Praise You

"You are worthy, O Lord,
To receive glory and honor and power;
For You created all things,
And by Your will they exist and were created."
~ Revelation 4:11 (NKJV)

These are the words of praise heavenly saints offer to complement praise of angels.

Today, rather than my own words, I offer words sung by our church orchestra, accompanied by the dance of earthly saints.

(If you don't have time for the entire video and wish to see the dancers, we enter at about 2:00. Please excuse the mediocre recording quality.)

PRAISE YOU



Wisdom and majesty, power and glory be
Unto Your holy name now and forevermore.

O God Who spoke creation
Whose Word has formed all things
We praise You
O God Who reigns forever
Immortal King of kings
We praise You
You dwell in holy light
You rule with pow’r and might
Heaven and earth unite
To praise You

Before Your throne of glory
Angelic anthems soar
We praise You
This world of endless wonder
Stands to applaud and thunder
Praise You

O God we bow before You
And in Your awesome presence
Praise You
For You alone are worthy
Our hearts with fear and rev’rence
Praise You
O Sov’reign Lord You reign
The universe proclaims
The splendor of Your name
We praise You

With saints who’ve gone before us
Our spirits shout in chorus
Praise You
With highest adoration
This is our declaration
Praise You

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, almighty.
The whole earth is full of His glory.

Wisdom and majesty, power and glory be
Unto Your holy name now and forevermore.

Before Your throne of glory
Angelic anthems soar
We praise You
This world of endless wonder
Stands to applaud and thunder
Praise You

Wisdom and majesty, power and glory be
Unto Your holy name now and forevermore.

Before Your throne of glory
Angelic anthems soar
This world of endless wonder
Stands to applaud and thunder
Praise You!

Words and music of “Praise You” by Tony Wood and Brian Petak
© 2004 New Spring Publishing Inc.
#worshipdance

Friday Freelance: FREE FALL

"Sing like no one is listening,
Love like you'll never get hurt,
Dance like no one is watching,
Live like it's Heaven on Earth."
~ Unknown

Friday Freelance: FREE FALL

There's nothing quite like jumping from an airplane to ride upon the wind.

I've done so just twice. The first time was a simple static line jump, in which the parachute opened immediately from a ripcord fastened to the plane. A terrifying leap instantly became a calm ride beneath a circular canopy. I floated like a feather above the Colorado plain, taking in a 200-mile-plus view extending from north of the Wyoming state line to south of Pikes Peak.

The tame ride whet my appetite for a real sky dive. Having neither the money nor patience to make a couple dozen static line jumps which would qualify me for a solo dive, I opted for a tandem jump. I was allowed to control the dive, while the instructor harnessed to my back had oversight of safe return to terra firma.

This time, the plunge from the plane was anything but calm. My first order of business was learning to inhale the air pummeling against me, and take in whatever oxygen exists at three miles above the planet (11,500-foot altitude above the 4,900-foot elevation). A something-over-125-mph swan dive thoroughly overwhelmed soul and senses while I gazed at the panorama of creation in all directions, as the Creator Himself might. If Heaven ever pressed itself against me, it did so in free fall.

Speed makes for a brief plummet. All too soon the altimeter read 3,500 feet and I pulled the ripcord: instant calm. Quiet descended. A last few moments of consummate peace and bliss enfolded me before land rushed up and grasped my feet.

Free fall was the most intense and most exhilarating experience I can remember. My heart pounded with excitement, yet I knew no fear. I'd paid attention to directions and practiced maneuvers in the classroom. I trusted the pilot and my instructor, plane and parachute. I thoroughly enjoyed the ride, utterly devoid of any anxiety over the outcome.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
~ Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)

I try to live life in a spirit of free fall. I trust my Master for the outcome of every situation. Though He'll allow me to make mistakes, my life is surrendered to Him and I know He'll step in before I can act outside His sovereign will. If I'll pay attention to His directions, if I'll accept daily testing as exercise for more serious stuff, if I'm closely abiding in His Spirit Who can't be detached from me, then I'm free to ride upon the winds of life in a wonderful blend of abandonment and peace and exhilaration.

Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
Let them praise His name with the dance.
~ Psalms 149:3 (NKJV)

Though I might end with that last paragraph, I'm adding a rare prayer request. I've made mention of the fact that since I first observed it about 20 years ago, I've yearned to do worship dance. I often dance freestyle in our humble home with smiling children, or in love for God. Yet my heart's desire has been to dance with the majestic worship of a choreographed team.

