Psalm 70 - 89:13

I've finally caught up. It hasn't been great...especially since I'm reading big chunks of Psalms. It's just hard to read in one sitting. Oh well...

For this section of reading I was reminded of a current concern among churches in America - social justice. I was a part of an area worship-service a few years back and I was introduced to this entire compartment of worship ministry that was opened up. Songs about helping the homeless, hungry, and needy were incorporated.

Psalm 82 reminds me of this act of worship. "Give justice to the poor and the orphan; uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute. Rescure the poor and helpless; deliver them from the grasp of evil people."

Since that service it seems that many churches are building whole worship experiences around this topic of social justice. I wonder if something like that really changes anything or is it just being trendy.

Psalm 46-69

Second "catch-up post" of the day. I think it's interesting to read many of these Psalms that are written out of shear despair. They talk about drowning in the flood waters, attacks of the enemies, and living in drought. I think it's hard for most of us to relate to that extreme state of despair, or is it?

Perhaps we shouldn't compare that despair in literal terms, but rather spiritual terms. The reality is that we are lost, sinking, and dying without Christ. Many of these Psalms could gain new interest for me if I read them with that perspective.

Anyway, here's my Psalm for the day. Psalm 63.
O God, you are my God;
I earnestly search for you.
My soul thirsts for you;
my whole body longs for you
in this parched and weary land
where there is no water.
2 I have seen you in your sanctuary
and gazed upon your power and glory.
3 Your unfailing love is better than life itself;
how I praise you!
4 I will praise you as long as I live,
lifting up my hands to you in prayer.
5 You satisfy me more than the richest feast.
I will praise you with songs of joy.

6 I lie awake thinking of you,
meditating on you through the night.
7 Because you are my helper,
I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings.
8 I cling to you;
your strong right hand holds me securely.

9 But those plotting to destroy me will come to ruin.
They will go down into the depths of the earth.
10 They will die by the sword
and become the food of jackals.
11 But the king will rejoice in God.
All who trust in him will praise him,
while liars will be silenced.

Psalm 25-45

I'm fallen off the horse a little bit this week. Monday I did my reading but finished it in bed. Therefore I figured I'd post on Tuesday morning. Well Tuesday ended up with me in bed with a fever. Ugh! I hate getting sick. I think my wife hates it even more than I do. It just makes her "on" all the time as she feels the need to keep her and Audrey at least 10 feet away from me at all times. Nevertheless I hope to catch up tonight as I'm feeling a little better.

I think my routine for the psalms will simply be quoting specific ones that I think draw believers closer to God in worship. Today's quotation comes from a portion of Psalm 42. If it weren't for a semi-cheezy version of this song in the early '90s I think people would enjoy the Psalm even more.

As the deer longs for streams of water,
so I long for you, O God.
2 I thirst for God, the living God.
When can I go and stand before him?
3 Day and night I have only tears for food,
while my enemies continually taunt me, saying,
"Where is this God of yours?"

4 My heart is breaking
as I remember how it used to be:
I walked among the crowds of worshipers,
leading a great procession to the house of God,
singing for joy and giving thanks
amid the sound of a great celebration!

5 Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again—
my Savior and6 my God!

Now I am deeply discouraged,
but I will remember you—
even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan,
from the land of Mount Mizar.
7 I hear the tumult of the raging seas
as your waves and surging tides sweep over me.
8 But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me,
and through each night I sing his songs,
praying to God who gives me life.

Job 42 - Psalm 24

From the very beginning I was a little bummed about having to read the Psalms in the midst of this 90-day sprint. I guess my anxiety comes from cherishing the Psalms as they are often the inspiration for songs and prayers that I use on Sundays. Reading 24 in one day just seems kidna wrong. Oh well...I guess I must press on.

In commenting about worship the Psalms should generate some really easy discussion. Today I read what has probably become my favorite Psalm - Psalm 8. I'd like to quote a it tonight and leave it at that.

1 O Lord , our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!
Your glory is higher than the heavens.
2 You have taught children and infants
to tell of your strength,s
silencing your enemies
and all who oppose you.

