tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8219781724285312648.post8180667598022663948..comments2024-01-25T05:05:26.688-08:00Comments on Stuff Apostolics Like: #234-Domesticating God so that we can be sure we have God.Joel Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15449770157998900843noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8219781724285312648.post-74006529364307722202011-07-03T22:04:02.961-07:002011-07-03T22:04:02.961-07:00This is something I have wondered at for years. Gr...This is something I have wondered at for years. Great post!Lady Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12501774714876623095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8219781724285312648.post-91460276730924929462011-06-21T05:54:38.684-07:002011-06-21T05:54:38.684-07:00From what I have read, the question of "what ...From what I have read, the question of "what happened to the old time religion" had started by the 1950's; not long after most of the first generation of Apostolics passed.<br /><br />I worry that it may be that we try to engineer our relationship with God. An "if I do X He will do Y" mentality. Trying to understand God to survive Him better, is one thing; trying to understand God to manipulate Him, is anther. <br /><br />At some point we started trying to bring people closer to God (a good thing) by selling His power. But God is not a commodity. As C.S. Lewis writes "He is not a tame Lion."Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01401970289278394055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8219781724285312648.post-28032378865363060282011-06-15T15:47:27.290-07:002011-06-15T15:47:27.290-07:00Amy.....I'm not sure I have all the answers to...Amy.....I'm not sure I have all the answers to the questions, but I certainly have opinions. For me, it's not just music that has changed. It's prayer, and more specifically, lingering in prayer. I think what we battle in the church (in general) is a reflection of the current issues in the world. We want instant gratification in prayer. We want MORE glory in OUR accomplishments. We want perfection in music. Everything we have changed reflects on wanting more without paying the price for it (like prayer); wanting to appeal too much to visitors (taking the place of wanting to please God) - and please don't misunderstand that statement; and a bigger fight than ever with "SELF".<br /><br />The good news is this: There is a huge sweep of old fashioned revival sweeping North America....ie., lingering long and laboring in prayer; killing the flesh-type services that have helped reap a harvest of new souls, as well as miracles and healings. <br /><br />Because we are getting back to basics.Darlanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8219781724285312648.post-34961884903618240562011-06-15T14:52:41.606-07:002011-06-15T14:52:41.606-07:00I had a big long rambling comment until I got to t...I had a big long rambling comment until I got to the end and I realized the last part is all I want to know about.<br /><br />What did they do "back then" during those days when people shouted their hair out, and they stayed at church until midnight and carried people out speaking in tongues. What's changed? The people who speak of those days, speak of them fondly and they seem to miss them. But where did we go wrong? The older ones who remember those days, aren't exactly still worhipping like they say people did back then. Did they not pass something on to us? Did they pass it on and we dismissed it? What is it...what are we missing? Can we bring it back?Amynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8219781724285312648.post-49686820193252733642011-06-14T13:26:17.033-07:002011-06-14T13:26:17.033-07:00Darla, we have to be careful not to blame things f...Darla, we have to be careful not to blame things for conditions of the heart. We should always deal with the issue by overcoming it, rather than creating a scapegoat and never dealing with the sin and living under it. The issue/sin would be pride and pride (self) will manifest itself in humility just as it will in anything else. This goes back to changing our thinking, by renewing our by the spirit and overcoming worldly thinking. When this is done, it doesn't matter if its last minute, rehearsed for weeks or whatever because a heart free of self and worldly thinking will focus on Christ.Aaronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02746496920828847539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8219781724285312648.post-87892443448162464782011-06-13T19:11:53.460-07:002011-06-13T19:11:53.460-07:00I agree, Aaron, that being too practiced doesn'...I agree, Aaron, that being too practiced doesn't necessarily promote "self".......but I still definitely think it makes it easier to. That's all. It is all about balance. I lived for God in the "old days" when song services were just thrown together....