Not a Fan...

I have never been much of a fan of "Church" curriculum, perhaps in part because when I first started in ministry I did not know there was such a thing, so I created my own (which others may not have been a fan of...lol), also because some of what I have seen has been trite or a reworked production of many that have gone before..

However at the recommendation of a pastor from our email list-serve,  I have recently been checking out this "Not a Fan" curriculum.  I first went to the site http://notafan.com and I enjoyed the testimonial clips and the preview of one of the powerful small group videos. So I am ordering this small group video study to use with our Young Adults and then implement it with our church as a small group study after that. 

Being a bit of a bibliophile I bought the book to read as I wait. I have only read the preface so far, so I can not give you a fair assessment but if the preface is anything like the rest of the book I am excited.  With that in mind let me share with you the preface (it's worth the read), perhaps it will resonate with you as well, and encourage you to check out the book.

           ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It's a Thursday afternoon and I am sitting in the church sanctuary.  It's empty now, but Easter is only a few days away.  More than thirty thousand people will likely come to the weekend services, and I have no idea what I'm going to say to them.  I can feel the pressure mounting as I sit there hoping that a sermon will come to mind.   I look around at the empty seats hoping some inspiration will come.  Instead there's just more perspiration.  I wipe the sweat off my brow and look down.  This sermon needs to be good.  There are some people who only come to church on Christmas and Easter (we call the "Creasters").  I want to make sure they all come back.  What could I say to get their attention?  How can I make my message more appealing?  Is there something creative I could do that would be a big hit and get people talking?

Still nothing.  There is a Bible in the chair in front of me.  I grab it.  I can't think of a scripture to turn to.  I've spent my life studying this book and I can't think of one passage that will "wow" the Creasters. I consider using it the was I did as a kid.  Kind of like a magic 8 Ball, you ask a question, open up the Bible and point to the page, and whatever it says answers your questions.

Finally a thought crosses my mind:  I wonder what Jesus taught whenever He had big crowds.  What I discovered would change me forever.  Not just as a preacher, but as a follower of Christ.  I found that when Jesus had a large crowd, he would most often preach a message that was like to cause them to leave.

In that empty sanctuary I read of one such occasion in John chapter 6.  Jesus is addressing a crowd that has likely grown to more than five thousand.  Jesus has never been more popular.  Word has spread about His miraculous healings and his inspirational teaching.  This crowd of thousands has come to cheer him on.

After a full day of teaching, Jesus knows the people are getting hungry, and so he turns to his disciples and asks what all these people will do for food.  One of the disciples, Philip, tells Jesus that even with eight month's wages , it wouldn't be enough money to buy bread for everyone to have a bite.  from Philip's perspective, there really wasn't anything that could be done. But another disciple, Andrew, has been scanning the crowd and he tells Jesus of a boy who has five loaves and two small fish.  Jesus takes the boy's sack lunch and with it he feeds the entire crowd.  In fact,m the Bible tells us that even after everyone had their fill, there was still plenty left over.

After dinner the crowd decides to camp out for the night so they can be with Jesus the next day.  These are some big-time fans of Jesus.  The next morning when the crowd wakes up and they're hungry again, they look around for Jesus, aka their meal ticket, but he's nowhere to be found.  These fans are hoping for an encore performance.  Eventually they realize that Jesus and His disciples have crossed over to the other side of the lake.  By the time they catch up to Jesus they're starving.  They've missed their chance to order breakfast and they are ready to find out what's on the lunch menu.  But Jesus has decided to shut down the "all you can eat" buffet.  He's not handing out any more free samples.  in verse 26 Jesus says to the crowd: "I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill"

Jesus knows that these people are not going to all the trouble and sacrifice because they are following him, but because they want some free food.  Was it Jesus they wanted, or were they only interested in what He could do for them?  In verse 35 Jesus offers himself, but the question is, would that be enough? " Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life.  He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty""

Jesus says, I am the bread of life.  Suddenly Jesus is the only thing on the menu.  The crowd has to decide if he will satisfy or if they are hungry for something more.  Here's what we read at the end of the chapter: "From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him (John 6:66)"

Many of the fans turn to go home.  I was struck by the fact that Jesus doesn't chase after them. He doesn't soften his message to make it more appealing.  He doesn't send the disciples chasing after them with a creative handout inviting them to come back for a "build your own sundae" ice cream social.  He seems okay with the fact that his popularity has plummeted.

As I sat in the sanctuary surrounded by thousands of empty seats, here's what became clear to me: it wasn't the size of the crowds Jesus cared about; it was their lever of commitment.

I put the Bible back in the chair in front of me.

I cried.

God, I am sorry.

Almost, as soon as I said it to him, I knew it needed to go further.  A few days later on Easter Sunday, a crowd of thousands gathered and I began my sermon with a choked up apology.  I told the crowd that I was wrong for being too concerned with what they would think and how many of them would come back.  I think over the years my intentions were good; I wanted to make Jesus look as attractive as possible so that people would come to find eternal life in him.  I was offering the people Jesus, but I was handing out a lot of free dread.  In the process I cheapened the gospel.

Imagine it this way.  Imagine that my oldest daughter turns twenty-five.  She isn't married but she really wants to be.  I decide I'm going to help make that happen.  So, imagine I take out an ad in the newspaper, put up a billboard sign, and make up T-shirts begging someone to choose her.  I even offer some attractive gifts as incentives.  Doesn't that cheapen who she is?  Wouldn't that make it seem that whoever came to her would be doing her a favour?  I would never do that.  I would set the standard high. I would do background checks and lie detector tests.  There would be lengthy applications that must be filled out in triplicate.  References would be checked and hidden cameras installed.  If you want to have a relationship with her, you better be prepared to give her the best of everything you have.  I don't want to just hear you say that you love her; I want to know that you are committed to her.  I want to know that you would give your life for her.

Too often in my preaching I have tried to talk people into following Jesus.  I wanted to make following him as appealing, comfortable, and convenient as possible.  And I want to say that I am sorry.  I know it's strange to start off a book with an apology, but I want you to know that the journey I'm inviting you on is one that I've been traveling.  It's a journey I continue to be on, and I should tell you it hasn't been easy.  It was more comfortable being part of the crowd.

