Thursday, December 28, 2006
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Music
What is it about music that inspires a soul? What is it that makes me want to grab a pen and just start journaling to my soul when I listen to Derek Webb? Why is Garrett (Our worship leader) able to say in one lyric what I am unable to say in a week of prayer? Why can a Hymn move my soul to do things that no sermon would? How is a completely instrumental piece able to move my soul to God’s Throne room with no words?
I think music inspires and drives my soul because it always worships something. It could be U2 singing about heaven, or just a good “Killers” song that will motivate me to run one more half mile on the treadmill. Music seems to be created to worship. Whether it is love, sex, passion, or music itself, there is something behind it that it is worshiped. It could be “sexual healing” by Marvin Gaye, or “not to us” by Chris Tomlin; there is always an object being worshipped. In the very same way our lives are like that.
Just like a song cannot be sung without worshipping something, our lives cannot be lived with out worshipping something. My life, or my song, is often about me; it is often about the glory that I believe radiates off of me. But for the past few weeks through sin, failure, broken idols, and God’s Grace I have been able to look in the mirror and see that there is nothing radiating off of me, except the putrid smell of sin.
And the best part about seeing that you are worshipping something that smells like crap, is seeing that their is nothing worthy of worship except God alone. The reason why he is so worthy is not because he is so much better then everything, which he is, but rather the sheer fact that he is the only thing worth worshipping. Sex, Love, Passion, or Music, they are all broken in this world, and therefore not worth our worship, or our lives.
This quote from Richard Baxter on Worship, really calls me back to the center of it all.
“Remember the perfections of that God whom you worship, that he is a Spirit, and therefore to be worshipped in spirit and truth; and that he is most great and terrible, and therefore to be worshipped with seriousness and reverence, and not to be dallied with, or served with toys or lifeless lip-service; and that he is most holy, pure, and jealous, and therefore to be purely worshipped; and that he is still present with you, and all things are naked and open to him with whom we have to do. The knowledge of God, and the remembrance of his all-seeing presence, are the most powerful means against hypocrisy.”
Thank God that he looks past my sin, and sees his son in my stead. Thank God that under this grace I am lead by his spirit. And in the words of the great and late Johnny Cash, "Lord you can have it all, My Empire of Dirt"
I think music inspires and drives my soul because it always worships something. It could be U2 singing about heaven, or just a good “Killers” song that will motivate me to run one more half mile on the treadmill. Music seems to be created to worship. Whether it is love, sex, passion, or music itself, there is something behind it that it is worshiped. It could be “sexual healing” by Marvin Gaye, or “not to us” by Chris Tomlin; there is always an object being worshipped. In the very same way our lives are like that.
Just like a song cannot be sung without worshipping something, our lives cannot be lived with out worshipping something. My life, or my song, is often about me; it is often about the glory that I believe radiates off of me. But for the past few weeks through sin, failure, broken idols, and God’s Grace I have been able to look in the mirror and see that there is nothing radiating off of me, except the putrid smell of sin.
And the best part about seeing that you are worshipping something that smells like crap, is seeing that their is nothing worthy of worship except God alone. The reason why he is so worthy is not because he is so much better then everything, which he is, but rather the sheer fact that he is the only thing worth worshipping. Sex, Love, Passion, or Music, they are all broken in this world, and therefore not worth our worship, or our lives.
This quote from Richard Baxter on Worship, really calls me back to the center of it all.
“Remember the perfections of that God whom you worship, that he is a Spirit, and therefore to be worshipped in spirit and truth; and that he is most great and terrible, and therefore to be worshipped with seriousness and reverence, and not to be dallied with, or served with toys or lifeless lip-service; and that he is most holy, pure, and jealous, and therefore to be purely worshipped; and that he is still present with you, and all things are naked and open to him with whom we have to do. The knowledge of God, and the remembrance of his all-seeing presence, are the most powerful means against hypocrisy.”
