Worship - can it be facilitated?

Recently I find myself not being able to study because I have too many songs playing in my head!

This summer I spent my time in Fort Worth visiting the Village Church in Dallas - 1.5 hrs away from my house. Why drive so much? At first, I was just curious about them since I had heard so much from so many people. I kept going back though because I found something very unique... which until just now, I hadn't been able to explain.

After this past Sunday's sermon I think I've figured it out. Sunday morning we had a speaker from Texas here in the UK. Craziness. yes. One of the things he said was basically that worship is not for us to enjoy but for God to enjoy. For us to desire to enjoy worship means that we are concentrating on ourselves and not Christ. This same concept was life changing for me in my first year of undergrad.

Coming at a time when I have truly been missing the songs I can sing so freely, I have had to wonder if perhaps I have strayed away from worshiping God, to desiring to enjoy worship for myself. I don't really know the answer to this question but I do know that certain songs lead me to think deeper about Who I am singing to. Not just think... but also to cry out louder, to sing freer, to feel fuller. Meaning either that certain songs facilitate worship or that I am completely engrossed with myself!

Most of the songs at the Village Church are written by their music pastor, Michael Bleecker. That man has a gift for writing songs that lead me in worship of Christ! I think maybe because the style is more conversational? I would imagine it would be hard to sing these songs and not give glory to Christ. Yet, I can't help but wonder if I just love and feel greater desire to sing because they are more in line with my style.

Anyone have any scripture that might indicated whether or not worship can be facilitated? I am not referring to worship as in just singing... but all of what it entails.

In case you desire to hear these songs I've mentioned, you can check them out on my Odeo link http://odeo.com/channel/263863/view

-Overwhelm Me
-My King
-Who You Are
-Glorious Day
-From the Inside Out

Child Preachers?

When I logged on to Yahoo today, I saw a clip from 20/20 titled "Child Preachers". I can't find the link to it but, if you go on video.yahoo.com, and search child preachers, you will find similar videos. The video starts by showing the 7 year old Baptist preacher from Mississippi.

I believe God uses kids, but something about this is very unsettling. At the end of the clip, the reporter asks him, "what are you saving people from" and the poor kid doesn't know how to answer her! He only knows that the whole world needs to be saved.

I feel this is very sad. This kid is loosing his childhood! He is already taking the role of an adult but in addition to that, probably having to deal with a ton of criticism while he's at it.

How does a kid get to that point? Is it need for attention and desire for parental approval that drives him? Has he been brainwashed? Is he seriously being led by God? Could it be that he is possessed by a demon as was the kid in Mark 9:17? While it might seem like it would not be to the devils advantage to have yet another preacher.. this has in my opinion made a mockery of the Christian faith. Look at the video, the kid does not appear natural... neither kid (african american boy of 9 years)

Anyhow - just thought I'd share about the existence of this video in case yall hadn't see it.

Evelyn

Desperate Faith, Faithful Desperation

I'm not a man of vision per se. That's not my gift. Thus far at least, that's been my wife's forte. So often, new ideas spring to her mind, but the vision to see them through is rarely clear.

My younger daughter has poor eyesight. This wasn't discovered until a few years ago when the school nurse called us. How had eight years passed with this undetected? Answer: she compensated, knew nothing different, and never complained. Today, I will usually set her glasses on the dresser each night after reading before bed.

For me there seem to be stages of vision in ministry, in service:
1) Everything is so cloudy and so difficult, you just want to run.
2) You hear a voice of hope or see a glimmer of possibility and cling to it.
3) God gives you a totally open door (or more than 1) to let you see "the next step".
4) The embracing of the opportunity and the ensuing harsh reality of new murkiness.

With each completed cycle, God has drawn us closer to his heart. We've found new reasons for hope. We are more profoundly passionate about experiencing his kingdom. These are all gifts poured into our life. And He grows in greater and deeper affection within our hearts. We become more willing to be poured out. Trust is more entrenched. And love toward Him flows more freely.

God Grew Tired of Us

I strongly encourage viewing National Geographic's God Grew Tired of Us. The movie follows John Dau and Panther Dior, two of the "Lost Boys of Sudan". Both rediscovered family, but many haven't. Both have preserved their culture; many haven't. Both lived and overcame; most didn't. Both John and Panther are finding ways to help their brothers.

The Gift of a Water Buffalo

"Oh, my God!"

His mercies are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
            Lamentations 3:23

Dragon attacks

There's a romantic image of the knight in shining armor riding off to fight a ferocious dragon for the sake of helpless, for the sake of the kingdom. In my own experience though, it's usually the other way around. The Dragon finds me. Last night, my son asked what it meant "to be under [spiritual] attack". I tried to explain a bit about the interaction between the world we see, the physical, and the one we cannot see, the spiritual. Then, how there are powers in that unseen world that surpass any we can view here, but that our God is so far above it all, that there is absolutely no comparison. Finally, but for God's own reasons, he has allowed them to exist and have sway to an extent in our own universe.

Such attacks range in duration and intensity. Their affects may even be felt across time. What do these assaults typically look like in your life right now? Has the dragon changed tactics on you over the course of your life?

Also, God has given us both armor and a weapon. Even Christ availed himself of the sword in his own desert defense. (Ephesians 6:10-20, Matt. 4:1ff, Luke 4:1ff) We must remember these truths when undergoing our own temptations. For only with truth, righteousness, peace, faith, our hope of salvation, His Word, and constant prayer for ourselves and others can we stand against such devastating schemes.

In need of prayer

Howdy to all who read!

I just got caught up on reading all entries of this blog!! This is a major accomplishment as I haven't read since probably two weeks before finals week last semester. Since then, I've graduated, spent 5 weeks working in Brazil, spent the rest of the summer in a temp job, and now have started grad school in the UK at Lancaster University.

It is quite a blessing to find words of needed encouragement from blogs that were written earlier in the year. I am glad I saved it for now ;)

I have recently come to the conclusion that I am truly not a very good individual. My heart and my mind war against God - and I have no idea how to give them over to Christ. I believe I have only come to realize this because I am now in a new setting. I guess I am going through many new emotions as part of being in this new setting. As I have started attempting to analyze why I feel the way I do, I've come to find some ugliness in my heart. I am quiet bothered by all this and even more so because I don't know how to change. It is a mindset... almost as though it were some sort of prejudice one grew up with (although not quite). How does one get rid of years of thinking in a specific manner? Could yall be praying for me?

Evelyn