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Welcome!
Welcome to the Clear Lake United Methodist Church worship blog. This is a place where we can continue the discussions we began in Sunday morning worship. Ask or say anything - you may even choose to post anonymously. Feel free to disagree and to offer your own insights - this will help discussion! Difficult questions, theological or practical are welcome. I hope this blog is a helpful tool for deepening your faith.
Prayer: How to Manipulate God
01/15/2010
By Thompson, Andrew
I hope you don't expect to find in this blog post a list of helpful hints in your quest to manipulate God through your prayers. Whether or not you want to manipulate God, we often unwittingly attempt this impossible feat in our prayers. How do we try to manipulate God? By subconsciously thinking "if I pray the right way, then God will answer my prayer the right way." We somehow equate prayer with something like a math problem: If I do X then God will be forced to do Y.
Many of us have had prayers that have gone "unanswered" and we ask ourselves - "Why didn't God do what I wanted?" Then (because we think that our prayers can manipulate God), we come to the arrogant conclusion that "Well, He must not have done what I wanted because something was wrong with my prayer...Maybe I didn't pray enough times...Maybe I didn't pray long enough...Maybe I didn't use the right words...Maybe I didn't have enough faith...Maybe I didn't kneel in the right posture...Maybe I...Maybe I...Maybe I..."
Isn't it absurd that we think that our mere words can force God to do our bidding? Don't get me wrong, I believe that our prayers matter. I believe that God listens to them. I believe that God answers them...ALL of them. BUT, when we pray, we need to realize that we do not have the power to manipulate God. Prayer is not a formula such that if we get the formula right, we will receive the right "product" from God. Prayer, to subtly modify a definition from Dallas Willard, is "talking [with] God about what we're doing together."
Prayer is not a formula. Prayer is a conversation. There really can be no wrong way to have the conversation. In a conversation there is no way to guarantee a certain outcome. There is only a guarantee of a conversation...of a growing relationship...of your concerns and joys being shared with the God who is actively working with us to right all the wrongs, heal all the hurt, and fix all the brokenness in our world.
Stop the Prayers of the People
01/06/2010
By Thompson, Andrew
Wife: "Hi, honey...How was your day?"
Husband: "Sorry, sweetie, we can't possibly talk about me right now...
I've first got to talk with you about the situation in Iran;
then we can talk about the current national healthcare situation;
then we can talk about Houston's new mayor;
then we can talk about our church's budget crunch;
and then we can finally get to our own personal lives..."
If you have any experience in "traditional" worship, you may recall a prayer time known as "the prayers of the people." Remember? What I remember most about this as a child was how long it was - it was simply exhausting. It's a guided prayer that invites people to shout out their own requests in each category. You start out with praying for world issues & leaders and then gradually localize till you're finally praying about personal issues: (world, nation, city, community, church, personal lives). It usually looks something like this:
Leader: Let's pray for our world...
People: For clean water in Kenya...For the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan...
Leader: Let's pray for our nation...
People: For our president...
etc. etc.
These prayers can be fine and dandy, they can cause us to pray about things that we may not think about otherwise...but the basic problem I see is that they are somewhat inauthentic to the normal way that conversations work. Isn't prayer, at its core, a conversation? Don't all of our other conversations start with the things that are most presently on our minds? - don't they begin with what is closest to us? - don't conversations really focus on what we're really really interested in talking about?
The False Prophet
09/15/2009
By Thompson, Andrew
This is the "second beast" found in Revelation 13:11-17. It is the "beast out of the land" (13:11). It is the "false prophet" (19:20). There are different opinions about the specific identity of this beast, but the most plausible (in my opinion) is that the false prophet is the Imperial Cult - that is, it is the worship of Caesar. Remember that saying "Jesus is Lord" (one of the earliest Creeds in the church) would be a direct contradiction to saying "Caesar is Lord." The worship of the emperor was prevalent in the 7 churches in Asia Minor that Revelation mentions (chapter 2-3).
More about the Beast of Revelation
09/15/2009
By Thompson, Andrew
I hope you've been enjoying our worship series on the book of Revelation. But more than just "enjoying" it, I hope that you are more able to see God's inspiration of this amazing book - I hope you're able to see the Gospel in this text. There is more about the Beast that could have been said in last week's sermon, but it had to be left on the cutting room floor. I'd say that I cut it out "for the sake of time" but, as everyone knows, we really pay no attention to the time. Anyway, here it is.
