Everyday Worship

Greetings fellow blog-readers. I have returned. I have momentarily finished playing with cardboard and packing tape, the parental units have proved themselves quite useful once again in getting me settled into the new place and are soon to return home. And... I've finally found 5 minutes to breathe deep and try to remember how to post a blog once again. The following is the next installment in the Life of Worship devotionals. Hope you enjoy.

Read Zechariah 14

The day of the Lord. When we read about this terrible and fascinating day in the Bible, so many things come to light. It will be a day unlike any before it, when everything which is expected no longer exists. It is a dreadful day of judgment, when God deals once and for all with those who oppose Him and His children; when the Lord personally fights all their battles. As His enemies are taken down, God, in a most spectacular way, causes Jerusalem, His “Daughter of Zion” to be lifted up and He brings her a security she has never known. It is a day of rebirth as the returning Lord touches the crest of the Mount of Olives and its heart is split, broken in two. Living waters will flow from His city to make that which was dead alive. And on this day, worship of the Most High God becomes so prevalent that even the most basic and mundane items become utensils of worship.

As children of God, we have already received a blessing in the knowledge that our Savior has purchased our escape from this day. However, that does not mean that we should not seek our own “day of the Lord’ in our lives right now. As a Christian, every day of my life should be a day of the Lord. My everyday worship experience should make each day unique unto itself, unlike any which have come before it. Each day I should acknowledge God’s justice and righteousness in my life and watch how He fights my battles and subdues my enemies. I should remember every day how the Lord touched my heart only to break it in two so that His living waters can flow from me, out beyond the scope of my vision, flowing to someone who is dead, cleansing them to life.

My day of the Lord should be so permeated with worship that everything I do, even the most daily and mundane of all chores become acts of holy worship. Wiping a runny nose, doing the laundry, sitting in traffic or sweeping a floor, all become sacred utensils of worship before the alter of the Lord God Almighty. And when this day of the Lord is complete, it is my prayer that I too have lived the words of my Lord when He said, “Then I was beside Him, as a master workman; And I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him.” [Proverbs 8:30]

Food for Thought:

1. According to Proverbs 16:3, Isaiah 32:17, Matthew 5:16, 1 Corinthians 15:28 and Hebrews 12:28, what are some of the aspects and results we should be aware of when considering our worship through daily work?
2. Compare Zechariah 14:20-21 with 1 Corinthians 10:31 and summarize what these verses mean to you and your life.
3. Indicate what changes you intend to make this week to change your daily chores into acts of worship.

Copyright © 2001 Kimberly K. Hannay
All Rights Reserved

Free Stuff--Come and Get It!

It's time for fall cleaning around here! There are some baskets on the piano in the choir room with freebies. Please come and take any of these items. Here's what we've got:

• Worshiper magazines for all
• A few Argentina video tapes from 2001
• Luminosity CDs (from Sunday Nite team a few years back)
• Romania CDs from 2003

Romania Missions Team

THIS WEEKEND, September 22nd, SBC has another team heading out to serve alongside Daniela Pribac and International Needs in Romania! Two of our choir members, Brenda Pearson and Agnes Canada, are on the team. Read on...

The main purpose of the team is to minister to the women. They will be teaching a business track as well as a women’s track. They will also visit an orphanage. Throughout the team’s time in the country, Fred will also be busy leading discussions and small groups, as well as preparing several messages.

- Please pray for the team as they allow the Lord to speak through them during their various interactions and that they will be wonderful witnesses of His glory and grace.
- Pray that the Romanians will be encouraged, that the team will be able to teach biblical and capitalist business principles. Pray that the women will learn principles applying to their walk with God and their family relationships.
- Pray for Team Leaders: Fred & Kristin Beasley, and team members Judy Morris, Brenda Pearson, Mary Parker, Holly Schoeneman, Alyssa Spitale, Agnes Canada, Tammy Zapata.

VIRTUE!

