I wish you could be here in this moment.
It isn't the lights, and it isn't the band. It isn't the phenomenal speakers, or the tech crew that's worked so hard to pull this Kongress off. It's the Presence of God in an arena turned temple, and in the temple of His people.
Looking around this room tonight, at faces shining with joy, at raised hands and dancing feet, at brothers and sisters from at least eight countries worshiping the King, I am humbled and awed at the greatness and the grandeur of our amazing God. He is so good.
What kind of a God would handpick these people on a tech team and put them in a cold and drafty building for a few long (but short) days, to do all the prep work that allows this people - His people - to gather and worship with abandon and passion?
An incredibly good God. A God who knows each one of us. Who knows our stories. Who knows our heartaches. Who sees our potential. Who believes in what we can be. An incredibly good God who reminds us of His goodness by incredibly extravagant acts of love. An incredibly good God who answers prayer in ways we could never imagine. An incredibly good God who has a plan so complex and so woven with love...if we could really see it, we would be blown away.
There is nothing like standing in the middle of a room full of people singing a song you know in another language to reorient you to how big a God we serve, and to readjust your vision to what is really important. "Thank You" feels inadequate. It doesn't do justice to how grateful I am for the privilege of worshiping here in this house - for the privilege of being wanted by the King of the Universe, and chosen as one loved to play a role in this Story He's writing - for the privilege of being His daughter. It doesn't do justice to how glad I am to be a follower of Jesus, to be singing His praises in another language, to be loved by this incredible God. But for lack of anything better to say, I will simply say... thank You. Thank You, Jesus, for the gift of this week, for the gift of this day, for the gift of this moment. Thank You for being who You are, and for making me - every day - a little more like You. I love you, Jesus.
Last night at dinner, a friend from the church here in Germany stood and reminded us that although we are from other countries, and other languages, we are still needed here - because we are family. We are one church, one body, one temple of His Spirit.
May we finally get it. May we see, with ever increasing clarity, how to be who He says we are.
We cannot do it alone.
So I pray, as we sang just a few moments ago: Komm in Vollmacht und Kraft, o Herr!
Come in power. Fill us with Your Spirit. And make us a people who make Your Name famous, by the way we love each other.
Amen.
a quick update
Well, rehearsal day is over, and we're heading home for the night. 7:00am tomorrow we start a last minute run-thru of the first two sessions, and at 9:00am the conference begins. Many, many things to do yet! We have yet to see powerpoint up on the screens for any significant length of time. That's a little nerve-wracking. There are small things here and there that haven't come together, and I saw some of the guys repainting a door backstage a couple minutes ago. We could definitely use some prayer tonight and tomorrow - but we know God will come through as He always does, and it will be an incredible day.
Can't wait to tell you all about it.
Can't wait to tell you all about it.
Hannah's prayer
Her name is Hannah. She's an older woman, tall, laugh lines, grey hair, visibly someone who has weathered much but done it with that deep joy that marks those who follow Him. Wrapped in her dark dress coat and a brightly colored scarf, she follows us into the arena where our tech crew will soon begin the long haul of a million things that need to be done in the next three days, setting up for the conference that will begin here on Thursday.
"We pray for this," she says. "Years ago when first they begin building this place, we stand here, and we pray. We ask God that someday the Christians will come and worship in this arena. Last year for the first time, the Christians are gathering to worship here, and now you come. You are God's answer. We are so excited for this."
Wow.
Two days from now, Willow Creek Deutschland will hold the first ever women's conference in Germany. It has a slightly different connotation here than in the states - at least half the people attending the conference will be men - definitely no Women of Faith type event! But the topic for the conference is the role of women in ministry, which has never been addressed so publicly here before. And as someone said yesterday, "After this, everything will be different."
How cool is it that God has allowed me to be here for such a time as this, to see and to pray in a watershed moment in the life of His church? I am humbled and awed to have some small role to play in this part of the story.
"We pray for this," she says. "Years ago when first they begin building this place, we stand here, and we pray. We ask God that someday the Christians will come and worship in this arena. Last year for the first time, the Christians are gathering to worship here, and now you come. You are God's answer. We are so excited for this."
Wow.
Two days from now, Willow Creek Deutschland will hold the first ever women's conference in Germany. It has a slightly different connotation here than in the states - at least half the people attending the conference will be men - definitely no Women of Faith type event! But the topic for the conference is the role of women in ministry, which has never been addressed so publicly here before. And as someone said yesterday, "After this, everything will be different."
How cool is it that God has allowed me to be here for such a time as this, to see and to pray in a watershed moment in the life of His church? I am humbled and awed to have some small role to play in this part of the story.
a bit of perspective
This made me laugh, and I wanted to share it with you. Jon Birch is quickly becoming one of my favorite people. :)
(HT: ASBO Jesus)
Me too. Tho I won't complain if there are moments reminiscent of the Indigo Girls. But somehow, I suspect that even music will have a whole new definition.
I can hardly wait to find out! There are definitely days I am more homesick for heaven than others, and today is a homesick day.
(HT: ASBO Jesus)Me too. Tho I won't complain if there are moments reminiscent of the Indigo Girls. But somehow, I suspect that even music will have a whole new definition.
I can hardly wait to find out! There are definitely days I am more homesick for heaven than others, and today is a homesick day.
a simple prayer
2 Corinthians 12:9 - "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
This is a truth for which I am grateful tonight.
God, grant me the grace I need to be faithful and true to Your will and Your way.
Amen.
This is a truth for which I am grateful tonight.
God, grant me the grace I need to be faithful and true to Your will and Your way.
Amen.
conversations that may imply some things
although i'm not quite sure what...
