It seems so often as Christians we put limitations on our worship. It's an event once or twice a week. It's a service or a type of song. How many times have you heard "I'm going to worship" or "this is the music i worship to"? We have narrowed down the meaning of worship from a lifestyle to an activity. Something we do, not who we are.
If we allow ourselves to limit worship to just music we are missing the point, because true worship is so much more! And that's what the anatomy of a leaf is all about. It's not about assigning a spiritual meaning to the parts of a leaf, it's about realizing that all its parts point to the same thing. When you look at the intricacy of the leaf, its purpose and function, it has the fingerprints of God all over it. It can't help but bring glory to the Creator! It doesn't set aside time out of its week to do it, it does it all the time! Just as it says in Romans 1:20, "since the creation of the world his invisible attributes, his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made..." how amazing! It is creation's very nature to praise!
We are compelled to be the same. Romans 12:1 says we should offer our bodies as "living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God" as our act of worship. Peter says we are like "living stones" built into a spiritual house. We are urged in 1 Thessalonians 5 to "give thanks in all circumstances" because it is God's specific will for our lives!
True worship is not contemporary or traditional. It's not even music! True worship is a life lived to glorify God. When we can get to that life, a life where worship is our nature instead of an effort, then we're getting somewhere. Then those moments in the week where we do sing become truly meaningful. They become a crescendo of a worship filled life.
So this is where you're supposed to put your story... But how do you fit a life in a few paragraphs? How do you contain why I worship and what has shaped my love for Christ in a short enough thought that you'll read it? After hours of fighting with what should be in and what could be left out I realize that a story is best told over a cup of coffee, not as a tool of self promotion. So instead I'll give you a short philosophy of worship.
Worship is where joy and pain, hope and fear, love and the Holy Spirit collide in an offering to God. It requires not perfect pitch or an epiphany of melodic masterpiece. It is not found in studio recordings and tight knit harmony. It is simply this: all we are, given as our best to glorify the one King.
That's what I'm shooting for, from me, and for you. I pray that my music can help focus a life of worship in you and lead you to the place we need to be, face down before the throne.
Nathan Arnold is a worship artist from Vancouver, WA. "The Anatomy of a Leaf" is available on iTunes, through snocap and delivered to your door.
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Going good Bro Im curently recording my full length debut Album Im coming
Together so good...I'm stoked for it's release! How's everything going with U man?
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Hey Guys..Hows Everything goin?!?!? Here's some news about me. I am Currently Working on and Recording My Full length Debut Album its going to be 11 songs :) Im Stoked...I NEED Yalls Help... I am going to re-due and put 3 of the songs from my demo on it So let me know What 3 are Ur Favorite:
1.Choose, 2. Circles, 3. Take me away, 4. No Escape, 5.Mask, 6. Here w/Me
Let me know What U want to hear on the New Full Length Album
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Hi! I hope you're having a good start in 2009! It looks like there will be new music and cd from Hakonmusic sometime during the spring...! Keep checking for news...! A leap of faith...! Good stuff:o)! -Hakon
