Thinking Thoughts

A New Day

2011-11-23T15:00:00.000-08:00

Today is Thanksgiving Eve. We don't really celebrate it, but it is important... How many pumpkins and turkeys are being prepared as we speak. Yesterday, the turkey was defrosting in the fridge... TODAY it will be stuffed and readied to cook all night for its debut tomorrow.

A new day.....

A New Day

2011-11-23T14:39:00.000-08:00

Just got back from Anaheim last night. I left @ 4:30 pm... the traffic was horrendous. But I love it. I am one of the few that doesn't mind LA's traffic. It's annoying, yes, but it is alive. The Hyundai that decided to push her way into my lane where there wasn't enough room...wanted to hit her car, but, whatever. The Tahoe that owned the road going over the Newhall Pass... so cool, you caused the lane next to me to stop completely because the dear little saint in the Fiesta rear ended the Taurus... tsk tsk, but the Tahoe owned the road and pulled out of my lane and in front of the Fiesta that slammed on her brakes that the Taurus couldn't stop quick enough... oopsie! So it was a slow, parking lot drive from Pasadena to Magic Mountain... and by the way, when does the 210 fwy have a million cars on it going West from Pasadena???? who said they could get on my freeway?

Oh well, the drive over the grapevine was uneventful... it was dark, and just had to make sure the semi's weren't in the way or that van of some sort with people hanging out the back window... Otherwise all the way to Bakersfield was typical... 40 minutes I will never get back in my life... then the drive from there to Clovis... 2 hours that seem to multiply every time I drive it.

I should mention there was fog last night. You could still see (most of the time) but there were a few places where braille was needed to read the highway. But that was the worst of it. Oh gas was $4.19 a gallon, too bad huh? Thank you Mr Obama for not taking care of us and helping us with our daily needs (FAILURE).

It is a new day... got up, to work, had a worship service with the Second Half and then lunch at Guiseppe Gallo's... awesome. A new day brings refreshment. A new day reminds me that God is watching every step of my journey. A new day is hope-filled and finally.

The Truth About Seedland

2010-04-25T22:30:00.000-07:00

If you have read the past 3 posts (Heaven help you), you know that the seeds ended up four different ways. One seed was eaten by the birds because it was on the path; another was thrown among rocks and died because there was no place to root,; yet another was choked by the thorns and died; and the last seed grew and grew.

There was no difference in the seeds whatsoever. There is bad seed, but for all purposes of this parable these seeds were all the same. The difference was the surroundings in which they were placed. No one can grow on a sidewalk, or on rocks, or among weeds and thorns... NO ONE! Yet we stay among the sidewalks and the rocks and weeds of our lives. There is no way that anyone will ever grow until they remove themselves from these things. Unlike a seed which cannot remove itself from those places, we can. It may be a job change; it may be a location change; it may even be a church change. If there are any obstacles that come between our "spiritual" growth and walking tall in God's kingdom, it has to be removed.

There are too many planters and not enough gardens. Plants in planters are cared for with lots of TLC and watched very closely so that they don't get too much water or sunlight or draft. But that is not the purpose of the church. we are not a bunch of specialized plants in a very controlled situation. The church is more like a garden. The seed that is to grow in God's kingdom is to be everywhere and thrown to the wind so that it can be planted wherever and nurtured by the "Master Gardener" -- Jesus. Jesus is the Gardener, man is the waterer. no more and no less. If we try to be the Gardener, we take away God's purpose for Jesus on earth. We spend too much time worrying about the weather and not about the one that is in control of the weather.

Psalm 1:1-3 says it best... "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, an on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers."

The Truth About Dawn Seed (#3)

2010-04-22T01:38:00.000-07:00

What a sadness, what a dilemma! Seedland heard about the horrible deaths of Homer and Gomer. The agony -- the Sneedy Seeds have long been enemies of Seedland. There had been a great battle with Godseed and Luciseed. Luciseed took many seeds with him after the battle and have fought Godseed ever since.

Ex Seed, Homer and Gomer's mom, was outright emotional. You never saw a seed carry on so; she went into seedshock; the little seedbodies of her sons were never recovered. In the midst of this tribulation, there was a seed that knew the meaning of pain and hurt. Her name was Inter Seed. Inter prayed daily that all Seedland would love the good Lord, would grow to bring nourishment to the Flesh-people, and that she could some day bear seed, for poor Inter was seedless. Inter prayed and prayed and prayed and one day the good Lord gave her a seed. Inter named her Dawn, because she was the beginning of a new day for her.

Inter taught Dawn to be patient and to wait on God and allow God to bring about things in His own time. She also instructed her daughter that the good Lord had a great purpose for her -- to bring nourishment to the Flesh-people. Dawn went to Germinating University like her cousins Rufus, Homer and Gomer. She learned many things and amazed her Professeeds. The day came when Dawn germinated and was Valiseedtorian of her class. She was finally on her way to the Great Farmer.

It seemed like an eternity before she arrived to her final destination. Dawn prayed that the good Lord would find her worthy of the Flesh-people. As she finished her prayer, the Great Farmer lifted her with the many other seeds in his hand and tossed her into the air. Dawn squealed with glee as she flew through the air. All the way to Mother Earth, Dawn just prayed, "Lord, may I be worthy." She fell in beautiful, black, soft, and earthy soil. Her root system went into action and she became the most beautiful plant that the Farmer had ever seen.

"Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown... but the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the Word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop."

All things happen in God's timing. We may have to wait a long time for our prayers to be answered, but the harvest and the wait are worthy it because we are under God's care and protection. Grow!

to be continued...

The Triuth About Homer and Gomer Seed (Part 2)

2010-04-21T00:42:00.000-07:00

The news about Rufus Seed hit Seedland with a whirlwind of dismay. Pro and Sec went into seed-shock. Pro, Rufus' mother, had a sister named Ex Seed who, when hearing the news was lamenteous. Her own two seedlings, Homer and Gomer,were at Germinating University ready to germinate. What a pitiful tale! Poor ol' Rufus, she'd say over and over to herself and no one in particular.

The day came for the graduation of Homer and Gomer. They were packaged together and sent to an unknown destination. Ex had never explained about the flesh people and Seedland to her two seedlings. They picked up what they knew in the locker room at Seedling Elementary. The flesh people were considered the ultimate in the Creator's handiwork, yet even at Germinating University, there was an element of not sharing that bit of info with everyone. And that is another story entirely.

Homer and Gomer finally arrived at their final destination. They were a little worried, the news about the demise of Rufus traveled like the wind. They wondered what would happen next and what the Great Farmer would be like. At GU, there was a thought that maybe the Great Farmer was the ultimate of all things, and yet that is another story.

Then the Great Farmer took them into his hands and tossed them. Homer was elated, the wind screaming past his seed-ears. He landed on hard packed dirt. It was a path (he had read about them at GU). Meanwhile, Gomer was just as excited as he flew through the air. He landed on a part of the ground already occupied by Sneedy Seed, of the Thorny Family.

Within moments Homer realized that he was going to die -- one of the Creator's flying creatures had him in view and there was no place to hide. The creature picked him up as he screamed then he became the dinner of the creature that went looking for more.

As Homer died, Gomer himself was being choked by the Sneedy family and he likewise perished.

