Fighting for what's really important!

I've been getting a litte frustrated of late at petty arguments and excuses within the church. Now, let me just clear up that I enjoy being a part of my 'church', if that's the right word...although my view is changing and I dont really like to use that word for the Sunday meeting...I think that church can be anywhere...it's not about what we do on a Sunday morning...it's about what we, as the body of believers (which, by the way, IS the church), do every day of the week...anywhere you are you can make church happen...but for the purpose of this blog I will still use the word 'church' because it's what we've always used to talk about that place we go on a Sunday and maybe on occassion during the week...so anyway...lets not get too side-tracked...

My biggest frustration of late is that we've lost sight of what we're doing here...what our purpose and mission is...what's really important! We're no longer focussing on the important stuff, we're talking instead about 'How do I make 'church' work so that I can enjoy it?'...instead of asking 'What can I give God today and who can I reach out to today?' There are so many things that we've turned into our idols. For the older generation and even many of the young people in my particular denomination, the brass band is their idol. I read a comment just yesterday where someone was bold enough to say 'We've always had the brass band in the Salvos...take them away and what have we got?' What a question!! I read that and was SO shocked! I gotta tell ya, we're NOT the brass band! If that's all there is to the Salvos then lets throw the towel in now and stop while we still can! If that's the only reason we come to church then we're better off not going at all!!

Then there are those who complain tirelessly about the fact that they want to come to church and hear more modern music. PEOPLE!! WAKE UP!! I'm tired of these petty arguments going round in circles...let me say one more time..WORSHIP IS NOT A MUSIC STYLE!! IT'S A LIFE STYLE!! If all you think about on a Sunday or during the week is how much you dislike the brass or contemporary band then you're not really doing church...you're here for a music show...in which case I believe that channel 10 has video hits on a Sunday morning and you may as well stay home and watch that...or sit on your front porch and listen to the radio or your fave CD.

I'm not going to apologise for being too harsh or straight to the point...it needs to be said...I tell you what, if Jesus walked into our church today (by the way, He IS in our church today) then I think instead of turning tables He'd be unplugging our mics, kicking the drum kit and trashing the brass band chairs and music stands and saying 'WHY ARE YOU WORSHIPPING MUSIC?!?!?!?!' I'm over it...come on...you all know the song 'Heart of worship'...you've sung it a million times...it's been done by the contemporary bands and in our church the brass band even has an arrangement...but STILL no one gets the message...

'I'm coming back to the HEART OF WORSHIP and it's ALL ABOUT YOU...its all about YOU JESUS!!'

Is it? Is it really about Him? Are you arguing about music and bands and styles and traditions and what should be in and out because you're worried that it's not bringing glory to God...?? Or are you arguing about it to try to satisfy your own wants and desires and what you want to hear on a Sunday?

I hear people say that new people won't come if we have boring music...I'm sorry but I think thats ABSOLUTE RUBBISH!! Do you know why I think people dont come, or if they do come, why they don't come back? Because we suck at relationships! We're so busy arguing and trying to have things our own way that we forget to follow someone up...we don't bother to invite them to a small group where the most impact and growth happens...we close the door on our cell groups and say 'Sorry we're full'...we get so involved in our clicky groups that we don't have time to welcome a stranger...we go out and play in the community and we have 'supporters' come from the church, but do they talk to people or do they set up their chair and just watch the 'show'? People don't walk out of our churches thinking 'Gee, that music sucked' ...they walk out thinking 'That was awkward cause I didn't know anyone and no one came and talked to me!'

I dont want you to write back to this blog...I dont want any of your comments...what I want you to do is to get down on your knees, turn off your so called 'worship' music and repent...ask God to change your attitude...as I so often have to ask Him to change mine...I'm most certainly NOT expempt from this...start doing church the way that Jesus did it...meet people...don't wait for the church pews to fill up...stop warming your pew, it's warm enough...get up and really do church...meet people and give them the message that's going to change their life forever! Stop getting into petty arguments about what music or style is appropriate...and also about what church is better...that's stupid and we're not here to rip our brothers and sisters in Christ down because they have different ideas and styles or because it scares you that their church has 3000 instead of 300...start focussing on the reason we're here...and if you're not here for that reason then you need to re-evaluate what you're doing in the brass band, the ensemble, or even your Salvo uniform...or whatever the equivelant is in whatever church you're from...Are you more committed to the Salvos or your denomination than you are to God? Remember that the your 'church' was inspired by God but put together by man...don't make it your idol...the only one you should be worshipping is GOD and Him ALONE! Don't get caught up in religion and all the stupid rituals that God would rather throw out the window if it meant you'd focus on Him more...that's the reason people are scared to come...hypocricy, strict rules, clicky groups, uniforms, styles...they're all barriers that we're putting up between God and the unsaved!! We, the church, the body of believers, are creating barriers for people who don't know Jesus!! It's time to pull our socks up and get real...break down the barriers and ask God 'What can I give you today...and who can I reach for you!'