17:9 - "This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits."
Rome is famously known as the city on Seven Hills.
17:10 - "They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for a little while." Could these kings be the line of "Caesars" in Rome? You decide:
1. Julius Caesar (BC 49-44)
2. Caesar Augustus – Gaius Octavius – Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus (first “Caesar”) (BC 27- AD 14)
3. Tiberius– Tiberius Claudius Nero - Tiberius Julius Caesar (AD 14-37)
4. Caligula - Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (AD 37-41)
5. Claudius I (AD 41-54)
6. Nero – Nero Caesar (AD 54-68)
7*. Servius Sulpicius Galba – Servius Galba Imperator Caesar (AD 68-69)
8*. Marcus Otho (AD 69 – January 15 –April 16)
9*. Aulus Vitellius – Aulus Vitellius Germanicus Imperator Augustus (AD 69:Apr17- Dec22)
10*. Vespasian - Titus Flavius Vespasianus (beginning Flavian Dynasty) (AD Jul 1, 69 –79)
The first 5 are the kings that "have fallen" (i.e. they're dead). The 6th happens to be Nero, "who is" (i.e. he's presently ruling). Caesars 7-10, you'll notice were all Caesars in the year 69. It was after the death of Nero that the Roman empire went through a short civil war - one Caesar claimed the thrown, he was "offed" by another, etc etc. It was known as "The Year of 4 Kings" before Vespasian finally settled into a 10-year reign. This history gives new insight to Revelation 13:3 which says, "One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed." The "fatal wound" is the death of Nero. His death and the civil wars that followed seemed like it might have been the fall of the Roman Empire...but alas, the Beast was "healed" when Vespasian became emperor.
Some "futurists" (those who believe that the prophecies in Revelation will come be fulfilled in the distant future) like to suggest that 13:3 means that the Beast will die and then be resurrected (like Jesus). This is a VERY DANGEROUS position to hold. If the devil (i.e. the dragon) gives the beast it's power and authority, then it would be by the devil's power that the beast is resurrected to new life. This is ridiculous, because GOD is the creator of all life (you might recall Jesus saying something like "I AM ... the Life"). It's also a very dangerous teaching because, if Satan can raise the dead, then what does that mean of Jesus' own resurrection at Easter? Jesus' ultimate claim to his divinity, his ability to forgive sin, and his recreation of the world would be nullified if Satan can pull of this same kind of stunt. Does that make sense?
Worship + Life Together = Church
07/19/2009
By Thompson, Andrew
You may (or may not) have noticed an invitation to learn more about Life Together Groups at the end of each of our worship services over the last several weeks. What is Life Together? And why are we mentioning it each week? For a short answer to "What is Life Together?" - it's the small group / home group ministry of this church: go to the Life Together page on this website for more details (under Adults/Small Groups/Life Together). "Why are we mentioning it?" because we believe that "worship" is more than singing, praying, and listening to a sermon - worship involves the action of our lives. Life Together Groups are designed to help us LIVE as worshipers - we study together, pray together, serve together, share the gospel together, care for others, and connect together. In a Life Together Group there is encouragement, accountability, and support. Worshiping is less about "going to church" and more about "being the church." If you're not connected in a group, you're missing out on a more full picture of what it means to BE the church.
Revelation - The Book that No One Understands
07/17/2009
By Thompson, Andrew
Revelation is, without a doubt, THE most confusing book in all of the Bible. You may share this confused opinion or you may find the book scary, just plain weird, or completely irrelevant. It's unfortunate that this amazing book has become so misinterpreted, misunderstood, and misused. Fortunately, John and I will do our best to clear all that junk up! :) We're planning a 5-week worship series on the misunderstood book of Revelation beginning August 23. I can promise you that you will have new respect for this book and be able to say, "OOOOOHHHHH, THAT'S why they put this book in the Bible!"
I would love to know if there are any questions you have about this book - you can comment here on the blog or email me (andrew@clearlakemethodist.org) - but I always promote blog comments. If not questions, maybe we could post "the things I know about Revelation are..." This will help us to build sermons around you, our congregation.
A Love Unchanging
07/16/2009
By Admin, Admin
A Love Unchanging
A walk in a building designed for change,
All the details have been arranged.
Not sure of how the change will unfold,
It reminded me of my life with His bare hands He molds.
