The question is often asked, "How do I get into God's presence?" People yearn to know God and to dwell where He dwells. What's the secret? People ply the men who know, or should know, how they can reach the heart of God. Well, here's the answer. You only have to SING.

God cannot give himself praise so he looks to us to do it. God builds His throne in our praise for it's our contribution to His coronation. He loves to live in the stances and metres of melody that issue from the redeemed heart. All God is concerned with are that people "make melody in their heart" (Ephesians 5:19). It opens a door into His presence quicker than most other things. His express command was and still is: "Go through his open gates with great thanksgiving; enter his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and bless his name. " (Psalm 100:4).

The western mind loves definitions, because what defies definition cannot be taught. But, having written their definitions they often close their mind to further understanding and that which gave them insight becomes their prison. It is possible to lay an old double-washed Chinese carpet in such a way that it looks new. When turned round, the light falling on the pile makes it much lighter. It is the same carpet viewed from a different angle. It is the light that makes the difference. God's calling to ministers, or pastors of His flock, is not to replace the carpet (truth) but put it in a position where the light reveals it better. It is therefore wise to keep our definitions bathed in God's light of revelation; it will keep them looking fresh.

Let me therefore loosely define prayer, praise and worship, and hope for more understanding with the passing years. Prayer could be described as the articulation of human need, praise the acclamation of divine deeds but worship as the adoration of divine worth. We can forget prayer at the moment and add communion for there are three phases in our ministry unto Him, praise, worship and lastly communion. Praise is like wine bubbling forth, worship is like oil flowing down, often silently. Wine brings joy and oil healing, the two complementing each other in an interchange of adoration. Communion is that sweet dialogue between spirits entwined in mutual ecstasy; it is like the gentle washing of a golden stream of love. Too often the speed and stress of the urgent steals time for the development of true communion and we are left with the residue rather than the reservoir.

Praise is singing about God and worship singing to God. Praise brings us into God's presence; worship is what we do when we get there. Whatever we say and however we define them and each person has their own understanding, there is a difference between praise and worship. True worship transforms into communion, and changes the individual. This is what we expect at HICC.