3 When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—
the moon and the stars you set in place—
4 what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
human beings that you should care for them?s
5 Yet you made them only a little lower than Gods
and crowned thems with glory and honor.
6 You gave them charge of everything you made,
putting all things under their authority—
7 the flocks and the herds
and all the wild animals,
8 the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea,
and everything that swims the ocean currents.

9 O Lord , our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!

Job 25-41

God is supreme. He is the source of wisdom and is not able to be truly challenged by man. From time to time we may think we can argue or fight with him on some real basis, but the truth is that he is God and God alone. We aren't.

I really enjoyed reading the end of Job where God kinda let Job have it. God says, "Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them. Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much...Who kept the sea inside its boundaries as it burst from the womb, and as I clothed it with clouds and wrapped it in thick darkness?...Where does light come from and where does darkness go? Can you take each to its home? Do you know how to get there? But of course you know all this! For you were born before it was all created, and you are so very experienced!"

Wow - such sarcasm there at the end. I love how at times we can get so snippy with God as to assume that he can even experience our frustration from a mortal point of view. The reality is he can. He was mortal in Jesus. The other part of that though is that he was also perfect, as he was the maker of clouds, sea, darkness, and light. That's the beauty of the Gospel.

Even here in Job we're seeing the root of our motivation to worship. The majesty of a Creator strangely mixed with the realness of mankind. Thank you God for choosing to be our earthly Savior while still fulfilling your perfection as Creator.

Job 8 - 24

This evening I continued on into Job. It really is an uplifting book isn't it? In the midst of Job's mourning and sorrow, I love this glimmer of hope recorded in chapter 19. This is ultimately the answer to the question I posed yesterday - how can people worship in the midst of tragedy, death, and destruction. Here's Job's insight:

But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last. And after my body has decayed yet in my body I will see God! I will see him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought."

Interesting discussion about a living redeemer seeing as how Jesus has not been born yet...

Esther 1 - Job 7

Today seemed like a lot of reading. All of Esther and the first 7 chapters of Job. I can't say I was a huge fan of Esther, but maybe it's because it is 11:30.

As far as Job goes though, I have always enjoyed Job's story. God and Satan get together and have a wager of sorts - kinda weird, I know. God tries to convince Satan that Job won't curse God even when thing go bad in his life. So Satan kills all of his livestock, and children. As a response:

"Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship."

Wow! It seems that we are so quick to make worship about ourselves. It has become about how we feel and what we're thinking. The reality is that God is deserving of our worship regardless of our earthly situation. That can be so hard. I pray that in the midst of tragedy and death and difficulty that I will still be able to worship.

Nehemiah

Completed another book today. I like reading whole books in one sitting. It makes me feel like I'm making real progress.

Listen to this account in Nehemiah 8 - "Ezra the high priest brought the Book of the Law before the assembly, which included the men and women and all the children old enough to understand. He faced the square just inside the Water Gate from early morning until noon and read aloud to everyone who could understand. All the people listened closely to the Book of the Law"

Seriously? They all stood and listened for up to six hours? That's impressive. Later after he read, it says that the people bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. I've heard of a long passage of Scripture, but that's crazy! I don't think I'd get past 20 minutes without quitting, let alone those that had to listen...children too! That must have been something to experience.

2 Chronicles 35:16 - Ezra 10

So today I finished another book - Ezra. I'm not sure if I have ever really read Ezra before. Lots of the same talk about the Temple and it's dedication. Towards the end of his book, Ezra describes a time when he publicly confessed the sin of the people to God.

There's something you don't hear very often in a worship service - public confessions. After Ezra's prayer (chapter 9) all the people agree to and own their guilt and repent - interesting. How might times of public confession work in our services today???

2 Chronicles 23:16 - 35:15

I've been thinking a lot about leadership lately. I think one reason is that the church I work at is currently without a Senior Minister. Typical that person is the "head hancho" when it comes to staff structure. As we are in the interim everyone's wondering what the new guy will eventually be like.

