Praise And Walking

Tonight - our second home group meeting - we moved outside of our comfort zone and went on a prayer walk at three local, public schools: two high schools and one elementary school.

We have a wonderful set of Home Group leaders - Ed & Rachel. They have such a wonderful spirit about them. None of what we did tonight would have gone as smoothly had they not been surrendered to God and willing to take Him along with us. I laud them for their submissiveness to Him and their leadership of us!

As an aside, I’m pretty new at this kind of thing. I have done it (some) before, but I’m still basically a novice. But, I did love listening to those who do it often and was able to draw inspiration from them as well as from the Bible. This morning in my devotional time, I had a verse that I felt God gave me for tonight. I’ll share it with you:

Ezra 3:3 “Though fear had come upon them because of the people of those countries, they set the altar on its bases; and they offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD, both the morning and evening burnt offerings.”

We met at the church – 23 of us in all (including children ranging from my age 2 months (my infant son) to 14 or so). We mounted our church bus (faithfully driven by Captain America himself) and we headed out. JC brought a guitar and a little amp and we played some praise and warfare songs on our way out.

First stop: High School #1
We didn’t actually walk any at this school. We just stood in the parking lot and lifted up praise, did warfare and unleashed the grace, mercy and power of I Am. It was really very wonderful – all those voices carrying up together in a unified sound of praise to our God. One woman had a word about witchcraft and we spent some time praying against that. That word really set something off inside of me and I prayed hard against those spirits. We spent about 30 minutes there, then were back on the bus and continued our singing. As we went to …

Second stop: High School #2
Here we said a quick prayer and then began to move out. Immediately, several people began to feel a resistance to us here – darkness and immorality seemed to hang about this school. We did some walking and praying, then someone said that we needed to walk around the building. So, we took off making our lap and praising God and warring in His Name at the same time. I felt it was a powerful and wonderful thing. I believe that we changed something at that school tonight. We stayed there longer than we had budgeted, and so were nearly out of time when we hit our last school of the day.

Third stop: Elementary School
We had people from our fellowship who work at this school and they had arranged for the secretary of that school to join us as well. But, we were met by the principle. She invited us in and allowed us to walk the halls of the school – she even specially asked us to pray over her office. It was a wonderful time of prayer and praise. The principle not only invited a few worshipers and prayers into her school – she invited the Lord Jesus Christ – and He entered. We met for one last prayer in the lobby of the school and a several prophetic words came forward. I will share a couple of those:

Word #1: The Banner – one of our group saw a purple banner that flew outside from the flag pole. The banner said “Victory!”. The teachers and principle were told that when they felt down or like things were getting tough to remember the banner that flew in the spirit world. That banner proclaimed Victory – not the promise of victory; but actual victory.

Word #2: Salt and Light – another said to the principle and the two teachers there that they were sowing mercy, grace and courage into the lives of the children they touched. It might not always show – but they were creating powerful leaders: for our city, our state, nation and world.

We then re-loaded the bus and returned to the church where we said a few prayers for other schools that we didn’t have time to reach and we went home.

My impressions: It was a great night – a holy night. And I believe that God moved to teardown strongholds and to build up His holy places. My church has always believed that God wants to use us to bless Lynchburg – and I think that tonight, we were a blessing.

JC and the music: music really is a lubricant that allows a more intimate and powerful prayer time with God. By setting up the guitar and singing on the bus as we went out – we acted like the Army of Israel, sending out our Praisers first into the battle. Worship and music combined is like the sharp, pointy-end of the spear that God uses to prick our hearts and to unharden them.

What kind of army sends the band out before the warriors? The kind of army that has already won the fight. God’s kind of army.

I’ll be gone for the weekend to see my Dad ordained as a deacon and some other family stuff. Enjoy your weekend!

Andy

Word of the Day:

As everyone who knows me is aware, I love new vocabulary words. And I have one for today:

Post-Denominational (adj.)

Of or relating to the Church that reacts against earlier denominational principles, doctrines, and traditions by embracing the unity that She is called to.

Use that word three times in a sentence, and it will be yours. Ms. Johnson told me so. Until then, I will be yearning for the day when we are all living in the place of commanded Post-Denominational blessing.

