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The Idiom Is True
There’s an old idiom which goes like this: “it takes all kinds to make the world go around”.
I guess it’s referring to diversity.
So the world goes around because it’s home for people of all colors, shapes, and sizes.
But are there more categories? How many kinds of people are there; you know, the ones that make the world go around?
Do rich people have any connection to the world’s movement? Do those with less money cause the world to speed up or slow down?
How important is it to have both liberals and conservatives on the same planet? One would think the two opposing ideologies would cancel each other out, leaving the world with no propellant, no way to get itself in gear.
And really, must the world keep turning? As a kid I heard the earth’s gravity depends largely on its rotation. Of course, I could’ve missed something along the way.
What about people we don’t like? How vital is their role?
I wonder if it’s possible to somehow dump the people we don’t care for over the side of the world. But if they are important to the world’s rotation I’d really hate to mess with it.
Now for the big question. Scripture teaches that one of these days the Christians, those who are followers of Christ, will no longer be residents of this world. So how will our leaving affect those who remain?
Though I’m not sure of the specifics, that is the one group whose departure will make a gigantic impact on how the world continues to go around. Because after the group as been shuttled off to another world it will take less than seven years for this world to fall completely into ruins.
I believe it will simply grind to a complete stop.
Even if the world lost all of its white or black, skinny or fat, rich or poor, tall or short population, it would continue to spin. But pull the Christ followers out…
I guess the idiom is true.
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That’s NOT what we needed, pastor!
It was a Sunday morning many years ago. As I was walking up to the platform to begin the church service a couple stopped me to let me know they had been praying for me.
I was absolutely delighted…
…until they added, “God has told us what you’re supposed to preach. If you don’t, we know you’ve missed God.”
How’s that for added pressure?
Well, it just so happens that I missed God that morning. How do I know? They told me.
“That’s NOT what we needed, pastor.”
Like most pastors, I really want to do my best for God and the congregation. I don’t want to “miss it”. But having been in pastoral ministry for 30 years, I know I haven’t blessed the socks off of everyone who’s heard me preach.
I’ve had moments where I was “a man sent from God”! Yet there have been other times when I was looked at like I’d just blasphemed the Holy Spirit.
I’ve thought, many times, how nice it would be if the congregation and pastor knew how to work together, and how much it could benefit God’s kingdom as a whole.
I recently taught a message called, “How to get the most out of your pastor.” In it, I included five simple things that will help each and every Christ follower relate properly with their pastor, and as a result, help the pastor do and be all Jesus created him to be.
Are you a pastor? Do you think it would be decent if people understood your ministry?
Do you have a pastor? Wouldn’t it be great to get your money’s worth out of him?
A few days ago I published an eBook through Amazon Kindle titled “How To Get The Most Out Of Your Pastor – Five Simple Things”. I believe it will help each person in the Body of Christ.
I believe it can help you.
As I taught the class that night I was amazed at their reaction. First of all, when I mentioned the topic, people began scurrying around for pencil and paper to take notes. Then as we discussed the different things each person could do I could see their enthusiasm and desire to follow through.
Finally, a week later people were still telling me how much they benefited from the lesson.
People are the same the world over. Don’t you agree?
People who genuinely love God and the church really do want to help their pastor, AND get the most out of them.
I invite you to follow this link and see if this book just might be one you could use. The cost of the book is only $2.99.
Thank you in advance. May the Lord continue to use his church in a way that exalts Jesus and brings a heavenly transformation to mankind.
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That’s Some Serious Believing!
I’m a little bit puzzled.
I hear people boast about not believing in God. Why? Is it a sign of strength, maturity, or independence? Is it an admirable quality; one that should be added to the Six Pillars of Character?
Let’s see if you can follow my line of reasoning for just a moment.
In some countries, people who choose to become a Jesus follower do so with great persecution. They risk everything they have for the kingdom of God. And that level of commitment for what they believe sustains them through anything. “They overcame by the blood of the Lamb, the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives even to death.” (Revelation 12:11)
That’s some serious believing.