There were lights brightly shown down from above
As the room was filled with his love.
It was apparent in all the faces
That once in the shadows were just traces.
I looked above to see a heartfelt cross,
Which reminded me of who’s really boss.
I looked to sing and rejoice
To worship and praise with my voice.
The goose bumps were rising
As my heart grew 10 sizes.
Could this be the same home?
Yes, I felt as Jesus and me were alone.
As I saw and heard all my family in Christ
It was my turn to sit in his lap and rest.
I knew He was strong
And the wait for this moment was 10 year long.
With a thankful heart I prayed
For God’s blessings each and everyday.
Everything new brought in with the old.
Every step we made before, God was bold.
Change can bring about fear
But with God involved joy filled my tears.
This change was a beautiful thing
And one of the many as I heard voices ring.
From the sermon and bible I will treasure what I learn,
Waiting for our next return.
I was blessed by God’s justifying grace
As after His love I will constantly chase.
As the service came to a close
And from my knees I rose.
My heart replenished and cleansed,
My soul has repented from personal sin.
I hear a familiar young voice again,
“Does this service have to end?”
I am glad to have a church to call home
Where my family can serve and not be alone.
This building is a success!
We are all blessed!
- Unknown
'With Everything'
06/03/2009
By Thompson, Andrew
Last week we sang a song by Hillsong called "With Everything." The song seems to have been well received. Personally, it has quickly become one of my new favorites. The message of this song is so crucial to our whole theology of worship. Worship is about giving our everything to God - it is about surrendering everything to Him - it is about holding nothing back from Him - it is about honoring Him, serving Him, and loving Him as Ultimate. Everything else pales in comparison to Him: our success, our pride, our lives, our family...everything.
It is "with everything" that we are that we worship Him. When we "shout forth [His] praise." as the song says, our shouting is a way of letting go of our pride. In what other contexts do you ever shout? Probably when you were at a football game and everyone has completely let go of all their pride - painting their faces, wearing big foam fingers, and singing "Dr. Who." Lifting our hands, clapping our hands, or kneeling down are other ways that we let go of our pride and humble ourselves before our God. Giving a generous offering is another way of worshiping God "with everything."
It is my hope that our times of singing together will begin to reflect more of a "with everything" approach to worship. Then, as we leave our worship gatherings and go back to our everyday lives, perhaps our daily living will begin to reflect a "with everything" approach to worship as well.
Romans 12:1> "So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life - your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life - and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him." (The Message)
The Church is Not a Building
06/03/2009
By Thompson, Andrew
So What Is MayFest?
04/20/2009
By Thompson, Andrew
MayFest is coming...Hopefully you've heard. On Saturday, May 2, 2009 from 3:00-10:00 p.m. we will host our first MayFest: Carnival and Concert. This is fundraiser for our new Wesley Center Audio/Visual equipment - because what's the point of having a new building for Contemporary Worship if you don't have a good sound system to go with it???
Here's how it works...Come to our new green-space property across the street from the church campus on Saturday, May 2. Buy some tickets; use those tickets to ride carnival rides, to play games, to purchase food (hotdogs, baked potatoes, nachos, candy, etc); after you've blown through your cash, stick around for the FREE ROBBIE SEAY CONCERT, with special guest Matt Neely! If you don't know who Robbie Seay is, we sing lots of Robbie Seay songs in worship, you've heard him on the radio, you may have even heard one of his songs on American Idol promos, and even if you've never heard the Robbie Seay Band any of these places, they will still blow you away! [www.robbieseayband.com] And Matt Neely is no slouch either! Matt is an outstanding singer/songwriter, our former worship leader, and the new pastor of The Watershed Church in League City. MayFest will be a great time for the whole family.
Here's another way you can help...purchase some tickets in advance (20 tickets are available for $10) on Sunday mornings and give them away to your friends, co-workers, family, and neighbors. They won't know about it unless YOU invite them.
Methodism 101
03/26/2009
By Thompson, Andrew
We talked about the "Methodist Quadrilateral" (insert yawn and eye-glazing here) in last week's worship gathering. The quadrilateral is just one feature of methodism...but do you have other questions about what being methodist is all about? If you do, you're in luck! Next Thursday, April 2 at 6:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall we're having a class called "Beta" - it's sort of a Methodism 101. We'll eat dinner, have a short talk by yours truly, and then have some informal Q&A. And as always, your Q&A can take place on this blog too.
