Romans 1:16-17 is a clarion call for New Testament Christians.  It also sets the agenda for the rest of the letter: 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last,[a] just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” So the Gospel — the life, death, resurrection, and ultimate return of Jesus — is in a real sense “the power of God.” It’s a phrase I’ve been hearing in prayer recently: the Gospel has its own power. In other words, there is an irresistible strength to the simple, unadorned proclamation of the Gospel story and Gospel invitation. It’s especially relevant to consider that truth when it comes to worship planning. We wrestle with the how much and the when of creativity. How much art is necessary in worship? When is it important to add a creative element to an otherwise straightforward worship gathering? On what occasions would more creativity actually detract from the simple, urgent power of the Gospel? We don’t have answers to all those questions. Yet as God brings Romans 1:16-17 to our minds, they are the ones we’ll keep asking. Because whatever creativity we bring — or don’t bring — to a Sunday morning exists to serve the Gospel and not the reverse.

I'm going to be a bit arbitrary here: "contemporary Christian" music really started in the 1970s.  That's when churches and their leaders first discovered that if they could communicate gospel truths in the (relatively) new medium of pop/rock music, they could reach new generations. What follows are the songs that in my view best represent the decade in which they emerged.  I am including only those songs which congregations (or youth groups, or retreats) could sing collectively . . . that's why there are no DC Talk or Jars Of Clay songs here. So with those ground rules, here goes:   5.  The 70s -- "It Only Takes A Spark"  Oh, how do I remember singing this with the youth group of Princeton United Methodist Church and how daring (and even non-Methodist!) we felt when we shouted "Praise God!" in the last verse! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tadZ8nCLBsI   4.  The 80s -- "How Majestic Is Your Name In All The Earth."  I confess: this is still a great song.  Double confession: it's on my mind because the series after the next series is based on Psalm 8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zu9X535MDEg   3.  The 90s -- "Lord I Life Your Name On High" (first half) and "Shout To The Lord" (second half).  Why should one decade get two songs?  Because it's my blog and these are my rules.  Also because the 90s were the decade when contemporary Christian music really came of age. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COQ6cni_TG8   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-j7CFfDvHc   2.  The 00s --  "Blessed Be Your Name"  One of the first times the genre could be honest about pain and doubt and the results were simply mesmerizing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnWKehsOXu8   1.  The 10s -- "The Great I Am."   Made that much better when we sing it in Spanish as well:  "El Gran Yo Soy." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOM-OU8p_JI  

I had a sermon yesterday. It was even pretty good. But it did not compare with the video that closed it.  Here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqPlKB7B9zY   Leaving your mark isn't about what you accomplish; it's about who you influence.

This Sunday evening, scores of folks will Take The Plunge into the waters of baptism at Good Shepherd.     Many of them have explained to us in writing why they want to go public by getting wet.  Here are a few of the reasons: From 8 year old: Jesus died on the cross for my sins. I am saved. I want to live for him.  From 40 year old:  I have never been baptized. I have not been ready until now. I want to physically portray to my savior, my daughter, my brothers/sisters in Christ and possibly someone who is still searching for Him what He has done and can only so for me spiritually. I am reborn. I want to go public with my declaration and commitment to Christ.  From 16 & 15 year olds:  To make public proclamation that Christ is savior. From 8 year old:  To be washed from sins and show that I love the Holy Spirit and God and Jesus the Son. And I want to start new.  From 45 year old:  I love God with all of my heart and soul. I wish to show this publicly in obedience having my sins washed and starting a clean new life.  From 24 year old:  On June 1st, 2015 I recommitted myself to the Lord. I have grown up believing in Jesus and grew up knowing that he was my Lord and Savior but I did not give my all to him. I have made a life change since a healing service on June 1st, have been going to bible studies and trying extremely hard to live my life for Jesus. I think I need to make the step to get baptized again as a adult and would love the opportunity in a group setting.  From 29 year old:  I have been going to Good Shepherd since last January where I decided to reconnect to God. I have been working on reconnecting to God by attending church, reading the bible, joining a life group, and volunteering through the church and would like to be baptized to signify my rebirth of recommitting myself to Jesus Christ.  From a 35 year old: I have never been baptized and the bible says you should. The main reason is I believe that Jesus died for my sins and I want to take that step of public affirmation so I can walk closer with God and be a better Christian. From a 46 year old:  To confess to all that Jesus is first in my life and now I feel that I'm ready for gods love and forgiveness. It obviously took me a long time..  From a 76 year old:  I have never been baptized ,I know if you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth you will be saved. I think getting baptized helps to wash our sins away.Even JESUS WAS BAPTIZED. I think to show us the way it is supposed to be done.      

Well, advance copies of these arrived in my office a few days ago. In my right hand you see The Shadow Of A Doubt and in my left hand is The Storm Before The Calm.  Both have an official release date of September 15, 2015, but Abingdon Press was kind enough to send me some author's copies a few weeks in advance. Please stay tuned to this space for information regarding the "when" and the "where" of upcoming book signing events and book release parties.  In the meantime, all are available for purchase by clicking on the book icons immediately to the right of this post. And as with Head Scratchers, which released in May, I am struck by the influence of the people of Good Shepherd on the pages of these books. Looking through The Shadow Of A Doubt, for example, I see David Loy's spoken word poem on page 23, I read Jill Klinger's email on behalf of daughter Kate on page 40, and on page 59 I confess how I can't get through the singing of Our God without breaking into tears because of a beautifully painful funeral that song reminds me of.  The stories of the people of this church leave their imprint on every page and in each insight.  You could say that the living relationship with Jesus Christ that this church possesses as a community helped see me through my own shadows of doubt. The Storm Before The Calm is much the same. Chapter One concludes with an anecdote about the way a woman from our church was able to embrace her impending death with dignity, peace, and even anticipation.  The second chapter features an anonymous email from someone who admits they have spent far too much time chasing storms.  And finally, Chapter Four, entitled The Perfect Storm, includes a note I received from a couple who had returned to a much-changed Good Shepherd after a few years away. Their poignant observation:  We realized we were longing for a church that no longer exists. So again: on one day I received two books in the mail, books for which I am listed as the one author.  But those of you involved in this Good Shepherd inviting all people ministry know better.  It takes a church to write a book.