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We believe that all true worship starts in the heart of a person and will only be deep and meaningful when the heart is adequately prepared. If the heart has become a garden of praise, a storehouse of good things, we need to find biblical expression of that praise in our words and actions. Specifically, we need to consider the use of our body. Notice this is not our starting point, but the byproduct of adequate preparation.
Fred grew up in a Christian home where it was common for his parents to spontaneously say, "Praise God!" or "Praise the Lord, isn't God good?" Fred is now grown up and married and has a job in a local factory. Interestingly, even today Fred will mimic his parents and express his faith in God by saying, "Praise God, isn't the Lord good?" On the job site, in the home and especially in church when something goes his way, or when he is feeling good, he will give God the credit and praise Him for His blessing.
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One weekend, a family invited the preacher and his family to dinner. The family's little daughter was invited to say grace over the meal, but she hesitated and expressed that she was not sure what to say. Her mother spoke up and suggested that she just repeat what she had heard her parents say. The little girl grabbed onto that idea and said, "Oh Lord, why did I ever invite the preacher and his family over for dinner on this weekend!"
Today I watched Jesus weeping. It was the second time I watched him weeping, and I won’t forget either time.
Let me take a few minutes to tell you what I’m talking about. My name is James. My wife Margaret and I live in a small village on the outskirts of Jerusalem, called Bethphage. We’ve lived there since we were married, nearly 28 years ago. Our village has usually been a sleepy little place, with its quiet periodically interrupted by bands of pilgrims making their way to Jerusalem for our religious feasts.
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Much of my life has been devoted to creative activity. As far back as I can remember I have had this desire to make things; to create, to express myself artistically. As I was growing up, my parents were in a constant state of alert; never knowing where or when this son of theirs would decide that the moment had come for a performance. My main routine, I am told, was "Current TV Commercial Theme Songs." No potential audience was safe.
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What should we see when we daily observe the people surrounding us?
What do we see in people coming to this church?
What do we see in people around us?
I want to examine with you A Father's Race and what that means in the context of Hebrews 12:1-11.
Some time ago when I was in Wenatchee, I stopped in at one of the places I remember from growing up—Dusty's In and Out. When I got there I looked on the wall, and saw this picture of the 1957 Dusty's In and Out team, and the guy in the top row in the middle was me!
Philippians 4; 1 Timothy 6; 2 Corinthians 8, 9
Let me tell you the story of Jacob and Lisa. They have two children (one a pre-schooler, and the other a young teenager), and are in their mid-30s. This is really a story about Jacob, who is currently in a great deal of debt. He has a good job, but like many of his peers, his expenses and lifestyle are beyond what he earns. He is a Christian believer, but he hasn't been doing very well spiritually lately. He is discontent with his life.
When I was in Little League baseball, I had a coach by the name of Roy Snodgrass. I really thought Roy was a great coach at the time, but as I look back on the experience I remember little else than that he yelled at the team during practices and at games. Oh, there were those rare moments when he showed heart and genuine concern for the guys, but for the most part, Roy's standard tactic was intimidation by volume and loudness of speech. One rare moment was the time the bases were loaded, we were in the bottom of the ninth, and I was at bat. I can still remember the unusual words of the coach that day. They were complimentary and encouraging. Above the yell of the crowd, so everyone could hear it, he said: "Bobby, if anyone can do it, you can—just get a hit." Wow! My moment had come, but more than that, the coach had confidence in me.