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Posts by Eric Schumacher

» Martin Luther: Pastor-Musician

Gene Edward Veith reviews the 4-CD set, Martin Luther: Hymns, Ballads, Chants, Truth. This is one of my favorite "worship albums." It offers a great look at a pastor who loved for the church to worship God in song. It features every work ascribed to Luther. The songs are interspersed with quotes from Luther on the topic of worship.

» Stuck in the Rut…Stuck in the Rut…Stuck in the Rut…Stuck in the Rut…Stuck in the Rut…Stuck in the Rut…Stuck in the Rut…

Does this quote apply to our congregational gatherings?
Sometimes we Christians are not very wise, as Jesus seems to have realised (see Lk. 16:8). On occasion we get stuck in the rut of a tradition that it is not in itself biblical. We fail to recognise that the words we use or the precise activities in which we engage are no longer appropriate. Instead of showing the contemporary relevance of the gospel, we veil that relevance and strip it of its power.
By our actions, we are really conveying an unspoken message that the gospel belongs to a past generation, or is permanently enshrined in some ancient tradition. But Christ and the gospel are always contemporary. We need to see to it that we live, speak, act, and witness in ways that are appropriate to him and to our time.
Sinclair Ferguson, The Sermon on the Mount: Kingdom Life in a Fallen World, page 156 (emphasis and odd Scottish spellings are the author's).

» Family Worship Book

Great thoughts, David, on family worship! I appreciate the emphasis on "moment-by-moment" worship. I do think we do a sort of spiritual damage when we stress God to our children at certain times and ignore Him the rest of the time. This only teaches our children that God is someone to give part of your life to, rather than your all and everything.

How can a reader get a copy of your "family worship book"?

» Sunday Morning Peep Shows

It is that time of year again when seasonal candy reminds what our songs, prayers, sermons and services must not be!
Brothers, don't let your worship service be a Sunday morning peep show!

» Serving Assorted Preferences and Future Generations in Our Songwriting

On Worship Matters, Bob Kauflin posts Reviewing Awesome God Children's CD Reviews. Near the end, he quotes one reviewer's critique of their musical style:
While it is true that there are many different 'tastes' in music, I cannot but think that there are some elements of the way an instrument is played that accentuate the fleshly nature of our fallen self. What do I mean? Well it is fairly obvious that romantic music is designed to create a certain 'mood' in the listener. Other music such as heavy metal causes the listener to feel intensely powerful and invincible. Bob posts his reply:
Our understanding of how music works in worshipping God is probably more similar than you'd think. We, too, never want the music to overpower the lyrics, but rather serve them. Probably the main area we see things differently is what music "causes" us to do. Music moves us emotionally, but there is a powerful associative effect that can be trained and/or changed. Heavy music doesn't automatically cause someone to "feel intensely powerful and invincible," although that kind of music is often used to voice those attitudes. I like Bob's last line, "that kind of music is often... (continue reading...)

» “God is my girlfriend” or Reflection of the Psalms?

What do you think of Sam Storms' response to Chuck Colson?

» Great Thoughts on Family Worship

Families are part of the local church. Don't miss Jim Hamilton's humble and practical remarks on family worship.

» Kevin, You Ruined My Plan!!!

So, Kevin...I guess #5 on your list rules out building the entire service around a drawing where one lucky guest wins a new car?

» Good Friday, Easter, Suggestions, Etc.

David covered a lot of quality songs for Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday.
My comment: Should we be singing anything special for Good Friday and Easter? After all, if our focus is not on the cross and resurrection every Sunday, we've got other things to worry about than these two days.
That said, I do believe it is wise to account for an unusual amount of unbelievers in attendance on Easter morning. I think it is wise to preach directly and simply on the Gospel, as opposed to preaching on its applications and implications (as we might do most Sundays as we move through books). This is always good for believers and unbelievers alike.
I want to highly recommend the songs from David's CD Cross-Centered Worship. I plan to review this on An Infant in a Cradle in the future. For now, let me say that I have been listening to this CD for a few months now and every listen brings fresh blessings. I look forward to singing more of these songs and hope others will do so as well. The "cross-centeredness" in Cross-Centered Worship makes them more than applicable for Good Friday and Easter.

» Neglected Themes - Lament

I am not fond of those who can do nothing but criticize the church and bemoan her condition. We should celebrate church that God purchased with the blood of his Son to be his Bride. Many great hymns have taken a cue from Scripture and have sung the praises of the city of God (e.g. Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken). May we continue to write such songs.
Yet, one does not need to read the songs of the Bible for too long before discovering the lament. There was a time when God's people could not sing but sat down and wept due to the state of the city of God and her people (see Psalm 137, Lamentations or many of the prophets). There are times when it is appropriate to lament the condition of the church, especially when those who claim the name of Christ forsake his truth and his ways for those of the world (see Revelation 2-3).
This text is my attempt at a lament. Like many of the laments in the Psalms, it begins with a description of the church's condition. It transitions with the question of what will happen to her? Though a change... (continue reading...)

» Prayer is Worship Too

I'll admit it. I did it. The blog is only a day or two old and I've already begun to think of "worship in the local church" as primarily dealing with music. I imagine that I'm not the only pastor prone to thinking this way. It is a shame. We prepare the preaching and the songs and assume worship is covered.

Bob Kauflin's post Watts' on Prayer reminded me that public prayer is an important aspect of God-centered worship in the local church. It is the first in a series of Isaac Watts' teaching on the ministry of prayer. Should be a series worth following. (Mr. Kauflin notes that the issue of public prayer will be addressed at this year’s WorshipGod06 conference.)
May the Lord help us to take seriously the matter of praying before his people!

» 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...)

» 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?

» 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.

» 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...)