That which you desire you do not yet see; but by desiring you become capable of being filled by that which you will see when it comes.

Augustine of Hippo, quoted in 'The Spirit of Early Christian Thought' by Robert Louis Wilken

While rarely disatisfied with my lot in life these days, I feel a relentless pull of the Greater unknown, and a calm confidence that the longing is not in vain. Augustine captures the sense perfectly here.

Sunday morning at Kings

• Holy, holy, holy - Reginald Heber, John Bacchus Dykes

• Strength will rise - Brenton Brown, Ken Riley
• Who O Lord could save themselves (bridge) - Matt Redman
• I cling to the cross - Chris Juby
• Faithful one - Brian Doerksen

• Far and near - Graham Kendrick
• We have known forgiveness - Chris Juby
• King of kings, majesty - Jarrod Cooper
• There's a place where the streets shine - Paul Oakley

Full of life this morning! Life and hope were my themes for opening worship.

'Strength will rise' into "We lift up our eyes, you're the giver of life" worked very well thematically but it's more of a change in rhythm than I thought it would be.

I cling to the cross absolutely soared this morning. I think that's the first time I've ever led with two of my own songs in a meeting. I tend to like to use different authors throughout my sets. Both songs fit really well today, though.

We had dancing in the aisles for 'There's a place'!

Continuing my occasional series on Worshipping with the Psalms, here are my reflections on Psalm 15...

"O Lord, who may abide in your tent?
Who may dwell on your holy hill?" (v1)

A clear question setting the theme for David's meditiaion in Psalm 15: what marks out true worshippers?

Given all the nationalistic tub-thumping of various of the Psalms we've already encountered I think it's with noting that the answer to his question is not 'Israel, obviously'. Instead the psalm goes on to reflect on qualities of the heart - things a person does and doesn't do in fact - which I've compiled as two lists:

They do:

• walk blamelessly
• do what is right
• speak the truth from their heart
• despise the wicked
• honour those who fear the Lord
• stand by their oath even to their hurt

They don't:

• slander
• do evil to their friends
• take up a reproach against their neighbours
• lend money at interest
• take a bribe against the innocent

It's an interesting list. The only things that might stick in the throat for contemporary readers are 'despise the wicked' and maybe 'don't lend money at interest'. Lending money at interest is a question of exploitation so we shouldn't get hung up on that, but I think we need to engage with 'despise the wicked'...

I suppose the reason why the idea of 'the wicked' is difficult for us in this and other psalms is that it seems to define some people as 'wicked' full-stop.

Most people wouldn't have a problem identifying certain actions or motivations as 'wicked', and I think there would be a significant consensus on the core content of that category despite the undeniably fuzzy edges, but writing people off completely as 'wicked' is another thing.

I find it a lot easier engaging with 'the wicked' in the psalms if I interpret it as meaning 'doing wicked things' rather than 'this set of people who are inherently wicked'. This actually casts the net a lot wider and forces us all to examine ourselves.

Given that David is defining worshippers based on their indvidual character and actions in this psalm rather than some inherent and arbitrary identity I don't think that move is as much of a fudge as it may at first appear.

Zooming back out to the list as a whole I think it's worth noticing an important theme in the broader character of these true worshippers...

Every aspect of a person's existence is covered by the list: the way they act, the way they speak, the attitude of their hearts. But the characteristic that stands out to me the most is 'stand by their oath even to their hurt'.

To be a true worshipper is perhaps most profoundly a question of integrity. That quality is borne out in all the 'to-do' items on David's list, even "despising the wicked", which is partly to do with not affirming or colluding with wicked actions.

Equally, the list of 'things-not-to-do' consists entirely of actions that betray a lack of integrity, particularly slander and bribery.

In terms of how this Psalm relates to our contemporary worship? It's much more about the worship we bring with our lives than a specific time of gathered worship. It's important to remember that as part of our gathered worship still today.

So what does mark out a true worshipper?

In John's gospel Jesus is asked the same question. I think it's interesting to compare Jesus' answer to the woman at the well with David's list above. Jesus famously answers:

"True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth"
(John 4.23, NRSV).

'Spirit' and 'truth' are both ideas that have deep connotations of integrity; the resonance with Psalm 15 is strong.

The hallmark of a true worshipper? A life of integrity is a pretty good place to start. Is that what our lives look like?

Sunday morning at Kings

• Our God saves - Paul Baloche, Brenton Brown

• Beautiful one - Tim Hughes
• Praise, my soul, the Kings of Heaven - Henry Lyte
• You alone can rescue - Matt Redman, Jonas Myrin

• Jesus Christ, I think upon - Matt Redman
• Nothing but the blood - Robert Lowry

• Guide me, O thou great Redeemer - William Williams, tr. Peter Williams, John Hughes
• The Lord is gracious and compassionate - Graham Ord
• Jesus, holy and anointed - John Barnett
• Adoration - Brenton Brown

Full of life this morning, with lots of visitors up for the CU mission this week.

