Paul's Blog http://www.insidecrosspointe.com/pauls-blog/ Paul's Blog Thu, 02 Apr 2009 13:03:44 CDT en-us Copyright 2009 CrossPointe Church Worship as a lifestyle, not a song... http://www.insidecrosspointe.com/pauls-blog/worship-as-a-lifestyle-not-a-song/ http://www.insidecrosspointe.com/pauls-blog/worship-as-a-lifestyle-not-a-song/ Thu, 02 Apr 2009 13:03:44 CDT Check out this definition of worship that I found by an author named Harold Best,

"Worship is acknowledging that someone or something else is greater - worth more - and by consequence, to be obeyed, feared, and adored...Worship is the sign that in giving myself completely to someone or something, I want to be mastered by it."

Giving myself completely?  I want to be mastered by it? Sheeze, kinda blows "Singing a cool song or two and maybe closing my eyes or lifting my hands", right out of the water doesn't it? 

The thing I like about Best's definition of worship is that it echoes the truth that Paul calls us to when he says we should "present our bodies as a living sacrifice...which is your spiritual worship". (Rom 12:1)  I believe this "spiritual worship" that Paul is talking about has to be much larger than just singing songs, it has to be the way we do life.  I love worshiping God through music and song, but I've noticed that if that's the only time in my week that I'm intentionally striving to magnify who God is, there can be a disconnect and the songs start sounding like a foreign language to me.

The band and I have really tried to challenge ourselves to be good worshippers with our lives, not just with our instruments.  As a tribe, lets commit to truly 'presenting ourselves' in a way that  magnifies who God is and displays gratitude for everything he has done for us in whatever we do.

Looking forward to Sunday,

Paul

 

]]> Ahh yes... the blogosphere http://www.insidecrosspointe.com/pauls-blog/ahh-yes-the-blogosphere/ http://www.insidecrosspointe.com/pauls-blog/ahh-yes-the-blogosphere/ Mon, 30 Mar 2009 15:52:15 CDT Well I’m finally stepping wholeheartedly into that wonderful world known as the blogosphere… hence the sweet “paul’s blog” graphic you see at the top of your screen.  My intention is that this blog will be an opportunity for me to air out some of the things that I think God is turning over in me about worship and what it should look like in the context of the tribe.  I also hope that it would be a venue where we can challenge each other on the topic of worship and how it shakes out in our day to day lives as believers.

Over the next few posts I think it would be good to talk a little bit about where I’m coming from when it comes to worship, and you may be surprised to know that it has very little to do with music, we’ll get into that later.

All that said, it’s such a privilege and honor to lead a tribe like CrossPointe in corporate worship each week, and I’m really looking forward to the great discussions we’ll have via this blog.  Don’t you just love technology?  :-)

Can’t wait to see you this Sunday,

Paul

"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God" - 1Cor 10:31

 

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