Up to now, in the land of the free and home of the brave, we haven’t had to endure that level of persecution. Oh, things aren’t perfect by any means, but outside of Christians being ridiculed by special groups of God haters, things are relatively easy for us American Christians.
And you know what? Sometimes Christians act funny and ask for the extra attention.
Okay. Back to my puzzle.
If persecution and tribulation can help Christ followers whittle down their opinions and traditions to what they really believe, enough to even die for if necessary, will persecution and tribulation have the same pruning effect on atheists? Or how about with people who say they believe in God but don’t want to submit to God’s rule?
What do you think?
There’s coming a time when everyone on earth will be tested! Believe it or not. It will happen.
People who believe in God’s way will have the opportunity to prove it.
And there will be hell to pay as a result.
AND, during that SAME PERIOD OF TIME those who don’t want anything to with God will have the opportunity to back up their arrogance with action!
Only those folks will have Heaven to pay. Look at the next two passages:
I watched as the Lamb broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake. The sun became as dark as black cloth, and the moon became as red as blood. Then the stars of the sky fell to the earth like green figs falling from a tree shaken by a strong wind. The sky was rolled up like a scroll, and all of the mountains and islands were moved from their places. Then everyone – the kings of the earth, the rulers, the generals, the wealthy, the powerful, and every slave and free person – all hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. And they cried to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to survive. (Revelation 6:12 – 6:17 NLT)
One-third of all the people on earth were killed by these three plagues – by the fire and smoke and burning sulfur that came from the mouths of the horses. Their power was in their mouths and in their tails. For their tails had heads like snakes, with the power to injure people.
But the people who did not die in these plagues still refused to repent of their evil deeds and turn to God. They continued to worship demons and idols made of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood – idols that can neither see nor hear nor walk! And they did not repent of their murders or their witchcraft or their sexual immorality or their thefts (Revelation 9:18 – 9:21 NLT)
I’ve got to hand to those folks! Though they recognize Who’s giving them what for, they still raise their voice in defiance to God.
Incredible!
One-third of earth’s population wiped out. Many others are just barely surviving. Yet the stalwart rebels, even in the face of extreme persecution, stand for what they believe. Or is it what they don’t believe?
Imagine what could be done if believers believed as stubbornly as atheists and God haters.
Yep, that’s some serious believing.
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What Do You Believe About Jesus?
Have you ever heard of Jesus? Who do people say that he is?
Or was?
What have you heard?
Some have called him Elijah; others, John the Baptist.
What do you say?
I’ve heard some people refer to him as Lucifer’s brother.
Yes, and there are those who believe we evolved from monkeys.
One of the prophets, the divine light, one of many gods, and eternal guide, to name just a few other purported names and views.
His name is used in many ways depending on the user’s belief. For instance, some use the name when they are mad or upset. Others, when they need heaven’s intervention. Many like to throw it on the end of a sentence as an exclamation point! Considering how many people speak the name, for one reason or another, it must really be a powerful name.
But what you heard? What do you believe?
Some have called him the son of David, the bright and morning star, everlasting father, mighty God, and prince of peace.
Down through the ages people have had varying opinions of this one called Jesus.
Do you have an opinion?
I’ve had different opinions through the years; especially the first twenty one years of my life. I remember when he was a non-entity to me. Jesus? Never heard of him. That’s when I was ten or eleven.
My twelfth birthday rolled around and I attended a Methodist Sunday School class a few times. My opinion quickly changed from a non-person to a mystery man who wore sandals and rode donkeys while crowds threw a bunch of sticks at him. Hosanna didn’t sound like praise. It sounded more like, “Get him! Hit him with the sticks!”
I learned a lot more about Jesus, and a lot quicker, once I began hanging out with older kids. I learned Jesus had a middle name that began with the letter “F”, that he was always ready to damn something, and that he didn’t like cute girls, rock and roll, long hair on guys, cigarettes, drugs or alcohol.
Yep. I never did meet a cute girl in church.