Jesus said, "... some fell along the path and the birds came and ate it up. When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.. other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. What was sown among thorns is the man who hears the Word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, and make it unfruitful."

The seed, as good as it was, still faced uncertain death. You don't have to live in fear of the evil one or the worries of this life... your seed can grow

to be continued

The Truth About Rufus Seed

2010-04-20T01:07:00.000-07:00

There once was a seed named Rufus. Now Rufus was a very healthy seed. When he was born, the seed-doctor said, "Pro (Pro Seed was his mama's name), you have a very nice specimen of a seed here. He's one of the best little seeds I've seen in a long time." Pro would rock little Rufus in a pod every day. She's sing to him and tell him how wonderful he was and how someday he would be a mighty plant. How the good Lord put him on this earth to bring nourishment to the Flesh-people. Rufus would just listen and dream of the day that the Great Farmer would come and put him in the Mother Earth and let him grow so he could feed and nourish the Flesh-people.

Now Rufus went to Germinating University, like all good seeds did, and germinated the "Head Sprout" of his class. His daddy, Sec Seed,* was mighty proud of his little germinator. He told Pro that "someday Rufus would be a tall, healthy plant, as all good Seeds are supposed to."

The day for packaging came. Of course Rufus was one of the first in the bag. He traveled for days and days. He had no idea where he would end up. Finally he was taken into a big warehouse with millions of other seeds and was left there for several days. He was very homesick, but he knew that someday he would be very tall and majestic and serve the one and only purpose he was made for -- to nourish the Flesh-People.

It happened, he was moved from his dark, dreary prison with several thousand friends and relatives and taken on another ride. He came to a very beautiful and quiet place. The seeds waited with anticipation and it happened. The Farmer took him in his hand and tossed him. The wind felt glorious on his little seed-body. Rufus was in second heaven. He finally landed with several other seeds not on soft Mother Earth, but rocks. The great Sun beat its hot rays upon him. Rufus tried to get into the Mother Earth and find water, but he couldn't. The rocks had him and would not allow him to go anywhere. Rufus screamed for help, no one could help him. Others cried and begged for help. He felt his life shriveling. He knew he was dying. A seed-tear fell down his emaciated seed-body. He died.

Jesus said, "The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the Word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the Word, he quickly falls away." have you wondered why you aren't growing? It's not the "seed", it's you. Seek the good soil...

to be continued

THERE IS A PLACE

2009-08-27T16:35:00.000-07:00

I wrote this years ago, but wanted it here so that I don't lose it (again). It was written for Makkael and Tyler and also for the baby that Cherie and I lost .

There is a place...
a place that is between dreams and waking
a place I will be
I will ask Jesus to take me there each and every day
to say... I love you! I miss you!
It is where I will wipe your tears and kiss you gently and hug you.

You are the joy of my life
and yet you are loved greater by the One who has brought me there...
the Lover of our souls

And we will stand there in that place before you wake, Jesus and I... together…
saying... we love you.

There is a place… beyond that place
a place by a river, a river with shores of diamonds and rubies.

That is where I will wait for you to enjoy eternity and to worship together... the ONE who has truly loved you.
and in the place where there will be eternal joy.

There is a place...

June 2, 2009

2009-06-02T16:13:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to say I had a great day. Had lunch with Bob Riley @ Quizno's in Clovis. Bob is always fun to be with.

Working on worship services as usual, listened 2 hours to Christmas music from Word. Oy!

In The Twinkling Of An Eye

2009-04-01T22:53:00.000-07:00

I used the King James phrase for this because it is a great explanation for an event in the future that we will probably be a part of. in I Cor 15:51-52 (New King James)
"Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed"

That is just an awesome thought that in the part of a second it takes to blink your eye, the amount of time it takes to just shut your eye and open it in a blink, that is all the time it will take for Him to return. That's it.

A blink.

a "twinkling"

it is less than a second. that is all that separates us from the return of Christ. When will that be? is it this blink? the next one? how about the next blink?

It is a moment... a twinkling... and we will be changed.

The thing i love the most is that that is how quick it will take to get to the greatest worship service that will go on for eternity. unfathomable!

we complain about worship services being too long, we have to stand, it's too loud, we don't like the songs, we can't wait for church to be over... gotta eat, gotta watch a game, gotta see mom and dad.... it goes on and on... It seems that the worship part of the service (all 4 songs) is just too much to deal with. Some people time their arrival to coincide with the end of the "singing" because it isn't "their thing". Some leave the second the sermon is over (something about the offering) and some as soon as communion is over (communion saves us thank God, and as long as we get our bread and juice, we are ok till next week).

The saddest part of it all is that a lot of people never really worship! we are too busy getting there and waiting to leave to actually give any reverence to the reason we are there! I have to admit it makes me angry, but I just trust God enuf to know that He can handle it. I think we must become indignant to the things that hurt the heart of God. We need to be bold and loud to the ones that break the heart of God.

And when is it even reasonable that 4 songs and a sermon change the world. It can, and it has, but when is that the definition of worship.

And when is it acceptable that we complain because we don't like a style of music or a song or that we don't sing enuf hymns??? Who has given us the right to tell God what he needs. I always shake my head when someone tells me we need more hymns or newer songs or .... what does God want? Is it songs He is looking for? Is it a musical style? Is God looking to see what we are wearing on? or what the lady on the 4th row was doing during the sermon? What is God doing during the drama in Pew # 5??? He is looking at our hearts.

So what is the answer to all these questions? When we seek more to our own personal desires in "worship" and what we want to see and hear, we do not have the heart of God. God is looking at our hearts. He is checking our motives. He knows when we've been bad or good...

My other thought is this. If we can hardly make it to a worship service here while we are live, how do we think we will enjoy heaven with the "eternal' worship service? Why would we think that heaven would be the place to end up with when we can't even "sit thru" the rehearsals. DO NOT TELL GOD WHAT WANT IN A WORSHIP SERVICE. It is not about YOU... it has nothing to do with YOU... the questions is WHAT DOES GOD WANT???

that being said and ranted... i started this with a great thought... and I will end this post with the same thought. The greatest worship experience can happen here on earth, not in most churches, but it can happen. We have to prepare our hearts, and our minds, and our lives. It has nothing to do with the hour and ten minute event that takes place millions of times each week. It has nothing to do with what we want and like and demand. It is about the worship of the Creator of all things. Only through grace have we been made worthy to be in His presence. Only through grace will we be able to worship in spirit and truth, for EVER... eternally... in the twinkling of an eye.

Joy In The Morning

2009-02-16T00:29:00.001-08:00

I have always loved the phrase "there will be joy in the morning". It comes from Psalm 30. It is a Song at the dedication of the house of David, which was probably written for his palace, but may have been sung at the dedication of the temple. Just a thought.

I will extol You, O LORD, for You have lifted me up
And have not let my foes rejoice over me.
O LORD my God, I cried out to You, and You healed me.
O LORD, You brought my soul up from the grave;
You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit
Sing praise to the LORD, you saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.
For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life;
Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.

I get this... it is like God speaking thru the Psalmist. The beginning of chapter 30 is psalm of praise... the reason we praise or extol the Lord is because 1) You lifted me up 2) and my enemies are not allowed to rejoice over me... or God has protected me from shame and harm. It is like the best insurance plan ever. satan has always wanted to destroy us, but that battle has already been won. The ultimate of not letting my foes rejoice over me.

