The Worship Review – Details, episodes & analysis

"Keep Us All Close" by Eastlake Music assumes a universal search for God amidst diverse beliefs and struggles. The song petitions God to "let in" friends, enemies, the marginalized and people of all faiths. Tyler and Colin discuss whether this contemporary Christian song is, in fact, Christian.

God bless our friends, God bless our enemies
All of our children, all of our families
We've got no idea what we're doing
We've tried to find You throughout the centuries
Different religions in different countries
We've got no idea what we're doing
We'll never make it on our own
We've got too much dark inside of us
We'll never make it on our own
God bless the poor, God bless the broken-hearted
God bless the widow, God bless the long departed
We've got no idea what we're doing
God bless the christian, God bless the atheist
God bless the muslim, God bless the rest of us
We've got no idea what we're doing
Keep us all close, every one of us close
Don't let anyone go
Let all our friends in, and all our enemies
All of our children, all of our families
We've got no idea what we're doing
We've tried to find You throughout the centuries
Different religions in different countries
We've got no idea what we're doing

This song encourages us to see all our feasting, mourning, love, work, and play as opportunities to worship God. Join Colin & Tyler as we examine the poetic language and Biblical references in this modern hymn.

Verse 1

If creation is longing for freedom and glory

Every winter that passes each forest that burns

There’s a cry from its heart come Lord Jesus return

Every season a temple of praise

Verse 2

If all history is marked by the sign of the cross

Then each year that I give You is gain and not loss

For in time all our empires just melt like the frost

May our days be a temple of praise

Chorus 1

Oh Ancient of Days You have chosen Your moments

All our feasting and mourning our love work and play

So when time is rolled up on that great Judgment Day

May my days be a temple of praise

Verse 3

I can rise to Your song on the wings of the morning

Walk with your Spirit in the cool of the day

I can pray with a child as the sun bows his head

May my days be a temple of praise

Chorus 2

O Lord now I see that my days are all numbered

All the feasting and mourning the love work & play

So when I lay down my life at Your feet for a crown

May eternity ring with Your praise

May eternity ring with Your praise

May my days be a temple of praise

Colin and Tyler look at a CCM classic that wonders at what the experience of Heaven will be like. We talk about individual vs. collective expression of worship, thinking and feeling in worship, and reference some Biblical texts that shape our understanding of Heaven.

Lyrics: I can only imagine what it will be like When I walk, by your side I can only imagine what my eyes will see When you face is before me I can only imagine I can only imagine Surrounded by You glory What will my heart feel Will I dance for you Jesus Or in awe of You be still Will I stand in your presence Or to my knees will I fall Will I sing hallelujah Will I be able to speak at all I can only imagine I can only imagine I can only imagine when that day comes When I find myself standing in the Son I can only imagine when all I would do is forever Forever worship You I can only imagine I can only imagine Surrounded by Your glory What will my heart feel Will I dance for You, Jesus Or in awe of you be still Will I stand in your presence Or to my knees will I fall Will I sing hallelujah Will I be able to speak at all I can only imagine I can only imagine hey ya ah Surrounded by Your glory What will my heart feel Will I dance for You, Jesus Or in awe of you be still Will I stand in Your presence Or to my knees will I fall Will I sing hallelujah Will I be able to speak at all I can only imagine I can only imagine hey ya ah I can only imagine yeah yeah I can only imagine I can only imagine ey ey ey I can only imagine I can only imagine when all I will do Is forever, forever worship You I can only imagine

Song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_lrrq_opng

This is the wrap up for series 2. We summarize our ratings for the series and also respond to listener feedback.

Colin and Tyler examine Casey J's remake of "Nothing but the Blood of Jesus". Theologically this song is concerned with human suffering and the need for cleansing and healing. We learn that there are many questions, but just one answer, which is somehow also a question. We postulate that the song responds to the suffering in the world by looking to Christ's sacrifice. Colin informs us what a "gospel bomb" is, and Tyler turns out to be a curmudgeon from the Silent Generation.

Should we speak of a Christian as "condemned"? Did Jesus sweat actual blood in the Garden of Gethsemane? We examine these and other questions in this week's episode.

This week we're taking a look at an early twentieth-century hymn recently performed by the Gettys. We discuss what it might mean for faith to "fail", what the cost of salvation is, and the Christianese phrase "faith turned to sight".

What would it sound like if John Piper wrote half a song based on his best-selling book Desiring God and then mashed it with an old hymn? Find out in this week's episode.

This week, we talk about a song with rich imagery from scripture. But isn't Jehovah spelled with an 'I'?

Originally inspired by a 13th century poem, the hymn 'All Creatures of Our God and King" says quite a bit about the creatures, but not much about the creator. Is this hymn, now redone by Crowder, still worth singing? We get into it this week.