Music Camp Pranksta!

So I just got back from a week long Music Camp for Salvos from NSW, QLD and ACT...split into Snr (17-30) and Jnr (12-17) camps...held at the beautiful Collaroy, right near the beach...I haven't been to a Music Camp in 9 yrs so it was interesting going back as staff...was a little worried but it turned out to be the most AWESOME week!

Ok...so let me tell you about my favourite boys at camp. Travis and Jamie...my boys!! They're the bomb!! My official role at camp was Pastoral Care...running Bible Studies in Snr and Jnr Camps and helping run activities and camp devotions etc...but I also had the awesome privilege of helping Trav and Jamie run Drama...and MAN, I had the BEST week EVER!!



So, to continue with my story, I need to tell you about Kirsty...Kirsty is also incredible...an awesome woman of God with a FANTASTIC sense of humour...and who could forget Jade and Stuart...our awesome partners in crime!!

This is the story...I got back to camp on Thursday afternoon from shopping in free time and Travis and Jamie were painting boxes for drama...I had offered to help if I was back in time but was running late...so, with my shopping bags in tow and walking down a steepish hill, I called to Travis and asked if they'd finished...he ran over to me with a paint roller full of black paint...it all happened very quickly...he tried to paint me so I was pushing him away and my hands were full of paint (I had to drop my bags)...then he got his brother to help pin me down on the road and he painted my WHOLE face black! To top it off, he took a pic of me then when I went to wash it off there were hoards of campers near my room...so they all saw me and laughed...

It was PAY BACK time...yes, Travis, thats right...pay back sux!!

So, Kirsty and I enlisted the help of Jamie (cause he was sleeping in the same room as Travis) and we got into his room and short-sheeted his bed, stole one shoe, his toothbrush, toothpaste and his blue toothpaste/brush holder...oh and his PJ pants...little did we know how particular Travis is...this just added to the hilarity of it all...so that night Travis was most distressed when he realised his missing items because he never looses anything...over the next few days he was starting to cotton on to Kirsty and I thinking that we were in on it...(which of course we were)...

BUT...the best opportunity came up to continue the prank when Jamie told me that during a pray time with himself, Travis and Jade, Travis had said that they should pray for his toothbrush and shoe to be returned...so thats what we did...we put the shoe and toothbrush back on his bed under the covers and left this note:

My dearest Travis...

Your prayers have been answered...the safe return of your shoe and toothbrush. To be honest, one shoe was getting a little hard to walk on and I have a strictly 'no sharing' toothbrush policy.

I am, however, glad that you didn't ask for the rest back...your pants are very comfy, my breath smells minty fresh and my favourite colour is blue.

Enjoy your shoe and toothbrush.

God

PS...Sheets are getting shorter these days don't you agree?!

hahahahaha...go on, laugh...you know its HILARIOUS!!

So, he started asking questions, of course...he was on our case...but there was still about 3% of doubt in his mind that it wasn't me and Kirsty, so we decided we would go with that 3% and the prank must go on!!

This morning, the last morning of camp, was the grand finale with only the PJ pants and toothpaste and holder to return...so, last night we enlisted the help of another staff member, the awesome and funny Stuart (Stu)...Stu pulled the Salvo flag down for us so that we could hoist Travis' Pj pants up the flag ready for this morning's events...we got up in time for breakfast and when we got to the dining hall Kirsty and I took the toothpaste and holder to the breakfast staff and asked them to serve it on Travis' breakfast plate when he arrived...

It was all set...but unbenownst to us, Travis went to the beach for a swim that morning, so our plans were a little warped, but still equally as effective...he got to breakfast and, as planned, was served bacon, eggs, toast and his toothpaste and blue holder...he stood there in the most shocked and confused state...it was hilarious! As the lady serving stated: 'He looked at me as if I had two heads or something...he had no idea what was going on' hahahahahaha...then one of the campers ran in and in a loud voice shouted 'HEY...WHAT'S THAT UP THE FLAG POLE!?!?!' (this was planned of course...) so we all assembled outside where Stu was ready with his cornet playing 'The Banner Song' while we saluted the flag and waited for Travis to discover his pants...

Like the good sport that he is, Trav had a good giggle, took his pants down, put them on, rehoisted the flag, saluted, and continued on...

A prank well done!! And he still drove me home...Trav, if you're reading this, you're a champion...a true good sport...but I must warn you...be prepared for bigger and better things next year!! hahahaha...miss you brother!! lol

THE END!!