Thoughts on Worship and Other Stuff

I'm not the only pebble on the beach in the history of mankind

2010-02-04T12:36:00.000-08:00

Good point, honey! I was once again complaining about Leviticus to my husband (see last posting) when he pointed out that those laws were absolutely of incredible importance "back in the day". I just finished the chapter on bodily discharges and bleeding. I can just picture the moms in our congregation trying to explain THOSE words to the questions coming from the kids in the back seat. You would think these readings would be G rated, wouldn't you? I can hardly wait for the Song of Solomon (guaranteed to be read with relish!). So here's what I learned from my college class today. Mark was probably written before Matthew. Also it was, at the minimum, at least 35-40 years after Jesus died before any of the New Testament was written down. Everyone in class is trying to guess why. I say they were just busy....running around and planting churches. In a largely illiterate culture, it was probably more important to be preaching for a while than writing anyway. Writing is for posterity and could be done after the authors all entered their twilight years. I don't know for sure, though; what do you think?

If you want to lose your faith....

2010-02-01T10:57:00.001-08:00

Someone asked me how reading the Bible was going. You see, starting in the fall, the church handed out a READ THE BIBLE THRU daily plan, and I (for some strange reason) volunteered to put all that on weekly CDs for folks to listen to on their long commutes. We're up to week 22, and probably only about 30 people are still using the CDs. But, hey, for the sake of 30 (or 20...or 10!) I shall keep on making them. Actually this was all a plan to make sure that I kept up the readings and that it would make me a better person. That plan is not really working out. Somewhere in Exodus (and things are not improving in Leviticus!) I started getting really cynical, mad, and bored! Is it really necessary that the commandment about blue & scarlet & purple thread be repeated twenty times? Couldn't one more phrase about divorce/remarriage proved to be more useful? One mention of someone playing a trumpet in readiness for the Lord's return would have been nice (NT, of course.). Even some explanation of how to get around the physical impossibility of how one is supposed to pray & prophesy in I Cor 11 and then be silent in I Cor 14 could have staved off a myriad of elders' meetings. Anyway, to make matters worse, I'm up to my 3rd class re: masters degree in theology. Now my faith is REALLY being questioned. Let me sum up what I've learned thus far. The good news is there are over 5000 copies or pieces of copies of what makes up our New Testament. The bad news is there are as many mistakes/scribes' typos as there are words in the NT. Yes, I still believe the core message made it through and the Holy Spirit is in control. But next time you fight for the"Bible is absolutely infallible" stance, you might want to educate yourself a bit. It's better just to decide it doesn't really matter if 23,000 people were killed in one spot and 24,000 in another....or if someone bought a field for 60 shekels here but 500 shekels in a different passage. That's my advice so far.

what a fall!

2009-12-04T09:14:00.000-08:00

So, because there is a small square of blank space on my wall on which I could hang another certificate, I decided to enroll in a master's of Christian service degree at David Lipscomb Univ, my alma mater. I flew to Nashville for the one week condensed class, and the professor also had to fly in from Dulles Airport. It was great! I love sitting around with others solving the world's social justice issues. Out of that one class alone, I hope to furnish speakers for future events regarding every current cause: creation care, sex trafficking victims, poverty, women's roles, international adoption, etc., etc.

Then there was the ZOE conference that was also very enlightening as I made contacts again with all those....past & present & future....who have applied for our ever present yet always changing Worship minister job. {It's only been three years, so who's complaining?} God gives us all strength in special ways. :)

Now we're up to the Holidays....it's time for our bi-annual talent show and we've had more entries than ever! And what interesting entries! I can't let the cats out of the bag, but the show is guaranteed to be varied & full of laughs.

Christmas Eve is going to very different, and very precious this year as well. I'm already feeling full of the holiday spirit as I wish each and every one of you much love and prosperity. My life is intensely blessed, and it is largely because of both my biological and church family. Thank you, God. And thank all of you for being who you are.

my dream

2009-08-31T11:46:00.000-07:00

I was about to join an anger management group because I've been...well, basically in a state of anger lately. Maybe it's due to midlife crisis or some other malady; but I've noticed that both illogic and injustice can set me off pretty quick (and examples of both have been rather plentiful lately). But I still had enough sane thoughts to figure out that prolonged anger is neither healthy or helpful. So something had to be done. That was Saturday night.

Right before the alarm went off Sunday morning I had the most remarkable dream. I realize the symbolism of what I'm about to relate is super obvious....but it wasn't in my dream state. It was a rural setting and I, along with several others, had just come out some kind of place of business (post office?) and we were walking along a grassy area w/ trees. I was slightly unsure of the direction to go home but wasn't alarmed yet since my sense of direction is both nonexistent and dislexic, so I'm used to the feeling of being rather lost all the time. Anyway, over in some brush near the trees a group of animals (disturbed from us exiting the building) rose to their feet. The most obvious was a large male lion. I was so surprised to see him out of a cage. A man's voice behind me quickly said, "Everyone be still, no eye contact. No one run." So we all stood there, fighting our natural inclination to take off.

Next scene. Suddenly a lamb rose up and put his two front hoofs up on my shoulders and stayed there. I leaned in a bit to balance my weight with his, and could feel his breath and was aware of his heartbeat. This particular lamb was long and lean, and had straight white fur, by the way. Anyway, I remember thinking, "I believe a lion can go right through a lamb. I wonder if this lamb realizes that." But for all the lamb's alertness and steadfastness, I didn't sense panic. And he wasn't about to leave me. If the lion was going to get me, he was definitely going to have to go through the lamb first.

Then the alarm rang. So I still have some unanswered questions. I'm not sure why or how the lion was there, or why he wanted to kill. I only know one thing: the lamb loved me....and the lion did not.

And I'm not angry anymore.

more holy land...

2009-08-10T10:17:00.000-07:00

In the souvenir shops there one can see, all on the same shelf, black veils and yarmulkes and beaded rosaries. I was standing in the middle of one architectually incredible cathedral, listening to a childrens' choir when suddenly over the loudspeaker came the call to prayer for the Moslems. It hit me how deep and urgent and necessary is every person's urge to try to connect with the Almighty. It is as insatiable as the appetite for food and water. Everyone scrambling to hear the voice of God...to be right with God...to be directed by God.

Yet, here in the same land, are the origins of three very distinct branches of religion...the tenets of which have been claimed as the reason for much bloodshed.

To answer the most common question; yes, I always felt safe. In Eygpt we had armed guard driving in front and in back of our convoy of busses on the way to the pyramid. And when we got close the Bethlehem, the Jewish guide had to hop off the bus and a Palestinian hop on to continue through the huge wall built around Jerusalem. And on the way back, Israeli soldiers checked every passport on the bus. But the Jews assured us there have been much fewer suicide bombers since the wall went up 3 years ago and to invite our friends to visit. So consider yourself invited!

