My Worship Revolution

I was doing my daily RSS check this morning when I came across a post at Ragamuffin Soul.  Every so often I come across something as a result of someone’s blog that really hits me and effects my day, my outlook, makes me really think.  The post directed me to check out this message.

It’s a message from this past Sunday morning from a church that is in serious crisis.  It was one of the best messages I’ve heard from a church dealing with a moral failure that I’ve heard.  It was also one of the most heartbreaking, scary, and encouraging messages I’ve heard in a while.  Strange mix…I know.  If you haven’t yet, go listen/watch.  The reasons it raised those emotions in me:

• Heartbreaking.  I don’t know any of the pastors at this church.  I don’t know any attenders at this church.  I am only somewhat familiar with a blogger who attends the church.  Yet I still felt like I had to choke back a tear or two as I heard the news.  I guess I just imagine the amount of pain in the lives of those directly involved as well as the entire community in and outside of that churches walls.
• Scary.  Scary on 2 counts.  1)  I know that as time goes on there will come crisis that I cannot control.  It’s just a fact of life.  I’ve had a couple, but I’m reminded that I probably have my fair share ahead.  I know I have Jesus and can make it through, but I still don’t look forward to them.  But I loved the reminder that God is not nearly as concerned about my comfort as he is about my character, that I be shaped and formed into the image of Jesus Christ.  2)  I have within me the potential to mess up.  I know myself and that I am just as jacked up as the next guy, and the next pastor.  We all have the capacity in us to sin.  It may not be in the same way as this pastor, but we all screw up.  I will keep on clinging to Jesus and trusting that he can keep me from the big stuff.  I hope my fear of falling hard will be just one of many factors to help keep me from that.
• Encouraging.  The best part was the reminder that God still uses jacked up peeps like me.  I often wonder if I can truly be effective in ministry because while I know my strengths, I am probably doubly aware of all my weakness.  I fear that those weaknesses will keep me from being an effective leader and pastor, and I tend to focus on them.  But it’s great to know that it really isn’t about me!  That’s something I think I needed to be reminded of this morning.  God can and will use me and the way He has uniquely formed me to radically impact peoples lives for Christ.  That being said, I’m gonna go make a difference with the rest of my day now.  I invite you to go and do the same.