The greatest thing is the same truth, if we call upon the Lord, he hears and listens and moves all at the same time. I think that this talks about physical and spiritual healing. How awesome is this. I believe that God still heals today. I believe that he is more than able to do whatever He wills. God's will is not just what we want God to do... it is what He wants to do. I think it is harder to make a god up and then live according to those rules. We do it all the time. We have to let God be who He is an quit trying to do His job for Him.

The perfect reaction is to "sing praise to the Lord and give thanks". hmmmmm Singing and Thanksgiving... reminds me of Psalm 100. Our response to God should be thanksgiving.

but then comes the best part of Chapter 30... For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life... God's favor is something that we all enjoy, that call upon His name. To live in God's favor, that is just too awesome for words. Mary was called God's "favored one" and the song she sang (The Magnificat in Luke 1:46-55) shows us how God moves and touches and brings about His Will.

There is a promise in all this... and it is something that I cling to. Weeping and grief and sorrow my just last for a night... but the the next day (even on the 3rd day) the sun rises. There is joy, there is hope, there is all encompassing peace that comes in the morning. When there seems to be no way out of a situation, the sun rises. There is always a new day.

The Psalm is ended with this thought... In the morning, my sorrow is turned into a dance. I no longer have to wear "black", but I can wear my party clothes. When all is said and done... we sing, we dance, we give thanks - forever.

Psalm 30: 11-12 says
"You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever."

A thought about Barbara Johnson

2009-02-07T00:21:00.000-08:00

Every first day of the month, I remember Barbara Johnson.

I met her through a friend, Lynda Wigren. Lynda worked at Berean Bookstore in Whittier (it is no longer there), but Lynda traveled with Barbara. She'd help her sell her books, take care of details, etc. So we met... Barbara gave me her book (autographed of course) "Where Does A Mother Go To Resign?" It made me laugh.

Barbara was just funny. She had been through a lot in her life. And those things had happened years before I met her. So the Barbara I knew and loved was the "after the fact" Barbara. She had wit and wisdom. It was great to banter with her, she was well armed. But she celebrated the First of every single month. Every 1st of the month I remember her. Every single one. I just smile.

Her youngest son, Barney, came to our church for a while in West Covina (Christ's Church of the Valley's original name was West Covina Church Of Christ). And one Sunday, I ran into Barbara at the back of the old church. (dang we packed em in). We laughed about something "churchy" and she was glad that Barney was going to church.

I ran into her probably 15 times in person, and we talked many times on the phone. I moved to Colorado, then Fresno, then Kentucky...

Lynda called one day and said that Barbara had brain cancer. She was typical, Lynda... trusting in God, just as Barbara was.

My mom told me the funniest story once... and it was a true story. A friend of a friend's mom was visiting, and had never been to a gynecologist, and she was in her 70's or 80's... Her daughter set her up with her own gynecologist, and she went to work. When she got home she asked her mom how it went, and the mom was really upset. She said the doctor said something so rude and fresh and out of place... and her daughter asked well what did he say? the mom said, he said, "My don't we look festive?" Her daughter was shocked, so she just started asking questions. What did you do before you went??
well i took a shower... good
and I used some of your feminine hygiene spray... good, but i don't have any
yes you do
No i don't... show me what you are talking about
So the mom went into the bathroom, looked around and handed her a can of glitter hairspray. hence... "My don't we look festive?"

ok.. that's kinda iffish... but it's my blog, get your own.

My mom took 3 phone calls just to tell me she was laughing so hard. I of course told Lynda Wigren, who... told Barbara. Next thing I know (old Jed's a millionaire), I mean Lynda called and wanted to find out who it was, make sure it was true, etc because Barbara wanted to share it at Women Of Faith, and put it in her book.. which she did on both counts.

Barbara told it much better than I would ever have done.

ok this isn't about worship

This isn't about much more than an awesome and wonderful lady named Barbara Johnson that touched my heart and my life. I still smile the first of every month!

Stand In Awe / Habakkuk

2009-02-02T19:22:00.000-08:00

besides how funny the name sounds to us, Habakkuk, is probably my favorite book of the OT, next to Psalms.

Habakkuk called himself a prophet... because of how he wrote his book is written, the thought is that he may have been a temple prophet. I Chron 25:1 says that Temple Prophets used lyres, harps & cymbals. Habakkuk may have been a Levite and singer in the temple... OK I THINK THAT IS PRETTY COOL. A singer in the temple -- it sounds familiar. There is a Rabbinic tradition that he was the son of the Shunammite woman's son who Elisha had brought to life (II Kings 4:16). But no one really knows about him. It doesn't matter, Habakkuk, is just an awesome. It encourages me.

I love the fact that he questioned God - a lot... I do the same thing. God can handle it. God can handle any emotion we bring to Him. Habakkuk asked God "how long must I call for help, and you do not listen?" WHAT? Ok i have never done that. demanding an answer from God. God told him that he was going to send the Babylonians to bring judgment... DAAAANNNNGGGGGG! that is powerful. God uses even the most "unholy" people to teach us and to judge us.

So the stage is set, Habakkuk questions God and when God answers, He passes judgment on the evil nations. At the end of the second chapter is probably the most misused scripture in the Bible... God says... "But the Lord is in His holy temple, let all the earth be silent before Him." I have seen this written on the walls outside of sanctuaries, meaning be quiet in here! I have to thank Ron Keller for this, but it is true, silence has nothing to do with "worship". Ron said that the only time there is "silence" in the Bible, it is for judgment, not worship! And it is true, no where in the Bible does silence = worship... NO WHERE. So this idea that we have to be "quiet" and "formal" is just wrong. Don't get me wrong.. if you want to be formal before God.. be formal, but if you want to dance and fall prostrate and lift your hands... then do it. He is not looking at that anyway... something about your heart!

The last chapter of Habakkuk is truly amazing. Habakkuk give glory to God.. in vs 2 he says, "I stand in awe of Your deeds" When you understand that you don't know God, but learn to trust in Him... the true response is AWE. The God of all creation gave Habakkuk answers to his questions and demands. He saw God as He was, and believed that God was in charge.

To set up the ending of this blog, I have to say, the end of Chapter 3 is powerful. it gives each of us hope. Habakkuk said that no matter what happens, we should Praise God. Even if everything we are, we have, we do, we want falls apart, the answer is to rejoice in the Lord. when you are waiting for destruction and judgment and God is being Himself, what would you say? What would you do? Where would you run to? What questions would you have for God? This is why I love this book. So to close this thought Habakkuk says in chapter 3:16-19:
"I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound; decay crept into my bones, and my legs trembled. Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us. Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights."

Stand in Awe / Isaiah

2009-01-30T19:10:00.000-08:00

I love this phrase, but most of the time, it is just a phrase. How many people have said that they Stood in Awe of something. I have stood in disbelief, and I have stood in amazement, but in total awe...

the word awe just means that you are overwhelmed with reverence or admiration.

Have I ever really been overwhelmed? Have I ever been to the place where I couldn't think about anything else, or I couldn't function because of something I have seen or heard.

