Principally Proskuneo
A periodic digest designed to further the true worship of the Almighty God
Vol. 5, No. 2
Published by Brian Casey
December 1997
Table of Contents:
| Loving Jesus |
| International Language of Love |
| Portia's Romance |
| Excerpts (Zechariah, Brad Dudley, Darryl Tippens, John the Apostle) |
| Currents |
How do I begin? Some of you have begun to notice that you haven't heard from us in a while. "Where has PP been?" "Please put me back on your mailing list." (We promise, no one's address has been taken off in the last year.)
The mailing list has grown by another 20 or 25 since the last issue. That's encouraging and frightening at the same time. I have now officially given up trying to remember where everyone's name came from, who knows whom, etc. Readers have submitted names to be included, and others have found our website and subscribed via e-mail. This is all very humbling.
It's hard to explain why we've only published PP once in 1997. One reason is the pull we have felt to spend weeks worth of hours this year with others who needed us. Perhaps the most significant reason is that I personally have had an extremely difficult time finding worship within my own heart, and it just didn't seem right to attempt to share with others, to encourage them in ways of worship, when I was not growing in these ways myself.
However, I absolutely never want to set myself up as one who writes and publishes PP as some sort of "perfect worshipper" ... only as one who desires to be connected more fully with God in order to adore Him more passionately all the time.
What's at the center of worship, then? How can I encourage myself, as well as all of you, to "center" again (to use the term in a New Age sort of way)?
Let's talk about loving God. Why do we love Him? And if we don't adore, why not? How can we grow in simple, trusting love for this great God? And how can we express love?
I love You, Lord, and I lift my voice to worship You. . . ..
Take joy, my King, in what You hear!
Let it be a sweet, sweet sound in Your ear. - Laurie Klein, (c) 1978 House of Mercy
The International Language of Love
In the movie "Better Off Dead" (which is actually a comedy and is better than the title makes it sound!), the mother of a geeky, gawky boy was trying to make it seem as though her son were romancing the foreign exchange student that was staying with them. She commented that no, he didn't speak French as she did, but they were both speaking the "International Language" these days. "You know," she said, "the Language of Love!"
What language is the language of love? How can I express myself to One who is totally foreign to my human nature?
How can I make sure I treat God with deserved reverence, without risking "lowering" Him to human standards? Surely I shouldn't confuse the language of dating or puppy love with the language of worship!
Or should I?
"What language shall I borrow to thank Thee, dearest Friend?" -bc
"Oh, you love Jesusss toooo?"
The words oozed like thick maple sap out of Portia's mouth. We had encountered her only briefly while volunteering to take pledges at a public radio station 10 years ago.
Portia. Hmmm. I found the name somewhat exotic, and the girl behind the name eccentric to an even greater degree.
Beyond those judgments, I have thought of that girl many times through the years. And just as many times, I have regretted the way I initially viewed her.
You see, I didn't think she was real. I thought she had sort of a childish view of faith. You just didn't say things like that about Jesus. You should have heard her tone. It was so flip. She must be a "Jesus Movement" person or something, or else she would be talking more reverently about the Lord, I thought.
As I reflect on that brief interchange, I'm more and more persuaded that it was anything but flip for this believer to talk of loving her Jesus. Maybe there was a genuine relationship there.
I would have been more comfortable if she'd asked, "Oh, you go to church, too?" or "Oh, you're a Christian? I am, too." But to put faith in such natural, personal terms was more than my immature Christianity could handle at the time. As Prissy declared to Miss Scarlett, "If it ain't fittin', it ain't fittin'. And it ain't fittin.'"
I thought Portia's expression just wadn' fittin'.
But for me, the question remains: "Do you love Jesus?" -bc
Let us praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has come to help His people and has given them freedom. He has given us a powerful Savior from the family of God's servant David. (Words of Zechariah, a prophet of God, recorded in Luke 1:68-69, NCV)
They were not seeking, but they found; they did not ask, but to them this moment was given. Sinners were the first to witness the presence of God, and they were the first to worship Him--even though they lacked understanding.
Bowing before this infant, it is with a chosen blindness that we join the shepherds--even if for just a moment. For a split second, we forget the cross and its shadow. There is, for that moment, worship in all its purity. It is a kind of worship that we do not usually experience--simple people approaching to bow and worship. There is no fear of wrath from this baby. For a split second, sin is completely forgotten. There is no dividing barrier to keep us from bowing before God in pure adoration of Him. This is what my searching spirit has been calling for--pure, unadulterated, unencumbered worship of my King.
