We Repeat to Remember

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Do you remember this clip from Sesame Street? A little girl is sent to the store by her Mom to pick up three things: A loaf of bread, a container of milk, and a stick of butter. All the way to the store she repeats these things to herself over and over so that she'll remember what she is supposed to buy.  

The Demise of Congregational Singing

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In recent years, the practice of congregational singing has been on the decline in the Church as a whole. Many practices fall out of popularity due to non-importance, but congregational singing is very important and its decline has led to or is a result of the lack of spiritual fervor in the Church. I believe this de-valuation of congregational singing is due to four things:

1. Consumer culture - We go to church to be impressed or served instead of joining with one another to celebrate God's goodness.
2. Entertainment-driven church culture - By and large, the church has catered to our consumer culture instead of shaping it. The loud music and multi-media presentations encourage little more than spectatorial participation. 
3. Songs that do not encourage singing - Songs promoting weak theology or that are self-centered do not encourage our hearts to sing. 
4. Biblical ignorance or apathy - We either don't know or don't care. Maybe both.

I want to begin a discussion on the why, what, and how of congregational singing to get us thinking toward how to rekindle passionate sung worship in our churches.

Dear Church (Part 1): Turn Down The Noise

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This is Part 1 of a __-part series called "Dear Church"

1. Turn Down the Noise: Establishing Quiet Moments in Our Services
2. How to Choose Songs: A Biblical Precedent

I love loud music as much as anyone. As a songwriter and audio engineer, I deal with loud music and sounds all the time. It is a scientific fact that loud music sounds better. Our ears are better able to hear certain frequencies at louder volumes.

That's not what this post is about. I'm not talking about volume. I'm talking about noise. You see? In the ever-popular "seeker-driven" church music style, we have adopted the patterns of the world's media culture.

Flashy graphics and lights. Over-produced and over-compressed music. Worship teams who resemble the cast of American Idol more than the reflect the congregation they serve.

Image: photostock / FreeDigitalPhotos.net