I was overwhelmed when Makkael and Tyler were born.. but that was joy. I was overwhelmed when we got the adoption papers for both Makkael and Tyler, but that was pure joy. I was ecstatic when I graduated with my master's - still not awe. I was overwhelmed when I heard that my dad had died. But that isn't awe, that is overwhelming grief. Awe is being overwhelmed and transfixed on something. You can't look away. You can't think about anything except what you are looking at or hearing.

When I think of standing in awe, i think of Isaiah 6. It is an amazing scripture that shows what standing in awe is. The amazing part is that at the sound of their voices... powerful and strong voices, that the doorposts and thresholds shook. Living in California, I have been through several earthquakes. The Whittier earthquake was pretty powerful. Cherie and I lived in a condo in Azusa at the time, and i watched the entire condo sway back and forth. It was really frightening and unnerving. At the sound of their voices, the doorposts and thresholds shook. There is a lot of power there.

The sign of standing in awe, is that you do feel unworthy. Unworthy of just being in God's presence. Awe can cause many reactions... fear is probably the one that I would have. To stand in God's presence is something we do every second of every day of our lives. No matter what we are doing, we are doing it in God's presence. Every thought, every decision, every idea, every tear... all in God's presence.

But Isaiah experienced the majesty and the glory... Isaiah 6:1-4 says...

"In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another:
'Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.'
At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."

So we stand and sing songs on Sundays, all over the world, and we sing a second song, and then we sing another. And we can't wait to sit down. And then we go home. And we return the next week, sing a song, then another.... We stand and sing and wait for a feeling, or a blessing, or to feel good or entertained. Where is the awe? Where is the power? Awe is not determined by what we DO... it is all about Who God is and WHAT HE DOES. My singing a song does not change anything in the world, but God's showing "up" with His MAJESTY and His POWER causes the world to tremble. and....

i

stand

IN AWE.

Someone to Worship

2009-01-26T20:29:00.000-08:00

It is not a new idea... but it is a great one. We were made to worship. I love that song.. Chris Tomlin, such a great songwriter, says it best... You and I were made to worship...

it is what we were made to do, but we let too many things get in the way. Life can stop a lot of "God" things. The parable of the Sower, in Matthew 13, tells it the best way. The Sower sowed his seeds... "some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."

Jesus explained it this way. When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."

All of us have been at all of these places... It is hard to live life and not experience the hopelessness of being the path; or the rocky place where nothing seems to go right; or the thorny place where life in general just chokes us and takes our joy and give us nothing in return; or the perfect soil. The seed grows and there is a great harvest.

That being said, we have to realize that we were made to worship.. FIRST and FOREMOST. The fact that life and "things" get in the way is just reality. How can we stop this? How can we live our lives to the fullest? How can we know that we are worshiping "on earth as it is in heaven"?

Look a the life of David. He was a man after God's own heart, and yet he failed miserably. How many of us have had the husband of the person we have an affair with and get pregnant killed? How many of us have tried to cover that fact? But he was still a man after God's own heart.

David understood one thing, worship. He knew how to respond to God. He knew what to say to God. He knew how to worship. When we worship, we are giving God first place in our lives. It is more than just singing... it is breathing.

If you have let the things in your life get in the way of your honoring God, you need to turn around, go back to where you started. Realize that you need God more than anything else. It should be the first thing in the morning and last thing at night that you think about. How can you honor God more? How can you give of yourself more?

So if we were made to worship... the One that we worship is what defines us. Who we honor with our lives tells the world who we are. How we worship isn't as important to God as to why we worship. Next comes the names of God... It is also good to know the names of God in the Bible and what is said each time to and by whom. Instead of "Lord", what word is actually used.

Someone to worship is a journey. It is not just the title of this blog, it is the whole purpose of life.

Friends make the difference

2009-01-20T21:08:00.000-08:00

I have to say one thing about Facebook, is that it has brought many people back into my life. Which says 2 things... 1) I'm a horrible friend and 2) you are all horrible friends. hahahaha... What it does say is that we are all in the same boat. Time goes by and life gets in the way and all of a sudden it is 10 years, 20 years, 30 years...

The true test is where you pick up... a good friend is one that you leave in the middle of a sentence and when you see each other again you finish your thought. I have really good friends. I have always told my kids that your friends do help define you. The people you call friend lets everyone know what you cherish.

When I was growing up, we moved around a bit. Ministry can do things to you and your family. Dad started churches when I was young. His last ministries were in East Tennessee. He would go to a church and preach and minister. When they got to a certain number he would find someone to go and become Senior Pastor, then he'd move on. He loved it. I have to say, he was a dynamo. He never stopped. He was either making calls in people's homes, or at the hospital, or at Walmart. I told him he should be a Walmart greeter... he already was, but he'd get paid to do it if just put his resume in. He never did it. I went with him to Walmart when I was home, and it was amazing all the people knew him. It was either the churches he preached in, or just that he was a fixture at the entrance of Walmart.

I never thought twice about moving, mainly because i wasn't given a choice. Something about going with a flow comes to mind. Sometimes it was good. Sometimes it was sad. But what you leave, are friends. Friends and memories.

In the book of Acts Paul was on his way to Jerusalem, and he met the elders of Ephesus (for the last time). Friends. Co-workers. What do you say to someone that you know you will never see again? to friends that you have worked with and had spent time with and this was the last time you would see them on this side of time and space.

Paul spoke to them of his ministry with them. How he had not taken advantage of them, but worked and ministered among them. When you work in ministry with others, they become your closest friends, you become family. I have to admit that I have not taken and seized each moment I have had with friends. I have not lived all of my moments to the fullest. But Paul had definitely lived each moment to the fullest with his friends. He says in Acts 20:32-37

"Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I have not coveted anyone's silver or gold or clothing. You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'

"When he had said this, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him."

To those of you that are my friends... thank you. For all the times I wasn't 100% there for you, please forgive me. For the times we had together, thank you. For all the laughs and tears... I am eternally grateful. I look forward to an eternal time with you... as if heaven was just for my personal joy. But I call you friend. And that is the greatest gift each of us can give.

There Is A Place

2009-01-19T22:41:00.000-08:00

I wrote this years ago. When Makkael and Tyler were young, there was a time where I had lost a few friends. It hit me at that time that we are not promised tomorrow. I had never thought much about my mortality. I wrote this "thought" at that point. I was never going to share this, but I might as well, blogging has made me put a lot of thoughts in writing, uhm typing. So this is what I wanted read at my funeral. Just a side note... I have hidden copies of this in my clothes chest. When John O'Neil passed away I sent a copy to Cindy. I couldn't find a copy, so when I was at CCV last Sunday, she came and said hi, and I remembered I sent it to her, and asked her if she still had a copy, so she sent this back to me. The sad thought is that I have copies in my clothes chest... duh... but Thanks to Cindy... I realize the theological implications of this, it is not meant to be theological or even Biblical. It is just a thought.

THERE IS A PLACE

There is a place...
a place that is between dreams and waking, a place I will be
I will ask Jesus to take me there each and every day
to say...I love you! I miss you!
It is where I will wipe your tears and kiss you gently and hug you
you are the joy of my life
and yet you are loved greater by the One who has brought me there.
the Lover of our souls
And we will stand there in that place before you wake, Jesus and I...together...saying we love you

There is a place.. beyond that place
a place by a river, a river with a shore of diamonds and rubies
That is where I will wait for you
to enjoy eternity and to worship together...the ONE who has truly loved you
and in the place where there will be eternal joy

There is a place

by David Reynolds...

