-school "outlaw" country. I'll listen some more and maybe give a full review, which basically means you'll never hear about it from me again. I just shaved, something I haven't done in a week or so. Suffice it to say "I hurt myself today." Peace be with you.

happy birthday, goodbye

In Like A Lion

The following is copied from my Xanga, mainly 'cause I don't want to have to look at my ugly mug anymore.

So Rock 30 moved, and now we're up in food city. You should come check it out, we're next to the north Subway. I might even dare saying... it's spacious.

I'm listening to the new Relient K EP, and so far it's pretty good. I don't know that I can recommend $10 for 7 songs though. It does make me wish they'd put out a solely acoustic cd, because all their acoustic versions of songs are golden. I'll finish listening to it, and let you know my final verdict...

Ok I'm done! I was hoping it would be almost all slow pretty songs, and it very much is, so I'm happy with it. Still, $10 for 7 songs it pretty pricey. I'll leave it up to you.

you'll never know what it could have been

One for the ladies.


I went with a new style.

I'm thinking this should really turn things around for me. What do you think?

don't abandon the ship

WASD

I've just made a startling discovery. You know how when you type your fingers are supposed to be on the A, S, D, F, J, K, L, and : keys? Well, here's how my left hand rests on the keys: SHIFT, A, W, D and SPACE. Yeah, I don't ever play computer games, don't worry about it.

all hands on deck

Audio/Visual

I just got done watching the last Bleach concert ever on a digital video digital. It was flippin' sweet, but also very sad. I wish Bleach was still a band, so I could keep looking forward to their new cds, and go to their shows. You know what would be really sweet? If you could get rid of a band that exists now, and bring back a band that doesn't exist anymore! I think I would get rid of Green Day (because I hate amatuer politics), and bring back Bleach. Let's all play! Who would you get rid of and bring back?

what will your anthem be?

I want you to be here here here here here here.

So what have I been up to lately? Yes, I know you didn't ask, but I want to get this freakin' picture off my screen. Anyway, I played the (large mouth) bass for The Fire at the (Honda) Civic Center last wednesday, and it was pretty rad. I'm pretty sure we were better than Motley Crue also. I just found out that my credit limit got raised, so now I can spend even more money that's not mine! But the biggest news of all is that I just received Elkland's cd Golden! Do you like perfectly crafted pop songs? If the answer is yes, or something else that means yes, please go to their myspace and listen to them. After that tell me what you think! Oh, and I got Knife of Dreams (#11) also. I bet you both care, and know what that is (unless you're Air John).

there is one pulse