All my teen age friends agreed with me. Jesus might have been cool when he was alive, but that was then. I was told, over and over, God is dead.
My opinion changed when I was twenty one. That’s when I met this one I thought was a non-entity. I found out he did take a beating, and that he took it for me. Oh yes, and he took one for you.
He didn’t come to curse or damn anything. Instead, he came to try and release mankind from the curse they were covered in.
Cute girls? It’s amazing what happens to a person’s eyesight after Jesus has had some time to tweak their heart.
I don’t know what you have heard, or what you believe about Jesus. But whatever it is, you will conduct your life accordingly. And wherever you finally end up, you will be there because of what you’ve believed about Jesus.
Once there was a woman with a severe bleeding problem. She had it for twelve years, and though she kept spending her money on doctors and treatments, she never got any better.
One day she heard something about Jesus. I don’t know what she knew beforehand, maybe nothing at all. But now things were different. She heard he was healing people.
And she believed. And she acted on what she believed. And her life was changed.
“She had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him through the crowd and touched his robe.”(Mark 5:27 NLT)
If you haven’t heard this yet, hear it now. Jesus loves you. He’s not willing for you to spend eternity in a hell prepared for someone else. He wants to make you a brand new person with a new mind, new language, new beliefs.
He did it for this twenty one year old; thirty nine years ago.
How about you? Isn’t it time you really considered this one called Jesus?
What you believe determines your actions. Your actions determine your destiny.
So what have you heard? What do you believe? Where are you headed?
And does that make you happy?
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I Tried To Ignore Him
For as long as I can remember, my wife and I wanted a daughter. We used to walk through the moonlit streets of Capernaum, late into the night, hand in hand, discussing names we’d like to give to a daughter. That is, if God would bless us with something so precious.
Now I’m not what you’d call a religious man; never heard much about religious things growing up in Antioch. It’s not that I had anything against religion, no, I just didn’t have much time for it.
My wife and I married at a fairly young age, big wedding and everything. Family, friends, neighbors; seemed like the whole town turned out to celebrate with us.
Things were looking good in our little world, that is until trouble started brewing in Judaea.
About three months after our wedding, my wife and I boarded a ship and sailed to Tyre, and from there caught a slow donkey ride to Capernaum. Forty miles of dust, bumps and bruises. We were ever so glad to get a glimpse of Lake Tiberius, meaning home was a mere ten miles away.
Capernaum. The little city by the sea, with a population of around fifteen hundred. Friendly little fishing village with less than its share of Jewish Patriots. Like those Jerusalem troublemakers.
Capernaum. Our hometown for the next fourteen plus years.
Little by little we grew familiar with the Jewish customs and traditions. I guess you’d say our hearts were at least a bit softened toward religious discussions, though I didn’t understand much about it. I did, I suppose maybe a couple of times, help the local synagogue with their building fund. Hey, I had a good life, these people were my friends, so, what the heck.
I had recently learned that the whole Jewish nation was becoming wild with anticipation which began as word spread from Jerusalem about the Lord’s Messiah. Apparently this man named Jesus of Nazareth claimed to be God’s Son, the promised One. There were a lot of mixed discussions about him.
But I never thought much about him. I thought, eh, whatever. As long as he stays down there in Jerusalem and leaves my peaceful little world alone.
Oh no, I almost forgot to tell you about our little princess.
Our daughter was born just about twelve years ago. A little one, barely six pounds; but full of life, smiles, and shiny, black hair. Eleanora. Shining light. It’s the name my wife and I chose late one night while walking hand in hand; the moonlight caressing our shoulders and illuminating our path, while silently listening to us dream about having a little girl.
Exactly a week ago our peaceful little fishing village was turned upside down; and so was my world. Jesus had arrived in town with his entourage of disciples, women who helped prepare meals for his team, along with a large and cynical group of Pharisees and Sadducees. I couldn’t tell the difference between the two groups so I just referred to them as skeptics.
