Today has been a shade of incredible. Actually, "incredible" is a poor word when it's broken down to its literal bits, but that's far beside the point. Take the word at face value and it fits the situation nicely.
Today has been good because God was most certainly present at our worship today. He is active in the hearts of so many and it's good to see it in ways I can't deny. I supposed today was breathed of God and therefore inspired. Enthusiastically (lit. possed of God), we praised - without our hearts, minds and spirits.
Tonight we are called to remember. Daily we are called to remember; tonight we were reminded to do so. Remember not only the times God has graced, blessed and saved us, but also those times in which he has chastised, corrected and led us to a better place through ways one might (indeed will) deem unpleasant.
Even in those times when we believe God is the thorn in our sides, he's our healer, comfort and Lord.
No real point here, either. Just rambling on the greatness of God.
Sunday, February 27, 2005
Friday, February 25, 2005
Another Sheepish Reappearance of Q
Wednesday night Bible study always gets me thinking.
I'm in a group in which we are "studying" Hebrews. I say "studying" because we're really "progressing through blocks outlined by NIV Study Bible section headings" -- and we're expected to do so on a schedule, apparently.
I don't object, actually, to keeping a particular pace in a study, but discouraging conversation and discussion on a topic of interest to the class seems detrimental to the assumed aim -- which, I thought, was to study the word of God and apply it to our lives.
I don't know. It just bothers me that a discussion is truncated because the topic has veered from the inner titling of the NIV text.
However, we did get off into another realm, so to speak. We began discussing communion and the question of singing during communion came up. (I guess I should note that I am the youngest in the class by about 25 - 30 years. I guess I should note it, at least; everyone else seems to. Often. I should also note that I love these people.)
Singing during communion.
The leader of the Bible study said it takes the mind off of Christ and his sacrifice. This confuses me since the songs we sing tend to be about Christ and his sacrifice. And how we come to the throne of God in grace and humility. I pointed out that singing and communion are both acts of worship -- and acts of worship are, by nature, to be focused on God. He called this "multi-tasking."
Is it multi-tasking? I mentioned that I pray during communion, too, which is also an act of worship and wondered how that differed. He corrected me: "We pray before the Lord's supper."
We pray corporately before the Lord's supper. I continue to pray throughout. Am I multi-tasking? If singing bothers him, he shouldn't sing. If it, like praying, helps one to focus, shouldn't that one sing? Singing is not, last I checked, compulsory in most services -- a sacrifice rendered to God out of the overflow of oru hearts, sure, but not something to be checked off a list -- or marked off completely.
This is a rant and a ramble and insomnia-induced, no less. Therefore it has no flow and, likely, no point as well. I hope to clean it up at some point, but chances are I won't.
But I DID put something here!
I'm in a group in which we are "studying" Hebrews. I say "studying" because we're really "progressing through blocks outlined by NIV Study Bible section headings" -- and we're expected to do so on a schedule, apparently.
I don't object, actually, to keeping a particular pace in a study, but discouraging conversation and discussion on a topic of interest to the class seems detrimental to the assumed aim -- which, I thought, was to study the word of God and apply it to our lives.
I don't know. It just bothers me that a discussion is truncated because the topic has veered from the inner titling of the NIV text.
However, we did get off into another realm, so to speak. We began discussing communion and the question of singing during communion came up. (I guess I should note that I am the youngest in the class by about 25 - 30 years. I guess I should note it, at least; everyone else seems to. Often. I should also note that I love these people.)
Singing during communion.
The leader of the Bible study said it takes the mind off of Christ and his sacrifice. This confuses me since the songs we sing tend to be about Christ and his sacrifice. And how we come to the throne of God in grace and humility. I pointed out that singing and communion are both acts of worship -- and acts of worship are, by nature, to be focused on God. He called this "multi-tasking."
Is it multi-tasking? I mentioned that I pray during communion, too, which is also an act of worship and wondered how that differed. He corrected me: "We pray before the Lord's supper."
We pray corporately before the Lord's supper. I continue to pray throughout. Am I multi-tasking? If singing bothers him, he shouldn't sing. If it, like praying, helps one to focus, shouldn't that one sing? Singing is not, last I checked, compulsory in most services -- a sacrifice rendered to God out of the overflow of oru hearts, sure, but not something to be checked off a list -- or marked off completely.
This is a rant and a ramble and insomnia-induced, no less. Therefore it has no flow and, likely, no point as well. I hope to clean it up at some point, but chances are I won't.
But I DID put something here!
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