Article: "All Who Are Thirsty";
Review: "I Can Only Imagine" (movie)

Welcome to Digital Worship News, Edition 94. This issue includes three resources. First is the online worship planner resource "WorshipTeam.com". Second is an article about God's invitation to all of us- "To all who are thirsty...". Finally, wrapping up this issue is a complete review of the excellent new film: "I Can Only Imagine"!

blessings,
Kim Gentes

WorshipTeam.com is the award winning online system that has done what no other planning system has even attempted- to handle all the aspects of planning worship PLUS including legal song resources, pre-loaded into the system, so you start off with the largest library of professionally edited songs (chord charts and audio).

Watch a short video here.

The result is a crisp and usable planning tool for worship teams.

Schedule your people, build your services, practice your songs without having to go through the weekly drudgery of adding songs or keeping up with the newest songs releasing all the time. And do it all LEGALLY. WorshipTeam.com includes over 11,000 songs pre-loaded (and growing!). Each song has full length audio and matching chord charts, allowing you to play and practice in the key you wish to do the song in.

If you are a worship leader, team member or a person looking for tools for planning worship, check out this excellent resource. Best of all, you can try it FREE for a month and decide for yourself! (more here...)

The record of scripture contains one of the most challenging, yet thrilling, paradoxes in all of ancient literature- an invitation.

To Whom is the Invitation Given?

Not to the worthy, but to the worthless. Not to great, but the weak. Not to the successful and triumphant, but to the poor, lost, lonely, and, yes, thirsty.

"Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David."
Isaiah 55:1-3

This invitation is given to that most unexpected person- you. And me. It breaks all conventions of honor, rank and accomplishment on which our world structures hang. It makes available the essence of true life to the very people who seem most far from it. In fact, there is no mention of those who have worked hard, proven themselves, earned their place, accomplished something or overcome great odds.

The invited have just one thing in common across the thread of the biblical text- they are thirsty.

(the complete article here...)

Summary: In the last 5 years, I've seen literally hundreds of movies. This last week I saw "I Can Only Imagine". For the first time since "Passion of the Christ", I felt like I watched a movie about the Christian faith that didn't ask me to excuse it from the expectation of high production values, strong story, well-written script, good acting and great music. I am unapologetically recommending this movie!

I both enjoyed and applaud the efforts of the creative crew who made this film. If you are someone who wants to know if a film is worth your cash, this is one I think is.

Bart Millard is the songwriter of the song, "I Can Only Imagine", an anthem that went on to become the most popular single in the history of Christian music. He is played by actor J. Michael Finley....

(click here to read the complete review)