March 7, 2023
by Eric Stillman
It is probably impossible to truly understand the motivations and desires that operate within us at any given time as we go about our daily life. This past Sunday, for instance, I led the music at church. During communion, we sang a new song called “Glory, Honor, Power” that begins with the line “Most worthy, worthy of praise.” That line, of course, is meant to be a declaration to God that He is the one who deserves the highest glory and praise. And, in my head, I believe that to be true.
But if I’m being honest, there is a part of me that is singing that line to myself....Keep Reading
Posted in: Discipleship Tags: Worship, Gospel, Discipleship
July 5, 2022
by Eric Stillman
Think about the last time you entered a church building to worship on a Sunday. What was the state of your heart and mind when you entered? Were you focused on God and ready to worship Him and hear from Him? Were you distracted by the concerns of the day, or annoyed by the kids in the back seat? Were you coming in late, rushed and just glad you made it?...Keep Reading
Posted in: Worship Tags: Church, Worship, Songs of Ascent
May 31, 2022
by Eric Stillman
As I was reading Diane Langberg’s Suffering and the Heart of God last week, I came across this devastating story that is worth sober reflection:
“While I was in Ghana a couple of years ago for a conference on violence against women and children, we visited Cape Coast Castle. Hundreds of thousands of Africans were forced through its dungeons and through the door of no return onto slave ships. There were five dungeon chambers for males, and descending into the darkness of one of those dungeons felt claustrophobic. 200 men shackled and chained together lived in that dungeon for about three months before being shipped across the Atlantic. We stood in one of the male dungeons listening in the darkness to the whole horrific story, when our guide said this: “Do you know what is above this dungeon?”...Keep Reading
Posted in: Suffering Tags: Worship, Suffering, Cape Coast Castle
April 29, 2021
by Eric Stillman
Think about the last time you entered a church building to worship on a Sunday. What was the state of your heart and mind when you entered? Were you focused on God and ready to worship? Were you distracted by the concerns of the day, or annoyed by the kids in the back seat? Were you coming in late, rushed and just glad you made it?...Keep Reading
Tags: Church, Worship, Songs of Ascent
June 9, 2020
by Eric Stillman
In my preparation for the current sermon series on lament, one reality that I have heard pointed out often by the authors I have read is that anywhere from 30-40% of the Psalms can be classified as laments, while in our modern hymnals or collections of worship songs, the percentage ranges anywhere from 5-15%. Besides seeing this as an interesting discrepancy, what might this reveal about our modern Christianity? I can think of three things:
1) We are too consumer-driven...Keep Reading
Tags: Worship, Suffering, Lament
September 24, 2019
by Eric Stillman
King Saul was the first king in Israel. Tall, strong, and handsome, he certainly looked the part. But from the beginning, his insecurities held him back. In fact, when the prophet Samuel went to anoint him as king, they could not find him because he was hiding “among the baggage” (1 Samuel 10:22)!
Despite his anxieties, Saul’s early days as king were full of success. But eventually he lost his way...Keep Reading
Tags: Worship, Discipleship
June 12, 2019
by Eric Stillman
This past Sunday, we sang a gospel song called “Use Me” for the first time at NewLife. The chorus is very simple:
If you can use anything, Lord, you can use me.
If you can use anything, Lord, you can use me.
Take my hands, Lord, and my feet,
Touch my heart, Lord, speak through me.
If you can use anything, Lord, you can use me....Keep Reading
Tags: Worship, Discipleship
August 15, 2017
by Eric Stillman
If you have ever listened to K-Love, you know that they have an occasional segment called “Behind the Music” where a singer shares the story of where their song comes from. I often find that I develop is a greater emotional connection to the song when I know the heart behind the words. The same holds true for the classic hymns of the church. One of the most powerful “Behind the Music” stories is the story behind “It is Well with my Soul,” which was written by Horatio Spafford in the 1880’s....Keep Reading
Tags: Worship, Suffering
August 1, 2017
by Eric Stillman
Every month, I try to spend one work day away from the day-to-day responsibilities of being a pastor. I travel to the Center for Retreat and Renewal in Simsbury and try to avoid email and phone calls for the day. Instead, I spend extended time with God, I try to bring order into the scattered pieces of my life, and I work on aspects of my job that require extended, uninterrupted time.
But the first thing I do upon arriving is to put on one specific song....Keep Reading
Tags: Worship, Purity
July 4, 2017
by Carrie Campbell
I don’t remember where I heard it, but I will always remember how awestruck I felt when I first heard that music is one of the very few things we have in this life that will not pass away. In Revelation, all of God’s creation is worshipping Him, and I have since often imagined myself joining in the chorus of voices singing praises to our Lord. Though we can only imagine what that will look and sound like in heaven, I do believe that God gives us a small glimpse of this through the music we have here on earth. Music is eternal. This realization confirms the countless experiences I’ve had as music gave melody, lyrics, and rhythms to the highs and lows of my life over the years....Keep Reading
Tags: Worship, Music
June 13, 2017
by Eric Stillman
This summer, I am preaching through selected Psalms, looking at how the Psalms help us to bring all of our emotions to God so that He can help us make sense of our life. Looking back on my life, if I listen closely I can hear a soundtrack playing in the background, like a movie, marking so many key points along my journey. I can see a very young Eric, listening to the Ghostbusters record, the first one I remember asking for and enjoying. I can see middle school Eric, staying up late on New Year’s Eve to listen to Casey Kasem’s countdown of the year’s top songs on the radio. I can see high school Eric, listening to Alice in Chains and Metallica on his Walkman on the bus on the way to basketball games, trying to get himself psyched up for the big game. ...Keep Reading
Posted in: Worship Tags: Worship, Music
September 16, 2014
by Eric Stillman
Today‘s post includes a reflection by a singer-songwriter named Matt Papa, which can be read here. I found this post to be an inspirational reminder of what Sunday worship is all about, something that is important given how quickly Sundays can turn into a routine that loses some of the richness of its meaning. Here is his reflection:
The reason it feels like just another Sunday morning is because the stakes aren‘t high enough.
...Keep Reading
Posted in: Worship Tags: Worship, Sunday
April 1, 2014
by Eric Stillman
This past Sunday, I challenged our church to ask God to show us His glory this Easter season, that experiencing His greatness and beauty, especially as displayed at the cross and in the resurrection, might cause us to desire Him above all earthly things and to set apart ourselves for His service. I talked about how it is a natural thing in this world to find something glorious, and to naturally respond with praise, a desire to experience that thing or person more, and a desire to share it with others. This reality was described best by C.S. Lewis in the chapter ‘œA Word about Praising‘ in his book Reflections on the Psalms. He wrote these words as he tried to come to terms with God‘s commands to praise Him in the Psalms, commands that at first seemed vain and self-seeking. I encourage you to read these words and take them to heart as you ask God to show you His glory this Easter season:...Keep Reading
Posted in: Worship Tags: Worship