I’m out - Andy

Sometimes, Church Be A Trip

OK. So, I lead worship tonight (Wednesday night). Today was not easy for me, lots of distractions – lots of things to lose my cool about. Lots of temptation to get off into my flesh. But, I was prayed up and I had run my set several times and I was comfortable – more or less – with all but one song (You Are Good – by Israel Houghton). You Are Good is a great song and it really moves; but it’s beyond the current musical skill of our Worship Team (mostly because it is not one of those songs that can just “come together”. This is one of those timing and precision songs; and we just don’t spend enough time practicing as a band). Bottom line – after trying to get it down myself, I decided that I needed to ditched it for Open The Eyes of My Heart. The set was: 1) Listen In The House; 2) Father, Spirit, Jesus; 3) Open The Eyes of My Heart; 4) Come Holy Spirit; 5) Praise The Name of Jesus; 6) I Worship You Almighty God. To give credit where credit is due: on his New Season Live CD Israel Houghton does a medley of Come Holy Spirit (I need thee every hour; Praise The Name … and I Worship You…). All I did, was figure out what he was using as a transition and just pretty much did it the way that he did – only I’m not as hip or as skilled a piano player as he is. But, it went pretty well.

Listen in the House – if you don’t know it – is kind of a worship rap/chant song. I pretty much hate that song. But, singing/chanting/rapping it really does something to my flesh – mostly kicks it in the butt and closer to the curb. So, whenever I feel so led – I try and put that song in my set. With the bad day that I had had today – that song was just the thing I need to use to crucify my flesh. I would (however) like to add a verse:

“Listen to your heart – there’s a brand new beat – there’s a brand new beat of Love!”

Things went well; I think that I had most of the congregation in the Presence of God. The worship seemed – right (for lack of a better word). As we faded out of the last song and into some chords, PJ took the mic and he started some singing in the spirit. It was good – really good. Others started in and soon we were back into the swing of deep worship again. As I felt things were winding down, I felt that God was telling me that it wasn’t time just yet. Someone had a word that needed to come forth. I prayed (to myself) that God would give boldness to whoever needed it to bring the word forth. I was just about to tell PJ not to wind things down yet – give the word a chance.

Then – he asked the leader of our Dance Team to come up to the front. I thought that he was going to ask her to dance while we played something. Until he asked her take over for me on the piano. But – I was at the piano …

A few minutes later, PJ had me sitting in a chair facing the congregation and he was giving them instructions for how to pray for me and how to listen to God for words for me. I sat there – there was nothing to be done about it really. I am not really a person who likes to be in the spot light. But, there I was — *in* the spotlight; nowhere to run; nowhere to hide. On the one hand, I had been right – God did have a word for someone; on the other hand, that person was me. So – really – that’s like too good things. I sensed something; and that something was for me. This is the first time that anything like this had ever happened to me in front of so many. It was both terrifying and wonderful – very humbling.

Words came up for me. They ran (mostly) in two veins: First. Encouragement and exhortations to lead worship. Those were some really good words over me – and I took them to heart. The second vein involved provision; knowing that God is my source, and that I need to trust God more than I have in the past. The words meant something to me – more than I am able to talk about here. But, I believe that I have a good deal of specific seeking to do to make sure that my life is aligned with His divine destiny for my life. More as things become clear to me on this.

After the service, someone asked me how I felt and said that I looked a little freaked out. Well, I felt great – but I was pretty freaked out. Like I said, I’m not used to be a spectacle and I was. But, it was a good thing. It made me stretch; it built me up, and it really showed me just how much God loves me. Don’t tell anyone – but I’m His favorite (and so are you).

Some random thoughts on the direction of Worship:
I have been praying to become a more prophetic worshiper (and worship leader). I believe that God is ready to begin moving on His Bride through prophetic worship. I think that the more we push ourselves into places outside our comfort zone and the more we learn to lean on God, the more He will use us to do great things. I believe that the Body needs this kind of refreshing, healing, and empowerment to go outside the walls of our church building and really become “the Church”. The new thing – whatever that might be – is nearly upon us.

Upcoming (probably blog-worthy) events:
Tomorrow - we're (my new home group) is doing a prayer walk around several area school. I'm very excited about this.
On Sunday - my dad is being ordained as a deacon in his church. I'm proud to be attending the service and very proud of his election to deacon. I think that he will make a fine deacon. And now that he's retired, he might need something to occupy his time. Until he finds golf - that is. :)

Peace - Andy

The Names of God

I was listening to a worship CD recently and the singer said something about our God being so great that no one name would ever define him. I’ve probably heard this CD a dozen times, but that statement had never caught my attention before. It was something new to me – even though I have been schooled in the largeness and greatness of God. So, I decided to ask several friends of mine what their favorite name for God is. The answers I received were varied and wonderful. I’m sure that most everyone here is familiar with these names. But, here they are:

Abba (Father)
Adonai: (Master, sovereign ruler)
Comforter
Counselor
Creator
El Shaddai (God Almighty)
Jehovah Jireh (God Our Provider)
Jehovah MeKaddish (The Lord, my Sanctifier)
Jehovah Rohi (The Lord, my Shepherd)
Jehovah Rophe (The Lord Who Heals)
Jehovah Shalom (The Lord Is Peace)
Prince of Peace
Strong Tower
Yahweh (I Am)

These names – while they are powerful and defining – only give us a small glimpse of Who God really is. We are limited in our understanding with our fallen human minds. We are limited in our primitive vocabulary (I think that’s why God uses so many visions and word pictures for us, to bypass our limited vocabulary).

