Peace is an elusive thing. I love seasons of peace whether it's for a day, a week...only a few minutes. The calm, the serenity of knowing everything is OK. Maybe it's just me but those seasons of peace come and go and I'm not always aware of their coming or going. Sometimes it's over a course of hours and days, sometimes it's immediate (and I think I hate the immediate going the most). I never knew what peace was like until I really began to understand what God is like. I remember times when I thought things were good, manageable at least and I thought that was peace but it wasn't. It wasn't the peace I've found that holds me in the hardest of times, that allows me to hurt but to believe that God is sovereign, that He knows my pain and He is going to help me heal and recover. Knowing that, feeling that when I am in the midst of a storm is the craziest thing I have ever experienced but there are some storms that get so dark, I lose focus of who is in control and resort to trying to find my own way again and that is when I lose the peace, when all seems hectic, when I feel panic setting in, when I start grasping for something to hold onto and become defensive.
I want peace in my life; not a stress-free life, not a life of riches and health, only a knowledge that God never lets go, never walks away, never hides or hopes I will simply drift off but remains steadfast in His overwhelming flood of love for me.
I told a friend the other day I was ready to be with God and I think it freaked him out a little bit. I could only ask him what the ultimate hope of being a Christian is if it's not spending eternity with God. He asked why I didn't want to wait around and see what goes on. All I could say was that I can't imagine anything here being as good as what God has waiting for me but I want to live in the moment while I am here since this seems to be where God wants me right now. When it's His time, it will be my time. Until then, it is well with my soul.
These guys played at the conference I was attending last week and this song is all over me right now.
Grace and peace to you.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Easy Does It
I find myself being careful with my thoughts that go on this blog. The last few months have sent me into a tailspin of putting together thoughts and words and saying what I want to say. I took time off thinking I would come back ready to write and still find myself going days, fingers on the keyboard and thoughts coming from all over that lack cohesion and, sometimes, lack civility.
One thing that keeps floating around in my head is the idea of worship. I know there are debates that could go on for eons about worship allowing us to spend time on our soapboxes while ignoring the broken and the lost. That is not my intent here but I have certainly had some heart and mind changes about what worship is and looks like and this is my spot to start sorting some of it out and for the purposes of what I'm talking about today, I'm only looking at our assemblies on Sundays where Christians come together to worship God.
I've seen a church building on I-35 around Waco sporting a sign for a 39 minute worship. Now, for some of us, worshiping for 39 minutes would be a record because we are thinking about what needs to get done this week, whether anyone noticed our closed eyes, wondering if we are going to get out of here in time to eat and see the Cowboys game or whether we need to pick a restaurant with a TV, wondering why Wade is starting Barber over Jones or Jones over Barber and why in the world Jerry ever signed TO. We are thinking about the next vacation, the next day, the next big spending spree. We are doing a lot of things without participating until someone mentions the 39 minute worship and we re-engage to decry something so dastardly. On the other hand, if church runs over more than 60 minutes (21 more minutes than the other guys are putting in), we are in an uproar that it took too long, the preacher's sermon isn't that interesting, the comments made by Brother So-and-So were unnecessary, too many songs, blah, blah, blah.
I grew up in the Church of Christ and I knew that the service should not take more than an hour and if it did, well someone was going to hear about it. Yes, we can come together to worship for one hour but that's all you get God.
Let me suggest that if we come together and our hearts are fully attuned to worship the LORD, the Creator of heaven and earth, the Redeemer and Savior of our souls, if we come fully aware of who it is we are praising, an hour could pass by like a moment and we would never know. If the greatness of God was on our hearts and on our minds, what could possibly be more compelling than a day full of worship?
Understand, these are the questions I am asking of myself and no one else. I am only confessing my past problems and my current thoughts on what and who I want to be from this day forward. There is no doubt in my my mind that the people leading a worship service can have a great impact on the mood and attitude of the worshippers but if I don't show up with the right attitude, the right mind-set towards my God, I need to check my heart and examine my thoughts because I know, deep down, I want to lay it all out for the One who has saved me from death, covered me in grace and loves me like no other.
Grace and peace to you.
One thing that keeps floating around in my head is the idea of worship. I know there are debates that could go on for eons about worship allowing us to spend time on our soapboxes while ignoring the broken and the lost. That is not my intent here but I have certainly had some heart and mind changes about what worship is and looks like and this is my spot to start sorting some of it out and for the purposes of what I'm talking about today, I'm only looking at our assemblies on Sundays where Christians come together to worship God.
