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The Language of Worship

Monday, January 5, 2009
The Language of Worship

I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to You among the nations.
Psalm 57:9 NASB


I led worship for a group of about 3,000 today. What was so amazing – besides the sheer joy of leading worship for ANY group of ANY size – was that 60% of those worshipping were from somewhere other than the US. Many were from African nations or Asian nations…and everywhere in between! Although the words were not displayed the heart of worship was evident. As I sang about Jesus coming again the crowd stood to their feet in adoration of the King of Kings. That moment transcended language. When I asked for those who needed to know whether it was going to be all right in a certain area of their lives, hundreds stood. Need for the assurance of God’s sovereignty transcended national boundaries. Even though we were not from similar cultures and did not speak the same earthly language, we all spoke the language of worship – hearts turned toward God in complete surrender and all desiring deeper relationship with our Creator. Pretty cool.

A Melancholy Day

Sunday, January 4, 2009
A Melancholy Day

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Hebrews 13:8 KJV


I spent a wonderful holiday break just being with my remaining children who have not left the nest and playing with them. So much has transpired during that break. Had a wonderful NOP in OKC which I led jointly with a young man I mentored when he was just a young teenager – Stephen Hinkle. He made me proud. Drove to St. Louis to spend a day with my daughter Glory and her husband, Shaun. My daughter Hannah became engaged to a wonderful Aussie man named Ashley Brown. All of those things are good and wonderful…but I feel like time has passed by so quickly. The break ended with me leaving home to minister for a week…so I sit here in my hotel room in Nashville missing my wife and my children and wondering where the time has gone…yet rejoicing in the fact that my wife is so faithful and that my children are all mature and independent. My melancholy is not a depression but rather a deep emotional nostalgia about all the good things I have witnessed and experienced as my children have grown up. They will always be my children and I rejoice in their lives well lived. Such feelings make me very, very grateful.