Car Wash Jesus

We did a car wash at our school today as a fundraiser for our upcoming retreat. My friend was holding up a sign advertising what we had to offer and I was motioning toward the road to get there. We were energetic and smiling, but hardly any cars followed my direction. Only few simply ignored our existence, many waved and smiled, then continued on to their previously set destination. Standing there I started to think. Lately I've been reading a lot in books that talk on how the church has turned into more of a club then what it is suppose to be; a spreading wildfire. Have we turned into people with signs saying, "Here He is! Look, look at Him! Here He is!" And that's it?
Let me explain: imagine we had done the car wash off the side of the road. More people would be attracted. They would see what a wonderful job we were doing and desire the same clean shimmer to be on their cars. Instead of doing this we only had signs. The place where we actually washed the cars was completely out of view, how could they know what to expect? One car wash is hardly like any other.
As the church, and furthermore, as Christians have we just turned into signs? We're not showing how truly awesome and powerful this One we're "advertising" is. We keep Him out of view, thinking maybe they'll get curious. Secret clubs aren't attractive, nor are they what Christ meant for us to become. Jesus already told us to be a light, He told us that they would know us by our love (not by the sign we have on our t-shirt or car). We represent a God of transformation, not stagnation.

Music

For many music is a way of communication: the things which we cannot say with words, we say through music. The longest book of the Bible is made up mostly of songs(Psalms). Listening to one song can change our emotions or even our attitude for the entire day. I have to admit though that above all other genres, classical is my favorite. It is the ability to convey such a varied array of feelings without so much as a single word that makes this particular genre so amazing to me. In my mind what makes music so powerful is the feeling that is put into it. In a collection of notes and sounds a person displays their heart: their brokenness, their imperfections, their joy, and everything in between. Music amazes me because even in today's culture where we find it more and more difficult to be honest with one another and show who we truly are, music remains a stream of constant honesty. When we choose our favorite songs, when an artist creates their song they drop all inhibitions and show themselves unabashedly. It's a beautiful and mysterious thing. Music is incorporated into worship, I believe, not because it's about the music but because it encourages an honesty that we should have before God. In the moment where we are truly pressing into His presence and touching who He is we realize how truly small we are. We become humbled and can do nothing but sit in awe of how great He is and how blessed we are that He should love us regardless of our faults.

A different sort of beginning....

My senior year started last Thursday. The last first day of high school started with me leaving camp in Mauldin, SC, stopping by Chick-Fil-A for lunch and going on to Civics. I was extremely tired, that much I admit openly, and so had a very small tolerance that day. Therefore, when the teacher went on to discuss school policy on uniforms after arriving to class late instead of discussing what the class would actually be like I did not react in the best fashion. No, I am not a saint, and that day I proved it without a doubt. Needless to say I was glad when Bible class came at 1:50. When the second day came and the exhaustion was gone I realized a different feeling. Being in the school again was of course weird and our schedule of only half a day of high school courses was equally strange, but I also felt an extreme sense that I did not want to be there. I have, to say the least, mixed feelings about this year. I want to graduate and start my own life. I love my family, but am ready to be on my own. I love my home, but I want to see what comes next, what are God's plans. I want to see them come to pass, and yet I remind myself daily that His plans come to pass in His timing or they do not come to pass at all. On the other hand I know what is at school. I love the people at my high school, I care about my teachers as I would mentors(most). Then there are my friends. When we graduate we will indefinitely scatter and the conversations between us will soon fade. Every summer I see it happen. In two months time I will see what I would call a close friend maybe seven times. My love for them will never leave, nor will my fond memories of them and I intend to try to keep up with them, but it will not be as it was last year. I can already see that happening. Change comes. In times of change we sometimes lose things we love, and love things we never thought we'd find. It is a fact and a part of this journey. I know that regardless of what happens in the course of this year: God is the one in control. To be honest, I don't want the control. I have seen the results of me being in the drivers' seat and they are not good(I actually backed into a handicap sign the other day). I would trust this year to no one else but Him, just as I trust myself to Him.