In Turkey, we had a cute young blonde guide who was proud to claim Turkey as the most progressive of all Islam countries. She had on a cute little outfit, and went on to tell us what the Koran ACTUALLY says about modest dress. "It says only to cover the sexual parts," she said, "so unless all those women (draped in black) thinking they're smokin' hot all over? Maybe they have Victoria Secret on underneath." It got a laugh, but illustrated the division upon division upon division in ALL religions. Lord have mercy.

go to the Holy Land

2009-08-03T10:08:00.000-07:00

It's so great to have a real live image in my head next time I read "Capernaum", or "Sea of Galilee", or Jordan River, or "Ephesus" in the Bible. But my favorite things were walking the Via Dolorosa and the wailing wall. Did you know that the "Wailing Wall" (or Western Wall) is the last remaining wall of the great temple of Solomon? On the site is a huge Moslem Mosque now (no wonder the Jews pick there to wail). My eyes teared up too just standing in the crowd of the many women who were crying, rocking, and beating their chests. Then I looked over the fence and saw Dan being wrapped and cloaked (he told some Rabbi his mom had a little Jewish blood in her) so they adopted him quick. Apparently we can now move to Israel at any time, no questions asked. I'm not saying Israel doesn't have its economic problems~ and right now there is a very concerning drought going on (the Sea of Galilee is 18 feet below what it should be)~~but to see what they have accomplished in 60 years with an area & population similiar to the state of Maryland is simply amazing. I also loved visiting the island of Patmos where John wrote Revelation. Does anyone know somewhere in the Bible where Jesus told him that he would not die like the other disciples (who were martryed)? John must have lived to be 100 !
Ooops, gotta run....I'll tell more later.

Diaries of Darfur

2009-07-10T14:14:00.000-07:00

I'm about to finish the Diaries of Darfur, and will now look for the documentary. The book is actually about their experiences of trying to make the film. I hear that the number of 26,000 children dying a day from hunger is now up to 29,000. And I still haven't gotten around to sponsoring a kid yet. The feeling of being overwhelmed is paralyzing. Plus the feeling of having failed in the past. At one time,we were sponsoring six. Please don't be impressed....even that is not much of a monetary sacrifice. Unfortunately, though, I never took the time to write back at all, much less encouraging notes. What kind of a sponsor is that?

Speaking of children, at one point I had filled out the paperwork for us to adopt kid #6....( a little girl from China), but then I thought maybe I should re-think it. I asked a friend from South Korea who was aghast that I would even question. "If you have a roof and food in the refridgerator, why would you even hesitate?" She asked. She went on to tell me of the heartbreaking story of when they were so poor in her childhood that they took her baby sister to the orphanage. Within a couple of weeks they couldn't bear it, so they went back (she was still there)...but that didn't make raising her on no resources any easier. Well, the roof and the food I can manage. It's that nurturing thing and resources such as time that I seem to run out of. How will God judge? Yes, I know His grace will cover even rich Americans. But, still.

thoughts from Willow Creek

2009-06-22T08:21:00.000-07:00

I always see this on the wall when I go to the arts conference in Chicago:

"For most of us, the word broken means useless. Yet in the upside down world of God's Kingdom, broken can mean ready to be used---as when a soul is broken before God and yielded. A mosaic is a piece of art that begins with broken pieces and then turns into something beautiful. We are all God's mosaic, our brokenness crafted by his wise and skillful hand into a work of beauty."

Anyway, as always it was worth going to. Hillsong United gave a concert...I picked up on some great video ideas. It was a nice getaway.

Speaking of getaways, four of my children are backpacking across South America for the next month. You can assume that my prayer life will be consistent and intact during that time.

Galatians

2009-05-29T08:24:00.000-07:00

I just read a book "The Hole in our Gospel" by the president of World Vision, Rich Sterns. So my new favorite quote is "We've drifted from being fishers of men to keepers of the acquarium" (actually Paul Harvey said that). Good quote, huh?

Anyway, the more I read the book of Galatians, the more I realize that Paul was not mad over circumsion. That was NOT the issue. In fact, it seems "the issue" (whatever it may be) is never REALLY the issue at all. Take for example, in past decades it might have been that we could have replaced the term "circumcision" w/ the terms "one cuppers" or "kitchens in churches buildings" or "worship leaders on staff." Someday it will be whether or not to have holograms to illustrate sermons points. Some will find holograms entertaining and distracting, others will find them enlightening and educational. There will, no doubt, be anti-hologram churches and pro-hologram churches. We will be beaming guest speakers in from Texas to plead for unity. The progressive churches will probably finally settle on one hologram inclusive service, and one without.
Face it, Paul's just mad at the folks who set themselves up to make whatever-it-is mandatory for the other side to agree with or else! It's just another example of folks trying to be God (once again!....our forever human sin...). It's so much easier, and much more of a power trip, to make and enforce rules for others and then judge them by their noncompliance than it is to accept God's grace. So read Galatians. Everytime it says "circumcision" (which we care nothing about today but they sure did back then), replace it with a current hot-button-topic, and see what Paul has to say to us today.

IMAGINE

2009-05-14T12:23:00.000-07:00

Six hundred people (including cast & crew & audience) enjoyed all the wonderful varied facets of IMAGINE last weekend (well, May 2 & 3). After that I took off to West Palm Beach to see my daughter graduate from college. Congratulations on a job well done, Chelsea! On Mother's Day, there I sat at IHOP surrounded by my extremely handsome husband, five children, and two serious boyfriends (of my daughters, not me!) Good stuff.

Anyway, back to the show. Everyone has a different favorite memory. Some said it was like an extremely educational documentary with great music. I still go into the foyer daily and read some of the 220 scrolls on the wall with references to praise & music. [thank you, Chris Sterritt!] As I watch the DVD, I realize how organically some of it sprang into reality. Joyful Noise made both the spiritual section and the restoration movement come to life in a way that WAS truly joyful! Thank you to my lovely dancers who had to put up with all kinds of torturous workouts for the last three months. Jody, you were certainly some kind of a discovery! How come no one ever tells me when we have a Sandi Patti in our midst. Anyway, it was all just super great...I loved the dramas....B.J. just generally has talent dripping from every pore at all times...Karin's my new best friend....Jerry, Carol, Anne---we could NOT have done it without you. Anyway, thanks everyone. Thank you again & again & again....

Best service ever !!!