Jesus wasted no time in stirring up the multitudes. I wished he had never come to town, at least for the first few days after his arrival. I hadn’t worked so hard in years. Crowd control, pick pockets, petty crimes, a few assaults; just a lot of extra work because some religious guy came to town.
People invited me to attend some of the meetings, but I politely turned them down. Hey, it’s alright for them. I’d rather not be bothered.
But yesterday I happened to walk into the area Jesus was ministering. As soon as I heard his voice I became captivated, unable to move, as if I was suddenly glued to the ground. I listened to him speak of his father’s love and compassion. I heard him tell a story about a farmer planting seeds. Then I saw him heal two men who had born blind.
“Hey, I know those guys!” I exclaimed. Apparently loud enough for Jesus to hear me, because his eye caught mine. And he smiled.
I finally began to work my way out of the crowd, toward home, when our neighbor boy ran up to me, gasping for breath.
“Your wife sent me to tell you to hurry home. Something’s happened to Eleanora; she is delirious with fever and her breathing is very shallow!”
I began running, but my mind quickly outdistanced me. It kept racing back to the crowd where Jesus had been. Could it be? Is it possible? Could I trust a man I didn’t know?
Yet the way he looked at me, as though he knew me and my family…
I stopped dead in my tracks. “God help me”, I whispered.
My very first prayer.
I ran as fast as I could back to the mob. Pushing my way through the crowd (I was glad to be wearing my uniform) I finally came face to face with the one called Messiah. I didn’t know much about that, but I had witnessed the healing of a couple of blind guys. I knew he was my answer; the answer to my short, inaugural prayer.
“Jesus, my little girl is dying. Please come and lay your hand on her and she will live.”
At once we began walking together, my faith growing with each step.
All of a sudden I discovered I was walking alone. Jesus had stopped. Some woman had crawled on her hands and knees, pressing through the crowd, just to get to him. Good for her.
Bad for me.
Real bad.
While he was still speaking to her, messengers arrived from my home. They told me, “Your daughter is dead. There’s no use troubling the Teacher now.” (Mark 5:35 NLT)
No! Not my princess!
Like a lighting bolt, Jesus’ words pierced the darkness of my doubt and despair.
“Don’t be afraid. Only believe. Keep on believing.”
I really don’t remember much after that moment. I know we made it to my home, met by the mourners who had already begun planning the funeral. I remember Jesus mentioning something about my little girl sleeping.
But I’ll never forget the joy we all experienced when my little shining light was presented to us completely alive and perfectly whole.
In just a few days time, my world was changed forever by someone I tried to ignore.
How about you? He’s still the same today as he was back then.
I realize I combined a couple of stories from the bible – Jairus a leader in a synagogue, and a certain centurion. The centurion wanted his servant healed, Jairus, his daughter. But you know what? This could have happened. After all…
“Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written.” (John 21:25 NLT)
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Elijah’s Lesson
My name is Elijah.
Sure, I’m the prophet who never died, but there were a few times I really believed I was about to.
Just like you I’ve had to endure tough times, keep my passions from ruining my life, and handle a powerful force called fear. Yes, it’s true; I have passions just like you.
I hail from a little town called Tishbe. It’s not much; just two stop signs in the whole town. A small school is situated on the north edge of town. I did all right as a student, but never established myself as a leader of men. For me, I’d much rather hide in the shadows than address a crowd.
Man, was I in for a surprise.
As a young man just out of high school I received a visitation from God one day. That’s when I learned of the call of God. It’s when I began to witness the supernatural hand of God upon my life.
Still, I didn’t enjoy the work; I would have rather worked at the neighborhood groceteria. But that wasn’t God’s plan.
Times were tough in our nation. We had a king who didn’t know how to lead others, couldn’t work well with anyone, and had only one advisor. His wife.
I remember the day when the word of the Lord told me to go and visit king Ahab. I tried to get out of it by explaining to the Lord I had an appointment with an oral surgeon, to have a root canal. He didn’t buy it for a minute, I soon found myself walking into the king’s palace in Jezreel.