My favorites are (today – subject to change as I need to know God in different ways):

1. Yahweh – I am. Rene Descartes set out to provide (empirically) the existence of God. He failed. The only thing he could prove for certain was expressed as Cogito Ergo Sum (I think – therefore, I am). God simply “is” – no action needed or required for His being. It seems like nice irony on His part that one of His names stands in contrast to the beginnings of the oh-so misinformed (yet beloved by me) Enlightenment movement. I do love a good irony.

2. Jehovah-Shalom – The Lord Is Peace. Gideon (weakest member of the weakest clan) was called by God to defeat the enemies of Israel. He was a man sent to war; a war that he could not win naturally. He could only win it in God’s power. To honor God – before one battle had been fought, he made an alter with the words Jehovah-Shalom. Was this prophetic? Did he see that God had already provided his victory and all he needed to do was go out and claim it? Was this faith? Did he have a trusting knowledge that the battle was already won and he was at peace again? Or, was this something else? Is even war fought in the arms of God peace for his children? We – much like Gideon – are called to war. In our own power, we can do little against our enemies. But, in Him, we have peace – against the attacks of the devil, the temptations of the world, even as our flesh rages against us. We can learn from Gideon that true Peace comes only from God.

3. Abba, Father – Jesus himself revealed this name of God. Jesus called out to Abba, Father when He was in the garden. He wanted to have “this cup” (the cross – and all that it entailed) taken from him – but He trusted His Father enough to let Him make that decision. But, God could not do this for His Son – and Jesus knew it. God had to bring discipline into this sinful world. And, He had to bring it through the only perfect sacrifice. As hard as it must have been for Jesus to take His punishment, I have never before thought about how hard it must have been for Abba, Father to pour out His Holy Wrath upon His sinless Son. But, as God has shown me recently, His discipline is love. It is an example that I try and use with my own boys.

Paul uses Abba, Father to describe how we – as newly adopted children – should call out to God. Can there be a greater feeling of love than that of our salvation? Can we know any greater love from an adoptive Father than the moment we are brought into His family? Abba, Father is the name that we call God when we most need Him as Father. It is a tender and intimate name.

Still, as a Father, it is an example, a conviction, and a calling. I can remember running, head-long into my own father’s arms and having him hug me. I knew that I was safe with him; I knew that he would never harm or cause harm to come to me. But, I still broke my arm three times and had countless other minor injuries when I was a kid. Did my father fail? Was my faith in him misplaced? Certainly: every earthly father fails; but my faith in him was not misplaced.

Despite his failures and weaknesses, he was given authority by God over me (and the rest of his house). He was my covering until I chose to leave and strike out on my own. My faith in my dad was faith in the position of “Father” that God gave my dad (and now has given to me). This faith in an earthly father is modeling the pattern of faith we need with our heavenly Father. It is now a pattern that I am called to help my own boys learn. They have two Fathers, and I should only be pointing the way to their true father – God.

This last little bit is not my original thought. It is the thought of my wondrous friend C_Rob who helped out with her favorite names.

What are the names of God – really? They are only some of the adjectives we can use to describe His attributes – and His nature. Each Name creates provision for a need in our spiritual walk. As such, we are to do everything that we do in “His Name” – which could also be said in “His Nature”.

When the demons said to the Son’s of Sceva, “Jesus, I know; I know about Paul, but, who are you?” You have to wonder if they weren’t onto something. They knew (and know) what we have a hard time accepting as truth. When we say the words, “In Jesus’ Name”, but are not identified with Jesus’ Nature, we have no power. In fact, we are taking Jesus’ Name in vain and sinning against God. However, when we apply the Nature of Jesus to our prayers and our faith, we create a powerful alchemy – the true power of the Church. And in that power, we will, as Jesus said, “do even greater things than this”. (John 14:12-13).

Thanks for reading and for those who sent me their favorite names of God – thank you even more.