As I've practically finished 2 Chronicles (a little cheer here!) I've been reminded about how important leadership is. Both Kings and Chronicles walk through many of the kings of Israel and Judah. Almost always you read that the people followed the way of their leader. Sometimes this was good as they returned to God, and other times it was bad as they followed the lead of other pagan leaders.

As a worship leader and general leader within the church I hope and pray that my example is a good one and one that leads people down a path of righteousness. I fail just like everyone else, but I hope my response to that failure is a display of repentance and redemption.

2 Chronicles 7:11 - 23:15

"I have heard your prayer and have chosen this Temple as the place for making sacrifices. At times I might shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or command grasshoppers to devour your crops, or send plagues among you. Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to every prayer made in this place. For I have chosen this Temple and set it apart to be holy—a place where my name will be honored forever. I will always watch over it, for it is dear to my heart.

Every now and then I'm trolling along and all the sudden I read a verse that is VERY familiar. It's all of those famous verses that you see on ugly artwork at the Christian bookstore. Today's reading happened to have one of those passages in it.

In college several of my professors ingrained the statement - "Context Is King" - into us. It's to signify the importance of reading around a passage to gain it's full understanding. The one sentence in the above phrase that seems to be very familiar is - "Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land."

Since context is king after all I think it's important to know that the Lord proclaimed this to Saul after he dedicated the temple. The Lord went on to say that at times Israel would encounter plagues and drought. If and when this happened he urged them to pray and he would..."heal their land."

Now if a farmer was telling me that he wanted to pray for rain based off this verse I'd so go for it. Unfortunately this verse is often used to insinuate - "If Americans turned from their wicked ways God would hear our prayer and restore our land." Restore our land to what? The days of our founding fathers? The days of Eden? What? I'm going out on a limb here, but I'm guessing that we want God to restore our land to the 1950's. It was after all a very good decade for America.

Now I realize that I'm speaking a little tongue-in-cheek, but I'm afraid we've placed a too much stock in this verse. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for repentance...but I'd like to see it happen for the restoration of God's Kingdom - not the pre-hippie pleasantville. I remember my Dad commented once about how there seemed to be just as much sin and evil in the world when he was a teenager (1950's) then when I was a teenager (1990's).

I think that's all I'll say for now. I better go to bed before I make more people mad.

1 Chronicles 24 - 2 Chronicles 7:10

I was dreading Chronicles because it seems to be a rehash of Kings, but I've actually enjoyed the recap. I haven't really like the genealogies, but beside that it's been nice to get the review.

I read (again) today about when Solomon "opens the temple for business." At one point earlier I wrote about how Solomon used only the best material to build because after all it was for God. He says in 2:5 This must be a magnificent Temple because or God is greater than all other gods. Later in 6:1 he "tells" God that he has built a place for him to live forever. Seems a little presumptuous doesn't it? As I read that I was like - "who is Solomon to decide what kind of Temple God needs." Ironically he stated that same thing a little later on in the passage.

It is so hard for us to understand that concept of God dwelling in a specific location. That mixed with sacrifices make the Old Testament so foreign for us. I wonder how different our world would look if that had never changed. If the veil had never been torn in two and if the Holy Spirit never came to reside within us. I think things would look a lot different.

1 Chronicles 10-23

I know, I know...you were all waiting on pins and needles wondering why I didn't post last night. I did finish my reading but I did not have internet last night. We took a very spontaneous trip to St. Louis and stayed in one of those nicer hotels that doesn't have free wifi. I never get that? Why is it that the budget hotels give you the internet, but the nice ones don't? Oh well...

I had a good friend in high school who went to a non-instrumental Church of Christ. We got into a lot of good discussions and at that time I didn't understand all the ins and outs of churches and some of their differences. I still have a hard time seeing how the non-instrumental folk land in that camp. In 1 Chronicles 15 alone we see talk of bronze cymbals, harps, lyres, and trumpets. Their argument is that none of this is restated in the New Testament, and I guess they're right...but really? Why would instrumental music all the sudden be condemned? And is it really that bad?

1 Chronicles 1-9

When you take just one day off, it sure is hard to get back on again. Today I begin what may be the most boring section of the Bible. For about 80% of the time tonight I was reading genealogies. I realize that some people enjoy studying family trees, but really....8 chapters of it.