This is a devotional presented to the orchestra last Wednesday night by Dean Anderson. I happened to attend the rehearsal that night and was really stricken with the thoughtful ideas Dean shared. I thought you would all like to hear it...

Virtue
(Also translated as excellence)
Please read 2 Peter 1:3-11 (see below)

Are you a virtuoso? We think of a virtuoso as someone who is a highly accomplished musician. Excellence. Not necessarily a person endowed with raw talent but rather someone who has refined his God given gifts with much hard work. The end result of this effort is a level of proficiency that is both consistent and inspiring.

How do you get to Carnegie Hall? … Practice, practice, practice.

But I don't think that the musical sense of virtuosity is the original or primary meaning of the word. In many languages, the word virtuoso is used for both the skillful musician and the virtuous person. However, in English we have separated the two meanings into different words. But imagine a moral virtuoso, someone displaying excellence on the stage of life. I don't mean virtue in the Victorian sense of the word where your virtue is defined by which activities you abstain from. As in the musical analogy, virtuosity is something much more than just not making mistakes during a performance. Is a doctor judged as being skillful and effective if he merely avoids medical malpractice lawsuits?

Peter describes how virtue, or excellence, fits into the process of escaping from the corruption of the world to becoming partakers of the divine nature (v.4.) It seems that the order Peter uses in verses 5 to 7, starting with your faith, then virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and finishing with love, is significant in that it is describing the process of sanctification. But I think that love is the beginning of the process, the love of Christ. (I certainly don’t think Peter is wrong with the order used. I am just noting that he is beginning with the goal and then working backwards.) Having been loved by Christ we can then love our brothers and sisters. As we become more Christ-like (godliness and self-control) we realize (knowledge) that we are no longer slaves to sin.

When the New Testament authors use the phrase "your faith", they are often referring to the whole of a person's Christian walk. Virtue (excellence) is right there at the top level. Virtue is practicing what you know to be true, increasing in self-control, godliness and love. Love, that can only come from God, and is displayed in us towards others. Jesus did not say his disciples would be known by the things they abstain from, but by their love. (John 13:35)

You may never be a skilled enough musician to play in Carnegie Hall, but can you be a virtuoso in the moral and spiritual sense of the word? God has not set a high standard of excellence for us to achieve on our own. He has called us (v.3.) He is supplying his divine power (v.3), precious and very great promises (v.4) so that we will be sanctified, useful and effective (v.8) for his glory.

2 Peter 1:3-11 From the ESV:

3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him fwho called us to3 his own glory and excellence,4 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become gpartakers of the divine nature, hhaving escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith iwith virtue,5 and virtue jwith knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control kwith steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness lwith brotherly affection, and brotherly affection mwith love. 8 For if these qualities6 are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or nunfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he ois blind, having forgotten that he was pcleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers,7 be all the more diligent to make your calling and qelection sure, for if you practice these qualities ryou will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you san entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Mirror or Windshield?

Which one are you looking through? This was the poignant question Mike Harris asked each of us at the Friday night Worship Renewal Dinner. Several have commented on the timeliness of this question and how it really made them stop and think. I also liked the story of the Israelites and their mumbling and grumbling in the desert. It's easy to do when you are wandering around and can't see the Promised Land. I've asked Mike for a script or some notes on his talk so I could include more for those who couldn't attend. It was a fabulous evening and the discussion was perfect for our time and place. Is it the rearview mirror or windshield for you?

The Saturday Marathon

We all survived the first big rehearsal on the platform and Kevin got all the bugs worked out after not having choir/orch all summer. Murphy's law, the measures didn't match up for the orchestra and the guest worship leader. I think it got worked out and the good news is, we're all set and fresh and ready to go in the morning.

PS Notice I'm posting at 11 pm on Saturday night-not the usual. Two things--Joe gave me Sunday off (my family says "thanks"--I think), and I took a nap after the Renewal. Even at that, it's still too late to think of a meaningful synopsis of the weekend. I'm pretty much just talking fluff here. Sometime when I'm in the mood I'll give more depth. Promise!

