Worship, the IMAX experience

Now I know its nothing new to us church goers. A lot of churches have been using worship DVDs that show the words to the songs we sing and give the viewer an experience that feast the eyes with sights only seen by astronauts and the most adventurous trekker.  But have you ever looked at some of the pictures that they show. On one particular Sunday morning we were singing the amazing some “Arise”. I love this song. However once the video started I felt like all we needed were some bars to hold on to a long with a warning for those that are prone to motion sickness. Clouds were flying past at 120 mph. Tree tops flashed before my eyes.  Seas moved beneath me as if I were flying. So I thought, what if we kicked it up a notch. An experience like non other. A full I max worship extravaganza. Now you not only get to look a cool picture of the horse head nebula for the umpteenth time but you get to see it like a planetarium on crack. “please hold on to the hand rails as we praise God in 360 degrees of awesomeness. YEAH!”  Just a thought.

Kum By Ya Lord, Kum By Ya

So our church does community groups, like many churches do now a days. One of the things that we wanted to do as a group was find ways to take Jesus to our community. So we had someone suggest that we could do a church service at the local KOA campground. Well, let me just say it was great. Not only did we have a blast worshipping together and fellowship by the pool, but I got to preach in my bathing suit and slippers (flip flops). You just cant get that kind of fun anywhere. Its always amazing to be able to go and share Jesus with someone where they live. I hope we get to do it again.

Christians either don’t know, don’t show or don’t care about what’s going on in the Hood.

Well, its now day three of our mission trip. Some of the things that I have learned so far is:

You can put Tony Chachere’s Famous Creole Seasoning on anything.

Crystal hot sauce makes everything taste better

If a kid threatens to bite you give them the jump rope.

If you give a three year old a jump rope to play with in the projects, you are not getting it back.

Getting a big hug from the same girl in exchange for the jump rope is a good feeling

Chanting is a great way to get teens to unite together

Turkey necks and pig tails are wicked awesome!

Mrs Brenda makes the best potato salad in the world

Hearing Mrs Brenda’s story over lunch, of how she lost her home and some of her family during Katrina was really sad.

Loving on her by helping her get her home back is really good.

I can’t hula hoop anymore and I don’t know when I forgot how.

Getting the opportunity to be  taught how to hula hoop by a 7 year old in the neighbor hood was pretty cool

Caulk fixes almost anything, but it can’t build relationships.

Volunteers from Indiana should not volunteer. (You know who you are)

Alysha is the best team leader ever.

Getting a chance to share a little of my time with someone so selfless, reminds me why I should be more like that

You don’t tell seven kids “free ice cream” unless you plan to feed the 30 that heard you from inside the neighbors house.

Getting the opportunity to give 30 kids ice cream when you know they don’t have much, makes you feel blessed.

People are still hurting from Katrina.

People are still hurting from where I live too, and I should make a better effort to help them too.

Getting to know people is the first step to meeting their needs.

Wordless Wednesday

First Day in New Orleans

So my second mission trip ever. Yes, its true that as far as my life in church has gone I have had many invitations but few times that my job has allowed me to go. My first was a clown ministry at Myrtle Beach South Carolina. It was a joke. (insert rim shot here) This one is a little different. I have to admit that I thought the idea of coming to a place that was devastated by Hurricane Katrina that the purpose was to help those with fixing their living conditions. You know, fixing floors and walls and such. How shallow of me. I know what your thinking, duh its about the people. Sure it is, I never doubted that. But on the first day I did not expect to be told that finishing the job is not even a priority on the radar, that putting the tools down and building relationships is the main point. That taking what you experience here, back to your local area to do the same for them is in fact what they (the leaders) want your to get out of our trip. That’s not typical for most church leaders at any church. Most just want to see results. That was very refreshing. I have to say my attitude was not top notch. I found out that my three year old, that we left at home, is sick. It’s hard for me to be away and feel helpless to comfort her. I know that she is taken care of but it’s not me. I was focused on just getting through the day and not building relationships. I did manage to talk to the neighbors but it was more out of obligation that love. I hate that. I will try harder tomorrow.

Wordless Wednesday

Don’t tell me Jesus ain’t comming back!

You can think I’m strange, weird or other wise but I just read something that is disturbing on a whole notha level. Yes I broke out into slang to share this puppy. Lets say that you want to know where someone is at all times. Great there are plans for small computer chip that can do that for you. Conveniently installed under the skin for tracking purposes and outpatient care. Old news you say. We’ve heard this story before for about ten or more years. Well now there is “option B”. For a few extra bucks you can get the deluxe package with cyanide. Yes that’s right folks. the option to kill your buddy at will. No more fussing with having to go and kill him or her own your own, just press a button and, poof, no more problems. Only one small detail to consider. Can’t get a patent. According to Fox News Germany saw some minor details that they thought could be problematic. Can’t imagine why Germany would want to step away from this opportunity. Were is the world going you ask. Well read your Bible, and in the immortal words of La var Burton “but don’t take my word for it.”

The Happy Agnostic?

Someone else now has it all figured out. “The Bibles not meant to be taken literaly” he says. “Christianity is just about knowing who Jesus was” he claims. “There was no resurection” he explains with authority. Who is this progressive thinking teller of truth? None other than Bart Ehrman . He is gaining popularity as someone that realy knows what Jesus is about. He has found followers that find his explinations resonating with what they have not been able to put into words. So what are we poor Christians to do? Are we to become more educated? For some I would say yes. Why only some? Because few of us can make an intellegent argument for what positions we stand on in our faith. Some should not. Those that think that education is the answer to our lack of depth in an exceedingly antichristian world should rethink there proposal. Im not against reason, however doing ten more bible studies isn’t going to make anyone ten steps closer to a deeper relationship with their Lord. For them I would say read your Bible for the pure pleasure of spending time with their Father. But Mr. Ehrman wants you to believe that you cant trust the Bible to do that for you cause its all wrong. What started him on his search for truth. By his own admission its because he couldn’t grasp “how there could be a God with so much suffering in the world”. I wonder how many of us could answer that question. How many of us know our Father well enough to help someone in pain with that kind of question.
My concern is for those that will find a familiar vioce that agrees with how they feel regaurdless of its truthfullness.

Its good to be the King.

Seriously I’ve missed this in my readings of the Bible over the years. How, I don’t know. But there it is in 1Kings 1:1-4. Someone has the bright idea of giving David a virgin to keep him warm.
HELLO! Guys don’t try this with your wives under penalty of death.
Was this their first choice? I guessed it seemed logical. “Blankets . . hmm. . nothing. I got it, virgin.”
Maybe they thought he was so sick they would get some last brownie points with him. No one even mentioned a dog or cat. No hot water bottle. No fireplace. Nope, get the man a virgin STAT.

Wordless Wednesday