I've seen a church building on I-35 around Waco sporting a sign for a 39 minute worship. Now, for some of us, worshiping for 39 minutes would be a record because we are thinking about what needs to get done this week, whether anyone noticed our closed eyes, wondering if we are going to get out of here in time to eat and see the Cowboys game or whether we need to pick a restaurant with a TV, wondering why Wade is starting Barber over Jones or Jones over Barber and why in the world Jerry ever signed TO. We are thinking about the next vacation, the next day, the next big spending spree. We are doing a lot of things without participating until someone mentions the 39 minute worship and we re-engage to decry something so dastardly. On the other hand, if church runs over more than 60 minutes (21 more minutes than the other guys are putting in), we are in an uproar that it took too long, the preacher's sermon isn't that interesting, the comments made by Brother So-and-So were unnecessary, too many songs, blah, blah, blah.
I grew up in the Church of Christ and I knew that the service should not take more than an hour and if it did, well someone was going to hear about it. Yes, we can come together to worship for one hour but that's all you get God.
Let me suggest that if we come together and our hearts are fully attuned to worship the LORD, the Creator of heaven and earth, the Redeemer and Savior of our souls, if we come fully aware of who it is we are praising, an hour could pass by like a moment and we would never know. If the greatness of God was on our hearts and on our minds, what could possibly be more compelling than a day full of worship?
Understand, these are the questions I am asking of myself and no one else. I am only confessing my past problems and my current thoughts on what and who I want to be from this day forward. There is no doubt in my my mind that the people leading a worship service can have a great impact on the mood and attitude of the worshippers but if I don't show up with the right attitude, the right mind-set towards my God, I need to check my heart and examine my thoughts because I know, deep down, I want to lay it all out for the One who has saved me from death, covered me in grace and loves me like no other.
Grace and peace to you.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Homeward Bound
I'm sitting in the Chicago airport waiting to catch a plane back to the Metromess surrounded by a world community. A woman sitting close to me that might not be a woman. A family that I'm guessing is from Germany - it sounds like German to me anyway. A dad taking two of his boys to Japan for spring break and hundreds of other people coming home and going somewhere. I always enjoy sitting back and watching, trying to guess their stories. It's fascinating to me how people come and go, some are hurried, others not, all with places to go and people to see. I wonder if they are all aware of their purpose?
I attended the Catalyst One Day conference at Willow Creek Church yesterday. An awesome conference and a great facility. What church shouldn't have a cafeteria that will feed 2,100 people in an hour, have a coffee shop that is bigger than any Starbucks I've been to and it's own bookstore? Anyway, I'm at the conference on my own and walk up to the line to get in and find myself next to a guy wearing cowboy boots. I asked where he was from and his response cracked me up. "I'm from a little town outside Fort Worth, Texas called Bridgeport." I laughed and told him I was from a little town outside Fort Worth, Texas called Decatur. What are the odds? I later ran into a friend who used to live in Decatur but moved several years ago. It's a small world.
The Catalyst conference was awesome. The topic was momentum and while it was targeted to church leaders (all of them should have been there) it applied to the business world equally well. It was a blessing and a great learning experience to be there.
I'm ready to head home and it's time to head to the gate. Sic 'em Bears!
Grace and peace to you.
I attended the Catalyst One Day conference at Willow Creek Church yesterday. An awesome conference and a great facility. What church shouldn't have a cafeteria that will feed 2,100 people in an hour, have a coffee shop that is bigger than any Starbucks I've been to and it's own bookstore? Anyway, I'm at the conference on my own and walk up to the line to get in and find myself next to a guy wearing cowboy boots. I asked where he was from and his response cracked me up. "I'm from a little town outside Fort Worth, Texas called Bridgeport." I laughed and told him I was from a little town outside Fort Worth, Texas called Decatur. What are the odds? I later ran into a friend who used to live in Decatur but moved several years ago. It's a small world.
The Catalyst conference was awesome. The topic was momentum and while it was targeted to church leaders (all of them should have been there) it applied to the business world equally well. It was a blessing and a great learning experience to be there.
I'm ready to head home and it's time to head to the gate. Sic 'em Bears!
Grace and peace to you.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Stuck
I'm stuck trying to decide who to pull for during the remainder of March Madness. I'm a Duke guy at heart so they will likely get my vote but I think it will come down to Kentucky and Syracuse. Speaking of Baylor (huh?), I think Scott Drew is a very underrated coach. What he's done with the Baylor program has been amazing. He should be able to name his price to stay there and he seems like a guy who would name a reasonable price. I hope he will write a book one day.
