Well, finally!

I have been contemplating and ruminating and babbling on and on about doing a blog about biblical worship, liturgical and other types of songwriting, and all things related.

For years.

Boy, am I a slowpoke!

Well, I’m glad that, here in La Paz Bolivia, all the transportation folks decided to go on strike (they call it a “paro”), so I could have the day to do stuff like this. Nice.

I guess it would be nice if introduced myself.

My name’s Tom Fisher. I am a teacher of English as a Foreign Language and the High School Music and Worship teacher at an international Christian school in La Paz, Bolivia. My wife, Anne, is the elementary principal, and our daughter, Avery, is eating lots of Jell-o and learning tons of stuff at a nearby Montessori preschool.

I’ve been leading worship and writing songs (mostly worship songs or songs about the Christian faith, but also occasional songs about such deep topics as marriage and the best kind of iced tea) since about 1991. I’ve been involved in churches of various flavors – Methodist, nondenom Evangelical, Anglican Mission in America… – led worship with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, youth groups and camps, Chrysalis and Emmaus communities near Dayton, OH, Kairos Prison Ministry in Kershaw, SC, home fellowships and, of course, the school at which I currently teach.

In all that time, I have discovered that I am developing some pretty strong opinions – and I admit that’s just what they are! – about what exactly constitutes biblical worship. If you want to know whether you should run screaming from this blog right now, I would say that my favorite writer about worship to this point is – besides King David – the late Robert Webber. I find his thoughts about blended, historical and biblical worship to be both fascinating and convincing.

Those who agree with me, make yourselves at home; those who do not, consider yourselves and your opinions welcome.  There’s nothing worse than everybody completely agreeing about absolutely everything.

Things I might write about:

Songs I’m writing
Biblical worship vs. the Sunday morning show
Fellowship that brings the Body of Christ together rather than dividing
My awesome High School-led Chapel Worship team
Stuff I’m reading about worship and songwriting
Favorite Bolivian recipes (but that’s because I really like to eat)
People with whom I agree
People with whom I disagree
All things liturgical
Songwriters or worship leaders I want you to hear or read
Random stuff that may – admittedly – have no bearing on worship whatsoever (for example, please see “recipes” above)