Gungor. Vicky Beeching. Mark Driscoll. David Yonggi Cho. What do all these names have in common?

Controversy.

Of course, a blogger like myself could not go silent on these issues.

When situations like this arise, we are challenged, confused, disillusioned. We often resort to bashing, freaking out, and being disgusted (or excited) when a Christian celebrity falls.

When I think of the aforementioned names, I think of children of God who followed the call of God, were used mightily by God, and are being honest with their struggle.

Mistakes have been made, power has been abused. But that’s no excuse to write people off.

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I’m not going to beat around the bush. Let’s strike right to the heart.

The best way to counteract today’s culture of materialism, sexual immorality, and self centeredness is…worship.

There’s no better medicine for our hearts than the act of consistent gazing upon the glory of Jesus.

I know, today’s post title seems epic, dramatic even. But when you consider what is after our attention on a daily basis, I don’t believe that it is.

Life is a battleground – a war over your heart, your worship. And thousands of lovers are pining for yours. [Read more…]

Few people have been speaking into the worship of the local church more consistently and more dynamically than Bob Sorge.

Ever since I read his landmark book Exploring Worship over a decade ago, I’ve been hooked on his writings. They’ve fed my spirit in my life’s darkest seasons.

If you’re not familiar with Bob’s story, Bob had a vocal injury during a surgery over 20 years ago that has left him in constant pain ever since. He can only speak for one hour a day before the pain takes over.

What happens to a pastor who can’t speak and a worship leader who can’t sing?

It’s incredible to see where God has brought Bob and the rich truth that comes forth in his teaching. I was able to ask him a few questions.

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Over the last 10-15 years there has been a beautiful resurgence of worship songs about pain and suffering.

Songs like You Never Let Go, Whom Shall I Fear, and The Desert Song have provided weary saints with declarations of faith in the midst of their pain. This is wonderful. Our worship expression needs to touch on all the areas of human experience – joy, celebration, lament, suffering, confusion, hope, and loss.

Worship isn’t a place to forget your circumstances. It’s a place to bring them. It’s a place where they find their God-ordained context.

But until your life has been touched by fire, you don’t know what it’s like to actually worship in the midst of it.

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Modern church goers have always used the phrase “contemporary worship” as a way to appeal to a new generation.

It has always been a value.

But I’m wondering if it has lost its meaning and is costing us what true, Biblical, corporate worship should be.

Since my days of being a young child, I’ve been raised in “contemporary” worship.

New songs, upbeat music, and exuberant participation from the congregation in the forms of singing, hand-raising, dancing, and shouting is all I’ve known.

Matter of fact, bringing your tambourines, flags, and banners to church was a weekly occurrence for some (not me, of course).

It’s what we’ve prided ourselves on. It’s what I lead every week. We have contemporary worship. It’s not dead religion or ritual.

But is our contemporary worship becoming a dead ritual?

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