Today, I just want to write. I'm not even sure what about. I just do. So here we go...
Well, tonight's service was soothingly simple. One guitar, one leader, and a church house full of sincere worshipers. It doesn't get more honest than that. The worship tonight was beautiful. Sometimes I think that today's church can become sidetracked by everything that we feel we must "do." Not that there is anything wrong with doing or keeping up with the times, just that we don't have constantly "do" in order to be what God wants us to be. The praise band is great, I love it and I love being a part of it. But we do not have to do it all the time. Like Chris said today, sometimes we need to just "keep it simple." My Ecuadorian friends worship in a cement-block house. Our Chinese brothers and sisters are persecuted, so they simply worship behind closed doors. And windows. And curtains. Peter, Paul, and others throughout the history of the church- they simply worshiped in prison. Even the chains slowly peeling the skin off of their wrists didn't stop them from lifting up God's name in thanksgiving and in praise. And we like complain because the church is too cold, too hot, or the songs aren't our style or the music isn't fast enough. I wonder if God ever gets sick of any American "worshiping." Mind you, I'm not just out bashing every church in America. I believe that for the most part our spiritual leaders are truly seeking to please God and glorify His name, and that the congregations are generally sincere. I'm just out to point out that sometimes conveniences can be more of a hindrance than a catalyst for worship. But praise God that we have a grace that covers all, and that He can work in spite of our sometimes less than perfect attitudes. He truly is in control.
It seems that my body is informing my mind that I should get some rest now. With my evening rambling done and the hour getting late, I end with a simple prayer. God, thank You for being You!