I'm stuck on the theme of hardship and suffering. I wish I wasn't, I really do, but I see it more and more in my life and all around me.
"You can't live an inspiring life without hardship." - Donald Miller
How many of us are inspired by the story of the guy who lives in a great middle-class family, goes to college, marries a nice girl, gets a good job and drives a Volvo? BORING. No, we are inspired by the young black man living on the streets who makes it to the NFL because of a good family. We are inspired by a wealthy white family that takes a chance on a homeless kid so they can give him a better life. We are inspired by a family reeling in agony by the death of a child who had inspired hundreds in life and thousands through unexplainable hardship. We're inspired by the baseball player who's trying to overcome drug addiction and his wife who has overcome bitterness and now speak boldly about the love of God in their lives. Those are the people who inspire us to be better, to walk closer to Christ.
I'm under attack by Satan and I feel it. I feel it in the core of my being and know he is waiting for an opening, waiting to find me vulnerable and he's very good at what he does. Praise God that He loads us up with the Holy Spirit. We are responsible to call on the Spirit and when we do there is power to stand strong that is unexplainable.
I'm stuck on trying to find the path that allows me to follow God daily, moment-by-moment. I want desperately to seek God's will, to hear His voice, to know where He wants me to go, what He wants me to do, to say the things He wants me to say.
I need you LORD. Fill me up with strength and wisdom so I will see things as you want me to see them. I'm weak and I need the power that comes only from you. I'm scared and I need the courage that comes only from you. I praise you because you never leave, you never let go, you always love unconditionally. I want people to see your love in me and flowing out of me. Use me. Make me your instrument on earth.
Grace and peace to you.
I'm stuck on the theme of hardship and suffering. I wish I wasn't, I really do, but I see it more and more in my life and all around me.
"You can't live an inspiring life without hardship." - Donald Miller
How many of us are inspired by the story of the guy who lives in a great middle-class family, goes to college, marries a nice girl, gets a good job and drives a Volvo? BORING. No, we are inspired by the young black man living on the streets who makes it to the NFL because of a good family. We are inspired by a wealthy white family that takes a chance on a homeless kid so they can give him a better life. We are inspired by a family reeling in agony by the death of a child who had inspired hundreds in life and thousands through unexplainable hardship. We're inspired by the baseball player who's trying to overcome drug addiction and his wife who has overcome bitterness and now speak boldly about the love of God in their lives. Those are the people who inspire us to be better, to walk closer to Christ.
I'm under attack by Satan and I feel it. I feel it in the core of my being and know he is waiting for an opening, waiting to find me vulnerable and he's very good at what he does. Praise God that He loads us up with the Holy Spirit. We are responsible to call on the Spirit and when we do there is power to stand strong that is unexplainable.
I'm stuck on trying to find the path that allows me to follow God daily, moment-by-moment. I want desperately to seek God's will, to hear His voice, to know where He wants me to go, what He wants me to do, to say the things He wants me to say.
I need you LORD. Fill me up with strength and wisdom so I will see things as you want me to see them. I'm weak and I need the power that comes only from you. I'm scared and I need the courage that comes only from you. I praise you because you never leave, you never let go, you always love unconditionally. I want people to see your love in me and flowing out of me. Use me. Make me your instrument on earth.
Grace and peace to you.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Government Reform=Contradiction of Terms
Health care "reform" is supposed to be shoved down our throats today. Now, I'm all for health care reform but having been in a business that worked with Medicare I can tell you the opportunity for abuse is there and the government has no sense of what they are doing. I'm still saddened that the President acted like he had learned a lesson about partisanship and is going to allow this bill to come through without a true vote. I'll all for change President Obama but not the kind of change that is forced on me by people who really don't know what they are doing.
Great quote I read this weekend, I believe attributed to Albert Einstein. "We all want to be on the mountaintop but nothing grows there." Isn't that the truth? We want to "ride the wave", to have a "mountaintop experience" and the experience of reaching a pinnacle is exhilarating but not much happens at the top. All the work, all the growing, all the pain needed to prepare us for the pinnacle is done at the base of the mountain, even in the valley between mountains. We need to be prepared for the fact that when we reach the mountaintop, we can't stay there long and will have to come back to where we started at some point and do it all over again. Our life with Christ is like that. We have moments of awakenings only to find that there are more awakenings ahead of us. We may feel like we are on top of the mountain one day but we'll have another mountain we have to climb soon and better beginning preparing for it. We cannot remain where nothing grows.
Grace and peace to you.
