Daily Posts...
Thursday, March 30, 2006
The Art of WorshipWorship.........
A dialogue between a Father and His beloved children.
An expression of honor and reverence to our Creator.......showing devotion, profound love and adoration to the One who gives us breath.
Proclaiming His worthiness with a sense of respect.
Offering praise in adoration...offering praise with a sense of joy.
More than an intellectual and rational response. It is an act of artistic expression, reaching deep into the creativeness that is instilled within, placed there by a Creative God.
An act of confession, laying ones heart before a righteous God.
Simply saying thanks.
Sacrement....celebrating the death, burial, resurrection and ascension of our Saviour.
It is not something extra, it is essential.
It is transcendental.....transcending all barriers.
Life transforming...connecting us with the ultimate source of life.
Rejuvinating.....pouring upon us waters of refreshment.
Healing, bringing forth fullness of life.
Interactive, live, dynamic.
It's about praising God even when he doesn't seem near.
Wholistic, involving body, mind, and soul, a heart and head reaction to God.
Intimate.
Standing before God in praise and prayer, kneeling before Him in adoration, lifting up hands in awe and wonder.
Living one's life in obedience.
It is more than just a song.
Incarnational....manifesting the realities of Christ in the lives of the worshiper...not entertainment....Incarnational
A whole life offering to God, impacting all of our senses, all dimensions of our personality, and all aspects of our lives. A total life response, giving honor to God in all that we do.
It is the root of who we are as believers in Christ.
Shall we never neglect the ministry of worship, an offering to God in praise for the works of His Son through the power of the Holy Spirit as we sing.....
Take my life and let it be consecrated Lord to Thee.
Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet, and let them be, swift and beautiful for Thee.
Take my voice and let me sing, always. only, for my King.
Take my lips, and let them be filled with messages from Thee.
Take my silver, and my gold; not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect, and use every power as Thou shalt choose.
Take my will and make it Thine' it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own; it shall be Thy royal throne.
Take my love, my Lord, I pour at Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be ever, only all for Thee.
("Take My Life", Frances R. Havergal 1874)
It's a lifestyle!!
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Oh...those philosophical questions.......Have you ever come across those mind-boggling philosophical questions about God that seem to throw you into a whirlwind of confusion and doubt. You know, the questions that the skeptics are so quick to throw in the face of the believer in an attempt to prove that God is not so mighty and poweful as we think. They try to set up a paradox that traps us in a corner, leaving us with no possible solution to the question, in an attempt to take out our defenses and make us look like a bunch of fools. Oh, those skeptics....when will they ever learn.
As I was doing my readings for philosophy class I came across such a paradoxial question. Now I had heard this question before, but never really considered it important to answer, actually I probably didn't have an answer. But, answering such questions can really force one to dig a little deeper resulting in a greater knowledge of God and a deeper faith. Taking the time to answer some of life's ultimate questions is worth the effort. Don't let the skeptics get the upper hand, stand firm!
The question goes like this, "Can God create a stone that God cannot lift?" Now, this question is aimed at destroying the Christian believe of an omnipotent God. But, wait a second. This is a loaded question if I have ever seen one. No matter what answer we give it is the wrong answer. Say yes, then God is not all-powerful because God cannot lift the stone. Say no and God is not all-powerful because God cannot create the stone. What are you suppose to say to something like that? Is this a paradox? Are you trapped? I think not!
Think about it this way. Say no to the question. God cannot create a stone that God cannot lift. But, this is why. God's infinite ability to create a stone of any weight is matched by God's infinte power to lift it. Therefore, no matter how heavy a stone God creates he is able to lift it. There is no weight that God cannot lift, and there is no weight God cannot create. So of course God cannot create a stone he cannot lift, He is all-powerful. Isn't that something. Looking at it this way God's omnipotence is not downplayed at all and whoever asks the question receives a slap in the face. There are probably other ways to answer such a question, but this one is effective. The way I see it, if the silly skeptic or whatever you want to call them, still questions it, then tell them to get a life! Somethings are beyond the realm of human reason, and trying to grasp it will only lead one to frustration.
