How to End a Song in Church

Okay, I know only a few of you will actually get what I'm talking about here, but have you ever noticed how worship leaders and "gospel" soloists end songs?

Example:

Singers/Congregation: "We worship you...Hallelujah, Hallelujah...We worship you for who you are...And you are good!"

Worship Leader: "Hallelujah!"

Why must we end the song by automatically saying "hallelujah"? Do they teach that in Worship Leading & Mainstream "Gospel" Music 101?

I'm asking because I've been noticing it lately - in other people AND in myself.

Singers/Congregation: "How great is our God...How great is our God...How great, how great is our God."

Me: "Hallelujah"

LOL...Okay, so part of me sees why we do this. We immediately want to give God praise (continue to give Him praise) even after the song is over and "hallelujah" is a great and powerful praise. That makes sense to me AND it's a step up from everyone just clapping on cue after the song is over. [Sidebar: I must say that it is refreshing to me that I'm in ministry w/ Tonee who tells us not to clap sometimes when a song ends, but to open our mouths to give God praise]. BUT, I'm willing to bet that even some of those "hallelujahs" that worship leaders and soloists (including me) put out there are insincere. I'm not saying that we're always insincere (I know I'm genuine about it most of the time). I'm just saying that we should be careful lest it turn into just a meaningless word that we just say cuz that's what we hear other people say.

No condemnation!!!!! Right now, it's actually kinda funny to me. But definitely something we should watch out for.

There are lots of those things, huh?

Do You Know What Worship Music Is?

Mark sent me a link the other day to the comment that is below. Basically a Crystal Lewis fan was asking if she would record a worship album and this was her response:

"I know 'worship' music has become very popular, and I enjoy singing so many of the new songs at my church during our music/worship/response time. And while I love many of those songs, and older songs too, I've always considered my records to be 'worship' records. At least they are for me."

So this got me thinking: Have we as a church categorized "worship" music to mean 1 thing? Do we only see "worship" music as the "simpler music we sing on Sundays that a lot of people can sing together"? If so, then we're SO wrong AND in dangerous territory. Crystal is right - her music, Switchfoot's music, Jaci Velasquez's music, and Jars of Clay's music is just as much worship music as the songs we sing on Sunday - old and new.

Who says that songs like "You Are Good," "I Command My Soul," "Here I Am to Worship," and "He is Exalted" get to define what "worship" music is?

To worship is to honor, to pay homage, to adore. If Crystal is using her music to express her adoration for God, then it is worship music. On the flip side, if Random Artist sings a song that really isn't out of his love for God, but more out of love of getting money, even if the song is "inspirational," that doesn't make it worship.

I don't think anyone would disagree w/ me on that. So I'll take it one step further: I think that we (Christians) have gone too far in categorizing music. Gospel, CCM, Worship, CCR (contemporary christian rock), Inspirational, Black music, White music.

Because we put labels on EVERYTHING, the labels start to define the thing. For example: Gospel music has come to mean "black music." Let me just say that Black man singing about Jesus does not equal "gospel" music. In fact, if "the gospel" means "the good news," (about Jesus) then a lot of what we've labeled "gospel music" isn't truly gospel. Can anyone say "sounding brass and clanging cymbals?"

And what the heck do "Black Music" and "White Music" mean?!!! Or if I sing "Inspirational" music (example: I believe I Can Fly), does that mean I'm straddling the fence or something?

I know. The Saints are going to have a fit if they get ahold of this. But I just think that it's time we start being careful what we say, careful what we label and careful WHO we label. It could do more damage than good.

That's all I'm sayin...What do you think? Am I crazy?

What Am I Up To?

Hey All,

A few new things going on in my life. Well, 2 big ones to be exact.

1. I'm in a relationship now!!! YAY! I won't give too many details cuz this is the internet and it's none of your business really (lol), but his name is Mark, I met him at church and we are doing just great (since July 11th or 12th, depending on which one of us you ask). That's all I'm saying on my boo status.

2. I'm working on an album. I know that I've been hinting at this for awhile, but I'm actually doing it. I've been in the studio all summer and Encounter at the Well is coming along. I will release the cd later this year with a worship concert. In the meantime, you can learn more about the status of the album as well as donate by going to the album's blogsite. There are pictures as well as a video and more info about what I'm doing and the vision for my ministry.

Doing this album has been a difficult experience for several reasons:
1. I've never done this before and I'm learning as I go.
2. I fully intend to pay for studio time, band, backup vocalists, cd duplication, mixing & mastering. That stuff is costly.
3. In order to put out a quality cd, you need to spend enough time in the studio recording and producing and fixing things and directing the background vocalists and the list goes on and on. I'm still working full time and have several other commitments (not to mention this is the craziest summer ever for me w/ 2 weddings, a new boyfriend, a church choir concert to prep for, a trip to NY, etc.)

