Welcome to the first of my Worship in the Word newsletters. I am very excited to present this in the blog format. You can read some news, prayer requests, and a question for your input. I invite you to click on one of the sections on the drop down menu to your right to read one of three columns I describe below. Your input on how this blog format works for you will certainly be appreciated.

Hearts for God This is something for the under 12 gang. It is an ongoing story about a person their age who learned some lessons about worship or music.

Worship for Real This page is designed to be something practical for your personal worship life. It may go after one of your questions or give you some suggestion about the day-to-day battles we all face when it comes to music or worship.

Reasoning from the Scriptures This page will be an article that I hope will stimulate the thinking of those of you in worship and music leadership.

Worship in the Word Mission Statement Here I will give you a little about me and what I believe the Lord has burdened me to do.

Let’s get started with a little news . . .

August and most of September has been about getting settled in this new chapter in our lives. In the middle of all this I praise God for a chance to minister with Pastor Ryan Dupee at Arlington Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland. What a great time around the Word in a worship and music emphasis Sunday. I was also able to spend two days at the Wisconsin Fellowship of Baptist Churches annual meeting in Green Bay. We had great fellowship and preaching and I was able to meet several like-minded pastors with whom I may be able to minister in the future. I was also privileged to conduct the alumni choir for the 50th anniversary celebration at Pillsbury Baptist Bible College and renewed some acquaintances with friends from way back. I have spent much of the last six weeks recouping and retooling. My plan was to start a more serious writing schedule in October, but I managed to put together some shorter articles that I hope to submit to some magazines. I’ve also finished a tentative format for two of the books I am burdened to write.

Prayer

• Pray for the wisdom and discipline needed for writing.

• Pray for the opportunity to get these much needed materials out to people. It is not too early to begin praying for a publisher.

• Pray for just the right opportunities to teach and preach.

• Pray for the funding and wisdom to open up an appropriate web site or remain in this blog format. We have already reserved worshipintheword.org!

• Pray for our financial needs and specifically for a job for Brenda.

• Pray for Sarah and Colette as they adjust to our new life here in Watertown.

That brings me to the next section. Can I ask you a question? Since I am just beginning the structure for several projects I would like to enlist your help. God helping me, I hope to develop materials for church leaders, families, and junior youth. I’m resisting the temptation to explain all the projects at once and would like to get your input on the book for the family first. If any of these questions are of special interest and you have an opinion, hit that reply button and help me out. I will give you a shot at the other projects in the months to come.

• If there is one thing you hope to see in a walk thru the Bible approach to worship and music what would it be?

• What are the most important issues I need to address about worship and music in your family?

• Any ideas for making singing a more important part of your family?

• Most people think about two things when you talk to them about devotions; prayer and Bible reading. What is the biggest hindrance to you coming “before His presence with singing?”

• Ok, now here’s the big one. What would you give as a title?