The look on Ahab’s face when I said, “It’s not going to rain in this nation until I give the word.” Oh, what a sight. Definitely one of those Kodak moments.
I was flying high as I left the palace. I was ready to take the king’s cadre of servants and prophesy to each one of them. However, the Lord had other plans.
“Go to the east and hide by Kerith Brook, near where it enters the Jordan River. Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring you, for I have commanded them to bring you food.” (1 Kings 17:3-4 NLT)
Ravens to bring me food? I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Ravens? Come on, Lord. Yet the Lord was teaching me something I needed to learn.
You see, a person can be anointed to stop the rain and even call down fire from Heaven, but still have a problem with trusting God for the day to day things. But God is faithful. And he who began a good work in me is faithful to complete it.
So, anyway, I did as I was commanded, and hiked over to the brook. I’ll never forget the first day when a flock of ravens arrived at my camp, each with a beak full of bread. Wow.
But just about the time I was finally settling in, something happened.
My brook dried up.
Can you believe it? I couldn’t. I was just a little ticked at God. After all, I had turned down a promising career in the supermarket business to follow God’s leading into prophet’s ministry. I had heard of some prophets who always had big meetings with big offerings, but God hadn’t blessed in that manner. No, only ravens with bread for me.
To say I was disappointed would be an understatement.
About the time I was to complain to God about my disparate treatment, the word of God came to me again.
“Go and live in the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon. I have instructed a widow there to feed you.” (1 Kings 17:9 NLT)
Now we’re getting somewhere. At least now I get to live in a town.
When I got off the bus in Zarephath, I could barely believe my eyes. Jerusalem it wasn’t. Jezreel, not even close. It appeared like they didn’t even have a Walmart in town. And not sure where to go, I began walking to what I assumed was the center of town.
Then my eyes caught sight of a little lady, probably in her early to mid thirties, walking around the park with her son, gathering sticks. Right away, I sensed the poke of the Lord.
“That’s the one, Elijah.”
Excited, believing my future was secure, I approached the two and introduced myself.
“Would you please bring me a little water in a cup?” I asked. As she started toward the well I thought to myself, “Hallelujah! Elijah, you’ve got it made now.”
Then, as a second thought, I hollered, “Bring me a bite of bread, too.”
My expectation? I was certain she’d holler back, “Yes sir. Got you covered, sir.”
But that isn’t what she said. “I can’t, I can’t, I can’t.”
About that time, deep within my spirit, the lesson the Lord was trying to teach me opened before my very eyes. He was teaching me that he alone is my source. No one else. Not Ahab or his nasty wife, Jezebel. Not the ravens or the brook. Not the widow or her son.
Not even the groceteria.
He’s the one who gives me the power to get wealth.
God and God alone.
So with authority and boldness from the Lord I said to her, “Don’t be afraid! Go ahead and do just what you’ve said, but make a little bread for me first. Then use what’s left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son. For this is what the Lord , the God of Israel, says: There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the Lord sends rain and the crops grow again.” (1 Kings 17:13-14 NLT)
And folks, the bread was awesome!
Are you going through troublesome times? Do you feel like God keeps letting you down? Why is there so much disappointment while serving the Lord?
Is it that, perhaps, God is helping you realize who your source really is?
“Man doesn’t live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”
And when you do things right, you get to eat the bread.
And man, oh man, does the bread taste good!
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Take That Mister Devil
Here’s a little bit of news you just may need, possibly tomorrow.
It’s information about the devil. But it’s good news. Jesus makes it good news.
The devil doesn’t like for anyone to bring this up, but it’s high time we put him in his place; under our feet.
Sure, he’s called the accuser of the brethren. He’s referred to as the wicked one, the lawless one, the deceiver, the god of this world, and the prince of the power of the air.
He’s known as that old serpent, the ruler of darkness, and the tempter.
The father of lies is he, lying his way into the hearts and lives of ignorant people. No, I didn’t say stupid people, I said ignorant; people who haven’t a clue about what truth really is.