Great quote I read this weekend, I believe attributed to Albert Einstein. "We all want to be on the mountaintop but nothing grows there." Isn't that the truth? We want to "ride the wave", to have a "mountaintop experience" and the experience of reaching a pinnacle is exhilarating but not much happens at the top. All the work, all the growing, all the pain needed to prepare us for the pinnacle is done at the base of the mountain, even in the valley between mountains. We need to be prepared for the fact that when we reach the mountaintop, we can't stay there long and will have to come back to where we started at some point and do it all over again. Our life with Christ is like that. We have moments of awakenings only to find that there are more awakenings ahead of us. We may feel like we are on top of the mountain one day but we'll have another mountain we have to climb soon and better beginning preparing for it. We cannot remain where nothing grows.
Grace and peace to you.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Talking Sports and Other Stuff
Whew! The misery on TV called Longhorn basketball is over. They made me think they could put it together and then blew it in the last seconds of overtime. So much talent and they totally fell apart through the year.
I'm pulling for Villanova now. I read an article on Scottie Reynolds and he sounds like a true class-act. I'm sure there are others but he's my fan favorite now. I'm predicting Kansas will beat West Virginia for the championship.
Ron Washington. Wow. Anyone else wanting to line up to throw stones at the man? The reporting makes it sound like he's the first guy in baseball to admit to wrongdoing and I think that is symptomatic of our society right now. High profile figures admit to doing something wrong and people (who most likely have just as many flaws) and reporters line up to castigate them. I have empathy for Ron and Tiger and all the steroids guys, not condoning what they have done but clearly understanding the battle against evil they face. I don't understand all the people railing against them as if they don't have their own battles and sins to confess.
I was talking to a friend the other day discussing the idea that there is more evil oppression on people and churches than at any other time in our life. Maybe it's only because our eyes are opening to the spiritual battle or maybe it's because of what lies ahead of us but pain and torment sure seem more evident today than I remember. I have theories on what that means but I know this - trusting and following the will of God is the only path that leads to peace and joy. I hope He will continue to strengthen me and use me to help others find the Way.
Grace and peace to you.
I'm pulling for Villanova now. I read an article on Scottie Reynolds and he sounds like a true class-act. I'm sure there are others but he's my fan favorite now. I'm predicting Kansas will beat West Virginia for the championship.
Ron Washington. Wow. Anyone else wanting to line up to throw stones at the man? The reporting makes it sound like he's the first guy in baseball to admit to wrongdoing and I think that is symptomatic of our society right now. High profile figures admit to doing something wrong and people (who most likely have just as many flaws) and reporters line up to castigate them. I have empathy for Ron and Tiger and all the steroids guys, not condoning what they have done but clearly understanding the battle against evil they face. I don't understand all the people railing against them as if they don't have their own battles and sins to confess.
I was talking to a friend the other day discussing the idea that there is more evil oppression on people and churches than at any other time in our life. Maybe it's only because our eyes are opening to the spiritual battle or maybe it's because of what lies ahead of us but pain and torment sure seem more evident today than I remember. I have theories on what that means but I know this - trusting and following the will of God is the only path that leads to peace and joy. I hope He will continue to strengthen me and use me to help others find the Way.
Grace and peace to you.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Talking Prayer and Politics
One last thing from last Sunday (I think) was a great comment made by Richard Ross who was preaching. He said something to this affect, too much of our prayer time sounds like an "organ recital" and not a talk with God about the real issues. Our prayers need to be focused on the spiritual, not the physical. We often spend more time praying for hearts, arms, knees, kidneys - the organ recital - than we do on things spiritual and it needs to be the other way around. Do we think God cares more about us sustaining life on this earth or preparing ourselves to enter the next life, heaven? God put us here for a purpose but it wasn't to be healthy, wealthy and wise but to embody His spirit and His heart and His desire for humanity. That's where I prayer life needs to be centered, not to the exclusion of praying for things we do care about, but as the overwhelming topic of prayer.
Last I heard, President Obama wanted a bi-partisan group to craft the new health plan. Today, I hear the Democrats are using some tricky procedure (that the Republican's have used plenty of times before) to get a health plan pushed through. Sounds like Obama isn't as interested in bi-partisan answers as he is answers. I understand a President who wants to get his agenda passed but I do not appreciate a President who says who has heard the people and then carries on in the same manner as before.
