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Talked to the group tonight. We had to Dance at a seven styles of Worship Dance Fest. Of course our group did awesome but, No Annointing. I told them how I felt about the way we approached Worship Dance and it was a toss up. See the studio is not part of any church and we dance, tap, jazz and ballet and stuff but, the group does every thing. I just told them that GOD isn't in it. It like good and is good but could be so much more. I also said when GOD says it's time to go I'm out. I want to Dance in the Church again and looking for some place to go. But in the the mean time lets give Honor to GOD and Worship HIM! we say that we all LOVE HIM! LIVE for HIM and Trust HIM with all that we have but are we just Dancing or Worship Dancing. I just want more!

Hi I'm an artist, a student, and a BIG fan of music. I love the actor Orlando Bloom and his movies. I won't give out too much personal info, but I do live in the south. I love video games, books, and managing my websites and e-mails.

I think it started with the Vineyard movement....the proliferation of "worship" songs that are "I" centered. Songs about how good it feels to be a child of God, how great I feel when I worship Him, how grateful I am for the things He has done, how much I love Him, etc.



Many of us have come to accept that this is "worship" music, when in fact it is not. Worship, by definition, must be directed AT God, addressed TO God, and although in their love-song styles, these "I" songs masquerade as worship songs, they are something else.



Case in point. "I'm going back to the heart of worship....it's all about you, Jesus." is a song that is often sung as a worship song. If you look at the words carefully, it is NOT "all about you, Jesus"---it is all about ME--how sorry I am, how I'm going to change, etc. It is a very good song about REPENTANCE, NOT WORSHIP. And yet, over and over again, it is positioned in song sets as a worship song.



As song leaders, I believe we have to be conscious of the songs we choose....what are they REALLY saying, and WHO are they saying their message TO? There is a time for exhorting one another, a time for recounting God's marvelous deeds to one another, but these are not worship songs, and we should be careful not to use them as such, no matter how emotional and seemingly "worshipful" they appear.



There is a prophetic call going through the Body to redirect ourselves in our song-singing....to address God rather than each other, to re-establish true worship direction in our songs. We heard that call many years ago and try always to make the distinction in our choice and direction of song services. I think ZionFire has gained a reputation for preparing a place where others can reach deep intimacy with the Lord because we do understand those distinctions.



Is this something y'all have thought about, have experiences with, insights?

We've added a new forum! It's for all our singers, song-writers, music leaders and instrumental people.



Please feel free to start any music/music-leading topics there even if you are not a part of this group of worship arts ministers. We all have things to say to one another, and the more we can converse between the various arts disciplines, the better we can operate in unity to bring glory to the Lord. Hallelujah! :praise:

Dean and I were first musicians before we ever entered the realms of the visual worship arts, so we have lots to say about musical topics. Both of us are degreed musicians, Dean is a brass player, teacher, and piano technician; and I am a singer, keyboardist, flute player and song-writer. We have led worship for many years both together and separately, and we have definite opinions and some hard-won wisdom and experiences (good and bad) we can share in all these musical areas.



We'll be starting some topics on subjects we are passionate about, and hope you'll join in. You may or may not agree with us...either is OK! And we'd love to talk with you about whatever is on your heart as well.



I'm hoping that we can challenge each other in our worship leading, our song writing, and in the excellence of the messages we teach through our music and our musical relationships. So bring it on, muzo's, minstrels, singers, players, composers and all manner of song leaders!



:crooner: :piano: hofar: :praise: :boohoo: :dalag: <IMG content="http://img460.imageshack.us/img460/2347/1harp7vk.gif"><IMG content="http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/825/rimshot0vb.gif"><IMG content="http://img416.imageshack.us/img416/8075/armato103hd.gif"><IMG content="http://img45.imageshack.us/img45/7624/tuba4ik.gif"><IMG content="http://i2.ifrm.com/4508/120/emo/choir.gif">

The ZionFire team (which this time out consisted of Dean and me) provided pageantry ministry for the CEC (Charismatic Episcopal Church) Northern Convocation of the Central Province this week. There were day classes and services all three evenings.



The host church was Bread of Life in Dousman, Wisconsin, a church that has come into the CEC within the last five years. Beautiful, sweet group of people who love the Lord and want to move on with Him. The church building is an old, probably Lutheran origin, church with a round nave, some gothic windows and various ceiling obstacles. (Something of great importance to flag and banner ministry!) For instance, one of our challenges was maneuvering around a suspended wooden cross that hung over the front of the middle aisle. Yikes.



Nevertheless, we were able to bring some effective ministry, working with the Bishop so that our pageantry offerings reinforced the messages he was bringing to the attendees. We did a mix of things, but each had a common denominator: every thing was prefaced with a small teaching nugget, focusing people on the symbolic message presented.



The first night I did a solo interpretive piece, "In the Shadow of His wings", dancing with tallit and wing flags, and Dean gave a short teaching on the symbolism of the tallit, and specifically the fringes.



The second night we did an interactive drama supported by the song "Earthen Vessels", in which people were encouraged to write things that were preventing them from going on with God and seeing themselves with His eyes. The papers were gathered in an unglazed pottery vessel and then the slips were burned with fire from the altar, mixed with incense.



The third night, we offered a banner processional with 4 of the 8 Covenant Names banners to the song, "O Lord God of Israel", which exalted God as a maker and keeper of covenant. It was presented after the ordained clergy there had a ceremony renewing their covenant vows.



I believe our ministry was effective and carried a prophetic anointing. I heard comments from people from our own congregation, some who had never voiced anything to me before, about how they were touched and ministered to, and many comments from other convocation attendees.



So thank you all who prayed for us. It was physically exhausting, but spiritually satisfying to see the whole offering consumed with such sweetness and holy fire.