Two Messages Collide Today

While I was work doing some mindless work, I was listening to the last sermon in a series, "Stormology" by Dr. Bill Lawrence of Leader Formation International and Dallas Theological Seminary. You can find this series here with podcasts and notes.

In this sermon he emphasizes the importance of a relationship with the Living Word as opposed to obedience of the Word. We traditionally see obedience as doing what the Bible the says but in doing so reduces the Living Word into dead words. We turn Jesus life into our death and miss the point of obedience. Obedience is not conforming to external demands or commands but a response to the Living Word according to the written Word. We are responding to a loving relationship with the Living Word and can only obey the written Word when the Living Word acts through us. We immerse ourselves in the Word that takes us to the Living Word. Wow, that takes some thinking to wrap one's mind around that when you are traditionally taught to obey the Bible, follow the rules, and so forth. (I am not discounting this.) But then we totally miss the relationship with Jesus that propels us to obedience out of love and hunger for both the Living Word and the written Word. Too often pastors make believers "functional legalists" where the focus is on obedience to rules over a relationship with Christ.

His earlier sermons lead up to this one where he drives home the point that storms come. They are a part of life. Are you on sand or solid rock? A transitioning point was made that there is a veil that cannot be penetrated by the Christian to reach the non-Christian. We can explain away, preach, and drone on and on, but it is the glory of God in our lives that will penetrate the veil and draw others to Christ.

This collides with a post from tallgrassworship where she is challenging her choir members to purposeful worship. When we focus on the Great Musician, the Living Word, and our Savior, God's glory goes by us (Exodus 33:22) and shines through us to fellow Christians and non-Christians. What an awesome thing!

Music Review - "Praise to the Lord - Hymn Arrangements for Two Pianos"

Okay, I just got this CD this week - you have to check it out! I was so moved when I heard this CD. "There's Something About That Name" moved me to tears. "It Is Well With My Soul", "I'd Rather Have Jesus" and more. You can go to Danny and Deanna's website to hear clips and order the CD.

Danny and Deanna are a husband-wife duo that have a piano studio in Owasso, Oklahoma. They are extremely accomplished pianists and musicians. I cannot say enough about them.

Deanna "Dee Dee" and I were roommates for a semester in college and were in a girls glee club together. Danny and I graduated the same year although I don't believe we shared any classes together. I heard them play individually many times while in school. I remember the first time I heard Danny. It was a Concerto-Aria concert one spring. My mouth hit the floor and my eyes got as big as saucers when I heard him play! Deanna is equally as accomplished with sight-reading that will make your head spin. You can read all about them on their website too.

Please check out their CD - you will thoroughly enjoy it!

Super Bowl musings

First let me say that I am not a sports buff or even much of a fan. The extent of my sports watching is being in the same room with ESPN Sportscenter. The only parts I really get into are the personal pieces with family and backgrounds of the players. Then I connect to a team regardless of stats. Let's face it, I am all about emotion and picking who has the nicer outfit.

So, I was really pulling for the NY Giants and Eli Manning. (Although I liked the Pats outfits better. ) Last year I was cheering for his big brother Peyton of the Indy Colts. There just such nice, clean cut guys, you just can't help but cheer for them. Then there was all the bad press surrounding the Pats. Although it would have been nice to see them go undefeated to the end. Since I am not totally football-savvy but not a football dunce either, I was into the last couple of minutes like all the other fans. Eli and his team made a several nice moves that saved the Giants and broke the Pats. Way to go!

As for the musicians this year:

• It was great and touching to see Jordin Sparks singing the National Anthem...hometown with dad's team. She did a nice job! Nice set of pipes!
• Then a nice not-so-showy half-time show with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. I recognized the tunes and it was easy to watch. But the whole time he is singing with his band, I am thinking, this guy or anyone on the stage with them isn't much younger than my dad and look at these young people going crazy rockin' with him?
  

Finally after the National Anthem, were those Luke AFB F-16's? Sigh. Gee, I wish I knew an F-16 pilot!