Just finished orthodoxy chapter seven. I must say, even though after the first few chapters I did kinda feel like not wanting to read it anymore because its quite intense, im glad I pressed on. The rest of the chapters are easier for me to understand and wow, they really strike me.
Chapter seven is really cool. Even the title is really cool haha 'The Eternal Revolution'. The first maybe one third of the chapter didn't feel like anything much to me, kinda like 'ok hmm thats quite true but so what'. Its later that he begins to use these things that he brought up to establish his arguments. Kinda like, picking good darts, and then throwing them with stunning accuracy. Good darts must be picked for if you hit with bad darts, its but luck, for your accuracy would inherently not be there anyway. However, if you consistently hit with good darts, then the thrower has skill.
Find it here =).
---
I love songs where the people sing. SCL had a post the other time about reasons why worship leaders may move away from the mic sometimes and being a satire site obviously it has funny stuff and all, and while many of the points raised were quite true at times, perhaps one huge reason why it is done is because worship leaders too love to hear the people sing.
There is something special when the people sing. Its kind of like, when the worship leader leads, everyone is following, but when the worship leader isn't singing and people carry on, the people are leading their own worship.
Sometimes, it sounds really cool. Like that in Forever Reign and To Know Your Name, where the chorus is completely sung by the people (not all the choruses of course, but like from even the first one it is already done). This is kinda like, intentional on the part of the worship leader I guess, maybe because it sounds unique and nice and all, and yes I do fancy it.
There is another type though. It appears in songs like All I Need Is You. Maybe its intentional, maybe its not, but it is after awhile when the worship leader doesn't sing a line, the people do. Or the lines run in excess of the number that the worship leader intended because the people didn't stop. I could totally be pre planned so it sounds nice of course, I wouldn't know, its not that obvious. But I do believe its a mix, like the worship leader knows its best to let the people lead and they do.
There is one very special song though. Its With Everything, and its a class on its own. The whole length of it is eighteen minutes.
You see, there are two parts.
The first part, is the song by itself, its what was intended.
The second part, now thats behind the scenes, thats special.
The pastor comes out at the beginning. This would not have been in the album. Its the pastor speaking to the Church, concluding words for the night, after all With Everything is the last song on the album This Is Our God. Its the end, its time to go home. So he comes out, encourages everyone to go and make a difference. He quotes bible verses, and when hes done with what he has to say, he tells everyone, 'goodbye'. Thats a dismissal.
The band leaves the stage. Everyone except the keyboardist, who continues to play. No one moves, and slowly, it becomes more and more audible, the people are not quite done.
I think its a pretty amazing thing. Go and watch it yourself, it may be long, but its the holidays anyway. Be blessed.
With everything
With everything
We will shout for Your glory
With everything
With everything
We will shout forth Your praise
---