I know typically you put something in the introduction that makes people want to read the book.  You have a celebrity write it, or you have someone else write it so that person can tell all the readers how great the writer is. At the very least the author should write something in the introduction of a book that makes people want to read it.  I'm not sure if I've done that...probably not.  My guess is an apology from a man who got it wrong for a long time doesn't exactly inspire confidence.  But I just want to be clear that this book is not just information on a page or a pastors' commentary on the Scriptures.  This book is written by one of those in the crowd of John 6 who thought Jesus was great but was really in it for the free meals.

I hope you will read this book and discover with me what it really means to follow Jesus.  I will talk more about repentance than forgiveness, more about surrender than salvation, more about brokenness than happiness, and more about death than about life.  The truth is, if you are looking for a book about following Jesus that lays out a comfortable and reassuring path, you find it here.  Don't get me wrong, I want you to keep reading: I just want to be up-front and let you know there won't be a lot of free bread.         

     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now to some the preface may seem a little harsh and unbalanced but as I scanned through the chapters, It seems that the book is well rounded,  as encouraging as it is challenging, and I am looking forward to reading it.

If you have already read it please feel free to share your reviews. 

If this has peeked your interest, why not pick up a copy and read along with me and we can share our thoughts.

Day 6 - Challenge #6 & a Free Pass 4 the Finale

It's day #6 in my 36-4-36 adventure so I decided to focus on challenge #6.  It's a great day!  Today I took all of the indigo cards that were generously gifted to me on my birthday and purchased some of the books I would be reading in order to fulfill this commitment.

I bought 5 books that qualify for the non-academic/theology category:  The one that I am most excited for I did not buy, as it has not been released yet: "Another Man's War: The True Story of One Man's Battle to Save Children in the Sudan"

I also purchased one book in the academic/theology category that I am very excited about: A Knock at Midnight: Inspiration from the Great Sermons of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. by Clayborne Carson.

Starting out the challenge I am currently reading as my non-theology choice "A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini" and "Understanding People by Larry Crab" for academic reasons.

As I complete each book, I intend to blog a short review, sharing some of the highlights and best quotes without giving away too much.

 
Time to wrap up this post.  Tonight is my Free Pass.  The only opportunity I've had in the last 6 days to turn on the television & the last 1.5 hours I will have all year.  When I decided to give up TV for the year it was with the stipulation that I would watch the season finale of Big Brother.  Which may be pretty indicative of why someone should give up TV in the first place.  In fact I turned the TV on thinking that Big Brother started at 8pm EST but instead Survivor was on, and I must admit I was some tempted just to turn that 1.5 hours into 2.5, but I shut it off.  Who needs to see the season premiere, of something you won't get to watch.

Plus I have an encouragement card to send.

If They Can Do It...

My friend posted the video below on her Facebook wall today. Cute story.

All of us, Lost & Found - Saint & Sinner are created in His image. It is right there in black and white on the very first page of the bible "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female He created them" ~Genesis 1:27. Each and every person is valuable to God. God loves the Saint as equally as He loves the Sinner. "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8. We are blessed and a blessing when we can look past our differences, in order to see that God has created us more alike than we sometimes care to admit.  Okay perhaps I have extrapolated a lot from this simple little clip, but it remains the beautiful truth.

People Are Listening

Walt: People are going to die, a lot of people and it is going to be your fault

Hurley: What?

Walt: "Because people are listening to you now Hurley"

WOW!  This short dialogue at the beginning of tonight's episode of LOST got my attention.  When we are privileged enough to be used by God to share His word, to have individuals turning to us to share His truth, we must be sure to not take that lightly. 

It is not only about what we say, when given the opportunity, but also what we refuse to say.  In this way Hurley reminds me of Moses.  Hurley is a prophet. Jacob is speaking through Him, using him to lead His people where they need to be in order for Jacob to do His will.  Yet he is tentative, replying more than once this season, in a similar fashion to the way Moses did when God asked Him to speak to His people on His behalf. "Moses answered, "What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, 'The LORD did not appear to you'?"  ~Exodus 4:1 

It is not only the words we say, but those we don't which can affect people's lives.  I am reminded of a powerful message I heard a year or so ago from Pastor Perry Noble, which speaks to this truth, in no uncertain terms.

"If you want to make it for the long haul in ministry - especially as a pastor you need to deal with your pride and insecurities - especially Insecurities.

God called Moses and instead of accepting the call the first thing Moses said was "WHAT IF". We are "WHAT IF'ing" God to death - God speaks to our heart and tells us to do/say something and we say what if - what if the deacons/what if the elders/what if the lady who has been in the church for 50 years...If God put it in your heart to say it and you don't say it - if God put it in your heart to do it and you don't do it....

You're not a prophet of God, you're a prostitute of the church.

It is not my job to keep the sheep happy - make everyone happy - take an opinion poll every time I speak to the congregation. It is my job to ACCEPT THE CALL of God - the ANOINTING of God - to WALK IN THE POWER of God - LISTEN TO THE SPIRIT of God - PREACH THE WORD of God - and WATCH what God can do when a person gets SOLD OUT to God."

This doesn't apply only to pastors, but to each of us as ministers of the gospel, as friends , family and accountability partners.  Sometimes the worst thing we can do to a person, is keep quiet, when what we need to do is speak life giving truth into their lives, regardless of how  we perceive they may react to us, or what it may cost us.

The episode continues, with Jack confessing his need to give up control and trust others....I could spend forever talking about that one from personal experience - perhaps tomorrow's post.

The Imperfect Board Member

Today I enjoyed a relaxing day at home. While it was cool and gloomy outside, I kept myself warm with some delicious white truffle rooibos tea, and occupied by reading the book "The Imperfect Board Member" by Jim Brown.  Initially, I thought it might be better to drown my body in coffee, thinking that the book would bore me to sleep and the caffeine may help to push me through to the end.  Surprisingly, the book was delightfully engaging, a quick 200 page read that I finished in a matter of hours.  Written as a narrative, with sage advice and proven principals comprising the meat of the material, this is a book that I would recommend to every person who works within an organization, church or company that has Board style governance.  Whether you be the CEO, Executive Director, Board member or even staff, Jim Brown's book offers invaluable insight.

