Grandma Coker

My Grandmother's birthday is today.  I'm not sure how old she would have been but It doesn't matter any more.

I grew up a long ways away from her but it seemed like every time we visited them in California we would show up at her door to find her in the kitchen making BBQ beef (similar to pulled pork).  She always made sure I had enough for a few extra meals as well.

I don't know why I thought about her birthday today as it's been more than 20 years since her passing.  I have some short glimpses of memory that include her but mostly I remember how I felt.  It felt like I belonged.  It didn't matter that I forgot (read "didn't take time to") write her back the last time she wrote me - It didn't matter that it had been two years since we had last been there - I mattered and they let me know it. 

So today I will spend a few minutes thinking about my Grandmother and remembering.  I was a young person then and I don't remember all the details but I do remember how it felt...

"Taking out the Trash" and other songs

I found this today.  What a great reminder...

I found this entry here.

Hey everyone! My name is Lee McDerment, Worship Director at NewSpring Church.

Worship can be a confusing word. For most people, the word “worship” means “singing” in a church. And that would certainly be true. In the Old Testament, the nation of Israel would gather to worship God by offering sacrifices, singing songs of praise, hearing God’s voice, repenting of sin, receiving his forgiveness. In our day, we follow a similar pattern when we come together. Every Sunday, we give sacrificially, sing songs of praise, hear his voice, repent and receive.

But that’s just Sunday.

In the Old testament, we find rule after rule describing exactly how worship is to be done in the temple of God. In the new testament, this type of detailed prescription is notably absent.

The temple of God has changed locations. It is no longer in Jerusalem… you can’t find it on google maps. Where can you go to see God’s new house? Go to your bathroom and look in the mirror. There it is. (see 1 Corinthians 3:16).

God’s temple is open 24 hours a day. Worship is happening 24 hours a day. Paul redefines true worship for us in Romans 12:1-2 (verse here). It’s more than singing. It is a whole life devoted to God. Worship is everything. Every thought, every word, every action. The hidden motives of your heart are making music.

The crazy thing is, this has always been God’s desire, even in the Old Testament. He detested external worship that was not born from an internal fear, love and reverence. (see Isaiah 29:13).

As a worship leader, part of my job is to craft a setlist… a group of songs that will help us worship God in church on sundays. But in this New Testament world, where my body is God’s house, the setlist is much more than a 4 or 5 songs on a Sunday.

“Taking Out the Trash With a Joyful Attitude”

After I finish singing “No Other Name” on Sunday night, I must re
alize that the next song in my setlist is “Taking Out the Trash With a Joyful Attitude” and then the next one is “Praying with my wife Ali Before We Go to Bed” and the next one is “Waking Up Early to Get in the Word.” Other hits include, “Tithing” and “Forgiving _______ Again for the 490th Time” and “Taking A Sabbath.”

What’s the next song in your setlist?