the links
Today I added a few links to the right of this very blog. Although simple and easy to do, the simple addition of a few links has filled my heart with unspeakable joy. This was once just talk. This idea that sharing together on-line was legit was once just a small idea. But now, it's coming to fruition. I hope that soon I won't be able to fit all of the names on the page.
The words that you all write inspire me. And I thank you for those words. We're all so different, yet there's a connection here that cannot be denied. Even when it's unspoken, the striving for something real and tangible is evident in all of our thoughts. That too excites me. And although our time together lately has been short, we fear not, knowing that our connection transcends occasional lapses in communication.
So what now then? I will share about my experience last night. I was at a local "church" helping my father give a presentation on India. That's actually a story for another day because his new-found love of that country is God's hands moving at their best. I will share that inspirational tale another time.
But last night I had to help him do this presentation. Although it's not something I particularly enjoy doing, I dress up in a custom-made Indian safari suit (which I'm told, although have no proof, is pretty "pimp"- whatever that means) and help run the powerpoint presentation.
Last night saw us at a small country church where the crushing hand of "religion" is still prevalent. The worship was nothing short of suffocating for me, but the backwood choruses had the church folk singing loudly in their pew.
I really didn't know what to make of this place. It was so different than what I was used to. I particularly had trouble towards the beginning of the service, when one of the associate pastors took prayer requests. After he had required a few, he said that no one would lead the prayer, but that everyone should seek God on their own. Within seconds, I heard a rumbling, as if the building itself was falling to the ground.
Turns out that on cue, the church folk had dropped to their collective knees and had buried their heads in the pews in prayer. All was well, except everyone began praying out loud. And I mean loud. And the men on the stage (they were all men up there) also knelt and began praying loudly.
I felt bad. I was so distracted by this geniune outpouring of prayer because all I could think of was how showy the prayers from the stage were. The men, although supposedly praying for themselves and to God, where speaking so loudly and extravagantly, complete with that rollercoaster "up and down" intonation that pastors use, that I couldn't even concentrate. I just sat their dumbfounded. And I could tell I was getting bitter.
I didn't want to be at this church, I told myself. Look at them, showing off, I quietly said to myself. And then God showed me, quietly, that I hadn't been saying those things at all. It was the enemy.
Over the next hour, thankfully, I believe God spoke to me. He told me that these were his people too, even if they prayed out loud and even if I didn't understand/agree with the way they were doing things. We're all in this together, I was told. And He was pleased with those people who were crying out to him because their hearts were in the right place.
It's funny how when God corrects you, He doesn't do it in a way that makes you feel terrible, which is exactly how I should have felt. It was one of those times where I felt the gentle guidance of my Heavenly Father, showing me the way but not rubbing my face in my selfishness and arrogant pseudo-spiritual pride. Thanks God!
So anyway, that was my story from last night. God showed me that we're all in this together and that He is pleased with those people whose hearts are aimed towards Him. And that's comforting, because I know that sometimes my motives are not what they should be.
But as a dear friend told me long ago, God works even through ulterior motives. And I'm thankful for that.
So long for today, dear friends. I encourage anyone who hasn't to check out those other blogs. They're all filled with something important.
peace.
-g
The words that you all write inspire me. And I thank you for those words. We're all so different, yet there's a connection here that cannot be denied. Even when it's unspoken, the striving for something real and tangible is evident in all of our thoughts. That too excites me. And although our time together lately has been short, we fear not, knowing that our connection transcends occasional lapses in communication.
So what now then? I will share about my experience last night. I was at a local "church" helping my father give a presentation on India. That's actually a story for another day because his new-found love of that country is God's hands moving at their best. I will share that inspirational tale another time.
But last night I had to help him do this presentation. Although it's not something I particularly enjoy doing, I dress up in a custom-made Indian safari suit (which I'm told, although have no proof, is pretty "pimp"- whatever that means) and help run the powerpoint presentation.
Last night saw us at a small country church where the crushing hand of "religion" is still prevalent. The worship was nothing short of suffocating for me, but the backwood choruses had the church folk singing loudly in their pew.
I really didn't know what to make of this place. It was so different than what I was used to. I particularly had trouble towards the beginning of the service, when one of the associate pastors took prayer requests. After he had required a few, he said that no one would lead the prayer, but that everyone should seek God on their own. Within seconds, I heard a rumbling, as if the building itself was falling to the ground.
Turns out that on cue, the church folk had dropped to their collective knees and had buried their heads in the pews in prayer. All was well, except everyone began praying out loud. And I mean loud. And the men on the stage (they were all men up there) also knelt and began praying loudly.
I felt bad. I was so distracted by this geniune outpouring of prayer because all I could think of was how showy the prayers from the stage were. The men, although supposedly praying for themselves and to God, where speaking so loudly and extravagantly, complete with that rollercoaster "up and down" intonation that pastors use, that I couldn't even concentrate. I just sat their dumbfounded. And I could tell I was getting bitter.
I didn't want to be at this church, I told myself. Look at them, showing off, I quietly said to myself. And then God showed me, quietly, that I hadn't been saying those things at all. It was the enemy.
Over the next hour, thankfully, I believe God spoke to me. He told me that these were his people too, even if they prayed out loud and even if I didn't understand/agree with the way they were doing things. We're all in this together, I was told. And He was pleased with those people who were crying out to him because their hearts were in the right place.
It's funny how when God corrects you, He doesn't do it in a way that makes you feel terrible, which is exactly how I should have felt. It was one of those times where I felt the gentle guidance of my Heavenly Father, showing me the way but not rubbing my face in my selfishness and arrogant pseudo-spiritual pride. Thanks God!
So anyway, that was my story from last night. God showed me that we're all in this together and that He is pleased with those people whose hearts are aimed towards Him. And that's comforting, because I know that sometimes my motives are not what they should be.
But as a dear friend told me long ago, God works even through ulterior motives. And I'm thankful for that.
So long for today, dear friends. I encourage anyone who hasn't to check out those other blogs. They're all filled with something important.
peace.
-g
posted by gabe at
5:35 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home