Tag Archive - spirituality

Why I Do What I Do

June 22, 2011 in Worship Leading with 5 Comments

There’s an amazing quote that has been floating around the Internet over the past few days. In case you haven’t seen it, here it is:

Why I Do What I Do: A Quote From John Wimber

“The difficulty will not be so much in the writing of new and great music; the test will be the godliness of those that perform and deliver it. In that sense some of our worship community is not well prepared. Many have been allowed into worship leading because there is a need for their worship and musical skills.

But little has been said to them about the need for godliness, spirituality and depth of maturity in their individual and family lives. Quite frankly, many of our musicians are just not steeped in a daily spirituality.”

- John Wimber

Whether you agree or disagree with the theology and philosophy of John Wimber and the Vineyard Movement, the significance of these words cannot be denied. Continue Reading…

Why Good Friday? Part 2

March 26, 2010 in Ponderings, Worship with 2 Comments

This is the second of a two-part post about Good Friday. Last week I talked about an experience I had many years ago on Good Friday, and this week I’ll be wrapping up with why I think it is so important for evangelical Christians to also take time for Good Friday. Check out the first post here.

Remembering Good Friday helps us reconnect with the roots of our faith. The first Good Friday was definitely not seen as “good” while it happened. It was as the early church began to organize its pattern and flow of worship that remembering these events gained importance. The y believed the principle that external rites can order internal experience. As we understand what was accomplished through the event of Jesus’ death, it definitely was a good day as the powers of darkness were defeated.

Good Friday is part of a grouping of days known as the Great Triduum that also include Maundy Thursday (when Christ established communion, washed His disciples feet, and gave the new commandment of love) and the Great Paschal Vigil of Saturday (when Christ’s body was lying in the tomb). These days that resolve in Easter Sunday and the resurrection are at the core of our relationship with Christ and our spirituality. The events commemorated in these days cannot be taken lightly as they are some of the most holy, solemn, and serious events at the center of our faith.

These days allow us to again remember God’s saving work in human history. Good Friday is the part that focuses on the death of our Lord and Savior so He could become our Lord and Savior. Without death, there is no resurrection. The connection of Good Friday and Easter Sunday allows us to experience vividly the contrast of suffering/loss and celebration. We cannot fully understand God’s love for us unless we grasp what He gave for us.

Even though we worship the resurrected Christ every day and live in Him because He is alive, this is the time of year when we again can gain a clearer focus on that fact. I am married every day, but taking time to remember and celebrate our anniversary only serves to increase the commitment and joy of our relationship. By taking time to remember and reflect on the events that led to the greatest event in history, we can only benefit as our understanding and love for all God has done grows and the depth of our relationship increases. As much as we may know about the events of Christ’s death and resurrection, there is much that is still a mystery.

This year, make it a priority to be present in the events the church offers to help remember and celebrate. Instead of just looking at the Easter season as a time for vacation or taking it easy, take time to reflect and mediate on Christ and what He did for us. Take time to prepare for the celebration that will happen on Easter Sunday.

May God remind us of how much was given so that we might have life.

How much do we really desire Christ?

February 23, 2009 in Ponderings, Worship with 1 Comment

I’ve been pondering something lately. A comment was made to me a few weeks ago that during the years of Jesus’ ministry on earth, whenever He responded to people, it was because they had come to Him.  When the people came, He met them.

I really began to roll that around in my head and think about the implications of that truth.  We don’t read stories where Jesus is running through the streets yelling, “Come out if you want to get healed!” He never tells John, “Go round up a crowd for me, I have a story to tell.” They didn’t put up posters, “Jesus Crusade – on the western shores of the Sea of Galilee.”

The people desiring to meet Jesus, to hear His wisdom, to be in His presence, and to receive healing came to Him.  Think about the women who had been bleeding of years, the paralyzed man and his four friends, the demon-possessed man, the blind, the weak, the lepers, Jairus and others.  The crowds gathered wherever Jesus went to hear His truth and wisdom.  Those desiring a touch from Christ came to where He was.

Jesus didn’t force Himself on people. He didn’t make them come. And He doesn’t work that way today.

So I began to wonder, are we missing out on the abundance of life that Jesus offers in Him because we are waiting for Him to “show up?” Have we come to the place where we believe that if we just go through the motions, Jesus will mysteriously shower Himself upon us?

Jesus has already told us that He will never leave us.  He has told us that when we gather in His name, He is already there.  He has told us that if we ask the Father for the Holy Spirit, we will receive.  He has told us that if we ask, seek, and knock, it will be given, we will find it, and the door will be opened.

If I want to experience the fullness of Christ in my life so that the Kingdom of God will be present through me, I have to initiate.  I have to want it.  I have to come to Jesus. As I submit to Him, He will meet me along with my hurts, my baggage, my pain, and my weary soul.

How many times have you heard someone say after a worship gathering, “I didn’t feel the presence of the Lord today.  Jesus just wasn’t here.” Beyond the theological issues with that statement, could the reality be that we didn’t want to hear Jesus that day? That the Holy Spirit wasn’t given freedom to work and minister because we hadn’t opened our hearts and called out to Him? That we were closed?

Can it really be that simple? Can we really experience every spiritual blessing that God has promised through Jesus? I’ll simply leave you with this statement to ponder: “draw close to God and He will draw close to you” (James 4:8).