Again, just the chapter title of Francis Chan’s Crazy Love hits the heart of the matter.  In chapter five, he examines whether calling yourself a Christian makes you a devoted follower and if there is such a thing as a “lukewarm Christian.”  Lots of food for thought.  Here is the next in my series of favorites quotes from one of my favorite books:

• The chapter is called “Serving Leftovers to a Holy God.”  Ouchy.
• God doesn’t just want us to have good theology; He wants us to know and love Him.  (As is often said, it’s all about the relationship, not the religion.)
• Matthew 28:18-20 [The Great Commission] ¹⁹Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in^[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Some people claim that we can be Christians without necessarily becoming disciples.  I wonder, then, why the last thing Jesus told us was to go into the world, making disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey all that He commanded?  You’ll notice that He didn’t add, “But hey, if that’s too much to ask, tell them to just become Christians – you know, the people who get to go to Heaven without having to commit to anything.”
• Each of us has lukewarm elements and practices in our life; therein lies the senseless, extravagant grace of it all.
• How many of us would really leave our families, our jobs, our education, our friends, our connections, our familiar surroundings, and our homes if Jesus asked us to?  If He just showed up and said, “Follow me”?  No explanation.  No direction.  When you think about His disciples in that way, well, WOW…
• Many of us believe we have as much of God as we want right now, a reasonable portion of God among all the other things in our lives….But the fact is that nothing should concern us more than our relationship with God; it’s about eternity, and nothing compares with that.

God Stuff

Ouchy.

And that is the theme of the next chapter of Francis Chan’s Crazy Love.  Some quotes that I loved from the third chapter:

• How could I not trust a heavenly, perfect Father who loves me infinitely more than I will ever love my kids?  (Do I really trust Him?  When bad things happen?  When I don’t understand?  Do I, really?)
• Over time I realized that when we love God, we naturally run to Him – frequently and zealously….The results are intimate prayer and study of His Word.  Our motivation changes from guilt to love.
• The very fact that a holy, eternal, all-knowing, all-powerful, merciful, fair, and just God loves you and me is nothing short of astonishing.  (It really is, isn’t it?  Wow.)
• Love this one… The irony is that while God doesn’t need us but still wants us, we desperately need God but don’t really want Him most of the time.  He treasures us and anticipates our departure from this earth to be with Him – and wonder, indifferently, how much we have to do for Him to get by.  (Let that one marinate for a bit…It’s powerful.)
• Are we in love with God or just His stuff?
• I love you…just you.  Can you say that to God?
• Our love for Him always comes out of His love for us.  (Very true and powerful statement, but wow, it makes my head spin.)

God Stuff

Ok, so maybe a very small picture of Heaven, but a very neat one at that.

We had one of our periodic Lord’s Supper and Worship Nights at church last night and one of the words our worship pastor, Eddy, used to describe it was “eclectic.”  It very much was.  There was something for everyone.

The  student band opened the evening with three energetic pieces – they sounded great from the green room and backstage, but otherwise I have no idea.  Admittedly, I was in my own little world of bundled nerves and awaiting my turn.  *blush*  I was so excited for them to play for Worship Night – it is such a great experience, like none other.

So you wanted to hear old and comfortable yet convicting and fabulous hymns?  Check that.   We have a fantastic saxophone player, Evan, who played “The Old Rugged Cross” while Eddy played acoustic guitar during the passing of the “grape juice” portion of the Lord’s Supper.

Fiddle tunes?  Got that, too.  A violinist played the old tune “There Is A Fountain” while myself and another keyboard player, Rebecca, accompanied on piano and keyboard.  This was played during the passing of the bread.  I love, love, love hearing the violin.  Just warms the soul.

Have a taste towards the classical?  Check and check.  Our pastor, Spike, and his wife, Kitty, sang The Prayer (made famous by Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli) while myself and Rebecca accompanied again.  (Yes, I was a busy and nervous girl.  Remember, Shoeless?  I get nervous, my hands shake, and God keeps me humble, thankfully.)  Super job!  They don’t sing often enough, but they are also busy enough.

Do you prefer a moment of quiet reflection with perhaps some harp sounds?  Yes, live and in person.  This was beautiful! I was so fascinated that I nearly forgot to plug in my in-ears to get ready with the rest of the band.  Oops.  *blush again*  Fascinating to watch and so nice to hear.

The harp transitioned us nicely into the praise and worship music portion of the evening…we quietly got into our places while she played.  Eddy read some more Scripture and we started with Jennifer singing Hosanna (Hillsong).

Oh.  Wow.

Truly a picture of Heaven.  A taste, a sampling if you will, of what it will be like to sing with voices and instruments raised inworship to the One we love.  To look out and see a sea of faces – my church family who I love, everyone with faces lifted, smiling, hands raised to Him…just leaves me speechless.  To hear the sounds of the voices (even with a lot of the sound block by my “in-ears”) was truly amazing.

Next we did “Breathe On Me.”   I love the line in the one that says “You are the God of my story…write every line for Your glory…”  Hits me right there every time.

