GOD MEANT IT FOR GOOD

FROM THE PIT TO PALACE

When the Spirit Promotes a Man
Genesis 41

Gen 41:37 Joseph's Rise to Power So the advice was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants.
38 And Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?"
39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you.
40 You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you."
41 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt." NKJV

The plan that God has for us has to more to do with his eternal purposes and the desire to accomplish his purposes in the earth than our individual circumstances or situations. In other words it is “Not About Me” Now in a pleasure loving, self serving, narcissistic culture this might not be a popular message but the reality that all promotion from God has to do with us accomplishing his purposes in the earth. When the Lord sees us he sees potential for advancing his causes in the earth. The possibilities are endless in this room this morning. The rest of the story and the end of the story is known by the Lord alone.

As we’ve been studying the life of Joseph, he was anything but a bad employee with a poor performance record. In fact, it was because he was such a “good” employee that he got in the trouble he found himself.If you’ll remember, when we last left Joseph, he was in prison for attempted rape. A crime he didn’t commit. “Hope” came in the form of two fellow prisoners. He was able to interpret their dreams, and they swore that when they got out, they would mention his case to Pharaoh.But the cupbearer failed to even remember Josephs name, (let alone talk to Pharaoh about him!) “REMEMBER ME” Two long years passed after that event, and still Joseph sat… his life wasting away. Or so he thought… What God had in store for his life was greater than he could ever imagine! Now as we study the life of Joseph, I want you to pay special attention to the way God works, because in His actions towards Joseph, He’s revealing something about Himself to us.The bible says that Jesus Christ is the same “yesterday, today and forever.” Because that’s true, the way you see him dealing with Joseph and other Old Testament characters, shows us how He works today in our lives. In otherwords, we can gain insight into what God is doing in our lives and how He is working in our situation, by studying how He’s worked in the past!

And so the first principle I want you to see from Joseph’s life is…

The First Principle to True Spiritual Promotion is Understanding that Spirits role in your Adversity.

Contrary to popular opinion, success is not an event… it’s a process! It’s a journey… not a jack-pot! There’s no such thing as “instant” success. Instead, success is a process that involves a lot of flops, falls & failures along the way. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that the people who usually succeed in life, are the ones who’ve failed more than anybody else! While most people live by the motto…“If at first you don’t succeed, find out if the loser gets anything!”… winners in life, refuse to give up! They refuse to see their failures as final. As far as we know, Joseph never gave up hope and never lost his perspective. No matter what, he always found the positive benefits of a negative experience.He reminds me of another slave who lived thousands of years later. Booker T. Washington, was born a slave and overcame seemingly insurmountable obstacles to form the “Natl. Black Business League”. He once said, “I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life, as by the obstacles which one has overcome while trying to succeed.”You know, most people will grudgingly agree that they have to make it through some tough times in order to succeed… but I think you have to take it one step further than that…I believe that in order to achieve your dreams, you actually have to learn how to EMBRACE adversity. That’s right! Give ‘em a big ole bear hug! But chances are… if you’re running from your problems today, instead of embracing them, you’re probably not moving forward in life!Let me give you (very quickly) 3 very positive “Benefits of Adversity”…

1. Adversity Creates Resiliency . Nothing breeds resilience like adversity. And if you’re going to be able to handle the pressure that comes with success, you have to have this quality.

2. Adversity Develops Maturity. Adversity helps you to grow up. Joseph grew from an impetuous, little brat, to a man ready to assume the resp. of a whole nation, during the 13 years he was a slave. God knew that if He’d allowed Joseph to stay at home, his father’s pampering would have never prepared him for the great future he had in store for him. Could it be that God doesn’t want you to get used to being pampered and comfortable to achieve his plan for your life? Believe me…you can count on God to use adversity to develop maturity in your life! That’s one of the ways He always works.

3. Adversity Benefits us Unexpectedly. Some of the greatest success stories in history can be found in the unexpected benefits of mistakes. For example, did you know that Edison invented the phonograph while trying to invent something entirely different? That the discovery of the Polio Vaccine was an accident?Listen… “Pain… when properly handled, can shape a life for greatness!”For 13 years Joseph had welcomed adversity… and when his ship came in… he was ready to board it!