(really, in comparison, we DID have stronger moves of God....???)...but there were times it was hindered because of the all the mistakes made. What I don't like about it now is that if the worship leader actually felt to change a song at the last minute...as does occasionally happen.....hissy fits are thrown. Literally. <br /><br />That is why I think is a whole lot easier to have more of "self" involved in over-practiced music.Darlanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8219781724285312648.post-66721379938352778672011-06-13T18:57:15.117-07:002011-06-13T18:57:15.117-07:00Darla I must say that the comment that worship mus...Darla I must say that the comment that worship music is "TOO professional, TOO practiced, TOO perfect" is in technical terms "baloney". I will agree that "We have put TOO much of SELF into it" is sometimes the case. Here is why I say this.<br /><br />Music is an offering, it is sacrifice and it must come from the heart. Whether we spent 10 hours or 10 minutes rehearsing, it is the heart by behind our worship/offering that God see's, so whether the music is good or bad, if your heart isn't in the right place, God will not accept our offering (Cain and Able). Music also does not have to be last minute and thrown together to be worship unto God and anointed; this notion of it needing to be last minute to flow under the anointing, really means that we don't think God plans ahead and knows what He is doing.<br /><br />As a Music Pastor I plan my sets 2 weeks in advance. I start putting songs together I have been worshipping to and feeling in my spirit during my time with God. One week before service I have a final set list posted for everyone to rehearse 1 week ahead of time. When planning I consider how will the music go together, flow, I ask if the words minister to people in the season we are in and the vein the Pastor is in, is it easy to sing to, will I get the greatest number of people to connect and worship… <br /><br />Planning ahead lets me get into the flow of what God is doing, without waiting to the last minute and throwing it all on God. God is not a last minute God, He makes great plans for everything He has done and will do, which is why He knows what He will do in advance and if we tap into that, we can minister more efficiently rather than waiting until the last minute for Him to pull our fat out of the fire.<br /><br />I love your comment that "we have put too much of self…"; I agree 100%. Worship needs to be Jesus focused and centered. I think we often spend too much time talking between songs (the sneak-a-preach) and it loses the flow of worship (save it for the preaching). We need to be less concerned with being impressive and pressing ourselves into the worship, and take the focus off of us and put it on Jesus.Aaronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02746496920828847539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8219781724285312648.post-55584061376442669022011-06-13T16:03:11.701-07:002011-06-13T16:03:11.701-07:00I agree for the most part with this post. However,...I agree for the most part with this post. However, I don't think the solution is to necessarily "experiment" either. We already know what we need to do.<br /><br />Worship service should be first and foremost, to WORSHIP God. Whether or not God decides to descend is His business, but He is worthy of worship REGARDLESS. Any "feeling" we get is secondary. Having said that, when we worship God with all our hearts, we know that God will descend.<br /><br />I think you hit it dead on that worship services can "make you feel like you feel God...." You also talked about the *good old days* of God's outpouring during worship services. I believe you nailed it when you said we are too concerned with the "appearance" of worship. I will add that music these days is TOO professional, TOO practiced, TOO perfect. We have put TOO much of SELF into it, and as a result taken TOO much of the glory. And that in a nutshell is why we don't have the *old fashioned outpourings* we used to have. (In my opinion).<br /><br />In the old days, the charismatics used to use OUR songs in their worship services. These days, we use the charismatics (or should I say the EMERGENT's) songs. I realize the songs themselves aren't so much the issue, but in using "their" songs, we have also borrowed "their" worship style. And "their" worship style is classically......feigned AND showy. (Sorry....it's true. I've seen enough Hillsong-type videos to make me puke.) As well, the NEW music is very oriented to make US feel good, and less about God's sacrifice, God's Name, and God's blood.<br /><br />We don't need get rid of music in our worship services. We know how scriptural it is. We just need to get rid of SELF. Yes, we need to practice, but by golly, we CAN sing a song that is less than perfect. Like they did in the "good ole' days".<br /><br />That's my two cents.....Darlanoreply@blogger.com