Joy’s been trying to get me to listen to a CD she downloaded from Itunes about a month ago. Yesterday, I finally put it on my ipod and this morning as the boys and I were on our way to school, we cranked it up. I’ve listened to a LOT of worship CD’s in my life. I still remember my first Praise and Worship CD – God With Us by Don Moen – it’s still one of my favorites. I’ve actually been sampling several CD’s that have recently arrived here at the church and a couple are pretty good. However, I must say, I’m not a huge fan of many of the cd’s that I end up listening too – some are just dead or way too fluffy or just not getting it.
Today, though I am happy to say that this CD is stirring something in me. I’ve been a fan of Michael W. Smith since I was like 8, and when he started producing worship cd’s, I was hesitant. But Smitty’s newest worship album – A New Hallelujah, is good. Now, this blog isn’t about a CD as much as what the CD stirred in me this morning. At one point, as we were heading to the church, I couldn’t but just soak up what I was experiencing. I was sitting at a light and I felt like a sponge that was stretching to absorb every possible second (even with a million distractions all around me).
It occurred to me at that point that I was captivated. I was done. In the midst of running around like crazy, of finishing off a really hectic spring, of preparing for a whole new onslaught of events, I was taken. I wanted to stop the car and just stand – arms stretched out to the heavens – in abandon. I found myself longing for a worship experience with You. Seriously, I thought of everyone who will read this blog, or will at least glance at it, and I thought that it would be so good to have this kind of worship with you by my side. I wanted to share that captivating moment!
This past monday was Aldersgate Sunday. It’s when John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist
Movement, had this experience in which he said that “his heart was strangely warmed with the presence of Christ”. Some see it at his real conversion experience, others see it as a 2nd moment of grace – I don’t really care to be honest. It was a moment for John when Heaven reached into his world and John was captivated. He was captivated by the LOVE of a God who saw in John so much more than what he had been settling for. He saw a Father who refused to let His children be alone! He saw a God who heard the cry of the lost and needy and decided that something MUST be done!
I’d like to share a quote with you from Andy Stanley’s book Making Vision Stick: “We all need to be reminded why we are doing what we are doing. We need to be reminded what’s at stake. We need to be reminded of the Vision.” We’re entering a time at Antioch where we will be “Visioning” what God has called to be. In essence, I’m hoping for an extended Aldersgate Experience for myself and for those who want to jump on the path together. I’m hoping that we’ll be captivated by this God who “strangely warms hearts” and who creates kingdom people. I know that many folks struggle with one kind of worship style over the other. Regardless, my prayer for you today is that you will be able to have one of those moments, like I did with Smitty’s newest album. I hope you’ll worship so hard that you’ll want to stop your car and absorb what’s going on around you. I hope, and pray, you’ll be captivated today! May it be so for all of us – Come Holy Spirit Come!
grace and peace!