The prophet Zephania reveals that God “exults” over us with singing.  Some translate the word “exult” as “dance”.  There have been a number of contemporary worhsip songs that run with the idea that God “dances” over us.  It is a beautiful image of joy in the Lord’s heart toward His people.   Some also express the thought of God dancing with us, His bride, the church.  This image is particularly beautiful to me and causes me to reflect a bit on what that interaction involves.  For any couple to dance together, there has to be clarity regarding who is leading.  Unison movement happens with grace and beauty when the partner who is following is attentive to the subtle cues that the leader gives and simply follows.  This type of partnership is synergistic and is able to move with grace and freedom that is not only expressive, but invigorating.  I believe that is the type of relationship  that God desires with us as both His collective body and as indivduals.  Oh that we would be so respoonsive to His subtle cues and follow Him perfectly as He leads that our movement with Him would be absolute unison and reflect a the glorious oneness that Jesus asked His Father for; “…that they be one even as we are one…” John 17:11.  This submission to God’s authority, His leadership, brings invigorating freedom and joy.  I believe it is what Jesus truly desires of us.  I want to be a partner that God loves to dance with because I follow well. 

Song description: The concept of Biblical baptism is being comnpletely immersed in water symbolizing the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Christian baptism is the public statement of the believer that he/she identifies fully with this redeeming work of Christ. One of the difficult realities of Christian faith is that the resurrection life that we all desire comes only after the death of ourselves. Too many believers never come to terms with their own death to themselves and as a result, never experience the fullness of Christ that is offered to them. This song was written in partnership with my good friend Al Kerbey to be used during baptism. At our church, we worship while people are being baptised and celebrate their statement of faith together in that way.

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Song description: This song is a very honest look at the reality of sin in our lives and God’s response to it. It is both confession and celebration of God’s generosity in forgiveness. It is only when we come face to face with the depth of our own sin that we can come face to face with wonder of God’s love and forgiveness. I firmly believe that the depth of our devotion to and affection for Goid is directly related to the depth of our honesty with which we view our own depravity. This is a song that I need to sing over and over again.

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Song description:I think I will always be facinated and awestruck by the polar disparities that come together in the person of Jesus Christ. He is fully God, yet fully human. He is sovereign over all things, yet submitted Himself to the limits of human flesh and even to the unjust judgement of sinful men. He is the definition of life itself, yet He yeilded His life to death. He is the infinite God, yet He limited Himself to the finite confines of humanity. This all powerful, all knowing, unlimited God allowed Himself to be crucified on timbers he created so that we might have the life we could only dream of. This song is an attempt to give expression to this awesome, inexplicabel truth and express the wonder that seems to overwhelm me as I consider this spiritual reality. The lyrics of this song were penned in partnership with my dear friend Paul Hayes.

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Song description:Some years ago we were studying the book of Genisis and and spent some time examining the covenants God made with Noah, Abraham and to us. A covenent is an agreement between two or more parties, but God’s covenants with His people are unique in that bond of the covenant is identified to be based solely upon the character of God, Himself. In other words, God’s promises are certain to be fulfilled not becasue we hold up our end of the bargain, but simply because He said so. The result is that we can trust God to keep His Word because He cannot deny Himself. His promises are not contingent upon our response to Him. They are certain to be fulfilled because He is the definition of Truth and He cannot do otherwise. This song is a very deliberate declaration of trusting God not only because of what He has done, but because of who He is.

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Song description:In Ephesians 4:5-6 the apostle Paul makes the case for unity among the believers by declaring the singularity of the one body and Spirit, one hope, faith, and baptism. These are each a reflection of the mystyrious unity of God Himself. He is three, yet “one God and Father of us all who is over all and through all and in all.” NASB This song is a statement of faith taken from this scripture. It was written as a simple anthem to be recited much like the apostles creed is recited in many churches. It is a deliberate declaration of devotion to the one and only God who we worship.

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Song description: The prophet Zephaniah writes that God delights over His people with singing. Some translate the word “delight” as dancing. It is a beautiful picture of God’s affection for His people. This song is a call to worship written in light of this truth. It runs with the idea that if God loves us in this way, He will find great delight is being loved in return in the same way.

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Song description:In Hebrews chapter 10, the author urges us to draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of His grace toward us. He says that we have confidence to enter into the “holy place” because of the sacrificial blood of Christ. This song is a call to worship that capitalizes on this truth. Before this sacrifice was made on our behalf, no one could concieve of standing before God without fearing for his/her life. No one could survive in His holy presence. But Jesus not only covers our sin and enables us to be in God’s presence, He invites us to commune with God and delight in His presence as children delight in being with thier loving father. The coolest thing about this priviledge is that God delights in us as a Father who loves us and desires our company. This mutual delight is at the heart of what it means to love God and worship Him.

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Song description: One of my favorite passages of scripture in Philippians chapter 2. There we see what scholars have called the “Philippian Hymn”. It describes the fact that the almighty God, Jesus Himself, humbled Himself and took on human flesh and became “obedient” even to the point of dying the death of a criminal so that we might receive forgiveness and find fellowship with God. As Believers, we are called to emulate Christ. The starting place for that is humility, knowing our need of God and allowing Him to establish His character in us. Curiously enough, that is also the ending place. This song is both a statement of intent and of faith because such humility is a life long pursuit that is contrary to our human nature.

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Song description: When I was in college I struggled with the seriousness of following Jesus regardless of the cost. I came face to face with the call to surrender my life to Christ completely. That meant allowing Him to establish the plan for my future including not only my vocation, but my dreams, my friendships, my love life, my reputation, etc. All of it needed to belong to Him. I had no right to myself at all if I was going to be a bond-servant of Jesus. This song grew out of that struggle. The great news is that since saying to Jesus, “I surrender all…”, He took me seriously. Now, even when I want to take control of my own life, He steps in and reminds me I belong to Him. I am His servant/slave. That is my identity. I will never be anything other than that. And in this posture, I will always be most fulfilled.

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