Jenna hit the next one home….oh, it gave me chills.  I could live in those moments forever.  Truly the power of the Holy Spirit was felt in that time and place when we did “You Are Good (Gateway Worship).” If you’ve never heard it before, go listen to it.  Now.  Ok, thanks.  The words are simple but true and powerful.  They should never be forgotten.

Oh, but it gets better.  Next up… “How He Loves”  (Eddie Kirkland) (I have no idea whose mission trip video this is, but it had the right song on it.  Great work they did!)   What an amazing song.  Just let the words sink into your soul…  I can’t wait to play and sing that one IN Heaven!!

The next set of songs were very high energy and SO much fun!  Before I knew what was going on, we had a choir coming out, youth members crowding the stage, and I think Eddy took a flying leap off one of the platforms during “Happy Day.”  But I wouldn’t know because I was concentrating, but there sure was a lot of movement off to my right…I wouldn’t put it past him.  :)  We went from there into “My Savior Lives.” I’ve always loved that one, too.  Great keyboard part.  No, I’m not biased.  *cheesy grin*

And you thought the service was over.  Oh no, not yet.  While the crowd helped put chairs up (to prepare for next day’s conference or something), we played “Glory to God Forever” (Steve Fee) and everyone enjoyed that one.

Time to go!

Oh, wait…nope!  Let’s do another one!  The fast “You Are Good” (Lincoln Brewster)…and that one is a blast to play.

I see a couple of cute kids off to my left just dancing their hearts out.  I wonder, “Whose kids are those?”  I glance up long enough to see if I can place them.

They’re mine!  Ha!  It was so cute and hilarious watching them.

What an amazing night.  I do not think anyone from any walk of life could walk away disappointed.

Besides…it’s all about Him anyways, right?

I can’t wait to worship in Heaven.

God Stuff

Remember my past entries on Crazy Love by Francis Chan?  This great video and interview sum it up better than I ever could.  I think I should watch this about once a week as a reminder…you’ll know what I mean after you watch it.

God Stuff

Continued from “Shoeless”…

I think the Holy Spirit whispered to me.

Shouted at me.

Hit me over the head, maybe?

I was sitting in that booth in Panera, sipping my tea from a real mug, reading Wild Choose Chase by Mark Batterson when I felt a spiritual thump.  These words crossed my eyes:

Earth’s crammed with Heaven,

And every common bush afire with God;

But only he who sees takes off his shoes;

The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries.  -Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Um, what was that again?

Earth’s crammed with Heaven,

And every common bush afire with God;

But only he who sees takes off his shoes;

The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries.  -Elizabeth Barrett Browning

I read it over one more time.  Just to be sure, you know.

Huh, interesting timing.  I pondered this in my head throughout the day.  Later that afternoon, I checked Facebook and Heather had posted the following in her status:

Earth’s crammed with Heaven,

And every common bush afire with God;

But only he who sees takes off his shoes;

The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries.  -Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Look familiar?  Yea, thought so.

Thump.

Ok, God, I’m listening.  I’m noticing.  I’m meditating.  What do You want me to do about it?

I continued reading Wild Goose Chase and the battering never stopped!

I think this is one of those stories in which the obvious can elude us.  The holy ground wasn’t the Promised Land.  It was right where Moses was standing.  Don’t wait to worship God till you get to the Promised Land;  you’ve got to worship along the way.  This is holy ground.  This is a holy moment.  Take off your sandals.

Why did God tell Moses to take off his sandals?  I think it was God’s way of saying “Be still and know that I am God.”  (Psalm 46:10)

Let’s not talk about the fact that Psalm 46:10 had been on my heart constantly for several weeks.  Next, I talked to my husband about what I had been reading and pondering.

Chris: Here’s another thought.  What do you do when you go into someone else’s house?

Me:  Um, make myself at home?  Or don’t touch?  (I am a mom of preschoolers after all…)

Chris: You take off your shoes and stay awhile.

Loved that.  Worship.  Holiness.  Holy Ground.  Be Still and Know.  Home.  Friend..

Fast forward to Sunday Morning…as I drove into the sunrise to soundcheck and rehearsal, this is what you would’ve heard if you were hearing my thoughts:

What if the people think I’m wierd for taking off my shoes?  Do my feet look decent enough?  How’s the toenail polish?  When should I take off my shoes?  Do I wear them onto the stage then slip them off or take them off in the green room?  Will anyone notice?  I don’t want them to think I have a “holier than thou” attitude.

Because it’s all about Me, you know.

Not me.

It was time for the worship service to begin.  We prayed together and headed on stage, my flip-flops flip-flopping all the way.  I heard and felt the slap of black leather on my feet.  I stepped behind the keyboard and plugged in my “in-ears” and made sure all my settings were correct on the keyboard and the music on the right page.

Then I slipped off my shoes.

It was surprisingly humbling.  Very humbling.

I felt the warm, rough carpet and the cold metal sustain pedal.  And I was reminded of who I serve, of Who my Master is and why I stand on that stage helping to lead in worship my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ with a talent that I am humbled and blessed beyond measure to have.  I serve Him alone.  I do not want to run away for this is not a Master to run from.  He is a Master I want to run to.

I want to take off my shoes and stay awhile.

God Stuff, God of My Story