because I’m bewildered
I’ve squandered.
I’m confused.
I’m baffled.
I’m perplexed.
I’m worried.

I’m needy.
I’m greedy.

I’m lost.
I hurt.
I doubt.
I’m deep in thought.
I’m upset.

I’m dependent.
I think I’m independent.

I’m straying.

I’m mixed up.
I’ve messed up.

I question?

I’m hopeless.

I’ve forgotten.

I’m thankful.
I’m joyful.
I’m blessed.
I am a child of God.
I’m loved.

Yet…

I’m a sinner.
I need help.
I’m blue.
I’m old.
I have issues.
I offend.
I loose my patience.
I lack faith.

I pray because He listens.
I pray because it works…
… and because it’s a privilege.
Because I get to.

I pray because others need it.
I pray because He answers.
I pray because Jesus prayed.
I pray to recharge my spiritual batteries.
I pray because the need flows out of me all the time,*
Waking and sleeping, it does not matter.*
It does not change God – it changes me.*

That’s why I pray!

- Based on one sentence by C. S. Lewis*

The line spaces are meant to convey the flow of thoughts as they came to me.

Scripture References:

Mt 17:1-13, Mk 9:2-13, 2 Cor 3:12-4:2, Ex 24:12, 15-18, 2 Peter 1:16-21, 2 Cor 4:3-6. Ex 34:29-35, Ps 148, Lk 9:28-36, 2 Ki 2:1-12

Great Hymns:  “With Trembling Awe the ChosenThree”
“Down from the Mount of Glory “ (CW 97)*
“How Good, Lord, to be Here” (CW#95)*
* These hymns lend themselves to guitar/piano accompaniment.

These are all good sites to find music:
www.worshiptogether.com
www.musicnotes.com
www.sheetmusicplus.com
www.praisecharts.com
www.lifewayworship.com

Related articles

• Music to Close Your Worship Service (sjbrown58.wordpress.com)

First I would like to thank all of those who have participated and may God bless each of your congregation’s richly through your eagerness to improve your worship and musical offerings – whichever style you choose to use. 

The biggest surprise to me in the poll results was the extent to which contemporary music is being used within the WELS and ELS churches today.  According to my survey results: 

23% use only hymns accompanied by the organ
77% use acoustic guitar and piano on at least some of their music
12.5% don’t even own an organ. 

This is mind boggling to me but I suspect these numbers represent more of the WELS/ELS audience that view my BLOG as opposed to our Synods as a whole but nonetheless, this is data that can not and should not be ignored by our Synod offices.  In my opinion, the Worship Supplement was an incredible step in the right direction but we need more resources, more training, and more education to go along with all of the newer music and different forms of accompaniment that our congregations are moving toward. 

Here are the complete numerical results to date:  

The reported results in terms of growth for those churches using newer music are extremely encouraging to say the least.  God be praised! 

So here are a few things that would be great from our Synod Offices and Publishing Houses in 2012 and beyond: 

1. A new contemporary songbook to replace LAPPY.  LAPPY was fine for it’s time but its lack of guitar chords on many of the songs is inexcusable today.  Plus, contemporary music by definition is new and fresh.  These types of songbooks need to be revised every ten years or sooner.  They have a much shorter life than hymnals by their very nature.
2. A supplement to our “Christian Worship” hymnbook that contains chords to all the hymns that lend themselves to a modern style of accompaniment.
3. Some new “orders of service” for use with contemporary musical styles.  These would be alternate settings that do not rely solely on the organ for accompaniment.
4. Some emphasis on our own gifted musicians (for example Koine’ and the Branches Band), maybe using their arrangements in a song book. 
5. More encouragement, acceptance and resources for musicians that play contemporary instruments like the drums, keyboards/piano, bass guitar and electric/acoustic guitars.  These instruments need to be part of our Synod’s “Worship and Arts” conferences.
6. Articles in the “Forward in Christ” magazine and the “WELS Connection” videos demonstrating the best uses of well written contemporary music and the positive effects that they are having in our Synod and reaching out to the lost.
7. Articles in the “Forward in Christ” magazine and the “WELS Connection” videos on what’s happening in churches within the Synod that are trying new worship formats and styles. 
8. A committee defined and created to be tasked with looking for good contemporary music; both musically and lyrically, with our Lectionary calendar in mind. 

Hopeful thinking, yes, but we do need this and I pray for the Lord’s blessings to make this at least get some exposure. 

“Lift up the voice and strike the string, Let all glad sounds of music ring, In God’s praises blended.”  – CW79 vs 5

Related articles

• Try a Little Variety! (sjbrown58.wordpress.com)

“Peace be Yours” by Blair A’Hearn (BOB #83)
“May the Peace of God” by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend (CWS 745)
“Go Out as people of God” by Gloria Lien (BOB #69)

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• Hotd (sjbrown58.wordpress.com)

One of the first things I look for in any song that I play is the time signature and the tempo.  I am also a foot tapper.  But the thing is, I do more than tap my foot to keep myself in time and in the groove.  If I am playing in 2/4 or 4/4; I will tap my foot either “forward, back, back, back or forward, back, forward, back.”  Literally, my foot not only taps in time but it also moves forward or backward depending on the time signature.  This helps me to keep the groove.  For ¾ or 6/8 time, I will tap “forward, back, back, forward, back, back.”  When my foot is moving forward – I emphasize the beat, when it is going back I do not emphasize.  It’s like a clock.  Sometimes while practicing at home I will even place a tambourine on the floor in the forward position so that my foot plays the percussion on the emphasized beats.

This trick may or may not work for you but the point is that you need to find something to keep you in the groove.  Your band and the congregation will be appreciative if you do.

M:        Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?
C:        We are heirs of the kingdom (James 2:5)

M:        Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
C:        We are heirs of a special blessing (1 Peter 3:9)

M:        And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.
C:        We are heirs of eternal life (Matt. 19:29)

M:        Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
C:        We are heirs of salvation (Heb. 1:14)

M:        Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath.
C:        We are heirs of God’s promises (Heb. 6:17)

M:        He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.
C:        We are heirs of many things (Rev. 21:7)

M:        Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. (Galatians 4:7)

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.  Used by permission of International Bible Society

Most of these songs can be purchased at the following sites unless noted otherwise: 

www.worshiptogether.com
www.musicnotes.com
www.sheetmusicplus.com
www.praisecharts.com
www.lifewayworship.com

Son of Adam, Son of heaven,
Given as a ransom,
Reconciling God to man,
Christ our mighty champion!
What a savior, what a friend!
What a glorious mystery!
Once a babe inBethlehem,
Now the Lord of Histroy.
-“Joy has Dawned” by Keith Getty (last verse) 

Lyrics just don’t get much better than that!

Print something like this:

Traditional Christian Grace

Jesus,

Only you can cure by simply saying a few precious words.
Only you can cure using ordinary materials such as saliva and mud.
Only you have completely healed the lepers, the crippled, the chronic bleeders and the blind; in fact many times.
Only you have brought complete hearing back to the deaf and sight to the blind.
Only you can heal those who just touch your cloak.
Only you have brought three dead people back to life; four including yourself.

Jesus, it is you.
You are our comfort, our peace and our strength.
You give the gift and the talents to our doctors and surgeons.
You give the wisdom and the brain power to the researchers hunting for the next cure.
You give a caring heart to those who tend to our hurts and wounds.
You are the ultimate healer.

So Jesus, please heal ( _______ ) now.  Guide and bless their doctors and bring comfort to all those who are under stress as a result of a disease or illness or the health of a loved one.

We pray this in your beautiful name – Jesus.  Our savior.

Amen.