In responding to God, we should be open to using every expression of beauty and genius, which are reflections of his own nature.
—Howard Stevenson

When I came to First Evangelical Free Church, the congregation began every service by singing the first verse of "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name." Shortly after I joined the staff, I asked and received permission from Pastor Swindoll to change our opening hymn.

It wasn't long, however, before I began getting notes written on bulletins asking me why we didn't sing "Coronation" (often misspelled "Coronashun" or "Cornations"). Although I can see humor in the situation now, at the time I felt threatened. I didn't know how widespread the objections were.

The experience pointed up the uneasiness, even fear, people often feel about change in their patterns of worship. We all love progress, but we're reluctant when change is imposed upon us!

"You would think that of all places, all communities, it would be in the church where we would most welcome the ...