Make Love, Make War

Press release:

Living a Life of Radical Worship

Award-winning songwriter Brian Doerksen shares insights behind

some of the most beloved songs of our time as he provokes readers to love and war

Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX—What is true worship? It can elevate us into the presence of God, renew and refresh our spirits, and offer the deepest expression of love for our Savior. Yet worship can also be a call to arms, a battle cry, a salvo in an ancient spiritual war that continues today. In his first book, Make Love, Make War: Now Is the Time to Worship (David C Cook, August 2009), award-winning songwriter Brian Doerksen challenges Christians to make their lives an offering of radical worship.

An acclaimed songwriter, recording artist, author, conference speaker, and pastor, Doerksen believes God is calling us to love and to battle—to spread peace and wage spiritual warfare. “Each is essential to our daily spiritual walk,” writes Doerksen. “We do this through how we live, how we serve Him, and how we protect and fight for what matters most. One of the ways I make love and war is through music.”

In Make Love, Make War, Doerksen shares the stories and inspirations behind some of today’s most influential songs of worship, including “Come, Now Is the Time to Worship,” “Hallelujah (Your Love Is Amazing),” and “Refiner’s Fire.” While offering special tips for aspiring songwriters, Doerksen also reveals rich truths and insights about the nature of God, His calling for us, and how we can wage spiritual war and share His love through a life of radical worship.

“I believe that we know love and war are at the heart of everything inside us, and everything going on all around us,” says Doerksen. “We sense that there is nothing that Satan hates more than the worship of Yahweh by those who are faithful to the Lamb. He spends more than a little energy convincing us that there really is no war going on, and that the sum total of our lives’ calling is to be nice. But God is provoking us to rise up and fight. The war He calls us to make is always for the sake of love!”

Author Bio
Brian Doerksen has always had a passion for expressing worship through music. He is an award-winning songwriter of some of today’s most popular songs of worship. He is currently developing a musical of hope based on Luke 15 called “Prodigal God.” Brian, his wife, Joyce, and their six children reside in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada.

This isn't my usual type of reading material, but I enjoyed the book. In addition to sharing how he wrote some of his songs, the author also gives songwriting tips, talks about the struggles of raising two special needs children, and even addresses the importance of keeping marriages alive.

The title, Make Love, Make War is the emphasis of the book - loving God, what true worship is, but also the fact that we are in a war, a battle for our souls. Brian focuses on how important it is for us to worship God, and do it in the right way, so as to defeat the enemy of our souls. Great book, and very thought provoking.