Tag: Worship

Today’s Word Is ATTIRE

It’s Humor Day!
Fri-Mar-13-2020

One Sunday morning an old cowboy entered a church just before services were about to begin. Although the old man and his clothes were spotlessly clean, he wore jeans, a denim shirt and boots that were worn and a little ragged around the edges. In his hand he carried a worn-out old hat and an equally worn out Bible.

The church he entered was in a very upscale and exclusive part of the city. It was the largest and most beautiful church the old cowboy had ever seen. The people of the congregation were all dressed in expensive clothes and accessories.

As the cowboy took a seat, the others moved away from him. No one greeted, spoke to, or welcomed him. They were all appalled at his appearance and did not attempt to hide it.

As the old cowboy was leaving the church, the preacher approached him and asked the cowboy to do him a favor. “Before you come back in here again, have a talk with God and ask him what he thinks would be appropriate attire for worship.” The old cowboy assured the preacher he would.

The next Sunday, he showed up for the services wearing the same ragged jeans, shirt, boots and hat. Once again, he was completely shunned and ignored. The preacher approached the man and said, “I thought I asked you to speak to God before you came back to our church.”

“I did,” replied the old cowboy.

“If you spoke to God, what did he tell you the proper attire should be for worshiping in here?” asked the preacher.

“Well, sir, God told me that he didn’t have a clue what I should wear. He said He’d never been in this church.”

If you’re looking for a church, find one where God is surely there. If he is, you will be welcomed by God’s people, regardless of your attire. The Bible will be taught and honored, and many will be carrying one. The love of God will flow in relationships. The life, teaching, miracles, death, and resurrection of Jesus will be openly proclaimed. The Holy Spirit will be at work changing lives. And mission work to bless those in need will be practiced. There is a praise chorus by Lanny Wolfe that goes like this …

Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place.

I can feel his mighty power and his grace.

I can hear the brush of angel’s wings,

I see glory on each face.

Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place.

Have a blessed weekend, including rest, family, and worship,

Chaplain Mark

Today’s Word Is REST … Plus Friday Humor

Fri-Feb-21-2020

Robinson Crusoe fell desperately ill, and just before dropping into a coma, he called for his man Friday to help him. Friday, not knowing what else to do, went outside of Crusoe’s tent and danced around and prayed for God to come and help his master.

Shortly afterwards, Crusoe awoke from his coma and groggily perceived a shape at the foot of his bed. In panic, he imagined that the angel of death had come to get him. Then the shape came into focus, and he cried out with relief, “Thank God! It’s Friday!”

According to the internet, the phrase “Thank God It’s Friday” was created in the early 1970’s by Jerry Healy, a disk jockey on radio station WAKR in Akron, Ohio. It eventually became common nationwide as an expression of relief at the end of the work week and anticipation of relaxing or partying over the weekend!

It seems to me to be an indication of the stress Americans feel overall. Perhaps there is in our culture a general lack of enjoyment at work, an expectation of excessive work hours, and a high premium on financial success.

Whatever the factors, many people seem to be starving for rest and relief from the demanding work week. Furthermore, we sometimes find our weekends so packed with activities and obligations that we don’t really get rested before it’s time to go back to work. Thus, we often find ourselves advising people to “get some rest.” Guess who came up with the saying, “Now get your rest!” Not your mother. Not your best friend. Not your doctor. It was God.

First, he set the example himself. “And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.” (Genesis 2:2) God himself knew when he had done enough work, and it was time to rest. (Do you?)

His work was satisfying. What he did during the work of creation he labeled as “good.” And perhaps we should pause each day, or at least at the end of the week, and say, “That was good. What I did helped me, my family, and others in some way.” And then we should know that we have worked enough, it is time to rest.

Our standard five-day work week means two days off, yes. But there is still work to be done regarding home and family. But at least one of those days should qualify as a “holy rest” in the spirit of the Sabbath commandment. Thus, God gave us instructions to imitate him in getting our rest. “Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord.” (Exodus 31:15a)

Maybe you don’t exactly do a 24-hour continuous rest period, but you and I need a way to refresh each week. The extent of your rest is not supposed to be “however much you sleep at night.” It needs to be supplemented with the renewal of your mind, body, and spirit.

Therefore, resting doesn’t mean just sleeping. Find your way to experience the breezes of God refreshing you in these areas … emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually. Don’t leave one out. Sometimes we are taking care of one or two of those areas, and still don’t feel fully alive, rested, and energetic.

I have another saying that I use for myself, “Thank God It’s Sunday.” When I don’t worship together with others and find extra time to be refreshed in the Lord, I feel like my week is not complete.

Enjoy your weekend, get some rest, attend worship …

That’s what I’m going to do,

Chaplain Mark

Other Verses:

I will both lie down and sleep in peace; for you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety. (Psalm 4:8)

It is in vain that you rise up early, and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives sleep to his beloved. (Psalm 127:2)

Today’s Word Is BALANCE

Tue-Feb-4-2020

In the book Work, Play, and Worship in a Leisure-Oriented Society by Gordon Dahl, he proposes a theory that life is made up of these three aspects; and we are supposed to work at our work, play at our play, and worship at our worship. He then proposes that much of American life is out of balance … and we get into a pattern of … Worshipping our work … Working at our play, and … Playing at our worship.

