outside is better

Lent and the shock of our system

I wrote yesterday  I feel out of whack going into Lent. This has been a busy few weeks. 2 trips to Louisiana/Mississippi and another one coming up next week (heading down to do ordination stuff..even more stressful). I found out yesterday  I need to have my wisdom teeth removed before the trip. I just hope I am not driving 14 hrs while still dwelling in In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida land.

Don't worry Mom, I wouldn't do it.

But as much as my schedule is hectic and my life is seemingly turned upside down, I have to remember the way faith in Christ and patterning my life after His is a shock to the whole secular enterprise that we dwell in.

 

The downward descent into the awareness of a deep need for holiness reframes the mind more than the necessary business is ordering my life right now. Lent isn't just about the awareness of sin, but the recognizing the sharp hold that it has in our lives. Lent makes me think about sanctification and how we grow closer to God. I think part of our ongoing journey of perfection doesn't take us away from the reality of sin, but brings us closer into realizing what each of us could do if we didn't know God.

My friend Aaron always says "Each one of us has just enough hell inside to light the whole world on fire".  For me, Lent is the confrontation of sin in the midst of the redemptive life with Christ. We confront sin by the active recognition that because of justification, it no longer has a hold on our lives. The moment we tell the Devil he can't control us, we get into a fist fight with him....and the Devil brings a knife.

We need the patterns of spiritual discipline to meet this battle. Lent is a time of prayer, fasting and intense scripture. Wesley called these "the means of grace". Because of the Means...the devil looses that fight, and realizes he brought a knife to a gun fight. Jesus wins that one for us.

So this Lent, think about where you could have been at without Jesus. Jesus is what free's us...nothing else.

The song that brings so many of these emotions to me is the old hymn On Jordan's Stormy Banks. This hymn speaks of Lent and the shocking reality of Jesus Christ and our place with him.

On Jordan’s stormy banks I stand,
And cast a wishful eye
To Canaan’s fair and happy land,
Where my possessions lie.

All o’er those wide extended plains,
Shines one eternal day;
There God the Son forever reigns,
And scatters night away.

I am bound for promised land,
I am bound for promised land.
Oh who will come and go with me?
I am bound for the promised land.

No chilling winds nor poisonous breath
Can reach that healthful shore;
Sickness, sorrow, pain and death,
Are felt and feared no more.

When shall I reach that happy place,
And be forever blessed?
When shall I see my Father’s face,
And in His bosom rest?

 

Songs For Lent: Qualities

Earlier this week, I wrote about about song selection during Lent.  One of the things I mentioned was looking at the scripture texts for the WHOLE service, and imagining what emotive qualities are evident if we imagine Jesus saying these words.  How would the Triune God communicate through the 40 days? 

So what are some qualities you think should be part of Lenten song selection?  I will offer a few and lets throw more in the comment feed.

1.  Lament
2.  Thankfullness
3.  Awareness and acknowledgment of sin.
4.  Humility

What do you have?

Song Selection for Lent

Communities that follow the church calender (and many that don't year round) are in the middle of Lent preparation right now.  Lent can be a hard season to design for.  One of the reasons is that Lent means different things to different worship communities.  Just a few tips for designing for Lent.

1.  Look at the scriptures you are using.
Some of your churches might follow a pattern of scripture (such as the lectionary, or a predetermined study) or design worship services thematically.  What I would encourage is to at least have a base camp in the scriptures for the season.  For many these can be gleaned through the gospel readings for Lent found here.  If this is to far a stretch, look simply at one passage of scripture (such as Jesus time in the Wilderness) for a formational text for the season.  The various emotions gleaned from an extended time in scripture during the season can help with design.

2.  What should we "not" sing?
It sounds weird to think about what "not" to sing in Church during the season, but some selections just might be more appropriate at other places. Songs about the defeat of death and resurrection are more appropriate in a few months.  Traditionally, the Church hasn't said "Hallelujah" during Lent.  This isn't a practice where we don't recognize our the saving action of Christ on the cross, but we choose instead to realize what life was and would be like without Jesus. 

3.  What to sing.
Last year I made a short list of songs that I liked during lent.  I did a quick recording of them and they can be accessed at this post.  Another song that usually makes Lent rotation at Asbury Seminary (where I lead and plan worship) is the classic Keith Green "Create in Me a Clean Heart".  Song selection goes back to point 1.  Look at what the scriptures are telling you.  I have a professor that uses a great exercise in worship planning.  Read through the scripture, and imagine what Christ would be singing at this moment.  Not a list of songs, but the emotive quality that the Church has always expressed.  Remember that Lent is not Pentecost, or Epiphany.  It is easy to sing about the incarnation, but it really doesn't fit Lent.  I think Lent is the perfect time to bring back some older hymns, especially if you are from a tradition that enjoys or at one point in time utilized older "tent revival" hymns.  Think minor keys.

4.  Don't pass over the season.
It is easy to make Lent the "token" liturgical thing your community does, and just passingly mention and continue designing worship around a sermon series that forgets the season.  Preach Lent, Pray Lent, Read Lent and Worship Lent.  It is one of the easiest season to preach gospel (besides Eastertide).  Let it sink in.  If your community is wanting to do Lent "bigger" next year, start making notes.  Check out the Asbury Reader for some ideas (you can download the entire version in pdf) to see how a community worships liturgically but not how you imagine "high church" would be.  More than anything, What would draw you and your community to the continually to the act of Christ on Good Friday?  Let God be God, and don't stretch this, but what would grow people towards a Biblical idea of realizing sin the best?