Thank God that he looks past my sin, and sees his son in my stead. Thank God that under this grace I am lead by his spirit. And in the words of the great and late Johnny Cash, "Lord you can have it all, My Empire of Dirt"
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Naked
I got "Asked" this week to blog. Actually, I got "Told" to blog. The difference between the two is slight, but unmistakable. One suggests, the other commands.
Why was I "told" to blog? Because part of my role in the Gathering is to blog, and the first time I was asked to blog, I didn't do it. The second time I was asked, and I still didn't get around to it. So this week, I was told, and viola- I am blogging.
Why, you might ask, is this such a chore to me? For a lot of you reading this, you might love to blog. "Blogging isn't a duty, it's a delight", you say. So for you, the idea that someone would be told to blog is hard to imagine.
I realize that I am a bit different when it comes to blogging, but for me, blogging feels a lot like standing naked before a crowd of thousands of total strangers. Blogging, like standing naked in front of a crowd of strangers, takes what is known only to a few (maybe even just yourself), and putting it on stage for thousands to see. I guess when I think of blogging, I think of journaling. Like telling the world why I am depressed about being single, or why I am depressed
about being in a relationship (neither of which is true for me). Just the idea that someone would tell me to be vulnerable feels like a violation of my basic inalienable rights granted to me in the constitution. Call it 'my freedom not to be free' if you will.
Some of you might say I am being a bit extreme. Like, "Mike, blogging is a tool to remain connected to friends, to share ideas on life, to…waste time at work." But for me, blogging is so strange, so unfamiliar, so like being naked.
But you know what? After doing it, I kind of like it. Part of me likes it because I think what I am writing is actually interesting, and another part of me likes it because I think I need to be a bit more naked. I need to realize that what God is doing in my life, whether I think it is worthwhile or not, needs to be shared; That just because something is personal doesn't mean I need keep it private.
I wonder sometimes why we aren't this way in person? Why does it take a blog to share life? I'm not trying to down the blogging thing, but what would it look like if we were personal in person?
I think this is the community of people Jesus wants to create- Those who share the sacred parts of life, just as they are, and are better as a result of it. Oh the bliss and fear all wrapped into one!!
Naked for Our benefit
Mike
Why was I "told" to blog? Because part of my role in the Gathering is to blog, and the first time I was asked to blog, I didn't do it. The second time I was asked, and I still didn't get around to it. So this week, I was told, and viola- I am blogging.
Why, you might ask, is this such a chore to me? For a lot of you reading this, you might love to blog. "Blogging isn't a duty, it's a delight", you say. So for you, the idea that someone would be told to blog is hard to imagine.
I realize that I am a bit different when it comes to blogging, but for me, blogging feels a lot like standing naked before a crowd of thousands of total strangers. Blogging, like standing naked in front of a crowd of strangers, takes what is known only to a few (maybe even just yourself), and putting it on stage for thousands to see. I guess when I think of blogging, I think of journaling. Like telling the world why I am depressed about being single, or why I am depressed
about being in a relationship (neither of which is true for me). Just the idea that someone would tell me to be vulnerable feels like a violation of my basic inalienable rights granted to me in the constitution. Call it 'my freedom not to be free' if you will.
Some of you might say I am being a bit extreme. Like, "Mike, blogging is a tool to remain connected to friends, to share ideas on life, to…waste time at work." But for me, blogging is so strange, so unfamiliar, so like being naked.
But you know what? After doing it, I kind of like it. Part of me likes it because I think what I am writing is actually interesting, and another part of me likes it because I think I need to be a bit more naked. I need to realize that what God is doing in my life, whether I think it is worthwhile or not, needs to be shared; That just because something is personal doesn't mean I need keep it private.
I wonder sometimes why we aren't this way in person? Why does it take a blog to share life? I'm not trying to down the blogging thing, but what would it look like if we were personal in person?
I think this is the community of people Jesus wants to create- Those who share the sacred parts of life, just as they are, and are better as a result of it. Oh the bliss and fear all wrapped into one!!
Naked for Our benefit
Mike
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