As I do with most everything I read, I create a cornucopia of colour in my books. As interesting and poignant statements catch my attention, I stroke the little nuggets of wisdom with a highlighter for quick future reference. The rest of this post will be a quick summary of the pretty little pink lines you would come across if you read my copy of "The Imperfect Board Member", some of them are poignant and others just caused some personal reflection or left me laughing. I've bolded some of my favourites.

If I was to summarize the content of this book it would be encapsulated in this sentence:

To DIRECT and PROTECT the board must CONNECT - EXPECT - CORRECT and with regard to the CEO the board must SELECT - INSPECT - REDIRECT and if necessary - EJECT

** "He snapped on his positive, professional countenance- the one he had mastered after his
    MBA course on pubic relations, in which he learned to "always be sincere, even if you 
    have to fake it""

** "I'm just creating an environment for her to be her best. I view tips differently than many
    people do.  I like to use them to inspire premium service.  Why wait until it is too late to give
    her a message about her performance?"

** "Sometimes the best way for me to support you will be for me to disagree"

** Owners - Board - CEO - Staff - Customers -- "When the straight lines of communication,
    authority, and accountability get broken, confusion and chaos result"

** "President Lincoln wisely judged that 'it never does a boy much good to shoot him"

** "Hope is a choice.  Add to it perseverance and that's what changes the world"

** "Sometimes we inadvertently reward the behaviour we don't want and fail to reward 
    the behaviour we desire"

** "Sometimes a majority only means that all fools are on the same side"

** "When you're in the depths of despair, things appear dark in every direction.  But 
    when you raise your head out of the pit, you get a totally different experience"

** "Boards don't need to hear about how busy the CEO is -- they need to hear about results"

** "The only way a board can responsibly to it's job without medling is by monitoring well"

** "The best boards keep their noses in the business and their fingers out"

** "What you should know by now is that I don't just tell you my thoughts - I expect you to think"

** "It's amazing how uncommon common sense is these days"

** "Monitoring the results the CEO has achieved compared to the plans and policies set by the
    board is how the board fulfills the responsibility to INSPECT"

** "The board's position is not management one step up, it's ownership one step down."

** "An example of good use of board inspection is interviewing several staff members 
    to assess how closely the organization is following the board set values."

** "Tie as much of the compensation as possible to performance.  Despite what Woody Allen
    said, merely showing up for work is not enough"

** "Winston Churchill's response when a friend asked if he was impressed that ten 
    thousand people had come to hear him speak: "Not really.  A hundred thousand 
    people would come to see me hang""

** "Every director [board member] has a significant investment in the business.  We insist on
    that because we believe that board members must feel the impact of their decisions and their
    leadership as much as any other shareholder"

** "Feedback is the breakfast of champions"

Sometimes the Poorest of Men are the Richest

Today I watched an excellent Canadian movie called "AMAL".  Set in India this modern day fable, follows an auto-rickshaw driver in New Delhi who is content with his small but vital role in life.  One day he chauffeurs an eccentric millionaire who, disguised as a vagabond, is searching the streets for the last morsel of humanity - and someone he can leave his fortune to - and Amal's life changes forever.  The movie has a twist, which I think will leave you shocked more by your own response, than the plot turn.

I could not help but come away from the movie reminded of Jesus' teaching on the Beatitudes/Blessings.  Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them saying: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.  Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.  Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.  Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.  Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.  Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

At least twice in the movie, mention is made of someone being different.  Although the difference was honesty, kindness and humility, it seemed to be looked down upon within a society focused on aquiring more and getting ahead, even at the disadvantage of others.  Amal was not crooked like all the other Rickshaw drivers, though it was not always easy to do the right thing he did it.  Sometimes the Poorest of Men are the Richest

LOST - It's Good to See You Out of Those Chains

Tonight's episode is the one I spoke of a couple weeks ago called " Ab Aeterno".  As I mentioned in my last post on Lost this is Latin for "from the beginning of time". The significance of this title is revealed below.

 

This episode of Lost is centered on Richard Alpert. Richard believes he has been living in hell and this whole episode takes us through his story and what brought him to the island and why he never ages.  There is so much to talk about from this episode so my apologies for  a longer post, but I tried to keep it brief.

Richard's story begins in 1867 in the Canary Islands.  Richard's wife is burning up and coughing up blood. Early on, we are given evidence that he was a man of God.  He makes statements about God's will and prays for His provisions.  His wife hands him her cross that was hanging around her neck and said for him to give it to the doctor, that he is about to run off and get in order to save her.

The doctor refuses to ride the 1/2 day in the rain to see Richard's wife but says he has medicine that will save her life.  It is very expensive, so Richard gives him all he has and her cross necklace, which the doctor throws and says is worthless. He struggles with the doctor and inadvertently pushes him into a tale and kills him, but leaves with the medicine in his hands.  When he returns she is already dead, and the authorities show up at his house to take him to prison, where we see him reading the bible. The book of Luke was what he was studying. He prays for forgiveness and asks the the priest to grant him absolution, but the priest responds that  he can not grant him absolution for murder, even if it was an accident. Furthermore the priest tells him the only way to earn forgiveness is through penance, which he has no time to for because tomorrow he is to be hung.  The priest leaves him with the words, "the devil awaits you, may God have mercy on your soul".  This made me so angry, for a number of reasons.  First of all, a priest can not provide absolution only God can.  Forgiveness cannot be earned, by works and Penance is not a requirement of forgiveness.  God forgives all those who turn to Him, pray for forgiveness and repent of their sins.  "When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven." ~Luke 5:20; " If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." ~ 1 John 1:9

The next day, instead of being led out to be hung, the priest brings Richard to a Mr. Whitfield, who purchases him as a slave, to take him to the new world, upon the Black Rock ship.   On the ocean one of the other slaves says he can see the devil, that the land ahead is being guarded by the devil, in fact it was an old Egyptian statue, which they ran aground on.