Songs for Lent...or at least my take.

This season for Lent, I blogged about a few songs that I thought were appropriate for corporate use.  I had a good amount of interest in them, so I decided to take it a little further.

Over the last few weeks I recorded 4 songs for a small EP.  Consider it my subtle reentry into music.  The songs are recorded simply, and that became a conscious decision by the end.  I have become interested in certain artists that define themselves by simple recordings made at home, and this is exactly what my record is. 

I hope you enjoy it, because I really enjoy these songs.  I wanted to wait to the very end of the season to see if I thought it was complete, and with only a few hours left, I guess it is. Here is a track listing.

Were You there when they crucified my Lord?
Jesus, Keep me near the cross.
Knowing You
Come ye sinners, poor and needy.

Like I said it is simple, and I hope you enjoy it.  You can download it here for free.

EDIT++
I am reloading the file, because it had some nasty digital artifacts in it.

Songs For Lent: Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross.

Lets go for another round on the "Songs For Lent" serie (there is now a category for these guys).  Picking out a Lenten song must be hard, because I keep getting google queries.  This song is starting to be one of my newer favorite songs, and I plan on leading it this week. 

I really like this song, mainly because it is telling a story.  Lately I have been thinking about the last verse of songs.  For me, a good Lent song really drives home the actions that we take.  This is different from just "God I love you....I will sing to you....I will praise to you.....", you know the usual Jesus is my boyfriend stuff.  My buddy Josh says its dangerous telling God what we are going to do and not doing it, its called lying.  When action takes place in a song, I think it should be about us reflecting on our salvation, and what God has done for us.  In this song, the personal descriptions just make sense.  I really can't put my finger on it, but I love it.

During the season of Lent, our songs need to be those that remind us of our sin, our justification and our utter dependence on Christs action on the cross.  Keeping this steady focus is hard.

Jesus, keep me near the cross,
There a precious fountain
Free to all, a healing stream
Flows from Calvary’s mountain.

In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever;
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.

Near the cross, a trembling soul,
Love and mercy found me;
There the bright and morning star
Sheds its beams around me.

Near the cross! O Lamb of God,
Bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk from day to day,
With its shadows o’er me.

Near the cross I’ll watch and wait
Hoping, trusting ever,
Till I reach the golden strand,
Just beyond the river.

I am in the process of cleaning and re-building my home studio.  If I can, I really want to record an EP of these songs we have been talking about.

Songs For Lent: Knowing You

Yesterday we sang this song in Levite Camp, a worship training seminar led by JD Walt.  I also led this song during Asburys Wednesday chapel service earlier this week.  I mentioned during our discussion that for years I hated the song because of the end of the chorus, I just thought it was cheesy.  But it has been in the last year that I have fallen in love so much with the verses, that I have gotten over the chorus, I even like it to a point.  Some would say that this song is to individualistic oriented, but I would say this is a model song for the church to sing about individual action, while gathered together in the corporate sense.  What really gets me every time I lead it is the last verse...I have never not come close to almost losing it.

So why do I think this is a a Lenten song?  Lent is about lament, and suffering-but it is the time for us to realize that our path has been set because of this sacrifice, and it is the time that we sit in darkness remembering that light is to come.  This song is hopeful, and tells a story.  It speaks of a former live and a current life.

Knowing You Jesus
Graham Kendrick

All I once held dear, built my life upon,
All this world reveres and wars to own;
All I once thought gain I have counted loss,
Spent and worthless now compared to this.

Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You
There is no greater thing.
You're my all, You're the best,
You're my joy, my righteousness,
And I love You Lord.

Now my heart's desire is to know You more,
To be found in You and know as Yours,
To possess by faith what I could not earn
All surpassing gift of righteousness

Oh to know the power of Your risen life,
And to know You in Your sufferings;
To become like You in Your death, my Lord,
So with You to live and never die.

Songs for Lent

Since I have started leading again I have struggled with song selection.  I remember my days at the BCM when it was just Fast Song>Medium Song>Sermon>Slow Song.  That doesn't cut it anymore (plus I never thought about really thinking about singing and scripture).  One of my fav songs for lent is "Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy", it really places you in the movement of Lent. 

Come, ye sinners, poor and needy, 
Weak and wounded, sick and sore; 
Jesus ready stands to save you, 
Full of pity, love and power. 

I will arise and go to Jesus; 
He will embrace me in his arms; 
In the arms of my dear Savior, 
O there are ten thousand charms

Come. ye thirsty, come and welcome, 
God's free bounty glorify 
True belief and true repentance, 
Every grace that brings You nigh 

Come, ye weary, heavy-laden,
Bruised and ruined by the Fall;
If you tarry till you're better,
You will never come at all:

View Him prostrate in the garden,
On the ground your Maker lies!
On the bloody tree behold Him,
Hear Him cry before He dies

Lo, the incarnate God, ascended,
Pleads the merit of His blood:
Venture on Him, venture wholly,
Let no other trust intrude