2009-04-14T14:26:00.001-07:00

We've had some great Sundays, but it would be hard to top the Easter service we just experienced. The incredible video "That's My King", the moving cardboard testimonies, the elegantly beautiful "Agnus Dei". Wow! Just the whole energy and singing and feel of the crowd was something I wished I could wrap up in a box to bring out whenever needed. I was almost moved to tears when I saw the excitement of teens when they heard we were going to sing "This is How We Overcome". How God must smile when he sees happy people in his courts of praise. I often wondered, as a child, at the deception and outright lies (if body language can "lie") of those who used to mumble through the songs "We Praise Thee O God" and "O How I Love Jesus" when it was evident by their mannerisms that those words were not representative of where their sour hearts were. Thank God we have moved beyond thinking that joy and expressiveness and smiles are for only events outside the church building.

I also, once again, want to thank and admire the elders' courage and effort and humble hearts as they lead our Sunday night studies. So many Churches of Christ do not have the "guts" to even bring up such questions, but our leadership has risen to the occassion and has done so gallantly. Our church family will be smarter and stronger and spiritually closer because of these times studying the scriptures together. [I'm pretty sure that God can handle all our questions as well, and does not fear them at all.] :)

I love this place...

2009-03-24T13:50:00.000-07:00

WOW! $115,000 and still counting!?! What a contribution toward community care! I must admit, I didn't even think we'd come close to the requested $75,000....but we sure did. And I'm SO proud of our elders. Just think of the amount of time and effort! Just think of the courage! Even being the elder's kid I am (and thoroughly "ground in the faith"), I am learning some interesting facts from the Sunday night classes. I never thought about the fact that the Lord's Supper was probably instituted on a Thursday. And suddenly one understands where the Catholic church probably got the "mass everyday" idea (from the early Christians meeting daily). But I must admit, my favorite time for possible communion with anyone would have to be at approximately 2:30 AM Monday morning (esp. if someone just fell out of a window after listening to Bruce for a little too long).

Anyway, it was a great Sunday and I am, quite frankly, just proud of everyone around here. Proud to be a part of a people not scared to ask questions, not scared to study, and not scared to learn. And, by the way, I guarantee that God is not the least bit threatened at our questions either. I'm quite sure He can handle it (and proud we have actively engaged brain cells and not in a hibernation mode... :)).

And guess what! Easter's coming! A time for renewal for ALL His creation !!!!

once a month blogger?

2009-03-10T06:54:00.001-07:00

I don't think I've ever heard of a once a month blogger (or longer) but that seems to be the pattern here. The search committee for a worship minister kicks off tonight, and as we list the attritutes and duties...I guess I'm lucky to get to this even occassionally. Sunday was pretty funny (if you have a quirky sense of humor). Terry Gibson just retired and I was bequeathed the communion servers. That means weekly emails, noting all changes as the guys report in that they need a different date or service, etc., and printing out the check- in charts for the communion room. Well unfortunately, there are also the charts that get mailed out monthly; and that's the ones I mistakenly printed out. Chaos in the communion room soon insued. Bruce had to come (graciously) get me out of worship team so I could correct the problem. Then it turned out that the replenishers weren't there to replenish. Somehow between services (after singing and half- monitoring the AV booth) I was supposed to do something with the trays. I go running in, yelling "where's the juice & crackers?" and Russ Barnes (to his credit and sanity) just said, "I'll handle it, Darla". He obviously received a heartfelt "Thank you". Terry, I hope you read this and know you're missed.
As we enter this era of service and being the heart to our community, I hope the above helps reenforce that there is a place for everybody and everybody needs to be in their place. That seems to be the challenge for some....where am I needed and what do I enjoy doing? What am I good at? As you work your way through that and receive Holy Spirit direction, never doubt that you are sincerely and desperately needed. I know church is supposed to be a quiet time for meditation and feeding. But I also know, if you never serve, Sunday will become meaningless...no matter how great the sermon and inspirational the songs. Chances are much stronger that you will drift away...and years later you'll wonder what happened...why you feel empty and in neutral spiritually. So in closing, let me say it again....YOU ARE NEEDED !!!

more on missional

2009-01-28T15:28:00.000-08:00

One thing for sure: if you want to be on the look out for touching others' lives....those moments will NEVER be convenient. They won't even feel like real monumental moments. Looking back, it'll be when you were most likely to ignore someone because you were tired or really really busy....or extremely comfortable in front of your favorite TV show when the phone call came. The only time you might feel good about going out of your way is when you look back...in hindsight. Possible other feelings at the time of trying to be of service: a kind of weird fear that introverts are familiar with, ripples of judgementalism that might swim up in your throat, boredom when the problem isn't fixed in under ten minutes, and wishes that you could be anywhere else doing something "really important".

Here's a story for you. A dedicated Christian in an east African country is in his house church when they are invaded by the local authorities, for his religion is illegal in his country. He sees his father beat to death. Whereabouts of other members of his family are still unknown. He is able to flee, and with a fake passport, make it to our border where he turns himself in and asks for help. An even bigger crime occurred when, due to bureaucratic incompetency, he was put in a prison for hardened criminals instead of a detention center. There he was violated and is now HIV positive. Yes, of course he won his case and is now able to stay in our country and work. But, you can see where this is now a difficult placement. A humble hard working (and scared) man has been in a homeless shelter for months. What is the church's answer to this? And who among us can point fingers at anyone else, when we personally (no doubt) can't really help either. They say the emerging generation is not interested in buildings or bulletins but in how we can help our fellowman. Well, that can be pretty scary. But I'm glad they are forcing us to look at what a Christ follower might actually resemble.

the missional church

2008-12-08T11:41:00.000-08:00

So this gift thing Bruce is doing throughout December has me thinking. It's actually pretty easy for most of us to come up with some kind of gift of service or time, especially to our family and friends. Isn't that basically what we do all day, anyway? (wash clothes, make supper, help w/ homework, pick up something for a co-worker, etc.) However, to do something like that to a total stranger is a bit more challenging.

For those not familiar with the terms, attractional church and/or missional church, here's my brief definition. The attractional church does all it can to be, well, attractive to the unchurched. Friendly, easy to get around, organized, invitive, relevant, etc. The missional church takes it "to the streets". The true challenge of the missional church is that it demands we respond to people we don't necessarily like or want to hang out with. I got my chance to have something to write down on the card Sunday when a homeless man wandered in right at closing time & I obligatorily listened to his rambling for fifteen minutes. Then I gave him some advice (which probably sounded a lot like, "get a job")....but the point is...he's God's child too. It got even more difficult to be charitable when I noticed the expensive headphones around his neck and he told me that Bruce could "reach him on his cell phone". (so where does his cell phone bill go?). Anyway, that sort of stuff does not help my naturally cynical side. But God doesn't call us to be cynical, or judgemental, or proud. He calls us to be of service. I loved the good Samaritan story on Sunday when Bruce pointed out that we are not the religious professionals, or the good well-bred citizens...we are the ones in the ditch.
Hmmmm, so maybe next time I'll try to listen to that guy for 20 minutes.

more from ZOE

2008-10-23T09:44:00.000-07:00

One of the most precious aspects of the human experience, I feel, is listening to each others' stories. Were you to compare my sister's memories to mine, you might question that we were even raised in the same house...but we were. In like manner, I welcome all comments from all backgrounds and hope, as the church, we may do more to validate each others' voices and not discount those who don't fit safely into any preconceived molds. So, thank you, out there, for your reading and your responses.

