Worship in Every Direction

This week has been a clash of Generations.

Friday night I was at the Jesus For President Rally at Grace Cathedral. Shane Claiborne and Chris Haw were going through their thought provoking book. What was more interesting to me then what they were saying (I had already read the book and it is pretty amazing) was the music. Maybe you have already heard of the Psalters. They are a group of nomads who love to praise God with their music. It is hard to describe so maybe you should take some time listening at their My Space Link here. I would recommend listening to the Magnificat or Amal. If you do not have time it is like punk rock meets bluegrass meets Middle Eastern meets shouting at the top of your lungs and banging a drum. It was crazy. I, of course, ran over and bought both of their CD's and have been listening to them at every opportunity (that would be with headphones when no one else is around).

This week I am at the Nazarene District Pastors prayer summit. It is a great time to get away and pray for you and for the church. It is mostly older pastors. We have been praying and reading scripture aloud and singing songs. The songs consist of some contemporary worship songs, but it is many songs that are so old I have not heard them or have not heard them for a long time. Many times songs were sung in Spanish. There is one Spanish pastor who is really off key when she sings, I mean really off key. The songs are really slow and kind of muzaky if you know what I mean. But none of that matters. God is listening and I feel His presence in my own life and see and hear it manifest in others.

What is great about both of these seemingly contrasting worship experiences is that I felt God working in me in both places and spaces. I was in Grace Cathedral which is stunning for the one and in a small chapel at Point Loma for the other. I was with young, hipsters at one and with older traditionalists at the other and none of that mattered. I think what mattered was, whether or not I was willing to open my heart to the working of the Holy Spirit. I am glad that I was because both events were beautiful.

It is clear that God is working. My prayer for you this week as I continue to pray is that God would work in you anew this day. "God I pray for the reader of this blog that you would bless them right now and allow them to know your love in a very real way this day, right now. Amen."

 

Peace

Edwin