Category Archive

In preparations for a sermon on Psalm 29, I re-opened two influential works in my own life and theological development: Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology and A. W. Tozer’s The Knowledge of the Holy.  The two theologians share a feature in their respective works—a feature which is instructive to both theologians and worship leaders alike (not that the two have to or should be separate offices). For too long, the church has functionally made theology (study and meditation upon God and … Read More

It’s my pleasure to introduce to many of you Ascend the Hill.  My friend and fellow Denver worship leader, Chris Martin, pointed me to them a few months back.  They do consider themselves a worship band, but their music is very much performance-oriented.  Musically, their style reminds me of Death Cab for Cutie (think early material like Photo Album, and Transatlanticism) and Band of Horses.  The lead vocalist is a robust tenor, and the drummer has a way of taking … Read More

My colleague, our organist and choirmaster, Douglas Macomber, introduced me to this glorious piece which is a part of Benjamin Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols (Opus 28).  The text of “This Little Babe” is outstanding, ringing a seldom-heard bell about what Christmas ushers in–the paradox of a baby who conquers through weakness.  Our choir sang this at our Christmas Eve Candlelight Service.  It’s a bit feisty, but I wonder whether we couldn’t re-tune this text for congregational singing.  Don’t get … Read More

Hey Friends, If you’re interested in some quality instrumental tunes for Christmas, check out the Emerald Duets Christmas collection.  My friend and fellow musician-in-Denver-Metro, Blayne Chastain* (a great guitarist and Irish whistle player), has worked on this project, which is friendly for personal, in-home music-making with the family, or more serious instrumental contributions in public settings (like my venue…church worship).  Go to the site to get all the info you need, but know that one of my favorite features of … Read More

Justin Taylor, along with Gene Veith, cite an article by Robbie Low in Touchstone about the statistical relationship between attendance of church by a father/man-of-the-house and whether or not their children will be regular worshipers as adults.  The gist is that the likelihood that children will attend worship regularly as adults decreases dramatically when the father is not a committed attender.  For what it’s worth, the data was collected from Christians in Switzerland in 1994. I’d encourage you all to … Read More

Chris Tomlin, And if Our God is For Us (Sparrow)Released: November 16, 2010  The Passion movement has its stars.  Chris Tomlin is its superstar.  He has seen the most commercial success, and he is very much the front-runner of mainstream American modern worship.  In some respects, it’s very hard for Tomlin to top himself.  The enduring success of many songs from Arriving (2004) manifests itself continually on the CCLI top ten list.  “How Great is Our God,” “Holy is the … Read More

Red Mountain Music’s new album, All Things New, has been monopolizing my personal airwaves since Tuesday.  I wrote my review in haste, for a fourth “favorite” song has appeared.  The longer I am a Christian, the more I realize that sin “slides itself into my prayer.”  The longer I am a worship leader, the more I truly feel how, Sunday after Sunday, “sin twines itself about my praise.”  This makes me cry, because in some sense, I can be no … Read More

Yesterday, All Things New was digitally released to the public.  (They are in the middle of printing and will have physical copies available soon.)  It is a remarkable album and definitely Red Mountain Music’s finest work to date. You’ll notice a subtle change to the “artist name.”  No longer on the album are they called “Red Mountain Church,” but “Red Mountain Music.”  Brian T. Murphy, Red Mountain’s architect over the last several years, explained the shift to me in a … Read More

I’m pretty pumped and humbled to have won the Church of the Servant 2010 New Psalm Contest.  I know several of my friends, who I honestly consider superior songwriters and true mentors in the art, entered the contest, as well.  The song that won was “All People That On Earth Do Dwell,” a versified version of Psalm 100, set by William Kethe in 1561.  It’s a mainstay in the Reformed tradition and has a prominent place in it because of … Read More

Hello blogosphere.  Since the Monday posting of my review of Why Johnny Can’t Sing Hymns, Dr. Gordon and I have been engaged in an email dialogue about it.  I thank God for humble spirits like Gordon who are willing to engage and clarify, for the sake of truth and beauty, and to the blessing of Christ’s church.  Gordon pointed out several misrepresentations I’ve made.  It is fair, right, and appropriate that I acknowledge and correct those misrepresentations.  Those changes have … Read More