Worship styles

2009-01-13T22:15:00.000-08:00

I was raised in the south. My religious background is very conservative. I spent the largest span of my lifetime in Louisiana. Dad preached there a total of 10 years (3 years and then 7 years). It is what I think of as home, even tho i have spent most of my life in California. But Jennings, Louisiana is where I graduated from high school. GO BULLDOGS!

Dad preached at the First Church Of Christ in Jennings. I don't remember much about the "music ministry" until both of my sisters went to college and there was an empty piano bench. I really wasn't a piano player.

I had taken a month of lessons (not my choice) when I was 8 and my piano teacher (who was the pianist at the church) went to my dad and said they were wasting their money on me. HAHA.. and it wouldn't be the last time. I didn't want to be there...at all. So I was allowed quit. 2 years later I decided that I wanted to play piano. I figured if Bonnie and Becky could play... it couldn't be that hard. So I learned how to play by the bang and pick method... I'd pick notes and then bang them to death. And I only knew one song... something about a train, and that poor train went fast and furious.

Just a side note... I have a picture of me at the piano when I was about 6... i had no idea what to do, but I always thought I'd play concerts... idiot! ok.. i have done that, but if you really knew how much I DID NOT KNOW about piano at that time, you'd be shocked. I HAD NO CLUE! So the challenge from dad was that I should play piano at church.

I have to give it to First Church of Christ in Jennings... they are a patient lot. I could only play songs in C or in F or in G... one # or b was my limit. Then I added 2 flats, then 3, then 4... I was really playin' piano.. then I added 2 sharps, then 3 and that's it. I actually only did 2 sharps, because 3 was too much.

I took piano when I went to Ozark.. During my first lesson, and I can't remember the guy's name, but after he explained to me that when you play piano each finger was assigned a specific note. I looked at him and just laughed... i told him that wasn't true. But again, how would I know? I had a month of lessons 10 years before. So I did ask around and found out it was true. Piano was officially hard!

I traveled all over the US playing piano and singing and singing and playing piano. There eventually there comes a time when you don't have to focus so much on the piano, it becomes a natural thing, a tool. And then you just lead worship... it isn't playing piano at all, it is simply a tool you use to lead others into worship.

David used his harp, songs, voice to lead people into worship. David wrote at least 73 of the psalms, and probably several more. the very word Psalm means "songs sung to a harp" or "play on a stringed instrument." Beings the piano wasn't invented until 1709 (the first keyboard instrument was invented and made in the 1300's), it is hard to imagine a time when there were just plucking instruments, harps and lyres. But David used a harp. He got his at Walmart at the After-Hanukkah sale. His instrument was one part of the worship he led, but the songs... the songs he sang and wrote and gave us changed the way we all worship.

Who hasn't read Psalm 23? Who hasn't memorized Psalm 119? What Psalm speaks to you? What Psalm if your favorite?

I love so many of the Psalms, so it is hard for me to just pick one, but I would like to share one of my favorites. Psalm 34... i wrote my own melody to this a few years back. I call it "I Will Bless The Lord" (fitting huh?)

Psalm 34
A Psalm of David when he pretended madness before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed.

1 I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; the humble shall hear of it and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together

I think in these three verses that David said all that needed to be said. It is what I call the essence of what worship is. If we would only bless Him at all times... every single second of every single day, and if his praise was always in our mouth... if we would boast in the Lord from the bottoms of our feet to the top of our heads... simply worship, we could change the lives of everyone we could contact with, beginning with ourselves. Just by blessing Him and praising Him and Boast in Him every day to everyone all the time. the humble or the every day person would hear it and be glad... satisfied...changed. My challenge to you tonight is that you would hear the Word of God. Magnify the Lord... Exalt His name... every day, all the time.

The essence of worship are in those verses. We are usually the people who get blessed, but here we must bless the Lord, and our lives and what we do with them is how we Bless God. Together, let's magnify the Lord... let tell everyone, all that will listen. Tell it over and over, magnify it, make it known. Tell everyone of God's greatness... exalt His name in your life and your speech and most of all in all you do. Let's exalt His name not just singly but with every voice, all of us, every week, every time we meet together, let us sing and speak of God's greatness.

just a note

2009-01-12T23:50:00.000-08:00

It seems I need to just say something quick here.

first of all, as I read my blog, i noticed, misspelled words and run on sentences and plain ol' run of the mill mistakes. It just goes to show you that all my thinking thoughts don't quite cut the mustard.

I apologize for the mistakes, I thought I had edited it better, but that is what i get for trying to think and have thoughts at the same time.

If you are reading this, thanks. I actually never thought of anyone reading these, just thought it was time I did this. I read a lot of blogs, and it is different on this side of the blog.

This is all there is today. just an apology and self ridicule.

I am getting the nerve to put something in here that is very private. but I will soon.

my worship thought for the day is: the psalmist said that God is "clothed with Majesty." We will never understand everything about God, but we can see Him in the beauty of His creation. When we see the stars laid out in the heavenlies, that is just the hem of His garment.

The Voice of the Lord

2009-01-11T18:49:00.000-08:00

Have you ever thought about the power of your voice? The sound it makes in different spaces? In the forest, compared in an empty building, compared to a public restroom... each have their own acoustical value. If i want to hear my voice perfectly (I did not say my perfect voice, just for the record), I go to the men's restroom and sing in a tiled corner. I can hear every nuance of my voice. It is wonderful and disheartening all at the same time.

There is power in a voice, but you put 10 voices together there is strength... add 100 more voice.. even more awesome... add thousands... One of the things that I was privileged to be part of was the very first Promise Keeper's meetings. It was held at Boulder Valley Christian Church in Boulder, CO. There were 70 some guys. Coach McCartney shared his dream of a ministry of men that stood up and kept their words. The plan was laid out to have the first Promise Keeper's. Over 4,000 men showed up. The second conference is the one most people hear about first, there were 25,000 people (I saw a few women in the crowd, just fyi). Harvey Friesen and I were in charge of the green room. We had a vantage point above the crowd. Their voices were facing us, and they started singing "Majesty". To hear 25,000 people sing anything is amazing. I really have no words to express the power of that moment. It was one of those moments that you never forget. A speaker had the men shout, "JESUS." 25,000 voices shouting at the top of their lungs, "JESUS"! it was awesome. People in Boulder said it sounded like thunder. It could be heard a long way off... the sound bounced off the Rockies. The sound rumbled in the heavenlies. It was amazing!

I realized that I didn't understand the power of the voice. But again the Bible has already spoken what it was like. One of my favorite scriptures is Psalm 29...

Psalm 29 / A psalm of David.

1 Ascribe to the LORD, O mighty ones,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
worship the LORD in the splendor of his [a] holiness.
3 The voice of the LORD is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the LORD thunders over the mighty waters.
4 The voice of the LORD is powerful;
the voice of the LORD is majestic.
5 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars;
the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf,
Sirion [b] like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the LORD strikes
with flashes of lightning.
8 The voice of the LORD shakes the desert;
the LORD shakes the Desert of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the LORD twists the oaks [c]
and strips the forests bare.
And in his temple all cry, "Glory!"
10 The LORD sits [d] enthroned over the flood;
the LORD is enthroned as King forever.
11 The LORD gives strength to his people;
the LORD blesses his people with peace.

