All mixed up in a big mess

Ironic how just the morning before, I was trying to figure out what sins I should confess to God.

I awoke with this song in my head. It was DEVO's Big Mess. It was irritating to wake up with that this evening, so I asked God about it. "Why is this song in my head?" Well, I knew why, it was because i had spent so many hours listening to it. Then came the question, "Why did you listen to it?" I thought for a few seconds. Now, this was a little harder to answer, I could have said about a hundred other things, but really it came down to one honest answer. "Because I enjoyed it." Came my reply.

Now the next question was to hit me a lot harder. "Why do you do most things?" Oh oh. I knew the answer to this one too...

"Most things? Mostly because I enjoy it."

For a Christian, that's not the right answer. I've trained my children with the verse "There is a way that seems right to a man but in the end it leads to death" I don't believe what the world says: "it it seems right, feels good, won't hurt anybody, etc., do it."

Think about on judgement day and you are standing before the throne of Christ to give an account of your life and find yourself saying over and over and over "because I enjoyed it." Now I know this was not the true answer for everything. But it was the simple, honest answer for WAY too many of the things I have done.

I thought alot about the apostle Paul. I wondered if he enjoyed what he did. In the sense that he was worshipping God with his life I know he did. But he did not pursue the things of this world for his personal enjoyment. He pursued the cross of Christ with his life.

God forgive me and help me. Please help me to do things for the right reason. The reason is to obey You, my Lord and King. Am I now trying to win the approval of myself, or of Christ, or am I trying to please myself? If I were trying to please myself, I would not be a servant of Christ. The only way I can do anything right is through the life of Christ. Help me to win your approval alone.

Wondering at work

Many O Lord my God are the wonders you have done.

As I walked into my cube I was wondering just how real that statement is to me and my co-workers. On one hand I can see that it is true in my life and in others. But it doesn't feel like a part of what I experience at work. The passage is true. But how is it related to my experience of reality right now as I sit at my cube?

trembling at His word?

I was listening to RC Sproul yesterday and was inspired by the topic of discussion...

It appears to me church is deciding how to worship God on the basis of the preferences of the people. This is not appropriate. Even worse, the style selected seems to be a luke warm, mediocre amalgum of the tastes of the day, so as not to offend any segment of the church population. Worship must be suitable to the nature of the object of our worship. Worship is to please God not the worshipper. Where is the gravity of reverence for entering into the immediate presence of a holy God? Where are the people who tremble at his word? What does it sound, look, and feel like to fear God in our approach to worship?

True worship

I'm interested in talking about worship. Not in the sense of worship music necessarily, but about living out worship, the truth, and the original reason music was created.