Starting with work … It should be fulfilling in some degree, accomplish something useful, provide for our needs, and bless others. But the word “workaholic” was created by a Canadian newspaper writer in 1947 to describe the growing concern for people who value work inappropriately and thus hurt their families, destroy their own health, and define life by the wrong measures. In other words, they worship their work.

Then there is our play. Another name is recreation … it is supposed to “re-create” us, meaning relieve stress, evoke laughter, be filled with enjoyment, and refresh us. However, I have seen folks throw golf clubs, walk out of card games, throw a tantrum over losing, get livid at the Little League umpire for a bad call, and in general become miserable trying to “play.”

When my children were preschoolers, I bought them a “bolo paddle,” a wooden paddle attached to a long rubber band with a small rubber ball on the end. You hit the ball over and over as it stretches out on the rubber band and comes back. When I got home from work the next day, I got upset because they had taken it apart!

My son was using the paddle part as a hammer with some of his building blocks. He loved it! My daughter was out back with the ball and rubber band part, slinging it around the double stranded clothesline, which made it wrap round and round and round until it was tight. Then it would reverse and unwind around and around until it was back out straight. She loved it! They were having great fun with the toy I bought, but by my standards they were not doing it “correctly.” Thankfully, I resisted the urge to spoil their play and turn it into work. It struck me that they were truly playing and enjoying it.

Now for worship. This is a time, both private and corporate, to praise and thank our Creator. But very many Americans breeze through the worship time (which for some must be completed in a defined time period, such as one hour) and do not get impacted by the awesome idea and experience of communing with the Holy God of the universe.

Many people are too embarrassed to express openly their love for God, afraid others will think less of them if they laugh, cry, shout, kneel, hold their hands out or up to God, get lost in a moment of quietness and reflection, or get so consumed by the presence of God that they are unaware of their surroundings and unashamed to express openly their love for God. It is possible, you know, to worship without singing or to sing without worshipping!

There is much more that could be said, but you get the picture. Now you can reflect about whether you are in or out of balance. We can find a sense of greater peace when our work, play, and worship become what they are supposed to be … not idolizing our work, being refreshed by our play, and being fully engaged while focusing on God in our worship.

Blessings,

Chaplain Mark

Today’s Verse:

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. (1st Corinthians 10:31)

Today’s Christmas Word Is … SHINE

Christmas 2019
Mon-Dec-2-2019

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105)

I have my own Murphy’s Law: “You can’t find a flashlight when you need one.”

However, in the world of faith, light is in abundance. God is showing us the way by shining into our world in as many ways as possible. Sometimes we think it is a drawback that he usually gives out his light in such small doses. We wish that we could see much further down the pathway of our lives, but as the above verse points out, God’s Word and his divine presence typically give us just enough light to see our feet and to take the next step. The only way to operate in this manner is by faith.

So, a good way to launch this year’s Christmas journey would be to give thanks for the love and mercies of God, to trust in his faithfulness, and to be willing to take one step at a time, according to how much light he provides.

The reason I said above that he “typically” lights the path in small doses is that there are occasionally circumstances in life where you may need to take a bold and giant step, even a leap. At those moments, God provides whatever extra light is required. Right? Are there some small steps or even bold steps that you need to take?

Remember also, that the light shining before you is freely provided. It is his light, a gift. That light has a source. Jesus said, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” (John 8:12)

But then again, Jesus also said, “You are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:16), meaning that his light is also reflected through us in various ways and multiplies in new directions. Jesus wants to give you his light because there are certain people whom he specifically wants to reach through you.

God is providing a way for you to see clearly what you are doing. Believe that. And may his light shine in you, through you, upon you, around you, and ahead of you. Not only does this help you to find your way but also assists others to find their way.

If you are going to a attend a Christmas Eve candlelight service, as my wife and I do every year, then at the end of the service you will find yourself standing tall along with those around you and lifting up high your “one little candle,” declaring that “I want my light to count!” It is a solemn and emotional act of courage, commitment, and hope.

Whether you attend such a service or not, take a moment to make a declaration that “I want my one little candle to make a difference in this world!”

Shine On!

Chaplain Mark

Today’s Word Is … DANCE

Tue-Nov-26-2019
You can talk about the pro’s and con’s of the other side of the fence, but eventually you’ve got to just hop over.

“Life is not about how you survive the storm, it’s about how you dance in the rain.” – Anonymous

It is certain that we will have troubles in this life. But these troubles do not have to rob us of our joy, because:

FIRST – There is a great joy coming that outweighs everything. “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” – The Apostle Paul (2nd Corinthians 4:17)

SECOND – As blessings come and we grow in faith, the troubles are forgotten. “For the past troubles will be forgotten and hidden from my eyes.” – The Prophet Isaiah (65:16b)

THIRD – We have help from God who can overcome them for us. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – Jesus (John 16:33)

I hope you can learn sooner than I did to let loose and “dance in the rain.” You can make up lots of reasons not to, which I have done. But it is highly unlikely that you will get the courage to dance in spite of troubles by coming up with “logical reasons” that you should do it. You might just have to decide in a crazy moment … why not just dance! Of course, dancing can be embarrassing. But embarrassment can be quite the thief. How much has it stolen from you?

There may not be anything in your circumstances that says you have the right to dance, the desire to dance, or the energy to dance. But don’t let that stop you!

For me, it was a little like jumping a fence. You can talk about the pro’s and con’s of the other side of the fence, but eventually you’ve got to just hop over. And the people around you will just have to get used to what you are like on the dancing side of the fence.

Go ahead and dance in the rain,

Chaplain Mark