Conversation #1 - between me and Thoughtful Kindergarten Boy:
TKB - (singing an... interesting, but catchy song about a moon)
"I really like this song."
me - Do you really? I think it's kind of a silly song. The moon can't take care of you.
TKB - (laughs) No, that's God.
me - Yes, TKB. God takes care of you.
(thoughtful pause on the part of TKB)
TKB - Maybe the moon tells Santa Claus when all of everybody is asleep on Christmas Eve.
Conversation #2 - between me and Potty-Training Over-Tired Toddler
PTOTT - (incoherent meltdown while sitting on the potty just before nap - something about her nose being red...?)
me - What's the matter?!
PTOTT - (more incoherency, accompanied by trembling lower lip and gigantic crocodile tears puddling and spilling over in heart-wrenchingly sad eyes)
me - Here... come wash your hands, and then you can have a potty treat. Chocolate makes everything better. Chocolate and Jesus; that's all you need. Well... Jesus first, then chocolate.
PTOTT - (washes hands and smiles through tears)
At which point I fed her chocolate and then read her a Bible story....
Conversation #1 - between me and Thoughtful Kindergarten Boy:
TKB - (singing an... interesting, but catchy song about a moon)
"I really like this song."
me - Do you really? I think it's kind of a silly song. The moon can't take care of you.
TKB - (laughs) No, that's God.
me - Yes, TKB. God takes care of you.
(thoughtful pause on the part of TKB)
TKB - Maybe the moon tells Santa Claus when all of everybody is asleep on Christmas Eve.
Conversation #2 - between me and Potty-Training Over-Tired Toddler
PTOTT - (incoherent meltdown while sitting on the potty just before nap - something about her nose being red...?)
me - What's the matter?!
PTOTT - (more incoherency, accompanied by trembling lower lip and gigantic crocodile tears puddling and spilling over in heart-wrenchingly sad eyes)
me - Here... come wash your hands, and then you can have a potty treat. Chocolate makes everything better. Chocolate and Jesus; that's all you need. Well... Jesus first, then chocolate.
PTOTT - (washes hands and smiles through tears)
At which point I fed her chocolate and then read her a Bible story....
trust and obey
Yet another hymn from the walking jukebox of my head, with lyrical recollection help from cyberhymnal.org:
When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
I've had that refrain going over and over in my head for hours... "trust and obey, there is no other way to be happy in Jesus than to trust and obey..." It's true; I know it's true. It's just tough sometimes. But difficulty is not an excuse. He never said this was going to be easy. I only hoped it would be.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6
Lord, I do believe! Help my unbelief, I pray... Mark 9:23-24
When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet.
Or we'll walk by His side in the way.
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.*
*Trust and Obey words by John H. Sammis, music by Daniel B. Towner
I've had that refrain going over and over in my head for hours... "trust and obey, there is no other way to be happy in Jesus than to trust and obey..." It's true; I know it's true. It's just tough sometimes. But difficulty is not an excuse. He never said this was going to be easy. I only hoped it would be.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6
Lord, I do believe! Help my unbelief, I pray... Mark 9:23-24
friendship with God
I've been thinking (among other things) about friendship, and what it really means, and the differences between friendship and acquaintanceship and everything in between - and last night, in mad association, my jukebox of a brain began playing an old hymn. Of course, in my head I was hearing the horrible "jazzed up" version from a badly done praise record someone had given me in college, that I used to play for fun to annoy my roommate. :) (Remember this one, Sara?) Horrible as the arrangement was, I have always loved the words to this song:
What a Friend We Have in Jesus
by Joseph Scriven and Charles C. Converse
What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer.
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
Are we weak and heavy laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Saviour, still our refuge,
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He'll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there.
Amen.
To which I can only say:
I love you, O LORD, my strength.
What a Friend We Have in Jesus
by Joseph Scriven and Charles C. Converse
What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer.
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
Are we weak and heavy laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Saviour, still our refuge,
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He'll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there.
Amen.
To which I can only say:
I love you, O LORD, my strength.
The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Thank You, Jesus
(HT: ASBO Jesus)
But the good news is eventually these pieces will all fit together. Thank You, Jesus.
But the good news is eventually these pieces will all fit together. Thank You, Jesus.
unChristian meme
Heather has tagged me in a meme - based on a book entitled unChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity...and Why It Matters. I haven't read the book yet, tho Chris and I saw it on a bookshelf at Barnes and Noble not too long ago, and he commented (without having read it either) that it was the kind of book that by time you finished reading it, all the information would probably be outdated because the pattern of thought in our culture changes so quickly. I haven't read the book, so I have no informed opinion on either the book or Chris' comment - but I have at least two cents worth of something to say on the topic in general. :)
(btw, if you don't know what a meme is, the definition is here - i had to look it up. i learned three new words yesterday!) :)
Here's the task for the meme: name 3 negative perceptions about Christians, and 1 positive thing Christians should be known for.
side note: (tongue-in-cheek) I think Christians should be known for being more positive. I mean, really - 3 negative things to one positive? And we wonder why people don't like us... but i didn't start this one, so i'll just do the homework...
I would like to state the obvious, tho, and say that my thoughts here only apply to the church as I've experienced it here in the United States. I suspect that a lot of this might not hold up in 3rd world churches, and as such, this is simply a bit of solicited commentary on the church in my corner of the world, and not on the Church universal - the Church, of course, being comprised of Christians.
negative perception #1: Christians are all a bunch of hypocrites.
Yep. Pretty much. We say one thing, but do another; we spout a lot of ideals, but we all pretty much fail miserably at attaining to any of them.
negative perception #2: Christians are snobs.
