168

Several conversations I have been a part of, along with a sermon and a class, have raised the question of "what is worship?"


I grew up in a time when our churches battled over the style of worship and some wanted to condemn "musical instrument" churches to the damning fire while I was always thinking we were more worried about singing our parts than living what we were singing (and I was very guilty of not living what I was singing/saying/whatever).  "When we all get to heaven (as long as you ain't using a piano to sing this song)..."  Maybe it should have been "When some of us who think we've got it all figured out get to heaven..."


All that to say, the number 168 stood out to me this week.  I have 168 hours in our week.  Let's say I use 56 of them getting 8 hours sleep a night and another 21 eating 3 times a day for an hour each meal (yes, both are a stretch) then I have 91 hours left.  What am I doing with that 91 hours?  Working?  Yes.  Attending events or spending time with my kids?  Yes  Visiting friends, shopping, watching TV?  Yes.


I remember when I used to gripe about someone turning the lights down during the communion service because I didn't like it.  I had the time to gripe but I look back and try to think of anything I did to serve God in the way Jesus exemplified and I come up empty.  I was like the Pharisees, trying to polish the outside of the dish while the inside was filthy.


The last few years have brought some inside cleaning.  There's more to do for sure but I can tell you that lots of gunk and muck have been cleaned off and thrown away.  Turn the lights down?  I don't care as long as I'm using my 141 hours a week to find ways to serve.  Sing new songs or old songs?  I'm much more concerned with how I'm spending my 141 hours a week to find ways to serve those in my life the way Jesus did.  And for my friends who go to church where there's a band or anything else that my fellowship might not agree with, I'll consider the fruit of what you are doing in 141 hours a week long before I'll want to talk to you about the band, the lights, the women or whatever else it is that I have seen my brethren worked up about in the past.


Jesus came to seek and save the lost, not establish the format for church service.  Why would I want to do anything different?


I've got 91 hours coming next week to reach out, to help, to clothe, to feed, to give water, to provide shelter, to teach.  I wonder what I will do with my time?

Retry

After 4 edits of today's original post, I give up and will borrow a link from Josh Graves.


This is a preacher who loves him some NASCAR.

Love me some NASCAR

I'm not going to go into how Jesus taught us to pray and make any comparisons (as if) or contrasts. 

Here's a link to my good friend's blog if you want to read more on prayer and how Jesus' idea may be a little different than Pastor Nelms 

Thoughts on Prayer

I'm not condemning Pastor Nelms or suggesting Rick knows all there is to know about prayer.  I mean, can you really hate a guy who prays for his smoking hot wife?  Just trying to be fair and balanced today.


Grace and peace to you.

Running on Empty

It's been tough to blog lately...as you've probably noticed. 


Same sex marriages in New York.  A murder spree in Norway.  Oh yes, now I remember why I have quit reading the paper and watching the news.  Burying my head in the sand, you say?  In all honesty, I think I have been more focused on my Father's business since I went without "news" for awhile.  Sadly enough, I can find enough problems in my own yard without hearing from around the world.  I'm not advocating for all people to quit listening to the news, I just feel like it has been a good thing for me for a season.


I'm taking an Organizational Behavior class for a Master's program right now.  One assignment was a Life Stress Inventory Test.  A score of 0-100 indicates you have low stress, 100-200 indicates reasonable stress that a person should be aware of and taking steps to reduce, 200-300 indicates high stress that can result in a 50% chance of a major health issue within 2 years, 300 and up indicates extremely high stress that can result in a 80% chance of a major health issue within 2 years.  I scored a 485 the first time so I took it again and got a 520.  Maybe that's why I feel exhausted all the time.  Silly tests.


I also took the Myers-Brigg Personality Inventory and found out I'm a INFJ.  I still don't know all that means but my personality is the same as Martin Luther King, Jr., Mother Teresa and Nelson Mandela - not bad company.  It's also the same as Billy Crystal and Mel Gibson (that may explain some of my outbursts at times).  Fascinating stuff. 


I got into another faith and works conversation the other day.  I'm still confused why anyone would try to separate the two.  I do stuff for my kids because of love.  God gave his son for me because of love.  Love is unseen (faith) until manifested in something I do for someone but what I do isn't done for proof, it's done out of love.  So is my work for God, not something I do for proof but something I do because of love.  It seems so simple to me. 


Then again, I may be a little simple-minded.  That's why I'm looking forward to being at the Rangers game tonight. 


Grace and peace to you.

Perseverance

How long does perseverance last? 


On vacation, I reread James.  It's become a favorite book because it addresses some areas that are key to living the life I want to live to know God better - persevering, controlling anger, confession and prayer. 


I love what James 1 has to say about persevering through trials but I wish it explained how long perseverance lasts.  I'd like to know I'm getting to the end of trials and closer to the crown. 


