Thankfulness

As I sit here, in my living room lights down low, with a candle burning on the coffee table listening to The Swell Season, I’m reminded of all the things that I have to be thankful for. So, I have decided to make a list in particular order.

My childhood – I’m grateful that my parents made the decision in impart certain things into my life as a child. Despite the mistakes I’ve made, those things have made me who I am today.

My friends – I seriously don’t think I could have made it through this year without all the guys from Bru. You have been there during my worst days and have been there to make memories with me that will I never forget (Almost getting arrested because of a Moose, almost getting in fights at the movie theatre, God Squad, Attack of the Easter Bunny, Barn Parties, the list could go for days). I have been truly blessed with the best of friends. There were even a few people outside of Bru, which have made an impact as well. Needless to say I’m thankful for you all.

My family – My family has always had one rule; do what you want. Don’t worry about what other people are going to say, do what makes sense to you. More specifically do what God wants you to do. Also, be a team player. My mom always compared our family to a basketball team, if one player wasn’t helping out the entire team would fail.

My school – I have been given an amazing opportunity, to study, to grow, and to figure out what I believe. LBC has given me a chance to do that, and has introduced me to many great professors who care about me more than my grades. I’ve never felt like just a number.

I look back in my life and can see that I have a lot of things to be thankful for. I see things as a scale, with the amazing things on one side and the…well not so amazing things on the other. Thankfully, the good has outweighed the bad.

So what are you thankful for?

Something to think about

I have wanted for sometime now, to have others do some writing for the blog. I also, am a big fan of stirring things up and getting people to question things. This post will most certainly do both. Without further adieu a post from Ricky...enjoy!

Worship, Women and LBC

There was a lot of talk about worship today after chapel. Rev. Hollingsworth’s “sermon” seemed to lead many to think. I know I thought about it today. I spent the better half of the day thinking about it actually. Thinking about women and their roles, how we worship, why we worship and how we could do it better. These are a few things that came to mind while meditating on our chapel today.

I do not like modern worship. I do not believe it attracts people to the church in fact I think it repels them. Watch a movie called saved where they make fun of it. Better yet the episode of south park (I am not a fan of south park I did a project on this episode) where they make fun of how the characters become Christian music singers because they couldn’t make it in the real music industry. Those who are not of us do not like our music and if you think they do you are sadly mistaken. They use it to mock us and make fun of it.

I think modern worship is nothing more than a distraction leading people away from truly worshiping Christ. For example when many people worship they use a light show. I have been told this sets a mood for worship. Honestly, this is nothing more than an unnecessary distraction. It causes people to focus their attention onto the lights instead of the object of our worship, God.

Another distraction is the worship leader himself, or after chapel today herself. Often times worship leaders treat worship as if it is a concert (and that whole song about worship being a concert for one is a crappy song). If we were to do away with worship leaders altogether then there really wouldn’t be any debate about women leading worship. This now leads me to a rabbit trail that I will take even though I probably should not take.

Men and women have different roles in creation. Men are expected to be the
leaders of their households, the church and creation itself. Women are to be in submission to men 1 Corinthians 11:2-16. It is the man's role and not the woman’s to lead worship and every other aspect of the church service. Now if you want to make this about the role of women in ministry don’t because it’s about worship. We can talk about the woman’s role another day. Now its time to go back to the topic of worship.


Modern worship is not only a distraction but I find it irreverent to God. We sing songs about how God is so close to us. Songs that sound like you are in a dating relationship with God. What happened to the songs that talked about his justice, his sovereignty, grace, wrath and mercy? Today we sing about how we want to feel him close to us.

I remember a story a good friend of mine told me about his brother at Liberty. He said there was this girl who would go down to the front of the chapel at Liberty and dance around while running her fingers through her hair. When he asked her why she did this she said this “when I am down there like that it is like I am having sex with God.” Now of course this is an extreme example however, I feel that is the mentality modern worship leads to. It is just to touchy feely.

Another huge issue I have with worship is that it all culminates with the sermon. In modern worship the purpose is to lead up to the sermon. Today the sermon is the highlight of the worship service and this should not be. It is my belief that every time we worship God we should end with communion and not with the sermon. Communion should be the culmination of the worship service. Communion is how we memorialize what Christ has done for us and that should be done weekly and should be the final step in the worship service. Christ’s death and resurrection should be the focal point of the worship service not the sermon, not the music and most certainly not the offering.

I apologize if these thoughts offended anyone. This was not my intention at all. I only want us to stop and think about the things we do. To consider is what we are doing is truly the right way. Or if we are only self righteous and hypocritical. If you disagree with me on these points that is fine and your questions, comments and concerns are more than welcome.

The bottom line is this. Worship is a heart thing and I am not entirely sure that modern worship leads the heart in the right place. I think it has caused nothing but division and strife. I think it is a distraction and irreverent to God. We need to look at these things openly and honestly and seriously make some changes because after today’s chapel it is clear we do not have it figured out.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsHH_HYSkH8

Music you should be listening to

Every once in a while I come across some music that I feel is worthy of many people listening to. One such band I started listening to, and then everyone else followed suite was Ocean City...so you're welcome. Now there is a new band that I can't stop listening to, Deas Vail (which is a combination of Latin and French meaning Humble servants of God).

I want you to close your eyes and imagine this band. Take 1 part Mae, 1 part Copeland, 1 part Mew (danish band I highly suggest listening to them!) The vocals in the band are incredible. The lead singer Wes Blaylocok's voice so melodic and smooth. When combined with the melodies of his wife (met her at the Chameleon Club very cool person) Laura, blend together so amazingly that you will be listening to this cd all day!

The band hails from Arkansas on the Mono vs Stereo label. They currently have four albums out and one EP. Their newest album came out (online only) on October 27th 2009, titled Birds and Cages. They are currently on tour with Mae.


"Anything You Say" from All the Houses Look the Same (Youtube link)

"Write me down, I am the words: falling apart. Take this broken world off of my heart. So I stumble down into the room where the templates are made. And you show me that somehow I can change these days."