What's Your Intended Destiny

Living life and serving God

2009-05-23T22:05:00.005-05:00

What is your approach to spiritual formation and discipleship?

I once knew a man who lived by the focus "to know Him and make Him known."

Others choose "loving others," "a heart of service," "love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength."

So how are you living life and serving God?

Who gets to present their understanding, their way with certain finality as ‘the approach?’ Rather than the discovery of another set of useful tools to place into their toolbox?

If you're honest, your journey with God throughout your life will take twists and turns. Different circumstances, seasons of your life will bring new revelations of God, new ways to follow Him, new qualities of His character for you to know better, new aspects of your life to cultivate. A part of our responsibility is to invite those who journey with us to see and consider these insights. We cultivate new disciplines, at times immerse in them, reflect on them or focus and at times to discard them moving on to whatever new thing God is doing in our lives or around us, at other times simply rest in a God who loves us.

Yet we point those who journey with us to pursue the course God has set before them as a part of the body of Christ. The body of Christ is extraordinarily diverse and there are unique merits in each of the many ways of following Jesus as we are pressing on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Who would have the arrogance to say “my quest in following Jesus has found the quick fix, one-size-fits-all, controllable technique for the journey of faith in this spiritual, abundant life?”

May we be encouraged to continue to stretch our thinking, yet realize God has made each of us in a unique way.

Let us become aware of a wider array of spiritual formation options for our journey of faith and passionately find what we need for this season.

Never stumbling into the mistake that any part is the whole, with an open and teachable spirit gaining fresh insights from the Word of God, the people we meet and the things God gives us to digest.

Be lifted from any spiritual ruts to embrace fully a greater passion for Christ and a greater desire to participate in His loving purpose for our life and His kingdom.

Be reminded to appreciate the manifold legacy that has been bequeathed to us by those who have gone before.

Walking faithfully into our expanded horizons and moving beyond our comfort zones, apathy and myopic vision through faith and obedience.

Discovering the greatness of the adventure of being conformed to the image of His Son, as we respond to God’s gracious initiatives to trust the person and work of Jesus Christ.

The Heart of Art

2008-12-02T13:54:00.005-06:00

Mim, the Dragon

A detailed handcrafted sculpture, craved from clay with added attributes of scales and slip.

Mythical Vase

Created through the coil method with coil details remaining in the dragon handles as well as the stem of the vase.

Urvile, the badger

Created and named in honor of my ceramic teacher who wanted my animals to have more "expression"... U R Vile being the exact pronunciation of this piece's name.

2008-09-09T08:52:00.002-05:00

I was reading in Brennan Manning's book "The Signature of Jesus" and he asks this question "Are you called to radical discipleship?"

That is a good question. In my class over the next few weeks we'll be looking at the answer to that question as well as various definitions for "radical discipleship."

Lessons from Captain Jack Sparrow and My Pastor

2007-06-17T23:19:00.000-05:00

Today I was challenged with these words by my pastor:

1) Where are you in your life right now spiritually?

2) Where do you want to go?

My pastor went on to speak this question “If you were to arrive at the destination of the direction you are headed where will you be?”

As if to say it’s not about where you want to be but where you will in fact be if you keep heading in the direction which you're going, doing the things you are doing.

I think if I could answer this question "What is it you need from God at this point of your journey?" I might be able to find myself again, find myself in the maze I seem to have wandered into in my mind.

He gave us several things to consider we might need. Maybe to make a recommitment, to ask God for strength, take a season of rest, ask God to help you through a season of doubting, to increase your faith, for direction at a particular crossroads, for God to speak into some situation or into the storm of your life or to reawaken your passion to be a Christ Follower.

In one of the Pirate movies Captain Jack Sparrow explains to Elizabeth that the compass he has is broken, in that it doesn’t point north. But it does point towards what you most desire. What would Jack’s compass direct you to? What do you most desire?

It was similar. The theme was similar even though the challenging word came from different sources. And I wondered – if I held such a compass in my hands what would the arrow point towards???

Would you obey God if it cost you everything?

2007-05-17T10:08:00.000-05:00

It sounds like an easy question. The answer should be obvious to any follower of Jesus.

Would you obey God if it cost you everything?

Everything, everyone... would you obey knowing it will cost you everything? Would you obey and continue to obey when it gets harder not just on you but on the people you care about, those around you, when you are obedient to God? In the Exodus we have a picture Israel's labor increased because of the obedience of Moses and Aaron to what God had directed them to do.

