Worship

I am in a Intro to Bible class, also known as a Bible Survey class, and this class is good, with discussion and we go through the books of the bible, spending at least a little bit of time on each one. Today's class was different though. We got onto the topic of Worship, and what that looks like and if how we here at school are 'doing' worship is right. We started talking about the Psalms, and how they are songs written over 1000 years, and how we still read those songs today, and also how they show us about the culture of the time. Then, the question was posed. If people looking back found "Bethany Song Book" or maybe just your song list, with just lyrics, what would they see about our culture. The first point in the two separate classes of the day was a selfish look on worship, how most of worship focuses on what the individual gets out of worship, and even just a selfish outlook on the whole idea of worship.
The next point brought up was that there is a longing for 'more of God'. Whatever that means. What does a longing for more of God mean? Does it mean being able to expect more from God, does it mean being able to hear him clearer, does it mean feeling him present in everyday situations, or do we wish that church today was like that of acts, with healings and many other miracles, and that the whole way we do church would be more God centred than self-centred? Or does it have to do with all of these things?
Then we started to talk about how worship is more than just singing, and how many people worship through different ways, and that what we are seeing in today's church I think everywhere, not just here in the bethany community, is a people going against expressing themselves in worship, and worshipping the way God created you to worship. We see singing as worship and so all we do is sing, we do not leave the opportunity open for people to worship expressively, or have other outlets other than singing. Another question arose. Does the music and the intstruments have a false effect of God, do they give us a false sense of God, and his presence? I would say yes and no, I believe God created instruments and that this means that you can see and feel God through these instruments, but I think you can create something that is not there as well, in hopes that you will just have a feeling. Which brings up a point I have heard my pastor talk about, is our faith merely a feeling? NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO. So then why do we yearn for that feeling? Cause it feels good? Anyway a whole new can of worms there. Are instruments bad or good? One student brought up that music is made by God, and that it does not have to be 'christian music' in order for it to be worship. I found this interesting and I agree, the music itself can be worship if we can see God, and praise him for it. Even if it is a secular song. I think a lot of the times a perfectly good song is ruined by the lyrics, and it breaks my heart, because of how much i love that song. Yet, I have hope that just the music for me can be a praise to God. Not saying that you can listen to whatever music and it can be praise, because the lyrics are still there, and we have to guard our hearts, but I think that we can see God through the music that is played, as much as the lyrics that we hear, and sing.
Another whole topic, do we mean the words we sing? Anyway, I could probably go on all night, but I challenge whoever chooses to read this blog, that this would be a challenge to you. How do you worship? Do you feel that you are supported to use this form of worship on every sunday or whenever a "singing worship" time is there? Do you think this is right.
One final note, was pointed out, there is a great thing when a community comes together and worships in unity, and I think that this is good too. The main thing is right now I believe that every time of worship is a community worship, and there is not a lot of room for individual worship in that setting right now. Almost every single action you perform can be worship to God, if you mean it to be. Yet, I think that we have the idea of worship in our minds, and in the church very twisted, and it's kind of scary for me.

Think about it, and God Blesss

Nick Poetker

Jesus be the Centre

Jesus be the centre, be my source be my light Jesus,
Jesus be the centre, be my hope, be my song, Jesus,
Be the Fire in my heart, be the wind in these sails, be the reason that I live Jesus, Jesus
Jesus be my vision, be my path be my guide, Jesus
Be the Fire in my heart be the wind in these sails, be the reason that I live Jesus, Jesus

I find it amazing how I can pray to God, and pray earnestly and pray for answers. I can worship him, and still mean the words that I am singing, and recognize that what I am singing or doing is truth. Yet, still not have those words be true. I can pretty much do everything right, and still not have God at the centre of everything I am doing. I prayed long and hard for answers the other night, just something I am dealing with, being at bible school, a good place to find answers right? So I was looking for answers to some personal things that I was dealing with.... I was singing in chapel and meant everythign I was singing, and knew it, I knew that God was awesome and that he was holy, and I meant it when I sang it. Yet, through both of these scenerios I realized God still was not at the centre. I was not putting him number one, that one little issue was taking the centre, it was being at the source of what I was doing. Not out of love for God, not because I just wanted to show God what I thought of him, but because I wanted answers... I was trying to suck up to God, and hoping it would help me to get rid of this thing I was/am dealing with. I realized that I was digging myself a hole, and I was not about to get myself out of it. Today I realized singing that song (above) that I was not living that out, and in turn stuff was building up, I was becoming confused and I was becoming overwhelmed spiritually. I realize now that I need to put God at the centre, not to get answers, but because as soon as I do, everything else will just fall into place. As soon as I put God ahead of that issue, then I do not have to worry about it anymore, and can focus on God, and I can be reassured that he will take care of that issue. Right now, I have no idea what putting God at the centre means, fully. Yet, I have a sense that acknowledging him as the centre is a good place to start and can only lead me down the right path. Recognizing him in everything I am doing, and doing his will and not mine. I hope I will start on the path of discovering what putting God at the centre means, and that you will join me in doing so. That God can start to take control of every aspect of life, through that decision to make him the centre. For the first time in my life, I am alright with that aspect of giving everything, that I am and everything that I can become and want for my life, over to God. I cannot begin to tell you how freeing that is.

I hope you can do and feel the same.