{Although, unfortunately, I don't feel it best to publish those from "anonymous", not because I don't find them valid or interesting, but because it pretty much closes the door to any more discussion or availability.} (by the way, to my last anonymous comment....please expound a bit more so I can understand more clearly your intent, if you don't mind...Thanks!).

Anyway, it is my understanding that Tim Schwamb is also blogging and covering the ZOE conference...so I can't wait to read and hear his impressions. The keynote speaker, Scott McNight, spent quite a bit of time on explaining why twenty million 20 & 30 year old "somethings" like Jesus but not the church, and ten common principles of their philosophy. If you're interested in that, give me a call & I'll gladly share. He also had an interesting talk on "why read the Bible". Is it to supplement theological arguments? Is it for the feel good verses at the top of our calendars? Is it to dutifully get through a chapter a day? He came to the conclusion that it is to listen to God.

Other nuggets I jotted down: "the cure for spiritual weariness is spiritual intimacy"

Truth goes through three stages: 1) it is ridiculed 2) it is violently opposed
3) it is accepted as self evident

"When a person's comfort level in worship is worshipped more than God, than true worship is threatened".

and finally, "Real freedom is doing what God has called you to do."

So, how free are you feeling these days? :)

ZOE

2008-10-09T10:20:00.000-07:00

It felt like a rather different conference this year than in the past. There was a huge emphasis on being a missional church---which I appreciate---however, the job of the worship minister generally falls under the camp of being the "attractional church". So, the age old question of "Do we in any shape or form resemble the church Jesus established?" becomes even more problematic to the wearied worship leader who is spending 6 hours a week on powerpoint slides that people only notice when they're missing. Even the scripture stating "they who have a new song or scripture, have them bring it..." seems only plausible for a house church size. Which throws us right back into the structured "institutionalized" worship time for large congregations, which (hopefully) does its prayerful best to be relevant, connecting, and honoring. [the only option to that is to be irrelevant, disconnected, rote and boring....which I believe to be also dishonoring].

Some of the ministers I met felt they had done much more ministry before they were paid ministers. But, as Bruce noted, no matter where you put your emphasis, "somebody's got to mow that grass". The most comforting illustration I heard was, "yes, we all need to be soldiers in the field--but somebody's got to be at the camp when it comes time to refuel."

I also found the class on gender & church to be very educational. The couple teaching were very humble and gracious, and some of their examples were extremely enlightening. They had worked as missionaries to Uganda. In that culture, women are generally topless, but what is worn below the waist (in the villages) is extremely important to their concept of modesty. Meanwhile, a couple of hours west in the larger city, things are very different. A young lady from the city wore jeans to church in the village, and the new congregation almost imploded. The missionary wrote a letter to them: thanking them for their good works, praising them for their new found Christian lives, etc. etc. Then he also urged the older women to have patience with the "changing" times and dress of the younger women. And then, he asked the young lady not to wear jeans. Obviously, that directive was not meant for all cultures of the world for all times...but suddenly this modern day missionary understood what it was Paul must have gone through. The critical question is this: does (whatever behavior) hinder the spread of the gospel?
Which, considering OUR area of being in the politically-correct- nation's- capital, how does the exclusion of women in the worship service look to our culture? We can have a woman vice-president but within our four walls they not allowed to read out loud or serve communion? Does it help or hurt the cause of the gospel? Worse, how are we then labeled...and how does our four walls become a barrier to spreading the message of Jesus Christ? Stuff to think about.

off to ZOE

2008-10-01T18:35:00.000-07:00

Wow...I guess September must have been a blur. I'm off to the ZOE conference in the morning so I won't type long...just wanted to say that I'm proud to have the DAVID CAIN link associated with my blog. We hope to include several hymn stories with our release-of-the-Everpraise-II CD on November 16. That tells you one place my time has been spent lately. We also plan to have a whole new SOURCE available by then...400 copies strong...in the auditorium with about 100 songs in it!!! I also somehow was put in charge of organizing the block party this year (which tells you how serious our understaffing problem is !!!) so....time will tell (in exactly 4 days, in fact) how that will turn out! Anyway, several have asked about our Christmas production this year-----it's all being focused on Christmas Eve this time. So stay tuned and make sure you show up for that. Anyway, it's late & my plane leaves early...so I promise to tell ya all the latest real soon. Enjoy the fall weather!

memories of summer

2008-08-06T09:54:00.000-07:00

If you're ever planning a trip to New England, here's what I remember of it a month later... which, generally, is a good indication of what's worth doing. I loved Bar Harbor, Maine (a great place to watch 4th of July fireworks), I ate my way through the factories of Ben & Jerry ice cream and Cabot cheese factory, walking through Salem is always cool, and I want to return to Mystic, Connecticut.

Then came creative arts camp. The ventriloquist was great, the illusionist fascinating, "The Potter's Wheel" was super...Valerie truly deserved the title "co-director" and the kids all jumped in there no matter whether it was step team, or singing, or spray painting blacklight puppets. It was a whirlwind of a week, but a fun one. I love grateful parents, and between donated snacks and Starbucks cards and thank-you notes...I felt truly appreciated.

For VBS I generally relaxed back at the sound booth while I watched the rest of my fellow co-workers (especially the children's ministers) sweat it out. I was already having chest pains going into the week, so I'm convinced Chad saved me from a heart attack (actually the official diagnosis was simply post bronchitis spasm). Nevertheless, it's always funny to me what invokes sympathy....and VBS generally gets lots of comments of, "I bet you can't wait until this week is over". Considering Chad did 98% of "my" part of the work, I just need to make sure HE gets ALL the credit due to him. The drama each day was fantastically done, and 500 kids hung on every word.

