Well, I’m back in the land of vegemite, budgie-smugglers and drop-bears, after two busy but invigorating weeks in the US. I never quite managed that second ‘Postcard from America’, reality having collided viciously with my optimism. This week’s post is the next best thing: a postcard from a weary but happy returned traveller, with some brief reflections on his sojourn in a strange land.
Really enjoyed your post Tony, and was encouraged by your experience. I've always thought that the only reason we have bands and music in church is to enable us to sing, and that if we could sing easily without them we wouldn't need them. Music done well can really help singing the truth, but more often than not, it gets in the way. It feels like we've narrowed worship down from life, to church, then to singing, and even further to music. Worship leaders, i.e. singers/band leaders, are the new high priests.
I would love our churches to be more passionate about speaking the truth to one another in love, than they are about singing, because the latter is a subset of the former.
Thanks Tony, love the update, and the jokes. Regarding singing, it has been my privilege in recent months to be at St Paul's Castle Hill, the home of City Alight. I'm guessing that you're probably well aware of them, but being part of the congregation as their songs are sung, great truths, clearly expressed in word and music, has been quite amazing, so uplifting, so edifying.
Hi Tony, I'd love you to do an article on singing praise to God, i believe that we don't do nearly as much singing praise as we should in our gatherings! How can we encourage going back to singing praise at our home groups, in our services and at other gatherings at church. Have we allowed the band and singers to become our voice rather than singing heartily ourselves, praising God. I'd love to hear what you think on this and a way forward to us singing praise even Acapella! The bible exhorts us to make a joyful noise to the Lord, and I believe God just wants our praise even if we sing out of tune a bit( maybe we'd get better at singing if we sang more often !)
Really enjoyed your post Tony, and was encouraged by your experience. I've always thought that the only reason we have bands and music in church is to enable us to sing, and that if we could sing easily without them we wouldn't need them. Music done well can really help singing the truth, but more often than not, it gets in the way. It feels like we've narrowed worship down from life, to church, then to singing, and even further to music. Worship leaders, i.e. singers/band leaders, are the new high priests.
I would love our churches to be more passionate about speaking the truth to one another in love, than they are about singing, because the latter is a subset of the former.
Also the map of Australia is awesome - loved it.
Thanks Tony, love the update, and the jokes. Regarding singing, it has been my privilege in recent months to be at St Paul's Castle Hill, the home of City Alight. I'm guessing that you're probably well aware of them, but being part of the congregation as their songs are sung, great truths, clearly expressed in word and music, has been quite amazing, so uplifting, so edifying.
Hi Tony, I'd love you to do an article on singing praise to God, i believe that we don't do nearly as much singing praise as we should in our gatherings! How can we encourage going back to singing praise at our home groups, in our services and at other gatherings at church. Have we allowed the band and singers to become our voice rather than singing heartily ourselves, praising God. I'd love to hear what you think on this and a way forward to us singing praise even Acapella! The bible exhorts us to make a joyful noise to the Lord, and I believe God just wants our praise even if we sing out of tune a bit( maybe we'd get better at singing if we sang more often !)
Cheers, and welcome back to Aus!
Jane Post