Or who truth actually is.
He lied to mankind’s first couple, and their first son. He lied to everyone in Noah’s day, other than the eight people who were saved. And you just know he tried lying to them.
His escapades have continued down through history, lying to one after another, inciting jealousy, misunderstandings, greed, bitterness, fighting, war and death.
In fact, I’d say he’s very active today; even in America.
Like I said, though, I’ve got good news.
It’s so good, God is shouting it clear across Heaven. And, he’s shouting it to you and I.
“Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens, “It has come at last – salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth – the one who accuses them before our God day and night. And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.” (Revelation 12:10-11 NLT)
“The accuser of our brothers and sisters is no longer in charge! He has no clout in Heaven. And my sons and daughters are no longer slaves to the enemy’s chains.”
Can you hear your father shouting the victory?
We overcome by Jesus’ blood, our testimony of his power and grace in us, and we are not afraid to stand or fall for truth.
The devil’s lies fall at our feet because God’s truth rules in our hearts.
His evilness is no match for the good God’s righteousness imparts to our spirit. Hatred can’t overcome the love of God that is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. Darkness no longer rules our life. We walk in the light as God is in the light. God IS light.
The tempter no longer can show us the receipt Adam gave him, demanding our allegiance and obedience. No. We have a receipt stamped “Paid In Full” from the who paid the price; Jesus Christ the righteous.
The fine print, in case you are wondering, states that those who are no longer condemned, who walk in the Spirit, no longer are required to obey the cravings of their flesh (Romans 8).
The devil is defeated. The sooner we understand that, believe that, the quicker we’ll recognize the way of escape during any temptation. God is greater that a host of devils. Yes? Yes!
You and I can believe these scriptures…
The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked. (Proverbs 24:16 NLT)
One disaster was enough to overthrow the wicked. The Resurrection was the devil’s disaster!
For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God. (1 John 5:4 – 5:5 NLT)
Who wins? Those who believe.
I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else – not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself. (Ephesians 1:19-23 NLT)
God put all things under the feet of Jesus. The feet are part of the body of Christ, who is FAR above EVERY ruler, authority, power or leader.
Take that, mister devil!
(I told you this was good news)
What do you think? How can the sacrificial death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus change your world?
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A Matter Of The Heart
I’d like to share some thoughts regarding the ministry of the worship leader. Almost every Christian church has one, though they have varying titles. Some are called Song Leaders, while others could be referred to as Worship Pastors, Music and Arts Pastors, Psalmist, or maybe one I haven’t heard of. I’ll use the term “worship leader” though, for the purpose of this blog.
I’ve been a Christian for 37 years. I’ve been a worship leader for about 30 years. I’ve led songs for 37 years. What? Why the difference in years? Because leading songs and leading worship are two different things, the same way singing and worshiping are two different things.
Remember when King David brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem? It took him two tries before he was able to “secure” the Presence of God. The first attempt (read 2 Samuel 6) was very festive to begin with, but resulted in fatality. They attempted to carry the Presence of God using the latest vehicles, gadgets, most people in the choir, service scheduled to the minute second, everyone wearing the best robes Israel had ever seen, and the instruments were second to none. But even with all they had going for them, they didn’t follow God’s instructions. They didn’t find out what He wanted. They presumed to know, presumed to believe that God would “show up” just because they did. Wrong.
Dead wrong.
David was a man after God’s own heart, according to Acts 13:22. He desired to not only sing to the Lord, or about the Lord, but he desired to worship the Lord. To me, the difference between singing and worship is this: singing to or about God is simply using my physical and mental faculties to express something. Worship comes from my heart, the deepest part of my being. I may use my mind and thoughts to help express what my heart wants to say, but worship comes from the heart.
Remember that Jesus said, “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks”? He also said, “God is Spirit. They who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.” Again, Paul wrote in Romans, “if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” In other words, a person cannot worship with only their mind and voice, just like one can’t become a Christian because they repeat the “sinners” prayer. It’s a matter of the heart.