5:1 And afterward Moses and Aaron came and said to Pharaoh, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Let My people go that they may celebrate a feast to Me in the wilderness.' " 2 But Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and besides, I will not let Israel go." 3 Then they said, "The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please, let us go a three days' journey into the wilderness that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God, otherwise He will fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword." 4 But the king of Egypt said to them, "Moses and Aaron, why do you draw the people away from their work ? Get back to your labors !" 5 Again Pharaoh said, "Look, the people of the land are now many, and you would have them cease from their labors!" 6 So the same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters over the people and their foremen, saying, 7 "You are no longer to give the people straw to make brick as previously; let them go and gather straw for themselves. 8 "But the quota of bricks which they were making previously, you shall impose on them; you are not to reduce any of it. Because they are lazy, therefore they cry out, 'Let us go and sacrifice to our God.' 9 "Let the labor be heavier on the men, and let them work at it so that they will pay no attention to false words." 10 So the taskmasters of the people and their foremen went out and spoke to the people, saying, "Thus says Pharaoh, 'I am not going to give you any straw. 11 'You go and get straw for yourselves wherever you can find it, but none of your labor will be reduced.' " 12 So the people scattered through all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. 13 The taskmasters pressed them, saying, "Complete your work quota, your daily amount, just as when you had straw." 14 Moreover, the foremen of the sons of Israel, whom Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, "Why have you not completed your required amount either yesterday or today in making brick as previously?" 15 Then the foremen of the sons of Israel came and cried out to Pharaoh, saying, "Why do you deal this way with your servants? 16 "There is no straw given to your servants, yet they keep saying to us, 'Make bricks!' And behold, your servants are being beaten; but it is the fault of your own people." 17 But he said, "You are lazy, very lazy; therefore you say, 'Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.' 18 "So go now and work; for you will be given no straw, yet you must deliver the quota of bricks." 19 The foremen of the sons of Israel saw that they were in trouble because they were told, "You must not reduce your daily amount of bricks." 20 When they left Pharaoh's presence, they met Moses and Aaron as they were waiting for them. 21 They said to them, "May the LORD look upon you and judge you, for you have made us odious in Pharaoh's sight and in the sight of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us." 22 Then Moses returned to the LORD and said, "O Lord, why have You brought harm to this people? Why did You ever send me? 23 "Ever since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done harm to this people, and You have not delivered Your people at all."

When it gets hotter because of your stance of obedience... even if you don't expect deliverance and we have tons of examples in Hebrews 11 & 12 that there isn't always deliverance or rescue. DESPITE the fact that some of our favorite stories show extra-ordinary deliverance, it's not always going to be so. And even if we do get delivered sometimes we have to go through other people's rage and situations that are already hot getting hotter. That's exactly what happened to three young men in the book of Daniel who refused to dishonor God but disobeying him.

8 For this reason at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and brought charges against the Jews. 9 They responded and said to Nebuchadnezzar the king: "O king, live forever! 10 "You, O king, have made a decree that every man who hears the sound of the horn, flute, lyre , trigon, psaltery, and bagpipe and all kinds of music, is to fall down and worship the golden image. 11 "But whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire. 12 "There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the administration of the province of Babylon, namely Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. These men, O king, have disregarded you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up." 13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in rage and anger gave orders to bring Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego; then these men were brought before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar responded and said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? 15 "Now if you are ready, at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre , trigon, psaltery and bagpipe and all kinds of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, very well. But if you do not worship, you will immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire; and what god is there who can deliver you out of my hands?" 16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. 17 "If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18 "But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up."

19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with wrath, and his facial expression was altered toward Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. He answered by giving orders to heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. 20 He commanded certain valiant warriors who were in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego in order to cast them into the furnace of blazing fire. 21 Then these men were tied up in their trousers , their coats , their caps and their other clothes, and were cast into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire. 22 For this reason, because the king's command was urgent and the furnace had been made extremely hot, the flame of the fire slew those men who carried up Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. 23 But these three men, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, fell into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire still tied up.

Have you ever felt that way? Where you would describe the sensation you're experiencing as: falling, while still tied up, into a blazing furnace.

How often we overlook the humanity of the situation. Because it's a story and we've peeked at the end of the story to know how it ends. We don't feel the pain, or the sensations or thoughts THEY must have been experienced and the fact that things got worse. What must they have thought? We overlook that they "fell"... or they were "extra oppressed."