I'll finish a bit more light-hearted - the Rangers are having a tough spring but spring isn't where championships are won, only started. I'm concerned about Josh Hamilton's health problems only because I want him to succeed but it sounds like the pieces are starting to fall into place. It appears Chris Davis learned from last year's mistake of resting on his laurels and his working hard. Michael Young is still Michael Young, Kinsler needs to heal his ankle and Vlad needs to keep hitting crazy pitches. I'm excited to see what they can do this year but my expectations are tempered.
When you pray today, remember to pray for God's will to be the one thing we can all fulfill in our lives.
Grace and peace to you.
Last I heard, President Obama wanted a bi-partisan group to craft the new health plan. Today, I hear the Democrats are using some tricky procedure (that the Republican's have used plenty of times before) to get a health plan pushed through. Sounds like Obama isn't as interested in bi-partisan answers as he is answers. I understand a President who wants to get his agenda passed but I do not appreciate a President who says who has heard the people and then carries on in the same manner as before.
I'll finish a bit more light-hearted - the Rangers are having a tough spring but spring isn't where championships are won, only started. I'm concerned about Josh Hamilton's health problems only because I want him to succeed but it sounds like the pieces are starting to fall into place. It appears Chris Davis learned from last year's mistake of resting on his laurels and his working hard. Michael Young is still Michael Young, Kinsler needs to heal his ankle and Vlad needs to keep hitting crazy pitches. I'm excited to see what they can do this year but my expectations are tempered.
When you pray today, remember to pray for God's will to be the one thing we can all fulfill in our lives.
Grace and peace to you.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
More Sunday Reflections
I love conversations with people who love Jesus. I had a good meal and great conversation last night with a friend and those times always leave me wanting to seek God's will at deeper levels than before.
The idea of worship is floating in my head the last few days so I'll throw out some more things I'm thinking about. (Just a reminder, it's still my blog for the things on my mind - not a place where truth, wisdom or good guidance is intended to be imparted.) I picked the church I went to Sunday based on the website. The church's site was updated and contemporary but what struck me were their belief statements - not defenses of how or why they worshiped but open proclamations of their belief in God, His Son, the Holy Spirit and the Word. One of the other church sites I visited listed all the proof texts for their acts of worship and defenses of their singing and communion. Now, I don't disagree with their beliefs but their approach to them gave me a sense of what that church was about. It reminded me of a quote I saw the other day, "if we spend more time defending our beliefs than living them, we are missing the point of the Gospel message." I digress.
OK, the phrase that struck me and one I have heard forever on the second church's site was "we worship in spirit and truth" which seems to mean their worship is justified by the actions they partake in and/or avoid. This is where I really felt the rub because at the point Jesus is talking to the Samaritan woman about worship, He's not talking about the "acts of worship" but that God is spirit and our worship to Him needs to flow from the heart and be focused wholly on Him. Jesus had been talking to her about living water, not something physical but something spiritual, that would fill her up inside. What Jesus had to give her wasn't about the physical, it was about the heart. Jesus goes on to say that our worship won't be in this physical place or that physical place but in spirit and truth. Spiritual, not physical. So why do churches try to tie that scripture to something that is physical? There's not enough space or time in this blog to explore that question but I am determined to understand what Jesus wants from me at a deeper level than I do today.
One last thought about spirit and truth worship. I do not believe our worship assembly is for me to feel better, it is for me to put all my energy in praising the LORD. I want to sing songs that praise Him, I want to put energy and time and thought into praising Him. I believe in doing so I will have a worship experience that does lift me up because I am a child of His and He lives in me but it is not about me, it is about God. In that sense, I don't want to get caught up in the amount of time it takes, whether I'm going to miss a part of the Cowboy game or the other church groups will beat me to the lunch line. I want to worship God. Some of the people I worshiped with Sunday clapped during the songs, some raised their hands, some closed their eyes, some did very little. Some of those things resemble me, some don't but when I walk out of worship, I want to be excited about what is before me and filled up with what I just did. On Sunday, I thought about the basketball tournament I had just been to the night before. During the games, people were on their feet, they were shouting, cheering, clapping, raising their fists in the air. Should I be that excited at a basketball game that means nothing and not be more excited, more jubilant, more engaged in a worship time for the God of creation who has provided me eternal life in a place of constant joy?
It's on my heart to learn how to worship God in spirit and truth, not just Sunday morning but including the time I gather with brothers and sisters and lasting into every hour of every day. I want to be more comfortable showing and sharing the excitement that is bursting in my heart for God everyday in every place.
Again, I say all this knowing little and only expressing things that are on my heart.
Grace and peace to you.