I was thinking that I would have no insights to share, but I found something remotely interesting in regards to worship. In 6:31 it says David assigned the following men to lead the music at the house of the Lord after the Ark was placed there. They ministered with music at the Tabernacle until Solomon built the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem.

I guess I like this passage because it gives credence to what I do. To some I have the job of a washed up musician. To others my role is just a musician, and not a pastor. To David my role as music minister was very important. I'm glad I get to do what I do. I love ministering to people and doing it through the route of music.

Day Off

In the 90 days of reading you're granted 2 free days. I think I may take that wild card today. Supposedly it is scheduled for this Friday, but I just got home from camp and I'm a little tired. Looking forward to crawling into bed tonight. Tomorrow I'll begin 2 Chronicles. Oh joy!

2 Kings 15:27 - 25

Tonight I finished reading 2 Kings. Tomorrow I'll be off to read 1 Chronicles which is more of the same as I understand it. As I'm reading and thinking specifically about worship, a few phrases in 2 Kings 17 really struck me.

In a lot of the Old Testament it seems to be people either worshiped God or idols. This section of Israel's history seemed to generate dual worship.

But the people would not listen and continued to follow their former practices. So while these new residents worshiped the Lord, they also worshiped their idols. And to this day their descendants do the same.

Both God and idols. The dangerous question for me is how often does the American church look like that? On Sunday we're obedient in worshiping God, but through the week we worship our own idols. That neutrality is what scares me the most - in my life and in the life of the Church.

2 Kings 4:38 - 2 Kings 15:26

In college one of my professors Mark Moore made a statement that I remembered. He asked our class how far we were willing to go to get rid of sin on our life. He used the illustration of how when guys had come to him regarding a porn addiction he asked if they would grant him complete control. If they agreed he explained: "Alright, the next time it's an issue I will take your computer and beat it with a baseball bat. You don't think I will? Try me!"

Wow - seriously! Yes - I think he was serious. Today I read about an illustration that seemed just as extreme. Jehu goes into the Baal temple, kills all the priests, and smashed the sacred pillar to make it into a public toilet. Wow - seriously!

What do we worship in our lives? Our we willing to go to extreme measures to get rid of it? Smashing computer screens, ceasing friendships, quitting jobs or hobbies? All of these are minuscule in regards to the joy the Father has when we worship him purely.

1 Kings 16:21 - 2 Kings 4:37

Today's reading was particularly hard because we are at camp this week. That comes with lots of noise and many distractions. I think my favorite story in today's reading it headlined - "The Contest on Mt. Carmel." We studied it in our small group this past year and I think its very interesting.

The cliff notes version is this: Elijah challenges Ahab that the God of Israel could show up Ahab's god - Baal. They set up a sacrifice to appeal for rain and challenged each other to see who's god could send down fire. Ahab tried all morning with no results. Then it was Elijah's turn. Bam! Fire. It was that quick.

It goes to show that sometimes we need to just trust that God is at work in situations and we need to just be ready to experience it...no need to handle it. God will take care of it all.

1 Kings 7:38 - 16:20

You Version informed me that I was 27.8% complete with my Bible reading reading as of today. It's crazy to think that it's almost been a month. For today I was most impressed with a prayer that Solomon prayed as he commissioned the temple for use. I really liked this portion:

"O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in all of heaven above or on the earth below. You keep you covenant and show unfailing love to all who walk before you in wholehearted devotion. You have kept your promise to your servant David, my father. You made that promise with your own mouth, and with your hands you have fulfilled it today."

2 Samuel 22:19 - 1 Kings 7:37

I've always enjoyed looking at church buildings. Recently a whole market of church architects and builders has emerged with dozens of companies competing to build the "perfect" church building.

Some have stages and technical systems that rival a New York theaters. Others have children's spaces that are comparable with a trip to Disney. Still other churches boast of a community centers, multiple gymnasiums, and even fitness centers for their congregation.

