Genesis

1 - Is anyone else bothered by some of the praise and worship lyrics? Dont get me wrong I'm not some luddite who is opposed to any instrumnet you need to plug in but worship songs used to be full of Gods truth and now there are a lot of songs that focus on us. For instance there was a Tim Hughes song this past Sunday "Jesus, You Alone" the title sounds nice but the song itself is a list fo things that I am going to do for God. I know this may seem to be a small issue to some of you but if the lyrics of these songs dont mean anything whats the point?

Lyrics
Jesus, You alone shall
be my first love,
my first love.
The secret place and the highest praise
shall be Yours,
shall be Yours.

To Your throne I'll bring devotion,
my it be the sweetest sound.
Lord this heart is reaching for You now

So I'll set my sights upon You,
Set my life upon Your praise,
Never looking to another way.
You alone will be my passion,
Jesus, You will be my song.
You will find me longing after You.

Day and night I lift my eyes
to seek You,
to seek You.
Hungry for a glimpse of You
in glory,
in glory
 (Comment this)

2 - I like the songs that show us things that we can do for God or those that show us how we can praise Him. If you want more biblically based songs, they sing those more in sanctuary, the hymns. But don't get me wrong, I don't want to kick you out of Genesis! I believe that these songs can help us form a personal relationship with God, or at least help show us how. (Comment this)

3 - I read an interesting book by Chris Tomlin titled "The Way I was Made" and in it he talks about leading worship and worshiping styles and makes some interesting points but none more important I think than this - The Spirit of God is ultimately the lead worshiper. By His presence and power, He brings human hearts to God.

Sure are God-focused songs, there are man-focused songs there are some that are both...I think there are lyrics that speak to the heart of different people and it surely must be a difficult task for leadership to make sure we are first and foremost serving God with our worship but also keeping in mind that some people might be in different places with their relationship with him.

I think Brian and the team do pay attention to the lyrics and the flow of the service. When I read the lyrics you've kindly written above and think about what the sermon was about - it seems appropriate to sing....

"So I'll set my sights upon You, Set my life upon Your praise, Never looking to another way. You alone will be my passion, Jesus, You will be my song. You will find me longing after You."

 (Comment this)

4 - "Man was not made for the Sabbath, the Sabbath was made for man." The last several months I've been talking to friends and trying to figure out this particular commandment and how in the world to keep it. A whole day devoted to God when there really are only two days in the weekend not devoted to work? I got to thinking about this - I devote time to what matters to ME and why wouldn't God fit in with that plan for an entire day if IT MATTERS? And IF what we've been talking about for the last several months about LIVING A LIFE centered in God how is one whole Sabbath day different than EVERY DAY? If Saturday or Sunday are necessary in the recharging and renewing of an otherwise ordinary life - what else can I do to make that day significant and STRETCH my growth as a Christian? (Comment this)

5 - I can't even imagine what it would have been like to have been in the congregation that stopped playing music to figure out what was at their "heart of worship"?

It's such an interesting dynamic to participate with this church and I find such renewal and energy from the challenge of thinking and USING my faith. (Sadly the church in which I was raised and used to heavily participate is dying because I think they've forgotten to pray first and be "bothered" with the meaning behind their action.)

I can't say that I "feel" moved by every song we sing or that every sermon I hear resonates in my head long after leaving the sanctuary - is that a bad thing? Hmmmm maybe.

But in between the bothersome clicky clack of the little boy's toy in the seat in front of me (seriously, some toys should just be left at home) or the uncomfortable lyric that just doesn't sound like me but I sing it anyway - a little off key but with gusto....i don't wonder if sometimes the distractions are there so that the more meaningful moments are meaningful? (Comment this)

6 - Is this sermon going to become available online? (Comment this)

7 - Wow, do you really want to say that the "biblically based" songs are only in the sanctuary worship? Probably not...I see your second point about worship songs showing how to deepen your relationship with the Lord. But, that's exactly what the Bible is trying to show us. That's what the Sabbath is trying to show us. (Comment this)

8 - Unfortunately this message will not be available due to technical difficulties. I guess you could say that the machine took a Sabbath. (Comment this)

9 - Actually, I appreciate everyones points but the lyrics of the song not only seem to be non-biblical but might even be blasphemous. Every verse is just more "law" telling God what WE can do for him. Im not sure that is really praise or worship. (Comment this)

10 - One of my favorite books to read when I'm feeling blue and sort of introspective are the prayers of David in Psalms. Aren't those somewhat similar in their statements to God?

Can there not be worship in the pledge or promises we make to God? Sort of a two-way communication model - shout to the heavens that we DON'T have a clue the enormity of HIM but shout out too "yes God, I've received your word and now I want to make you my priority?"

Could it be that some people just need to say these words out loud to God? Which brings me back to the other point about Sabbath - the commands are all about relationship- the natural and God created need for us to intentionally connect with him.

One of the things I've been praying about is how to find some way to be intentional in my relationship with God and what that would gel out like in HUMAN form. Does it start with a pledge I truly believe in my heart - flesh out in saying the words out loud to him - get carried out by actions such as not watching terrible tv shows or reading romance novels (which I truly enjoy reading) and taking that time to do something truly worthy of this life God's given me? And what troubles me is - how much change is going to be necessary...the conclusion I'm getting in reading is that God should be ENOUGH - but how does that look in today's culture? (Comment this)