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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Moving Grace and Confident Worship, June 6, 2009
Brian Doerksen wants to show you God's love: an active, fatherly, husbandly, marching sort of love. Winner of multiple Dove, Covenant, and Juno awards as a writer of worship music, Doerksen (pronounced "DURK-son") uses his songs as jumping-off points for a dozen devotions on what it means to love and worship the Lord. Intensely personal yet universal in their power, these devotions will stir thoughts, prayers, and creative Christianity for years to come.
Doerksen's songs come out of his own life, and he builds that life together with his brand of charismatic Evangelical Christianity to lead readers through the ups and downs of a God-filled life. This is a life that encompasses both praise and lament, that lives in hope but does not blush to admit doubt, and loves peace but fights a war against sin and the Enemy. And by being so personal, Doerksen's story is universal, because we've all felt the story he tells so well.
With his highly wrought emotions and profound commitments, Doerksen preaches to those Christians who want a deeply felt relationship with God. Though he may turn off the sort of believer who read Bonheoffer and rely on reason, those Christians who see faith in his way will find plenty with which to connect on the joyously visceral level. Passions run high in this book and sweep praying readers into his longing to engage God on God's terms.
Each chapter ends with "Songwriting Tips." Doerksen wants to share what he's learned about creative worship with anyone who wants to join him. Many of these tips are specific to writing worship songs, but others could just as easily apply to writing sermons, poems, or prayers. Doerksen's vision of Christianity is both highly active and highly artistic, and he wants to help you share that experience today.
I admit a few niggling problems with this book. Because the emotions run so high, his devotions lack a single thesis. He takes in so much with each one that sometimes I have to read them two or three times to spot the point he's making. And he abuses endnotes. Honestly, Brian, if it needs said, say it in the chapter; making readers flip back and forth is frustrating and takes us out of the moment. If it doesn't need to be said in the chapter, does it need to be said at all?
There are a few places where Doerksen overextends himself. He takes on history and current events so tentatively that I suspect he fears offending readers. I wish these bits were as bold as his theology. Then there is the chapter where he addresses science. He makes a few untenably sweeping pronouncements on physics, and while describing anatomy he cites a phlebotomy (!) text. It feels like he's outside his element in these areas.
But these are small stuff in light of Doerksen's confident, moving spirituality. By joining his devotions to his well-known songs, he crafts a multi-dimensional reading experience which is as dynamic as his worship services must be. Christians seeking a deeper experience of worship would be well rewarded to turn their attention to Brian Doerksen, who knows the very questions you've probably had, and can address them with the grace you've been seeking.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Unique, Thought-Provoking Look at Worship & Worship Songs, July 16, 2009
Unique. Thought-Provoking. Personal. Christ-centered.
All these words come to mind when reading the new book Make Love, Make War by songwriter Brian Doerksen. Although you may not have heard his name, if you listen to contemporary worship you certainly have heard his songs such as "Come, Now Is The Time to Worship" and "Hallelujah, Your Love Makes Me Sing." Brian has given the church a wealth of wonderful songs and ministry over the past twenty years, and Make Love Make War is another creative gift.
Each of the twelve chapters is structured around one of his songs. After introducing the song, he talks about the circumstances of his life that led up to the song, whether it was a wise-cracking comment to a fellow songwriter or the dark valleys of raising two special needs sons. He then digs deeper, going into the theological underpinnings of each song and how he views both the church's needs and responses to the song. He ends each chapter with a series of practical tips for songwriting based on the song as well.
This book worked for me on multiple levels. First, I appreciated getting to know Brian as a person, his joys and struggles, his transparency and his love for Christ. Second, although I am not a songwriter, his descriptions of his creative process and tips resonated with my own as a devotional prose writer.
But the greatest value of this book are his insights on the nature of worship in the church today. He is frank in his discussion of both what is right and what is wrong in much contemporary worship with comments such as:
"When we worship, we do what Satan abandoned long ago-- and the enemy does everything he can to stop us from worshipping, because when we worship, he remembers."
and...
"The modern worship culture of the megachurch makes it much easier to sing the big, shiny, happy anthems. But that culture of happy appearances and upbeat performances is keeping some brokenhearted people away from churches of all sizes."
Make Love Make War is must reading if you're involved in worship ministry, and it is a great read for anyone. I enjoyed this book, but more importantly I was challenged by this book. Highly recommended.
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3.0 out of 5 stars
Starts slow but still some good work, September 14, 2009
Brian Doerksen has written a variety of well-known contemporary worship songs and in "Make Love, Make War: NOW is the Time to Worship", he gives a "behind-the-scenes" look at 12 of the songs he has written or co-written over his music writing career.
As this book opens, it reminded me of a cross between a literature class and a personal memoir. The line-by-line analysis of word choices, while sometimes interesting, were hampered by the fact that I was not familiar with all of the songs he includes. (Perhaps an accompanying CD would have been helpful.) It isn't until later chapters that he transitions to focus on the stories behind some of the songs, and through them begins to really reveal his heart about the role of worship in different aspects of church life and personal spiritual growth in a compelling manner.
Songwriters and worship leaders will find certain aspects of this book more applicable than others. The songwriting tips at the end of each chapter, or his reference to certain song formats that are not explained for the lay person will no doubt carry more impact for musicians. However, Doerksen still manages to touch on some of the key components of worship that apply to all, and may serve as a personal challenge to reconsider the role of worship in a Christ-follower's life.
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~ Chris Tomlin
~ Brian Doerksen