We witness Whitfield come below the ship and kill 3 of the slaves, skewering them with his sword. He comes to Richard, and goes to kill him, only to have the ship rocked by the black smoke, leaving blood pouring down below before the black smoke takes Whitfield, himself.  The black smoke comes below and stops in front of Alpert who interestingly enough is not wearing his cross necklace. The black smoke leaves Richard alone.  Interesting to note that it is never what we where around our neck, or the churches that we attend that save us. When everything is stripped away, it is the faith within our hearts that saves us.

A woman shows up on the ship and ask is anyone here?  It appears to be Richard's wife Isabella.  She tells him they are both dead and in hell. She is there to save him before the devil comes back.  He tells her to run, that he said he would save her -and if she loves him she must go as she leaves she gets taken by the smoke monster.

Richard is passed out in chains, when someone touches him, and offers him water.  He says that he is a friend and tells Richard that he is dead and in hell and that he will help him if he promises to do anything he asks in return.  The man tells Richard that the only way for them to escape hell, is to kill the devil. Interesting considering the only way for us to escape hell is through Jesus Christ himself - who died, overcoming death, defeating the powers of darkness and rose again to earth before going to heaven. "Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades."~ Revelation 1:18 [AB AETERNO]

You only have one chance to kill the devil, you must walk up to him and stab him in the chest, do it quick, if he speaks to you it is already to late, he can be very persuasive.  Richard questions him and says "But you killed all those people...Murder is wrong that is what brought me here." to which the man replies "We can talk all day long about what is right or wrong but the question remains the same do you ever want to see your wife again."  Richard seemed to already know in his heart that what this man (devil) was telling him did not make sense, was not truth but his desires consumed him and led him into the jungle to find and kill the "Devil".  We compromise the moment we entertain conversation with the enemy.  One of the tactics of the devil is to convince us that someone else is the enemy.  It is what trapped Eve, when she entered into conversation with the snake (devil) in Genesis 3 and it is what trapped Richard as he entertains the request of the man in black to do his work, and kill Jacob. 

Jacob who according to the man in black, is supposed to be the devil meets Richard at the statue and wrestles the dagger from his hands. Jacob asks him "Did you meet a man in the jungle dressed in black. What did he say? He said you are the devil and the only way I can see my wife again is if I kill you." Jacob explains that it was not his wife, and that Richard is not dead.  Richard argues that he is dead so Jacob takes him into the ocean and keeps dunking him in the water as though about to drown him (obvious symbolism of baptism) and poses the question do you want me to stop? Why should I stop, if you are already dead?  To which Richard says, "because I want to live"

Richard asks him about his dwelling place, to which Jacob responds "Nobody comes in unless I invite them in."  "Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." ~ John 14:6.  The following discourse was amazing. 

Are you the devil? - NO.  

Then who are you? - My name is Jacob. I am the one who brought your ship to this island. 

Why? - [Holding up a vessel of wine] Think of this wine as what you call hell, malevolence, evil, darkness and here it is swirling around in the bottle because if it could escape it would spread.  The cork is this island and it is the only thing keeping the darkness where it belongs. That man believes that everyone is corruptible because it is in their very nature to sin.  I bring them here to prove to him, he is wrong. I wanted them to help themselves, to know the difference between right and wrong, without me needing to tell them.  

This reminded me of the story of Job, where Satan tried to corrupt him and prove his lack of faith in God, only to find His attempt futile.

Richard responds, well if you do not step in, the man will.  Jacob says I do not want to step in but maybe you will, you can be my intermediary between me and the people I bring to the island. In return he offers him eternal life and sends Richard back to give the man (devil) a white stone. The white stone is a blatant bible reference found in Revelation 2:17 "To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it."

When Richard hands him the stone, the man in black, tells Richard that he can change his mind at any time.

We come back to the present time almost 150 years later and Richard runs back to where he buried his wife's cross and yells out to the man in black (devil) that he changes his mind. "Are you listening to me?", he screams. "Does the offer still stand?".  It appears that Richard is losing his faith. As they pan out to a view of what could be Eden, Hurley who has the ability to talk to the dead, approaches Richard and says his wife wants to know why he buried her cross.  She says it wasn't your fault that I died, as much as you wanted to save me it was my time...you've suffered enough. Richard tearfully speaks out, ""I miss you, I would do anything for us to be together again, Isabella his wife says...my love..we are already together.

Richard places the cross around his neck!  She said one more thing that he has to do - stop the man in black (devil) from leaving the island cause if he does we will all go to hell.

As the show closes, the man in black (devil) is sitting on a log and Jacob comes up and sits beside him.  Jacob says to the man in black I see you got my gift (the white rock), to which he replies "don't gloat, it does not become you."  The man in black admits that he was trying to get off the island, which Jacob says will never happen as long as he is alive, which is why he is trying to kill him in the first place.  The man in black is held on the island, which aligns with what we read about Satan being bound for 1000 years, with the keys held by the angel of heaven in the book of Revelation chapter 20.  Hmmm... perhaps the candidates are the angels who hold the key.

One Person with Courage is the Majority

As I was Googling for a pic to include with yesterdays post, I stumbled across recent accounts of women who are being stoned to death.  Disturbed by what I read, I began to dig a little deeper, and discovered a movie, released just a few days ago, called "The Stoning of Soraya M".  I rented that movie and watched it today.

It was the most disturbing movie I have ever seen.  I believe it is a movie everyone should see, but the heart-breaking true story and graphic images makes it hard to sit through.

The overall tragedy and abhorrent act of stoning someone to death in the name of God, left me appalled, yelling at the TV screen as righteous anger almost oozed from my pores.  I could go on forever, but this is not the forum, so I will simply address in brief, a couple specific things that stood out to me in the movie.

Zahra the main character, a brazen, bold and outspoken woman lives with a heavy sense of justice.  She recognizes that what has happened to her friend and in her community is wrong, and she is refusing to stay silent about it. She says "I know right from wrong and what happened here yesterday was wrong." So, to the French reporter, Freidoune Sahebjam, whose car has broken down in her village, she says, "The voices of women do not matter here, I want you to take my voice with you".  She was determined to stand up, at risk of her own life to have the truth told! On one hand my heart resonates with Zahra's, I am propelled by justice.  Wrong's should be made right.  People should not be able to continue unchallenged, in behaviours that are deceitful, unrighteous and detrimental to both themselves and others.  Light needs to be shone to expose the darkness for what it is. However, I found myself finishing the movie, a little convicted.  More often than I would like to admit, when I should stand up and speak out, I remain silent.  One person had the courage to speak up when everyone was silent - now the whole world knows the truth!

