John Piper on Worship

John Piper has a great series of messages going on right now on his radio program (available via the web here.)

In "Worship God! Part Two", he points out that God in his wisdom didn't give us much to go on as far as the specific forms that corporate worship should take because He knew that the gospel would need to be adaptable to thousands of different cultures who would worship God in many different ways.

I plan on posting some more thoughts later this week when I get a chance, but he has some very pointed remarks against linking worship to external forms. This seems to me to be a very real temptation for both traditional churches who don't want to let go of outdated forms, and emergent types who think that new external forms equals better worship.

The Night I Knew

It was New Year's Eve and I was riding in the back of my family's station wagon as we drove home from chapel after midnight. The stars were bright, and I pressed my cheek against the window as I strained to look up at them. I thought about how vast the universe was, and how small I felt.

I remember wondering what God thought about the new year starting, and if the rapture would happen soon. The rapture scared me then and everyone seemed so certain that it was going to be anytime, what with the way things were going in the world. I knew I wasn't supposed to be afraid, but what I didn't know was whether I was saved. I was nine, and remembered praying some kind of "salvation prayer" when I was five with my parents. Then I remember praying by myself other times in case God didn't hear me the first time. But I might as well have been reciting a secret magic code that was supposed to get me to heaven.

I wanted so badly to be sure. To know deep down inside that if I died I would be in heaven. I remember silently telling all this to God that night the best way that I could. I told God I didn't want to be scared anymore, I just wanted to know that He heard me. I knew that Jesus died for me, and I just had to believe. As I prayed, a peace slowly came over me--a growing conviction that I had been heard by God and that everything would be ok. A conviction that no matter what would ever happen, He would always be there and be near. A tear or two fell down my cheek in the dark, and I just kept looking at the stars. The universe seemed friendler. Looking back now, I understand that God always knew me. But that was the night that I came to know Him.

About This Blog

I'm new to the whole blog experience, but here some thoughts on the direction of this thing. I'm just discovering the new discussion that is being generated by hosts of people who are simply writing their thoughts, reading other's thoughts, and responding to them. So after reading from informed minds want to know, Holiday at the Beach, and others I'm ready 'join the fray' and add my voice to the searchable archives of Feedster and Google.

This is an anonymous blog for now, but here's my basic background so you know where I'm coming from. I'm a twenty-something guy who has lived in the midwest USA for my whole life. I was homeschooled by awesome parents who love the Lord and have passed on so much to me by being faithful examples. My church background is in the "Plymouth Brethren" movement, and I attended Emmaus Bible College for a bit where I learned to appreciate theology, greek, Bible study, and wings at the Ground Round. I ended up transferring to a big public university where I received a degree in Computer Science and am now gainfully employed by a good company in my field. Also, I am recently married to a wonderful wife, and am so blessed to have her by my side. No kids yet.

I enjoy writing and am thinking a blog will be a good outlet for some of that creative energy. Also, I like the idea of having a "sounding board" of sorts where I can get some feedback on my thoughts to know whether I'm just really getting wacky sometimes. It's hard to say where this blog will go topically, but I hope to keep things centered around theology, church life, and culture. My background has a lot of tradition, and I want to think through what is Biblical and what isn't, and how that should shape the way that I live. I'll probably throw in my random devotional thoughts as well, as I think it will help me stay a little more focused if I'm keeping some sort of spiritual journal of my thoughts.

So that's it for now! I'm looking forward to seeing where this all takes me.

Psalm 139

O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.

You know when I sit and when I rise;
You perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
You are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue You know it completely, O LORD.

You hem me in--behind and before;
You have laid Your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Where can I flee from Your presence?

If I go up to the heavens, You are there;
If I make my bed in the depths, You are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
If I settle on the far side of the sea, even there
Your hand will guide me,
Your right hand will hold me fast.

If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me",
Even the darkness will not be dark to You;
The night will shine like the day,
For darkness is as light to You.

For You created my inmost being;
You knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from You
When I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
Your eyes saw my unformed body.

All the days ordained for me
Were written in Your book
Before one of them came to be.

How precious to me are Your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand.
When I awake, I am still with You.

If only you would slay the wicked, O God!
Away from me, you bloodthirsty men!
They speak of You with evil intent;
Your adversaries misuse your name.
Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD,
And abhor those who rise up against you?
I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.