The idea of worship is floating in my head the last few days so I'll throw out some more things I'm thinking about. (Just a reminder, it's still my blog for the things on my mind - not a place where truth, wisdom or good guidance is intended to be imparted.) I picked the church I went to Sunday based on the website. The church's site was updated and contemporary but what struck me were their belief statements - not defenses of how or why they worshiped but open proclamations of their belief in God, His Son, the Holy Spirit and the Word. One of the other church sites I visited listed all the proof texts for their acts of worship and defenses of their singing and communion. Now, I don't disagree with their beliefs but their approach to them gave me a sense of what that church was about. It reminded me of a quote I saw the other day, "if we spend more time defending our beliefs than living them, we are missing the point of the Gospel message." I digress.
OK, the phrase that struck me and one I have heard forever on the second church's site was "we worship in spirit and truth" which seems to mean their worship is justified by the actions they partake in and/or avoid. This is where I really felt the rub because at the point Jesus is talking to the Samaritan woman about worship, He's not talking about the "acts of worship" but that God is spirit and our worship to Him needs to flow from the heart and be focused wholly on Him. Jesus had been talking to her about living water, not something physical but something spiritual, that would fill her up inside. What Jesus had to give her wasn't about the physical, it was about the heart. Jesus goes on to say that our worship won't be in this physical place or that physical place but in spirit and truth. Spiritual, not physical. So why do churches try to tie that scripture to something that is physical? There's not enough space or time in this blog to explore that question but I am determined to understand what Jesus wants from me at a deeper level than I do today.
One last thought about spirit and truth worship. I do not believe our worship assembly is for me to feel better, it is for me to put all my energy in praising the LORD. I want to sing songs that praise Him, I want to put energy and time and thought into praising Him. I believe in doing so I will have a worship experience that does lift me up because I am a child of His and He lives in me but it is not about me, it is about God. In that sense, I don't want to get caught up in the amount of time it takes, whether I'm going to miss a part of the Cowboy game or the other church groups will beat me to the lunch line. I want to worship God. Some of the people I worshiped with Sunday clapped during the songs, some raised their hands, some closed their eyes, some did very little. Some of those things resemble me, some don't but when I walk out of worship, I want to be excited about what is before me and filled up with what I just did. On Sunday, I thought about the basketball tournament I had just been to the night before. During the games, people were on their feet, they were shouting, cheering, clapping, raising their fists in the air. Should I be that excited at a basketball game that means nothing and not be more excited, more jubilant, more engaged in a worship time for the God of creation who has provided me eternal life in a place of constant joy?
It's on my heart to learn how to worship God in spirit and truth, not just Sunday morning but including the time I gather with brothers and sisters and lasting into every hour of every day. I want to be more comfortable showing and sharing the excitement that is bursting in my heart for God everyday in every place.
Again, I say all this knowing little and only expressing things that are on my heart.
Grace and peace to you.
Monday, March 15, 2010
That Was Worship!
I attended the Round Rock Church of Christ on Sunday and "Wow!" it was a period of WORSHIP. Yes, that is worship in big capital letters. A great worship leader and an awesome message about Christ's kingship made for a great morning and lingering thoughts for what I can do to be a better child of God.
I believe there is a big difference in "going to church" and "going to worship" and I'm guilty, for far too long, of going to church. I may spend some more time exploring the semantics of the two terms later but for now I will simply leave it with you to contemplate. I will say that for years, I've been guilty of going to church and not truly worshiping in truth and spirit (another term I want to explore). As I have gone through a period that has led me to a growing, more real relationship with God I seek to worship him through song, through emotions, through a heart for His glory.
I believe the worship leader sets the tone for the worship service and the believer in Round Rock were led by a clear and obvious passion for God and I was thankful to be a part of it. It was a reminder, even an eye-opener to what worship can and should be.
Grace and peace to you.
I believe there is a big difference in "going to church" and "going to worship" and I'm guilty, for far too long, of going to church. I may spend some more time exploring the semantics of the two terms later but for now I will simply leave it with you to contemplate. I will say that for years, I've been guilty of going to church and not truly worshiping in truth and spirit (another term I want to explore). As I have gone through a period that has led me to a growing, more real relationship with God I seek to worship him through song, through emotions, through a heart for His glory.
I believe the worship leader sets the tone for the worship service and the believer in Round Rock were led by a clear and obvious passion for God and I was thankful to be a part of it. It was a reminder, even an eye-opener to what worship can and should be.
Grace and peace to you.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Yes!
There are some people we can talk to who really help us dig through the gunk and find the answers. I have a friend like that and I think he really helped get me going in the right direction; not that all is right with the world type thinking but one of those aha moments that sure helps sort through the obstacles I have been facing. The next few days will tell the tale.
