The Power of Words: WORSHIP

The word "worship" is bandied around by churches so often that it has taken on a mythological quality. Many times the word is spoken of in hushed tones, where contemplation and mystical things take place. The word is used even more to describe such a variety of items that it loses it's uniqueness as a descriptive word. Church does not consist of Sunday morning services, but are "worship" services. Really? I thought there were announcements, and singing, and fellowship, and teaching, and prayer going on, as well as "worship."
In the Bible, the word "worship" is translated from multiple words in Greek and Hebrew and at a minimum encompasses our human response to God. I wonder if we spent some time going through the definitions how that would affect our individual and corporate "worship?" I know that I personally have been impacted by studying the word "worship," and digging into the Scriptures regarding the various instances. So let me challenge you to go get your Bible, find the word "worship." See how it is used in the sentence and see how it is used in context. Use the Concordance, use the Index, side notes, Bible Dictionary - there are so many tools to use to educate yourself and know more about words like "worship" and how the Bible defines it. Pray about what you learn, incorporate some of what you learn into your time of personal Bible reading and prayer - it will be become a time of "worship." This, then, will overflow into so many areas of your life. I know that your "worship" will be enhanced because of it.
I am a worshipper,
Graham

WORSHIP versus "WHORE-SHIP"

I was cleaning up some papers recently and came across a paper that had "Whorship" written with the "h" scribbled out. I think the person who wrote this was just probably hastily writing and put the "wh" together accidentally and then corrected his mistake by just scribbling the erroneous letter out. But after two things that I read in the last few days - some of Glenn Packiam's new book, "Secondhand Jesus,"(http://www.glennpackiam.com/home.jsp) and an article at Christian Music Today.com (http://www.christianitytoday.com/music/commentaries/2009/musicinrecession.html ) I was struck that many in Christian Music are seeking after riches, fame, adulation, and related items and in essence are "whoring" after these items. And scarily, I may be as well. Oh, I hope and pray that I am not doing so and lusting after the world. So a few checks are in order.

I want to check my motivation - is it for me or God?

I want to check my attitude - is it selfish and self-seeking or is it selfless and others focused?

I want to check my desires - are they purely driven by financial means and gain or are they pure?

I struggle with these things and pray that as I stay in the Word and in prayer that my mind with be renewed to be more like my loving God and Savior, Jesus.

RENEW MY MIND

Oh Lord, I’m driven to distraction
Too many things vie for my
attention
Oh Lord, what is this strange attraction?
Only You, deserve my
affection

(Chorus)
So renew my mind, refresh my soul
Cleanse my heart, and
make me whole
Restore Your fire to my life, my love, my all
Lord, renew my
mind on You

Oh Lord, I’m such a poor reflection
Going my own
way, selfish ambition
Oh Lord, why do I run from Your correction?
I surrender and follow Your direction

(Bridge) You are faithful, You are Holy,
You are righteous, You are true
I will seek and I will find You, I will
follow You

And be renewed in the spirit of your mind. - Ephesians 4:23 (NIV)

My prayer is that I will keep renewing my mind on Jesus.

PROCESS -
I'm currently in the studio recording more original music. While I am loving the process and am trying to get it accomplished faster that the first music I recorded it still takes time and money. (If you want to check out my first CD, go to CD Baby and search WAVE Band.) So, knowing that I cannot go in there and knock it all out in a week or two can be a bummer. But I do love the process. There is such great spiritual application from the whole process. We believers in Jesus Christ have to understand that our walk is a process. We don't instantly become Bible Scholars and Theologians or perfect Christians at the moment we surrender our lives to God. It's a process. When I go into the studio I start by laying down some scratch tracks for others to hear and get the basics of the melody and music in mind. Then we flesh these ideas out and start laying down some basic instruments. The process time, is cool but takes energy, brainstorming, and yes, money. We, too, need to understand that as we grow in our faith it takes time, energy, brainstorming and yes, money. After all, where we invest these things shows where our heart is focused. So, enjoy the process, after all as Rose Tremain is quoted as saying - "Life is NOT a Dress Rehearsal." This is it, so let's embrace the process and live lives sold out to God.

SAME JESUS - God Never Changes

Psalm 40:2

At a Notre Dame football game someone noticed a t-shirt worn by some students which read, “New Coach. New Pope. New Era. Same Jesus.” Wow! When I read that I had to do a double take, realizing that the t-shirt was referring to the “Touchdown Jesus” statue that overlooks the stadium in South Bend, Indiana. But as a believer in the real live Jesus I was struck by the awesomeness of this message - the immutability of Jesus - He is unchanging, He is always the same. The constant that Jesus is in the world today is a testament to the reality of who he is - God incarnate. The Word made flesh who dwelt among us, Immanuel, God with us. As believers we have this great hope, God never changes. Whatever we find ourselves facing, God never changes. Wherever we might be, God never changes. Yes, the circumstances in which we find ourselves might be rather fluid and constantly in motion but God never changes. In Psalm 40 we read that God has lifted our feet out of the miry clay and set them on a rock - the unchanging, unmovable Rock - Jesus, God incarnate. So take hope all of you that are getting that “sinking” feeling as you face the quandaries of life. We are set upon an unchanging rock. We can cling to God’s promises given throughout time. The same God, who created the world, led the Israelites out of Egypt, delivered them countless times from their enemies, fulfilled all His promises and made a way of salvation for us through the redeeming work of His son, Jesus Christ.