You’ll know you’ve learned a lesson when your actions change. Joseph had changed. He wasn’t the same person he was as a young man at his father’s house, because he’d learned to see his trials as preparation for a greater future.

II. When the Spirit Promotes a Man there is Always a Problem to Solve v1-8
Gen 41:8 Now it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. And Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them for Pharaoh. NKJV
Problems of Life our preparation for Promotion in God’–

Pharoah had a dream that he could not interpret – The world’s problems can only be solved by spiritual means. The things that Pharaoh saw troubled him and rightly so. The fact is that there will be things that trouble people you know that God has allowed so that you the spiritual person can help solve them. You see God has saved you in order to be a blessing.
All this stuff that Joseph has gone to up to this point will not be wasted. God has the ariel view of life and Joseph season is hour is about to come.
God uses men/ women who have been tried and tested to accomplish spiritual problems.
Troubling times require Spiritual Tough people. Promotion is always about purpose. God’s purpose to accomplish a greater task than just making your life easy.

The Third principle to understanding Promotion Is When it Comes it May Come without Out Warning. V9-14
Gen 41:9-Then the chief butler spoke to Pharaoh, saying: "I remember my faults this day. 10 When Pharaoh was angry with his servants, and put me in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, both me and the chief baker, 11 we each had a dream in one night, he and I. Each of us dreamed according to the interpretation of his own dream. 12 Now there was a young Hebrew man with us there, a servant of the captain of the guard. And we told him, and he interpreted our dreams for us; to each man he interpreted according to his own dream. 13 And it came to pass, just as he interpreted for us, so it happened. He restored me to my office, and he hanged him." 14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him quickly out of the dungeon; and he shaved, changed his clothing, and came to Pharaoh. NKJVa.

The butler suddenly remembers – God’s knows the future if it would have been any earlier then Joseph would have arrived on the scene to early.
*Notice that the cupbearer – after having forgotten Joseph for two years – finally remembers Joseph.

Lamentations 3:25-26 – The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.*

Notice the haste with which things were done:

1. Joseph was cleaned up.

2. Joseph was clothed.

3. Joseph was put before the Pharaoh. How surprising the whole chain of events must have been!
When the spirit begins to move in your life you will not be able to keep up. It is breaking out for Joseph all of those years of waiting are coming to an end.
When the Spirit of the Lord moves in your life you will not be able to keep up. Joseph had waited for 13 years for his dream to come to pass, but when it was God’s time for promotion it happened so fast it made Josephs head spin. He was cleaned up, clothed and brought before Pharaoh

Many times when God moves in your life it will happen suddenly, years of hardship, trials and long periods of waiting will turn quickly. I have found that when God speaks to me many times I have to get ready to run quickly because when God moves we generally cannot keep up.

The Fourth Thing Spiritual Man Understands about God's Promotion - It is God who Gives Us The Ability to Succeed v15-36
Gen 41:15-16 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that you can understand a dream, to interpret it." 16 So Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying,"It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace." NKJV
Gen 41:25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, "The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do: NKJV
Gen 41:32 And the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass. NKJV

Imagine yourself in Joseph’s place. He hadn’t been a part of the real world for years, probably hadn’t even seen the light of the sun… …and now he’s standing in the middle of the most beautiful palace in the world, before the ruler of the most powerful nation in the world.Pharaoh addresses him in Gen.41:15 (READ) Gen 41:15 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that you can understand a dream, to interpret it." NKJV

Pharaoh’s saying, “According to my sources, you’re the answer man! Tell me what my dream means, and I’ll make it worth you’re while!” My boys can’t do it….To God that we would see more of our men and women have solutions that the world would come to us and say I have a problem that I can’t solve can you help. Here’s his chance! He could have said, “That’s right… I’m the man, and if you want an interpretation to your dream, let’s work out a little deal first.”a. Joseph is fully aware of His source = God is the one who gives the answers. TRUE HUMILITY
But that’s not what he says… Instead he responds, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.”

Proverbs says that Prov 21:31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle,but victory rests with the LORD. NIV

Talk about humility! Joseph’s not about to take the credit! Instead he points to God.

