I just read my friend Scott Savage’s blog post on our Ash Wednesday Service last night. I want to echo something he wrote:
I…find it bizarre that what I did last night is what I get paid to do – it’s my job – it’s my calling – it’s my life, I am convinced that it is what I was created to do. And when you do what you were created to do, I believe you begin to live life wide awake and fully alive.
I agree with Scott and feel the same way. When you get to minister in the ways you believe God gifted and called you to do, then you truly feel alive! Now I know that all of life is not like this, but those times when God affirms you in this way are special. Last night was also one of those nights for me. I hope and pray that all us would have some sense of this as we grow and journey with God. It is certainly His intention to use us and fulfill us in doing His kingdom work.
Last night was also special because we held the service at Open Door Fellowship. This is the body in which I came to know and really trust in the love that God has for me in His Son Jesus. It is a sacred place for me. And so to lead worship in that building with old friends and new, was powerful.
Most of all, however, last nights service was special because I know that God was worshiped. And in my heart of hearts, this is what I belive we have ALL been created for. God is pleased when His people gather together to give Him praise for who He is and for His great work of redemption in the Cross.
“Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: As it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be forever; world without end. Amen.”
Shane+
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1 Joe Daniels // Feb 26, 2009 at 6:54 pm
The Gloria Patri which you quoted at the end of your blog has an interesting history.
According to RC Sproul, “…the Arians first used a method common in their day to circulate their ideas. They composed rousing songs that promoted their views and insulted the Trinitarians.
The Trinitarians responded by writing their own song and historians tell us at the height of the controversy [325 A.D.?] the Arians stood on the side of the river and sang, while the Trinitarians stood on the other side and sang.
The Trinitarians’ song was the Gloria Patri: ‘Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end, amen.’ Today we [reformed and other traditional church folk] sing this song in somber reverence, whereas it was oringinally composed as a fight song” (Truths We Confess, Vol. One, page 70-71, New Jersey: P&R Publishing).
When we sing this tune this weekend, let’s sing it as if we are at a football team cheering for the home team: The Trinitarians such as Alexander, Hosius, Athanasius, etc.
2 Scott Savage // Feb 26, 2009 at 6:57 pm
Thanks bro for the link. It’s a blessing and privilege to partner with you and St. George’s, along with Open Door and Desert Mission. I am praying about Ash Wednesday 2009 and believing God to enlarge our influence and expand the number of churches we partner with – this was another step on a great journey. Stay faithful!
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