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I don't believe that there is anyone on the planet that really enjoys being criticized. Coached? Yes. Encouraged? Yes. Criticized? Hardly. Maybe that is the reason that we are selective about reading from the prophets of old.
Isaiah starts his written statement to his people: God says the following - you guys are creeping me out. You call it worship and I call it disgusting. You call it prayer and I call it pure monologue, not dialogue. You don't worship me, you just do your ritual. And it makes me sad. Even mad. So here is something that will get your attention.
Ouch.
It is not at the top of the to do list to analyze personal worship (Jesus has to take what he can get... at least that is what we present), but what does Jesus say about my worship? Acceptable or annoying? Are my hands clean when I come, or am I too busy to even take notice? Do I really want to assist the disenfranchised, or I am solely seeking to please self?
It will take someone that is serious to assess heart matters and address them without either running towards self-righteousness or falling into hopeless despair. Satan would have no greater delight than to see that happen.
Here is the bottom line to prevent something like that from occurring: Your heavenly Father never rebukes without the intention of addressing an issue that is hindering intimacy. Neither self-righteousness nor hopeless despair addresses the root. So the Father rebukes, but lovingly calls back to His own heart. He desires not just to point out wrong, but to remove whatever prevents intimacy. That is good news.
What does Jesus say about your worship?
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A church-planter is a strange creature and the job description is somewhat crazy. The number of jobs that you have to perform well is so widely varied. Becoming a better communicator is right at the top of the list.
In today's western society pounded by both sight and sound, gaining and holding interest is almost an art form. Church-planter, you must either acquire the skillset or find someone with the ability to make your content visually exciting.
Here are some of the tools that I personally use presently. This edition will only cover the photo/video hardware.
The camera of choice is a Canon 7D. Love it. Seriously. I cannot heap enough praise on this camera. You will be able to acquire great photos, but even better, you will shoot HD video. A CF chip will be ready available at cheap prices, so grab a couple so that you can keep shooting.
Downside to the unit is the audio. Although it does record - and does a pretty good job for the webblog stuff - it is not up-to-par for serious videography. That is where I use the Zoom H4N. This digital stereo recorder allows you to plug in microphones - even 48+ phantom mikes. It will give you the versatility to use.
When recording with the two together, I push record on both units, then clap my hands before any take. That audio spike is then used to sync to the clap in the video - basically what Hollywood uses with the clapboard.
The advantage that this camera has over the betacams that we use at church is portability and great depth of field (DOF). Using a variety of lenses - mostly primes, not zoom lenses - gives good DOF. Primes are a little easier to find with a wide F-Stop - meaning that you can get good shots even at low lighting levels.
My favorite lens in the bag is a Sigma 24mm. It opens to an incredible f 1.8, so I never have to use powerful lighting to capture images. I will acquire additional lenses; ones that are modern and constructed well for the newer DSLR generations. I had a number of lenses from a Minolta 35mm camera set and were not being used, so they accompany me for now. Downside to them is no autofocus and all settings are manual. That is not everyman's taste. It works for now.
Here is the overview of what is in the bag:
- Canon 7d
- Lenses: Sigma 24mm, Minolta 50mm (with adapter), Minolta 135mm, Tamron 24-80mm (sent with the camera, not my favorite).
- Audio: Zoom H4N
- Mike: Beyerdynamic MCE10
- Memory: Transcend CF 16gb - a couple of these
- Batteries - a couple of rechargable Canon batteries. I will always change these out during a shoot. Also, I carry extra batteries for the Zoom recorder.
- Extra: One tennis sock. I have never invested in a windscreen for the recorder - I gotta do that someday. The sock is my alternative right now.
With the first grandchild on the way (due in August 2011), I am glad that I already have my camera and video needs filled.
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It seems that there are so many voices - sometimes the heart of the church goes unheard.
Presently I return to the heart of the great commission and I seek to impress this on the souls of those whom I have been entrusted to shepherd. Last Sunday I wanted everyone to see what our heart really is - good or bad. At the conclusion of the service I asked them to join me in covering the walls with PostIt Notes - record a first name of someone they personally desired to come to Christ.
Hundreds of notes were quickly posted. It would be great to see our hearts develop under His leadership to a sacrificial level of evangelism.
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There has been a shift, in my opinion, in the rules of marriage.
It appears to me that generationally a view of marriage has completely changed. Marriage was seen by our parents and grandparents as a life goal. One of their greatest desires was to raise a family. Many weathered relationships that were less than desirable for the sake of the children. It really was 'till death do us part.'
An increase in divorce statistics would indicate that something has culturally occurred. While I have nothing empirical to support my theory, just the tenor of counseling points to a general outlook: Marriage has now become a vehicle for personal fulfillment and happiness. If the present relationship does not bring the desired promise of joy, then it is time to switch vehicles. Countless times someone struggling has voiced: Why would I stay if it doesn't make me happy?
While the issues are always complex, and acknowleding that separation is sometimes warranted, it does seem that a perspective that would rather switch than develop character - that heart perspective will be taken into a new relationship.
An interesting sidenote from an ABC News article on the seperation of Schwarzenegger and Shriver is a study done by German researchers:
One German study of 17,000 people found that 72 percent of couples who divorce show no change in life satisfaction. Only 9 percent say their lives are better, according to the study, which is soon to be published in the Journal of Individual Differences.
Just a thought: apparently thinking that the grass would be greener on the other side of the fence, doesn't always prove to be the case.
Three decades of ministry have brought appreciation of what Paul requoted: No one seeks after God. (Rom 3:11). Primarilly, people seek happiness, not holiness. Only when we seek God and His righteousness, will we ultimately find what we have sought all along.
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For those that wanted to download a video montage of Isaiah 53, here is the link:
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