Doxologies, Delirium and Discussion: Religion Chat Thread number 3

[nickelbabyhatcher]

Here we are!

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Oldies welcome, newbies welcome, anyone welcome!

It's basically a "what happened in church/spiritual life/anything else you want to chat about that's vaguely related (or not) to churchy stuff.

you see nickel, i am a bit of a rebel and would have put it down anyway, better that than fainting from low blood pressure and knocking out some poor old biddy on the front row... precedents have already been set by hungry men eating the bread in the temple and ears of corn on the sabbath and all that. you and baby are more important than a symbol.

I like the "old hymns" to the organ and newer songs to a group of musicians.

i like songs/hymns that actually tell you what God has done rahter than the I will worship you when life is crap yeah yeah yeah songs. (because life is often a bit crap and I want reminding of facts not trying to manufacture feelings.)

MHD I had 'Arrival of the Queen of Sheba' as well, but I had it to come in to and apparently it's normally for exiting . We did a trad hymn sandwich - 1 to start on the organ, worship songs in the middle by a worship band (and played while we signed the register) and a trad one to finish but played by the band. So a bit of everything to keep everyone happy . Actually more seriously I think there's a place for all types of worship and instruments - the Psalms list quite a few (although afaik not the organ...)

BTW wanted to say that's fantastic news Dilly. Really excited for you.

I've been away at parents too so just catching up. I love the full range of music - powerful organ music and the modern worship songs. Reading the above has made me look up the music we had at our wedding on you tube - Campra's Rigaudon at the start, Purcell's trumpet Tune at the end and during the service the choir singing Carter's God be in my head, Mozart's Laudate Dominum and Batten's O sing Joyfully. I love youtube

MHD - sorry forgot to say earlier: check your inbox, I sent you a PM :)

Got it TLC, thanks :)

Trumpet Voluntary - that's the other one I had.

I'm going to be a bit over sensitive for a minute if that's OK (and you can tell me to not be so bloody daft if you want) but there have been a few similarish posts disparaging songs 'with yeah yeah' or 'I will worship you whatever' etc, seemingly to me belittling them, and actually these types of songs mean a heck of a lot to me and help draw many into sincere worship. A lot of the psalms are very personal songs to God and saying the same type of stuff, ie even when things are at their worse, still I will praise you. And this can help. And has helped me so many times when things have been at their worst, and I have wondered if it will ever get better. There is something intrinsically powerful about uttering these words in the midst of crisis, or even in the middle of good times, it's about laying our lives down, saying God. I'm yours. Whatever.

And the yeah yeah language....hmmmm. I could make similar comments about thees and thys but don't, even though I don't find them particularly helpful to me. I understand how others can worship with them in a deep and sincere manner that helps them feel close to God. And I think that is wonderful. I think it is amazing that we have a God of variety and that we are people of variety.

So I'll go right on singing my yeah yeahs and finding God in that, and in the amazing old hymns, and even in GK choruses (And I have a lot of time for a lot of GK songs, as I do for everything else )

Now I know this is a lovely light hearted thread and I am being a Bit Boring and Serious, but something has just got to me a bit today, so I hope you'll excuse me and ignore me :) This is NOT a dig at anyone at all, please don't take it as such, more an observation possibly - even talking to myself, about how easy it can become to pour scorn on what I don't particularly like. I am sorry if I have ever done this and hurt anyone through it.

As you were......

susan - i know, i was just a bit that noone offered to take it (even those in the choir who were capable) - in the end, I turned to the music group behind me and mouthed "will someone take this bloody cross from me?!!!"

"i like songs/hymns that actually tell you what God has done rahter than the I will worship you when life is crap yeah yeah yeah songs" yes, yes (sorry ) I totally agree - those that are based on scripture are the best, especially on the psalms, because they really do shout that God has done amazing things and that he's there for us. (and I think that the style of a lot of modern music is deliberately doen to evoke strong emotions in you - no room for your own feelings getting in there. It's a bit like watching a sad film and crying because they've told you to)

milly - believe it or not, the organ wasn't an instrument at the time the psalms were written (and there is a hymn, which I can't name now because my memory is shit, that is based on a psalm, that has replaced one of the musical instruments with Organ for the hymn)

mhd - we're not belittling your opinion, we're just saying it isn't ours.
how many times have I been told on here that my choices are shit?
don't panic, like we've said so many times, God has allowed and encouraged everyone to make/enjoy the music that appeals to them the most - he doesn't care how you worship him, as long as your do it with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength
(and no, i don't think you're being over-sensitive either - it can smart when someone says they hate something you love.)

(and mhd - you might want to read my last paragraph before you read the rest of my post... )

Absolutely nickel, that's what it comes down to. And I honestly am happy to be told my choices are shit too. It's fun. Just touched a nerve today I think.

But just picking up something you said you say you prefer songs based on scripture and not 'I will worship you when life is crap yeah yeah' but so many of the psalms say exactly that, and evoke strong feelings from how they are written!

