The Comedy and Commotion at Church – oooiee that was fun Man did I enjoy that church!

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Today’s Blog Post

The Comedy and Commotion at Church – oooiee that was fun
Man did I enjoy that church!

How do you describe something that is filled with variety and packed with fun?

The lady that was in the pew in front of us was barefoot… and was she ever going to town… she twirled and spun and jumped up and down. Nope she hadn’t taken her shoes off… she just didn’t wear any! I checked the floor around where she was located by bending down. No shoes on the floor. How old was she? Maybe 55 or more… oh boy!

The old guy that greeted me when I came through the front door had a Scot’s accent so did his wife. They came into to sit in their pew somewhere in front of us… sat there a minute and then got up and walked toward me… and then past me… then he said in his best brogue possible… “Aie Laddie – it is too loud for me old hearing aids…” then took a seat much further back.

The old guy on the green walker had pulled out his bright dayglow orange ear plugs. They were the kind of ear plugs I use when I cut with my chain saw. They were pushed down into his ear canal and stuck out his fury old ears. He stood stone still and never opened his mouth once… except maybe to chew on his tongue from time to time.

What was all the ruckus about anyway? People jumping? People moving back in church? People with ear plugs in to stop all sound… and old people not participating… what is going on there anyway?

It was the small church’s youth worship service… and was it every good!!

On the piano there was a young man that did very well. Along with him were three guitarists, and cool drummer… and a very cute young lady leading the singing. She was a burst of fresh air – totally. She beamed from ear to ear and radiated her excitement of leading that service. When the sound inspired her she spun around and jumped up and down. She rocked!

At the same time she jumped around the bass guitarist was jumping at least 12 inches off the floor all the time playing his amazing rhythm alongside the drummer.

Oh yah… and I should tell you the drummer led us in singing one song as well. He was one cool kid.

In fact the kids on the platform were alive and well! And were they ever into the church service.

Now I admit that I am a pastor and for about 35 years I have watched and witnessed hundreds of church services – in thousands of places.

I have seen near dead services that could be called near-death experiences… but no that would not be right… because at near death everyone around gets excited and calls the ambulance or something. These services are more likely funeral parlour kind of slowness.

I have witnessed almost alive services also… which have some life and are almost ready to go a little faster… but they can’t because no one knows where to buy the ear plugs. (you can get them at the safety supply store)

I have attended inspiring services where it was just great to be there. That particular one was a few weeks ago at People’s Church in Toronto. It was there that I felt again a “Wow Factor” when I took part in the service.

Yesterday again I felt the “Wow Factor” all over again. It was alive and it was fun(specially watching the audience). It was inspiring to see what the youth of that church were able to give of themselves.

We know the pastor and his wife well. As I shook her hand in the foyer… I grinned from ear to ear… and told her that was the best service we had attended for a long time! “I loved the music and the youth leading!” She shook her head and told me that many of the seniors were not happy with it… and had told her so.

About 20% of the audience was youth and youthful. But of that audience they were 100% of the future of that church. And that church has a future… a real good future if the kids are allowed to keep their excitement.

As I encouraged the pastor and his wife… I think they appreciated what we said. It was a great service and they needed to know it.

I can jump but I cannot do the spin around thing… I just get too dizzy doing that kind of stuff and will barf in a few minutes.

We had lunch with old friends of ours. In that small restaurant were two other couples that I knew.

One was also a recently retired minister that attends that church as well.

The other was the most miserable old couple that I know of – in all of Ontario. While the other retired minister and his wife smiled… these two sat and glared at us. They attend that small church as well… but we know them from our church and about 12 years ago when they stomped out mad from our church as well… music was too loud… didn’t like the preaching or the preacher (that was me) and yesterday they were still so mad that they glowered at us as we walked into the small restaurant!

I hadn’t seen them in church… but I wish I had of… that fantastic church service was just for them. Oooiee – seeing them at the restaurant and knowing that they had been there – made it even better. No wonder the pastor’s wife was a little shaken up when she told me of expressed displeasure!

You know – I love church and what I see. Dead or alive – it is all good. It is also fun to watch what is happening and how it is changing some places. It is a delight to hear and take part where I can keep up.

I told the pastor’s wife that this was the best music I had heard for years. I never knew one song and I loved it. I clapped and moved with the music. And when I told her it wasn’t near as loud as the Rock and Roll I listened to in my garage as I carve… she looked kind of funny.

Okay, Okay… I am a dinosaur in some ways. But I am not dead! I am not like the dude with the hearing plugs… and definitely not like the old couple at the restaurant. I am much, Much, MUCH younger… and I thank God for that.

On the side … I think my next ministry will be as a Sunday Morning Tour Guide for groups of people that would like to be inspired. Then these folk can return to their own places of worship – where they can love it or leave it.

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/