Growing in Worship, learning to be flexible, learning to risk but also respecting traditions
Sometimes, well actually many times it is hard to figure God out. This past Sunday I had a message I really hoped would be heard by the church. However, many folks were missing. I will put it on the site, but it is likely that only a few more will actually hear it even after making it available on-line. But let me make this clear - its not that I think ‘Oh, my preaching is so important you can’t miss it - rather it is that I believe that God gave me something which is really necessary for this season of our life as a church.
I think worship should be an evolving reality with elements that remain fixed. There is a sense in which worship must remain flexible, open and able to receive new things: I Cor. 14: (26) What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. In an enviroment where you are actually going to encourage this sort of thing, there will be a need for flexiblity and openess to new things. This is a delicate balance. For example, if you allow the sharing to go on and on without sensativity to the entire flow of worship things can get really bogged down. That is why the scriptures say: ‘the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets‘ i.e the ‘prophets’ are not automatons who must speak and who can’t restain themselves or be brief. According to scripture all things must be done in good order. That doesn’t mean that things can’t be loud or full of passion or even a little crazy - just that they need to be in good order, i.e. not confusing or chaotic. (more…)
I feel incredibly blessed by having the opportunity to sit with, and learn from the group of senior pastors who make up the churches of the ARC, both domestic and international. Today (Thursday, 10th), we are together as each man shares his experiences of the past year. We are asked by Ned Berube, our president to share our the one thing that the Holy Spirit has done in the past year that has really blessed us, and the thing that has been our biggest challenge. I sat and listened as senior pastor after senior pastor shared really wonderful stories of God working in their lives, in their churches, and in their families. Not every story was one of victory. Some were tales of heartache, disappointment and tragedy. Yet in everything was the word of Christ, beaming out, lighting the way, illumining the stories of fellow pastors who were still, after many years in the pursuit of Jesus. 
After months and months of careful work I am so pleased to announce that Lamb of God’s very first worship album is completed.