1 As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, my God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?
3 My tears have been my food
day and night,
while people say to me all day long,
?Where is your God??
4 These things I remember
as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go to the house of God
under the protection of the Mighty One[d]
with shouts of joy and praise
among the festive throng.

5 Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.

6 My soul is downcast within me;
therefore I will remember you
from the land of the Jordan,
the heights of Hermon?from Mount Mizar.
7 Deep calls to deep
in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers
have swept over me.

8 By day the LORD directs his love,
at night his song is with me?
a prayer to the God of my life.

9 I say to God my Rock,
?Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I go about mourning,
oppressed by the enemy??
10 My bones suffer mortal agony
as my foes taunt me,
saying to me all day long,
?Where is your God??

11 Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.

Or: Where are you God? I long for you! Why is my life so crap! But I will still worship you anyway.

[grin[

I am aware of the irony in my statement
(and actually thought of it when I wrote it, but I thought, ah, what the heck? It's still scripture [tongue]

(ooh, and I think you wrote the words wrongly - they look far too modern for my psalter

DH is a scary man - I wanted to put the psalter words down for your first example.
"what psalm is the deer one?" i asked
without a beat's rest "42"

Like as the hart desireth the water-brooks: so longeth my soul after thee O god.
My soul is athirst for God yea () even for the living God: when shall I come to appear before the presence of God?

(NIV is a shit version, though - in the latest edition, they even said that before they made it too complicated, and a lot of the newest translation goes back to words and phrases in the KJV - okay, the thees and thous gone, but the words are the same but modern.)

arf at 'yea' in the Psalter! I am so very vindicated

YEAH YEAH BABY

NIV is not a shit version. It's as accurate to the originals as RSV. Liking NRSV at the moment though, or The Message

hehehehehe

1-3 A white-tailed deer drinks from the creek;
I want to drink God,
deep draughts of God.
I'm thirsty for God-alive.
I wonder, "Will I ever make it?
arrive and drink in God's presence?"
I'm on a diet of tears?
tears for breakfast, tears for supper.
All day long
people knock at my door,
Pestering,
"Where is this God of yours?"

4 These are the things I go over and over,
emptying out the pockets of my life.
I was always at the head of the worshiping crowd,
right out in front,
Leading them all,
eager to arrive and worship,
Shouting praises, singing thanksgiving?
celebrating, all of us, God's feast!

5 Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul?
Why are you crying the blues?
Fix my eyes on God?
soon I'll be praising again.
He puts a smile on my face.
He's my God.

6-8 When my soul is in the dumps, I rehearse
everything I know of you,
From Jordan depths to Hermon heights,
including Mount Mizar.
Chaos calls to chaos,
to the tune of whitewater rapids.
Your breaking surf, your thundering breakers
crash and crush me.
Then God promises to love me all day,
sing songs all through the night!
My life is God's prayer.

9-10 Sometimes I ask God, my rock-solid God,
"Why did you let me down?
Why am I walking around in tears,
harassed by enemies?"
They're out for the kill, these
tormentors with their obscenities,
Taunting day after day,
"Where is this God of yours?"

11 Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul?
Why are you crying the blues?
Fix my eyes on God?
soon I'll be praising again.
He puts a smile on my face.
He's my God.

Loving it

Hi everyone many thanks for the lovely welcome. This thread is a real blessing I cannot believe some of the negativity towards God on the other threads. It is a real hurting world out there the very mention of our Lord seems to stir up anger in some people.

We had a lovely Easter Sunday after Church (which is very lively)we rolled our eggs down a nearby hill then went to the play park. Took my dn 4 and my ds 16 he had the most fun.

Going to a new thing tonight every house group/cell group/life group in our district are meeting in a community centre for a social evening. Church is not a community church and is very big (400) approx. It is also 9 miles from my home so I often miss people on Sundays, we are trying to foster more of a community etc.

I often feel tired after a long day at work and with family etc and cannot really be bothered but I know that when I get there I will be glad.

Blessings

Loving the translation comparing. I actually really like using different translations because sometimes they shed a completely new light on a passage that is really familiar, but generally I do use the NIV. The translation that people here use is one done in the 1900s and the language is pretty hard (even for native speakers - anything would be hard for me ). I do come across a lot of missionaries who are die hard KJVers and I really struggle to understand why. Anyone like to enlighten me??

I just preferred hallelujah on Sunday to yeah, yeah, yeah. Most people liked both.

Not a problem, as I drink God at communion every Sunday. :o What about the "deep draughts". Game of underground checkers anyone? :o

I don't like the NIV either. Also known as the Not Inspired Version or Nearly Infallible Version :o

Ooh hello, not popped my head into one of these threads before. Please to meet you all

DutchOma I'm glad you enjoyed your hallelujahs on Sunday! Most at the church we were at (in mum and dad's village, the church I susbstantially grew up in) were mumbled into beards it seemed. Our pew's were all shouted very loudly though Seriously though I don't get it, Jesus is risen again, let us all mumble pathetically hallelujah

And your discussion about the hymns versus modern worship songs - we had a very Harry Hill-esque discussion about that very thing the other day: "I like songs we sing to God, and I like the songs we sing about God, but which is better....?"