Yep. We can be.
negative perception #3: Christians are isolationists. (If you're not one of them, you don't belong.)
Again, guilty as charged. We have a tendency, especially in the West, to cloister in our buildings and stick with our small groups and a few friends, and call it good, in the name of stewarding our time well.
What Christians should be known for: in a word - love. But not the frilly, fancy, red paper hearts, sappy valentine type love that doesn't mean anything. Real love. Tough love.
Love that is patient when it could be easily frustrated.
Love that is kind when it could have chosen to be cruel.
Love that isn't envious of the blessings of others even in the absence of blessing to itself.
Love that is humble and quiet, not boastful and self-centered.
Love that chooses to forget the wrongs done to it; love that refuses to stay angry, even though it has every right to be upset.
Love that rejoices with everything that is good and true and right in the world, and weeps over that which is not.
Love that protects fiercely, that trusts unyieldingly even when it doesn't understand, that hopes unswervingly against all odds, and that perseveres no matter what.
Love that refuses to fail.
Love that embraces grace, that extends it, that doesn't give up.
Love that recognizes it can't be earned.
Love that mourns sin and celebrates repentance.
Love that is meek enough - gentle enough - to both hear and tell the truth.
Love that hungers for righteousness.
Love that extends mercy.
Love that is pure in heart.
Love that seeks peace, at great cost to itself.
Love that will not shy away from persecution of any kind, because its purpose is greater than any temporary pain.
Love that is...Love.*
(He is also known as Jesus.)
Christian is a word that means "little Christ." We should be known for being like Him.
But as Christians, we live between two worlds - the world we're leaving and the world we're going to. We are people on a journey, who are experiencing a fundamental shift from who we once were to who we really are but haven't quite become yet. Hence the stereotypes and negative opinions and caricatures that abound in the world among those for whom Love died and rose again, who are either blinded by or haven't seen the Light yet. They don't see who we're becoming. Heck, we don't even see it all the time. But God does, and as we continue to grow, our eyesight adjusts and we begin to see even more clearly than we once did. (1 Corinthians 13:12) And Christ said that we are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14-15) - so it is our responsibility to help people stop seeing spots and start seeing the world around them by His light. Maybe it's our fault that people can't see properly - or maybe God just hasn't allowed their eyes to adjust properly yet to the Light in the darkness around them - but the Light does shine in the darkness, tho the darkness has not understood it - and the darkness will not overcome it. (John 1:1-5)
So then, "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." 1 John 4:7-8
* 1 Corinthians 13 and Matthew 5: 1-12
So, in love, I tag:
1. Chris
2. Amy
3. faintnot
4. Rob
5. Jemila
Happy writing, my friends. :)
(btw, if you don't know what a meme is, the definition is here - i had to look it up. i learned three new words yesterday!) :)
Here's the task for the meme: name 3 negative perceptions about Christians, and 1 positive thing Christians should be known for.
side note: (tongue-in-cheek) I think Christians should be known for being more positive. I mean, really - 3 negative things to one positive? And we wonder why people don't like us... but i didn't start this one, so i'll just do the homework...
I would like to state the obvious, tho, and say that my thoughts here only apply to the church as I've experienced it here in the United States. I suspect that a lot of this might not hold up in 3rd world churches, and as such, this is simply a bit of solicited commentary on the church in my corner of the world, and not on the Church universal - the Church, of course, being comprised of Christians.
negative perception #1: Christians are all a bunch of hypocrites.
Yep. Pretty much. We say one thing, but do another; we spout a lot of ideals, but we all pretty much fail miserably at attaining to any of them.
negative perception #2: Christians are snobs.
Yep. We can be.
negative perception #3: Christians are isolationists. (If you're not one of them, you don't belong.)
Again, guilty as charged. We have a tendency, especially in the West, to cloister in our buildings and stick with our small groups and a few friends, and call it good, in the name of stewarding our time well.
What Christians should be known for: in a word - love. But not the frilly, fancy, red paper hearts, sappy valentine type love that doesn't mean anything. Real love. Tough love.
Love that is patient when it could be easily frustrated.
Love that is kind when it could have chosen to be cruel.
Love that isn't envious of the blessings of others even in the absence of blessing to itself.
Love that is humble and quiet, not boastful and self-centered.
Love that chooses to forget the wrongs done to it; love that refuses to stay angry, even though it has every right to be upset.
Love that rejoices with everything that is good and true and right in the world, and weeps over that which is not.
Love that protects fiercely, that trusts unyieldingly even when it doesn't understand, that hopes unswervingly against all odds, and that perseveres no matter what.
Love that refuses to fail.
Love that embraces grace, that extends it, that doesn't give up.
Love that recognizes it can't be earned.
Love that mourns sin and celebrates repentance.
Love that is meek enough - gentle enough - to both hear and tell the truth.
Love that hungers for righteousness.
Love that extends mercy.
Love that is pure in heart.
Love that seeks peace, at great cost to itself.
Love that will not shy away from persecution of any kind, because its purpose is greater than any temporary pain.
Love that is...Love.*
(He is also known as Jesus.)
Christian is a word that means "little Christ." We should be known for being like Him.
