Is for people, but I couldn't fit the title I wanted to in to the space provided, so it will have to do.
The real title should be
At the moment, and for some time, I have had an itch. That itch is not being scratched by the songs anyone else is writing. So I guess it's up to me?
I don't want more, generic, songs about God. I could write some, but we have a plethora of those, and good ones too. I guess I'm looking to close the gap between where the church is, and where it's members are.
We do community at church. Most people there don't know how to do much else. I like that. What I'd like though, is to sing songs about where we are, what God has done, is doing and what we pray he will do. I want to sing prophetic songs, songs that bring freedom out of the Christian bubble and in to the rough estate we are in. Songs that encourage and build up and can speak to real people; the people I see each week.
Somewhere in there I also want to be better at leading thanksgiving and praise. As a band I feel we do Heart Worship well, but there needs to be more.
I don't want to be Hillsongs, I don't want to be Saddleback or Willowcreak, I don't want to be Abundant Life, I want to be Oak Grove Chapel.
The challenge, then, is to find our voice. When we do, we'll have plenty to say!
From my perspective, its not about style, content and drive - I am not even convinced its about annoiting but we can argue about that.
ReplyDeleteI believe song writing falls into two groups - one is your expressing yourself in music to the Lord, the next is about writing songs that are relevant for your congregation / your church. Which I think you hint at in your 2nd from last paragraph.
If your in tune with them, and your writing from a place where they are at - that in my mind should bring the "annointing" as your placing yourself in the heart of the body of christ.
Yeah, we're talking about the same thing.
ReplyDeleteI think if you're writing about what God want's and what He's up to He will bring the annointing to the offering and what better way than to do it from the heartof the church.
So Phil, yet again you pointe
ReplyDeleted out something that I've never picked up on.
I love Exodus 15, its a great bit in the bible just after Israelites have just arrived safety on the other side of the Red Sea.
They sing this great song, and its all about what God has done. It struck me, why don't we sing songs about what God has done at OG? No one does that.
I'm sure this has already been said and worded better, but hey!
That's where I want to go (I think) but with prophetic input too!
ReplyDeleteHi Phil, check out http://www.solomonsporch.com/artistsquarters_pagegroup/music.html as Solomon's Porch emphasise what you're describing about using home grown music
ReplyDelete