God doesn't need 25,000 voices to show his power. ONE VOICE.

HIS VOICE is mightier than "mighty waters", is powerful, is majestic, breaks the cedars, makes Lebanon skip like a calf, strikes with the flashes of lightning, shakes the desert, twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. WOW! After watching the aftermath of the Mount St Helens volcano, where the trees were "stripped" and the forest left bare, we can see the power of a volcano... God's voice is greater than that. Again, I have no words to express my lack of understanding still yet how powerful his voice is. There is a worship song that I love and the chorus simply says, "I stand, I stand in awe of You.... " I do! In awe!

So when you are alone, feeling lost, not understanding what God is doing with you, thinking that God has left you... listen for his voice. He is speaking. Sometimes it is a still small voice, but at other times He will be heard, in power, you just have to listen!

Henry T

2009-01-10T13:20:00.000-08:00

My dad had always wanted to die in the pulpit, doing what he loved best. I told him that I could arrange that any Sunday. I am still sure that there would be one good ol' boy out there in East Tennessee willing.... my point being, besides the tasteless humor, my dad loved preaching and teaching.

There is a "study" at the house, of which there are still a ton of books that need to be dealt with. I have gone through and taken books that were published in the 1800's, 1900's, etc. He was well educated and well read. I never realize how much he read until I "straightened up" his study a few years back. There is a wide range of book and commentaries. He had "Christian Standards" from the 1940's on. I know that he read each one, he's always make a comment.

Another collection that he had, of which I have now, is his old hymnals. He had a collection of hymnals from the 1800's and early 1900's that are still incredible. The songs were probably big hits when they came out (or not), but to play through them I always am reminded why the classic hymns are classic hymns. But the songs have such great feeling and meaning. My favorite are the ones that bring out our Christian journey as a railroad trip or a car ride or even an airplane ride.

Dad knew all the old songs. I can never remember a time that I didn't hear him sing, "The Holy City". He sang it all the time. My memory is my sister Bonnie playing piano and dad singing. It was the way things were done. I'm sure Becky played for him at some point, and I even played it for him not too long ago. It is just a great song. My dad really had a great voice. I am speaking from a vocal teacher's standpoint. I have taken lessons for years, was a vocal major (actually the first vocal major at Ozark Christian College). Taught voice for years at Hope International University. Presently I am singing with the Fresno Grand Opera. I told you that to say this... I have trained and have sung to be able to keep my high Bb. When I took voice with Dr Joseph Klein, I was vocalizing on a D# (yep the one above the high C), I can no longer do that. But I can do things and still do pretty good. My dad, however without lessons was able to hit a high A... consistently, even at age 82. The month before he died (Apr 7, 2008) he sang at the East Tennessee Men's Fellowship. My cousin Scott Reynolds (a phenomenal musician in his own right) played piano for dad, and as usual dad sang it. It must have been pretty good as usual, they were still talking about it. At his funeral we wanted to play a video of him singing it, but the quality wasn't very good. So I sang it. Note to self, don't sing at your dad's funeral thinking you can make it through a song. There was that moment while singing the song that I realized what a great voice my dad had had and the power and ability in he really had in his voice.

I was at mom and dad's house in Feb 2008 for a week. I have gone every year to spend time with them. An interesting thing happened on my last night. I was not sure why, but he started quoting scripture. And I don't mean John 3:16, but i do mean a chapter, then 2... I have to admit i was kind of not appreciating it. Dad had been forgetting a lot of info and would repeat himself a lot. I had started telling him (because I knew he would want to know, and so would I) that he had already told me that. He would say I DID? I would tell him how many times... sometimes it was 12 or more or 15 or more... I wasn't being cruel, just I had already heard it. I hate being repetitious, and I know dad didn't mean to be that way. It may have been too blunt, and yes I did feel bad for it. However, I think he knew that he was forgetting stuff and repeating, etc. He began aksing me how many times? I would tell him, but say, if you want to tell me again, it's ok. But the last night I realized later that he always wanted to know that he never forgot God's Word that he had truly hidden in his heart. Our last moments we spent together on this side of heaven was his quoting scriptures and me wondering why. He never wanted to forget God's Word.

I think I'm done for the day blogging. But a couple of thoughts left in me, the last visual I have of my dad is in his "powered" chair asleep. He didn't sleep well, and ended downstairs in his chair, in the very room he was born in, and he had his little "outfit" on. His jacket and his knitted cap (to stay warm). I was leaving for the airport at 5 am with my brother Tom and there was dad asleep, just sitting in the chair. I didn't wake him up, because if he was in the chair he had couldn't sleep and I didn't want to wake him... but I went over and kissed him on the forehead... my dad... the greatest.

I know one thing, my dad loved all 6 kids equally. He lived at home what he preached at church. That in itself is amazing. He had had his heart attack on Sunday after church, went to ICU that night, was there all week and thought he'd go home by Friday. On Friday he had another heart attack. On Saturday, my sister Becky and her husband Rick flew in from Colo Springs. Rick sent everyone home and he was going to stay with dad all night. Rick said it was after midnight that dad sat straight up with his hands outstretched and said, "I see Jesus." He laid back and really never came back. He passed away the next afternoon.

So that is a little about Henry Thomas Reynolds Sr that makes me smile and cry. I will see him again, on that shore of rubies and diamonds... he will be the one singing "The Holy City".

You've got a friend

2009-01-09T22:53:00.000-08:00

i love the fact that facebook has connected me to old friends. My admission that I have actually known some of my friends for 40 years and more, is just a staggering number. But when you are 54... FIFTY FOUR... you have to have known someone at least 40 years and more! I am blessed. I have friends all over the US and it seems that they are all getting on facebook.

There is something that I read years ago, the definition of a friend... I'll have to find it, but the one line that sticks in my mind that a friend is one that even tho you have been separated by time, etc. you just pick up where you left off when you meet again. That is a bad paraphrase, but you catch my meaning.

A good friend is someone that will go the extra mile. A friend knows everything about you and still wants to be around you. A humorous one a friend is one, when you have killed someone, will help you bury the body. Yes a friend knows all the skeletons, where all the bodies have been buried, and most of all know your reasons for everything you do.

There is a great old song "No One Ever Cared For Me Like Jesus." The chorus says, "No one ever cared for me like Jesus, There's no other friend so kind as He. No one else could take the sin and darkness from me. Oh how much He care for me."

We all need a friend, and many times we don't understand what a true friend is, nor what to expect from a friend. We all need someone that loves us deeply and understands us. We need someone that we can say anything to and know that they will not judge, but understand. We need someone that will see our side and fight for us.

In your life, are you a "good friend". Do people trust you and look up to you? Are the people that call you their friend getting the best end of that deal? Do you value your friends? Have you ever had a need so great and your "friend" helped you and changed your life?

In your biggest hour of need, you will find out who your true friends are. When you get to the darkest part of the valley and the only way is up, just look around, the ones with you are your friends.

I am blessed with 2 parents that always showed God's love. I didn't realize it at the time, but they were definitely living God's love. I don't remember a time in my entire life when I didn't know that God loved me. I don't remember not knowing that love and God are synonymous.

