I don’t know why God always speaks to me when I am tired.  Maybe it’s cuz I’m finally quiet.  Last night I went to our local coffee shop to sing a few songs and participate in the Open Mic.  I was amazed at what local talent we have – and mostly from the 20 something generation.  They are singing cover songs and originals, and some of them just blow me away.  And then my friend Charile Petitt sat down at the piano at the end of the night.  He sang this beautiful old hymn.  And the presence of God fell in the place.  There were some who tuned it out, but others were hanging onto his every word.  I sat in awe. How the Word of God just does that when put to music.  I know, it shouldn’t surprise me.

And then this morning.  I opened up my e-mail. I am a member of LinkedIn.  I lead the praise team at our church and some of the Groups I belong to are for Worship Leading, Praise and Worship, Music Ministers etc. So I get this e-mail with the title, “What Makes A Good Worship Leader?” So I go there. And read. And cry. Here is a forum of the people God has chosen to lead worship at His church and they are arguing online.  We do this, we don’t do that, big churches reek, little churches don’t do it right, blah, blah, blah.  I didn’t even respond.  I didn’t want to join the argument.  Contemporary or Hymns – there is another argument.  I have seen churches divide over that one.

And then God spoke to me.  “What are you teaching my kids to sing?”

I had to stop and ask myself. Especially today, tonight we are starting a Children’s Choir at our church.  A beautiful woman of the Lord, Jean has asked to lead it, I offered to play piano for her.  Jean is awesome, she always brings a boatload of kids to church with her. God bless her Lord. So I have been asking myself this same question, “what am I teaching the younger generation to sing?”  One of the Pastors asked us to learn some Christmas Carols.  So we will start there.  And honestly, Idk after that.

Then, on the way running errands, I thought of all the songs that are ‘out there’.  We have hymns, Contemporary Christian, Country, Rock, Rap, Jazz, World, New Age, etc.

In looking at the “World’s Music” we don’t want to sing those. Last night was the CMA’s and its all about drinking in my opinion.  And the Rock songs, well lets just teach our kids to be their own God there, again my opinion.

Here, let me show you what I mean. Here are a few of the lyrics/Top 10’s:

TOP 10 COUNTRY SONGS 11-8-13

1. Round Here – Florida Georgia Line  The moon comes up and the sun goes down
   “We find a little spot on the edge of town
   Twist off, sip a little, pass it around
   Dance in the dust, turn the radio up
   And that fireball whiskey whispers
   Temptation in my ear
   It’s a feelin’ alright Saturday night
   And that’s how we do it ’round here
   Yeah that’s how we do it ’round here”
2. Little Bit of Everything – Keith Urban
3. It Goes Like This – Thomas Rhett
4. That’s My Kind of Night – Luke Bryan
5. Redneck Crazy – Tylar Farr
6. Hey Girl –  Billy Currington
7. Night Train –  Jason Aldean
8. Mine Would Be You – Blake Shelton
9. See You Again – Carrie Underwood
10. All Over the Road – Easton Corbin

Rock songs, here we go…

TOP 10 ROCK SONGS

1. Royals – Lorde                                                                                                                                                             “And we’ll never be royals (royals).
   It don’t run in our blood,
   That kind of luxe just ain’t for us.
   We crave a different kind of buzz.
   Let me be your ruler (ruler),
   You can call me queen Bee
   And baby I’ll rule, I’ll rule, I’ll rule, I’ll rule.
   Let me live that fantasy.
2. Demons – Imagine Dragon
3. Let Her Go – Passenger
4. Safe and Sound – Capital Cities
5. Radioactive – Imagine Dragons
6. Still Into You – Paramore
7. Sail – Awolnation
8. Sweet Weather – the Neighborhood
9. Pompeii – Bastille
10. Gone, Gone, Gone – Phillip Phillips

    I know, Great News right?

And this is what our kids are singing – 

while we argue over Hymns or Contemporary Christian.  

(You can check the TOP 50 Hymns and TOP 40 Contemporary Christian Songs on the link above)

Many churches have abandoned the old hymns entirely. There may be a whole generation growing up without ever singing “The Old Rugged Cross”.  I am so grieved today.  I feel like I have dishonored my Spiritual Parents; the generations upon generations of our Spiritual Fathers and Mothers who sang to You with all their heart with what they had.  Who am I to criticize the way another person or church worships YOU? Their worship is between them and You. Forgive me Lord.  They are your children, not mine.   Thank you for my lesson today.

So – thinking ‘out of the box’ , I wondered –  what if I was that old Hymnal? Hence, my poem today:

OLD & OUTDATED?
©2013 Diana Rasmussen

I’m the book you threw away
The song you never sang
Thought I was old and outdated
Just garbage in your hands

But I brought tears to Grandpa’s eyes
every time he sang Amazing Grace
Grandma smiled when she got to Fly Away
Even that old Preacher Man
with the Word in his hand
Went to The Old Rugged Cross at Calvary

I may not be in the Radio Top 40
But can I ask,
Are You Washed in the Blood?
When your kids look for Blessed Assurance
How will they know How Great Thou Art?

Every page was a new testimony
to All Creatures Of Our God And King
No more singing It Is Well With My Soul
the hearts that lived upon each note  – dishonored

This Little Light of Mine, stuffed in a dumpster
Faith Of Our Fathers, just thrown away
But hey, Jesus Loves Me This I Know
So Take My Life And Let It Be

(Featured Image from: www.ourladyoftheridge.org

camp image from: en.wikipedia.org  )