Peace – out – Andy

Quick update: Someone just sent me this name - "shomer Yisrael" (One who guards Israel). In this time of unrest there. It is so wonderful to know that there is an unchanging God who protects His people and His Holy Land. Someone else, just put in this name - which is just another great example of our God - Baal Perazim (Lord of the Breakthrough). Man - I need that in a God. (am - 23 August 2006)

The Seder

I've gone to church most of my life. I was born again when I was eight. I've been to "high" churches and "low" churches and pretty much everything in between. But, I have never even heard the word Seder (and I'm only kinda sure that I'm spelling it correctly) ever said. Why? What is a Seder? Why didn't any of my Bible-believing churches ever mention it?

Jesus participated in the Seder every year of His life on Earth. He thought it was important enough to steal into Jerusalem when He was a wanted man to have the meal. If He is our model, and the Seder was important to Him; if the Seder is important to God (Jesus did nothing that He did not see the Father doing - isn't that right?), then why isn't it important to us?

I realize that we celebrate communion (the bread and the wine); but that doesn't really seem like a feast to me. My church doesn't even use real wine. For that matter - I have only been to one church that used actual wine (they used cheap wine and it tasted like ... well ... really horrible). I don't want to start a discussion about Jesus and wine.

I guess my question is: Is there more to the Seder than the bread and the wine? Does the entire dinner still have meaning to our gentile, Christian church? This was part of the Law that Jesus kept. If He kept it, it must be important - right? It must have some value to our life - right?

Does the Seder have any New Testament meaning? And if so, why are we cheating ourselves by not celebrating it?

More questions here than answers, I realize that. I'm looking for my answers and I encourage you to look for yours too.

Peace - out - Andy

One worship service and two funerals

Here are some general thoughts on “stuff” that’s happened this week.

Item #1: Was boring and so, there’s no need to post it. Rip it from your mind and pretend that it was never here.

Item #2: Wednesday Night Worship – Live with AJ (Springman 2k)

My first impression was not favorable. I didn’t like the direction the first song went in; I was a little uncomfortable with some of the echo harmony/parts. But, my problem was that I was listening too much to the music and not enough to what was happening. AJ was hearing – he seemed to be right in the sweet spot (so to speak) of the worship anointing. After the first couple of songs, he stopped us and talked about how God was looking to bring Joy to those who needed it.

Joy – not the “laughing anointing” kind of joy; but the “beauty for ashes” joy. The kind of joy that heals, rather than the kind the refreshes (if you see my meaning). It’s really something to watch as God uses us to work on the needs of others; such an honor and blessing to be the instrument in the hand of God. As I played and sang, I watched the faces and the countenances of the people being ministered to; you could see some of them really grab what God had for them.

My hat is off to AJ for hearing and doing and PJ (that’s a lot of “Js”) for letting things go as He wanted them to. Man – God is good.

Item #3: A Funeral

I sang for a funeral last week – something I have never done before. I went into it thinking that it was just like anything else – only with songs that I knew really well (In the Garden and How Great Thou Art). So, there I was – sitting in the back listening to the eulogy and waiting to do the first song (In The Garden).

I guess I should start by saying that the woman who was being buried – I didn’t know her. I knew her daughter. Her daughter, I’m calling her one part of the 2-headed diva (2HD for short), is on the worship team with me and I just think the world of her. When she asked me to sing, I didn’t think twice about not doing it. It seemed like the only thing in the world to do.

So – I’m sitting in the back (dressed in a coat and tie no less – so, that was an occasion) and I’m listening to them talk about their mother/grandmother/aunt – all the many titles this glorious woman wore during her life. And, I feel like I’m a poorer person for not knowing her; but, as I listen, that poorness is being taken away as I listen to the reflections of her being shown me in the words of those who loved her so much.

Eulogy’s over and I’m on. I warmed up plenty; but that seems like it was hours ago. I’ve been crying a little and my throat is swollen from that. Normally, when I sing, I try and focus on God first, and then the rest of anyone else who’s there. But, today I know that I’m singing for people – people who are hurting and I begin to get *really* nervous.

The first song started slowly. I fumbled my way around the first verse; I let it get too slow. Anyway, I wasn’t very happy with the way it went. The sermon-type-deal was nice; a much needed break (for me anyway) from the emotionally tense eulogies. The sermon was good; it made everyone laugh in a few places and it reminded us all the she was in a better place; with Jesus – and where she had wanted to go most everyday she had been alive.

The second song went much better. My voice was ready to sing and the sermon helped me get my mind back and re-focused on what the task at hand was. I was really very honored to have been asked to sing here; and I hope that I was a blessing to those who needed one.

