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June 2018

June 26, 2018

102 Lines from Hymns of Faith to Help You through Tough Times

Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee, though the eye of sinful man thy...

June 24, 2018

Church of St. YouTube: Fifth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 7)

Church of St. YouTube Fifth Sunday after Pentecost June 24, 2018 Gathering Prelude Solemn Melody...

June 17, 2018

Church of St. YouTube: Fourth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 6)

This is a new regular feature on Ponder Anew, one that I've wanted to do...

June 14, 2018

Why I Don’t Sing “America the Beautiful” In Worship (Or Anywhere Else)

My first music director job in a church was in a tiny Baptist church in...

June 13, 2018

I Am the First and the Last; or, Don’t Worship Your Country

Churches, Pastors, Music Directors, worshipers, everybody who will be in church in a few weeks,...

June 11, 2018

Photo: wikipedia

June 11, 2018

How to Get Along With Church Musicians: A Guide for Pastors

It's hard to believe that I've spent 15 years of my life in some form...

June 09, 2018

What Are Your Favorite Hymns?

As I’ve said before, engaged traditional worship [primarily] because we like it or because it...

June 04, 2018

God’s Love Isn’t Reckless, and Neither Should Our Worship Be

People keep asking me about the song "Reckless Love" by Bethel Music and Cory Asbury....

May 2018

May 19, 2018

Photo: Youtube screenshot

May 18, 2018

Royal Wedding Order of Service

May 18, 2018

A Prayer For the End of “Thoughts and Prayers”

This post is a prayer, most of which I wrote several years ago after another...

May 17, 2018

Ponder Anew Mailbag: Which New Hymnal Should a Baptist Church Purchase?

Dear Jonathan, "Enjoy your posts on Worship. I pastor a small traditional Southern Baptist Church...

May 13, 2018

Mother’s Day and the Church’s Dilemma

Mother's Day is a difficult day for the church. A lot of folks expect a...

May 06, 2018

Is It Really Worship If You’re Selling Tickets?

A few weeks ago, a woman in a Facebook group pertaining to church music and...

May 05, 2018

An edifice built to exalt its architects will ultimately collapse upon itself.

May 04, 2018

April 2018

April 24, 2018

There Are Some Things Music Can’t Do, So Let’s Put It In Its Proper Place

I received this comment on my recent post: A Call To Reject Orgasmic Worship and...

April 21, 2018

How the Church Exchanged Worshiping God For Cheap Emotional Thrills

Guest post by Les Lamkin. I briefly attended a church that, every few weeks, would...

April 21, 2018

Barbara Bush Funeral Liturgy

BURIAL OF THE DEAD, RITE ONE Anthems “Nearer, My God, to Thee” arr. John Gardner...

April 20, 2018

A Call to Reject Sensual Worship and Return to Liturgy

Worship: A Prelude to What? Though I'm not reaching for shock value, the comparison between...

April 18, 2018

Your Mercy Is Like Worthless Bits of Paper: Dumb Words Churches Sing

If there's one thing commercial Christian "worship" music does well, it's mixing metaphor. There's one...

April 08, 2018

No More We Doubt Thee: Why It’s Okay to Be a Thomas

I've always loved the story of Jesus appearing to Thomas. Maybe it's because of the...

April 03, 2018

Jesus Chose a Woman to Preach the First Easter, So Let’s Do the Same.

This Sunday was my 34th time to hear an Easter sermon. Photo: wikipedia

March 2018

March 31, 2018

13 More Things You Don’t Want To Hear the Pastor Say on Easter Sunday

13. I tell you what, our jesusy cover band is making Easter great again! 12....

March 29, 2018

Top Ten Things You Don’t Want to Hear the Pastor Say on Easter Sunday

10. Please rise for our first hymn, "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today" by...

March 20, 2018

A Plea to Baptists Everywhere: Don’t Forget Your Hymns and Gospel Songs

As I rocked my infant daughter late last night, I started humming a gospel song...

March 15, 2018

64 Terrible Church Bulletin Mistakes

And this is why you always - ALWAYS - proofread the bulletin. Answers were provided...

March 05, 2018

Dear Preacher: You’re Not a Performer, and You Don’t Have an Audience

Full confession: I'm not a preacher. That probably won't surprise anyone in my audience. See,...

February 2018

February 27, 2018

Some Things I Don’t Understand: What Mister Rogers Can Teach Us About Worship

Fifteen years ago today we lost Mister Rogers. Presbyterian minister. Puppeteer. Television friend and neighbor....