It's easy when life is smooth or when you have a ton of obvious victories under your belt or when you're not standing before a rage-filled face with things heating up to 7 times the normal heat... and the normal heat was enough to kill in and of itself!

It's easy to say "I will obey even if it costs me everything." Of course... but let your children die or be sacrificed, let all you possess be stripped, let your relationships fall into rubble, let there even come where you doubt enough that you question... whether it's a slow drain off or like one strike after another after another after another. Then it's not about your experience, expertise, skill, knowledge, smarts, ability, ingenuity... then it's about none of that mattering... and it comes down to obedience. Why does it sound so simple and easy?

Of course it's in the easy times we make such comments to always obey God regardless of the cost. That's when we answer "YES, I will obey God if it costs me everything." And we pray for God to give us the courage to stay the course and see it through when the trials, testing and life circumstances strike us.

Praise God for his faithfulness!

Listening Prayer in Unreached Areas

2006-12-09T13:09:00.000-06:00

They called it “listening prayer.” It sounded intimidating. That’s what I thought going into the mission trip this summer.

Mission trips have a plan. Lots of prayer goes into the decisions of where to go or who to work with and that occurs long before a volunteer team ever arrives. As a volunteer I show up and do what’s already laid out. This time was different as I was brought to a place that has deeply impacted my thinking and my life.

Over twenty years ago several missionary families joined together to teach their children to listen to God. They would take the lessons, scriptures, life experiences and look at them to see what God was saying. The children were instructed to journal with words and/or pictures what God was showing them. Then they learned to share those thoughts with others and to pray for each other as a starting point.

It reminds me of the young boy, Samuel. How sad, it had been so long since anyone had heard the voice of God, Eli didn’t immediately tell Samuel to simply listen. God himself brought “listening prayer” back into the life of Israel through Samuel. I felt young as I stood in Kankalabe, a remote region in Guinea, West Africa. It was as if I were Samuel being told by Eli “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.’ “

Three missionary families joined by five volunteers made up our team. Each missionary had several “ideas” about what we should do with our week in Kankalabe. These families had been in the region for over 2 years with no believers. They knew prayer as a major component of preparing the land and the work of God. It was their belief we should join them first in their weekly time of “listening prayer,” so the entire team could hear from God exactly what He desired us to do with those days.

Our morning started with a corporate time of confession, praise and worship, followed by the simple “listening prayer” instructions. Each person would go off alone with God taking their normal devotional materials, Bible, journal, etc. We would bring several questions before God. “What do You want us to do?” “Where do You want us to do it?” “What do You want to show us?” And “Other,” as occasionally God has no answers for our questions, because He has something else for us to learn or focus on. We would sit before God, read, study, ask our questions and then wait on God. We were to stay alone with God until we had a clear sense that He was finished speaking to us whatever He desired, whether that was 5 minutes or 5 hours. As each person finished they’d come back to the main room remaining in an attitude of prayer and listening until everyone returned. Once the group was re-gathered each person would share whatever God had impressed or revealed to them. Next, there was a time of interpretation. What did we think was the common thread woven into all we’d heard from God individually that He would use to guide us corporately?

Listening prayer is not a new concept. In fact, we could all give testimony to the times we’ve heard from God. Our week in Africa was a keen reminder to me in our fast paced world to find a still place to say ‘Speak Lord, for your servant is listening, Throughout that week I stood in awe of how God spoke, how His people listened, the way He worked and what He accomplished.

Pray for the work in Kankalabe where there are no Fulani believers.
Pray for God to break down the walls in lives around you as you worship Him.
Take time to be still before God and wait patiently to listen to Him.

Friendly Fire?

2006-11-04T13:55:00.000-06:00

And when they began singing and praising, the Lord set ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; so they were routed. [23] For the sons of Ammon and Moab rose up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir destroying them completely, and when they had finished with the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another. - 2 Chron. 20:22-23 (NASB)

Scripture points out how easily the enemy turns against one another. It is a natural thing. Let us learn a better way by the power of the Holy Spirit.

For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. [14] For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." [15] But if you bite and devour one another, take care lest you be consumed by one another. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. [17] For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. [18] But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. [19] Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, [20] idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, [21] envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. [22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. [24] Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
[25] If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. [26] Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another. - Galatians 5:13-26 (NASB)

I would Rather Die of Thirst than Drink from the Cup of Mediocrity

2006-09-24T15:38:00.000-05:00

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It was June 2000 Brussels, Belguim in an Airport as I headed for the first time to West Africa on a mission trip. I was halted in my steps as I saw these words displayed over 7' tall as an advertisement. A captivating thought from a Christian point of view. A challenge to ponder.