But as Christians, we live between two worlds - the world we're leaving and the world we're going to. We are people on a journey, who are experiencing a fundamental shift from who we once were to who we really are but haven't quite become yet. Hence the stereotypes and negative opinions and caricatures that abound in the world among those for whom Love died and rose again, who are either blinded by or haven't seen the Light yet. They don't see who we're becoming. Heck, we don't even see it all the time. But God does, and as we continue to grow, our eyesight adjusts and we begin to see even more clearly than we once did. (1 Corinthians 13:12) And Christ said that we are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14-15) - so it is our responsibility to help people stop seeing spots and start seeing the world around them by His light. Maybe it's our fault that people can't see properly - or maybe God just hasn't allowed their eyes to adjust properly yet to the Light in the darkness around them - but the Light does shine in the darkness, tho the darkness has not understood it - and the darkness will not overcome it. (John 1:1-5)
So then, "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." 1 John 4:7-8
* 1 Corinthians 13 and Matthew 5: 1-12
So, in love, I tag:
1. Chris
2. Amy
3. faintnot
4. Rob
5. Jemila
Happy writing, my friends. :)
prayer at the end of a day in which (honestly) i was not the best version of myself...
Thank you, God
for these 15 seconds of peace
and quiet
in which I can notice
that I am - in fact -
still breathing in and out
that birds are still chirping
merrily
and that You
are still here.
for the absence of kids screaming
about one thing or another
and for the quieting
of my angst-ridden heart.
This hasn't been the best day in the world
and I've been a lousy witness to You and Your glory.
Forgive me -
and thank you again -
for grace, mercy, chocolate, and coffee
and for understanding about sleep-deprivation
and PMS
and really not wanting to move.
Love,
Hap
for these 15 seconds of peace
and quiet
in which I can notice
that I am - in fact -
still breathing in and out
that birds are still chirping
merrily
and that You
are still here.
for the absence of kids screaming
about one thing or another
and for the quieting
of my angst-ridden heart.
This hasn't been the best day in the world
and I've been a lousy witness to You and Your glory.
Forgive me -
and thank you again -
for grace, mercy, chocolate, and coffee
and for understanding about sleep-deprivation
and PMS
and really not wanting to move.
Love,
Hap
loving successfully - redefined
My friend Heather over in Australia has a brilliant post that was also her communion message at church this morning. Check it out here.
God is not dead - and neither is His bride
Perhaps one of the more famous things Nietzsche ever said was that God is dead - and in context he didn't mean it that way - but in response to that, so many have said, "No, He's not!" And they're right - He isn't.
I have the words to an old camp song in my head - a slightly annoying, but true and catchy song:
God's not dead - He is alive
God's not dead - He is alive
God's not dead - He is alive
And I know that He's living in me.
"Christ in me, the hope of glory." Thank you, Louie Giglio, for your now-famous Tupperware sermon and the assurance that even if I become a demented old lady, I will still remember that Christ is in me.
A sister in Christ on the other side of the Pond posted today on the question of whether or not the church is dying. I felt compelled to comment, and thought I would post my reflections here as well:
I'm reminded of this time when I heard a prophet/missionary teach at a Vineyard church in Indiana, over 12 years ago, I think - he had actually prayed for someone to be raised from the dead - but it took about 6 hours of fervent prayer before it happened. (I'm not sure I would keep praying past the 1st hour, but he was in high stakes circumstances - the witch doctor in the village basically told him to prove God existed or die, and the proof he asked for was the resurrection of the dead.)
Now I'm sure the guy was actually dead and that God did raise him, and I KNOW that He did that with Jesus, so even IF the Church was dying (which some say she is) God can certainly do something about it. HE'S not apt to show up to the marriage feast without His Bride, I don't think.
So what remains, maybe, is simply that the organization we call the church is in need of, as usual, re-forming - and that those parts of the Bride that ARE exhibiting signs of death, rather than being symptomatic of the whole Church dying, are simply the branches Christ talked about in the parable of the vine and the branches. Those that don't bear fruit aren't ultimately going to be kept - but those that DO - oh! :)
I am also reminded of a scene from one of my generation's most popular movies on this side of the Pond - "The Princess Bride." They bring the main character to Miracle Max, thinking he's dead, and Max says, "He's not dead. He's only mostly dead. And mostly dead is slightly alive."
I think the Church is more than slightly alive. There are people added to her number every single day around the world. There is HOPE. And she has a King who is madly in love with her, and would fight - DID fight - to the death for her.
And He won.
I have the words to an old camp song in my head - a slightly annoying, but true and catchy song:
God's not dead - He is alive
God's not dead - He is alive
God's not dead - He is alive
And I know that He's living in me.
"Christ in me, the hope of glory." Thank you, Louie Giglio, for your now-famous Tupperware sermon and the assurance that even if I become a demented old lady, I will still remember that Christ is in me.
A sister in Christ on the other side of the Pond posted today on the question of whether or not the church is dying. I felt compelled to comment, and thought I would post my reflections here as well:
I'm reminded of this time when I heard a prophet/missionary teach at a Vineyard church in Indiana, over 12 years ago, I think - he had actually prayed for someone to be raised from the dead - but it took about 6 hours of fervent prayer before it happened. (I'm not sure I would keep praying past the 1st hour, but he was in high stakes circumstances - the witch doctor in the village basically told him to prove God existed or die, and the proof he asked for was the resurrection of the dead.)
Now I'm sure the guy was actually dead and that God did raise him, and I KNOW that He did that with Jesus, so even IF the Church was dying (which some say she is) God can certainly do something about it. HE'S not apt to show up to the marriage feast without His Bride, I don't think.
So what remains, maybe, is simply that the organization we call the church is in need of, as usual, re-forming - and that those parts of the Bride that ARE exhibiting signs of death, rather than being symptomatic of the whole Church dying, are simply the branches Christ talked about in the parable of the vine and the branches. Those that don't bear fruit aren't ultimately going to be kept - but those that DO - oh! :)
I am also reminded of a scene from one of my generation's most popular movies on this side of the Pond - "The Princess Bride." They bring the main character to Miracle Max, thinking he's dead, and Max says, "He's not dead. He's only mostly dead. And mostly dead is slightly alive."
