now don't get mad, but ...

this is not a phrase i enjoy hearing, but it's exactly what brandon said to me a few nights ago when i got home from work. our conversation went something like this.

B - so how was your day?
M - long, glad to be home. yours?
B - um good. (sheepish smile)
M - what?
B - now don't get mad, but ...
M - but what...?
B - so i was outside practicing target shooting (with a bow), and i may have shot an arrow through the siding ...

what do you really say to this? sure enough, there is a round hole right through the siding and sheetrock going from our garage to the back yard. never a dull moment :)

and just for the record, i wasn't mad, just not expected that. what can you do but laugh?

worship notes, pt. 2

i've not been very good at keeping up this old blog thing lately. it's the same story - life is busy. i meant to post this last week, but time has gotten away from me.

here are some notes from brandon's latest worship talk for our catalyst group he's leading. we listened to a podcast from aaron keys during our week, and then we talked about it at our meeting. here are some highlights i pulled from the discussion:

• worship is the natural expression of what is at the center of our lives. enough said.
• a life lived to the glory of God is the result of a person in love with God.
• we can bring the "right" offerings and perform the "expected" postures of worship, but it can still be unacceptable to God if the rest of our lives are characterized by sin.
• praise means to celebrate, extol, applaud. it is filled with exuberance, excitement and passion for the Lord. it is an upward explosion of energy towards God.
• worship is different. it is the downward, reverent submission to God. it is our humble recognition our holy God.
• He loves both our praise and our worship. he doesn't need it, but He delights in it.

i'm already looking forward to tonight's group. i've already learned so much about praise and worship, and i'm sure tonight will be no different. i'll try to post notes sooner than a week later :)

worship notes

brandon is leading a 6-week catalyst group for our church on sunday nights. the topic - worship. these are notes from last week's talk. it was really great.

1. worship delights our Father - he doesn't need it, but he delights in it. when we're in praise, we're fulfilling the very purpose for our creation. we're doing what we're made to do.
2. worship develops our family - at the foot of the cross we can put aside our differences and celebrater the common bond we have in Christ.
3. worship defeats our foe - worship is like fingernails on a blackboard. he just can't stand to be around it.
4. worship declares our faith - in acts 2 there were 120 people worshiping the Lord, and 3,000 were saved that day. the power of praise.
5. worship dethrones our flesh - you become like whatever you worship. who we spend time with is who we'll find ourselves becoming more like.
6. worship can also destroy our first love - the key isn't to work on worship; the key is to get to know Jesus better, and worship will naturally follow. the more commitment there is, the more expression there will be.
   

slowing down

God's beauty is all around us.
sometimes you just have to slow down and notice.