“Pharaoh, God’s the one you need to talk to… I’m just His messenger! Then, calmly and methodically, Joseph explains Pharaoh’s dream. He explains that the seven fat cattle coming up out of the Nile Delta represent 7 good years of crops and prosperity for the nation. But that the seven ugly, gaunt and starving cows represent 7 years of famine and want, that would swallow up the 7 good years. b. Over and over he gives credit where credits due. God is doing this. God will bring it about. God is telling you’re the future. All through his answer Joseph refers to God again & again!
Notice Joseph Tells Pharaoh the whole truth – this is risky because he does not tell just what he wanted to hear. He tells him the truth that there are going to be good years and bad years.
Here is the deal my friends, the reality in all of our lives we will have good times and bad. The wisdom of man understands that live is all about preparation.
*Note verse 32, where Joseph proclaims that these things have been established by God.
Gen 41:32 And the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass. NKJV

• God is all-knowing• God is all-present• God is all-powerful
c. By the Spirit Joseph warns of coming famine and gives wise council.
So many people live paycheck to paycheck because they have never learned the discipline of saving. It starts when you have little. Some people money is a like a hole in the pocket. Joseph is preparing Pharaoh for difficult times that are going to come. If you are in a season of employment and prosperity you must discipline yourself to save.
The fact is that know one has a promise that there prosperity will continue. 2-3 years ago the housing market was booming people were making money buying and selling houses. Today they cant’ give them away and many are having to give them back.
Wisdom comes from God.- The bible says... Eph 1:17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,NKJV
And then along with his interpretation, he gives his recommendation of how to deal with the problem. How Egypt was going to need a strict, well-organized rationing process.
• Joseph’s honest response: *I cannot – but God can!Joseph was quick to give God all the credit The fact is that we can do nothing significant or of any eternal consequence without God, but we can do all things through God.

Our problem is that when God does bless us, we quickly forget or even ignore where the blessing came from…We begin to think it was our intelligence, or our hard work…that got us where we are. Never stopping to realize who gave us the intell. and talents to succeed in the first place. Instead of giving Him the credit, we give Him the cold shoulder… and keep the praise for ourselves. When God blesses us financially, instead of tithing, we keep the money and spend it on ourselves.

When God is answering prayers in our lives, instead of drawing closer to Him… we tend to push away from Him!… And then we wonder why the blessings stop! Joseph rose from the PIT to the Prison to the PALACE; from A SON , A SLAVE to THE SAVIOR… But he never forgot what it was like to be down and out. He never forgot what it was like to be imprisoned with no way out…and as a result, he spent the rest of his life fulfilling the position of promotion that the Lord had given him.

WHAT I AM READING THIS WEEK

The Year of Living Biblically

This interview appears in the Dec. 28 issue of “National Catholic Reporter.

This book is a thought provoking, sometimes humorous look at trying to obey all the commands in the Bible. I highly recommend it if you have ever wondered what it would be like to try and keep all of the Old Testament rules. Here is one guy's attempt. You will laugh, ask yourself some hard questions, and have to wonder about the parts of the Bible that we tend to pick and choose. P. Eugene

”Sometimes it’s hard enough just dealing with one biblical command, such as to love our neighbors. Writer A.J. Jacobs took it quite a bit further. For one year he tried to follow all of the Bible’s commands, including stoning sinners. He chronicles his experiences in the funny and informative new book “The Year of Living Biblically: One Man’s Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible.”

“I went into it with an open mind to find out what, if anything, I was missing in not having had a religious background,” he said during a telephone interview from Philadelphia, one stop on a 20-city book tour.

Jacobs, 39, an editor at “Esquire Magazine,” grew up in a non-religious Jewish household. He writes that he had never prayed. For his biblical year, though, he had to pray several times a day. It was strange at first -- he jokes that he had never said Lord, except when followed by "of the Flies" and never said God unless preceded by "Oh my."

Having never read more than bits and pieces of the Bible, he began by spending five hours a day for a month reading different versions in their entirety. He had experience with such marathon reading, having for a previous book, “The Know-It-All,” read the entire Encyclopedia Britannica, all 44 million words, from cover to cover.

But this time, “the more I read, the more I absorbed the fact that the Bible isn’t just another book,” he writes. “I love my encyclopedia, but the encyclopedia hasn’t spawned thousands of communities based on its words. It hasn’t shaped the actions, values, deaths, love lives, warfare and fashion sense of millions of people over three millennia. No one has ever been executed for translating the encyclopedia into another language . . . No president has been sworn in with the encyclopedia. It’s intimidating, to say the least.”