I know it's wishful thinking.  I know trials will never end and some are on a loop it seems.  I know my timing and God's timing vary slightly and I know His timing is the one I want to be aligned with (I've seen what doing things my way looks like - YIKES).  I'll keep praying for strength and courage and wisdom to persevere and to take joy in knowing and seeing how my trust in God to get me through the rough times always looks and feels much better than what I would do on my own accord.  And, I want to revel in the hope that comes from persevering in faith. 

Grace and peace to you.

Back In The Saddle

I had to hit the ground running yesterday after 7 days out of the office enjoying the beautiful scenery and cool temperatures of Colorado.  It was a good vacation but one that ended way to soon.  My son and I both thought we had some days stolen out of our week.  I caught some good fish, took the Jeep high into the mountains and felt some really cool temperatures and had great conversations with regulars at Fun Valley and with some Decaturites who showed up out of the blue.


One of the things I read on vacation was John Grisham's recent book, The Confession.  If you are a fan of the death penalty, I encourage you to read this one.  Just to be fair, I'm an ardent opponent to the death penalty, believe anyone who uses the Bible to defend murdering anyone is in direct contradiction to God and think anyone who calls themselves a follower of Christ and death penalty advocate should be required to give the injection that brings death.  I hope I was clear on my belief.  Anyway, this book tells a great story of why and how one mistake is one too many and is written with Grisham's regular, captivating flair.


More thoughts on reading in the coming days...


Grace and peace to you.

Rocky Mountain High

I love the Rocky Mountains.  I always feel closer to God when I'm in the mountains and it's not just the altitude but the beauty of his creation that comes to life for me.  There's nothing I like more than standing in a river and taking in the creation around me.  The week I spend here is my sabbath rest, certainly not how God may have intended it but it is the one time each year where I shut down and let the cares of the world float away. 


I am looking forward to a week of rest and a week of getting closer to God.  Open my heart, Lord.


Grace and peace to you.

EDIT: I had written the above post before leaving.  While traveling on Thursday and listening to the Rangers game, I was aware of the fan falling over the railing when it happened.  I was saddened to learn later the man had passed away.  He was attending the game with his young son according to reports.  I cannot imagine the effect this might have on Josh Hamilton who had tossed the ball to the man that he reached out for and fell.  I read a report where Oakland pitcher Brad Ziegler was in tears after the game after watching the incident from the visitors bullpen.

I cherish the moments I have with my children and this incident is a reminder that those can be gone in the blink of an eye.  I will enjoy this week with my son and cannot wait until I can hug my beautiful daughter next Saturday. 

Travel Day

Travel day is always a day of anticipation for me.  It's a day where I'm excited to get where I'm going, excited to think about what might occur or what I'm planning to do.  It's a day of adventure in knowing that I'm going somewhere with some idea of what it's going to be like when I get there but not fully knowing all the variables that might affect the trip along the way. 


My walk with God is like that.  Everyday is a travel day - one where I know where I'm headed when I leave the house but don't know what all will come along during the day, what opportunities God will present to me, what temptations will try to pull me down, wondering if it is a day where I will help someone or someone will help me get closer to God. 


I know I'm headed to South Fork, Colorado today and I have plans but I don't know what will come along during the journey.  I will pray my daily prayer for God to open my eyes to see what he sees, to open my hears to hear what he hears, to open my mouth to speak his words and to open my heart to be like his heart. 


Mid-70 degree weather won't hurt anything either!


Grace and peace to you.

Blogging Blah's

First, I want to again thank my readers who helped support Camp Coldwater.  They reached their goal and will get the GPS coordinates in 12-18 months on where the well sits.  I'll try to remember to post that when it comes in.  If you weren't able to support Camp Coldwater, I hope you will consider supporting Charity:Water at some time in the future.  It's a good cause doing good things for the people Jesus told us to reach. 


I've got the blogging blah's.  I'm not feeling very cohesive in my thoughts of late, busy with travel, with school, with some cool stuff that God has led me to in a nearby city, with managing kid time and personal time, guest blogging for a friend's site and something else...oh yeah, work. 


Last week I was in Searcy, Arkansas at Harding University as a sponsor for our youth group and a teacher and it was an incredible and uplifting experience.  They brought in some great speakers each night and kept the kids busy and active in both learning and burning energy.  I taught 3 classes on Tuesday and 3 classes on Wednesday and had a blast doing it.  I love talking to young people who are getting ready to embark on so many new adventures of life.  It's an honor and a challenge to try and share some life lessons in a way that meets them where they are.  I know I am ineffective on my own and pray always that God speaks through me so they will hear his message for their lives and not mine. 


I leave for Colorado on Thursday and will reach my destination on Friday where the high temperature is predicted to be 77.  Sweet!  I can't wait to be there, relaxing, fishing and spending some time with my son.  It's a little bittersweet in that my daughter is still in Arkansas attending a two-week college program and won't be with us but I know it's a great opportunity for her and I'm glad she's able to do that too.  I still miss her though.


Here's the lesson that has stuck with me from last week through my own preparation.  I cannot let God down because I never held him up.  He holds me up in his victorious hand.  It's a lesson I'm still learning, slowly but surely.  I love God.


Grace and peace to you.