~ by Brian Bultema
This article was originally published in PCJH’s  Summer / Fall 2026 Pinnacle, “Rhythms of Faith” 

Recently, Deb Keenan sat down for a conversation with Brian Bultema to talk about the practice of worship and taking a more expansive view of worship practices. Deb has served on PCJH Worship Committee and has held many other areas of leadership during her time at PCJH. Enjoy!

Brian: Well, Deb thanks for meeting with me to talk about worship, something that fits in so well with this theme of spiritual disciplines. First of all, how would you define worship?
Deb: Wow, yes! Worship is entering into time with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and returning to what we’re made to do. It’s returning to what we are most naturally made to do but which sometimes feels clunky and unnatural at the beginning. But, as we press in, it connects deeply with our soul at its most fundamental level. And that’s whether it’s our regular corporate worship together or just our everyday lives when we’re just rocking out to KLOVE 88.3 in our cars. At times, I almost feel like worship, at its core, is a kind of rebellion—pushing back against fear, distraction, and the narratives of the world by choosing to fix our attention on God – when we rise above whatever circumstances we’re feeling and when we have a time communing with the Lord.

Brian: What are some common misconceptions about worship? And maybe specifically some that you have had?
Deb: One of the biggest misconceptions is that worship is only singing—either in church or in the car. Singing is important, worship is much broader. It can include creativity like art, movement, doodling on a page, or dance. But also, obedience—doing the next right thing that the Holy Spirit prompts. Lately, something close to my heart is that everyday tasks can become worship. For me, something as simple as doing dishes can be a form of worship when I see it as “making order out of chaos,” reflecting God’s creative work. It’s those things that we see God doing right from the beginning in Genesis when his Spirit is hovering over the water and when the Lord gets busy dividing the sky from the water. So, mostly, worship comes down to being less about the specific activity and more about the posture of the heart. Brian: How do you think that people who’ve been stuck with a one-dimensional view of worship can start having a bigger view of worship beyond Sunday morning communal time together? Deb: It starts with recognizing that we’re made for worship—it’s part of our design and in our DNA. Once we understand that, it naturally expands how we see it. When I have that right heart posture, then it becomes like, hey, all of the errands and appointments I have today I am consecrating for worship. When we intentionally offer those moments to God—like dedicating our car time to Him—it’s amazing how He multiplies that time. Worship often grows out of surrender, simply asking, “Lord, how would You have me use this moment?” – instead of just striving for more efficiency or productivity.

Brian: Let me test a thought out on you. I think some people lean toward connecting with God in private worship while others prefer communal worship. How can those of us who gravitate towards one way lean back the other way and grow in the direction that doesn’t necessarily feel the most natural?
Deb: We often gravitate toward what feels most comfortable, but we’re made for both. When we broaden our understanding of worship as a heart posture, it becomes something we can practice daily, not just in a group setting. At the same time, communal worship reflects God’s nature as a relational being. There’s something powerful about lifting our voices together—it reminds us we’re not alone and builds unity. For those hesitant in group settings, remembering that worship isn’t performance but connection can be freeing – even though it can often feel very vulnerable. And for those who love corporate worship, it’s important to carry that same posture into everyday life – remembering that if it’s a day that ends in ‘Y’ you’re meant to carry that spirit of worship out.

Brian: Can you share a time when worship felt difficult?
Deb: During the early days of COVID, I felt completely overwhelmed. Worship didn’t come naturally—it really became a discipline for awhile. I remember driving out to Antelope Flats one really dreary day, putting on worship music, and not feeling anything at first. But I stayed with it. It took 40–45 minutes before my heart began to catch up with what I was singing and what I knew to be true. That experience reminded me that worship can take time and there can be a lag time with what our heads know to be true but our hearts don’t immediately feel. It doesn’t always feel immediate, but as we stay in it, God meets us and brings hope.

Brian: What would you say to someone who struggles with that “lag time” in worship and that disconnect between what we know and what we are feeling?
Deb: First, it’s completely normal. We shouldn’t assign negative meaning to it—like thinking God is distant or that we’re doing something wrong. Sometimes worship looks different in those moments. It might be declaring truth out loud, journaling prayers, or even lament. Worship can be honest and raw. The key is staying engaged and trusting that God is present, even when we don’t feel it right away.

Brian: You described worship as a form of rebellion. I want to come back to that. How does that apply to our busy, distracted lives?
Deb: Worship pushes back against the idea that we don’t have enough time. God has given us enough space in our days for what matters. When we expand our view of worship, we begin to see opportunities everywhere—in the car, at work, even in small pauses throughout the day. Instead of defaulting to distraction,
we can use those moments to declare who God is. Speaking truth out loud—reminding ourselves of His goodness and faithfulness—can shift our hearts and reorient our focus. One simple practice I love is what I call the “ABC exercise.” You go through the alphabet, using each letter to describe God—“A” for awesome, “B” for beautiful, and so on. It’s a way to renew your mind and refocus your attention. You can also do it with verbs—“I adore You,” “I bless You,” “I confess…” It’s simple, but it helps interrupt distraction and draws you back into worship. And it can even be playful—worship doesn’t always have to feel serious or formal.

Brian: I love that idea about play being a part of worship. In reading a bit about worship before this, I came across this idea of worship as ‘holy dependance’ or ‘holy expectancy’ of what we will encounter when we worship. What are your thoughts on that?
Deb: Yeah, I love that! We should come into worship with both dependence and expectancy. We need God, and we also should expect to encounter Him. I don’t believe we can truly worship and leave unchanged. It might not always look like immediate joy, but there’s always a shift—often a growing sense of hope. Worship brings us into God’s presence, and that changes us.

Brian: Alright, my last question — can you share a specific, meaningful worship experience from your time at PCJH?
Deb: Well, this is really going back into the archives. Some of the most impactful moments I remember were some of the Taizé worship services that Ben led us in. So incredible to have those experiences that engage the senses in a different way when the lights were turned low and we could even lie down on the floor in the Chapel. Those were just good reminders that we can change up our worship. But even in regular Sunday worship, hearing my voice—off-key and all—mingled with others reminds me, I’m not alone. There’s something deeply powerful about worshiping together. It creates
a sense of unity and shared purpose that’s hard to replicate
anywhere else. ✝