Thanks for all your emails regarding my last post on Worship and Gratitude. It seems it more than a struck a cord with many of you. Unfortunately, in our consumer-driven culture that magnifies our desires over-and-above our needs, it's difficult to worship out of a heart of gratitude when our heart is so filled with discontent.
It's hard to "count your many blessings" when your wish list is longer than your blessings. But it is the counting of blessings, all born of God's grace, that forms the attitude which promotes truly uplifting worship.
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Let's play a little Jeopardy-style game, shall we?
Answer: David Voroba.
Question: Who was Mr. Irrelevant in the 2008 NFL Draft?
That's right. For those who aren't NFL Draftniks, the last player taken in the draft earns the title "Mr. Irrelevant." As you can read in the linked Idaho Statesman story, earning Mr. Irrelevant status is not altogether bad. There is a cadre of lucrative gifts, including a week's vacation on the Southern California coast.
That got me thinking how we in the church react to those the world would consider "marginalized." How do we receive those whose backgrounds don't equate with our images of the "ideal" convert?
The reality of Paul's theology is there are no "irrelevant" members in the body of Christ. Every member has value precisely because of his/her connection to the Head of the body, Jesus Christ. Whether the role filled is that of a finger or a toe is inconsequential since the relevance comes via the relationship to the Head.
The interdependency of the Body makes every member relevant; every member necessary for the sake of whole body health.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Worship and Gratitude
I have been overwhelmed this week with a thought prompted by last Sunday evening's message. Could it be that some of our occasional discontent with worship is born of the discontent we have with God's blessings?
Follow me on this one.
We hear so much in many circles about "reviving worship" and "emerging worship" and "worship renewal" and technological advancement in worship. It's not uncommon, at least from my vantage point, to hear the complaint "worship just doesn't move me" when that worship fails to connect with a person's perceived felt-need target.
So, is worship supposed to move me? Or is it supposed to move God?
Worship is the ascribing of worth to God, born of gratitude for the great things God has already accomplished. If the discontentment of consumerism causes us to undervalue or overlook the bounty of God's past blessings, could it be that very discontentment brought into worship undermines worship itself. Could it be the fault of "unmoving worship" resides not with the worship leader(s) and his creativity, or lack thereof, but with the discontent of my own heart?
I know forests have been harvested out of existence to publish books on worship renewal, but I am coming to believe the most profound aspect of worship renewal isn't leadership-based or technology-based but is based in my heart -- a heart renewed and revived with gratitude to God for his blessings and a contentment with God's sovereign over my life.
Follow me on this one.
We hear so much in many circles about "reviving worship" and "emerging worship" and "worship renewal" and technological advancement in worship. It's not uncommon, at least from my vantage point, to hear the complaint "worship just doesn't move me" when that worship fails to connect with a person's perceived felt-need target.
So, is worship supposed to move me? Or is it supposed to move God?
Worship is the ascribing of worth to God, born of gratitude for the great things God has already accomplished. If the discontentment of consumerism causes us to undervalue or overlook the bounty of God's past blessings, could it be that very discontentment brought into worship undermines worship itself. Could it be the fault of "unmoving worship" resides not with the worship leader(s) and his creativity, or lack thereof, but with the discontent of my own heart?
I know forests have been harvested out of existence to publish books on worship renewal, but I am coming to believe the most profound aspect of worship renewal isn't leadership-based or technology-based but is based in my heart -- a heart renewed and revived with gratitude to God for his blessings and a contentment with God's sovereign over my life.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
The View from the Basement
Warning! Frustrated Texas Rangers fan post ahead!Are the winds of change already blowing across the Metroplex? Is the Express, who once cold-cocked Robin Ventura in the classic "Don't Mess with Texas" pose getting ready for a house-cleaning? Gerry Fraley thinks something is up.
Texas Rangers general manager Jon Daniels and manager Ron Washington are not making a good first impression on new team president Nolan Ryan.
The Rangers had three crowds of fewer than 17,000 for seven dates in the first homestand of the season. That cannot please Ryan the businessman.
The Rangers also are playing sloppy baseball. Their offense remains stuck in the homer-or-nothing mode, with terrible baserunning contributing to the malaise. The defense is statistically the worst in the league.
None of that can please Ryan the Hall of Famer.
Upon taking the job, Ryan said he wanted to observe the club for an extended period before deciding if any changes should be made in the baseball operation. He might have to accelerate the timetable.