So now it's already August. Time for the requests for fall video demos. Time for quieter days while co-workers take last minute vacations. Time to appreciate the summer evenings that you waited all year for. So find your picnic basket....pump up your bicycle tires...run through a sprinkler. It's still summer.

vacation time and Palestine

2008-07-01T07:10:00.000-07:00

Well, it's vacation time. So I'm wandering around trying to figure out if church services can really happen for two Sundays without me. Actually, it might be better. No doubt the big screens will suddenly work, there will be no feedback with the microphones, all communion presiders will actually show up. (And when I get back, they'll be a pink slip on my desk.) Oh, it's all in God's hands. If you can't trust church to God, who can ya trust? By the way, if any online predators are trying to determine my address to take advantage of all my belongings during my time away...don't bother. I happen to have a Palestinian refugee in my basement who is in on guard at all times. (he works cheap, too, if you need him for your time away). One kid is flying in from Dominican Republic tonight, another is driving in from Miami so we can take care of his birds while he goes to Columbia for a while, and another is on a plane coming in from China. Hopefully that plane will land before he's supposed to climb onto another one to join the family on vacation. (no doubt he'll be well rested and in a good mood!) :) I have no idea what we're doing....running around in New England somewhere. My travel-agent-wanna-be daughter will give me an itinerary each morning. So...I gotta get off here and get packing! See ya!

Arts Conference

2008-06-20T20:02:00.001-07:00

Well, it's the end of the school year teen lock- in going on outside my door, so I thought now is as good a time as any to share inspirational thoughts from the Willow Creek Arts Conference. Speakers were: Dr. Richard Allen Farmer, Francis Chan, Nancy Beach, Brian McLaren, & Gilles Ste-Croix.

Anyway, Dr. Richard Allen Farmer was hilarious. He took us on a virtual tour inside the artist's mind. The basic components seemed to be an insatiable curiousity, the ability to push (buttons, edges, envelopes, whatever), and the ever present fog. Another common attribute seemed to be the habit of taking two very different genres/styles/tempos, etc. and mesh them; the friction of which often causes yet a brand new art form.

He read from Harold Best's book, "Unceasing Worship", which I paraphrase, "Concerning the different styles of song, it is not the separation that is needed---a sort of apartaid of the arts---rather it is the creative friction that could bring the stylistic synthesis to the body of Christ that it so desperately needs. I want the diversity. I want the friction in my life. Some may say that people can't take that; that they need to go in one direction or the other. I disgree. People are not stupid and unable to adapt, accomodate, and appreciate."

And here I thought I hated labeling services either traditional or contemporary just because I felt it was divisive and lead to further uneducation of different styles/types of songs. It's nice to be cutting edge (even if I don't realize why). Ha!

I also went to a class on copyright law. After which I figured the only ministry left for me to do was prison ministry---from the inside. Seriously--- don't worry, we still may not be perfect in the future...but we are going to at least be several steps closer to the law. I am happy to report that, out of the six thousand present, I was one of the eight people who chose to go to such a left brained class. Northern Virginia is rubbing off on me after all.

recap

2008-05-22T13:16:00.000-07:00

In trying to encourage my co-workers to also keep a blog, I often say...you don't have to write daily---just once every week or so is good too! Now I see that I'm past a month...way past. I'm still in recovery from Defining Moments III if you want to know the truth. First of all, there are certain people that I will always think of and pray daily that God keeps healthy...especially the 90 days before a production. People like the Kerby family...and Chad Davis...and Denise Rickard....and Valerie Chinn...and Katelynn Yoder....and Steve Church...and Jim Shifflett. And altho' they've now gone on to greener pastures, the Lawrence family should also be on that list. These are people who consistently (for some strange reason) take my phone calls day or night, let me ask them some random question re: the latest crisis in production- nightmare- land, give me advice, and then continue to work with me the next day whether their advice is heeded or not. I don't deserve such niceness. But I am grateful for it. There was something especially hard hitting and intense about the show this time. It was one punch after another. People still come up and want to say something nice about it but end up crying in the middle of their sentence. I feel that way too. Anyway, I think the words on the program are worth repeating:

"The amount of effort and dedication that each and every participant put into sharing their story this time has been truly mind boggling. There have been recordings & re-recordings, video tapings & re-video tapings...pictures gathered & songs carefully selected...props garnished & costumes borowed. I, for one, am humbled and grateful. Sharing our lives with each other takes an enormous amount of courage and time and trust. Let us never take that or each other for granted."

I usually only do things in groups of three, and this was to be the end of a trilogy...but of course...it is after watching one that more folks come forward with a story. I don't know....give me a couple of years. I'll think about it.

3 funerals in one week

2008-03-24T08:49:00.000-07:00

In Kentucky, it seems the funeral homes are used much more than the church buildings. But I really prefer northern Virginia's way of doing it...after all, I can't think of a better place for this sort of thing than one's church home. As most of you know, my mom passed away a few hours before Bob, which made for an interesting work week. As the church staff went over the checklist in preparation for Bob's service, I was doing the same over the phone with my sister. Mom had actually given up on having much fun in life fourteen years ago when my Dad suddenly died. Even her final two favorite passtimes of eating out and shopping were reduced to a hospital bed in front of her soap operas the last several months. So, it was certainly expected, and in some ways, a relief. Still....Bruce finally told me the staff had decided it was time I leave and go mourn the passing of my mother like a normal person and quit hanging around the church. (He actually said it with much kinder words, but that was kinda the basic drift of it). I guess it is true I'm the Queen of Denial. For example, I couldn't wait to get out of the funeral home and go call mom so I could tell her what a lousy job they did with her makeup. (I couldn't even recognize her!) I already knew exactly what she would say..."Well, for Pete's Sake, you woulda thought they could do better than that, wouldn't you have? Didn't they have a picture?" But, of course, you can't call where she is from here. I was OK through the reading of the obituary and the recalling of her accomplishments. Then came the singing of "Blessed Assurance" , the opening measure of which my dad would whistle on his arrival home from work every evening. That's the moments when one remembers their upbringing. Mom's death marked the end of an era, which few from today's generation could possibly understand. She was the family matriarch, left over from a time when gift giving and gardening and advice giving was a career. I'll miss ya mom. I'm not sure you ever really understood this crazy little redhead you gave birth to...but it doesn't really matter. You loved me anyway.
See ya in heaven, Darla

near death experience (kinda)

2008-03-04T13:49:00.000-08:00

So, anyway, here we were traveling out of the Grand Canyon National Park on our way to Flagstaff in two different rental cars (with me following my husband) last weekend. There was a horrible blizzard going on. Now I know enough not to slam on the brakes...but in trying to follow Dan...I almost followed him too well and needed to tap the brakes so I wouldn't run into him. That's all it took. No doubt the rental car from California with the "bicycle tires" was just too freaked out and did a fast 360 degrees deep into the median snow bank...only 4 feet from a concrete ravine complete with a 30 foot drop. Through his rear view mirror, Dan saw the whole thing. Of course, he stopped, backed up...and came running to see if he still had a wife. Once he saw I was OK, then started the "What in the world were you doing?" I had flashbacks to thirty years ago when we were traveling from Nashville back to Lexington after picking up new bridesmaid dresses in readiness for our upcoming wedding. There was a blizzard going on, and I had taken the wheel so he could rest his eyes for a little bit. All I can tell you is that the wind literally blew me off the road, so that Dan awakened from his nap to found us stuck in a huge snow drift. He asked the same question, "What in the world were you doing?" So here we are again, thirty years later, with him still "yelling" at me and saving my life at the same time. Who would have thought? Thirty years (probably close to the exact day since our anniversary is near), five kids, five practices, and five degrees later....
Life is wonderful. Anyway, I'm not saying I exactly had my life flash in front of my eyes...but I do remember asking God if I could somehow get home to my dining room table where all my photos and albums are sprawled out. I'd like to get that project done before I go to heaven.
I told Bruce that since my "near death" experience I had been really mellow. He said he couldn't tell any difference....he thought it would take at least 4 or 5 such experiences in a row to achieve much mellowness. (He's a pretty funny boss, huh?)

