Written by One thing that I just love about the Pastors of Excellence program is the daily worship. It is wonderful, God-honoring, Christ-centered, Spirit-filled, and life-changing. During Wedesday’s time of worship, I found myself in tears for most of it (and I’m someone who does not cry easily).
Being a preacher, it is sometimes hard to really let go and give my all in worship. If I raised my hands, or shed a tear, or got down on my knees….. well, let’s just say that the folks would have more to talk about after church than where they’re going to go eat!
Also, I’m usually thinking about the sermon I’m going to preach, and am not able to focus like I should (which is no one’s fault but mine). And then, it is hard to really worship when we sing songs like “Camping in Canaan’s Land” — which have little or nothing to do with praising and adoring God.
That’s why those times of worship this week were so meaningful. But then I think, why should we have to settle for mediocre, bland, irrelevant, just-going-through-the-motions worship? Its a struggle my wife and I live with every week. But it really hit me between the eyes after the times of worship at P.O.E.
While listening to a worship song on the computer this morning, I told my wife, “I want Chris Tomlin to be our worship leader!”
Why DO we? Why is Zoe conference the only time I feel like everybody is on the same page? Why is … oh whatever.
I can see that you DO feel my frustrations.
We should be busy praying for each other and that we can find others like us…a little closer by!
Jeff, first thank you for steering me to the sermon site. I remember being in Midland, TX one time and picking a small church to go to that Wed. nite. When the man that had opening prayer stepped beside the pew and got on his knees and prayed.
The Preacher came up to me after Church was over and kind of embarrassedly explained that was the way that particular member always prayed.
When I got back to Sunset, I told one of the Elders about it (probably more so he would know I went to Church on Wed. and hadn’t just cut out of going that night, lol ).
Larry said, “that’s the way we used to pray here at Sunset until we got microphones.”
Just a story I thought you might find interesting.
Ok I have to put my two cents worth in here too. Jeff it is so refreshing to hear a preacher be so brutally honest. I have just return from the second of two wonderful weekends. 1st there was mens retreat at round lake (Thanks Marion Church for putting on this event every year, I have always been filled with the spirit the last eight years I have been blessed with being able to attend. And the speakers never seize to amaze me. And one last note thank you to all the ladies who worked so hard to prepare or meals and clean up after us THANK YOU VERY MUCH). And thank you to all the ladies who allow and encourage the men in your life to attend such an event. The 2nd was Fallfest Youth Rally. If you have never gone to a youth rally recently you should go WOW is it worth it. You will be amazed at what a wonderful group of kids we have growing up in and desiring to worship and honor and serve the Lord. If you want to see true heart felt worship you should just sit back and watch children. This goes from young thru teen years when allowed to worship God freely its awesome. In two of the congregations I have attended we have had Mentally challenged young men. If you want to know Jesus heart just sit back and watch as they pour out their hearts in worship to God. It is so free and honest and can come only from a pure heart like a child. Folks its time to stop the ho hum services and time to get excited to honor praise and worship the father. If you are afraid to do so let me encourge you to do so. I will not hold back myself any more I don’t care what other members may say or think, I am at worship for God 1st them 2nd and if I hold back to please them then I rob God of what he deserves, and the is all of me all my heart, soul, mind, and strength are to be his and his lone. All my worship, honor, praise are to be his and his alone. So lets start doing what God has ask of us to do and to do it with our whole beings. And as for the kneeling in prayer go for it if you like. Stand if you like, sit if you like God is big enough to except you for where you are at and he will be pleased with you no matter how you are positioned after all Jesus whent face down on the ground with sand, dirt, mud, gravel in his face to honor and be in reverence to God so what makes us so special. Raising your hand in worship another thing that has taken me a long to to except but now from time to time i feel the desire to do so. If you feel like raising your hands its ok King David did. But if you don’t thats ok God can handle you right where you are at. And as for some of the songs we sing just remember that what is right for one my not be ok for another. I grew up in a very traditioal Church so I do love the old songs, but I also have been blessed with children and have learn’t what the new songs meen to them and have learned to love them as well. My point is that there is no right or wrong here we all find different meaning in these songs and how they have affected our lives, So please do not put down others song desires just because they are different but listen to the words and the hearts and the praise that comes from the and just maybe you will learn to love them to just as God loves all of them because he loves all of you.