Christianity's Basic Questions
03/26/2009
By Thompson, Andrew
We've been working through a worship series called "Christianity's Basic Questions" over the last several weeks (which we've loosely based on the topics of the Alpha Course). So far we've looked at:
What is 'Faith'?
How Can I Resist Evil?
How and Why Should I Read the Bible?
How Does God Guide Us?
Over the next weeks, we'll discuss:
Does God Still Heal Today?
Who Is Jesus?
Why Did Jesus Die?
What other seemingly "basic" questions do you have? I'd love for you to comment with them here.
One of my pet peeves with the Church is that we try to pretend like we've got everything figured out...We assume that everyone else knows all the answers and if someone ever figures out that we actually don't know some of the basic foundations of the Christian faith, we will be completely embarrassed.
Newsflash: More people DON'T "get it," than DO "get it." If we never ask the questions, we'll never get the answers...and maybe...just maybe...the answers actually matter.
What are your questions?
Or maybe you heard one of the teachings on the questions above and STILL have questions. Comment below.
(just plug in a fake email and reply anonymously if you want...) :)
'Passing the Peace' - What does that mean?
01/27/2009
By Thompson, Andrew
Though we are a community that worships in a "contemporary" style, we still have "traditional" elements. One of those "traditions" is the Passing of the Peace. If you're unfamiliar with this terminology, this is the time that I usually introduce by saying something like, "Now let us turn and offer to one another the same peace, forgiveness, and grace that God has extended to us." It is the time that is usually thought of as a "greet-the-people-sitting-around-you time." And it sometimes can seem very superficial - as if we're taking time out of the worship gathering in order to say "superficial greetings to you, sir" or "good morning, ma'am." There is nothing wrong with conversation in worship, but there is actually a deeper purpose to this specific time of Peace.
The Peace is intended to always comes immediately after a prayer of confession. We confess our own sins and in doing so recognize any sins against our brothers or sisters in Christ. During this short time, we have the opportunity to extend peace to that person - to apologize, to make things right, to offer forgiveness. It is somewhat based on Matthew 5:23-24, in which Jesus says, "So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God" (NLT).
So instead of being quick to simply say "good morning" to the 4 people sitting around us, maybe next time we can be intentional about seeking out the strained relationships and offering a word of peace. Maybe next time, we can look for those people whose faces suggest pain or hurt and offer them the peace of Christ.
'Passionate Worship Packs:' Kids' Backpacks
01/13/2009
By Thompson, Andrew
How do you see our Sunday morning services as being an expression of love from you to God?
Of course, worship is something that doesn't just happen on Sunday mornings...it is something that we should be doing with our entire lives.
In what ways do you personally worship God with your "everyday life"?
The Connection between Covenant and Communion
01/13/2009
By Stephenson, John
Last Sunday I gave a sermon on the “new covenant” found in Jeremiah and tried to make the connection between the new covenant prophesied in Jeremiah and the sacrament of communion. To recap: a covenant is a solemn agreement between two parties in which each party agrees to certain responsibilities and obligations. When two people would make a covenant in the ancient world they would take an animal, cut it in half and lay the two halves on the ground. They would seal the deal by walking between the two halves. In effect, by walking between the two halves each person was saying, “let this same thing be done to me IF I should break this covenant.” I talked about how Jesus took this image to the logical extreme by breaking the bread and saying, “this is my body, broken for you” and taking the cup and saying this is my blood of the new covenant poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.” I asked the congregation if it made sense that by breaking his body, essentially experiencing the punishment for breaking the covenant, that he was taking it to the logical extreme and people shook their heads “no.”
I was really struggling to explain myself until I had a conversation with my brother in law on Sunday evening. He had some very helpful thoughts about it that have helped me articulate how it is that Jesus took things to their logical extreme. Jesus is both fully human and fully divine. He is both God and man. When Jesus broke the bread and held the cup, in effect he was saying, “there is no way humanity can keep the covenant. As a man, I will act on behalf of humanity and go ahead and pay the price humanity owes for breaking the covenant by being broken and divided on behalf of humanity.” So, when Jesus breaks the bread he is both establishing the new covenant in the ancient way (dividing the body) and simultaneously paying the price for humanity’s inability to keep it. That’s the logical extreme that Jesus takes things too. He graciously does for us what he knows we need.
Does that make sense?
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