Winterfest once more...

2008-02-15T03:57:00.000-08:00

Ah, the year comes full circle. Once again, I sit secluded (half hiding) in my office as Lisa and Ellyn coordinates the yearly drama of who gets to sit on which bus. They leave and quiet falls once more in the lobby of the church building. I pray for good weather, that the buses stay on the road, and that lives are changed for the good.

This weekend, as conversations are being had and new elders stand in readiness for a huge change in their life, it's amazing to see how fragile all life is...human life, church life, the ebb and flow of a congregation---a group of believers. I pray because it is the only thing I can do and because it is the most that I can do. It is all that I can do.

Did you know that worship means doing those things that tell God He is preeminant in your life? In other words, if something is not meaningful to you when doing it, it's not going to be seen as worship by Him. The reverse is also true. By the way, a couple of elders have found some interesting articles online regarding worship that they have been circulating. Let me know if you want to get in on the reading of those.

I stand corrected...

2008-02-04T14:21:00.000-08:00

Apparently the broken hand incident was on the morning of Winterfest, not the teen lockin.... Which reminds me, Winterfest will soon be here, too. Did you know we're about to have a whole new involvement and integration program rolled out? I got to hear all about it this morning, and I think it sounds terrific!!! Anyway, at one point this dear volunteer looks at us and asks meekly if the staff could possibly help make reminder phone calls or emails. The short answer from the beleagered staff was...well, "no". I remember (back when I was a volunteer), I used to wonder how a church job could possibly have all the days of the week so jam full, too. Shortly before I was hired, at one point in my ignorance, I said something to Murray like, "I'm pretty hyper---I hope you can keep me busy." I think he almost burst into tears, and rightfully so. [Murray, if you reading this, my sincere apology for my past stupidity]. Anyway, I thought my "many" readers might find a partial list of my weekly chores interesting: staff meeting, confirm elders' mtg, log all hymns from day before, log volunteer hours for worship team/AV team/communion presiders, line up communion participants coming up, schedule AV team/praise team, help plan songs w/ worship leader, meet w/ Bruce & worship leader & do 4 week out planning, send out rehearsal schedule for any production coming up, plan rehearsal for SOS (puppets or improvisation), email out worship agenda, order and/or pickup any needed worship team supplies or SOS supplies, make notebooks if needed, get rehearsal room set up for Wed night, process worship budget bills, prepare auditorium for Sunday, approve proofs and order any needed banners/PR materials for upcoming sermon series, accompany worship team rehearsal, move all from rehearsal room back to Murray's office after Wed night, set up both puppet stages in teen & kids' room for Chad, handle my visitor contacts, write scripts for any needed videos (shoot footage & edit), & make sure mikes & sound & Apple computer & class signs are all out & ready for Sunday! And that's just the routine easy stuff. What's really hard is trying to pick out the perfect song for the kids to sing for Easter. I've listened to ten kids' C.Ds so far, and it's not going well. Actually, reviewing all the materials that come in takes a lot of time...and just about the time I turn on some video clips that might make for some teachable moments and be appropriate for upcoming topics....someone comes by and says, "man, I wish I had a job where I could watch TV." And that's when I try not to burst into tears. :)

A year ago...

2008-01-28T14:27:00.000-08:00

Well, if you want to know the truth...Murray actually (I think) tried to set me up with a blog over a year ago. Unfortunately, I'm not the most adept person at navigating the computer world and I could never find my blog again. And it was just too embarressing to ask for help. What was I supposed to do...go to the information desk and ask, "excuse me, is there a blog in the lost and found?" Anyway, I did stumble upon it recently and thought I'd share what was happening in my life a year ago.

lock-in (or lock out?)
The loud music is blaring. Kids are screaming. I'm hiding in my office. I can only hope that Caleb's basically alive and healthy out there in the parking lot, not doubt wearing his flip-flops and shorts in this frigid weather. Thank God all this is happening at a church; else I'd be worried. Trust and community and friends and having my own hole in the wall are all wonderful things. Truly gifts from God.

I remember now, it was a teen lock in. Someone broke their hand hitting a block of ice outside. Hopefully that hand is healed by now. It's amazing how much can change in a year. A staff member said today, "the only constant we can count on is change". How true. Well, that and the fact that the Father is still in control. From the moment I walked into this church almost 12 years ago, I could sense that it was on the brink of true greatness... just waiting for permission to be all that God intended. Soon there will be new elders and eventually new staff. The potential is absolutely mind boggling. I'm looking forward to February because it is going to be a month of prayer. Prayer, in my growing up years, meant nothing to me other than some kindly old church member shuffling forward to mumble some tried and true verbage. I wasn't sure what the point was. But real prayer has been proven to have real power...real power. As a body, as a family, as a group of believers, do we actually believe that? Or is it just one more nice little phrase we use as a good luck charm--- just in case? To tell you the truth, I'm pretty sure we can do nothing without it. The church moves forward on its knees.

Don't you just love new beginnings?

2008-01-10T09:33:00.000-08:00

I may be one of the few people in the world who actually loves January! After the holidays, there's seems to be a bit more time to think and reflect. (I remember being at a conference once where a sign said, "Welcome to worship ministry, where you get to think about Christmas nine months out of the year!") :)
Anyway, back to reflecting. Yes, I know New Year's resolutions are often soon forgotten, but what a great opportunity to try...once more...to commit to being a better _______. I think it's great! I want to run a mile 2 or 3 times a week (all you runners out there can stop laughing!). I want to be a certain weight by my anniversary. I've got photo album projects and song projects and about thirty worship DVD/CDs to review. I want to teach Caleb some piano lessons. I want to paint the basement and two bathrooms.

Actually, what I really want to do is stay in touch with God as to what He's got planned for me. What a colossal waste of time to try to embark on any endeavor without His blessing, His plan, and His timing. I just heard something over the weekend which I think may go on my door.

Regarding theology: be as immovable as possible.
Regarding methodology: be as creative and innovative as possible.

