Wow!
Sunday, 01 March 2009 06:29 | Written by bigjolly | 
What an awesome time at church this morning!
We made it to the early service and enjoyed several aspects of it. At least today, there weren't a multitude of stupid videos, just one and it was almost integrated into the service. They stand the entire time they sing, much better for worship IMO. SU enjoyed the song selection, it was okay, I guess. But that is just nitpicking on my part. The pastor's sermon was good, not great but good. Of course, that would have been the same for either service. We'll probably go back, JM is going to report in on the videos/announcements from the second service.
Class was awesome! Just awesome. I thought our shared time went well, it was very prayerful and open. Our discussion time was animated, interesting and productive. We started a new series centered around Isaiah, it is titled Maintain Spiritual Health, with today's topic being Meeting Divine Expectations, focused on Isaiah 5:1-14.
I gave out a little background on Isaiah, hopefully the guys will spend a little time reading an overview about him and the book(s). I started out by reading one of my favorite passages in the entire Bible, one that quickly brings me back into focus IF I take the time to review it periodically. Here it is from Eugene Peterson's transliteration, The Message:
We made it to the early service and enjoyed several aspects of it. At least today, there weren't a multitude of stupid videos, just one and it was almost integrated into the service. They stand the entire time they sing, much better for worship IMO. SU enjoyed the song selection, it was okay, I guess. But that is just nitpicking on my part. The pastor's sermon was good, not great but good. Of course, that would have been the same for either service. We'll probably go back, JM is going to report in on the videos/announcements from the second service.
Class was awesome! Just awesome. I thought our shared time went well, it was very prayerful and open. Our discussion time was animated, interesting and productive. We started a new series centered around Isaiah, it is titled Maintain Spiritual Health, with today's topic being Meeting Divine Expectations, focused on Isaiah 5:1-14.
I gave out a little background on Isaiah, hopefully the guys will spend a little time reading an overview about him and the book(s). I started out by reading one of my favorite passages in the entire Bible, one that quickly brings me back into focus IF I take the time to review it periodically. Here it is from Eugene Peterson's transliteration, The Message:
"Listen to my Message,Powerful, powerful stuff in there. SU wrote about it also.
you Sodom-schooled leaders.
Receive God's revelation,
you Gomorrah-schooled people.
"Why this frenzy of sacrifices?"
God's asking.
"Don't you think I've had my fill of burnt sacrifices,
rams and plump grain-fed calves?
Don't you think I've had my fill
of blood from bulls, lambs, and goats?
When you come before me,
whoever gave you the idea of acting like this,
Running here and there, doing this and that—
all this sheer commotion in the place provided for worship?
"Quit your worship charades.
I can't stand your trivial religious games:
Monthly conferences, weekly Sabbaths, special meetings—
meetings, meetings, meetings—I can't stand one more!
Meetings for this, meetings for that. I hate them!
You've worn me out!
I'm sick of your religion, religion, religion,
while you go right on sinning.
When you put on your next prayer-performance,
I'll be looking the other way.
No matter how long or loud or often you pray,
I'll not be listening.
And do you know why? Because you've been tearing
people to pieces, and your hands are bloody.
Go home and wash up.
Clean up your act.
Sweep your lives clean of your evildoings
so I don't have to look at them any longer.
Say no to wrong.
Learn to do good.
Work for justice.
Help the down-and-out.
Stand up for the homeless.
Go to bat for the defenseless.