Only shepherds really know that kind of worship. Only they worshipped Him without the painful knowledge of His destiny. For one night they worshipped, but we can only join them for a fleeting moment. Our worship is assailed by thoughts of personal sin, by feelings of guilt, by evidence of rebellion; and this Son on a cross--not in a manger--fills the foreview and eclipses the light of His star. . . . - Brad Dudley, "Worshipping With the Shepherds," © IMAGE, 11-12/94. Reprinted by permission.
"We may ignore, but we can nowhere evade, the presence of God," observes C.S. Lewis. "The world is crowded with Him. He walks everywhere incognito. And the incognito is not always heard to penetrate. The real labor is to remember, to attend."
The incarnation helps us see that our religion is not ethereal, abstract, and remote, but amazingly concrete. It concerns itself with cups of cold water, lilies in the field, seeds growing in the earth, dried blood on a torn body, a cross, and empty tomb filled with the fragrance of a spring Palestine morning.... --Darryl Tippens, "All the Way to Heaven Is Heaven: Living the Incarnation," Wineskins Magazine, Vol. 3, No. 4. Reprinted by permission.
The Life-Light was the real thing: Every person entering Life he brings into Light. He was in the world, the world was there through him, and yet the world didn't even notice. . . .
The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, generous inside and out, true from start to finish. (excerpts from John 1, The Message, by Eugene Peterson)
I thought I'd just write a little about some current events. Actually, most of them aren't that "current" anymore, but anyway. . . .
Jubilee . . . My dad and I trekked to Nashville for the annual Jubilee (our first). What an experience! The spirit was wonderful; the presentations admirable. But the worship! It was extraordinarily heartening to be a small part of a large offering of worship to God from the Church of Christ fellowship. David Slater (friend and PP reader) led some congregational worship in song, and three praise teams led worship at other times. Jerome Williams and the Carriage Hills Singers, Ken Young's Hallal Singers, and Jeff Nelson's Covenant Praise Team all had much to offer. I'm partial to the sensitive tone of the worship led by Jeff's (also a friend and PP reader) Covenant team . . . a nice blend of songs old and new, and an unmistakable God-direction. I can't tell you how encouraging this whole experience was. The worship was the highlight!
Promise Keepers / Stand In the Gap . . . Although I didn't attend a PK stadium event this year, reports from some of you indicate a continuation of the wondrous things that have been occurring across the country for several summers now. For our July '95 issue, I wrote,
Hearing this great chorus of God-seekers intone words like this makes a lasting impression. The inspiring magnitude of Niagara Falls I have been privileged to see and hear. But somehow I think the experience in Heaven is better reflected in what I experienced at Promise Keepers. The sound of thousands of men's voices in worship was nothing less than awesome--a great wave of praise. I'd never heard that many men worshipping before. I was newly convinced that there is a place for the inspiration that comes from corporate worship. Surely God was pleased.
I still find a very present spirit of authentic worship at Promise Keepers events ... after having attended, with 6 brothers from this area, PK's Stand In the Gap "sacred assembly of men" in D.C. on October 4. The experience was simply awesome. Many of you were there; I know you feel the same.
Church That Connects . . . Lynn Anderson and friends have been conducting seminars by this name for five years now. I attended for the first time this year (in Tulsa in September). A major part of what occurred - and are you surprised? - was the soulful, sometimes jubilant, extended corporate worship (led by Jeff Nelson's group). Having gone with somewhat of a heavy heart, I was reminded of a truth which I think should be acclaimed far and wide: There is no greater state of (horizontal) edification or uplift than that which comes from being in a group that is truly praising God with its whole corporate soul.
Jars of Clay . . . Younger readers (and those in touch with contemporary Christian music) may wonder what the name of this band is doing here in an article about current worship events. Three friends and I went to a Jars of Clay concert in Philadelphia in November, and I noticed how strong and definitive the worship of God was in some of the music. "Love Song for a Savior," for example, expresses beautiful words of intimate adoration which are clearly heard by this generation.
Cedars Fall Retreat . . . It's actually become something of a joke that the adult staff does this Jr./Sr. High retreat each year for selfish reasons. This year was no exception - what a time! I just had to mention this local church event which includes about 35 teens and 20 adults annually. The theme this year was "Celebrate the Gift," meaning the incredible gift of God's Son, and we worshipped indeed . . . through dramatic expressions, music, and solitary prayer. Hearts were brought into closer union with the God who has done so much for us throughout history. As Amy Grant sings, "The child once born in Bethlehem is still among us now." Come, let us adore Jesus continually . . . if the angels did, so should we!