Author Archives: pmershon

About pmershon

I am a cultural artist, a saxophonist, a pastor, a writer and a creative thinker who is interested in things as varied as the integration of theology and the arts (call it biblical artistry), the role of the heart in art and relationships, sports (esp. tennis, volleyball and college football and basketball), church planting and much more!

Preparing for Worship: When Does Worship Really Start?

What time does your worship service start? That’s a typical question for church visitors. But for longtime members, this question might seem irrelevant. At one level the answer is as simple as looking at a church’s bulletin or website. We could … Continue reading

Posted in Christian Worship, Preparation for Worship | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Praying the Lord’s Prayer: Our Father, Who Art in Heaven

What’s your prayer life like? Do you primarily pray in arrows? You know what I mean. It’s like Nehemiah before approaching the king for permission to return to Jerusalem to inspect the city (Neh. 1). He thought he would lose his … Continue reading

Posted in Christian Worship, Preparation for Worship | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Called to Worship: God is a Missionary God

Do you wonder why some pastors say that God is a missionary God? Are you confused when some people call America a Christian nation? Doesn’t Scripture talk about people from every nation being part of God’s family? How do we … Continue reading

Posted in Christian Worship, Preparation for Worship | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Called to Worship: The Newest Ministry of Artists in Christian Testimony International

I’m excited to announce that Called to Worship is now an official ministry of Artists in Christian Testimony International. I have been a friend and fan of Byron Spradlin since the early 90s when I met him at Praise in … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Worship in the Storms: 5 Benefits of the Gospel Found During Life’s Storms

Have you ever lived through a tornado or hurricane? How about an earthquake, blizzard or tsunami? Maybe an extreme drought, windstorm or flood? No matter where you live, the threat of natural disaster always looms. Most of us go through … Continue reading

Posted in Christian Worship | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Worship after Easter: 10,000 Reasons to Praise God for the Gospel

Have you suffered the post-Easter duldrums? It sounds heretical, but I’m not talking theologically. Many pastors and worship leaders experience a natural let down after the proper focus we place on the Holy Week and especially Resurrection Sunday. It always … Continue reading

Posted in Worship Leadership | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Hunger Games: 5 Things Church Worship Leaders Can Learn from The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games movie will be released in theaters this week. Culturally sensitive worship leaders should be aware of this. If you don’t have teenagers, it’s possible that you’ve missed this trilogy. Don’t let the target audience keep you from … Continue reading

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Psalms in Worship: Congregations Singing New Psalms (an album review)

Does your church sing the psalms? I don’t mean singing psalm snippets like many modern worship songs do–nothing wrong with that, but it’s not the same as psalm singing–but singing a psalm in its entirety or at least a significant … Continue reading

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Arts and Worship: 5 Thoughts on the Nature of Biblical Artistry

What is biblical art? Or what makes art biblical? For that matter, how do we know if someone’s artistry is truly biblical? What difference does it make for worship leaders and thoughtful cultural artists? If those questions have ever traveled … Continue reading

Posted in Worship Leadership | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Valentines Day and Worship: 4 Ways Churches Should Focus on Valentines Day

February 14 is indelibly marked on the minds and hearts of millions of women (and hopefully men) across America and the globe. Most women look longingly toward Valentines Day as an occasion where their “man” or suitor will forget his … Continue reading

Posted in Christian Worship | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments