I’m glad there are so many different ways to worship. We all are free to find our own unique way to express our love for God, regardless of church styles. I like to visit a monastery near my hometown periodically and worship either in solitude or with the small group of sisters who live there. There is something deeply penetrating about worshiping in those quiet ways. I appreciate you sharing your thoughts here, Aritha.

I do hope there is a worship post brewing somewhere, Barbara. I’ll look forward to reading your thoughts on it. You’re right that the struggle to really worship goes much deeper than style of music, etc. Regardless of the style, it’s our hearts and thoughts that are prone to wander, regardless of the song or lyrics or setting.

Reckless Love…I absolutely love that song. It’s impossible not to worship when you hear it, wherever you are.

And yes, you’ve nailed it, Beth. 🙂 I did grow up in a Church of Christ as a child and through most of my adulthood. We no longer attend one now, but most of our family and many of our friends still do. It gave me a rich heritage of biblical knowledge that I am thankful for, along with many lifelong relationships.

You’ve had such an interesting collection of worship experiences, Pam! I envy your diversity. What a beautiful tapestry God has been weaving through your life. When my youngest daughter was at Auburn University, she sang in the Gospel Choir. It was the most awesome worship music. Jeff and I loved their concerts and getting to experience worship in a different way with the mostly African-American students. Their enthusiasm was so contagious.

Funnier still..the very next blog post in my feed today was also about worship!

1) I’m in-between, but more quiet generally. What few concerts I have gone to have not been the kind where people yell and scream. At a ball game, I might comment or “coach” from my seat, and I might even stand up and clap, but I still don’t yell. I grew up with enough yelling for a lifetime (at home).

2) I have always gone to pretty much traditional churches. We might sing some contemporary songs, but without the “pop” sound. Our current church pushes those boundaries more than any other I have attended.

3) If you mean as far as type of music, quiet and still vs. noisy and lively, etc., no, I haven’t changed a whole lot. When I mentioned thinking about worship a lot, I’ve been thinking about how it’s a much larger issue than styles and decibel levels. In some ways it’s always a struggle not to just go through the motions – whatever those motions are – without thinking much vs. really being aware of what we’re saying and singing about and to God. I’m trying to be a better worshipper in the sense of having my mind and heart engaged and growing in my love and esteem of God.

1. Not much of a yeller unless it was a game that my kids were in. Lol! #proudmom
2. My church has rowdy worship too. It’s a bit more rowdy than I like–or too showy, that is. But I’m all about a good worship song like Reckless Love.
3. Yes, my church of origin sang hymns and didn’t have a band–opting for a piano, organ and choir instead.

Interesting post, my friend! Just curious, Lisa, were you in a Church of Christ as a child?