I did hear this gem today - "expectations are simply premeditated disappointments." Brilliant!
The Texas Longhorns beat Iowa State to advance in the Big 12 tournament. Now they face Baylor and we all know it's hard to beat a team 3 times in a row. That bodes well for Texas.
I wish I could be in Surprise, AZ to watch the Rangers at spring training. Maybe next year...
God is good and we can always see it when we look to our future with him. It's much harder to see when we look at our present condition or think about what the future of this life holds. I want to live focused on heaven. I rather be there enjoying the best that God has to offer but until he decides to take me home, I will do my best to make him my focus each day. Wouldn't it be cool if everyone was doing that?
Grace and peace to you.
I did hear this gem today - "expectations are simply premeditated disappointments." Brilliant!
The Texas Longhorns beat Iowa State to advance in the Big 12 tournament. Now they face Baylor and we all know it's hard to beat a team 3 times in a row. That bodes well for Texas.
I wish I could be in Surprise, AZ to watch the Rangers at spring training. Maybe next year...
God is good and we can always see it when we look to our future with him. It's much harder to see when we look at our present condition or think about what the future of this life holds. I want to live focused on heaven. I rather be there enjoying the best that God has to offer but until he decides to take me home, I will do my best to make him my focus each day. Wouldn't it be cool if everyone was doing that?
Grace and peace to you.
Low Fuel Indicator
If you keep stopping by to see if I've unleashed any new craziness from my brain, I apologize for the lack of new content. I'm still drained and not back in the swing of writing. This blog normally comes easy for me with thoughts working in my head for days at a time but of late the thoughts are all criss-crossed and mish-mashed and not easily written. I am confident this dry period is created by battles I am facing and by a return to the old ways of thinking at times...a failure to rely on God and a sense of figuring it all out myself. It doesn't work, never has, but the struggle is there.
I'll keep wrestling through this dry period and I have faith I will be filled up soon, ready to write, ready to serve, ready to glorify God with all my being. I hope you will keep dropping by and keep praying for the battles you see and don't see.
Grace and peace to you.
I'll keep wrestling through this dry period and I have faith I will be filled up soon, ready to write, ready to serve, ready to glorify God with all my being. I hope you will keep dropping by and keep praying for the battles you see and don't see.
Grace and peace to you.
Monday, March 08, 2010
The Mark of Success
In our Life Group, the question was asked to define the perfect couple. Immediate answers went to the things of this world - looks, finances, well-behaved kids; all the perceptions of success as our society defines it. It was how I used to define so much but changes in my life have helped me bring a new vision of success to what I see.
Father Thomas Keating, in his book The Human Condition, says this, "Sometimes a sense of failure is a great means to true humility, which is what God most looks for in us. I realize this is not the language of success, but we have oversubscribed to that language. We need to hear about the interior freedom that comes through participation in the sufferings of Christ, the symbol of God's love for everyone on earth.
It has taken some difficult moments for me to realize that I am promised nothing but suffering on this earth. While Job was given a great deal after his suffering, I cannot believe the scars of what he went through left his mind but it never changed his love for God. David, a man after God's own heart, saw his family fall apart but he never changed his love for God. The apostles faced beatings and prison but it never changed their love for God.
What is it that makes me think I am different? That I can have a "happy" life without all that suffering? That going to church and contributing to my 401k is my means to an enjoyable future?
The Bible is filled with people who suffered mightily. One such story tells of a man who was beaten, his flesh ripped away from his body, people spit on him and then he was nailed to a cross to die. It is understandable that he could be completely confused by the treatment because he was the son of God but his final words speak volumes about who he was...and who I must be. Humbly, he said "forgive them because they don't know what they are doing."
I continue to pay my mortgage and contribute to my 401k and make plans for the future but I also know it can be taken away in an instant and that it very well could be replaced with suffering. My joy is that each day I continue to accept that knowledge more living in the security that at the very worst, I still will not be called to bear all the sins of the world.
I don't want to oversubscribe to what success means to the world any longer - only to what success means in my relationship with my Savior.
Grace and peace to you.
Father Thomas Keating, in his book The Human Condition, says this, "Sometimes a sense of failure is a great means to true humility, which is what God most looks for in us. I realize this is not the language of success, but we have oversubscribed to that language. We need to hear about the interior freedom that comes through participation in the sufferings of Christ, the symbol of God's love for everyone on earth.
