The Power of Music

I just read a good post by worship pastor Stephen Miller writes titled "Why New Churches Should Sing Old Songs."  Here's how he starts:

A  B  C  D  E  F  G 

H  I  J  K  LMNOP . . . 

You're singing along, aren't you? This catchy melody was responsible for teaching you one of the most foundational facts you ever learned. 

That's the way music works. It teaches. It forms us. 

We don't need scientific studies to know that music and melody fuses truth into our memories and intellects. We can all observe how melody infuses meaning, emotions, affections, and experiences into words. It takes lyrics to new heights and depths that they couldn't go on their own. 

As a church musician, I'm not trying to downplay the formative importance of preaching. But I couldn't tell you the take-home point of two sermons I heard growing up, no matter how clever the preacher's alliteration. But I still sing "Holy Holy Holy" word for word. I know "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" by heart. "The Solid Rock" is an ever-present companion for me in difficult times. Those songs have given me a vocabulary to express myself. I have learned the truth of God in a way that will stay with me for a lifetime.

Click here to read the rest.  Miller also offers two free mp3s from his upcoming album titled "Hymns."  You can download "Holy Holy Holy" and "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty."

Gospel Goodness

The Five Solas are five Latin phrases (or slogans) that emerged during the Protestant Reformation and that summarize the Reformers' basic theological convictions on what they believed to be the essentials of the Christian life and practice.

Here is a very good, brief description of each.