Throughout the movie we see characters struggling with wanting to do the right thing, but instead choosing to maintain the status quo and not rock the proverbial boat.  They were willing to keep their mouth shut, to play along and even participate in the what they knew was the unjust stoning of Soraya.  The men in the town, even her friend the mayor, pleaded with Zahra to "soften your tongue, work with them, respect them, give them what they want, tell them what they want to hear". To which Zahra responds "That is what you do isn't it - but at what price?" At one point she says that he is nothing more than a slave, a prostitute to those he serves.  I am reminded of something I once heard a pastor say. "If God put it in your heart to say it and you don't say it - if God put it in your heart to do it and you don't do it...you're not a prophet of God, you're a prostitute of the church." Our silence can costs us and more often others, dearly, sometimes their lives, spiritually and/or physically.

The mayor, realizing that he had participated in bringing about this travesty, having conceded to this innocent woman being stoned, prayed just before that fateful hour "dear God help me, if what we're doing is according to Your will then grant me the strength to go on, help me to do the right thing. But if this is against Your will give me a sign so I can stop it." Soraya's own father picks up the first stones and throws them at her, they miss her time and again.  An onlooker speaks up and cries that Soraya should be set free, that it is a sign from God that the stones are unable to hit her, that He is protecting her because she is innocent.  First of all, the mayor never had to pray to God in the first place, because he knew this woman was not guilty and his heart told him that stoning her was wrong. Then we see the mayor recognizes that this is indeed the answer to his prayer, she is innocent, he is to stop it and yet  influenced by those who orchestrated this deadly plot he does not intervene.  Perhaps we can identify similar situations where we've asked God for a sign, for help, and He faithfully provides it to us, but we choose to do it our way, because at the time it seemed easier, reasoning everything else away as coincidence.

This whole scene reminded me a lot of when Jesus was brought before Pilate, and the mob mentality that contributed to him sentencing Christ to death by crucifixion. 

This incident takes place in 1986, however this is what I found with a little research:

In 2007 a 17 year old girl from Mosul Iraq, was stoned to death by 1000 men for having a relationship with a Sunni Muslim boy.  More abhorrent is the fact that they video taped the act on their cell phones as they threw the stones.

In October, 2008, a 13 year old girl, Aisho Ibrahim Dhuhulow was buried up to her neck at a football stadium then stoned to death in front of more than 1,000 people for the alleged crime of adultery

A survey carried out in August 2009 found that 83% of Pakistanis believe that adulterers should be stoned. In another survey carried out in 'moderate' Indonesia (at 220 million, the world's most populated Muslim country) it found that "almost half the respondents back stoning as a punishment for adulterers.  Also take note that the book which this movie was based on written by Sahebjam was banned in Iran and I imagine the movie will be to.   I do not suggest by way of these statistics (how accurate or biased they are is to be taken into consideration) that people hold these views simply based on their ethnicity or religious beliefs, this would be a bigoted and abhorrent suggestion.  However, I personally find it abhorrent and repugnant whenever anyone of any religion (Christians included) uses God to condone hurt and oppression against others. 

The passage found in Acts 4:1-21 describing Peter & Paul being brought before the Sanhedrin is the scripture that came to mind as I watched this movie.  The Sanhedrin were responsible for the stoning death of Stephen, depicted in Acts 7 and they also conspired to have Jesus killed. We are reminded in these verses that a group of people can come together in their hate, to kill and destroy, perverting the name and word of God, but ordinary people with the courage to speak up and stand in the truth of God can be used by God to help change and save lives.

I'LL HAVE YOU...

I gave up TV for Lent. However, the 40 days of lent, leading up to Easter do not include Sundays.  Instead on Sundays, you break from your fast in order to celebrate and feast, rejoicing in Christ's victory over death. Well my Sunday is Tuesday, because my TV feast includes a generous portion of the show LOST!

Currently in it's sixth season, I have held firm to my belief since season 1 that this show has to do with faith and is strongly tied to the Christian faith. This promo picture from ABC, (1 of 3, ads used to provide clues/hints into the final season), certainly helped to cement that belief, though I would consider their depiction of the last supper to be sacrilegious.  While the show incorporates themes of Quantum Physics, which I believe could make sense, given that God is inside and outside of time, and perhaps there are some subtle possible hints of reincarnation, I maintain that the overall themes are faith, sacrifice, grace and redemption, the same major themes that serve as the foundations of my Christian faith.

The very best episode of LOST over the last 6 seasons aired this past Tuesday.  Entitled "Dr. Linus",  this episode presented one of the strongest cases for Christian allegory, not to mention one of the most powerful and moving shows ever.   LOST is so deep, involved, and intelligently comprised of subtle hints and facts that I could not do it justice with just a brief overview.  As a result I am simply going to point out some of the obvious parallels to my faith from the last episode, keeping it brief with  just enough to whet your appetite.

Jacob the central figure, whom most of the cast has placed their faith in, was recently killed, leaving his followers feeling hurt, confused, abandoned and even lied to.  All they had believed in and put their hopes in was now gone.  Their dreams, the purpose and plan He said they each had, seemed to die with Him.  This left them feeling deceived, disappointed, frustrated and angry with Jacob. I can't help but think this is at least in part, how the disciples might have initially felt when Jesus died on the cross.  

Like Jesus, Jacob returned, but revealing himself only to Hurley.  Jacob is guiding Hurley, giving him directions, using him to guide the others to their ultimate purpose, a purpose  they have the choice to walk in or deny.

Richard, one of Jacob's followers, who was touched by him and seemingly blessed with immortality (which he now considers a curse), was dejected after Jacob's death, and ultimately found himself at the point of losing his faith.  However ,in an important turn or events, Jack  tells Richard as they sit with a stick of dynamite burning between them, that he knows he won’t die, because Jacob’s been watching him and brought him to the island.  This is a pretty large shift in belief for Jack, who’s never been a man of FAITH, but a man of science (a doctor). I recently read a post by Chris Seay, author of the gospel according to LOST, who noted how Jack's new found "tremendous faith" restores that of the desperate Richard Alpert, adding, "if you haven't been in Richard Alpert's shoes [feeling hopeless and abandoned by God], you likely haven't been living the life of faith very long."

