Archive for February, 2008:
The State of Worship, Part 2: Purpose and Motivation
The first part of this post was (honestly) mostly a rant, but it outlined some of the problem from my perspective. I make no claims that it is THE perspective to view this debate from, only that it could be a common one. Having been a guitarist for six years, which is longer than I’ve been a Christian (and thus listening to Christian music), I bring a “less-churched,” if not an “un-churched,” perspective to the table.
Worship is ANYTHING that we do that fulfills God’s purpose for us and thus glorifies Him. This can be anything from working in your garden and rearing children with your spouse (Genesis 1:28) to writing and playing sweet guitar riffs (Psalm 33:3). If we do these things with God-given motivation and purpose, then we are worshipping Him indeed!
A fair number of Christians, particularly those in the American Evangelical Christian “sub-culture,” seem to have abandoned or compromised the very motivations and purposes that define worship, with respect to music. Read more »
Sometimes I wish that Chuck Norris were my dad…
…that anytime a boy wanted to take me out, he would have to come face to face with fear itself. I was reading my Chuck Norris Facts this week and I learned that Chuck Norris doesn’t need to breathe because air hides in his lungs for protection. When I think about “guarding my heart,” a mountainous task that intimidates and frightens me, I wish I could summon the big guys, call for backup, and just all around break out some Chuck Norris on the guys that come showing up red on the radar of my heart.
Fortunately, even though I cannot call on Chuck Norris as my personal “heart-guard,” I have learned over time that I am not left alone to fend for myself in these tender matters. That is great comfort to me as I grow in love.
Yet still I ponder: what does it mean to “guard your heart”? Anytime I even THINK about dating or even think about just talking to a guy, people constantly remind me to “guard my heart.” But what exactly does that mean?
Oh Lordy, Lordy
This is gonna be the last YouTube video in the series on the general biblical storyline. I realize that I am leaving out the material at the end of the story referring to the Consummation, but that is because I havent read enough on the topic at this point to feel qualified to speak on it. Eventually I do hope to post on that, especially since there are some pretty nutty views on it, but not yet. In the mean time, enjoy this video that is a follow up and clarifier to last week’s. I do present some new information that is gonna be on the less popular side, so that may end up being the focus for our discussion. As always, let me know if there are any suggestions, questions, and/or discrepancies.
stretching it out
“So teach us to number our days?, that we may get a heart of wisdom.” –Psalm 90:12
This is going to be a little scattered. Bear with me. These thoughts are still sifting out in my brain.
American evangelist Billy Graham gave a fascinating interview to Newsweek in August 2006 about a myriad of personal topics, but a lot of it was reflection on growing older. In particular, he said, “I have a certainty about eternity that is a wonderful thing, and I thank God for giving me that certainty. I do not fear death. I may fear a little bit about the process, but not death itself, because I think the moment that my spirit leaves this body, I will be in the presence of the Lord.”
I found it interesting that he was more at ease with death than with the dying process. While many haven’t articulated it like he has, I bet that resonates with a lot of people.
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