War or Peace...

So, it would seem that humanity was not created for war. Our skin is too thin, our vital organs too exposed, our senses too fragile, our bones too brittle, our feet too slow, and our muscles too weak to be truly effective warriors. It is our creativity that allows us to overcome our weaknesses. Sadly, creativity is our greatest weapon. Like Uncle Ben told Peter, "With great power comes great responsibility." How will we choose to use the creativity we have been given?

It's quiet...too quiet...

         So, we were visiting with some friends last night, sitting around the dining room table talking, when all nine kids came inside, into the dining room, all at once. The noise was pretty incredible. We shooed them all back outside to continue their game of hide and seek. The noise moved outside and we continued our conversation.

         I was reminded once again that there is no quiet in community. Whenever there is a bunch of people together, there will be some noise. Even in the most austere and intense prayer meetings, there is still the shuffling of feet, the sounds of breathing, the beating of hearts.

         It makes wonder about the times in my life when things are too quiet.

Flannel-graph Jesus...

           

      So, we showed this video on Christmas Sunday as part of our worship. The video was produced by Muddy River Media and uses the song The Glory of it All by David Crowder Band. What struck me about the video was that it shows Jesus in scenes that are full to the brim and spilling over with joy. Joy in childbirth, joy in healing, joy in friendship, joy in celebration, joy in the resurrection, joy in life.

            It made me wonder at what point I had decided unfettered joy was not part of my worship. Maybe I spend too much time worrying about propriety or looking silly. Maybe my tie is too tight, figuratively speaking since I rarely wear a tie. Maybe I am too afraid, or too proud. Maybe I have let flannel graph Jesus, with all of his seriousness and one-dimensional flatness, skew my understanding of who Jesus really is and the joy that He brings.