Just about the time I'm salivating with envy I'm also reminded about setting where I worshiped in Haiti. Sure it's a different culture - I understand that, but it was really, really simple. They were very joyful as they worshiped too. No coffee, no sound systems, no water wall in the lobby - just benches, some windows, and a place out back to "do your business."

Then I read today's passage that illustrates the building plans for the Temple. Talk about ornate! Everything is very detailed and there is a lot of gold. Is this okay? I guess it has to be since it was commissioned by God himself. Is it different because the Ark of the Covenant was to be housed in the Temple? I don't really know. All I know is that this tension between high quality buildings and simple buildings always give me fits!

2 Samuel 12:11- 22:18

There's a sweet nature in which a person worships immediately following redemption. We've all seen it. Someone who is just baptized, or someone who has fully confessed to a friend and then worships with more passion and authenticity than every before.

Growing up at church camp and conferences I'd see it time and time again. Boy meets world. Boy falls in love with world. Boy commits "spiritual affair" with world. Boy repents and confesses. Boy is eager to worship God in light of the grace offered.

We see this same scenario play out in David's life. He is a powerful king. God blesses him in so many ways. Then he has an affair with Bathsehba and kills her husband trying to cover up. Pretty serious stuff if you put it in today's perspective.

As a result David's child dies of a deadly illness. Following the child's death he went to the Tabernacle to worship the Lord. He was even criticized for acting too normal. It seems though that David had recognized and dealt with his sin and guilt and then had the freedom to fully worship God.

My question: How often does Satan remind us of our failures (even though we've repented) so that we will never draw close to God in worship?

1 Samuel 28:20 - 2 Samuel 12:10

"I will dance, I will sing, to be mad for my King. Nothing Lord is hindering this passion in my soul...And I'll become even more undignified than this. Some would say it's foolishness..."

This song - "Undignified" - became very popular when I was in high school. David Crowder often sang it at conferences and concerts and always referred to a passage that I read today about David "dancing in his underwear."

I think this may be one of those instances that if we're really honest with ourselves, I'm not sure it quite says everything we think it says. Yes, his wife was embarrassed but what if she was just a nag. Nowhere does it say he was naked or even in his underwear. He was in his priestly garments (which apparently were exposing enough for her to mention it).

I guess in all I just see a leader who was rejoicing because he had brought the Ark of the Covenant back to his people. "David danced before the Lord with all his might, wearing a priestly garment." That the entire verse that this song and popular "worship" illustration is built from.

Frankly I think they are way better undiscovered worship stories in the Bible to illustrate. Hopefully this blog will uncover some of those. Until then...I will be singing "Undignified" next week with a bunch of kids at camp because...well...it's a cool song...I think??

1 Samuel 16 - 28:19

Friendship really is a beautiful thing. Today I read about Jonathon and David's relationship. It seems by reading the text that their relationship was everything that best friends should be.

As I consider worship I am reminded of some of the great times of worship I have had with my friends. Many times it was around a campfire at camp. In High School it was at CIY with friends that I grew to love and respect. In college it was on Tuesdays and Thursdays in chapel, in choir retreats, and sitting in the hallway of my dorm room. In Haiti it was on the beach surrounded by sand, crabs, and Haitians who did not yet have a relationship with God.

Though worship is often private, I think it's richness can be amplified when singing and sharing together with good friends. Tomorrow morning I have the privilege of leading our staff in a time of worship. I'm eager to do so especially after reading about the bond that was fostered between David and Jonathon.

1 Samuel 2:30 - 1 Samuel 15

The idea of the Ark of the Covenant is so different for us as New Testament Christians. To think that God's dwelling was identified and confined to a place is so weird. Either way it must have been tragic when the ark was captured. To think that your source of God's presence and your enemies stole it.

It makes me think of revival high school stealing a mascot, but the reality is that this is much more serious. So serious that it killed Eli. In 4:14 Eli asked what all the noise was about. The messenger told him what had happened and Eli fell backwards, broke his neck, and died. Crazy stuff!

Judges 15:13-1 Samuel 2:29

For some reason Blogger was unavailable for a a little while for both Emily and me. I could see my blog, but it wouldn't allow me to log in. Not to fear though I've kept on my reading, and will now catch up on my posting.

