worship in the city

"I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies. Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps." - Amos 5:21-23

What would make God so angry?

"You trample on the poor and force him to give you grain. Therefore, though you have built stone mansions, you will not live in them; though you have planted lush vineyards, you will not drink their wine. For I know how many are your offenses and how great your sins. You oppress the righteous and take bribes and you deprive the poor of justice in the courts." - Amos 5:11-12

What kind of worship does God desire?

"But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!" - Amos 5:24

For more about the worship that God hates (and what He desires instead) also check out these passages:
Isaiah 58,
Micah 6,
Psalm 51 (especially vs 14-17)
Matthew 21:12-13,
Mark 7:1-23
Luke 11:37-54
1 Corinthians 11:27-34,
James 2,
1 John 3:16-20,
Revelation 3:14-22,

"Samuel Ringgold Ward (October 17, 1817 - c. 1866) was an African American who escaped enslavement to become an abolitionist, newspaper editor and Congregational minister." -Wikipedia.
read more.

I don't think there's any chance that we're related, but what a cool guy all the same. I learned about him using this fun website.

I also learned that there was a contestant named JoAnna Ward on one of the Survivors seasons. Not very cool.

Tip #8: Share the song with a group you can worship with. This is where I take the step of sharing the song with my church. If you are not a church musician with the luxury of a captive audience, then you could share the song with a prayer group, house church, or a group of friends. The point is to give the song away to the community. I don't mean you give up your copyright ownership; I mean you let go of control of the song and give it like a gift to the people you care about. The artists work is a gift from the Spirit to be given away. It's a little terrifying to open up yourself up to being vulnerable, but just consider how vulnerable the Lord Jesus was to subject himself to the incarnation, to become a baby. You are not your song. If the song fails, you are still a valid artist. Just toss it out and keep writing. My dad once told me that for every 30 songs, you get one keeper. Good writing comes from the same thing that makes a good musician: discipline, practice, and performance experience.

Tip #7: Share the song with someone you trust with the role of editor.
Ask a friend to listen to the song and give them permission to be honest. I like to share my song with a fellow musician and a non-musician. I usually share song ideas with my Dad and my wife. Dad helps me refine the idea or gives me new ideas for developing the song more. My wife first showers me with affirmation (which is wonderful); then when she knows my ego won't be crushed, she gives me very good feedback of how the song makes her feel. It's a difficult step, but letting your song into the light of day will show you whether it has merit to continue working on it.

Tip #6: Look for the hook
A hook is a musical phrase captures the attention of the listener and "hooks" them into listening and remembering the song. A hook should be clearly presented, then repeated and developed throughout the song. A song without a hook is like a boat without a rudder; it floats around different ideas without any direction or goal. Build the song around the hook. If the hook is "I am Delivered" then the rest of the song should develop the idea. Delivered from what? Delivered by whom? Delivered into what? Delivered how?