We live in a reality-TV-crazy culture that is tenacious about flaunting personal talent. From a young age we are taught that flaunting our Talent Show skills are normal. It translates to adults with shows like American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance, America’s Got Talent and a plethora of other with people seeking to get their fifteen minutes. We are talent freaks. People what to be know for the talents. To shine in their talents to the glory of the fan-filled audiences.
We were made to worship. We crave to exude excellence. This is not a bad thing. We are born with the built in radar seeking someone or something to worship. The problem is that we often worship the creation rather than the Creator (cf. Rom.1:18ff). In other words we exchange the worship of God for idols. Idols are not necessarily carved images you see people in the aborigine jungles worship, it can be attitudes rooted within our hearts.
The question is where do our talents come from? The Bible says that all of our abilities and giftedness comes from God (Rom.12 & 1 Cor.12). The glory and the credit for our talent must go to God. This is more than after an accomplishment or acclaim saying, “I would like to thank God,” but a lifestyle of channeling the worship of the gifted talent to Giver of the talent. We are talented people because God created us with amazing abilities that reflect the character of His creative image.
What is a few bucks spent on gas, when you have a lifetime of memories from one road trip?
Over the weekend I traveled down to wild and wonderful West Virginia. I packed about 2 weeks worth into 5 days. I had many refreshing conversations with longtime friends while marinating on Gods rustic mountains.
A spectrum of feelings: I was refreshed by the glory of God’s creation. I was overjoyed to see moco feo, Ray & Tiff over good pizza and talks about God. I was embarrassed by a fender bender with “The Don’s” getaway vehicle. I was encouraged to be among the worshippers of Hilltop. I was stuffed with good eatin’ at Bob & Elva Jean’s. I was blessed to spend quality time being enamored with the most wonderful woman, her name is “beautiful.”
High gas prices can’t stop me from these memories.
WorshipWorship s a huge thing.We look forward to worship every week.When the music includes one of our favorites, we say, “The worship was great!”When the music stinks, we yawn and wonder why the worship wasn’t very good.We leave churches because of the “worship style”.Worship s a huge thing. Have you ever wondered if we’re more concerned with what worship does FOR usAnd less concerned with the Object of our worship?It seems like it’s more about what we GET not what we GIVE.It would be like taking a gift to a friend’s birthday party, but keeping it for ourselves.Worship is all about GIVING our lives (again) to God. Worship is not about the feeling we receive when we sing.Worship is not about convincing God to bless us.Worship is not about whether or not the guitar is too loud.Worship is not about what’s happening on the stage.Worship is not about entertainment, lighting or sound.Worship is not about us at all.IT’S NOT ABOUT US.It’s about Him.And we enter through the gateway of the cross.At the cross, we surrender, love, cry, dream, give up, shut up, kneel, confess.We look to God, and place Him about all elseBecause He is worth it! Live gets crazy and painful.No one can deny that.Job stress, divorce, death, addictions, parenting, loneliness.No one is asking you to pretend that those things aren’t affecting you.DON’T PRETEND.You’re just being invited to bring that stuff to the cross, and to simply gaze at Jesus.And as you look at Him, allow your response to beWorship -unknown
This is a monologue, which could be performed around Christmas time. It is about one of the least talked about characters within the Christmas story. He certainly is not the most important, but I often wonder what he must have thought of this glorious event…Yes, sir, here are your extra towels (hands couple a set of towels).No, I am sorry we do not have a hot tub.Wow, what a day. This census that Caesar asked for is really good for business!(Yawn) I think I am going to head to bed. Honey, please move over [I wouldn't know, but that's what I think I would say].(laying down) Oh, this feels so good! The bed is so…[Knock, Knock]Who could it be at this time of night?Hello?Yes, it is late.Nice to meet you, Joseph.No, we are all booked up. I am sorry you didn’t make any reservations. You might want to check the Motel 6 down the street…they always keep their lights on for you.Oh, you already checked?I understand you have traveled a really long way (from Nazareth) and that you are tired, but I am sorry we do not have any room for you here.I see that your wife is pregnant. She looks like she is ready to pop. I am sorry, did I say that out loud?Ok, I think I might have a place for you to spend the night, but only tonight. It is all that I got…Out back I have a cave and in that cave there is some hay and a feeding trough. You can make use of that area tonight. Don’t tell the Bethlehem safety Council, ok? I am sure it wouldn’t pass inspection. You can sleep tonight for free. Please, be quiet. Most of our guests are sleeping.Yes, you are welcome.Good night.Hmm…what an interesting couple. What a polite man. They look so young to be having a baby.(scratching eyes) Now my bed is calling my name. Ahh…I love this new Temper-Pedic mattress.