I think the Church is more than slightly alive. There are people added to her number every single day around the world. There is HOPE. And she has a King who is madly in love with her, and would fight - DID fight - to the death for her.
And He won.
telling your story
I led worship back home again this past weekend, and it was so good to be home. My friend preached a message I've heard him preach before (this starts to happen when you've known a pastor for more than 5 years) - but one which his new church needed to hear. It's a 2 year old church plant that's in some ways thriving, but their pastor will be the first to tell you that the most heartbreaking and discouraging thing over the past two years has been that they just haven't seen people coming to Jesus the way they'd hoped. For a church as focused on and committed to social justice as this church is, that's an indication of something not quite right.
He preached out of John 4 and John 9, about the woman at the well, and a man blind from birth whom Jesus healed. Both stories are about people to whom Jesus made such a difference that they went out and told everyone about it. Their lives were radically transformed, and it changed their communities. Brian basically used their stories to outline the basics of how to share your own story and challenged people to actually go do it this week.
Telling your story is simply answering a question: what was your life like before you met Jesus, and what is it like now? The before and afters. Or if there wasn't a moment like that, when everything radically changed - what would your life have been like if you hadn't known Jesus, and what is it like because you do know Him? As you answer that question, there are two things to keep in mind - what the theme of your story, and how can you keep the explanation short (like maybe a minute)?
My story is simply this: I have always wanted a happy place to belong where I felt wanted. My childhood was marked by a deep-seated need to prove myself, especially academically and behaviorally. Failure to ace a test or to be "perfect" in some way inevitably had unpleasant emotional consequences - which made love feel conditional, regardless of whether or not it actually was. Then I met some people who really loved each other, and who accepted me and loved me right where I was at, and I started to want what they had - a relationship with Jesus. On March 2, 1991, I asked Jesus to be my Lord and Saviour, and as I've started chasing a life with Him, I've found love, peace, joy, and happiness (hence the nickname) and an acceptance that truly is unconditional, and it has transformed a sad, bitter, angry and incredibly unhappy girl into a happy, gracious, peaceful, joy-filled woman. That's not to say that I don't ever get mad or unhappy or act like a jerk - I do - but those patterns of behaviour do not define me anymore. Jesus does. And no matter how difficult it is to follow Jesus some days, I wouldn't trade this for anything. He's changed me - He saved me. I could have been an incredibly miserable and lonely person - but instead He's made me "Happy" and given me a network of incredible brothers and sisters around the world who are my family. And I love this life.
I have an old praise song chorus in my head this morning. (Ah, the perils of being musically intelligent and a worship leader - I am a veritable walking jukebox some days.) I'm sorry I don't know who wrote this - if I can find that out, I'll come back and edit this a bit - but here are the words:
He has made me glad, oh He has made me glad
I will rejoice for He has made me glad
He had made me glad, oh He has made me glad
I will rejoice for He has made me glad
And that's my story.
I'd love to hear yours.
He preached out of John 4 and John 9, about the woman at the well, and a man blind from birth whom Jesus healed. Both stories are about people to whom Jesus made such a difference that they went out and told everyone about it. Their lives were radically transformed, and it changed their communities. Brian basically used their stories to outline the basics of how to share your own story and challenged people to actually go do it this week.
Telling your story is simply answering a question: what was your life like before you met Jesus, and what is it like now? The before and afters. Or if there wasn't a moment like that, when everything radically changed - what would your life have been like if you hadn't known Jesus, and what is it like because you do know Him? As you answer that question, there are two things to keep in mind - what the theme of your story, and how can you keep the explanation short (like maybe a minute)?
My story is simply this: I have always wanted a happy place to belong where I felt wanted. My childhood was marked by a deep-seated need to prove myself, especially academically and behaviorally. Failure to ace a test or to be "perfect" in some way inevitably had unpleasant emotional consequences - which made love feel conditional, regardless of whether or not it actually was. Then I met some people who really loved each other, and who accepted me and loved me right where I was at, and I started to want what they had - a relationship with Jesus. On March 2, 1991, I asked Jesus to be my Lord and Saviour, and as I've started chasing a life with Him, I've found love, peace, joy, and happiness (hence the nickname) and an acceptance that truly is unconditional, and it has transformed a sad, bitter, angry and incredibly unhappy girl into a happy, gracious, peaceful, joy-filled woman. That's not to say that I don't ever get mad or unhappy or act like a jerk - I do - but those patterns of behaviour do not define me anymore. Jesus does. And no matter how difficult it is to follow Jesus some days, I wouldn't trade this for anything. He's changed me - He saved me. I could have been an incredibly miserable and lonely person - but instead He's made me "Happy" and given me a network of incredible brothers and sisters around the world who are my family. And I love this life.
I have an old praise song chorus in my head this morning. (Ah, the perils of being musically intelligent and a worship leader - I am a veritable walking jukebox some days.) I'm sorry I don't know who wrote this - if I can find that out, I'll come back and edit this a bit - but here are the words:
He has made me glad, oh He has made me glad
I will rejoice for He has made me glad
He had made me glad, oh He has made me glad
I will rejoice for He has made me glad
And that's my story.
I'd love to hear yours.
one man's stick
I realize that planning ahead is generally a good thing, and that it does help the powerpoint people to know where you're planning on going with a song, but deviation from your powerpoint plan really should say more about your ability to follow God's leading than your irresponsibility, don't you think?
The jist of an actual comment: "You did a really good job tonight, Happy. Of course, you could have stuck to the slides a little better - there were a few there that ended up being all out of order - but I managed to catch up to you, and it was fine."