I think it is said best in scripture what a friend is. In John 15:13-15 (New King James Version), it says, "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you."

The best friend you will ever have is Jesus... He has already paid the price for your freedom. To do what He commands is a small price for us to pay.

My Favorite Poem

2009-01-08T21:04:00.000-08:00

Years ago I read the following in Theology Today (Oct 1981 to be exact). so this isn't really my thoughts as just sharing my favorite poem... It speaks to me. It was written by David Steele (of whom I have no idea who and where and why). Enjoy

DAVID DANCED - MICHAL WATCHED

Michal was loyal
To everything royal
For she was the daughter of Saul
But her husband was poorish
And awefully boorish
With simply no manners at all

It was her fate
To marry a mate
Who had grown up with chickens and sheep.
How to bring charm
To this boy from the farm
Was causing his queen to lose sleep.

Oh, she had to confess
He was a success
In the eyes of the world, Dave was famous.
But of how kings comport
Themselves when in court
He remained a complete ignoramus.

David's heart soared
And he danced to the Lord
In a manner more free than refined.
and his poor little wife
Got the shock of her life.
So she gave him a piece of her mind.

"I don't care a smidgen
About your religion
As long as it's solem and chaste.
But the way you're behaving
With arms widely waving
Is shockingly lacking in taste."

"While I agree dancing
Is fine for romancing
And I've done no extensive research,
I hope you will see
That it lacks dignity
And is frightfully bad form in church."

"If you must raise
Your spirit in praise,
Please see that it's soothing and calm.
The Lord I am sure
Would really prefer
Something more like the 23rd Psalm."

Then God's anointed
Became disappointed
He knew he had nary a chance
Of ever persuadin'
This prim, regal maiden
that the Lord is a lover of dance.

Churches these days
Talk a lot about Praise
And the Joy that accomp'nies Good News.
but don't tap your feet
Or get out of the seat
For Michal still lurks in the pews.

And when you have ended
She might be offended.

And so it is better by far
To act out your praise
On those great joyful days
With some friends at a neighborhood bar.

You should be smiling.. because the truth... we'd have better luck at a bar.

In the Spotlight

2009-01-08T00:31:00.000-08:00

Have you ever been on a stage in a spotlight? Total darkness... blinding light? I remember the days when I had to be in the right place and just wait for the light to come on.. It wasn't gradual, it was BANG! ON! Your pupils don't have enough time to adjust, but you can't react, you have to act.

The funny thing about a spotlight is that inches away is dark. There is a "gray" area, but outside that area is darkness, black darkness, dark darkness. In the dark, you may not see others around you, but you do know who is in the spotlight. You can't miss them.

The other side of a spotlight is there is someone controlling it. They are following the person that is in the spotlight. If you are a good "spotlighter", then you will plan where the person in the spotlight will be at all times. You will plan exactly where and when and how they will go from here to there. The spotlighter really has to be ahead of the person in the spotlight. There has to be a plan.

Another spotlight fact is that you can make the light go into different shapes. rectangle, square, round, pinpointy. The different shapes help the audience to see whatever is necessary.

Ok, the spotlight... it is kind Seinfeld-ish huh?

The High Priest went into the Holy of Holies once a year. He couldn't touch anything in the room, just in case he did he had a rope with bells tied around his ankle in case he were to die he could be pulled out of the room. And if he became scared, that he has to realize he may die. He came in with the atonement sacrifice for all of Israel. He was in the spotlight. What did it look like? Did he hear the voice of God? What was it like to go in and do your duty? There was no place to hide, You were there alone with God. In the spotlight.

Each Sunday we are before God and we in the spotlight. He is waiting for us to just even show up. He is waiting for us to give of our best. To sing that song in His light. He waits for us. To react to prayer; to listen to a sermon. All in the spotlight, all reasons for our being there. The decision time and the time for our choices to be made. The communion time and offering time the light is on, but this time on our hearts.

God is not going to force anyone to do anything, but He does see what we do and think. We are in the spotlight of His love.

It was a once a year gig. He he had to prepare himself to go in to the Holy of Holies. It was no turning back or kllllllllllllllllrrkkrrrrrrrrrrrrr g

Random thoughts

2009-01-06T21:21:00.000-08:00

I have been thinking about different aspects of worship. Music is always up there in my thoughts, so here are a few random thoughts.

Black Gospel music is my favorite music in the world.

If you haven't listened to Rev James Cleveland before, there is just something wrong with that.

Rap music is something I listen to. I love the energy and the rhythms. I do have a 5 song limit tho.

Music isn't something to be worshiped. It is simply a tool for Worship. I do think we worship music tho. God is the loser in that recipe, it's quite twisted.

I heard a song today that brought me to tears... it's called "Blades of Grass and Pure White Stone". I won't even tell you what it is about, but is a song that will make you think.

I love Johannes Brahms music. If you have never listened to his "German Requiem"... you have missed out on one of the greatest pieces of music ever written. The way he takes scripture and the order he takes the scripture and the music he wrote is genius. I challenge you to listen to it. I have a copy, it's on my Ipod, i have the cd... i can hook you up.

What did the songs that King David wrote sound like? When he was watching the sheep in the fields... what were the melodies? what did his voice sound like? Not that sheep understand it at all, but did they? The performer of one sang to the audience of One. Whatever it was like, to be called "a man after God's own heart", that is all that need be said. That is humbling... what does God say about me??

If every songwriter that ever lived would write songs to glorify God, what songs would we have? What would we singing in our worship services?

I am so glad that Motown was there when I was growing up.

I love opera. It started in the church 400 years ago. It got to the place that it was so secular, they moved it away from the church. they had added scenery, costumes... the stories and music became less glorifying to God. What stayed at the church tho was called Oratorio, some of the greatest Oratorios were by the masters. Probably the most famous would be Handel's "Messiah".

The book of Psalms is a "hymnal" In the book of Psalms there are Songs of Ascent (songs to be sung as you got "up" to Jerusalem to go to the temple). Psalms is split into 5 books and each book ends with a benediction or doxology. And... David didn't write every single Psalm.

We each have our own preference of what we listen to, musically speaking. God could care less. He's looking at our hearts.

The composer Jean Baptiste-Lully (1632 - 1687), a French composer, died a very weird death. He was conducting, "Te Deum", for King Louis XIV. They kept time with a long staff by beating it on the floor. To me that would be annoying, the music playing (no one bathes) and you hear the thump of the staff. Lully hit his toe, it gangrened, he refused to have his toe amputated and he died. No commentary is necessary. Remember these are random thoughts.

Lastly, at least for now... how can we say we are music lovers and never ever listen to any other style than what we prefer?

"as it is in heaven"

2009-01-05T22:17:00.000-08:00

I have sung "The Lord's Prayer" many times. It is a song that is beautiful without words, but the words are the essence of the song, hence the title. Deep huh? I have thought about the words many times. When you are waiting to sing it as many times as I have (usually a cappella) you think about the words. These are just my thoughts, not trying to be theologically superior, i'm just thinking - out loud.