And may the above never be switched around. As Paul said, "I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some." (I Cor 9:22) Now there was a man looking for ways to connect with his community. Have a wonderful 2008, everyone!

P.S. Note to "anonymous" GatorPHD94...I totally understand where you're coming from. Give me a call so I can tell you of some cool discoveries re: this. 703-631-2100

reflections

2008-01-02T07:23:00.000-08:00

I heard there was 580+ there on Christmas Eve. Is that true? If so, then that's a new record. Many thanks to Chad Davis for directing "The Candy Cane" story, and to those who participated in it---especially the main characters: Steve Kerby, Janay and Jordyn Bingham. They were simply perfect.

Anyway, once Christmas was over (which was very nice in our home, by the way), I was wisked away to see my mom whom has less than two weeks to live, according to doctors' estimates. Her decline the last eight weeks (since her 80th birthday party) has been astromical. Recent testing shows that her aortic valve is failing, so she is incredibly weak and frail. She's not scared of dying, but is petrified of the thought of dying in a hospital...so her wish of being home is being granted by her children and home health care nurses. Suddenly, the words of Psalms 23 and Eccl 3, and reading those out loud to her take on a whole new meaning. I will miss most being able to call her up for the re-telling of the story behind my great grandfather's arrival from Sweden, or the recipe again for her world famous barbeque. If only there could be satellite cell phone calls to heaven once a month, this wouldn't be so bad.

Talent Show, 2007

2007-12-10T06:42:00.000-08:00

It's Monday morning and I can't begin to tell you how full my heart is. Favorites from last night are...well, really everybody. My personal most fun was directing Rod Gregory and the chorus in "This Child Is", the father/daughter duets were absolutely beautiful ("Remember Me" has just gone on my list to be sung at my funeral one day), Gillian---you made Chad cry with joy, the kids' dance was just downright perfect, Rhonda---your face at the end made all the effort worth it, and a special appreciation to the elders for allowing us to laugh (and laugh and laugh) at you. That, in itself, is a precious gift. I had no idea our talent pool was so extensive. The male quartet are the first ones I'm going to ask to be on our new C.D. !All the instrumentalists...Shanna, Karen, Don & Jerri, Doug & Mallory, Hayden!....were so inspiring! And all the soloists; Tim, Jennie, & Chris (Chris, I'm glad I let you in the show after all :) )---not only did you sing beautifully but from your heart. Each one of your songs reflected your life story and a window through which you let us peek inside. And to my dear friends who always are by my side, the Kerbys and the Lawrences. I don't think it would be possible to put on a production without you. Other familiar faces in tech; Dana & Melanie and well....just get a program and count up the hundred names that made last night possible. Never stop using your gifts, y'all. The day we stop expressing our innermost longings is the day we cease to be human.
The world needs you, never doubt that. Again, my heartfelt appreciation.
Until next time, Darla

last weekend

2007-11-28T12:39:00.000-08:00

You want to hear all the cool stuff you can do in Miami? Since I can't speak Spanish, it's probably not a good idea for me to live there, but the beach was great! Somehow (I'm a nonswimmer) I made it out to this sand bar where I was able to happily frolick about. Then one evening we watched a movie on the beach. They've opened up a outdoor big screen cinema where you bring your lawn chair and blanket. We watched "Enchanted", which is a perfect movie for that setting. Down on the Port of Miami we were also able to go up in a hot air balloon...where it was discovered that Caleb has a fear of heights, and then we went over to the "island of the rich & famous" on a boat so we could gawk at some mansions and stare at some celebrities while they were trying to have a peaceful weekend at their pool. Anyway, it was a fun weekend with the family. It's such a good feeling to see one's kids all grown up and still alive and basically healthy and self sufficient (more or less). What did you all do for Thanksgiving?

I am SO thankful...

2007-11-20T10:16:00.000-08:00

I think I was supposed to go around today and videotape the staff stating what they're thankful for, and then have it shown in the Kid's Worship. It looks like it's not going to happen. It was a good idea, though.

I'll tell you what I'm thankful for. I'm thankful for this church. With all its many members periodically tugging this way or that, I'm thankful to have many members! Little cloisters of folks can be sweet and simplistic, but it can also be suffocating. I'm thankful for the discussions and the conversations. I've been in congregations before where the conversation wasn't even allowed! (kinda like communist China) I'm thankful for my job. Whether short or long lived, it feels good to be here. No, more than good. It feels critical. That's the word. For some reason, which may long remain unknown, I feel it is necessary I sit here in this cute little messy office right now. I'm turning down auditions and I don't even know why anymore. Oops, I digress.

OK, it's true, I'm thankful to be in northern Virginia. Even with the traffic. After nine years of commuting 56 miles one way on Sundays, it's still amazing to be to be able to "run over to church". I remember at times being in tears, stuck on the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, trying to get four teenagers over here by 6:00 for a weekend retreat. It was always this great desperate spiritual sojourn trying to reach the mecca known as FXCC.

Don't ever take this place for granted. I love FXCC. And I am very thankful for it.

Budget planning

2007-11-10T07:02:00.000-08:00

So anyway, it's that time of the year when we look ahead to the next year and try to figure out how much money we'll need to do the projects we've either already done, or would like to try in the future. Everything is to be looked through the lens of our new Vision statement, which makes sense, and framed under one of the five components listed under "being God's Heart to this community". And then for each category of ministry, we are to have as a heading our overarching philosophy or goal. In other words, Lisa has one for the children's ministry, Chris has one for the student ministry, etc. So it was this overarching goal phrase that caused me the most need to stop and think. What is to be the overarching goal of a worship ministry? To honor God as the center of our worship and invite others into His presence? Re-reading my first blog entry didn't really help me at all. Certainly there was nothing there that could be easily boiled down into one sentence. My daughter Brooke suggested, "to open the door of communication between the temporal world and the spiritual one." If nothing else, that phrase should open the door to communication amongst ourselves! How can worship be defined anyway? We choose to adore and praise a Creator who has chosen, for reasons unknown to me, to stay (for the most part and as far as I've personally experienced) audibly silent. So what is the job of a worship ministry? Obviously to try and facilitate participants into the process of honoring our Father...but more than that....I feel that it is somehow wrapped up in the fact of helping people REALLY believe what they say they believe. How different would we live and act if we REALLY thought God loved us as much as He does....and that He really DOES have our best interest at heart? Anyway, for part of my over-arching phrase, I came up with "to help make viscerally real God's message of redemption, grace, love, power, and purpose." I had already turned that in and THEN had a moment of panic when someone told me they thought "visceral" meant "superficial. Hopefully it means the opposite. Where is that dictionery?

Yes, Mom was surprised!