We went back to a pre-chorus and a chorus. And I said, out loud, the words we were about to sing. It's not a long song... ???
*sigh* But as I once said to Chris when he was complaining about someone having a stick up their ... well, you know... :) "One man's stick is another man's structure."
I suppose I have my own sticks. LOL. I guess this is one of them... :)
Lord, help me to love the people I'm called to serve with, even when they drive me batty. I probably drive them batty too.
I'm becoming known as the "shoeless girl." I don't suppose it would be the end of the world if I were also known as the chick who doesn't always stick to her worship plan. As long as people are worshiping God and encountering His presence, I don't particularly care what they say. I don't think. Tho I guess I cared enough to vent about it a bit. :P
The jist of an actual comment: "You did a really good job tonight, Happy. Of course, you could have stuck to the slides a little better - there were a few there that ended up being all out of order - but I managed to catch up to you, and it was fine."
We went back to a pre-chorus and a chorus. And I said, out loud, the words we were about to sing. It's not a long song... ???
*sigh* But as I once said to Chris when he was complaining about someone having a stick up their ... well, you know... :) "One man's stick is another man's structure."
I suppose I have my own sticks. LOL. I guess this is one of them... :)
Lord, help me to love the people I'm called to serve with, even when they drive me batty. I probably drive them batty too.
I'm becoming known as the "shoeless girl." I don't suppose it would be the end of the world if I were also known as the chick who doesn't always stick to her worship plan. As long as people are worshiping God and encountering His presence, I don't particularly care what they say. I don't think. Tho I guess I cared enough to vent about it a bit. :P
further thoughts on worship: art vs. propaganda
I definitely have a few reflections on this clip, but you need to watch it first, so here it is. :)
Art - reaching for the truth. Propaganda - pre-fabricated experiences.
There is a certain amount of pressure that I feel as a worship leader to "get it right" (which means everyone has a great time, thinks the band rocked, and oh, yeah - they met with God!). I think this pressure comes from three different sources: 1) the people in authority over me; 2) myself; and 3) the people in our congregation - and I think it varies from week to week where I feel it coming from the most... but I also think I feel it from myself quite a bit on a routine basis. There was a time when I really sucked at this - and yet God still used me, I'm sure of it. Now that I'm better at it, there are definitely times when I find myself using that emotional meter - "well, I just wasn't feeling it tonight" - to measure my success (or lack thereof).
I really have no desire to be a part of the "worship industry." I love that there are tools provided through it that help me to grow as a worship leader - books, chord charts, etc. - but I don't love the machinery behind Sunday mornings most days. There's good to it - I know that. But one of the things that's actually on paper for our church in reference to how we do what we do on a Sunday morning is this statement: "Worship should be fun."
WHAT?!
Yes, there is most definitely a sense in which joy should pervade our services, because we have a lot to celebrate. But PLEASE, let's not be so happy-go-lucky and upbeat that we enable people to walk in and out of our building with the misnomer that sorrow has no place in our lives. If we're really encountering God, there are going to be moments when repentance (which involves a degree of sorrow) takes a solemn moment - and we need to be okay with the fact that grieving (either for our sin or for something that's just "not the way it was supposed to be") can be as much an act of worship as dancing for joy. And we need to be okay with those quieter moments lasting awhile, and not feel like we have to turn it around and end all positive... well, let me rephrase that - there's a way to end positively that still honors sorrow, that doesn't belittle it.
I don't go to church to have fun. I generally end up having fun, because God's people, for all their idiosyncrasies, are actually pretty cool - but I don't feel like I've failed if I can't use the word "fun" to describe a worship experience. There's something so much more serious about encountering the living God than "fun" really encapsulates....
McLaren's point about doubt is a good one, I think - we're not nearly as comfortable with it as the Bible is, as God is - but surely there's a way to help people ask the questions they need to ask in the context of our services throughout the year, and not just in the 40 darker days of Lent (or in our non-liturgical liturgy, the 4-5 days of it). I don't know exactly how - but I think there's biblical precedent for it - and I think having your service plan be cookie-cutterish from week to week and always having a U-shaped song set (1 upbeat song, 1 medium paced song, 1 slow song, 1 upbeat song again) may not always be the best way. But I could be wrong about that...
Side-note (long but fast-paced rabbit trail of thought I won't even attempt to trace for you) - when I finally do hire on to a church, I want to be the kind of worship leader that gets to lead worship, not singing. There's so much more to this than just song. And I think it's taken me awhile to realize that - but I'm becoming an artist - and everything from lighting to color to stage design to the songs we choose matters. The first thing God did was create an environment for us to live in. I think it would be cool to get a chance to design worship environments that teach people how to live in worship. No matter how they feel.
Just thoughts.
Art - reaching for the truth. Propaganda - pre-fabricated experiences.
There is a certain amount of pressure that I feel as a worship leader to "get it right" (which means everyone has a great time, thinks the band rocked, and oh, yeah - they met with God!). I think this pressure comes from three different sources: 1) the people in authority over me; 2) myself; and 3) the people in our congregation - and I think it varies from week to week where I feel it coming from the most... but I also think I feel it from myself quite a bit on a routine basis. There was a time when I really sucked at this - and yet God still used me, I'm sure of it. Now that I'm better at it, there are definitely times when I find myself using that emotional meter - "well, I just wasn't feeling it tonight" - to measure my success (or lack thereof).
I really have no desire to be a part of the "worship industry." I love that there are tools provided through it that help me to grow as a worship leader - books, chord charts, etc. - but I don't love the machinery behind Sunday mornings most days. There's good to it - I know that. But one of the things that's actually on paper for our church in reference to how we do what we do on a Sunday morning is this statement: "Worship should be fun."
