I love to tell the story

Had lunch with a high school buddy and his wife after worship. It was cool.

The boy has recently learned that dipping things is tasty. His first favorite was ketchup. He started with fries and then moved onto his fingers and just ate the ketchup.

Yesterday, the four of us got to watch him dip everything into his applesauce. Fries, fingers and, yes, the grilled cheese.

Mom and Dad (especially Dad) we so proud...

Another Sunday...but not just another Sunday. It was laity Sunday and once a year, the ministry staff doesn't have much to do for the worship services. We basically get to participate, which is a great thing. Instead of a 'sermon' (I really despise that term by the way), folks who are serving in the church give a 'testimony' (another term that sits funny with me) about how God led them to St.Marks (and yes, there really is no apostrophe) and how their lives have been since coming.

It really is a time for people to tell God's story of activity in their life. And it was awesome...

There's not near enough of it happening in the context of worship, and there's no good reason why.

My take? Telling the story of God's activity causes us to worship. It allows us to hear and see the truth of God's love and grace and, actually, existance. It causes us to examine our own lives and see where God is being active...even to the point we might tell others, inside and outside the church. People may actually come to worship to, well, worship; which is just a word to label our saying 'thanks' to God and to make sure that we tell God how cool He is.

And we'd want to be telling God these things. Maybe even telling others these things...

The flip side is just as important. There's often times that our stories include hurt, stress, confusion, or doubt. Not one is immune to these feelings. Even Jesus freaked a little bit in Gethsemane. When people tell this part of their story it helps another body function...walking together through the deserts of life. We weren't wired to go at things alone.

And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Matt. Matt's a middle schooler that has some challenges. Honestly, if you didn't know him, you may think he has some developmental delays. Socially doesn't always get it either. But, Matt has said some of the most insightful things that this blogger has ever heard. Yesterday, we sang a song during worship. It had a very heavy waltz-like rhythm. 1 2 3, 1 2 3, 1 2 3...you get the idea.

I looked over and caught a glimpse of Matt. He swayed back and forth with the music in his Matt sort of way...very akward, kinda goofy, eyes strangely rolled in his head, mouth wide open and it was the most beautiful thing. It was so pure and honest. I can still see him...

awesome, just awesome...