LOST SEASON 6 EPISODE 7 CLIP 5

The most powerful theme of the this week's episode is that of forgiveness and redemption.  Ben Linus, who killed his own daughter to protect the island and then killed Jacob, is tempted by who ever has taken over John Locke's body (evil/the devil).  Ben is invited by Locke, to take charge of the island.  A great offer since all Ben has ever wanted, is to be in a position of power. Yet the offer seems futile, considering the fact that he is shackled and digging his own grave, about to be shot, by one of Jacob's followers, Ilana, for having killed him.  Just like that,  Locke frees Ben from his shackles, and he makes a run for freedom, Ilana chasing after him.  Ben enters the jungle and grabs the rifle, which Locke told him would be leaning against the tree, and turns pointing it a Ilana.  Here was Ben's chance to kill Ilana and join John Locke, taking charge of the island, instead he broke down and explained to Ilana, why he did what he did.  Ben expressed remorse, and confessed that He was sorry that He killed Jacob out of anger, confusion and fear. He did not expect to be forgiven, because he could never forgive himself.  The dialogue that followed next left me in tears.

"Then what do you want?" said Ilana. To which Ben replied "just let me leave."  "Where will you go?" she asked. "To Locke" Ben replied. "Why?" she questioned.  Ben answered, weeping "because He's the only one that will have me".  It was Ilana's last words that set Ben free "I'll have you" at that she walked away and Ben followed her, turning his back on John Locke.  Ben now a new man, forgiven and free!

His confession and repentance, broke the hold Locke had over him and Her love and forgiveness on behalf of Jacob, snatched him out of the clutches of the enemy and restored him to community.

There are so many more Christian subtexts in this episode, let alone the series.  Far too many to address in this post.  Do I know for certain how it will all turn out - that LOST will ultimately end in supporting the foundational truth of Christianity? Nope, but no matter how it ends, the themes addressed over the last 6 seasons have at least served as great jumping off points for amazing discussions with people of various beliefs, and understandings, and have been a fabulous non-confrontational way to introduce the foundations of my faith.

If you missed last Tuesday's episode or any from season 6 you can watch them all free online here at ctv.ca LOST

With regards to the promo photo above, I think those on the right end up being redeemed while those on the left reject redemption. There are 13 people, which means fake Locke is eliminated, putting perhaps Jack in his place. That being said, there are subsequent 2nd and 3rd photos, where some of the characters have switched places. ;)

SPOILER ALERT - next week's episode is called  “Ab Aeterno” which is Latin for, “Since the beginning of time.” hmmm...Alpha and Omega - begining and the end...hmmmm....

EVOKE

I really appreciate the friends in my life, who know my heart and do what they can to inspire, enable and equip me to live out the passions God has placed within me.  A great friend, is someone who desires to see you fulfill the plans and purposes God has for you.  To that end, a friend posted a link on my Facebook wall to a new online initiative called "EVOKE".  I had never heard of this site, and at first glance thought it was some online 1st person game (I am not generally a fan of video games or comic books) but as I researched it more, I became increasingly intrigued. EVOKE is a ten-week crash course in changing the world. It is free to play and open to anyone, anywhere. The goal of the social network game is to help empower people all over the world, and especially young people in Africa, to come up with creative solutions to our most urgent social problems.That was enough to cause me to sign up and now I wait with anxious anticipation to be approved.

I looked up the definition of EVOKE and it means to summon into action - as Christians we are called to action. An action to love others, an action to stand up for justice, an action to care for the oppressed, and marginalized.   There are two verses that stand out to me, as I think of the word evoke; the first is my favourite verse from 1 John 3:18 - "Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth"  the second from James 1:22 "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." Sometimes it seems we know all to well what we ought to do, but are paralyzed in not quite knowing how to go about doing it, or even how to begin.  While I do not think this is Christian based initiative (as if that should be a precursor for getting involved in something good), it appears to provide, those with a desire to  put their love in action; to serve; to meet the needs of the poor and oppressed, the opportunity to learn how to best to do so. If nothing else it is a good place to gain knowledge of the needs in our world and how we might play our part, living out the commands God has given us.

It is obvious from the interface this is marketed to a younger under 30 crowd, their suggested age is 13+, though they say they expect most of the users to be of university age. From first glance, I believe this online game developed by world reknown game designer Jane McGonigal (Yes she is a woman) and produced by the World Bank Institute, has the potential to increase awareness, educate, equip and enable individuals all around the world to make a difference.  Not only that but it is an interesting, engaging and interactive forum.  It is intriguing that it says that what you will experience is not a simulation, instead you are provided real problems to tackle, things like Food security; Energy; Water security; Disaster relief; Poverty; Pandemic; Education; Global conflict and Human rights.  You  are challenged to establish innovative, creative solutions with the resources you have available. It may require you to get as many people involved as possible and take a risk, as you come up with new ideas to change a life, and  the world as you meet the practical needs of those who suffer.

Let me share a little of what I have discovered so far, the "EVOKE" challenge runs from March 3rd May 12th.  The three objectives of each weekly mission you receive are to LEARN, ACT & IMAGINE.  There are rewards, for your efforts including mentorship, travel scholarships and seed funding.

I have included the Evoke trailer below and would encourage you to check out their website, http://www.urgentevoke.com and consider taking the EVOKE challenge yourself.  I am not sure what to expect as of yet but I am interested in taking the challenge myself! 

EVOKE trailer (a new online game) from Alchemy on Vimeo.

Consumers or Community?

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, I was reading "I Sold My soul on eBay".  It was a quick read and I finished it in the one day. It was an alright book, I appreciated his input though I did not find much of it very insightful.  He did address one item, that caught my attention, comparing a particular church with a movie theatre. I think it resonated with me because I have found myself thinking the same thing from time to time. I've decided for today's post to share this short passage from His book along with a quick reflection.