Sometimes it benefits to think about philosophy, especially when it comes to defending our faith. I find it interesting, hopefully someone else does too, ha! So that's my philosophical speal! Bed time.......
Monday, March 20, 2006
Early Mornings and New ExperiencesIt is 9:23 AM and I have already been awake for 5 hours. No one should have to see 4:30 AM on their alarm clock, ha! By that time everyone should be snuggled down under a mountain of blankets with the only movements being those taken in dreamland (which really are not movements if you think about it....oh let's just leave philosophy for another day!). This reality was shattered when I heard that dreaded buzzing of the alarm, the very moment when you just want to throw the clock right out the window (or hit the snooze button, either will do the job). But I had to get up because we were bringing Crystal-Gail to the airport, got to love those early flights. So this is the beginning of a very looooooooong day, because after leaving the airport we (Shauna-Lee and I) came straight to school and our last class ends 9:30 tonight. Oh dear. To make things a little more exciting, we have our presentations tonight in Psychology class. I just hope I have enough enthusiasm left to make it exciting.....I'll be feeling like having a good nap by then.
I went to post a blog last week, but in the process my computer locked up and I lost everything I had written. Such wonderful computers, they can be your best friend or your worst enemy. Anway, after a busy week I'll write about it again. What was I going to talk about? A very interesting expereice that I had in Christian Worship Class. I like to describe it as worshiping God by getting our groove on. That's write, we were dancing, liturgical style. We had a special guest come to class to teach us some of the basics, so we all took of our shoes and got to it. At first I felt a little ackward, you got to be kidding, I actually have to do this? Then, this ackwardness grew stronger when we were told that we would be creating and presenting dances in front of the class. Oh my! So I had the choice to have fun with it or go through the class feeling like a total fool.....I threw it all in and chose to have fun and it turned out to be just that.
Let me tell you about a little of what we did. First, we learned some basic movements by moving to adverbs such as fast, slow, roughly, smoothly, etc. Then we learned the actions to several Taize songs. And we kept dancing......this time we were given a biblical passage, and in groups of four or five, we created a dance to it using fabric as a prop. Then, the entire class created a dance for Psalm 103 and we got our groove on once more, ha! To end of the night we formed three concentric cirlces, the centre cirlce began to sing and when they had sung the first line of the song the second cirlce began to sing and so on. At the same time each circle was rotating in opposite directions. It seemed like something that you would do in Primary School, but it was very interesting.
It was quite the change from the worship styles I am use to, but I must admit that there is something very powerful in expressing worship in the form of dance. If you ever get the chance try it! I came across this interesting quote in Open to Glory by Carol Doran and Thomas H. Troeger.....
Before the word was on our tongue,
You spelled it with Your lips.
Before the Song had left our lungs,
You hummed it high in heaven.
Before the dance was in our bodies,
the beat was in Your heart.
Let the creativeness of God flow free. Let your creativity run wild, and join in the experience of busting a move for Christ. Feel the Rhythm and move to the Beat!!
Saturday, March 11, 2006
If you never.....So, I was searching Google for lyrics to the song "Surrender" because my mind went blank and I could not remember the lyrics if my life depended on it. I clicked on the first link that appeared to have the lyrics to the song, but I did not find the what I was looking for....I was looking at someones blog, and began to read something that many of us may need to hear right about now.....this is what I read......
If you never felt pain, then how would you know that I’m a Healer.
If you never went through difficulties, how would you know that I’m a Deliverer.
If you never had a trial, how could you call yourself an overcomer.
If you never felt sadness, how would you know that I’m a Comforter.
If you never made a mistake, how would you know that I’m a Forgiver.
If you knew all, how would you know that I will answer your questions.
If you were never in trouble, how would you know that I will come to your rescue.
If you were never broken, then how would you know that I can make you whole.
If you never had a problem, how would you know that I can solve them.
If you never had any suffering, how would you know what Jesus went through.
If you never went through the fire, how would you become pure.
If I have you all things, how would you appreciate them.
If I never corrected you, how would you know that I love you.
If you had all the power, how would you learn to depend on me.
No matter what may come our way, no matter what situation we may find ourselves in the midst of, we can be assured that we have a Healer, Deliverer, and Comforter who loves us, and is more than able to see us through.
