Whatever Takes Us Away

Ah, springtime. Snow is melted away, birds are returning, grass begins to grow, weeds sprout up everywhere, bugs return, snakes pop up out of their holes and on and on and on I go with the not so good things about spring.

That wonderful bit shared . . . it is around the corner. Spring, then into summer. I was walking around my own yard today, looking at the landscaping (or mess thereof) and thinking that in a matter of weeks I'd have lots of flowers popping up. I look forward to that part. And, in the same train of thought I saw our church - with the dregs of winter hanging onto tress, sidewalks, and thought that something should be done - sooner rather than later.

What do you know, out of that thought came an idea. That idea spurred me onto thinking some more. That thinking spurred me to sit down at the iMac and type this. The idea: Service Project #1 for 2007 "Dusty Attic, Dirty Grounds, Divine Clean Up"

That's right! We'll be having a good time of cleaning up in, out and around the church sometime in April. Break out your mud shoes, your torn up (yet oddly comfortable) jeans, a soiled t-shirt and find a hat or bandana, we're getting to work!

More details to follow - I still have to ask the powers that be if it's okay that we do this.

When Tina and I started leading things for the youth group last fall we had two people showing up. Last night was fun having five (not including my own four). Since they worked hard after the service yesterday I thought they'd have a little trouble keeping focused on any kind of study, so we had a praise & worship service. There was a theme for last night, again, since they worked really hard I thought they needed something to keep them awake: Shouting for God, and that's what we did. I had picked out several songs (most of which they didn't know) a couple of Psalms to read, and even had a couple responsive readings from the hymnals. For the most part they all stayed on track.

We also thought, upon arriving, that we could finish our clean up after the spaghetti dinner. However, someone, a dear heart named Cathy, showed up at some point during the day to clean most of what was left. So, we had our snack and headed for the sanctuary for service. Thanks Cathy!

I hope and pray that what Tina and I are doing is making an impact on these young people. They certainly are fun to be around and definitely have a lot of energy (even sans Vault). For those of you that read this, from the youth group that is, you guys rock and keep me going. I can't make any promises, but I'll try to learn some guitar parts from Hawk Nelson songs.

Soon we'll be at ATF and afterwards we look forward to Easter. We may try to watch Mel Gibson's "Passion of the Christ" sometime before Easter - let me know if you've seen it or not, and let me know if you get squimish at the sight of blood. We are Easter people; if it wasn't for Easter we'd have no hope.

New segment:
Bible passage for the week:
I Corinthians, Chapter 13
Read, take notes, re-read, take more notes, post comments on the blog about what you think about the passage, how does it make you feel, etc.

Food. We all need it. We all require it. We all, in some way, fashing or shape, want it. We like it, and we like it even more when someone brings it to us. What makes it even better is if those that are bringing the food to us are doing it as an act of love - through serving. As Jesus taught His disciples to serve, as he Himself showed through the washing of their feet.

Today was the Spaghetti dinner fund raiser for the youth group. They helped cook and prepare the food, then, they served everyone that showed up; bringing salads, dinner plates, drinks and desserts to all. As for me, well, they brought their orders to me and I filled the plates. It was work, but it was worth it. We raised more than enough to cover the costs of the tickets for ATF and gas and food and, well, you get the point.

We had fun and we hope all that showed up today left full.

Youth meeting tonight @ 6:30 pm. Yes, even after having to serve lunch to so many people I still want you to come back to church for youth group.

We are going to be having a Praise & Worship service tonight, bring your voices, bring your praises, bring your prayers. The more people we have the better I'll sound! Someone please bring a drummer/percussionist, I'll bring the congas upstairs if we'd just have someone bangin' on those things! It'll be fun.

Lots of singing, a little bit of reading, some times for sharing - and possibly a snack, most likely candy (if we have any left). Bring a friend, bring a Bible, and be prepared to get started on time!

In Him - Aaron

As I opened my Bible this evening I was drawn to the Psalms. In that I was immediately drawn to a passage about singing praises to God. From that I started at the beginning of the book and started looking for passages about singing and music. I didn’t get very far before I realized that the author(s) of the Psalms had an intense understanding of the power of music in the worship of our God. One after another I read. Some reference specific instruments (harp, lyre, tambourine, cymbals, etc.), while others reference singing praises with shouts of joy. Shouts!

When was the last time you felt like shouting in church? When was the last time you felt so moved by a song (whether on radio, CD, tape, iPod or live) that you truly wanted to shout for joy?

Recently I have been re-expanding my music library, going through the old CD stand, pulling things off and adding them to the iTunes library; I’ve also been visiting the iTunes store and purchasing things. Friends have lent CD’s to me, I listen to them while driving to work and cruising around to stores and the like. I’ve had some Project 86 (a meager 5 songs) for a few years now, but recently decided to check their website, and subsequently the iTunes store for more. As I have listened to their music a little more and paid more close attention to the lyrics I have found that I have been wanting to shout to God. And, while this type of music isn’t for everyone, for those of us metal-heads bands like this don’t come along often enough.

I really like music! I like to play it, read about it, listen to it, and be a part of it in just about any way I can. Those who penned the psalms oh so long ago knew there would be people like me, the Lord must have placed it in their hearts to use words like shouting and rejoicing and crying out – words that I can identify with. Even when I listen to songs like Shout to the North by Delirious? I like to raise my voice, whether leading the song for youth group or listening to it in my van.

Hearing bands like Project 86 shout with all they have to give something back to the Kingdom of God makes me smile; knowing that there are many out there that don’t know the message of faith, hope and love – but may turn their ear towards something like a screaming man and really heavy guitars.

I thank the writers of Psalms, heavy rock Christian bands and most of all I thank our Wonderful God.