The Bridge Chicago is a way to offer the resources of Mission:USA to help people do good ministry.
Anonymous asked:
What exactly is worship? When I think worship, I think really lame “Christian” bands singing “happy rainbow pop music” at church, but that’s not worship. I don’t think so. What exactly does it mean to take time out of your day to worship the Living God? And how is it different from praying and praising? Thank you…
I answered:
Wayne Grudem wrote a big, good book called Systematic Theology and I like his definition of “the activity of glorifying God. Namely, it is any action with a genuine and conscious adoration of God in our hearts.” The part of that definition that specifically applies to your question is “any action”. Worship can certainly be singing and clapping (but “worship” is not a genre of music) but it can be anything where you are conscious of trying to glorify God. Serving, having conversations, painting, writing, any of these can be acts of worship.
A lot of worship, particularly singing as worship, is cultural. A white American church is very different from an African American church in the same town, which are both very different from church services in other countries. If you don’t dig the music at your church, that is kind of a bummer, but hopefully there are good things about your church that balance that out. There is plenty of music out there that is made by people who love the Lord, which is not lame and not “happy rainbow” which you could load up your iTunes with and have your worship in the car or in your headphones. Bridge worship leader Jed Brewer and our friend Lee Younger are great places to start for authentic music, and I have plenty of suggestions as well. Taking time out of your day to worship God can mean whatever works for you. Worship should fuel your relationship with the Lord and it is really important.
Prayer is bringing your requests, fears, questions, and other stuff to God. The goal of prayer is to communicate these things to God and listen to response. One of the key differences is prayer tends to be more still, more about waiting whereas worship is more active. Praise is a very specific aspect of worship. Praise is about how great God is and how much He has done for us. Praise is vocal, and as we established worship does not have to be. Worship can also involve lament, which happens in the Psalms (the worship song book of the Hebrews) quite often.
It is important to have a well rounded relationship with God and to be able to express ourselves to Him. Finding time daily to worship God is key to keeping our relationship to Him strong, but it comes in a massive number of different permutations. As with many things in your walk, the key is to find something that works for you and to not judge what works for other folks.
-Matt from The Bridge
Jed Brewer and Glen Fitzjerrell (Unka Glen) in full rockstar mode from the video for Jed’s song “The Easy Part is Hard”.
See the video here and get the song on iTunes
A little while back, Jed wrote a song for ladies who are struggling with singleness. If you know anyone who needs some encouragement that God has a plan to address their aloneness, this might be just the thing for them.
The new Bridge worship song “Grace” is available for free download on NoiseTrade.
Or, not free, you can leave a tip of any amount you choose.
Why Tip:
Any money goes to help Jed produce more music and stuff for folks in recovery and behind bars and for you to enjoy on Tumblr
Down the road, we hope to use Tumblr proceeds to fund missionaries (for a surprisingly low amount, you don’t exactly get into this for the cash). Money you give goes to fund missions! One click to fund music, missions, and you get an awesome encouraging song! Can’t beat that deal.
lyrics from “Grace” by Tasha Lawson, written and produced by Jed Brewer. listen here
Jed Brewer wrote an awesome worship song about the concept of grace. One of our Bridge team, Tasha Lawson, provided the vocals. It’s got more soul than one of James Brown’s jumpsuits. Who doesn’t need cool music and who doesn’t need to be reminded of the grace we have been given? Put this in your ear sockets, then tell a friend.
GOD, DON’T LET ME QUIT - A WORSHIP SONG
As you know, I work with folks coming out of gangs, prison, and drug addiction. This is a worship song I wrote for them. Hope you enjoy it!
God, don’t let me quit
Jesus I don’t have the strength
Unless you give me itGod, don’t let me go
Selling out on who I am
When you have bought me for your ownGod, don’t let me think
I’m not welcome where you are
When you’re waiting at my doorGod, don’t let me sit
Feeling sorry for myself
When you’ve thrown me a banquetGod, don’t let me long
For the life that I once lived
When that life is dead and goneGod, don’t let me hope
In a better circumstance
Where I could make it on my ownGod, don’t let me feel
That it’s up to me to fix it
When you alone can mend and healGod, don’t let me quit
Jesus, I don’t have the strength
Unless you give me it
Hey Everybody,
This is a re-post of song we wrote for our Women’s Ministry. Enjoy!
Jed
I Don’t Need A Man
I don’t need a man
To make me feel secure
Cause I’ve got a protector
And His name is The LordI don’t need a man
To tell me I’m alright
Cause I am in God’s hands
And they always hold me tightJesus, I get lonely
And my feelings get so strong
But you are what I’m needing
And have been all alongI don’t need a man
To make me feel complete
Cause Jesus makes me whole
And who I was made to beI don’t need a man
To tell me what I’m worth
Cause just so He could have me
My God came down to earthI don’t need a man
To tell me I look good
Cause God tells me today
That He’s made me beautifulI don’t need a man
To tell me who I am
Cause I’m my Daddy’s girl
And my Daddy rules the world