Our Father... I smile at that, because my dad is with my Father... it is a comforting and very cool truth. Not that I had the perfect dad, but he was definitely a blessing and a man that I looked up to. One thing I will say about dad, is that what he preached in the pulpit, he lived at home. That is the awesome part of being his son, his example and love.
Which art in heaven... I believe in heaven. I know that I will be there (through God's grace) and will see my dad, my grandparents, ok i won't do the list thing here)
Hallowed be Thy name... I have an idea and understand the concept that His name is hallowed or holy, but I don't totally know what it means. I will someday.
Thy Kingdom come... God's kingdom, the church, the believers, us.
Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven... this is my favorite part. What is God's will? the next question is what is done in heaven? From what I have read in the book of Revelation, in heaven there is WORSHIP... uhm, reading of the book, the martyrs, the Book of Life... but over and over it is about the worship. If that is God's will in heaven, it has to be the same on earth. God loves worship. He loves our adoration. He loves our exaltation. It isn't that we are so great or "special" but our Worship.., that is what sets us apart from all other things on earth. We have been given a great choice... to worship God with all our hearts, or to live for ourselves. If you read the songs we will be singing in the book of Revelation, you see that worship will be an eternal event. Should we do less here on earth?
Give us this day our daily bread... a simple thought.. understanding where all things come from, and just like He provided manna in the wilderness to the Israelites, He also provides us daily. All we have are a gift from God. ALL.
Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us... we all sin. we all are forgiven. One of the hardest "sayings" of Jesus was when He said that we will be forgiven the way we forgive. I have thought about that a lot through the years. Am I really a forgiving person? Am I forgivable? I have to say I have failed dearly in that area. I pray for a humble heart before God. I fail, but I do pray that I can forgive everyone like I have been forgiven. I'm very humbled by this thought. Lord, please forgive me, grace reaching down, guiding, and forgiving in return.
And lead us not into temptation... I do pray that when I am tested and in trials that I will never be tempted to walk away. I have been in the valley... the lowest part of the valley, but there is always a path back to the top of the mountain. I just pray that I will not stay too long on the path and that the trials will not get in the way of my love for God.
But deliver us from evil... I believe with all my heart that You are more than able to protect and to guide and to lead and to love beyond what even I understand. I do not want to linger too long within evil's grasp. But through Your Spirit, you comfort and You guide. Blessed Spirit of the Almighty One
For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever... All things are yours. the Kingdom, the church, me... You are all-powerful, fully in control of all things. You have given us the freedom to choose which path we travel on. The Kingdom (the past), and the power (the present), and the glory (the future) are truly forever. All these combined are the essence of why we worship. Kingdom Power Glory... and forever is the awesome part. It will never end.
AMEN!... i agree, AMEN!

The Worship Test

2009-01-04T17:05:00.001-08:00

This is just a way for you to think about worship and your relationship to God and the way you live your life and think and well just the way you are!

1) what did you think about on your way to church today?

2) what did you think about on your way home from church today?

3) did you get involved in the worship today or just stand or sit during the service?

4) what did you think about during the service?

5) did you pray during the service?

6) how many people did you greet? if you saw new people did you greet them?

7) how many different churches have you been part of in the past year? 2 years? 5 years?

8) on Monday, do you still think about what happened on Sunday at church?

A self-test is always good. It teaches us about ourselves. It gives us understanding into those around us. By answering these questions and thinking about them, you are doing the exact thing that God is doing in your life. He knows what the answer is and what your answer is and what you really think and believe deep inside. God sees what you really believe. God sees what you really think.

When you read each question and thought about your answers, God knew and knows and sees, even before you do. The only question that you need to really answer is, do you love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind & strength? Who do you truly worship? Whose voice do you listen to?

The Worship Beatitudes

2009-01-03T21:03:00.000-08:00

Blessed are they that praise the Lord... for they shall see the heart of God!

Blessed are they that sing... for they shall touch the heart of God!

Blessed are they that worship in spirit... for they shall know the heart of God!

Blessed are they at worship in truth... for they have the hear to God!

a thought about worship

2009-01-03T12:37:00.000-08:00

It is 2009 and I can't believe that we are still having to discuss hymns vss choruses & worship songs. When I started college it was the crest of the wave of worship. It was fresh, new, exciting, and most of all, ours. Thru the 70's more songs were written, and then in the 80's Integrity Music started an awesome music company which to this day brings out new and fresh worship songs. In the 90's more songs were written, new groups formed, and a bigger arsenal of songs. The new century has brought even more songs and groups and even ways to communicate these songs.

When you can go online and find any song (well except for the ones I need at the moment I need them) at any time, it is a new day and a new era of ministry. Technology has made music ministry easier and quicker and better.

But technology doesn't change the one important component in all worship, whether traditional or contemporary. And that component is communion with God. The musical style is not the important thing when we are face to face with the Creator. We can sing "Amazing Grace" or "Let God Arise" and come to the exact same place... face to face with Jehovah. The fact that we are there is important. That is what we seek, to worship in spirit and truth. That is what we need, God's presence.

I have a feeling that many don't care about being in God's presence. They may say they do, but reality is, in the American culture, if we aren't brought to the heights of glory by a song, we feel we haven't worshipped. When did that become the essence of worship -- our entertainment? But it is, sad to say. If we don't "feel" something, then we think we have not worshipped. When did our "feelings" dictate God's worship?

Just an aside, God doesn't need us. He doesn't need our songs, our words, not a single one. He is El Shaddai, the self sufficient ONE. He does love our hand painted trash cans (my favorite thing I made in elementary school, which really was a piece of junk). He loves our attempts. And he never asks where did you go to school? Who did you train with? How long have you been doing this? He does look at our hearts. That is all He needs and wants. Our hearts. My heart.

As these are thinking thoughts, i just wanted to be reminded today, that it is for God's glory, His purpose!

I wrote a song a few years ago that I want to end this with. I wrote it and didn't sing it for a long time in public. I have to this date never sung the verses, they will remain between God and I, but it is the desire of my heart and the reason I love worship, I have communion with the Creator of all things.

I am standing face to face (the acknowledgment)
With the One who took my place (the understanding)
With lifted hands I give You praise (the reaction)
As we stand here, face to face. (the worhsip)

I stand.

Thought # 1

2009-01-02T22:48:00.000-08:00

It has been 9 months since my dad passed away.

Grief is a weird thing. At times it is a gentle pat on the shoulder that says, remember me? At other times it comes up behind you and smacks you to the ground. It is never the same. A word, a song, a scent... that is all it takes.

One Sunday I was leading worship and in the middle of "Lifesong" there is a word in the second verse... "grief". A simple word, and as soon as I sang it, I lost it. It's one thing to grieve in private, but to feel like you want to run away in the middle of a service with all eyes on you, and to try to sing and all that comes out is a cry... and then the tears... and the music keeps on playing... and ... there it is... it all keeps going on.

An amazing thing about God's grace, is that even in the middle of a storm, there is peace. I realized at that moment, yes when i was NOT singing, playing the piano, crying, and nothing intelligible coming out of my mouth, that I was not alone. At that moment, I knew that I was not alone. It seems that God dwells among the tears and piano playing after all.

I am rambling, but hey it's my blog, so don't read it. Or, understand that You will have your "Lifesong" moment and God will be there too. I still cry, not every day, but I do cry when I think of the loss of the man that lived and breathed and loved and modeled God's love. What I do know with the core of my being is that JEHOVAH JIREH is there to give you and I what we need at all moments and seconds of our lives. In our "Lifesong" moments He is singing along right beside us and with us and for us and because of us...