Reading the vine band lyrics of ashes to beauty in the car reminds me of why I love the band and in particular this album so much. They capture the devotion, hunger and surrender like few others do. Sometimes faster songs feel more happy and self exalting, but not this. All the songs have their focus on God and not on the self, most of them are like prayers being sung to God. Ashes to beauty sets the tone, enter in is of longing worship, your heart is a dangerous prayer, the wonder is a reflective worship song, mightier king and your great love makes one internalise the sacrificial love of God, and concluding with God of justice's call to do something about it all, for 'freely we've received, now freely we will give'.
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Appreciation, not tolerance. Mutual strengthening, not someone who needs others to take care.
I'd like to think I belong to the category of people who need to learn how to love people who are difficult to love. Truth is though, I often belong to the category of people that others need to learn how to love.
It occurred to me today though, perhaps the former leads to the latter.
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"Everyone must carry two pieces of paper with him and look at them every day. On one it is written: 'You are as dust and ashes.' And on the other: 'For you the universe was created.'"
- Rabbinic saying
The juxtaposition of these two seemingly contrasting ideas is something we need to understand. We are both nothing and of immeasurable value.
Understand. Its a tricky word. Sometimes we say we understand, in that we know what it means, but thats not enough. To really understand is to live it out. The small difference in definition leads to a drastic difference in application.
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"Our Christian habit is to bewail the world's deteriorating standards with an air of rather self-righteous dismay. We criticize its violence, dishonesty, immorality, disregard for human life and materialistic greed. 'The word is going down the drain,' we say with a shrug. But whose fault is it? Who is to blame?
Let me put it like this. If the house is dark when nightfall comes, there is no sense in blaming the house; that is what happens when the sun goes down. The question to ask is, 'where is the light?' Similarly, if the meat goes bad and becomes inedible, there is no sense in blaming the meat; this is what happens when bacteria are left alone to breed. The question to ask is, 'where is the salt?'
Just so, if society deteriorates and its standards decline until it becomes like a dark night or a stinking fish, there is no sense in blaming society; that is what happens when fallen men and women and left to themselves, and human selfishness is unchecked. The question to ask is. 'where is the Church? Why are the salt and light of Jesus Christ not permeating and changing our society?'"
- John Stott
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Cause you are everything
More than all we need
God we live for you
God we live for you
I've found this world to be
Not enough for me
God we live for you
God we live for you
Im at 5 percent. Andy puts the idea of spiritual highs which I have been talking about for the longest time pretty well. During the time we spend in worship, we're at 100 percent. Our physical bodies are suspended and all we focus on is God. Time slips away, nothing matters. All our senses detect are the spiritual things. We see, hear, feel, touch, maybe even smell worship.
Time's up, cue the lights, everything brightens, we're in the world again. 90%.
A little idle chatter, packing of stuff, moving of chairs and other equipment. 80%
We walk out of the room we were worshipping in. 70%
We walk out of the building for dinner. 60%.
We have dinner, we laugh, we talk about life. 50%.
We leave from dinner. 40%
We reach home. 30%.
We do our work. 20%.
We go to sleep. 10%.
We wake up. 0%.
Theses are only emotions. They dont last. What matters is that we capture the essence of what God speaks during this time, and we make the commitment to live it out. The Bible never advocated anything about feel good. We choose to offer up our lives as living sacrifices. We choose to deny ourselves and take up the cross. We choose to pour a horn of oil unto the flame. We choose to follow. We choose to surrender.
It really doesnt take long for the world to become so real once again. Its inescapable, our physical bodies are here, our physical lives are here on Earth. I tire, I think of things I need to do, I think of the little dreams in my head, some little just very slightly unpleasant thing happens and im reminded once again of the physical world.
Perhaps thats why Andy also says the most impactful changes and dedications to God dont happen at events but within the four walls of our room. Cut the music. Cut the atmosphere. Its just you and God against the world.
The battle is raging.
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Why don't we do impactors anthem anymore uh? I always thought it would be nice to remember our roots.
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I like it when the bridge focuses on God and his attributes and you sing it over and over again.
Wonderful
Beautiful
Glorious
Matchless in every way
All honour
All glory
All praise to you
Your splendor
Your beauty
Your majesty
Glory,
Honour
And power
Belongs to you
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