Day 29 of the 40 Day Prayer Journey (9/22/13) Early this morning I was reading Day 29 from “Draw the Circle. Batterson begins with Psalm 96:1, Sing to the Lord a new song. I looked at Psalm 96 in my NIV Bible. I was surprised to learn that the Psalm is also in 1 Chronicles 16:23-33. In fact, 1 Chronicles 16 brings together Psalms 96; 105:1-15; and 106:1, 47-48. This is the only place this is done in the Old Testament. I haven’t looked at the N.T. The chronicler is writing about King David bringing the Ark of the Covenant to a tent King David had pitched. David appointed Asaph as head of the Levites and priests who were to give praise to the Lord. This is an old song sung in a new context, bringing the Ark to the tent. Can an old song be made new again? In the church today we cannot forget the old song, but we must find new ways of singing that song, but sometimes, as Batterson says, we need a new song altogether. All of this made me wonder, what song does the culture around us hear? Is our song a hit on the streets? Does it make the top 40? Does God get tired of the old songs we sing as Batterson suggests? He writes: One of the dangers we face spiritually is learning how and forgetting why (Page 160). And what about routine? We need them for life in some ways, but good routines become bad routines if we don’t change the routine (Page 160 again). Yet, I read in Luke’s gospel about a man named Zechariah who was serving as priest before God. He was chosen by lot to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. While he did, so all the assembled worshippers were praying outside. This was strictly routine worship, but on this day something happened. God…..showed…..up! (Luke 1:11) The rest of the story was the birth and naming of John the Baptist. Question, what changed that day? Why did God suddenly break into the routine of worship? The Bible doesn’t tell us but I think it was Zachariah that was different. I think his heart was open out of duty and a holy fear of what he was about to do. God chose this moment to encounter Zechariah. Can I share with you something I learned years ago? People have a tendency to evaluate worship. Listen to the comments made. They usually are something such as this: I liked it. I didn’t like it. I liked the sermon. I didn’t like the sermon. The band was just entertaining, putting on a show. I’ll bet you can add a few other statements you have heard. I think people do this because we live in a culture of reality shows where you like or dislike. Facebook even offers like and dislike. It is thumbs up, or thumbs down. It’s the modern version of the Roman coliseum. Thank God we no longer throw people to the lions except for the lion of criticism. My work tells me that pastors and laity who lead worship from preaching to liturgy to music are working hard and doing the best they can. It is our job as a conference to resource and enhance those skills, in other words equip. Now, to what I learned. Every time I enter worship in the local church or even at Annual Conference, I pray this prayer. Lord, I have come here to worship. I give thanks for those who will lead us today. Let me not evaluate, but open my heart because I know that somewhere in this service you have a word for me today. It is opening oneself, like Zechariah, to the holy encounter. I have rarely been disappointed. On a side note, in today’s reading Batterson shares a letter from a parishioner who entered into a prayer experiment. She gave thanks all day long out of her context of being a biologist. At the end f the day she says that God must have gotten tired with the futility of her trying to thank God for everything. She wrote, The Spirit finally hushed me saying, “You can stop now.” That story reminded me of something on YouTube. Google Louie Giglio - Laminin (short version) and watch this six minute piece. For some reason I could not get the site to copy and paste. Finally, let us all consider Batterson’s closing thought. If you want God to do something new, you cannot keep doing the same old thing. Roy Caudill, District Superintendent, UMC
Posted on: Mon, 23 Sep 2013 13:22:51 +0000