I haven't used 'Beautiful one' in a while, it seemed fresh and transitioned very well into 'Praise, my soul'.

'Nothing but the blood' (the hymn, not Matt Redman's version) worked well while we took communion.

I braved the ire of the Scottish rugby fans amongst us to respond to Mark's sermon on 'the bread of life' with 'Guide me, O Thou great Redeemer' (beloved of Welsh fans, still celebrating yesterday's victory). It's an interesting dilemma when a hymn has other connotations like that, but in this instance I think the hymn is worth wrestling back.

I segued 'Jesus, holy and anointed' from "Jesus, I love you" into 'Adoration' at "Every soul you've saved" which is a great transition, but I think I was possibly a little too focussed on the transition and therefore didn't lead either song as well as I could have. Otherwise I was really pleased with the morning.

Kids worship at Kings this morning

• Dance on the streets - Mike Burn
• I will praise you Lord - Chris Juby
• I'd reach for the stars - Mike Burn

Lively again this morning. And more kids than have been around recently. We talked about some of the best things that have happened to us and how that made us want to act, then about expressing thanks to God for the Cross.

Sunday morning at Kings

• Come, let us worship Jesus - Graham Kendrick

• To God be the glory - Fanny Crosby
• What can I do - Graham Kendrick, Paul Baloche
• Adoration - Brenton Brown

• Be thou my vision - tr. Eleanor Hull
• Jesus, lover of my soul - Paul Oakley
• I will worship - David Ruis

We were away from our normal venue this morning, and it was a Vision and Values Sunday.

I'm increasingly passionate about keeping the Cross in full view in our worship. Other themes are obviously legitimate and in fact important, but the Cross is the heart of the matter.

There's an incredible power in simply stating the gospel together in our worship (so, 'To God be the Glory' and the second verse of 'What can I do' this morning).

Perhaps it would be possible for everyone to be so well discipled and prepared for worship that we could assume more and start "further on". But the Cross is the greatest act of worship in history and the most profound revelation of God, so I really can't see why we would want to stray very far away. Where "further" is there to go? I would rather go deeper into the mystery of the Cross.

Sunday evening at Kings

• Oh our Lord and King - Alan Rose

• And can it be - Charles Wesley
• What can I do - Graham Kendrick, Paul Baloche
• Adoration - Brenton Brown

• I cling to the cross - Chris Juby
• Jesus, all for Jesus - Robin Mark
• In Christ alone - Stuart Townend, Keith Getty

A joint evening meeting to begin the term. Mark started off both evening series preaching on the Cross as the pattern for discipleship. I changed my second set fairly significantly as the meeting unfolded. The band sounded amazing.

That's the first time I've led Brenton Brown's 'Adoration', which is a useful addition to the repertoire. The bridge is particularly good. There's a demo and chords up at Worship Central.

Main sessions from the Kings houseparty

Friday:

• To God be the glory - Fanny Crosby
• Praise is rising - Brenton Brown, Paul Baloche
• I cling to the cross - Chris Juby
• God in my living - Tim Hughes

• Nothing but the blood - Robert Lowry
• Before the throne of God above - Charitie Bancroft, Vikki Cook
• Thank you for saving me - Martin Smith
• You alone can rescue - Matt Redman
• We have known forgiveness - Chris Juby

Thursday:

• Jesus saves - Tim Hughes
• Everyone needs compassion - Rueben Morgan, Ben Fielding
• You alone can rescue - Matt Redman
• I lift my eyes up - Brian Doerksen

• More love, more power - Joel del Hierro
• Here I am, once again - Brian Doerksen
• All who are thirsty - Brenton Brown
• Are the prayers of the saints - Matt Redman
• I love you, Lord - Laurie Klein

A great houseparty. I think 'Jesus saves' was the anthem, although close run with 'You alone can rescue'.

Kids worship at Kings this morning

• Our God is a great big God - Nigel Hemming
• I will praise you Lord - Chris Juby
• We want to see Jesus lifted high - Doug Horley

Starting the new kids worship year with a lively set. I've not been feeling 100% so I was relieved to survive it. 'I will praise you Lord' definitely seems to be going well (it's been recorded for the new Faminly Worship album now - more details to follow!).

Sunday morning at Kings

• Everlasting God - Vicki Beeching

• Our God saves - Paul Baloche, Brenton Brown
• Crown him with many crowns - Matthew Bridges, Godfrey Thring, George Elvey
• I will worship - David Ruis

• Jesus, all for Jesus - Robyn Mark
• Be thou my vision - tr. Eleanor Hull
• Strength will rise - Brenton Brown, Ken Riley

The first meeting of the new year is always good fun. Once again the congregation had fought their way through snow to make it this morning. The venue was so cold we paused for hot drinks half way through the service.

The last verse of 'Crown him with many crowns' - "the Lord of years" - worked very well this morning, and meditating on god's faithfulness in various other songs seemed a good way to mark the start of 2010.