[Knock, Knock] Cant a man sleep in peace?Yes, how can I help you?You are shepherds. I am sorry we cannot let you in our inn. This is a civilized place. If others knew you stinky, dirty guys were here I would surely lose customers. Plus, we do not allow pets in the rooms. Your sheep would need to stay outside.Oh, you don’t want a room. Well, fine. Why did you wake me up then?You are looking for a baby? I don’t know of a baby…wait…I just sent a couple out back. The woman looked very pregnant.Yes, they are from Nazareth, how did you know?You saw angel?Are you sure? I am sure you get a little loony after being in those fields with sheep all day and night. I am sure it gets a little lonely too. But, angels? Now, that’s funny!Ok, ok, I guess you guys are pretty serious. The young family is out back in the cave. You can leave your sheep there too, it is a perfect place for animals. Please, keep them quiet. I wouldn’t want to be a baaaaaad host now.Good night gentlemen.Talk about a strange night. Shepherd coming to Bethlehem because angels old them too. Crazy, shepherds!Alright, now…Oh, that’s great. Boy, she snores really loud.[Knock, knock]Goodness! That’s it. This has got to stop.(frustrated) WHAT DO YOU…want?Oh, please forgive me your majesty’s. What can I do for you? What pretty gifts you have. No, I am sorry our royal suites are taken. I can make sure we have something available right away tomorrow!You are not looking for a room?You mean to tell me for 4 months you have been walking across the countryside following a star? You call yourselves wise guys? Sounds crazy if you ask me.You come to seek a baby?Ok, follow me.Hello, Joseph.You have a baby? Already? That was quick! I guess your wife really did have to pop. You have a son?Congratulations.He is so quiet.Why are the shepherds worshipping the baby? (looks left)Why are these wise men bowing down too? (looks back)They are bowing down to the baby?Oh, my, oh, my…You are the One I heard about in Sunday School. It is true. At my inn! It is the LORD. You are the LORD! (worships himself)
I don’t know where I learned it, but early in my faith I believed that having a relationship with God was a lot of hardwork and little play. Or better said, the Christian life was about duty, not delight. I am sure I was not taught this but it was something that I believed over time. My idea of God was that He was to be served, feared and revered. The view of God made Him seem so distant and impersonal. Christianity quickly became exhausting, boring and unattractive to me.Yes, God should be worshipped, feared, and revered. But can He be enjoyed? Why does the idea of enjoying God seem strange or sacreligious?A few hundred years ago men who loved God wrote down in the historical document entitled the Westminster Confession, “The chief end of man is to glorify God BY enjoying Him forever.”John Piper echoed this by stating, “God is most glorified (worshiped, praised, etc.) when we are satisfied in Him.”These quotes were revolutionary to me. They relieved me of years of living for God out of duty rather than delight. I was a slave to living for Him because “I had to” rather than “I love to.” I believe we can enjoy God and here are some reasons why… 5 Reasons why we should enjoy God1. God COMMANDS us to pursue joy in Him.Psalm 100:1-2According to these verses, would it be disobedient to serve God without joy?Philippians 4:4Is this a command? Yes.Are you obeying it?2. The nature of FAITH teaches us to pursue joy in God.Hebrews 11:6How does this verse describe faith? “believing in things that are impossible”Is God pleased when we seek a reward I Him? Yes.3. The nature of EVIL teaches us to pursue joy in God.Jeremiah 2:9-13Based on these verses how would you define evil? 1. Forsaking God. 2. Pursuing joy by living for myself.4. The nature of my SALVATION teaches us to pursue joy in God.Matthew 13:44Why would the man in this parable sell all that he has in order to buy the field? He knows it is a worthy investment.How could be joyful if he sells all that He has? He is gaining more by buying the field.Why would Jesus tell this story? Treasure = Jesus Christ / selling = surrender5. The nature of HUMILITY teaches us to pursue joy in God. Mk.8:34 & John 8:24In conclusion, I want to share a story that I heard recently about a small boy who when walking down the street one day found a bright copper penny. He was so excited he found money and it didn’t cost him anything. This experience led him to spend the rest of his days walking with his head down, eyes wide ope, looking for wealth.During his life time he found 1,296,000,000 pennies, 480 nickels, 1,900 dimes, 16,000 quarters, 200 half dollars and thousands of crinkled dollar bills [Estimate: $13million]. He accumulated quite a bank account in his lifetime. He prided himself in the fact that he spent his life getting his fortune from nothing.Yes, the boy, now an old man, spent his life collecting money for nothing. Except that in his lifetime he missed the breathless beauty of 31,369 sunsets, the colorful spleandor of 157 rainbows, the fiery beauty of hundreds of maples nipped by the autumn frost. He never saw the thousands of white clouds drifting across the blue skies, shifting into various wonderous formations. Birds flying, the sun shining, and the smiles of hundred of thousands of people that passed him through his life. All of this is not a part of his memory. Nor did the man-bo have any time to build a successful family or a circle of true friends. No one cried for him when he passed on; in fact, many were glad to see the hunchback with a hunk of cash leave this world.Enjoying God is what a life of worship and walk with god is all about. Stop settling for the unsatisfying duty of finding pennies, but reach out for the wad of joy that comes from enjoying God.
