Monthly Archives: May 2015

I have been “culling” various files these past few days. 

Yesterday was my “worship” files. 

My musical ability made me a candidate for the front row of the worship wars in the late years of the past century.  I not only led worship teams as they were evolving in North America, but I taught on the whole subject area.

Three times I taught a seminary course, and at least as many, if not more, times helped to organize and teach worship courses for local churches.  The interaction and stimulation of these teaching experiences still shapes my life today.

Worship is a constant part of our lives.  We choose to worship in the morning.  And at noon.  And in the evening time. 

Corporately, our worship tends to focus most on a once a week service.  Small groups gather and coffee meetings host worship. 

Worship is merely a two way conversation with God.  In that conversation we are reminded that God is God and we are not.  Our expression of that understanding leads to singing, prayer, social action, love, joy, peace and so much more.  We work with the signs of baptism and communion to remind us of the awesome preparation God has done for us.  We pledge to serve as God’s kingdom on earth.  We enjoy God’s throne room and His living room.  We tell others of the God we worship.

At the core, then, worship is core.  Christian worship is the recognition that the way to God in worship is through Jesus Christ.  This is facilitated through the Spirit of God living in us and expressing worship through us.

What a great stream in which to live.  Living waters from God that refresh us and in our growth bring us back to the one who is to be worshipped.

OK, that was just a few files that I looked over.  Good stuff!!

My three mothers fill my mind on a day like Mother’s Day.  Whether or not this commemorative day was inspired by card companies seeking spikes in sales, the idea is a good one.

We too often think that we will constantly remember those we love.  Then our lives become cluttered.  And we focus on the door in front of us, without looking back to the doors that have been opened for us.

My birth mother chose to provide security for a young boy/man who could too easily think the worst.  His sensitivity was often his downfall – and my mother chose to stand strong in spite of her own misgivings and insecurities.

My mother-in-law (number #1) lived through the need to support others whose lives were difficult.  There is a resilience that I appreciate when I talk to her.  There is a sense of God’s destiny that could so easily have been clouded by circumstances.

And now my mother-in-law (number #2) carries the same supportive scaffolding wherever she goes, based on her own experiences.  She is a Godly woman who is strong, and forthright, and loving.  And she makes great buns that are quickly devoured at our house.

Thanks to my three mothers!!

A house can provide a person a place of refuge and a shelter – we call that a home.

A house, though, is also made up of materials.  Bricks, mortar, wood, cement, pipes, wiring, and sometimes other things that we would rather not know about.

Yesterday we took a look at a house.  One that is up for sale.

The foundation is solid.  Looks like no great problems there.  A giant pine tree towers in the front yard.  The owners had lovingly watered it – apparently the roots got all the water they needed.

Inside, the wiring is older – somewhat outdated.  The plumbing has had various tricks added to the original pipes – I call them “farmer fixes”.  The layout has been altered somewhat – in a good way. 

Overall a place you could occupy without a problem.  As to fixing it up – the question is always whether you can get your money out of it.  I would call this a low to medium level return on investment.

Yes, a house is a house.  And what you do with it is up to you!

As we are walking through our lives together, there are times where quietness is predominant.  We read of the the idea the we should “be still and know that I am God.”  That is a reassuring thing.

Quietness is not always a calming agent.  When God chooses to be quiet, we assume the worst.  Our questions, we figure, must have immediate answers.  Otherwise the plans that we have been working on will dissolve and dissipate (in other words, things will fall apart).

Of course, the plans we hope to accomplish may be our own scheming.  They may also be God’s plans in God’s timing for God’s purpose.  We are just trying to fill in the blanks where God has left them ambiguous for the moment.

I’m not sure which side I’m falling on this morning.  Calm and reassured, or anxious and uptight.  We are seeking a house in which to live.  Options continue to arise (for which we are thankful).  Options have also fallen away (for which we are also thankful).  God has reassured us that He is God and we are not – housing will happen.  In the quietness, though, I just wish I could hear the scrawling of a pen filling in the occupancy date!