Jan here.
Sunday the fill-in pastor set out to examine worship. Instead of nodding off, I was caught. I thought about worship and how radio pervades our lives every day—how we have an opportunity seven days a week to help someone focus on our great God. The worship band at church only has one half hour and the full service about one hour!
In a recent sermon at the Hunter College location of Redeemer Church in New York where Chuck was present, Tim Keller pointed out that “Jesus lived doing what His Father wanted…and it got Him killed.” We should at least expect a hard time!
The hard time that comes may be as subtle as being bombarded with coarse messages on TV, ads that discuss things that are about very personal matters, news that is rife with the horror and promotion of new fears—from the pink pill to not being able to carry my Kindle on my flight, the daily discourse gets coarser, scarier and less edifying.
You’re bombarded by images of brokenness. The little girl stunned and traumatized by war. People worshiping shopping. Animals in dreadful condition. Fake romance. Add to all this this the real-life curve balls of illnesses, accidents and angry people, and it’s easy to get lost in the hopelessness.
What an opportunity for us to turn hearts toward worship! Turning to God and honoring Him. A chance to focus our hearts and minds when “alone” with our thoughts—and often our radio.
Jesus says, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.” (Matthew 4:10)
“Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, and His praise in the congregation of the godly ones.” (Psalm 149:1)
Your work is seven days a week, helping an audience in hard times become daily worshipers. Minute-by-minute worshipers. Right now worshipers.
How to do it? By making heart connection minute-by-minute. By playing the music and creating the conversation and the programming that lifts and celebrates and edifies. By lifting holy hands in an unholy world.
Seven day a week worshiping.
Photo Note: Stain glass window from Zion Lutheran Church, Onieda St., Appleton, WI