With eight consecutive seasons of third place or worse in the four-team AL West, the Rangers are becoming increasingly irrelevant in the Dallas-Fort Worth market. The level of play has deteriorated under Washington. The Rangers might be learning why the Oakland A’s twice bypassed Washington for managerial openings.
If Ryan wants a change in the dugout, there is no obvious replacement. Jackie Moore managed Ryan’s minor-league team in Round Rock, Texas, but he is 69 years old and could prefer the relative security of being Cecil Cooper’s bench coach with Houston. It’s a reach, but Jim Fregosi managed Ryan with the California Angels and would like one more turn at the job.
Saturday on the FOX Game of the Week pregame show, Ken Rosenthal surmised that Ron Washington might not make it to May 1.
One can only hope.
Let's face it, the Rangers are abysmal, evidenced by Sunday's remarkable collapse by Mitch Williams, err C.J. Wilson and crew in Boston. It's sad to be so hopeless before May 1 but facts are facts.
Thankfully, the new Sheriff in Arlington doesn't seem to have a long fuse or a longsuffering disposition for the inept product between the white lines.
Friday, April 18, 2008
A Living Memory
When you take the Lord's Supper, do you remember the death of Jesus or the life of Jesus? Is the memory with which you partake one of the dead, lifeless body of Jesus hanging on the cross or the vibrant, living body of Jesus ministering to the hurting and the helpless?
As we remember Jesus each Sunday in the supper, we are called first to discern His body in the taking of the bread. Scripture never says a word about the "broken body" of Jesus in connection to the Supper. Was His body broken? Absolutely. But is the memory of His body broken the sole call of the supper? Absolutely not.
There are so many pictures in Scripture of the body of Jesus -- the incarnation of God -- ministering to the hurting and the helpless. In the Supper, I often reflect in my mind upon the body of Jesus blessing little children. The body of Jesus
walking on the water. The body of Jesus on the mountaintop, alone with the Father.
And what about the cup, in memory of "the new covenant in my blood" (1 Corinthians 11.25)? Is the cup simply a reminder of the spilt blood of Jesus at Calvary?
Paul ties the blood of Jesus and the new covenant together, in much the same way that the writer of Leviticus shows how blood is the source of life (see Leviticus 17.11). Blood was the source of Jesus' life, enabling His body to minister to the
helpless and hurting. And His blood is the source of life in the New Covenant, strengthening us to live redemptively, ministering in the way of Jesus to the helpless and hurting.
The more I think of it, the more I come to realize that the Lord's Supper calls us to the memory of a living Savior, not a dead one. To a ministering Savior, not a mutilated one. Why? Because a dead Savior can't save anybody (1 Corinthians
15.17; John 11.25) and the memory of a ministering Savior is the living color picture we need to live redemptively in our time.
As we remember Jesus each Sunday in the supper, we are called first to discern His body in the taking of the bread. Scripture never says a word about the "broken body" of Jesus in connection to the Supper. Was His body broken? Absolutely. But is the memory of His body broken the sole call of the supper? Absolutely not.
There are so many pictures in Scripture of the body of Jesus -- the incarnation of God -- ministering to the hurting and the helpless. In the Supper, I often reflect in my mind upon the body of Jesus blessing little children. The body of Jesus
walking on the water. The body of Jesus on the mountaintop, alone with the Father.
And what about the cup, in memory of "the new covenant in my blood" (1 Corinthians 11.25)? Is the cup simply a reminder of the spilt blood of Jesus at Calvary?
Paul ties the blood of Jesus and the new covenant together, in much the same way that the writer of Leviticus shows how blood is the source of life (see Leviticus 17.11). Blood was the source of Jesus' life, enabling His body to minister to the
helpless and hurting. And His blood is the source of life in the New Covenant, strengthening us to live redemptively, ministering in the way of Jesus to the helpless and hurting.
The more I think of it, the more I come to realize that the Lord's Supper calls us to the memory of a living Savior, not a dead one. To a ministering Savior, not a mutilated one. Why? Because a dead Savior can't save anybody (1 Corinthians
15.17; John 11.25) and the memory of a ministering Savior is the living color picture we need to live redemptively in our time.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
A Week in Need of Levity
So, I guess my laptop is on the shelf of some seedy Pawn Shop by now. There's been no hint, no sight of it. As I wrote on Monday, it's all replaceable, except for the year's worth of pictures of family memories. Again, my hope and prayer is that whoever took it would see fit to anonymously put the pictures on CD and mail it to me: 7886 North Millbrook Avenue, Fresno, CA 93720.
