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into the Holy of Holies to worship our God. Before we begin, let's cover a few rules: Instead of being led by the spirit in prayer to bring a song to worship or even to write one from the heart that is suitable, there will be a set list of 20-30 songs from which you will be able to choose to worship God. New songs will be approved from time to time by the proper authorities on an annual basis. Additionally, volume levels will be adjusted downwards accordingly so as not to offend. We know this is rock music and that there are teenagers and even adults in the crowd who like it louder, but we got a letter last week from that one blue-hair who complains every week about not being able to hear because it's too loud, and she basically pays the payroll around here with her trust fund, so... Additionally, please feel free to be yourself. By this we mean that you are strongly encouraged to raise your hands, jump in place, dance, wave flags of no specific nationality, weep, shout, laugh, and whoo-hoo especially at the end of every song, otherwise people will think that you're not being genuine, and for God's sake we would want that. The songs will all sound alike and choruses will be sung at least five times through. "I Could Sing of Your Love Forever" will be performed at least once per week because that's how heaven will be. A fast song will always be the first song in the set, NO EXCEPTIONS. Worship will not in any circumstances start late, because the pastor needs time to preach and announcements need to be made before that. There is a large plasma screen television in the lobby with a countdown timer expressly for the purpose of timeliness. Worship will not under any circumstances last for more than 25 minutes. If the spirit of God has not shown up, you're not doing it right. Pray harder.

Have I gone too far? Perhaps not far enough. At any rate, we know what worship is not. All of this is coming from a man who simply wants God and wants more. I think it does great credit to our faith if we utterly release God to feel free to be nonexistent. Why? Because then we have utterly released our false image of him. And he can finally, at long last, begin something truly new in us. And then we will know what worship is. And we will know where the worshipers have gone, because we will be among them.

I started praying a few months ago simply that God would feel free to be himself around me from now on. I'm done trying to fit him in my pretty little box. But that's another topic for another time.

Learn more about this author, Chris White.
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