Cool night. About 15 peeps from our FUEL and Cornerstone group traveled over to Purdue University tonight to attend the final evening ralley of the EFCA Challenge ‘06. This is an every-other-year youth conference put on by the EV-Free church. 6,000 stoked high schoolers were there. We were surrounded by fired up teens, participated in amazing worship, and listened to a practical piece of Gods Word.After the shindig we went to Bdubs for some chicken wraps and electronic Texas Holdem. Guess who was sitting at the table next to us? Chris Tomlin and the crew. It was neat having the opportunity to meet these fine men. I will never wash my hands again. Okay, so I already have used Purel!?I was challenged by the speaker tonight too. He talked about using your spiritual gifts or ‘do what God has called you to do’. He stated that if we gripe about who we are or compare ourselves to others, we essentially are telling God He didnt create me good enough. When we think we are belittling ourselves we are really belittling God.
I love cool stats. It’s weird, I know. Sometimes, I remember stats that are just plain stupid. Like, last year only 12% of americans bought cars with stick shifts. I drive stick, but who gives a rip.
I was attracted to this set of stats today:
If you were to hold out a dime at arms length, the coin would block out 15 million stars from your view, if your eyes could see with that power.
To help us grasp the vastness of our galaxy, one scientist suggests we imagine a smooth glass surface. Shrink the sun from 865,000 miles in diameter to two feet and place it on the surface. Using this scale, Earth would be 220 paces out from the sun, and would be the size of a pea. Mars, the size of a pinhead, would be 108 paces beyond Earth. But to reach Neptune, youd need to step off another 6,130 paces from Mars. By now you would be five miles from the sunbut there still wouldnt be room on the glass surface for Pluto! And you would have to pace off 6,720 miles beyond Pluto to reach the nearest star. Yet, this glass model represents only a tiny fraction of the universe.
WOW, my God is BIG. Though He is BIG, and when I think about this I feel small…He still cares for me more than all His creation. Glory to God!!!
A Fitting Worship Song
The splendor of a King, clothed in majesty
Let all the earth rejoice
All the earth rejoice
He wraps himself in Light,
and darkness tries to hide
And trembles at His voice
Trembles at His voice
How great is our God,
sing with me How great is our God,
and all will see How great,
how great is our God
Age to age He stands
And time is in His hands
Beginning and the end
Beginning and the end
The Godhead Three in One
Father Spirit Son
The Lion and the Lamb
The Lion and the Lamb
Name above all names
Worthy of our praise
My heart will sing
How great is our God
How great is our God,
sing with me How great is our God,
and all will see How great,
how great is our God
Behind the Song:”Another simple song that started from the thought of Gods greatness and presence. I love how Psalm 104 writes that he wraps himself in light My hope is that it is simple enough to sing, yet profound enough to cause the heart and soul to stand in wonder. Ive already been overwhelmed from the response Ive seen from this song.” – Chris Tomlin
Have you ever had an amazing time of worship while driving in the car, standing in the shower or mowing the lawn? I love finding the unique and simple ways to worship God. I had one of those moment today while cleaning my house. Crazy, I know, especially when I despise dusting, mopping and doing the dishes.
I cranked my Passion ‘06 CD and scrubbed-scrubbed-scrubbed all the while belting out praises. I wish I could sing. Someday I will sound like Josh Groban!?
Anyways, the CD ran out of tracks. It didnt loop so I started singing songs off the top of my head that I knew enough from memory like…All in All, You Are Holy, Famous One, It Is Well, etc. But one song made me think…O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing.
This is a standard hymn written by the ol’ Charles Wesley. I sang this a gajillion times in church growing up. There is nothing impressive about the number 1,000. I mean a thousand is not that big. I have been in churches where there have been a few thousand singing. Sure its awesome, but nothing compared to the millions and millions of voices before the throne of heaven. So I did a little research on the song with the help of modern day worshipper Matt Redman.
The phrase, “O for a thousand tongues to sing” doesn’t refer to 1,000 individual singers, but A SINGER who desires to have 1,000 tongues to sing praises to his redeemer. Wow, this truth has given a whole new meaning to this song for me.
“Hear Him, you deaf; His praise you dumb, your lossened tongues employ;
You blind behond your Savior come, and leap you lame, for joy!”
I was rereading a great book on the subject of WORSHIP this week by Warren W. Wiersbe and I was struck by this quote,”One of the greatest dangers is that we ‘use’ worship in order to accomplish something else other than to glorify God in the edification of His church. We do not worship God in order to achieve peace of mind or to solve our personal problems, although thses may be blessed by-products of worship. We worship God because He commands us to do so and because worship is the highest and holiest experience of the Christian believer. God is worthy of our worship, and that’s all we really need to know. If our motive is anything other than this, then we are ‘using’ God and practicing a refined form of idolatry.” (p.109, Real Worship)Worship is more than a song or something we do. It is a lifestyle. It is an act of giving worth to God.
