What is worship?

Tonight I taught on worship. This week has been a blur and quite honestly exhausting in so many ways. As I struggled to finish my lesson today I found time running away, phone calls left unreturned, emails unreplied, even relationships left hanging. The most frustrating thing was not being able to organize my mind in such a way as to collect my thoughts enough to know exactly what I wanted to get across. When it came time for The Gathering tonight I had about 3 different lessons on worship to teach, but ended up not really teaching any of them. That's a good thing though...I think. It's an incredibly humbling experience to see God work in spite of yourself at times. The really cool thing is that Kate came in and whipped out her education background and made everything gel in a really cool way! Now if I could just get her to teach on Wednesday nights. God truly is bigger than us.

The words of one of the songs says this "Holy, You are still Holy, Even when the darkness surrounds my life. Sovereign, You are still Sovereign, Even when confusion has blinded my eyes." How true those words are for us. As we talked about worship tonight I realized that one of my greatest joys is seeing and hearing students worshiping God through song. The last song tonight and the worshipers around me led me to the quiet place of worship in my heart that I desperately needed.

All I Really Want To Do

Last week some guys and I were talking about taking the gospel into our friendships and relationships. The phrase we kept coming back to was speaking the truth into people's lives. I think the best way we can do this is not with any kind of religious, political, or social agenda, but to love people as Jesus loved them. Think about the woman caught in adultery, the blind man who had mud in his eyes, Zaccheus, and others who experienced the haunting, unrestrained love of the Savior. After we left each other's company, a Bob Dylan song came on my iPod. I couldn't help but smile, because this song is an embodiment of how we are to love people. Following is the song in its entirety.

All I Really Want To Do

I ain't lookin' to compete with you, Beat or cheat or mistreat you, Simplify you, classify you, Deny, defy or crucify you. All I really want to do Is, baby, be friends with you. No, and I ain't lookin' to fight with you, Frighten you or uptighten you, Drag you down or drain you down, Chain you down or bring you down. All I really want to do Is, baby, be friends with you. I ain't lookin' to block you up Shock or knock or lock you up, Analyze you, categorize you, Finalize you or advertise you. All I really want to do Is, baby, be friends with you. I don't want to straight-face you, Race or chase you, track or trace you, Or disgrace you or displace you, Or define you or confine you. All I really want to doIs, baby, be friends with you. I don't want to meet your kin, Make you spin or do you in, Or select you or dissect you, Or inspect you or reject you. All I really want to do Is, baby, be friends with you. I don't want to fake you out, Take or shake or forsake you out, I ain't lookin' for you to feel like me, See like me or be like me. All I really want to do Is, baby, be friends with you.

Copyright © 1964; renewed 1992 Special Rider Music

Another Year Older

Yesterday I turned 29. The funny thing is that I don't really feel older, I guess you could say I feel wiser! Ha Ha! I have come to the conclusion that age is something that you define regardless of what your ID says. I'm told that fine wine grows better with age. Age is essential for that fermenting process initially anyway. Perhaps we are all like fine wines that only grow better, more complex with age. I guess only TIME will tell.

63 Years

After I finished the graveside portion of the funeral yesterday I walked down the marker for my grandparents, George and Irene Bonner. As I stood there, I was reminded of their love for each other and commitment to each other. They were married for 63 years. Cyd and I have always told each other that we want to make it to 63 years, hopefully longer, before either one of us passes away. George and Irene's love have always been a source of inspiration for us. I had also forgotten that their anniversary is September 2. Claire's birthday is September 1, so maybe that's a sign that we will exceed 63 years.

Funeral Reflections

"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." Psalm 116:15

Yesterday I had the privilege of helping to celebrate the life and legacy of Sarah Agnes Rabey Boykin. She was 97. Her life of love and devotion to her savior and to people is an example to me of a life well-lived. She was a precious lady who touched many, many lives. She will be greatly missed, but we know that she is in heaven with our Lord preparing a place for the rest of the saints of God.

Family Visit

This past weekend my parents visited from Springville, Alabama. They are house parents at Big Oak Ranch for Girls. We had a wonderful time talking, laughing, and being together. It was especially great to see Claire interacting with her grandparents. The distance that separates us keeps us from seeing them as much as we would like, but the times together are always cherished. It made me think about the times of corporate worship in our lives as believers. Those times should be filled with awe, grace, and love. So often I think we come to church burdened down with so many other things that we can't seem to find our heart's desire and contentment in Christ. Really there shouldn't be a difference in our demeanor in those joyful times with family and friends and the gathering of God's people for worship.

Last Night On Earth Again pt. 2

As promised more reflection on some Over the Rhine tunes. "I put my soul up for sale/And the whole world asked,/Could you take any less?" Isn't this what happens so many times when we offer our souls, our deepest, darkest secrets, our hopes, dreams, ambitions, and idiosyncrasies to the world? We think to ourselves, "I will make myself vulnerable and open." Unfortunately, we end up discouraged and wounded because the world, even the people closest to us, reject our offer and cheapen our very existence and worth.