"When the band started playing, it was just after the 8:30 start time, but there were fewer than forty people in the church.  But by the time the band had finished singing and the pastor got up on stage, the crowd had more than doubled in size.  I noticed families with young children walking in without any visible indications of guilt.  I wouldn't think the people at this church were purposely rude, so they must have a good reason for showing up late.  Was the music so unimportant to them that they decided to come only for the "main event"?  If that's the case, is church more like a movie theatre where you can walk in after the previews and no one thinks anything of it?  I've always thought the previews are vital to the movie experience, though, just as I would assume singing is important to church service.  Furthermore, in a small community church such as this one, I imagine people would know one another better than at a larger church.  The people in the congregations, therefore, might know the people on stage who were singing and would surely respect them enough to show up on time.  I didn't see that respect being shown, though."

Hemant went on to say this at the closing of his book. "Speaking of those who walk into church late, I want to know why they do so.  Not everyone gets stuck in traffic.  If church is so important, there is no reason to walk in late.  In fact, if going somewhere to worship God is important, then people should arrive early." 

I loved his last line, because it eludes to the fact that church is not about us, it is about God.  It is about worshipping God and learning to grow in His image so that we can love Him and others better.  Church is a community of believers who share like beliefs and come together to worship God,  bringing Him glory as they edify one another and go out having been equipped and enabled to serve others. 

When we make church about us we treat it like a product. As a result we end up becoming consumers rather than a community, taking what we want and leaving the rest.  This is evident in the actions of those Hemant referenced in his book.   They were not interested in joining the community to worship God through song, and and as a result the sense of community was lessened. Even leadership can sometimes fall into the trap of marketing their church like a product to be consumed, concerned first with appeasing the people in the pews, rather than guiding them in how to best glorify our Holy God.

Perhaps we would all do well to remember that the end user of all our worship, offerings, sermons, songs, outreach and evangelism is God.  Is God well pleased when we show up late, without excuse, to the Sunday celebrations created to honour Him?  Is He well pleased when we water down His word in order to appease a crowd?  I'm thinking that a church that develops a marketing plan that recognizes God as the end user, would see substantial growth as a result.  An increase would definitely be evident in the size of the hearts of those in attendance and probably an increase in the church size as well.

Is Church Meant for the Atheist?

I love books, and reading, so on my day off I rest and read.  Today I am reading a book I picked up at Chapters titled "I Sold My Soul on eBay - Viewing Faith through an Atheists Eyes" by Hemant Mehta. It was a great deal at only $4.99.

You may recall the name Hemant Mehta, he is the Atheist who auctioned off the opportunity for someone to have him go to a church of their choosing.  The bidding started at $10/hour and he figured it would probably top off there, meaning he would have to go to church 1 week for 1 hour.  In fact the auction closed at $504 with Jim Henderson of offthemap.com being the winner.  This meant the Hemant was to go to church 1 hour, each week, for a year.  In fact Jim had him attend no more than 15 churches and write his impressions of those churches for his blog. I am on Chapter 6 of 10 and my first impression is that the book would have been more accurately subtitled "viewing church through an Atheist's eyes".  I will let you know if this impression changes by the end.

As I entered the 3rd Chapter, I found myself asking.  Is Mr. Mehta's opinion as an unbeliever pertinent? Is a Sunday morning service meant for Atheists?  Historically, were non-believers catered to in the holy temples?

In his book, Hemant, revisits an old parable of the sun and the wind.  The story goes that a battle ensued between the wind and the sun over who was more powerful.  The wind contended that it had the ability to move ships across oceans, destroy cities, and cause bridges to collapse.  The Sun countered that it could start fires, help crops, and power entire buildings.

The Wind and the Sun decided to settle the matter once and for all.  Spotting a young girl walking to school, they decided to compete to see who could make the girl take off her jacket.  The wiser Sun, knowing he would easily be the victor, sat back and watched while the Wind went to work.  The Wind's strategy was to blow the jacket off the girl.  It blew harder and harder hoping the girl would give up the struggle and stop clutching her jacket.  Yet every time the Wind blew, the girl only clung more tightly.  No matter what the Wind did, it could not find a way to separate the girl from the jacket.

Next, it was the Sun's turn.  It simply shone as bright as it could.  As the girl felt the heat building up, she quickly removed her jacket.  The Sun won the contest.

As I read this parable, I drew a parallel between the wind and a Sunday morning service as it applies to the Atheist. Sunday morning service has the potential to feel like your entering a wind tunnel to those who have not been introduced to Jesus. The Church is a place of worship and if someone does not have a personal relationship with God, then many of  the expressions of that worship will hold little meaning. As it appears by Hemant's experience, Sunday morning service  can leave the unbeliever confused by rituals they do not understand, prayers to a God they do not yet believe in, songs that hold little meaning, and messages that could be perceived as judgmental or coercive rather than persuasive.  Not that all is lost, good fellowship, engaging songs, and great teaching will undoubtedly benefit any unbeliever in attendance.

 

As I continue to read this book, I grapple with the idea that Sunday morning service should  be designed specifically to attract the non-believer. Undoubtedly the church body is to be a supportive, if not, the primary source for meeting the needs of those that make up the community outside their stained glass walls (Christian or otherwise) yet the discipleship and worship programs of the church have a primary responsibility to the body of believers. I would not go to a mosque and expect that they would need to change their style or method of worship in order to convert or even attract me as an unbeliever.

I appreciate Hemant's views as an Atheist attending church, and agree many of his observations have merit, however, they are observations that many believers would make as well as they are matters of preference of style and form of sermon delivery, worship, etc..  His criticism of content, appears to be more a result of a lack of biblical understanding or faith experience.  As a result I would be more interested in knowing what a Christian thinks of the places we worship? Do the sermons minister to them and are they grounded in biblical truth and balanced with relevance? Does the music draws them into the presence of the God they love? Do they find themselves involved in lifting up prayers from their heart?  Is the service relevant, is there accountability in place, is the fellowship sincere, is their foundation in Christ strengthened?