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To make matters worse, on Monday I confiscated the lonely desktop from the Youth Minister's office since we are in transition in that staff position at Woodward Park. Guess what happened Monday night? A power failure at the corner of Millbrook and Nees. And guess what happened to the desktop I'd gotten up and running on Monday? Yep, wiped out.
Today, Kris Davis is my hero because he spent last night reinstalling and reformatting the computer so that it works today, sans the saved information from Monday's work.
Pardon me for being brutally honest, but right now, I'm feeling really snake bit.
----------------
Weeks like this require a heavy dose of levity. The farther I get away from the visual memories of special family times on my laptop, the angrier I become. So a little levity goes a long way on weeks like this.
Thankfully, I found that levity this morning, courtesy of my great friend Allan. Incidentally, Allan's computer was stolen out of his church office after he'd been just five weeks in his new ministry in North Richland Hills. Here's a story sure to bring a smile to your face.
I'm getting ready this morning to write a letter to Emily. Emily, one of our teens here at Legacy, was baptized here Sunday morning. And I always write a letter to everyone who’s just put on our Savior in baptism, congratulating them, encouraging them, and reminding them to look back often on their baptisms and remember what God through Christ has done for them.
Mark baptized her. Emily’s dad, Greg, had asked Mark to do the honors as a result of some close relationships that are developing in their Small Group. When Mark and Emily and a few family and friends went back behind the stage area to prepare for the baptism, I began talking with our congregation about the importance of baptism. I wanted us all to reflect on our own baptisms and remember what God has created inside all of us. And just as I began to read from 2 Corinthians 5, I heard the water running. Full blast. Into an empty baptistry.
The power was apparently cut to our worship center sometime on Saturday as a result of some of the construction stuff happening around here. And our baptistry (as a safety measure, I’m told) automatically drains when the power’s off. So they started filling it as quickly as they could.
While the baptistry was filling, we went ahead with the Lord’s Supper and a couple of more songs. Then, finally, Jason and Lance open and hold back the curtains and we see Emily and Mark step into the water. Lance held a microphone over into the baptistry so we could all hear what was being said. One of Emily’s friends was standing at the top of the steps inside the baptistry, clearly visible to all of us in the crowd. And just as Mark was beginning to say, “I now baptize you…” a green garden hose reared up from the water and began spraying Lance and Emily’s friend.
One of the ladies, out of sight behind the scenes, had started to pull the hose slowly out of the water and up the steps in an effort to get it out of the way. She didn’t know the hose was still turned on. And when it came up out of the water, it STOOD UP and began spraying wildly like a hose will do when it’s turned on and nobody’s holding it. Lance got it. Mark and Emily got it. And the poor friend, bless her heart, was balanced on the top step of the baptistry and, in front of God and everybody, had to wrestle this hose down and grab it without getting completely drenched herself.
Somebody from the back hollered at Mark, “Take her confession! She’s going in!”
So we had one baptized and four sprinkled here at Legacy Sunday.
And I’m laughing. Man, I’m rolling. And I’m reminded that the more we plan and the more we rehearse and the more we try to make everything smooth and professional and slick and perfect, the more we need God to show us that it’s not us. It’s him. It’s not what we do at baptism, it’s what God does in washing away our sins and creating in us a new life filled with his Spirit. It’s not how good the worship leader is, it’s what God does in binding our hearts together as we lift up our voices to him in praise and as we sing to each other in mutual encouragement. It’s not how well the Scriptures are read, it’s what the holy Word does in convicting us and inspiring us to live into the stories of God and his people. It’s not how beautifully the prayers are led, it’s what our Father does in opening our souls to him and to each other when we pour out our hearts.
Emily and her family have a wonderful story to remember and to tell about her baptism. We all at Legacy rejoice with her and Greg and SueAnn. The angels in heaven rejoice as the Lord brings another sheep into the flock. And when the baptistry hose gets loose, when we start a song off key, when words from Scripture are mispronounced, and when the preaching is really dry, we know that what we do together on Sundays isn’t nearly as important as what God does.
---------------
To make matters worse, on Monday I confiscated the lonely desktop from the Youth Minister's office since we are in transition in that staff position at Woodward Park. Guess what happened Monday night? A power failure at the corner of Millbrook and Nees. And guess what happened to the desktop I'd gotten up and running on Monday? Yep, wiped out.
Today, Kris Davis is my hero because he spent last night reinstalling and reformatting the computer so that it works today, sans the saved information from Monday's work.
Pardon me for being brutally honest, but right now, I'm feeling really snake bit.