2007-10-29T08:38:00.000-07:00

Wow....four kids, ten grandkids, two great grandkids, scores of church friends and neighbors! It was strange flying into Lexington a day early (my home town) and yet be "homeless". I wandered through Mom's neighborhood, but, of course, couldn't stop in yet. So, I went to the mall, had dinner with my best friend from 7th grade on, saw Amy Grant in concert at Centre College in Danville... it was a super day! At the mall everybody is called "honey", the clerks actually sincerely waited on me (and spoke an English I could understand!)...it all made me wonder if I should return to my roots. The "I'm-so-left-brained-I-might-tip-over-so-I-have-to-make-sure-I'm-wrapped-way-too-tight" syndrome of northern Virginia is completely absent in central Kentucky. Then I was sitting there, analyzing the spiritual condition of family members...or at least what shows as far as their church affiliation. (In case you're wondering, I've always done this sort of analysis...it has nothing to do with the fact that I work at a church now.) Out of us four children raised as elders' kids, the one least likely now regularly attends a Church of Christ, one who was one of the most compliant growing up hasn't attended anywhere in years, and the other two do attend...but at such "different flavors" neither could stand to go to the other's congregation. Then, looking on to the next generation (grandkids): three attend Church of Christ (two are not adult yet), three attend another denomination, and eight do not regularly attend anywhere. I'm positive this will continue to fluctuate constantly as people continue on their spiritual journey, but it does give one pause to think.

Also, when looking at the statistics on the two Churches of Christ in Lexington, surprisingly the most traditional one is now slightly gaining on the more progressive one. It seems the progressive one is being ostracized by those seeking a more traditional Church of Christ home, yet it isn't "progressive" enough, (being located near the University of Kentucky) to be attractive to seekers, to whom the mandate of "accapella only" seems too different.

Then my best friend from my childhood and I got into a huge discussion of whether some are "called" or not, where are the specific scriptures for free will, etc. etc. I love those kinds of discussions....we've been doing this since we were twelve! (no wonder the others in the youth group thought we were weird! ha!) Anyway, it was just a great weekend! (But, yes, I'm happy to be back!)

The relationships that never deepen....

2007-10-22T11:37:00.000-07:00

The relationships that never deepen,
The hurting people unknowingly ignored...
The prayers never uttered---
The noble thoughts never entertained.

(quotes from Sunday's sermon) I guess we need to tape the above to both our computer screen and television set, huh? As our society increasingly lives more inside a box than in a real world; life is indeed becoming too comfortable with little or no bonding to fellow human beings and no creativity on the horizon. Yes, I watch TV, too....so all this is self directed as well. I believe Bruce was referring to us becoming desensitized to images of starving children when he mentioned ignoring hurting people. In my mind, however, I saw spouses and brushed aside children sitting around a room, staring uncontrollably at a flickering screen. We don't have to go far to unknowingly ignore hurting people.

But on to a happier subject. I'm headed home this weekend to a birthday bash for my mom who is turning 80. It's top secret, which is why I'm blogging about it. :) I'm counting on the fact that my mom will not go near a computer---she long ago reasoned that anything having to do with a "mouse" can't be good. Mounds of family and friends will be there! Her best friend of 76 years is planning on coming. Can you imagine? Ah, Kentucky, land of scuttering crawdads down in Green River, hiding under crystalized rocks. I can't wait. There's a whole tribe of people, in the hills, who look just like me...still perplexed as to how to battle flaming frizzy hair and not knowing where the freckes end and the age spots begin. Personally, I'm from the big city of Lexington, which is why I can coexist on the east coast...but on days when the traffic jams are too confining and there's not enough air in the cubicle...I need to go back home. I can't wait!

the Zoe conference

2007-10-18T13:03:00.000-07:00

So, anyway, I wrote the above on the plane on the way to Zoe. I thought it would be interesting if I wanted to adapt it much after that conference. For those of you who may not know, Zoe is a worship conference held every fall in Nashville. The word "Zoe" means spiritual life, and the accapella singing group releases their annual C.D. with the accompanying book...which always proves to be an invaluable resource of fresh material for the Churches of Christ across the nation. In addition, there are some great speakers: Brian McLaren, Mike Cope, and Randy Harris are the ones I got to hear. Now that almost two weeks have gone by, what tidbits do I still remember from their speeches? I remember Randy starting out by saying he almost cancelled many speaking engagements, including Zoe, because, as of last spring, he felt he had "lost his voice", and had nothing to say. As a college professor, he doesn't need to look for fresh material, he gets fresh faces every semester. But as a sought-after speaker, that's a different story. Apparently he spent much of the summer, hanging out at various monasteries in search of spiritual rejuvenation. Once he got stranded while the tide was coming in on a deserted island in Scotland. And what truth did he come away with? He felt God told him, "If you never preach another sermon, I won't love you any less." That almost seems counterproductive to our constant urging to get members in the church more involved, doesn't it? Yet it reminds me of the teachers who assure the students of their "A", and then say, "now what do you want to do with your time?" Take away the stress, so that one is free to rejuvenate, to rest, to create. Actually, that was the main message of the entire leadership portion of the conference: lots of emphasis on keeping a Sabbath, contemplative prayer, and planned moments of quiet in worship. They said people feeling uncomfortable with moments of quiet during worship service just proves that they really need it.
Well, phone's ringing....gotta go.

thoughts on worship

2007-10-11T06:50:00.000-07:00

As a disclaimer: the thoughts below are simply one person's as to where I am today and in this time. I'm simply an assistant, but on the other hand, I am proud to be an assistant...and the below include observations from "leading from a second (or third) chair".

Worship

God asks us to worship Him. As mere mortals, we struggle to understand what this could mean. We scramble to guess at what plans and tactics could possibly please this Holy One, the Creator of all.

In our limited framework, we look first to what pleases us. Do we like gifts? Words of praise? Beloved traditions? Service? Time alone with out objects of adoration? The answer, of course, is yes. As a parent, I would welcome any of the above from my child.

Perhaps it is easier to say with surety what God does not want. The scriptures teach He does not want rote or meaningless ritual. He does not want to be a party to "ticket punching" or mindless routine. Sameness and bullet points and graphs may make some of us feel more in control, but is making humnas feel safe and comfortable the point of worshipping God? If so, then who is being pleased, and whom is seeking worship from whom.

If we listen carefully, we already know the answers to God pleasing worship. Listen. The Holy Spirit screams that God wants our first fruits and our best efforts. He wants us engaged; reflecting and learning. He welcomes our questions, our doubts, and our heartfelt emotions---even if they're not all positive. The Holy Spirit begs us to use our gifts. God never said we had to be opera singers or academy award winners. He made us what we are anyway....and planned which gifts to bestow on us long before we discovered them.

And on those days when our best attempts fail in the eyes of our fellow man...He still smiles.
And smiling means He's pleased.

Worship