This day's reading seemed to cover lots of ground. Samson and Delilah - Samson just seems like a stud, and Delilah...well I always think of the current radio version. Weird, I know. Ruth seems like that small book that was ALWAYS highlighted at women's conferences that I would have to attend. Ugh! Hated those. Then we start to hear about Samuel.

All along it seems that idols had become a big problem. I know I kinda mentioned this earlier but in a way I have a hard time understanding the idols of the Biblical era - wooden statues...really? I know we have idolatry now. We look toward things to save us, make us better, smarter, healthier, richer, wiser...and the list goes on, but wooden things...really?

Then again are we any better off by worshiping culture, celebrities, technology...etc. God help our worship to be pure and to only be reserved for you!

Judges 3:28 - 15:12

Tomorrow at South Side Scott (our interim preacher) is going to speak about how loving God is often articulated by our obedience to him. In our relationships we often show love through words, gifts, and actions, but Scripture (at least in the Old Testament) often points to those who obey God as those who love him.

I think this can have a significant impact on our worship services. Often times it's easy to program them from an emotional standpoint, but what if we just encourage people to obey God. Would we know how to do it? Could we identify where we're disobedient. I'm eager to hear what God says through Scott tomorrow morning.

Joshua 14 - Judges 3:27

Yesterday was the first day so far I didn't stay on track. I had the time to do it. It was my day after all. I was just busy doing other things. I came home about 11:15 and decided to catch up tomorrow. So here I am on Saturday with lots of reading to do. It really does pile up quickly.

At the beginning of Judges we begin to see the downward spiral that Israel is in for a long time. Several times the text says that after one generation the people had given to idols. It makes me thankful to my parents and to Emily's parents for raising us to know the Lord. Now as a parent I hope I as well set an example that will help Audrey to maintain that same love for God.

Joshua 1-13

Wow. Lots of killing. Really Joshua's all about murder, stoning and such. Sometimes it's just hard to reconcile the same God of grace and love with this God who orders so much bloodshed. I had a friend in high school that really struggled with this aspect. I'm beginning to see more of his point I think.

Aside from all the killing there was one section where Joshua reminded the people of their covenant of God. I really like the picture that is painted with this picture. In worship ministry we often talk about worship space and environment. How's this for awesome:

Then all the Israelites - foreigners and native-born alike - along with the elders, officers, and judges were divided into two groups. One group stood in front of Mount Gerizim, the other in front of Mount Ebal. Each group faced the other, and between them stood the Levitical priest carrying the Ark of the Lord's Covenant. This was all done according to the commands that Moses, the servant of the Lord, had previously given for blessing the people of Israel. Joshua then read to them all the blessings and curses Moses had written in the Book of Instruction. Every word of every command that Moses had ever given was read to the entire assembly of Israel, including the women and children and the foreigners who lived among them.

Deuteronomy 23:12 - 34

It's crazy to think that I just read in 15 days what I spent an entire semester's 4-hour class studying. The Pentateuch is complete and I really enjoyed one aspect of Moses' closing (and very long) speech.

He wrote down all these instructions and gave them to the Levites to be stored and transported with the Arch of the Covenant. I'd have to guess (and was probably taught at one point) that these "instructions" eventually became the first five books of the Bible. I'm not sure if we can be completely positive, but it does make sense.

Assuming that he is speaking of what eventually became Scripture, God has established a connection between worship - the Arch and the Temple, with Scripture - "these instructions."

Yeah it is kinda simplistic, but it is very foundational. To know that Scripture and worship go hand in hand. Thank you Lord for your Word and it's blessings, instructions, and insights.

Deuteronomy 8 - 23:11

It's late so I don't have anything really long to discuss tonight. One thing that was really instigated in this passage was the bringing of the tithes/first fruits/etc.

I've recently been wrestling with how that whole aspect of worship fits into the liturgy of the church. As our culture moves more and more towards a paperless currency exactly what will offering look like in 10/20 years? Will it always be automatically withdrawn? If so will we bring anything to church to "offer" during offering?

Any thoughts on this?