David W. Manner's Blog: Worship Evaluation, page 10
November 9, 2020
Worship: An Easy Language to Fake
The Star Wars movie franchise created and constructed several languages for the various alien races introduced in the movie series. Ewokese, the language first heard in Return of the Jedi was spoken by the small furry Ewok residents of the forested moon of Endor. It is a simple language to imitate since its vocabulary is limited. So, just by watching the movie several times it would also be an easy language to fake.
Our worship language can be just as shallow. We can attend its services, imitate...
November 4, 2020
November 2, 2020
Worship Is a Conversation…So, When Do We Shut Up and Listen?
Our worship actions in any audible form can mute the voice of God sometimes only detected in the silence. In doing so, we can miss his healing, comforting, and encouraging words of hope such as “I am with you; well done; you are forgiven; and I am weeping with you.”
Worship is a dialogue or conversation between God and his people. God initiates that conversation and we respond to it. So, worship requires not only speaking and singing as a response but also listening and hearing as a response. Th...
October 28, 2020
October 26, 2020
But Even if He Doesn’t
Because of the pandemic we have been in an unusual and unpredictable season of trying to figure out how to continue leading music and worship well. We’ve had to make some difficult and not always popular decisions. And for the foreseeable future we’ve had to cancel or at least suspend some of those music and worship ministries that may have taken decades to build.
For months we have been praying for, hoping for, and believing that God will deliver us soon from these circumstances that have hand...
October 21, 2020
October 19, 2020
A Modern Parable for Worship Leaders
The Master Worship Leader called three novices with various gifts, passions, and capabilities to lead worship in three churches with distinct characteristics and needs.
To the first novice worship leader the Master gave a worship band that included five stellar players on rhythm guitar, lead guitar, bass, drums, and keyboard.
To the second novice worship leader the Master gave an aging rockabilly guitarist and a high school cajon player.
And to the third novice worship leader the Master gave a l...
October 14, 2020
October 12, 2020
Worship Spectators or Participators
When the Navy starting quarterback was injured in the first half of a 2016 game with Fordham, the coaches called freshman Malcolm Perry out of the stands and into the game. He was listed as the team’s number four quarterback. The number three quarterback had been suspended that week so, consequently, the number two quarterback was the only one left with no back-up if needed. Perry was actually dressed in his Navy uniform whites in the stands with the brigade of other student midshipmen.
The youn...