Item #4: Another Funeral

A sadder note. For the second time this year, a person I knew pretty well when I was growing up lost their child. The first time, it was a friend of mine. Their boy was 12 or 13 and he died suddenly. The news hit me hard; I was unable to think about much else for several days. I wanted to say something to my friend and his wife; but every time I tried to write, all that came out was crap – pointless – platitude – cliché. Most of which I had a hard time reading back to myself. So, I said nothing. I prayed for them and still do. But I had no words for them.

More recently, another friend’s daughter died. She was 5, and died after a year long battle with an illness. I have no idea why God didn’t heal her. There are things that we just don’t get to understand here. I know that God is good and that He is love – and I know that he has reasons for everything. I just don’t know what those reasons could be. “My ways are higher than your ways.”

It’s hard to trust blindly like this; it’s hard to have faith that God is good when he can take people’s children from them. But, that is what is required: blind faith to go along with our obedience. My heart goes out to both families; my words still seem to fail me when I think about what I might say to them. But, maybe I need some faith in my Father’s ability to use me in this way. I repent from my faithlessness in this matter.

I rest in the thought that God is good – all the time.

That’s all – Andy.

Unity – My comments on a post from the Unity413 blog

This started out as a comment on another blog – but got long and I decided to post it here; along with a link to the original post. Please read that one as well: http://unity413.blogspot.com/2006/07/unity-among-churches-that-certainly.html

"The whole measure of Christ." Such a thing to aspire for ... what kind of price to pay? I often wonder what would happen if we got various congregations together for a service to celebrate His Lordship. Bring a Baptist, Pentecostal, Methodist, AME-Zion, Episcopalian, a “contemporary” Churchgoer, Catholic – whatever.

Bring them together under the aegis of celebrating Jesus and His work of salvation. Put the leaders of each Body in a room together and have them decide how to best do the service. Could such a thing even be accomplished? Even for something as simple as a celebration service? Could these disparate Shepherds come to an agreement? Would anyone even come? Whatever your answer might be, mine is only if Holy Spirit directs it that way.

The price of Unity is high. It will require the sacrifice of doctrine, tradition, and comfort. All for what? Is the “fullness of Christ” (that we don’t know) worth the part-measure of Christ that we all know and are comfortable with now? I don’t think that Christians like to think like this. I think that they’d rather keep God in the box they have for Him. It’s easier to know that God’s doing our thing here; and He’s doing their thing there. Why mix when everyone is so very happy? Is God doing God’s thing anywhere?

In my church this would mean: “sacrificing” speaking in tongues; the doctrine that everyone filled with Holy Spirit speaks in tongues; it would also mean (probably) changing the way we worship with music. And – that’s just the things that spring immediately to mind.

I admit: I don’t really want to give up the way I like to “do church”. I also admit to being curious as to what (exactly) “whole measure of the fullness of Christ” would look like. But, as Full Measure said, no one here is advocating the dissolution of the local Body. Only the ability to bring the Bodies together at times, to know and love each other, to respect and care for each other.

In John 13:34, Jesus gave us a new commandment: to love one another. He goes on to say that “all men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.” I draw from this that we can’t love the lost until we love each other. Does this mean that I have to love the people who run and go to Bob Jones University? Or even Fred Phelps? As distasteful as I find that premise, I am certain that I have to love them. They call Jesus, Lord; they are part of His body. I don’t have to agree with them on everything (or even much of anything), but I do have to love them and with all my heart.

I guess what I’m advocating here is that – if you are a preacher, begin to ask God how He wants to use your and your Body to bring unity in your area. Then, begin to speak with other pastors about doing the same thing for their Body. At your next pastors’ meeting, figure out why you don’t have more “flavors” of Bodies represented. Were they invited and didn’t come? Were they not invited? Why not? Being to ask the other pastors questions about how they think God wants to use them to unify the Body.

If the Shepherds can’t figure out how to be unified – what chance to the sheep have?

What would happen if they (the Shepherds) got together and decided to stress and preach on Unity for a month – then hold the above mentioned celebration service? I have been to a lot of church services in my life and I have heard almost as many messages. I can’t think of the last time I heard one preached on Unity – especially between different flavor’s of Christians.

Jesus was asked “what is the greatest commandment”. And – in typical Christ-like fashion, He didn’t feel limited to the entrapping question when He gave his answer. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and might.” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If the first can be summed up in a word – that word would be Holiness. The second, would be Unity. When we are one, we are constantly serving and constantly loving ourselves. Constantly in that Psalm 133 place of “commanded blessing”.

Imagine what would happen if we took Unity as seriously as we took Holiness?

Thanks for your time - Andy