Worship is a matter of the heart.
David took a little time and rethought the matter. Somehow it dawned on him that God must have some thought on the subject. David discovered he had been wrong. So he assembled the procession again. This time he would lead the worship procession in spirit and truth. His whole being, spirit, mind, and body, became involved in “leading worship”; making a place of honor for the Lord. The priests, the “worship team” if you will, accepted the responsibility for carrying the Ark of the Covenant. David was in front of the procession worshiping with all his might. Not everyone liked what David was doing, but God did. David led worship by worshiping.
Remember, worship is a matter of the heart.
I’ve listened to and seen a lot of different worship leaders over the last 37 years. God used several to show me and teach me how to worship and lead others in worship. I’m not saying I’ve learned it all, not by any means. I just know what I know. And, I’ve heard some say that leading worship has changed, and it’s totally different than it used to be. I disagree. Leading worship has not changed. Leading songs, has. Songs have changed, instruments have changed, all the outward stuff is different, more hi-tech, etc.
But worship is a matter of the heart.
It was that way when Abraham walked up the mountainside with Isaac to “go and worship”(Gen.22). It was a matter of the heart when David sat on the hillside, watching over his sheep, singing, “the Lord is my Light, and my Salvation…”
Worship has ALWAYS been a matter of the heart.
So, if you are going to be a worship leader, take a tip or two from David. HE worshiped as he led worship. You cannot drive people to worship. You can’t beat them into worship. Worship isn’t submission to the worship leader, it’s submission to GOD. You can’t pick just the right songs to get people to move a certain way, because worship can’t be coerced or manipulated.
As David did, you have to worship if you are going to lead worship. Even if the guitar is out of tune, the projector burns out, the microphone is crackling, you have to worship. Worship is a matter of the heart, not the sound system. If necessary, throw away the stuff so you can worship!
If you are the only one worshiping, great! Don’t stop and scold the congregation! Be kind of like the doorman in a fancy restaurant. Every time he opens the door for a customer, the fragrant aroma of the restaurant invades the parking lot. So, as a worship leader, worship; hold the door open and allow the fragrance of God to draw the whole congregation in.
When you minister out of your heart, a heart full of worship to your God, it will affect others. Because…
Worship is a matter of the heart.
Questions: are you a worship leader or team member? Do you ever get distracted with the business of leading worship? What do you do to refocus?
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Heroes in the NFL?
Someone is always messing with the dictionary; always trying to rewrite the definition of the word “hero.”
Who are the true heroes?
Hero definition: a person of distinguished courage or ability, admired for their brave deeds and noble qualities.
Notice the words – distinguished courage and ability, brave deeds and noble qualities. A hero is much more than an admired person, don’t you think? An admired person may be cordial, polite, generous, and nice to little old ladies. But that doesn’t enter them into the Who’s Who in the Worldwide Book of Heroes.
A hero is a person of distinguished courage; noteworthy, outstanding, head and shoulders above the norm, courage. A person who faces hardships and possibly dangerous situations, even while staring death in the face, maintaining composure to accomplish the mission or honorable deed.
Brave deeds and noble qualities must be kept inseparable if they’re to be used in defining a hero. I mean, brave deeds can be accomplished by a robber attempting to knock off the Chase Manhattan Bank. I wouldn’t call it noble or honorable, would you? Daring? Yes. Noble? No.
I believe our nation has slipped a cog or two when it started referring to professional athletes as heroes. Regardless of whether the sport is football, soccer, horse racing or auto racing, performing well in their sport doesn’t qualify them to wear the hero shirt for the day. It takes more. At least it should.
And now, with the NFL draft behind us, someone else is messing with the dictionary. Imagine, a 7th round draft pick, 249th overall pick, never played a game in the league, may not even make the team’s roster…who’s treated like a hero. The President and First Lady mixed their voices with the rest of the country’s lexicon modifiers, equating a person’s sexual preference with a person of distinguished courage or ability. The fact that a person is the first openly “gay” to be drafted by an NFL team shouldn’t put them in league with people who are admired for their brave deeds and noble qualities.
