new ground for worship songwriters

I’ve enjoyed Brians challenging thoughts for several years. This open letter is no exception. I hope song writers, like you - Stephen, will take up the challenge. The ideas that Brian lays out are important to me. I’m not into ‘happy, happy’ music. I’m a faulty human being as I bow before the Lord. I want the music I sing to resonate in my heart, to be ‘my’ song of worship, expressed from where I am. I love the contemporary songs that are more earthy. They remind me of the honesty of David in his psalms. Too many hymns and a lot of the contemporary music I hear coerce me to sing things I’m seldom experiencing. While there is something true to the notion that expression deepens impression - I have not found ‘happy songs of perfection’ to change my daily walk. Songs that are authentic represenations of my pained, doubting, and stumbling worship ground me in reality and are actually more encouraging and edifying. I’m looking forward to hearing more songs that connect us as humans who are growing together in our faith. I think God has called you to be one of the song writing leaders of the emergent church.