When I saw Kaleea's reference yesterday to "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" being one of three favorite "foxhole songs," I thought of how a friend and I have occasionally reworked that song from its traditional hymn styling to be almost a bluegrass breakdown. Don't know how it would work in the cozy confines of my Lutheran church, but around the campfire at retreats, it totally kicks butt. Start it out with an easy a cappella intro based on the last two lines of the first verse, then crank it up into a cut-tempo, preferably with standard BG instrumentation (banjo, mandolin and dobro would work big time), three- or four-part high lonesome harmonies, and an instrumental break or two in between the verses.

OK, so maybe the purpose of hymn singing isn't exactly to "kick butt," but at the same time let's not overlook the Psalm's encouragement to "make a joyful noise to the Lord." Personally, I hope the world of organized religion is big enough to have room for both the trad hymns and the more contemporary praise songs. (Sure, there are examples from both genres of songs that suck, ones that make you either want to gag or giggle. But why should church music be any different from the rest of the musical world?)