Worship Renewal is Over--What'd You Think?

The Worship Renewal (aka Fall Advance) is always one of our milestones in the arts calendar. It came earlier this year but it really got us off to a good start. Here are some snapshots in case you weren't there (boo hoo). Caution! I didn't get my camera out until it was over so I don't have any action shots. You'll know what I mean when you see the photos...

We had a time of worship lead by Mike Harris.

We had a delectable dinner by Chef Jean--Betty Beran's friend. Thanks Betty for your hard work in making this a great event! Oh, and the tables were beautifully decorated but this heap of tablecloths was all that was left by the time I got my camera out. I thought the new High School room was a great place to be. Much better than the smelly gym.

We celebrated Communion together.


Last but not least, what's a great event without decadent desserts? I think Chef Jean made these too.

Those Elves Are At It Again!

If you've been around any length of time, you know we have a history of elf infiltration in the Worship Arts Ministry. Contrary to popular legend, they don't just come out at Christmas. The elves were in full force last week for Operation Music. It's a huge job to get all the music copied, taped and passed out to the right people. Pictured here is Dave VanVleet with Leah--counting, counting, counting. Also helping were Anne Cooper, Ann Sandford, Marti Moore, Bill Curry, Al Wilson and Janice Cook. Thank You! We couldn't have been ready without all your valuable help!

Who is God to You?

Depending on our circumstances, we each see God revealed in one of His many facets. I thought of this when we were singing "Your Name" in rehearsal on Wednesday night. Remember when we filled these chalkboards on July 22nd? I was amazed at the variety of names and phrases of God....with very little duplicates. I think it's so inspiring that I hate to erase them. You can tell the children's writing, and then there's the word "paraclete." Now I can't remember the last time I thought of paraclete as one of the names of God. What is He to you this week?

PS Thanks to Joel Maupin for building those 4 chalkboards from scratch in a couple of days. I asked for a simple board to set on an easel and next thing you know he's got full-blown chalkboards with their own stands. Thanks Joel! Your help is much appreciated (and highly underrated!).

Guest Worship Leader This Sunday--Bruce Carroll

This Sunday, in addition to being the kick-off for choir/orchestra, we will be joined by a guest worship leader. He's a friend of Tim Kimmell from Memphis.

Tim will be speaking this Sunday and Bruce happened to be in town. Let's welcome him warmly. Sunday's worship music includes:

• Hosanna
• Blessed Be Your Name
• Your Name
• Fairest Lord Jesus
• How Great is Our God

Hope to see you there!

PS Here's Bruce's website for more info:

http://www.brucecarroll.com/new/bc.php?page=welcome

What's On Your Nightstand?

I'm curious to know what everyone is reading these days. It seems that every day I find more good books to read and I just can't keep up. Besides that, I'm a dabbler anyway. Here's what's on my nightstand:

• The Case for the Creator, Lee Strobel (2/3 finished)
• The Case for Christ, Lee Strobel (1/4 finished)
• Praying in Color, Sybil MacBeth (haven't started; from Janice Cook--she loves it)
• Long Journey Home,Os Guinness (haven't started;from Sandee Coppola-she loves it)

What's on YOUR nightstand?

Did You See the New Artist on the Block?

Wouldn't you know we've had a talented artist masquerading in this ministry for years as a singer? Who'd have thunk it? She painted in the services last Sunday. Did you see her? Janice Cook came with us to Saddleback and rediscovered her artistic side. It's so cool! Someone came up to her after church and was so touched by the painting they wanted to buy it from her. I bet you also didn't know she owns her own jewelry making business and teaches beading classes at Michael's. You can view her items at:

http://cookscreations.com/

Way to go Janice!

It's the Big Night!!

Well, here it is! The first night of choir and orchestra. Always a monumentous occasion. In some ways it seems like forever since we've been together and in other ways it seems like yesterday. Do I sound confused? I hope everyone is excited and ready to go! Maybe tomorrow I can get a recap out and hear everyone's first night tale...