So if you saw this quote would you be interested in the answer?

"This is truly the way to worship Him."

At first glance one might be tempted to think that this is going to answer the question of what kind of music you should use in church but that is far from where this is going. To reduce worship to music is to seriously misunderstand the concept of worship as taught in the Bible. We worship God with our lives not just our voice boxes. We worship Him with our actions not just our upraised hands. In fact if our hands our not extended out to others when the music fades on Sunday morning I am not sure but what our upraised hands are more offensive to God than a blessing. If all we ever do is raise them up to God we are little more than the toddler child that never gets over needing to be held or paid attention to or picked up. Mature Christ Followers learn that the hands Christ is most interested in are those that reach out to perform acts of justice, kindness, mercy and servanthood.

Let me give you context and answer to the above scripture. . . this is what I read today.

"And so dear brothers and sister, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice -- the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship Him. Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's perfect will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." Romans 12:1-2

A Great Old Truck

Today I took some time off and went and visited an old truck. I only had to drive a little over a half an hour and I took some pictures. Guys do crazy things sometimes when they get my age but I think driving this truck might not be that crazy. I think it might be very cool. It might just feel like an old friend. Someday I may drive a truck like this but that will be after two kids finish college and the roof is fixed and the . . . etc

I have not been sharing a lot from my devotions because I am reading in Romans and frankly I have not enjoyed it near as much as the previous letters I was reading the last couple of weeks. I am also reading Jeremiah so maybe there will be something I will share soon.

Tonight I find my words for this blog to be better spoken by C.F. Weigle in his great song, No one ever cared for me like Jesus.

I would love to tell you what I think of Jesus, Since I found in Him a friend so strong and true. I would tell you how He changed my life completely; He did something no other friend could do.

No one ever cared for me like Jesus; There's no other friend so kind as He. No one else could take the sin and darkness from me; O how much He cared for me.

All my life was full of sin when Jesus found me; All my heart was full of misery and woe, Jesus placed His strong arms about me And He led me in the way I ought to go.

No one ever cared for me like Jesus; There's no other friend so kind as He. No one else could take the sin and darkness from me; O how much He cared for me.

Ev'ry day He comes to me with new assurance; More and more I understand His word of love. But I'll never know just why He came to save me, Till someday I see His blessed face above.

Amen

Some pictures from the home of our seventh President, Andrew Jackson. These were very carefully taken to not include any of the touristy looking people who were roaming the grounds. I am very pleased that I was able to avoid photographing anyone in shorts, knee socks and sandals, dumpy hats or flowered shirts.

This would be The Hermitage: (Rear view)

This guy looked remarkably like A.J. except for the tattoos on his forearms!

I just read this and thought I would pass it along:

Can you imagine working for a company that has a little more than 500 employees and has the following statistics:

* 29 have been accused of spousal abuse
* 7 have been arrested for fraud
* 19 have been accused of writing bad checks
* 117 have directly or indirectly bankrupted at least 2 businesses
* 3 have done time for assault
* 71 cannot get a credit card due to bad credit
* 14 have been arrested on drug-related charges
* 8 have been arrested for shoplifting
* 21 are currently defendants in lawsuits
* 84 have been arrested for drunk driving in the last year

Can you guess which organization this is?

It's the 535 members of the United States Congress. Happy voting in a couple of weeks! I believe in voting and the process but it sure gets tougher and tougher to find people with integrity. (From both parties!)

So facing any giants in your life? Stay strong and try to keep saving your strength for the long fight.

This week I have been reading in Jude. I know it is only one chapter, but I have read it over and over. What a great book and what an incredible message. I have taken away from this reading a resolve to never give up the fight against anything that is unholy.

Jude clearly teaches that to embrace anything less than a doctrine of righteousness and clean living is false teaching and will be brought to judgement some day.

Here are some highlights: "But you, dear friends, must build up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way you will keep yourselves safe in God's love. (v. 20)

"Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault." (v. 24)

I wonder where all the people have gone who were declaring the Republican party to be the party of true believers. The sad thing about politics is politicians. Politicians are humans who want a position so badly that they will often do anything to get it. They will say the right things and endorse the right things and then low and behold you find out that they are a facade.

There is no "Christian" party and I get really weary at election time of people who try to promote a political party as the only one a true Christ follower should vote for. The two major parties in our world are very sad and filled with weak leadership. I believe in the process and I will vote whenever given the chance but I sure don't know how to endorse one party over the other.

I endorse the Christian faith. We have no flag. We have no army. We have no headquarters or white house. We don't even have a mascot unless you count the towel and basin of water as our symbol. Maybe a cup of cold water could be our symbol.

Today I read these words, "Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God's place in your hearts." I John 5:21

Today as I opened God's word, I sensed such an urgency to engage in the work that Christ left His church on earth to do. Sometimes it is very easy to engage in the management of the church and we forget to be the church.

I believe that God is calling us out (as He always has) to be be a representation of Him in our communities. We are to engage our neighborhoods and neighbors and live among them as righteous people, led by the spirit of God and shaped by the word of God.

I am more convinced today that if you practice the habit of reading the word of God everyday and shut out some of the "noise" of this world, you will be a changed person. We cannot take in the word of God and not change.

Today I read in I John 4 the following: "God is love and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgement, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world."

Prayer: Today Lord, and tomorrow, let me live like you lived on this earth. Let me not live with regret over yesterday but with faith about tomorrow, that Your love will live in me and through me. Amen

On Friday, I spent the day at the Licking County YMCA golf outing. I did not play because that would be a waste of money and time. After doing devotions (turned out to be a prayer) I spent the day driving the beverage cart and interacting with those who were playing. In the spirit of community collaboration our church also sponsored a hole.

It was a beautiful day and I enjoyed hanging out with some new friends and some old acquaintances.

This morning I awoke and after a time of devotions I discovered a gift certificate in my email from the congregation at Newark Naz. What a great surprise. Even though I knew things were happening regarding staff and pastor appreciation month, I didn't expect anything today so it was a very cool feeling to find it in my email on Sunday Oct. 1. Being in Newark and leading this part of the Christ's body here on earth has been a joy and what I consider to be the defining moments of my life. My prayer is that God will continue to open doors that no man can shut and that He will keep His grace and mercy flowing through our church.

Today I will take a Sunday off and try to recover some energy by letting God use this day as a Sabbath or day of rest. Sometimes it is hard not to be at churc but I know I need the break.

Last evening I attended Real Life. Pastor Chris and those who are leading are doing so well. I just kept thinking about how dead and ineffective the church was for so long and now we are seeing people's lives changed. To attend a very credible worship service and listen to the pastor lay out the word with clarity is beyond rewarding for every dollar and effort made to rebirth this ministry. God is good. Very very good!