----------------
Weeks like this require a heavy dose of levity. The farther I get away from the visual memories of special family times on my laptop, the angrier I become. So a little levity goes a long way on weeks like this.
Thankfully, I found that levity this morning, courtesy of my great friend Allan. Incidentally, Allan's computer was stolen out of his church office after he'd been just five weeks in his new ministry in North Richland Hills. Here's a story sure to bring a smile to your face.
I'm getting ready this morning to write a letter to Emily. Emily, one of our teens here at Legacy, was baptized here Sunday morning. And I always write a letter to everyone who’s just put on our Savior in baptism, congratulating them, encouraging them, and reminding them to look back often on their baptisms and remember what God through Christ has done for them.
Mark baptized her. Emily’s dad, Greg, had asked Mark to do the honors as a result of some close relationships that are developing in their Small Group. When Mark and Emily and a few family and friends went back behind the stage area to prepare for the baptism, I began talking with our congregation about the importance of baptism. I wanted us all to reflect on our own baptisms and remember what God has created inside all of us. And just as I began to read from 2 Corinthians 5, I heard the water running. Full blast. Into an empty baptistry.
The power was apparently cut to our worship center sometime on Saturday as a result of some of the construction stuff happening around here. And our baptistry (as a safety measure, I’m told) automatically drains when the power’s off. So they started filling it as quickly as they could.
While the baptistry was filling, we went ahead with the Lord’s Supper and a couple of more songs. Then, finally, Jason and Lance open and hold back the curtains and we see Emily and Mark step into the water. Lance held a microphone over into the baptistry so we could all hear what was being said. One of Emily’s friends was standing at the top of the steps inside the baptistry, clearly visible to all of us in the crowd. And just as Mark was beginning to say, “I now baptize you…” a green garden hose reared up from the water and began spraying Lance and Emily’s friend.
One of the ladies, out of sight behind the scenes, had started to pull the hose slowly out of the water and up the steps in an effort to get it out of the way. She didn’t know the hose was still turned on. And when it came up out of the water, it STOOD UP and began spraying wildly like a hose will do when it’s turned on and nobody’s holding it. Lance got it. Mark and Emily got it. And the poor friend, bless her heart, was balanced on the top step of the baptistry and, in front of God and everybody, had to wrestle this hose down and grab it without getting completely drenched herself.
Somebody from the back hollered at Mark, “Take her confession! She’s going in!”
So we had one baptized and four sprinkled here at Legacy Sunday.
And I’m laughing. Man, I’m rolling. And I’m reminded that the more we plan and the more we rehearse and the more we try to make everything smooth and professional and slick and perfect, the more we need God to show us that it’s not us. It’s him. It’s not what we do at baptism, it’s what God does in washing away our sins and creating in us a new life filled with his Spirit. It’s not how good the worship leader is, it’s what God does in binding our hearts together as we lift up our voices to him in praise and as we sing to each other in mutual encouragement. It’s not how well the Scriptures are read, it’s what the holy Word does in convicting us and inspiring us to live into the stories of God and his people. It’s not how beautifully the prayers are led, it’s what our Father does in opening our souls to him and to each other when we pour out our hearts.
Emily and her family have a wonderful story to remember and to tell about her baptism. We all at Legacy rejoice with her and Greg and SueAnn. The angels in heaven rejoice as the Lord brings another sheep into the flock. And when the baptistry hose gets loose, when we start a song off key, when words from Scripture are mispronounced, and when the preaching is really dry, we know that what we do together on Sundays isn’t nearly as important as what God does.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Thief in the Night
First, let me say a big "Thank You" to all who emailed begging for the password. Frankly, I didn't realize that my periodic ramblings meant that much. Your emails overwhelmed me with the realization that, perhaps, there is some measure of good to be gained by regular blogging.
Thanks.
Second, my departure was due in part to the fact that someone decided they needed my laptop more than I did. Yes, someone helped them self into my office and left with my backpack and my laptop.
I can live without the laptop. What I shutter to live without is the year's worth of digital pictures capturing my girls' birthdays, vacations, church camp, baptisms, and various other special events that have been memorable.
Whoever you are who helped yourself to my backpack, you can have the laptop. Just please copy down the digital pictures to a disk and mail it to the church office: 7886 North Millbrook Avenue, Fresno, CA 93720. If you'll anonymously send me my pictures, you can have the laptop.
Thanks.
Second, my departure was due in part to the fact that someone decided they needed my laptop more than I did. Yes, someone helped them self into my office and left with my backpack and my laptop.
I can live without the laptop. What I shutter to live without is the year's worth of digital pictures capturing my girls' birthdays, vacations, church camp, baptisms, and various other special events that have been memorable.
