my first blog ever!

The term intimacy is probably not a term that would be thrown around much in a worship conversation, but it is essential for offering authentic worship.  Brian Doerksen states our worship as “It’s not just a system, it’s a relationship.”  As we desire to go deeper in our relationship, we find ourselves desiring more of God.  Brian relates our worship to a relational context, and goes into depth of how our relationships should always grow.  I find it hard to connect intimacy to worship because I am constantly reminded of all of my insecurities.  On the other hand, that is what intimacy is; it is exchanging personal secrets and making yourself vulnerable.

Kathryn Scott talks about integrity in worship as “not playing games with God.”  Integrity is not being separated.  It is behaving, thinking and speaking the same whether you are on stage or off.  It is loving God with all of your heart, mind and strength.  Integrity is living out the songs that we proclaim in our worship.  It is clinging to the rock, or giving God glory for the blessing He has given you.  It is choosing to believe His word over popular ideas or feelings.

Let us live, what we sing.

After viewing “Theme of Joy” by John Eldredge, I can’t agree with him on his statement about the major and minor themes.  John actually quotes Shaffer on describing the major theme of the gospel as hope, love, life, freedom and resurrection, but the minor theme would be suffering, brokenness, darkness, and the cross.  I do agree with John as he says that you cannot have one without the other.  He also states that you cannot have the major theme alone, or people will sense that your worship is hallow, but I am not comfortable stating the point in the same manner.  The cross is a major theme of the gospel!