What will I do with the challenge? What will you do?

A captivating thought - as a follower of Christ our church today celebrated the cup of Christ - the Lord's supper. The cup of Christ is not the cup of mediocrity. It is the cup of passion. It is the cup of courage. It is the cup of dangerous adventure. It is the cup of living life to the fullest, of running the race, of suffering, of victory, of the supernatural.

Now there are some even among the followers of Jesus who might say "I think I'd take a little drink. After all life is life and what good would it do to die of thirst?" Hummm. What good would it do to die? Ask Jesus Christ.

Following God is not for those who'll settle for mediocrity in any form. Wester's New World College Dictionary defines a thing as mediocre if it is neither very good nor very bad; ordinary; average; not good enough, in the middle. Doesn't God speak to this very issue? His word for mediocrity is lukewarm.

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth. - Rev. 3:15-16 (NIV)

Would you rather die of thirst than drink from the cup of mediocrity?

Deep is the Gift of Discipline

2006-09-11T11:51:00.000-05:00

Have you been to the mountain peaks recently? I don't mean geographically, I mean spiritually. Have you visited the heights with God lately?

"Deep is the gift of discipline. Maslow said the whole world is comprised of non-peakers telling non-peakers about peak experiences. In some ways it seems to me that much of Christianity is a conversation of snorkelers talking to each other of scuba experiences. If mere conversation or study groups were the path to depth experience, the church would be deep indeed. But it is those who read and pray, not those who philosophize and chatter, who arrive at lives of real power." - Calvin Miller

I find one of the most interesting things... if "conversation or study groups" were the path to the deep, to the deep things of God ... I'd say we Christians, particularly Baptist Christians (because I am one) should be way deep by now! But it's not neccessarily true. In some ways our lives remind me of sponges that absorb and absorb and absorb. Is it any wonder God sends experiences into our lives to wring us out from time to time?

How do we arrive at real power in our lives?

Do we leave church or Bible study with more questions than we came with? Finding that even perhaps some of our questions reminded unanswered? And does that draw us toward God... the one and only who does have our answers? Or better yet who can in place of the answers we think we need, give us Himself! Well, praise God if that is true.

Take time with God this week. Ask Him to take you up the mountain side for just awhile and be willing to go to the heights with Him. There's plenty of work to be done in the valley, but first things first.

Topos

2006-08-24T23:25:00.000-05:00

“.. and do not give the devil a foothold.”
– Ephesians 4:27

The word foothold as translated by the NIV is also in other translations written opportunity or place. It is translated from the Greek word “topos,” from which we derive our English word “topography” – the science that studies the surface lay of the land.

For believers today this is not an abstract idea – it is a specific place in your soul.

The devil is due everything of our being because of our rebellion, disobedience, corruption or the nature of sin, it’s his by claim. Those who come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior belong to Christ. So we ask the question: What place can be given by a believer?

Change the World

2006-07-28T14:17:00.000-05:00

The men / women who have most fully illustrated Christ in their character and have most powerfully affected the world for Him, have been men / women who spend so much time with God as to make it a notable feature in their lives . . . . to be little with God is to be little for God. - E.M. Bounds

Whose Kingdom is it?

2006-07-12T05:59:00.000-05:00

Epicenter: spiritual formation for Kingdom impact put on by the BGCT this past Spring:

“It is possible to participate in church expansion and unintentionally be an agent for shrinking the kingdom of God,” Jeff Christopherson, pastor of The Sanctuary in Oakville, Ontario, said at Epicenter, a spiritual formation and missions event sponsored by the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
I guess after having been on the mission field doing volunteer work for 7 years I've come to wonder more and more about sects within my denomination.

Probably one of the most eye opening comments I heard was from this Pastor in Canada as he talked about when you cross a certain line in your authority you actually begin working for the dominion of darkness.

Knowing what I know... it seemed the community of the IMB was being led to "group isolation." It's okay to know these "other" denominations but don't partner with them.

Our "brand" church first and Jesus a close second. Our new authority isn't from the King, Jesus but from our corporate idenity. Does it have a "Southern Baptist" name on it? And even though they might not come right out say it... you MUST conform to our way or find yourself another way.

