January 16, 2012

Today, my most favorite cousin, Joyce, died.  She had a brain tumor.  She lived joyously for over 50 years. And then, still joyously and courageously, with this tumor for more than three years. She had a number of surgeries, but always came back to embrace her happy life with the same energy and enthusiasm as always.

Joyce's home is in Kelowna. She didn't live far away but I didn't see her much.  And I always looked forward to when I would see her, because she was a person who you always felt happier when you left her than when you came.

Today, I'm sad for myself that my world is losing such a bright light. It's a big loss. But I'm happy that Joyce's light has now been joined with the light of Jesus, who is the light of the whole world. As always, she will not be far away – just out of sight beyond the sunrise and the sunset. Maybe even closer than the distance between our homes here. If I squint, maybe I will even see her shining there.

See you on the other side, my friend. You are so sadly missed. 

I'm Coming Back to the Heart of Worship

“I'm coming back to the heart of worship, and it's all about You.

It's all about You, Jesus

I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it, when it's all about You.

It's all about You, Jesus"

                       -  apologies to Matt Redman (used without permission)

Jesus said, “But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself."   - The Bible, John 12:32   (NIV)

“Y yo, si fuere levantado de la tierra, á todos traeré á mí mismo.” (RVR)

Hmmm.... most times when I go to church I have expectations of what I want, what I need, what I'm used to, what I like. I like the songs I like, I like the volume I like, I like the format I like and I even like the people I like. I readily acknowledge this to be merely cultural, behavioral, social or emotional packaging but still.... I like what I like. I don't like what I don't like.

It's easy to be a lop-sided worshiper. All emotions with no thoughtfulness. All intellectual and reflective with little overt emotional expression. Some of us like clapping, jumping and shouting. Some cringe at such lively activity and yearn for solemnity and the awestruck quietness of liturgy and silence. It's all good and it's all biblical.

Pastor Rigo talked last Sunday about being a team player, a team member, a 'through thick and thin I will rise or fall with my team mates” participant in my church. So, if that's who I am, then it's not really about me and what I like or what I need. It's about who we become together. And then to go one step further, it's about what we're doing together. We're thinking a lot as a congregation these days, looking around our community and asking ourselves what we can do to “build our church”. Or to help our church grow. Or meet the needs of the people in our neighborhood. “What can we do that would draw people?”, we wonder.

Jesus is saying here that if he dies and then is lifted up to return to his father in heaven, he will draw people to himself, himself. So it's not just us talking about Jesus, or singing about Jesus or preaching about Jesus that does the drawing. It is only His presence that melts hearts and heals wounds. Only he can break down protective barriers inside of us and between us.

So what does the church look like where Jesus is the star attraction? Where all eyes are fixed on the cross and not on the singing or the preaching or the programs? Am I willing to relinquish my personal worship “style” in order to allow Jesus to be lifted up? Am I willing to stop doing or requesting the things that satisfy my own personal likes and dislikes to allow people to focus on Jesus? What does that even mean?

The fact that I have been given some responsibility to lead in the areas of music and service planning does not give me the freedom to do only what I like and use only the worship ingredients that I enjoy.

I would appreciate receiving your ideas, insights and comments on this topic.