I do not believe that Sunday morning (or whichever day and time your church body gathers) is meant to be seeker sensitive, unless you are being sensitive to the only seeker who matters - God.  However, the most recognizable entity of the Christian faith has become the church as signified by steeples and stained glass. When what should be the most recognizable entity, is us as individuals within whom Christ Dwells. When non-Christians are seeking the truth they go to what we have created as the most recognizable, most significant symbol - where we have dictated the truth is kept, a temple of brick and mortar.  When in actual fact, that greatest testament to the truth of God, lives within us, the body of Christ - the individual members of the church. We, who have already entered into a relationship with Jesus, should be like the Sun in the parable, emitting the warmth of God's love to those around us. When we allow His light to shine in our life, and are obedient, to leave our places of worship and go into our communities and LIVE out our faith, then the seekers would seek us out {the real church/the true temple}, and we could gather where they are and share the truth that has been given to us, allowing the love of God to permeate and persuade them. Isn't that the model of church Christ exemplified.

That being said I would love to hear a non-believers critical analysis of the programs, means and ways in  which we try to evangelize, the organic ways and the planned and plotted ones.  I believe this would be more pertinent coming from a non-believer and would help to curb the risk of the body of believers becoming like a wind tunnel, blowing a lot of hot air at people, in our attempts to convert them (like that is our job). I would also purchase a book that chronicled first hand accounts of the ways in which God used others to bring individuals into a personal relationship with Himself.

So do I think church is meant for the atheist or non-believer? Referring to the building and worship programs, not specifically, it's primary purpose is to the body of believers, though it is still a great place for all to come on a Sunday morning, and I delight that the doors are open to all.  In fact I have witnessed time and again, first hand accounts of God's salvation grace being extended to an unbeliever after a Sunday morning message, resulting in their lives being transformed. If we are referring to church as the body of believers - definitely, the church as an extension of God himself is for everybody. We are commanded to love others as we love ourselves - all others. [Matthew 19:19]

Follow the Music!

I was flipping through the channels the other night and stopped to watch a bit of the Grammy's and was reminded of how much I adore music.  I am incredibly envious (in the most Christian wasy possible) of those whom God has blessed with the gift of creating beautiful songs, melodies and harmonies

I love the arts.  I enjoy spending time in museums looking at paintings and sculpture, I like reading poetry and prose, getting lost in great literature, even pondering deep thoughts, presented in the pages of non-fiction. I relish the times when I get to pour myself into a painting, or when I can capture an image on film that speaks a thousand words, or when I can phrase a feeling just right so that it elicits an emotion in the heart of the reader.  However above all these things music is what speaks most profoundly to my heart.  If I could take any one thing on a deserted island with me, it would be a fully loaded I-pod (with the bible on it).   God speaks so powerfully to me, through the words and melodies of music and song (all genres).  I believe that music is a healing gift. To that end I would suggest that the world would be an incredibly more barren and destitute place of great moral depravity if it were not for God's gift of music. I would even argue that we would not live as long if our world was void of music and song. 

I quite agree and relate to Martin Luther who is quoted as saying "Music is an outstanding gift of God and next to theology, I would not give up my slight knowledge of music for a great consideration.  And youth should be taught this art; for it makes fine skillful people."~Martin Luther"

Music is a gift from God and has been an integral form of connection with God since the beginning of time.  In Job 38:7 God asks Job where were you when I created the world, "while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?" Music is a gift for God, an expression of the image of God within us, an offering of praise through song.  "Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth." Psalm 96:1.  It is perhaps one of the greatest means by which we can adequately express the overwhelming emotion that fills our hearts, the conversation our spirit wants to have with our heavenly Father. I truly believe that God himself is speaking to us through the songs He inspires his children to write, (Secular and Christian). When I claim that music is a powerful form of healing, I mean it in the literal sense. Music ministers to a person's spirit, soul, mind and even body. It is well documented and has been proven scientifically that music has the ability to heal people. Music is by it's very nature divine. It is incapable of being touched, yet it touches everyone who is capable of hearing sounds. This healing can only be attributed to God. The music is delivered through man, but it is ultimately created by God

Someone once asked me if I had to make a choice would I choose to be blind or deaf.  That is such a difficult choice for me, as I love art and find so much beauty in God's creation.  I think, though that I would have to choose sound over sight.  Eyes can be a deceitful and prejudiced thing.  Perhaps without the use of sight, I would actually see more clearly, see things for what they truly are not blinded by the bias of what I see with my eyes, instead depending on listening to the heart.  As my hearing became more attuned without the use of sight, I might be able to hear from God more clearly and even hear the faint song of His creation as it sings its melody, even the sound of the stars singing [Job 38:7]

The following piece of prose, a favourite of mine, is a wonderful illustration of beauty, power and healing expressed through music:

For half a lifetime he wandered the empty night, alone and hopeless, until a simple melody pierced the darkness and caught his attention. Making the melody was a young man, a musician, with a sensitive ear, and an even more sensitive heart. The musician walked the same street, but he walked, not by sight, but by sound. As he encountered people he saw beyond their masks. He heard the sounds of their voices and felt the rhythm of their heartbeats. He saw each life as an instrument and within each heart a potential melody. And though one man hid behind his sunglasses, the musician heard his heart. Rather than trusting his vision, he used his music to pierce through the empty shell, and like the clapper in a church bell, encouraged the sound of love to ring out from the darkness.

As that love rang out, the musician was himself touched. He realized he could do more than just listen to the music of others -- he could do more than simply share a melody. With his sensitive ear, and his more sensitive heart, he could help tune other instruments and help other hearts make a melody. He discovered that a solitary note in a lightless reality could be added to his own, and two notes provide a wonderful harmony. They compliment each other. As the harmony grows, new notes are shared and in time a melody of praise and worship fills the air!

A solitary figure stumbling down a darkened street is replaced by two musicians dancing in the sunlight as the sound of their music drives away the darkness. They know their most significant achievement is their song. Sometimes their moving melodies diverge and at other times they are again rejoined in harmony. Sometimes the timing is out of sync and the notes are flat. There may be moments of discord, but the music continues and, with it, others draw near to listen. Soon, they also join in the song as each rings out in his own special way. In time, as each plays his part, the Composer's manuscript will be heard as he intended--as a grand symphony of Praise and Worship.

Take note when you can't see in the dark, you can follow the music!