On the Road with an Angel

We got back last night from St. Louis around 6:45. It was a wonderful trip, and Luke could not have done better!  We continue to stand in awe of how good-natured and flexible he is-- if you read my blog, I am beginning to sound like a broken record!  But, he really is such a wonderful, happy baby!
 
He slept all the way up and back-- We stopped around two hours into the journey to let him eat and stretch his legs a little bit. He slept great-- took good naps and was passed around and played with by dozens of people at the church. Everyone just thought he was the cutest, sweetest thing!  He also hit a big milestone on the trip-- His first tooth!  It finally broke through his lower gum on Friday!  I suppose he is now officially beginning to exit out of infanthood.
 
The conference went really well. The people hosting us at McKnight Road were so gracious and attended to our every need. It is hard to know how much of an impact, if any, you will have on people or a congregation when you do one of these conferences.... It is hard to know what God needs to do-- or what to pray for.... The worship sessions went fine. Friday night it was obvious that some of what we were doing was a little new-- maybe out of the "comfort zone" a little. But, by Saturday night, people really seemed to be adjusting and joining in more readily.
 
One of my absolute favorite things that ZOE does is Randy Gill's presentation on worship through the ages. I think that this is perhaps some of the best teaching we take across the country through our ministry. He gets us to think about what God says about worship in scripture and then takes us on a time-travel journey through history to show us how the worship music in our churches has always been "contemporary" to its time. For example, some may think that the "new" worship music that is being introduced into our churches is inferior to the "old classic" hymns-- like Isaac Watts' When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.  Well, in his day, Isaac Watts was considered too "contemporary" and controversial. 
 
It is all a matter of hindsight and perspective.  We must acknowledge that no matter how hard we try, we are still limited to our myopic view of worship because our worship is a reflection of our current culture and tastes-- not the 1st century church-- which wouldn't have even known what 4-part harmony or song books were!
 
Meaningful worship is not about having a praise team or introducing drama to a service.  Meaningful worship is realizing that it is not about me or my preferences at all-- It is about God.  It is about praising Him for all He has done.  It is about "offering myself as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God--- this is my spiritual act of worship." (Romans 12:1)  
 
A woman who was having problems with her husband attended our Friday night session. They were not living together anymore and were not speaking. After the session ended, she called him and told him that he needed to come to our Saturday session. I don't know if their relationship will be healed, but if anything we did caused them to stop and think about their relationship with each other and with the Father, then it was worth the drive to St. Louis.
 
We will never really know how we have changed lives and hearts for the better via God's wonderful wisdom, power, and mysterious ways.  It is nice to hear from those who appreciate us, our music, and what we do; but, in the end, only God knows the importance of our ministry.
 
All of us who are blessed to sing with ZOE realize the awesome responsibility and opportunity we have been given to join Him in this amazing journey, and we are excited to be along for the ride-- as long as He decides it will last!