Skip to main content

Time Travel

I went back this morning. I went back to Salem. I am missing worship. Not the quiet pensive variety but deep holy worship. As I went back, I heard a strong voice leading in prayer. It started like this: Most Gracious Heavenly Father. The voice grew. The responses followed with a rhythm like the falling of dominos in a row. I knew this sound well. There were whispers of thank you Jesus. Or praise you God. Or oh yes God. As the leader’s voice swelled so did the response. Soon it was a cacophony of harmony. Hands were raised. Tears flowed. Heaven came down and was orchestrating the sound of worship. Needs expressed out loud at the same time. Adoration exclaimed. Quietness settled but there was no amen. A word of exhortation or adoration proclaimed. It came from the back or the side of auditorium. The anointed voice was heard. Hearts and heads bowed as they we absorbed the Holy Spirit’s work. Responses came. Some knelt. Some grieved over sins. Some expressed joyful praise. No response was wrong, but response was necessary. God was moving among His people. No rush. God was there. I wanted to stay there. My prayer echoed familiar lyrics: I long so much to feel the touch of His consuming fire. The worship continued. Each in their own way, expressing their desires and love. Then the sound came. It was faint at first. A man or a woman, not one that could sing or who graced the platform, but just an average person on the pew would start to sing. No, they weren’t asked. It wasn’t in the bulletin. Spontaneously, they sang. I listened as I would have in that sanctuary of worship. It began to grow. Another joined and another. Soon the sound reached the pianist and she started to play. The congregation joined in song. Pass Me Not O Gentle Savior, Hear my humble cry. While on other’s though are calling do not pass me by. It continued and once again, the work of the spirit continued. My heart and mind stayed as long as it could this morning. I miss those days. I miss praying and hearing the sound of other’s praying with me. I miss amens. I miss raised hands in worship. I miss clapping hands to the beat. I miss kneeling in humility. As I left Salem this morning, I remembered the last verse of that hymn that came from the back of the room. Thou the spring of all my comfort More than life to me Whom have I on earth beside Thee? Whom in Heav'n but Thee? Sunday was All Saint’s Sunday and as I remember the saints of Salem who formed my faith, I am thankful.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Til The Storm Passes By

It’s almost fall.   Labor Day, the official end of summer is here.   Kids are already back in school.   Soon we’ll be drinking pumpkin spice, talking about Halloween, Turkey Shoots, and then Christmas.   This year is going very fast.   We had all hoped that 2021 would be better than 2020, and maybe it has, and maybe it hasn’t.   Depends on who you ask.   Whether one is worse then the other doesn’t really matter.   It’s rough right now. The last Sunday of August we prayed about Covid, Afghanistan, the devastating floods in Waverly, Hurricane Ida and a host of other local concerns.   I sometimes feel at a loss to know how to pray.   I feel ineffective.   As I prayerfully considered this writing for the Pastor’s Pen, I considered all these things that we as a country are dealing with and I watched the whipping winds of Ida tearing through Louisiana.   I feel overwhelmed as a pastor for all the needs we have in front of us. ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Beginning the Lenten Journey

Do an image search for Galatians 2:20. You will find all sorts of peaceful, flowery, and pleasant pictures with the words of this verse.  Even the one I chose to include is rather happy looking.  There is nothing pretty or pleasant about crucifixion and death. This month we will begin our journey through Lent.   The interesting thing about the church (liturgical) calendar is that it looks like mountain peaks.   There is descent and ascent.   We like the idea of ascent.   We like the idea of happy places.   We also like to minimize and “sugar-coat” the reality of the times of descent.   Nevertheless, we must descend into those times of examination.   Lent is such a time.   February 17 th is Ash Wednesday.   What our observance of Ash Wednesday will look like is still to be determined.   However, it will not look like the last two.   There will not be a row of robed clergy.   Our sanctuary will not be filled with o...
Post a Comment
Read more

He Keeps Me Singing

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;   Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;   Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; (Ephesians 5:18-20) I’ve been following a devotional this year that has really been powerful.  If you are interested in a good online option, I highly recommend the Daily Text from Seedbed.  The last few days we have been wandering in the wilderness with the people of God.  There have been many times that I realize that stories that I thought I knew, maybe I didn’t know as well as I thought I did.  It’s good to flush out those finer points because we do think we know.  And the word of God is alive.  The Holy Spirit wants to make things alive to us. One of these entries admonished us to sing.  There is something about singing.  And I’m rath...
Post a Comment
Read more