On the other hand, it's been rewarding for several reasons:
1. Several friends from church have pitched in their time, expertise and talents. People are actually really excited about this project, which helps keep me going.
2. My music is starting to get heard and respected. I'll be singing one of my songs at the H.O.P.E.'s House concert coming up soon.
3. I'm learning my stregnths and limitations. I didn't think I could do this, but w/ a LOT of help from Jesus and friends, things are coming together.

What do I need? Prayer and money. Take your pick or choose both. I've set up a Paypal donation link on the album's blogsite if you want to give any amount.

New York, New York - The City of Dreams

(Me @ Central Park)

Here are pictures of New York. I had a lot of fun. But there are too many people and it's too expensive for my taste. Lots of interesting things to see and hear, though. I WISH I could tell all of the subway stories.

Rockefeller Center

Left: I LOVE the brick buildings in NY / Right: Me on the Big Piano @ FAO Schwartz

Me w/ my funnel cake at Coney Island. Coney Island is pretty ghetto, by the way. Not what I was expecting.

Subway Performances: We saw LOTS of those. People are just SO willing to share their gifts w/ subway riders....and get money for it, of course. I was serenaded by a flute player, bucket drummers, singers, and even an accordian player.

Statue of Liberty: Probably the coolest statue I've ever paid to see.

The Big Apple

I'm in New York on vacation right now, so this won't be long.  But I had a little time, so I thought I'd drop a quick update and say "hi."

I've been in NY since Sunday (for about 4 days) and I've seen a bunch of stuff - Statue of Liberty, Rockefeller Center (including 30 Rock), Times Square, SoHo, Chinatown, Little Italy, Harlem, Coney Island, the Financial District (including the bull - same bull statue they show in "Hitch") and walked on the Brooklyn Bridge.  I've ridden the subway and taken the bus all over the place, but I've also done A LOT of walking.  My legs are so sore it's not even funny.  I'm going to need a massage when I get back.  However, the upside to that is I can eat whatever I want because I'm walking it off everyday.  LOVELY!

I get back on Sunday night, so I'll upload pictures as soon as I can.

Next Update:  Album status, new blog site for the album and ways you can contribute.

Captivating

This post is primarily for the ladies, but men can learn from it too:

As I watched the little girl twirling in her summer dress in front of the church yesterday, I saw something in real life that I'd been reading about in "Captivating" (by Stasi Etheridge) - that all little girls want to be seen and thought of as pretty.

Ladies - I definitely recommend this book, although, I think I'm the last one to read it.

"Captivating" tells us about who God created us to be as women. So far, I've taken 3 major lessons out of the book:

1. Woman was the last thing God created and each creation He spoke into existence was (arguably) more beautiful and complex than the one before. Each part of creation had a specific purpose, but God got more detailed with each succeeding creation. Again, woman was the last thing created. That says A LOT about our complex nature.

2. Woman was created because God saw that is wasn't good for man to be alone. That should give us a BIG clue about our purpose as women. It should tell us that our purpose is to reflect God's heart for relationship. That's why women are seen as more relationship-oriented and men more task-oriented. Women are here to remind that world that God loves relationships, the ultimate relationship being our relationship with Him.

3. Satan really hates women. Why? Well, Lucifer was beautiful and full of himself (Eze 28) and because of his inability to humble himself to God, He was kicked out of heaven. He hates women because we reflect God's beauty. He also hates us because He's all about death and women give life. So, Satan has pretty much been out to get us from the beginning (notice who he approached in the garden) trying to mess w/ our heads about our identity, causing us to doubt our beauty, etc. I'm sure I'm not making this sound as eloquent as the book, but that's the gist of it.


So what does this have to do w/ worship?

I think I've said this before, but an important part of worship is understanding and recognizing who God really is (how can you love and praise something you know nothing about?). As we get closer to Him in worship, we begin to see more of who He is. As we see and acknowlege more of who He is, we begin to understand more of who WE are.

So in recognizing who God created me to be as a woman, I am learning more about Him. That will deepen my worship.

Random Thoughts

A few things to ponder or try out:

• If hope deferred makes the heart sick (Prov. 13:12), then would hope that is killed permanently damage the heart?
• I wonder how close people have come to knowing the mysteries of God and the spiritual realm. Have you ever been trying to figure out a complicated spiritual matter and came up w/ some theories, but kinda gave up because you couldn't come to a conclusion? I wonder how close we've actually come "solving the mystery" of what God was doing or why something happened at this time, etc.
• Think I mentioned this in my last post, but check out Tommy Walker's "Do it Lord" and "When I Don't Know What to Do." They are great songs.

Okay, I'm done.

As an update, I'm crazy busy right now. Things should slow down a little after this weekend, but I still have a lot on my plate this summer. I don't want to give anything away prematurely, but I think we might see my vision of bridging the gap become more public by the end of the year. Yep, yep...things are moving....