Thinking about this reminds me of the poem "Footprints".....
One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there were one set of footprints.
This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life,
when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints.
So I said to the Lord, “You promised me Lord, that if I followed you,
you would walk with me always.
But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there have only been
one set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most, you have not been there for me?”
The Lord replied, “The times when you have seen only one set of footprints in the sand, is when I carried you.”
Monday, March 06, 2006
Drawing closer and growing together...The retreat at Jackson's Point has come and gone, but not without leaving it's mark on each and every one of us. So let's look at the weekend from the beginning. At 2:30 Saturday morning Shauna-Lee, Sharlene, and I arrived on the camp grounds after a tiring drive that seemed to last for eternity. If you are wondering why on earth we were driving at that hour at night, there is a sane explanation. Friday night we were attending a Fundraiser Dinner for the Routes Centre in Dundas and we ended up leaving there at around 11:30. Therefore, we had two options. Either get ready and drive to Jackson's point or get up extremely early Saturday morning and drive up. So with the assistance of a Large Double-Double we started on our way.
Nobody knew that we would be arriving so late, for we had told them that we would be arriving Saturday morning for breakfast. Therefore, we had to find out which cabins we would be staying in. So off Sharlene goes walking into each cabin to see if anyone was in them, what a brave soul! But we were tired and didn't really care, we just needed some sleeeeeeeeeeep. She walked into the first cabin, seen a pair of mens shoes, and came back out with the report. So I had found where I had to stay, but who was in there? Well, we found that out fast when we seen the curtains open and a hand waving from the bedroom window. Who was this mysterious welcomer? It was Nathan, waving at 2:30 AM....so funny! I quickly found my bed and went to sleep...
......and up again at 8:00 getting ready for the days activities. I was a little tired..but that was okay. It was well worth it. The weekend turned out to be an amazing weekend of fellowship and building community. A time of getting to know one another, drawing closer to one another, as well as drawing closer to God. Although I had been attending the Freeway for some time now, it was not until this weekend that I actually had the chance to just get away and hang out with everyone, and this weekend provided an amazing atmosphere to do just that. We have talked about Valuing the Journey, and from what I have seen from this past weekend, the people at the Freeway truly do value one another.
We spent time together worshiping God through music as we all sat around the fireplace, what a beautiful time. We spent time sharing with one another our thoughts and feelings pertaining to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. So often we can continue in our Christian Faith without ever really contemplating on what each person of the Trinity entails for our own lives, or to reflect on how wach person of the Trinity has become manifest in our own journey. The dicussions were powerful, and the times of reflection were transforming. I am sure that we have all come out of this with a greater understanding of the "Godhead, three in one. Father, Spirit, Son" and a greater appreciation and knowledge that compells us to sing "How Great is Our God."
We ate together, played fun games together, prayed together, and simply spent time with one another. Yet, one moment that I will never forget from this past weekend was when we sat in a circle and offered words of encouragement to one another. I have never felt such a deep sense of community like that before. It is amazing how much power is contained in words of encouragement. Just to show gratitude for one another, love, appreciation, encouragement, inspiration......I have seen and felt something this weekend that I have never felt before.....genuine love expressed in a deep sense of community. We often wonder what it looks like to be part of a faith community, a community that is built upon the life of Christ, the type of community that God intended for his childen to be a part of. Well, this retreat has given me a taste of what that looks like and I am so excited to be able to be a part of it. I look forward to continuing to draw closer and go deeper with each member of this amazing community.
So often at weekend retreats I leave with a sense enthusiasm that ends up dying by mid-week. But, this time it is not so, for I know that what I experienced this weekend at Jackson's Point goes beyond a simple get away weekend. It is happening each and every day as we continue to live our lives as followers of Christ, as the body of Christ. Something has been stirred within me that is changing who I am, and who I will become. As I look back upon my own journey and ponder what the rest of the journey will look like I realize that the Freeway has become a major milestone. I entered and now I'll never be the same again. That is the power of living like Christ and expressing the love of Christ through community. Draw closer, and grow together!
You are all such awesome people!!! Thanks for just being you and showing me what it means to be "me".