Maybe we should get some t-shirts printed up with “New This. New That. New Whatever. Same Jesus.” Amen.

Seeking First The Kingdom of God
Recently we have started a Bible study at our church using the Experiencing God materials. This is an excellent study and even though I have done it at least 3 or 4 times I am thoroughly enjoying it as the group dynamic is different each time, plus the timelessness of the study is based on the truth of God's Word. In our first week of daily lessons one of the Scriptures was Matthew 6:33. This familiar passage about seeking first the kingdom of God took on a freshness as I reread it in the context of the study. What spoke to me most was the first two words - Seek first. First of all, I often times am complacent in my spiritual walk - I love God and want to do His will but I may not be actively seeking Him in my life. I need to be seeking him and His movement around and in my life - I want to join Him in this work. I do not want to be stagnant. Secondly, I need to hold God's will as primary in my life, making it the absolute first in my life. This has to be over what I want and even what I need as God has said He will provide for my needs - all of them.
I love how God's Word is ageless and immutable, never changing, always there to teach, rebuke, correct and training us in righteousness.
Seeking first after His kingdom,
Graham

NIV - But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

NLT - Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

KJV - But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

MSG - Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

SIMPLE WORSHIP
Earlier this month I woke up early to watch the sun rise over the Atlantic Ocean. I was joined on the empty beach by a few other hearty souls also bent on catching the glowing orb of burning gas color the far horizon and burst upon our gaze. In that moment, I was so struck by the simplicity of the moment and how often we take it for granted. Every day is marked by the rising and setting of the sun that cries out to the faithfulness and permanence of God. But we are told that one day the sun will be no more and that in that heavenly city the "glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp" - Revelation 21:22. I was moved to cry out to God in worship for the simple fact of Him bringing me through another day and how I did not want to squander it but rather be open to the leading of His will, to the guiding of His Spirit. One day this world will be no more and I want to have spent my life for Him.
This is my simple act of Worship to my great God.

A REVIEW OF THE SHACK (Three out of Five Stars)

A lot is circulating about this little book, "The Shack." It is a polarizing book, and I do not agree with it wholeheartedly but I enjoyed it as fiction and am somewhat critical of it as any sort of theological treatise. I know that the author is writing cathartically and is biased - we all are in one form or another - but we do need to remember to filter this through the Scriptures, and to apply critical thinking as well as the Holy Spirit's guidance especially as this presents God in a very relational way which may be somewhat new. We, too, bring preconceived notions about God into this read, but most are very healthy. From Sunday School, or Bible Study, personal experience, or even other books, we shape an image about God. Hopefully, we are using the reading of the Scriptures, God's own Words, to get our best image.
At times, there is a tendency to get caught up in the groundswell in Christian circles and just go with the flow, endorsing various items, and I think that while there is much to enjoy about this book, there is much to be concerned with as well. I am not endorsing this book, and if I had to rate it I would give it 3 out of 5 stars. Overall I really enjoyed the book as it is an engaging story. The pace is moderate at first, picks up briefly and then continues on as Mack has his encounter with "Papa." Nearing the end there is too much going on without explanations and then wrapped up neatly, perhaps too neatly. It is one author's attempt to show the wonderful, loving relationship God enjoys with Himself (three separate personalities, one God) and that is pretty eye opening. The way that God interacts with Himself in the book is so loving. Joanna, my wife, really noted that God is into personal space, namely He "violates" interpersonal space, touching, hugging, etc. and is very physical. This is a neat picture of the great "Abba" or daddy realization that we need to have of God. My Aunt RoseLee said that it paints a picture and that picture can help us understand God a little better. That said, pictures can be wrong and although I do not think there is anything intrinsically wrong with the book, it still only presents one facet of God. After all, He is a great and wonderful creator, a God who lives in unapproachable light, who is to be feared, revered, and is Holy. So I do think the Shack presents a wonderful picture of God, and that as pictures go, can assist us in deepening our understanding of God, His 3-in-oneness, and the relationship He wants with us. On the other hand, just as pictures are limited by the moment they capture, (or what the artists paints), this book is limited in what it shows about God. My favorite part is the desire God has to include us (humanity) in on a relationship with Him. One other item I fear is missing from this book is repentance. Yes, God does pursue relationship with us but to truly experience full and complete forgiveness that God offers, there must be repentance, something that Mack and God do not discuss.
I do think the author has taken liberties in his novel that may stumble a younger believer and presents thoughts that are not all Biblical and may even be contrary to Scripture. I personally think a good balance to reading this would be to spend some time with Elmer Towns' series on the names of God. He has one for each member of the Trinity. Also "The Pursuit of Holiness" by Jerry Bridges is an excellent primer on obedience and living the Christian walk. Charles Colson's "Being The Body" and Philip Yancey's "What's So Amazing About Grace" are both dripping with practical mind-opening examples of how we should live in light of God's greatness.
A great review: http://www.challies.com/media/The_Shack.pdf
I'd love to hear your thoughts and comments.