What is so brave and noble about coming out of the closet?
Anyway, I shouldn’t be surprised. And you know what, it isn’t our President’s fault, or his wife’s fault. It isn’t the media’s fault or the “gay” football player’s fault.
It’s simply the way this world is. Jesus talked about it, Paul wrote about it, and the Holy Spirit bears witness with my spirit; these are the last days.
Throughout man’s existence there have always been people who’ve tried to change the rules, alter the definitions, and make sin acceptable and even honorable. In turn they try and discredit the people who stand for righteousness, labeling them fanatical nuts. So nothing’s new.
“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight! Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine, and valiant men in mixing strong drink, who acquit the guilty for a bribe, and deprive the innocent of his right.” (Isaiah 5:20-23 ESV)
“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.” (2 Timothy 3:1-5 ESV)
Do you want to know who the real hero is? He’s the one who, with no guarantees that anyone would accept his daring, brave, courageous and noble deed, gave his life a ransom for you and me.
The hero of heroes, Jesus Christ.
And he’s STILL showing his noble qualities by continuing to love this nutty, mixed up world clear to the end. He’s not willing for anyone to perish; not the gays, not the straights, not the lexicon modifiers.
No one.
He’s already gone to hell and back to prove it.
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Come See A Man
I sat on the hot and dusty stone wall staring at the man. For the past half hour we conversed. No, we didn’t converse – he read my mail and opened my heart like no one ever had. I’ve been in love countless times, married more times than I care to remember. Even the one I’m living with, though we’ve lived together six months, has never touched my heart like this man.
How did I become the person I am? Why do I feel as though my life’s been nothing more than a total waste until now?
Though my childhood wasn’t the greatest, it probably wasn’t the worst. I just don’t know. My parents loved me, I suppose, but I never was quite certain. I remember my mom saying to me, more than once, “I wish you’d never been born.” I guess I’ll never know how an eight year old could earn such hatred.
Next to the oldest of four siblings, I was forever in some kind of trouble. Always compared to my older brother, and every time coming up short; I couldn’t wait to leave home.
Finally on my own, I bounced from relationship to relationship; lover to lover, weekend rendezvous’ and casual affairs to finally meeting Mister Right.
Five times.
And five times they turned into Mister Wrong. Five divorces.
Do you have any idea what failure, constant, no letting up failure, can do to a person? You begin to believe failure is your destiny. Hopelessness runs your life, affecting every decision you make. You feel fortunate just to breathe.
People look at me as though I’m the epitome of worthlessness. I can see it in their eyes and detect it in the tone of their voice. I know my life’s a mess, but I’m used to it. I know I shouldn’t shack up with Aaron but, if I don’t marry him I’ll never lose him. See? No more failure.
I usually make my way to the well this time of day. I try to draw our daily water when no one else is around. I’m embarrassed by the way men look at me. I can feel their eyes travel up and down my body as though it belongs to them, as though they own me.
And I can’t describe what it’s like to be shunned by the women in town.
But today is different. Today I’m beginning to feel alive; welcomed to the human race.
I’m starting to believe my destiny has less to do with me and my past, and more to do with him.
He told me of my past, yet he didn’t bury me with it. Sure, he spoke to me about worshipping in spirit and truth, but that didn’t affect me near as much as did the way he talked with me, not to me or about me.
He offered me something I don’t believe I was ever offered before. Another chance at life. A forever, never ending, ever growing kind of life.
And a love that’s truly out of this world.
Oh, here come his disciples. Time to head into town.
The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?” So the people came streaming from the village to see him (John 4:28 – 4:30 NLT)
Questions:
Have you ever felt like the woman at the well?
Do you feel like a failure?
Has love and life been hard on you?
Are you “hopelessly hopeless” or is there a glimmer of hope for a better life?
Are you ready for a change?“Come, see a man…, Jesus.”
Jan Grace
adding God's Word into my world…
