This week, I was asked to lead worship for a small group. Now, I've already told them what I usually say first. I don't sing well. Singing is not something I should be leading other human voices in. Of course, I do sing. I just sing the way a grateful heart sometimes does when it forgets who's listening and remembers who is worthy. While I played my guitar for the group, I couldn't help but sing as I led the song Great Are You, Lord. I told the group that we were about to sing one of my favorite lines. I'll make a loud and joyful noise for this one: All the earth will shout your praise
Our hearts will cry
These bones will say
Great are You, Lord That's an image from the prophet Ezekiel. He saw a valley of dry bones with no life or breath. Then, today, I read from Psalm 95. The psalm is a familiar invitation to worship the God who formed the earth and holds the depths of the world in holy hands. Together, the prophet's vision and the psalmist's words turn our spirits' attention to the God who forms us and gives us life. The God who shaped creation is also the One who breathes hope into tired and restless (dead?) hearts. Sometimes we think worship is about getting ourselves right before we can come near God, or having a right singing voice. But the song of faith says that our messed-up lives and even our cracked and out-of-tune voices can still come and sing. Remember that worship isn’t about being perfect. Worship is about remembering that the One who made you is still the One who is giving you life. And that is reason enough for any of us to sing. Stay blessed...john | 
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