WHAT?!
Yes, there is most definitely a sense in which joy should pervade our services, because we have a lot to celebrate. But PLEASE, let's not be so happy-go-lucky and upbeat that we enable people to walk in and out of our building with the misnomer that sorrow has no place in our lives. If we're really encountering God, there are going to be moments when repentance (which involves a degree of sorrow) takes a solemn moment - and we need to be okay with the fact that grieving (either for our sin or for something that's just "not the way it was supposed to be") can be as much an act of worship as dancing for joy. And we need to be okay with those quieter moments lasting awhile, and not feel like we have to turn it around and end all positive... well, let me rephrase that - there's a way to end positively that still honors sorrow, that doesn't belittle it.
I don't go to church to have fun. I generally end up having fun, because God's people, for all their idiosyncrasies, are actually pretty cool - but I don't feel like I've failed if I can't use the word "fun" to describe a worship experience. There's something so much more serious about encountering the living God than "fun" really encapsulates....
McLaren's point about doubt is a good one, I think - we're not nearly as comfortable with it as the Bible is, as God is - but surely there's a way to help people ask the questions they need to ask in the context of our services throughout the year, and not just in the 40 darker days of Lent (or in our non-liturgical liturgy, the 4-5 days of it). I don't know exactly how - but I think there's biblical precedent for it - and I think having your service plan be cookie-cutterish from week to week and always having a U-shaped song set (1 upbeat song, 1 medium paced song, 1 slow song, 1 upbeat song again) may not always be the best way. But I could be wrong about that...
Side-note (long but fast-paced rabbit trail of thought I won't even attempt to trace for you) - when I finally do hire on to a church, I want to be the kind of worship leader that gets to lead worship, not singing. There's so much more to this than just song. And I think it's taken me awhile to realize that - but I'm becoming an artist - and everything from lighting to color to stage design to the songs we choose matters. The first thing God did was create an environment for us to live in. I think it would be cool to get a chance to design worship environments that teach people how to live in worship. No matter how they feel.
Just thoughts.
saturday morning coffee talk
This isn't really an actual post worth reading, I don't think. More an acknowledgment that I haven't posted anything in a week (I have written things; just nothing worth posting! hmmm. sort of like this...) And an observation on organization: it's worth it, sometimes.
This morning I got up and I finally did something about the 6 inch stack of chord charts that had taken over my living room. It only took me 20 minutes to sort them all alphabetically and 5 minutes to file them. Why didn't I do this weeks ago? It would have decreased my stress level considerably. I hate clutter. It drives me mad. But I never do anything about it.
I'm hoping October will be the month in which I turn over a new leaf. I'm giving myself the rest of September to continue procrastinating. And to maybe clean up a little so not being a lazy clutterbug will be easier in October, since I'll be starting off on a good foot. My next project - besides the laundry that got folded and put in a basket next to the closet - is the basket of junk mail that's gone unopened since last October. I know there are a few things in there that aren't junk mail, so it all needs to be sorted. Sounds like a perfect "watch a movie and drink hot cocoa" sort of a task, don't you think? Maybe I'll do that tonight... maybe. :)
This morning I got up and I finally did something about the 6 inch stack of chord charts that had taken over my living room. It only took me 20 minutes to sort them all alphabetically and 5 minutes to file them. Why didn't I do this weeks ago? It would have decreased my stress level considerably. I hate clutter. It drives me mad. But I never do anything about it.
I'm hoping October will be the month in which I turn over a new leaf. I'm giving myself the rest of September to continue procrastinating. And to maybe clean up a little so not being a lazy clutterbug will be easier in October, since I'll be starting off on a good foot. My next project - besides the laundry that got folded and put in a basket next to the closet - is the basket of junk mail that's gone unopened since last October. I know there are a few things in there that aren't junk mail, so it all needs to be sorted. Sounds like a perfect "watch a movie and drink hot cocoa" sort of a task, don't you think? Maybe I'll do that tonight... maybe. :)
further thoughts on worship: enthroning God on our praises
In a comment on my friend's post about worship, another friend mentioned a concept that is familiar to me: the idea that God is enthroned upon our praises. I believe that to be true - I also wish I could find it in the Bible. I did just spend ten minutes skimming through verse after verse on Bible Gateway around the keyword search for "throne" - that brought out some beautiful pictures of heaven as I read. I need to read through Revelation again, slowly, sometime soon. The portrait of worship John paints is so achingly, gloriously beautiful. I can't wait - tho I have to! - to go home and see what it's really like - tho there are definitely moments on earth that can give you just a taste of what it will be like. :)
Thinking again of Mike Pilavachi's observation that when you go into worship expecting to get something from God, you might, but you might not - because really, you aren't worshiping at that point - you're trying to bargain with God. But when you come into God's house (be it in a church building, a small group, a meadow, your car) with the goal of what Hillsong calls "the art of losing myself in bringing you praise" (Salvation Is Here - a truly great song) - often in the midst of that you do find you've gained something - funny... Jesus said that would happen. He who seeks to save his life will lose it, but he who loses it will find it... that's a working definition of worship, if you like.
God, You are amazing.
