I made a CD of some old Christian songs that I remembered, mostly simple choruses and hymns, and noticed that ;my heart would soar listening to them. Now I knew that it was that God after all. I would listen to this music when I was driving alone and often raised my available right hand. This was noteworthy because I was not a hand raiser in my youth.

When I finally worked up the nerve to walk into a church building again, I walked into a building full of hand raisers. I did not want to conform at any level because I still held some bitterness toward Christian congregations, I, of course would not raise my hands. I assumed that anyone who did desperately needed attention and I despised them.

I had a dilemma, I found that raising my hands was a spontaneous expression of worship for me but I did not want to appear to be “one of those”, whatever “those” are. I sought seats at the rear of the congregation so I could raise my hands at will and yet make it clear to everyone else that I did not need attention. This felt disingenuous — I use that word because it sounds much better than “fraud-like” or its dreaded twin “hypocritical”. I’m not sure why I was surprised that holding strong resentment toward Christians in general and hand raisers in particular impeded my worship. It took me months to unravel this truth while I repeatedly tried to reconcile the difference between the spontaneous, unfettered Richard and the uptight, contemptuous one.

Now I raise my hands when I feel it and don’t when I don’t. I most often raise just my right hand, bending it at the elbow over and over in celebratory praise. Of course, if you are new to our local congregation, this appears a great deal like a really big guy angrily shaking his fist at God. I’ll call this “cognitive dissonance” because it sounds more Christian than “frightening the children”.

I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. \o/

Psalm 63:4

Beauty from Ashes

This must be a part of what Jesus meant when he directed us to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:39). I had these kinds of experiences with my neighbors at Trinity Evangelical Church in Peterborough, NH and with neighbors from all over the world online. I think of the Holy Spirit as a busy fellow because when He shows Himself so obviously, He shines His light on everyone in the area, not just on the more likely targets.

To everyone who participated in any fashion in the study locally or online, know that you showed me God’s “beauty”, His poetry in your lives; I thank you for that. May God rain down blessings for 1,000 generations on you and yours.

Special thanks to my wife Laurie @mrsmcProdigal for her help delivering Beauty from Ashes locally and to my old friend Marie @spreadingJoy for her assistance online.

Beauty from Ashes Summary:

• It’s about God.
• Everything is connected.
• Everything matters.

Sources:

Romans 8:28

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Ephesians 2:10

For we are God’s workmanship [poiema: poetry], created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

We searched for these truths in the lives of major Old Testament characters.

• Jacob
• Joseph

Example: How did God show his poetic touch by having the Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker thrown into the prison Joseph was in?

• Moses
• David

Example: How does God show His poetry by sending Jerusalem’s ne’er-do-wells to join forces with David in his cave?

• Elijah
• Ruth & Naomi
• Esther

Our theme music is below.

But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him …

The older brother became angry and refused to go in.

“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ “.  Luke 15:11ff

Scenes from my prodigal journey appropriately set to Prodigal by Casting Crowns:

I’d like to give a special shout out to Blogger and Vlogger Mike Campagna (@aheartforGod) and to Sean @HisFriendlyWay for inspiring this video; Pastor Mike is the master of high impact content videos like this one. Here’s his tweet about this video:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ctf8iT1Xhp8

We’ve got your back but who has your head?

Many are saying of me,
“God will not deliver him [her].”
Selah

But you are a shield around me, O LORD;
you bestow glory on me and lift up my head.

Psalms 3:2-3 NIV

Update: Hetty Smiles! 8/31/10

Thank you to the large group that prayed and continues to pray Hetty through these complications. Let’s lift her up.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfJRuGC0pxk

For it is disgraceful when no Jew is a beggar and the impious Galileans [the name given by Julian to Christians] support our poor in addition to their own …

Jews and Christians were known for taking care of their own poor and disenfranchised, regardless of whether the poor shared their beliefs.

At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year’s produce and store it in your towns, so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the aliens, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. ~ Deuteronomy 14:28-9 NIV

Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other. ~ Zechariah 7:10 NIV

Are believers still known for this kind of charity today? Why or why not?

Read the parable and watch the video linked to the featured photo. It will change your day.