"Gated Community"

It had to be done. This is a song that must be shared with the world. The truth, captured by digitally animated veggetables, cannot be denied. Truly a reflection of our world today. If this reaches just one person . . .

Tags: VeggieTales, Silly Songs, Larry, Gated Community, Satire

Contrast : Clarity

This past Sunday morning I experienced a moment of utter contrast that lead to total clarity of what attitude I should strive to attain as a Christian. The contrast came in two parts, the first in our bible class, and the second in the sermon during worship.

The first moment, in our class, came in response to what one person was expressing. We have been studying worship (the forms, the whys, what scripture and history say and don't say) and on Sunday we were discussing music in the worship. We drifted to a discussion of the importance of words in the songs we sing, and one older man in the class commented on the words in a song that we often sing. The first verse of this song says "Father, we love you, we worship and adore you," the second verve repeats with Jesus replacing Father, and the third with Spirit. He commented that he does not sing the third verse, because he does not find a scriptural command or example of giving worship to the Spirit, only to the Father and the Son. As he said this, I heard a lady behind me mutter in a very disparaging tone (and not quite under her breath) "Oh, come on, you've got to be kidding me" and her husband reply (in the same manner) "I can't believe it".

The second moment was at the start of the sermon. It was said to honor a very sick man who has been a pillar of faith in this congregation for decades. It was told how, when the eldership was discussing the possibility of building a new worship center around 15 years ago, this man had vocally lead the group that felt a new building project unnecessary. When the elders finally decided that they were going ahead with the project, they came to him and said that if the church were to remain unified he would have to now lead in the going forward of the project. His response was simple: "Of course."

Humility. Selflessness in the name of unity. Loving a brother strongly, despite total disagreement.

Condescension. Arrogance in the confidence that you are right and your brother wrong. Marginalizing a brother because you disagree with him.

It all was so clear. I'm glad for the reminder of which I should be.

Tags: Christian Living, Clarity, Humility, Division, Contrast

Wait God, you've got it backwards!

¹⁰"Therefore, come now, and I will send you to Pharaoh, so that you may bring My people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt." ¹¹But Moses said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?" ¹²And He said, "Certainly I will be with you, and this shall be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God at this mountain."

Exodus 3:10-12 (NASB)

What strikes me in reading this passage, which I know I've read at least a thousand times, is in God's response to Moses' complaint. Moses whines about his inadequacy to the task, trying to get out of this job Jehovah has set; God belays his complaint with a promise and a sign. His promise is that He will be with Moses, as his strength and support. The sign God gives is that Moses and all of Israel will worship Him on that mountain.

Uhm, God, I don't mean to be critical here but . . . uhm . . . well . . . that's kinda backwards. Isn't it? I mean, when You give a sign, especially when You call a person to a task, it is a sign for them to see to get them going. Right? Isaiah is transported to a scene of worship before Your throne, and you cleanse his lips with a coal. Gideon at least gets the wet and dry fleece. That's the way it works, God. You give a sign (not just something weak like Your voice coming from a burning bush) and I go. I see the strength of the Almighty and then I go doing something big and wonderful, like giving a few bucks to the local food shelter or sorting donations for the Salvation Army. You know, life-changing stuff. But, what, you expected Moses to go on just a promise? Next thing you know, you'll be expecting me to part the Red Sea on just a promise! What's up with that?

Oh, wait. I think I get it. This is one of those faith things, right? You're doing it that way to show us that You, God, are faithful. You tell us something, and we can trust it, right? Our faith is built on Jehovah's faithfulness. Is that it? You don't push us forward, goading us with signs and wonders; You pull us along, leading the way like a shepherd. You don't demand our worship, demand our obedience; but You do expect it because You have always and will always uphold Your promise. We see Your sign because the Red Sea does part, that inconvenient mountain moves; that impossible dream is a reality because Jehovah reached out and said "I will be with you" and actually was with us.

Sorry, God. My bad; Your good. You are divine, I am de branch. I won't ever question You again. I promise. Well . . . almost never again. Not again today. Okay, I promise to at least listen to Your side of the story before I open my big mouth. That's the best I can do.

Tags: Moses, Obedience, Faith, Jehovah, Sign from God, Promise