Tony Cummings threw a pile of questions at Atlanta-based singer/songwriter and worship pastor AARON KEYES

"Not only in reflecting on my own life though, a cursory reflection of God's greatness and his goodness led to the rest of the song. The simple fact that he's the Most High God (El Elyon), the Everlasting God (El Olam), exalted in majesty, and yet he deigns to come down to us, to wash our feet, and even to die in our stead. That's scandalous, and it continually leads me to wonder. This indescribable greatness on one hand, and an intimate nearness on the other; it's part of what makes our God holy: set apart, completely other, wholly distinct. There really is no other God like him, so the song is a hopeful invitation for joyous celebration of God's utter kindness and thoughtful consideration of his vast greatness."

It was an old friend of Aaron's, Gerrit Gustafson, who introduced Aaron to the executives at Eastbourne's international worship powerhouse Kingsway Music. Said Aaron, "I'd long been familiar with Kingsway Music; I'd been using old Paul Oakley and Stuart Townend songs for years and years at this point, and the chance to spend some time with guys like these was really appealing to me. So Gerrit introduced me to John Hartley, his son-in-law, and also a long-standing member of the Kingsway family. Gerrit felt that John and I would get along alright, even though he is a Manchester United fan, much to my loathing and chagrin. (How could anyone truly anointed of the Lord not support Chelsea? Well, his ways are mysterious.) I really enjoyed my time with John (don't tell him such), and he invited me to come over to the UK to spend a week getting to know some of the others. From there, it just felt really right. Getting to know everybody, and getting to write with several of my old worship leader heroes has been such a privilege, and I was even able to squeeze in an English Premier League match. Perfect fit!"

During his initial trip to Britain Aaron met up with Stuart Townend at Abbey Road studios and went on to spend a couple of days with the worship leader down in Brighton. Explained Aaron, "Stuart and I began a friendship for which I'm very thankful, and we set aside some time to write together. We worked for a few hours in his home, and then I came back to the US to finish the song via emails and phone calls. What eventually came out was a new hymn we wrote together, called 'Psalm 62'. Kingsway called me and told me Stuart was to be recording a new live album, and they'd like to put 'Psalm 62' on his new record, and they'd like for me to come and sing it! I gratefully obliged, and Stuart was gracious to allow me to share his stage. The concert was wonderful; nice and intimate, a beautiful little theatre and a perfect venue for a night of worship. I remember really feeling the presence of the Lord in that place, and my soul being stirred throughout the evening, by lyrics that only a writer like Stuart could produce. It was a blast, and a tremendous honor, from start to finish."

Aaron has an interesting perspective on those who consider the high profile marketing of worship songs as something akin to money changers in the temple. He commented, "I can actually see their point! The Lord is looking at our hearts, scouring the earth, even, for those whose hearts are fully his (2 Chronicles 16:9). If guys are writing worship songs, leading worship and touring the country for the purpose of accruing wealth, fans, or some fleeting sense of fame, the Lord knows that and in due time those guys will stand before God. Those moneychangers weren't trying to serve the worshippers who were coming into the temple; they were exploiting them. The moneychangers weren't offering this service ('Hey, don't bother with all the hassle of bringing your own lamb from home; you can just buy one from us!') out of hearts fully committed to God; they were simply turning a profit, commodifying worship, and Jesus saw right through it. No doubt, he sees right through our charades as well. Man looks at the outward, but the Lord sees our hearts.

"David is the other extreme. David never made a dime from CCLI royalties. David never won GMA awards. He didn't know that he was writing Scripture, or that his songs would be preserved and used for worship for thousands of years. He was simply pouring out his heart to the Lord in his songs. And the Lord saw his heart, even calling him a 'man after God's own heart.' This is striking! David was a hero, to be sure, but David also had his share of faults, not the least of which we're all aware of, and yet the Lord still calls David a man after his own heart. Deep down (as is evidence in his psalms) we see that David - despite appearances even sometimes - loved God with all of his heart."

Aaron continued, "Contrast this with Saul. Saul never really did anything that we would consider horribly awful. He made a couple mistakes, but never anything as grave as his successor; he actually managed to keep up appearances rather well. But the Lord isn't impressed by appearances. The Lord wants our very hearts. Guess how many Psalms we have on record that were written by Saul? Zero. There aren't any. Why do I make a deal of this? Because David's heart overflowed with a love for God, and even in the midst of horrific sin (look sometime at how his Psalms from those periods take on a much more desperate and broken tone) you still see him honestly bringing his heart, his hurt and his love to the Lord. He couldn't help it; he overflowed worship.

"Jesus never reacted in anger to sinners who knew they were sinners. He confined his anger for sinners who thought they were somehow exempted from judgment because their particular vices were hidden in their religiosity. It's just not the case; neither is it for us. May we vigilantly guard our hearts! May we constantly come back to the Lord and ask him to wash us clean, make us pure, and make us wise. And may we never lose the simplicity of one heart pouring itself out in love onto its Beloved. This is what worship is about. It's nothing to do with empire building, vanity, awards and the like. We may fool everybody around us, but the Lord sees our heart and will hold us responsible for how we nurtured, cultivated and spent our hearts in our time here. In due course, he always lifts up those who are bowed down, and likewise he humbles those who themselves exalt."