Whoever you are who helped yourself to my backpack, you can have the laptop. Just please copy down the digital pictures to a disk and mail it to the church office: 7886 North Millbrook Avenue, Fresno, CA 93720. If you'll anonymously send me my pictures, you can have the laptop.
Friday, April 04, 2008
Hopes and Prayers
My thoughts and prayers are with my friends and family back home this morning. Mom and I watched Ned Perme and crew last night over the Internet as the storm cells continued pounding the central Arkansas area (be sure and hit the jump for KTHV's story with some amazing accompanying pictures of the aftermath).
It is hard to fathom so much rain that I-30 has been closed in places due to flooding. And the damage between Alcoa Road and Reynolds Road sounds prolific (but fortunately, it doesn't sound as though the Chick-fil-A at Bryant was touched...thank goodness!)
Between the tornadoes and the flooding, it has been an unforgettable spring for Arkansans. Here's hoping and praying all of you back home are safe and protected this morning.
It is hard to fathom so much rain that I-30 has been closed in places due to flooding. And the damage between Alcoa Road and Reynolds Road sounds prolific (but fortunately, it doesn't sound as though the Chick-fil-A at Bryant was touched...thank goodness!)
Between the tornadoes and the flooding, it has been an unforgettable spring for Arkansans. Here's hoping and praying all of you back home are safe and protected this morning.
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Estate Planning
A baseball lovers heads-up...DirecTV channel 720 (Game Mix) is the most incredible thing I have ever seen! I'm fearing my life as it has been known might evaporate in the sensory overload of eight games at one time! Also, XM is now broadcasting the MLB Channel (175) online and with a six-month special of only $2.99 (by the way, Charley Steiner's show "Baseball Beat" is the greatest talk radio show in the history of the airwaves).
One of the features of the baseball package on DirecTV that Dish didn't offer is the feed of both teams' broadcast. On Dish, before they elected not to compete for baseball programming, only the home team's broadcast on FSN was available. On DirecTV, both are available, including non-FSN broadcasts.
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It's early, I know, but I don't really like what I am seeing out of the Rangers. Six errors in two games? Jack Benny, aka Joaquin Benoit, as the 8th inning set-up guy? C.J. Wilson, the second coming of Mitch Williams, as closer? Maybe Ron Washington knows something I'm not seeing but the early returns on the bullpen and defense are not favorable.
On a positive note, the offense does look more patient at the plate. That is a nice change-of-pace from the past.
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"Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts. They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works. They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds. They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness" (Psalm 145.3-7).
I think we've misread Proverbs 13.22. There, Solomon speaks of a good man leaving "an inheritance for his children's children." With our western, affluent culture, we read into that verse the word "material" before the word "inheritance."
But notice that the word "material" isn't anywhere to be found in the original.
What inheritance are you leaving for your posterity? Why not plan to leave them an experiential inheritance, i.e. an investment of time that makes lifelong memories.
Better yet, why not invest in leaving behind a spiritual inheritance? The greatest gift we leave for our children and our children's children has nothing to do with material possessions but with those intangible, eternal possessions that can never be destroyed.
One of the features of the baseball package on DirecTV that Dish didn't offer is the feed of both teams' broadcast. On Dish, before they elected not to compete for baseball programming, only the home team's broadcast on FSN was available. On DirecTV, both are available, including non-FSN broadcasts.
--------------
It's early, I know, but I don't really like what I am seeing out of the Rangers. Six errors in two games? Jack Benny, aka Joaquin Benoit, as the 8th inning set-up guy? C.J. Wilson, the second coming of Mitch Williams, as closer? Maybe Ron Washington knows something I'm not seeing but the early returns on the bullpen and defense are not favorable.
On a positive note, the offense does look more patient at the plate. That is a nice change-of-pace from the past.
--------------
"Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts. They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works. They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds. They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness" (Psalm 145.3-7).
I think we've misread Proverbs 13.22. There, Solomon speaks of a good man leaving "an inheritance for his children's children." With our western, affluent culture, we read into that verse the word "material" before the word "inheritance."
But notice that the word "material" isn't anywhere to be found in the original.
What inheritance are you leaving for your posterity? Why not plan to leave them an experiential inheritance, i.e. an investment of time that makes lifelong memories.
Better yet, why not invest in leaving behind a spiritual inheritance? The greatest gift we leave for our children and our children's children has nothing to do with material possessions but with those intangible, eternal possessions that can never be destroyed.
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