This past week I was asked to provide some worship music for a large Lutheran convention at the Grand Wayne Center. Besides a few songs that a few friends and I led at the beginning, the service was very traditional. It’s been a few years since I’ve participated in a traditional worship service. Even though I grew up with liturgical worship, I have to admit that it was difficult for me to stay engaged when everything I was supposed to say or pray was already planned and printed.

Responsive readings were read. Hymns were sung. A passage from the Old Testament was read followed by one from the Epistles. Then it came time for the Gospel reading. The Pastor who was preaching that evening came up to read the account of the disciples encountering Jesus on the Road to Emmaus in Luke 24. As he began to share the account, the room of 700+ people became whisper-quiet. He spoke the Word of God with an authentic intensity & with passion. My heart was so moved by the way this Pastor spoke the Word. It was gripping my spirit. And it had grabbed the complete attention of the whole room. Click to continue »