It has taken some difficult moments for me to realize that I am promised nothing but suffering on this earth. While Job was given a great deal after his suffering, I cannot believe the scars of what he went through left his mind but it never changed his love for God. David, a man after God's own heart, saw his family fall apart but he never changed his love for God. The apostles faced beatings and prison but it never changed their love for God.
What is it that makes me think I am different? That I can have a "happy" life without all that suffering? That going to church and contributing to my 401k is my means to an enjoyable future?
The Bible is filled with people who suffered mightily. One such story tells of a man who was beaten, his flesh ripped away from his body, people spit on him and then he was nailed to a cross to die. It is understandable that he could be completely confused by the treatment because he was the son of God but his final words speak volumes about who he was...and who I must be. Humbly, he said "forgive them because they don't know what they are doing."
I continue to pay my mortgage and contribute to my 401k and make plans for the future but I also know it can be taken away in an instant and that it very well could be replaced with suffering. My joy is that each day I continue to accept that knowledge more living in the security that at the very worst, I still will not be called to bear all the sins of the world.
I don't want to oversubscribe to what success means to the world any longer - only to what success means in my relationship with my Savior.
Grace and peace to you.
Thursday, March 04, 2010
Living It Out
A good friend recently said "if people truly believe in a literal heaven and hell, it seems like they would act different." That's been stuck in my head the last few days as I ponder how I'm living. Do I approach each day living as if there is a real heaven or hell awaiting me or do I approach each day like there will always be a tomorrow if I can just muddle through today?
Do I find the opportunity each day to share Christ with someone or am I more focused on the basketball game I want to go to? Do I find the opportunity to serve someone each day or am I more focused on where I want to eat lunch? Do people see Christ living in me or do they see a guy just getting through the day, just trying to survive the rat-race?
I want to start living each day much more committed to the reality of my belief that there is a heaven and a hell and that there is a Savior who died for me so I could live in heaven and that I have been called to exhibit Christ-likeness in my words and actions. I want people to know I believe there is a heaven because of my joy through Jesus Christ and the unexplainable love of God, the Father and my Lord.
Yes, my good friend, I do believe in heaven and I do believe in hell and I hope your words will push me to live more wholly devoted to Christ each day.
Grace and peace to you.
Do I find the opportunity each day to share Christ with someone or am I more focused on the basketball game I want to go to? Do I find the opportunity to serve someone each day or am I more focused on where I want to eat lunch? Do people see Christ living in me or do they see a guy just getting through the day, just trying to survive the rat-race?
I want to start living each day much more committed to the reality of my belief that there is a heaven and a hell and that there is a Savior who died for me so I could live in heaven and that I have been called to exhibit Christ-likeness in my words and actions. I want people to know I believe there is a heaven because of my joy through Jesus Christ and the unexplainable love of God, the Father and my Lord.
Yes, my good friend, I do believe in heaven and I do believe in hell and I hope your words will push me to live more wholly devoted to Christ each day.
Grace and peace to you.
Monday, March 01, 2010
Holiday's Over Already?
I just realized it is March 1. I'm not sure what that says about me but have had several thoughts run through my head and none have happy answers. I'm not organizationally ready to start blogging again today so I will fill this space with rambling thoughts.
I have been making a list of ideas and will start rolling those out in the next few days. Exciting, huh?
OK, for excitement, the Rangers start intrasquad scrimmages today. That means baseball is close!
My son's team played this weekend and while the record didn't indicate success, the play on the field was really good and he had a great tournament.
More rain today. Yippee.
Do you ever have a lunch with someone where the conversation is so good you are thinking about it for days? I had one of those Friday with a good friend. Stuff we talked about is still bouncing around in my brain and it keeps bringing me back to one central thought - the power and majesty of God is indescribable. Even though I continue to try and verbalize what God is doing in my life and in others, my efforts are weak to effectively describe God.
I hope to get rolling soon but there's too much to do today.
Grace and peace to you.
I have been making a list of ideas and will start rolling those out in the next few days. Exciting, huh?
OK, for excitement, the Rangers start intrasquad scrimmages today. That means baseball is close!
My son's team played this weekend and while the record didn't indicate success, the play on the field was really good and he had a great tournament.
More rain today. Yippee.
Do you ever have a lunch with someone where the conversation is so good you are thinking about it for days? I had one of those Friday with a good friend. Stuff we talked about is still bouncing around in my brain and it keeps bringing me back to one central thought - the power and majesty of God is indescribable. Even though I continue to try and verbalize what God is doing in my life and in others, my efforts are weak to effectively describe God.
I hope to get rolling soon but there's too much to do today.
Grace and peace to you.
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