Thus our mode for changing the world becomes no better than the crusades years ago in heart motive. Where is the "follow God" in conformity? Where are the leaders who say... we will support you as God leads you?

AND the one of the most defining things... the energy comes from competions. You know how I know it comes from competition? Numbers. Right? The missionaries are told you can't partner and one of the reasons was there will be inaccurate counting of "believers"... you and this other entity can not count these handful of believers for both your churches. Since you are with the SB then they must be SB or you must move on to find other believers to disciple. Competition.

How are we not crossing over a very fine line from the Kingdom of God to the Kingdom of Darkness?

I praise God daily for men and women who take a stand to call us back. My prayers are with them as they continue. May they continue to fight the good fight, stand up for what the Word of God says and always point to where we are compromising our own beliefs or leading people astray. So that we may walk together and serve God well.

the Spirit of Judgmentalism

2006-07-03T15:02:00.001-05:00

Today I'm troubled in my spirit by a Christian's ability to judge another Christian.

One Christian who says to another - if you are not as confrontational in life, relationally, in witnessing... if you are more "passive" which is what I mean by non-confrontational then you are wrong, in sin and inferior.

One Christian who says to another - I know based on what I know of God, his word and your life that you did not hear correctly from God.

One Christian who says to another - you are so stepping on egg shells and no one's willing to call anything what it is, we'll just sweep it under the rug without regard to the hurt that has already been inflicted, the sorrow another heart feels. And that the soft spoken, submissive to the wrong people, "passive" person is inferior and worthy to be judged and condemned for not living a truly godly, whole-hearted life.

Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. ... You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. .... If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died. Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil. - Romans 14:4, 10, 15-16 (NIV)

Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you--who are you to judge your neighbor? - James 4:11 - 12 (NIV)

What does that word slander mean? To speak impiously, defame, rail on, revile, speak evil. Impiously? Lacking piety or reverence for a god; lacking due respect or dutifulness. Piety is a desire and willingness to perform religious duties. So basically without regard for the other person you hold them in distain and the basic tenants of Love and Grace are not applied to what you say. It is a misuse of freedom... even if you keep your mouth shut and these feelings, thoughts still rule in your heart it is the same.

It is an offensive odor and reeks in the spiritual realm.

Matthew 7:3-4 & Luke 6:41-42 speak to us of the danger we fall into by condemning another person when we ourselves are not clean, when we have problems just as big... stepping on egg shells, jealousy, despair, giving up, anger, bitterness, self-depreciation. Jesus said we have a plank ( a huge board) compared to our brother's speck.

Pray against the spirit of judgmentalism.

Crossroads

2006-06-26T22:41:00.000-05:00

This is what the Lord says:

"Stand at the crossroads and look;
ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is,
and walk in it, and
you will find rest for your souls.

But you said,
We will not walk in it.'
Jeremiah 6:16

We all stand at various crossroads throughout our lives. God gave Jeremiah a message for the people in his day.

First, they were told to “stand at the crossroads and look.” This involved stopping in their tracks, realizing this was a crossroads minute and looking to see all the paths before them.

But that wasn’t all they were told to do. Secondly, these people were instructed to ask for the “ancient paths” that is the “good” way.

That word “ancient” is the Hebrew word owlam and it means concealed, vanished or in a practical sense eternity—what has been, may not be easily seen and what will last without end.

It’s like the message is saying—look for a way that is not so obvious, the way that is not commonly taken by earth-sighted self-centered people, but look for what is God’s way.

Those are good words for us on any given day, at any time. To stand still and look and ask God to show us the way. Then expect Him to answer. Wait for His answer. Listen for what He would say. It is in God we will find rest for our anxious minds or busy overfilled lives.

Let us not be like the people of Jeremiah’s time who found only damage for their souls and destruction for their lives and it was said of them they won’t walk in God’s way—rejected Him through simple neglect and willful disobedience.

Let us learn to face the things in our lives as God’s Crossroads People—looking to Him for direction. And also let us become Crossroad Directors to point people towards Jesus so they too will find His way and can walk in it.

Blessings on you this week,

Core Living

2006-06-20T09:47:00.000-05:00

I believe that people really at their core – want to be significant. I believe we want to be fulfilled. We want our lives to count for something, to make an impact even if only on just the handful of people around us – friends, family. I think we want to live radical lives and we want the power of the Spirit of God to use us in a dynamic way. For all of us I believe that means change.. for some little bits of change, for others we need drastic change.