I am glad that feeling worshipful and actually worshiping are two different things. There was a time in my life where I felt that if I hadn't had a certain emotional experience, I hadn't worshiped. Now I know that worship is far more a choice than an emotion, and that God is pleased with (and worthy of) my worship regardless of the circumstances in which I find myself or the way that I feel on a particular day. (This is very good news to those of us emotionally swayed by PMS.) It is also very good news on days when I'm leading worship and can't tell for the life of me what's going on in the room, but just keep plugging away at what I know to do; I generally find out later that God was up to all sorts of things I couldn't see at the time - what if I believed my lack of emotional connection to a worship set to be a reflection of reality and just gave up? We might miss out on a lot. No, worship isn't a emotion - but that sense of emotional connection when you truly worship (sometimes) is a really great gift, and I'm glad for it. It helps when you worship a God you can't see or physically feel - but Whose Presence you can sense all the same.
Thinking again of Mike Pilavachi's observation that when you go into worship expecting to get something from God, you might, but you might not - because really, you aren't worshiping at that point - you're trying to bargain with God. But when you come into God's house (be it in a church building, a small group, a meadow, your car) with the goal of what Hillsong calls "the art of losing myself in bringing you praise" (Salvation Is Here - a truly great song) - often in the midst of that you do find you've gained something - funny... Jesus said that would happen. He who seeks to save his life will lose it, but he who loses it will find it... that's a working definition of worship, if you like.
God, You are amazing.
I am glad that feeling worshipful and actually worshiping are two different things. There was a time in my life where I felt that if I hadn't had a certain emotional experience, I hadn't worshiped. Now I know that worship is far more a choice than an emotion, and that God is pleased with (and worthy of) my worship regardless of the circumstances in which I find myself or the way that I feel on a particular day. (This is very good news to those of us emotionally swayed by PMS.) It is also very good news on days when I'm leading worship and can't tell for the life of me what's going on in the room, but just keep plugging away at what I know to do; I generally find out later that God was up to all sorts of things I couldn't see at the time - what if I believed my lack of emotional connection to a worship set to be a reflection of reality and just gave up? We might miss out on a lot. No, worship isn't a emotion - but that sense of emotional connection when you truly worship (sometimes) is a really great gift, and I'm glad for it. It helps when you worship a God you can't see or physically feel - but Whose Presence you can sense all the same.
further thoughts on worship: why we sing
When the Church meets to worship, there's a lot of singing. A friend recently posted about that, wondering why. Worship and singing are NOT the same thing necessarily, tho singing can be an expression of worship - so why do we do it?
I think there's a few reasons:
1) it's an easy way to get everyone focused in the same direction
2) i think most people love music (of some sort), even if they can't carry a tune in a bucket
3) culturally, every people group throughout history has used music as a form of storytelling; our songs as a Church tell our story
4) it follows the pattern set forth in the Old Testament of how God's people are directed to worship Him
5) it's fun, and an outlet for musicians in the church to bring their gifts to the altar
There are, I'm sure a lot of other reasons, but those are a few that come to mind.
I think there's a few reasons:
1) it's an easy way to get everyone focused in the same direction
2) i think most people love music (of some sort), even if they can't carry a tune in a bucket
3) culturally, every people group throughout history has used music as a form of storytelling; our songs as a Church tell our story
4) it follows the pattern set forth in the Old Testament of how God's people are directed to worship Him
5) it's fun, and an outlet for musicians in the church to bring their gifts to the altar
There are, I'm sure a lot of other reasons, but those are a few that come to mind.
a few thoughts on worship
I had a really cool opportunity this past weekend to head home to Michigan and lead worship for a friend's church. Their worship pastor just left rather suddenly, and they needed a fill-in; I had the time and felt God's leading to take the job, so for most of this month I'll be commuting back home every weekend. It'll be a lot of driving - by the end of the month I'll have spent something like 27 hours in the car just to and from Michigan - but it's good quiet time, and at least the Michigan part of the drive is simply beautiful this time of the year.
One of the things that struck me as I talked with people after the service was how appreciative everyone seemed to be of how worshipful the service was... The first person who said something about it was an old friend from another church, and I thought, oh, isn't that sweet - I'm so glad you had such a cool time with God this morning... and with the second person who said something about it, I thought, oh, cool - I did my job. But after the fourth and fifth comments, I thought, gee whiz, what usually happens here on Sundays?!
I'm reading this absolutely great book by Mike Pilavachi called For The Audience Of One - and one of the points he makes is that worship isn't for us. Ultimately it really doesn't matter whether we feel anything at all - the point of worship is to direct to God what is rightfully His - our attention, our gifts, hearts, minds, souls, praise, glory, adoration, etc... The irony is that we do usually - if we've truly worshiped - receive something back from God - but if we didn't, it wouldn't - or shouldn't - matter.
I don't know. I've always thought leading worship required a bit of schizophrenia - but the deeper I get into this thing, the more I'm realizing that it's just a really weird job.
Wouldn't trade it for anything, tho...
One of the things that struck me as I talked with people after the service was how appreciative everyone seemed to be of how worshipful the service was... The first person who said something about it was an old friend from another church, and I thought, oh, isn't that sweet - I'm so glad you had such a cool time with God this morning... and with the second person who said something about it, I thought, oh, cool - I did my job. But after the fourth and fifth comments, I thought, gee whiz, what usually happens here on Sundays?!
I'm reading this absolutely great book by Mike Pilavachi called For The Audience Of One - and one of the points he makes is that worship isn't for us. Ultimately it really doesn't matter whether we feel anything at all - the point of worship is to direct to God what is rightfully His - our attention, our gifts, hearts, minds, souls, praise, glory, adoration, etc... The irony is that we do usually - if we've truly worshiped - receive something back from God - but if we didn't, it wouldn't - or shouldn't - matter.
I don't know. I've always thought leading worship required a bit of schizophrenia - but the deeper I get into this thing, the more I'm realizing that it's just a really weird job.
Wouldn't trade it for anything, tho...
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