For the first time, my church has a dance team, and I'm on it. Sunday night we'll present an expression of love and worship for the Lord, accompanied by orchestra and choir, before however many people show up in our 750-capacity auditorium. I'm the least experienced member of the team. Stage fright is a foreign concept to me, but I'm nonetheless a little apprehensive.

Our worship team's intent is that the audience will see in the dance and hear in the music the glory of our Lord, more than seeing and hearing us. I'd hate to distract from that, or to detract from the excellence that our God deserves in our worship. So I ask your prayer for my ability.

Most of all, I'd like prayer that when I dance, my heart will be focused on my audience of One, to Whom the worship is given.

I'd like to dance in a spirit of free fall.

Contrasting points-of-view, questions and feedback are invited. Post to

BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
#worshipdance

Friday Freelance: FRIVOLITY

"The pursuit of pleasure is not optional. It is essential."
~ John Piper, from the book Desiring God

Friday Freelance: FRIVOLITY

Even Colorado mountains don't stun me as much with their inconceivable vistas as the impossible hues of Michigan autumn I've seen this week. Like a masterpiece in progress, each day's art reveals a new touch of the Creator. This is my season of wonder.

Yet I've been far more astounded by the variety of praise revealed to me in recent years.

Some twenty years ago, I attended a Messianic worship service. For the first time I witnessed worship dance, and was immediately captivated. I had never observed praise expressed with such beauty and reverence. The experience was tucked away in the back of my mind.

I went on to learn many other things about my Jesus. I obsessively read the Bible with which I'd fallen in love. Over two decades, I found many capacities in which to share and serve: teaching, speaking, administrative tasks, prayer, service.

Beyond service and sharing, my soul contained a deep desire to praise my God. I sang from a hymnal on Sundays. I praised privately with prayer, song, and even dance at home. But I yearned to praise using all my heart-soul-mind-strength, joined to others who felt as I did.

Our church forbade such expressions, especially any music with a beat. Thin tolerance was eventually accorded to acoustic guitars. Outside our church, I managed to touch worship dance. I assisted for two semesters with elementary worship dance students. I began to worship with a Messianic congregation when I visited Denver, and a couple of times joined their worship dance impromptu. But within our church, dance was never a consideration. It was taught that the original Hebrew references to dance in the Bible meant "marching," not dance as we know it. I knew such definition was an error, but there were more important hills to risk dying upon.

Such hills split our church in 2002. The Lord finally gave us permission to leave in 2007, by which time I thought my soul might shrivel up with thirst to express exuberant praise. And every time I observed worship dance, my heart would break to see such beauty poured out to God.

Trust in the LORD, and do good;
Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
Delight yourself also in the LORD,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
~ Psalms 37:3-4 (NKJV)

In His goodness, the Lord brought us to a new church where praise is given priority, and excellence marks our choir and orchestra. Dance has also tantalized, but always just outside my reach. In the spring of 2008, I had opportunity to either dance or obtain training in jail ministry. I went with the latter, since I have eternity to dance, but only a few years on earth to minister to others. In fall of 2008 dance for the Christmas presentation was planned but fell through, and I found myself instead on drama team, which proved a match made in Heaven. This last summer, I joined the Sunday evening praise team, and now help lead singing twice a month.

All the while, I've contented myself with the prayer, "Lord, could You just be sure I'm put on Heaven's dance team?" On Earth I'll practice arts such as writing, drama and music, which speak words to edify. The utter frivolity of worship and praise in dance must wait for eternity.

A month ago, I learned that part of the presentation this Christmas is a magnificent piece of music which our orchestra will play, our choir will sing—to which worshipers will dance. I plan to be among them.

It's hard work. My brain doesn't want to remember French words like degagé, demi-pliés and tendu, and my feet don't want to move that way. I stretch and fumble and practice, practice, practice. I concentrate on the music's tempo rather than its majesty.

Then the soloist sings "Holy, holy, holy." My face is pressed into the dust of the floor in worship. I slowly lift my arms in praise and my feet begin to glide through the fluid movements of angels. Every fiber of my being—heart, soul, mind and strength—is given over with abandon to the praise of my King, joined with others of like minds.

I am transported to another realm. Heaven has arrived on Earth.

And I am lost in the frivolity of eternity.

Contrasting points-of-view, questions and feedback are invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.