Lumberjacks and the Awe of God

Irreverence.  I hold this banner pretty high, sometimes.  It’s almost as if I purposely try to shake up the most awe inspiring moments.  Actually, I’d say I probably do.  I don’t know what it is but I have a habit of breaking up the serious moments with a joke, quip, sarcastic comment, or total derailing of the conversation.  The funny thing is that if I look around at most of my friends they are exactly the same way.  (Just wait.  None of them will be able to pass up the opportunity to do exactly that on the comments section of this post:)

 When I was young I was often told to “be serious”.  Kind of tough when you’re 8 or 9 years old and you have an overactive imagination.  I liked to joke!  It was my escape, to some extent.  I was never the solemn, serious kid.  I had too much energy for that, plus there was no way to be heard in my family if you were serious.  I cracked jokes at the drop of a hat.  It got me out of work, out of fights, and especially out of anything uncomfortable.  It’s like a get out of jail free card.

So here I am as a wise cracking, unconventional anarchist and along comes the concept of God.  Hmmmmm.  Worship the great “I Am”.  Be reverent in the presence of God.  Honor and glorify the King of kings.  Something just doesn’t seem to jive with my personality.  Now, don’t get me wrong.  I am truly in awe of God and what He has done in my life.  As a matter of fact I am in SHOCK that He has had the concept of grace included in my mishaps and foibles.  I’ve never really considered myself to be someone worth the time of day for a diety!  In most of the stories of kings and kingdoms that I’ve ever seen the court jester was pretty much bottom of the list when it came to importance.  Still, I am here and owe everything that I am, have, and experience to someone so much greater than my imagination could ever fathom.

So, what does an irreverent jerk do in reference to worshipping a reverent God?  Am I supposed to be myself and let the wisecracks fall where they may?  Or, on the other hand, should I subdue my natural instincts “because of” the reverence of God?  Am I wrong to include this slapstick side of my personality in my relationship with God?

These are the questions of one who wants to know the presence of God.  I guess I’m asking “Does God really get my jokes or does He just roll His eyes at me?”

I’m a lumberjack and I’m OK.  I sleeps all night and I works all day……………………………………..

Where should christians go?

Don’t answer that question!!!

 (Just kidding….)

Here’s my question for the day:  As we are thinking about where we should go as a community, as in meeting in new places or taking our gathering somewhere besides the house, where is a suitable place for christians to go?  I ask it specifically that way because I want to look at where a group of “christ followers” should meet compared to where should a “church” meet.  Even though we don’t really admit it we have a much different concept of where a “church” should be than just a group of followers.  The whole “church” idea tends to make us think we need kid friendly, safe, clean facilities that are not only basically inviting to those who don’t go to church but are also acceptable in the eyes of “other church people”.  I think it is one of the reasons that you see so many churches meeting in the same locations:  Community centers, schools, movie theaters, etc.  We all gravitate towards the same locations.  Why?  I tend to think it’s because we know that they are safe.  Not only is our church safe, but we won’t take any real grief from other churches.  (I understand that this sounds a bit jaded, but if you step back and think about it there is alot of truth to it.)

I remember back when NETChurch started talking about new ways and places to minister.  We mentioned the fact that there was a place opening up next to an adult video store in this area.  It was funny to watch the reactions.  Some people didn’t think twice about it.  Others, though, were a bit appalled.  There was talk about protecting the kids and not being able to worship with that type of influence so close by.  I kept thinking throughout the conversation though “Where should we be then?”.  I mean, in the end where should christians be?  In a school or movie theater waiting for people to come?  That’s how we’ve designed things up to this point.  It’s a very small percentage of people who will start a ministry with the idea that they will honestly take it to places no one else goes.

I think it’s a question worth discussing.  We’re going to have to at some time or other anyway, might as well be now!  So………

“If a group of christians were to meet together to discover, worship, and follow God where would be an acceptable place to do it?  How clean does it have to be and how would you communicate in those areas?”