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Posts for ‘General’

» Neglected Song Themes - The Persecuted Church

When taking Hymnology class in seminary, Dr. Crookshank challenged us to write hymns on themes that are neglected in most hymnals. Since the role of suffering has always been on my heart, I decided to begin composing hymns on the subject. This was the impetus behind Songs for Suffering Saints.
Beginning this evening, I plan to post a hymn a day on a neglected topic that, while neglected by hymnody (at least, in my humble opinion), has biblical president for being to topic of the church's song. Tonight's hymn is on the persecuted church. To follow will be hymns on suffering (in general), lament over the condition of God's church, and hell.
Over at An Infant in a Cradle, I've been blogging on the arrest of Abdul Rahman (see here and here) and events such as North Korean Freedom Week. With the persecuted church weighing heavy on my mind, I want to sing about it. The second verse of this simple hymn has been on my mind.
Let Me Be a Blessing

Let me be a blessing
To my suff’ring friends,
Sharing in their burdens
Even to the end.
In the midst of trials
And their darkest fears,(continue reading...)

» More On Weekly Communion: Kevin’s Response

Regarding how to transition to weekly communion, I don't have any easy answers. I have the benefit of working in church planting, where we can begin with that pattern. First, I would say that we must teach, and second, we must be patient. I do think that some gradual approach might work. For example, if a church is currently taking the Supper quarterly, the leadership could move it to monthly, and then could gradually celebrate it more often until it eventually is practiced weekly.

» Sovereign Grace Worship Conference

I have attended this conference every year (that it has been offered) since some time around 2001 or so. Very often those with reformed convictions also hold to the cessasion of the revelatory gifts of the Holy Spirit (this is probably the case for those on the doxologue, but I'm not sure). It has been my observation that many cessasionists unfairly link these revelatory gifts (like tongues speaking) with emotional, transcendent, and even mystical experiences of worship. It's almost like there is a fear of letting that "charismatic" stuff in the door. While I would have recognized the command to worship God with an emotional response I did little to pursue it both in my private and public worship. Once I found out about how Sovereign Grace was doing the same thing that I was by modernizing historic hymns, I got to know Bob Kauflin, the host of the conference. Once I attended worship at Covenant Life Church and the worship conference that year my view of passionate, biblical worship was expanded an hundred fold. Since then the conferences have served to stoke my vision for how to have and lead... (continue reading...)

» On Weekly Communion - Eric’s Response

I like your thoughts on weekly Lord's Supper. I think the benefits far outweigh the potential dangers. Besides, I think the dangers are there regardless of frequency.
I have a question for you on application: How might pastors/congregations implement this without 'upsetting the apple cart' too much, especially for congregations that take the Lord's Supper only quarterly or monthly?

» On Weekly Communion

Sometime back I posted this on my blog. Brothers, give me your thoughts: For Professor Stam's "The Worshipping Church" class at Southern Seminary, I had to write a paper arguing for or against weekly communion. Below are my arguments.
“Whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup…” My advice for a new church would be simple. I’d say with enthusiasm, “Absolutely begin with weekly observance of the Lord’s Supper!” I will give more specific advice in my conclusion as to how a church might best go about it, but I will first give some advantages I see, followed by some disadvantages.
First, weekly observance of the Lord’s supper seems biblical. True, there is not a command given in Scripture regarding the frequency of the ordinance. But it could be argued that weekly observance is biblically normative. Key texts in Acts regarding early church practice seem to indicate that early Christians partook of the Supper weekly, if not daily (Acts 2:42-47; 20:7-12). In addition, early Christian writings such as the Didache and the words of Justin (see WQOTW, 5-6-03) indicate that early fellowships of believers partook of the ordinance more regularly than modern churches. Calvin, as is well... (continue reading...)

» Dr. Crookshank on John A. Broadus as Hymnologist

Dr. Esther R. Crookshank was my hymnology professor in seminary. Had I not taken her class, it is likely that I would not be writing hymn texts today. She had a tremendous impact on my desire to write hymns and to write them well (which I'm still working on). Her faculty address, "The Minister and His Hymnbook: John A. Broadus as Hymnologist", is both challenging and edifying. A must listen for pastors, in my opinion.

» Institute for Christian Worship Lectures

The Institute for Christian Worship at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary has its lectures available online. I remember being particularly impressed with Timothy Dudley-Smith when he was on campus during my seminary days. His lecture, "Words for Worship," is available on the site.

» David’s Doxo-biography

I grew up attending a very wide variety of churches. As far as I can remember, we attended small churches, larger churches, Presbyterian churches, a house church, an Episcopal church, a Baptist church (not sure if it was Southern Baptist), a charismatic church, a Methodist church, and a Bible church. The Episcopal church was very formal in its approach to worship (in architecture, dress, and music) but unfortunately was not evangelical. We started attending there when I was probably around 11 and I have many memories of elaborate liturgies, processions, amazing organ music, and even liturgical dance. Undoubtedly my knowledge of many great hymns of the faith came from this church, even though I didn’t learn the gospel there. I was saved when I was 12 at the ministry of a summer camp where I was attracted to the gospel lived out in the lives of my college-aged counselors. We had daily devotions (camp-wide!) and sang songs to guitars strumming around a campfire – songs like “I Love You, Lord,” “This Little Light of Mine,” “Leaning on the Lord’s Side,” etc. (I’m not sure if the old “standard” Lord, I Lift Your... (continue reading...)

» The Effectiveness of Traditional Hymn Tunes: Eric’s Response 1

Thanks, David, for sharing this email. It is thought provoking as it touches on a number of important issues, issues that I think will strike at the heart of Doxologue.

First of all, I would like to acknowledge how important loving yet critical feedback is to our theological and spiritual formation. Proverbs 27:6 states, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.” I would rather have a friend who wounds me to my face in love and then praises me behind my back than an enemy who does the opposite. I hope that Doxologue is more than a blog of mutual backslapping. I hope it is a place where we can lovingly disagree as we seek the glory of God in the good of the church. Friction is necessary when “iron sharpens iron” (Proverbs 27:17). I know that the critical feedback of both of you has only served to improve my hymns (and my humility).

"The Critic" writes (throughout I'll quote him in italics):I love the old tunes and find them easy to sing and rich in melody.

It is important to acknowledge that many do love the ‘old tunes’... (continue reading...)

» Kevin’s Doxa-biography

I grew up in and out of church in Drexel, Missouri. When our family was there, I recollect hearing the big American hymns most of you out there have heard of. However, my memory fails me as to which ones I actually learned.

In college at the University of Missouri, I began to be exposed to the praise and worship movement. While a part of a campus ministry in the early nineties, we sang a wide variety of praise choruses. It was during my senior year that I picked up the guitar again (had been burned out from playing for my sister in country music shows as a child, believe it or not) and began learning worship songs.

Following college, I did an internship with a campus ministry in Springfield, Missouri. There I became exposed to more praise and worship songs. I simultaneously became involved in a local church. Over the course of 7 years, I led worship with the campus ministry and played in the church worship band, largely doing praise and worship choruses interspersed with a few widely known traditional hymns.

I moved to Louisville in 2001... (continue reading...)