But you know what? God is in the “changing people” business. There are some people who say “I just don’t think a person can really change.” Yet the truth is all Christians are in the change business. We serve a God who changes people ALL the time! He can reach down from heaven and touch us when we call upon His name.

What is the heart of worship?

2006-06-17T09:08:00.000-05:00

What is the heart of worship?

"Worship is not just about coming together to sing a few songs until we get to the sermon, but about dealing with the issues of our life in which we need God enthroned, as well as those places in ourselves that need transformation." Pastor Jack Hayford.

What is the heart of worship?

I will say this... my momma ... well ever since I can remember when you go to her house for Thanksgiving... she always finds out who all from the family is coming... and she knows our favorite dishes... and my entire life I've known... that as well and she makes sure those get fixed. If Ricky and Heidi are there we get ham because the can't get enough. Ronnie and Lance get sweet potatoe pie. For me there are mounds of fresh whipppped fluffy potatoes. My brother - deviled eggs in abundance. Uncle Eddie dark turkey. My daddy - sugar free cranberry sauce. And on and on... we have alot of people and there's always tons of food. We gather and make our "pass" through the kitchen filling up our plates. And of course there some that have this and that and a whole MESS of their favorite. But we all come back to the big room to pray and to eat together. That's family. That's what being at my church First Baptist Church of Arlington is like ... and I love that.... we all come to the big room to pray and to eat together no matter what did or didn't make it onto the plate.

God loves us and he wants to meet us where we are and he will but he's got a much bigger picture... and it includes the entire family of God. And he wants to bring us beyond so much more than tastes, musical styles and our own self interests.

Some people in our church talk about "offering" different styles of worship during our 2 or 3 services. There are those that want the OLD songs sung out of the hymnal alone. There are other who think newer more modern day songs are the way to go. They tell us that is the only thing that will bring young adults and non-christians into the church, but you don't win the lost with music, you don't gear worship to the lost so they'll get it easier. Worship isn't about bringing in a certain age population.

What will win those people we love? Our lives being lived out as authentic Christians. Us living out of our souls with our focus on Jesus, knowing him and making him known. What will draw them to Christ is the love our family here at church and our Christian brothers and sisters share. And when they are accepted into God's family, when they come to know Jesus - they'll step into a family - multi-generational and loving and diverse and opinionated. But it will be a family at least at First Baptist, unless we decide to change that. And it will stretch them, but they'll stay because of small groups, Bible teaching, deep preaching and people who's heart it is to worship God, lead by leaders who lead.

The truth is... what I've seen lived out in other churches... when you talk about "different service" offerings.... you're not talking about style. You are talking about generational splits. You're talking about breaking a bond and stagnating growth within generational segments. (because well that's obvious if I'm not stretched in worship or there's no tranformation and I'm allowed to be prideful and selfcentered and 'comfort' with to tickle our ears with things we like to hear, what we've always "been used to" or "like best".. well that's stagnating.) There is some health in having some generational segmentation to it, but there is alot to say about the health of a church being holistic. And the broad embracing path of linking arms and walking together.

Worship is not about style.

"I understand that music and style and taste are all important but this is what I want you to also understand along with me and I’m happy to talk to any of you anytime about any of those issues as long as you and I understand this. Anytime we are talking about those things, those are all superficial things and that means when we talk about worship in that perspective and in that context we are talking right here. (surface level)"

"What you need to understand about this church is this church has chosen a very broad path. That means that it embraces numbers of people. Right now I’m looking at some of you and some of you I’ve gotten to know you well enough to know what kind of worship you like and that’s OK. We are all holding hands. We are all on this road together and we are going to make an impact in this town because we are going to have a broad perspective in worship. We are not going to choose one little path. That’s the most difficult choice we could ever make. I want you to know that. I’ve got that much sense. But I believe it with all my heart that that’s what we need to do." Dr. Dennis R Wiles

Worship is not about the music, the song selection, about me getting what I think I want out of a service. I would hope to come and meet with God.. and that should transform me, it should make me not so self-centered. And being with people who like other types of music, have other interests and who don't think the same about things as I do is good for me - it's healthy.... it can stretch me, challenge me and I believe strengthen me.

That's what our church does. I praise God for that. And I'm truly thankful for the leadership we have - specifically for Dennis Wiles and Barry Rock but also for the countless others who pray and plan and lead as God gifts and directs them here, so that together we become the people and the church God desires us to be.

Hallelujah!!!!