It was three days ago, but I'm still excited.
Somehow holiday's have become so blah. When I was a kid, I couldn't wait for the next holiday. It was like I lived from seasonal moment to moment and everyday in between was just filler.
Now as a worship pastor, holidays mean I have more work to do. Learning seasonal songs that we'll only sing once or twice, making sure everything is "perfect" because you know attendance will be up and maybe if we pull out all the stops people who only come twice a year might start coming once a month. Then there are holiday expectations; we must do such and such with so and so. It's like the real holiday comes the day after when you can finally breath.
This year is so different. The Easter service was good, but it wasn't about that. I feel like the music was tight and sure, lot's of people showed up, but that is to be expected. This Easter was so incredible because I have such a different outlook.
I realize more and more everyday that I am a horrible person. My friends probably wouldn't agree and my family is split 50-50, but the more I look at it, I really am. The thoughts that come into my mind and sometime leave my lips, the things I don't do, the people I don't really care about, the commitments I break, the time I don't spend on things that matter; it's a staggering list.
But Jesus took care of it all. Every single bit.
The psalmists would of often write the phrase "selah" into their poems to indicate a time to pause and reflect. For me it is like a silent "WOW!" As I write that I can't help but have an extended selah moment.
Jesus took care of it all. There is nothing that I can do.
It is amazing how the most revolutionary event in all of history can become mundane. God help us remember.
7 comments:
Can I be one of your friends that are the 50/50??? JK
Our neighbor's husband, Harvey, passed away this summer. He was 93. This is the closest to death Seth Jr. has ever experienced. Last week, some friends of our widowed neighbor stopped by to visit. When Seth saw an older man getting out of the car next door he shouted, "Look Daddy! Harvey arose from the dead!!" -Faith like a child
May the passing of death into life never become mundane!
I didn't sing on easter sunday.I was among the crowd. I sang with the 2-timers(christmas and easter). I smelled the alcohol on their breath. I watched as they motioned the cross as they left for the bar. I was amongst the chosen. I watched as they worshipped as they always do.
I felt like I was in an alternate universe where sinners and saints join as one worshipping the same God that they know so differently.
I realized those people don't care about the music. They care about the community. It isn't about the guitar solo, it's about the clean hand they shake at greeting. It's about the smile attached to that had shake.
Very profound Sarah. They probably understand community better then the sober church goers.
Hopefully the idea of community will change in our church for the better. big word. big responsibility. big love.
It's a process... Coastal is on the same ongoing process. We have some success, we have some failures. I think the key to understanding community is understanding grace. And those who best understand grace are those who need it most.
I think that's the thing that makes it possible. We all need grace. We can be of different backgrounds, come from different circumstances, be loved, unloved, whatever, but we all need grace. That is the one few things that all of humanity has in common.
This morning we sang, "Jesus, Paid it All" and before hand I expounded on the sentiments that I posted here. Horrible or wonderful doesn't matter. Jesus, paid it all. That's what I have in common, not just with the not-so-upstanding congregation member, but with ever member of the human race.
It becomes hard to judge people when I realize that I myself deserve judgement just as much they do. The only difference between "us" and "them" is that God has for whatever reason (and ultimately for His glory) allowed our eyes to be open to receive grace.
I should clarify the last part of my last comment
"those who best understand grace are those who need it most."
with "those who realize they need it most"
:)
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