From the bibles, he typed up a list of more than 700 commandments, focusing on one each day, “while keeping the others in my peripheral vision.” He followed not just the big, well-known rules like the Ten Commandments, but ones like not wearing mixed fibers (Lev. 19:19); he had his clothes tested by an Orthodox Jew who makes house calls to do this. He quickly learned no aspect of his life would be unaffected -- not the way he ate, dressed, talked, or touched his wife. He visited communities where the Bible is taken literally, the Amish country and Orthodox Jews in Israel, and consulted with a variety of Jewish and Christian authorities.

The first thing to change was his appearance. He grew a full beard, in keeping with Lev. 19:27. Then his actions. He began censoring 20 percent of his sentences before they left his mouth because of the Bible’s rigorous language laws. “Is it a lie,” he asked himself. “Is it a boast? Is it a curse? Is it gossip?”

He blew a ram’s horn to mark the start of each month, participated in a service of animal sacrifice in Brooklyn, herded sheep in Israel and found solace in prayer. For one of his funniest practices, he found a way to fulfill the law to stone a Sabbath violator -- he got tiny pebbles from Central Park and, pretending to stumble, dropped them on the shoes of a man at his neighborhood Avis office who had worked both Saturday and Sunday. In that way he kept a biblical law, but it left him with questions that would follow him throughout the year: “How can the Bible be so wise in some places and so barbaric in others? And why should we put any faith in a book that includes such brutality?”

Illustrating that duality was another of his motives for the project. He writes that he wanted to “take legalism to its extreme and show that it leads to religious idiocy. What better way to demonstrate the absurdity of Jewish and Christian fundamentalism? If you actually follow all the rules, you’ll spend your days acting like a crazy person.”

But showing this in the extreme has opened him up to accusations that he was acting as a stunt journalist. A New York Times’ review criticized the book as being a “reality-show version of living by the rules set forth in the Bible,” while another said he was “keeping the joke alive for 365 days.”

Jacobs maintains the opposite is true.“It was a genuine spiritual journey that changed me in significant ways. Ironically, most religious people see it that way and are happy I took it seriously.”

What attempting to follow the arbitrary laws points out, he says, is that everyone, even the fundamentalists, actually practice cafeteria religion.“I came to the conclusion you have to do some picking and choosing,” he said. “There’s nothing wrong with the cafeteria approach. I've had some delicious meals in cafeterias. It’s all about choosing the right parts, the ones about compassion and helping others instead of the parts that lead to exclusion. If you engage the Bible that way it can be incredibly relevant and important.”

He says he hasn’t heard any complaints from either fundamentalist Jews or Christians, although he has received some e-mails from people praying he will convert to Christianity. In fact, the book has been so well received it hit the New York Times best seller list within weeks of its release last month and Paramount has optioned the film rights.“My behavior and thoughts have changed in a much more profound way that I had expected,” he says, mentioning cursing -- “I don’t do as much,” gossiping, which he does less of -- “or at least I feel guilty” and coveting -- “I’ve definitely cut down.”

He also joined a temple and enrolled his son Jasper in Hebrew school.

And while the beard is gone, saved now in a plastic bag under the kitchen sink, and he’s stopped stoning sabbath violators and gone back to wearing mixed fibers, he will tithe eight percent of the book’s profits and he continues to pray.

“The idea of thankfulness was a huge change in my perspective. I try to be thankful for the hundreds of things that go right all day instead of concentrating on the few that go wrong.”

posted by Eugene Smith

HOW TO DEAL WITH REJECTION

Here are a few thoughts I have about Sunday's sermon. This area of rejection is huge in our lives. We have all experienced the pain of being rejected by others who are close to us. Some people reject me and it doesn't effect me at all. But when people who are close to me and for whom I have respect reject me, it really is painful.

Below are a few highlights from my notes and thoughts on "How To Overcome Rejection." You can also go to our media center and listen to the message online.

After you come to Jesus there are 4 practical things you can put into practice to overcome rejection in your life.

1. Let Go -- Release your expectation that others are here to make you happy.
Most rejection takes place because of our expectation that someone else can or should make us fulfilled and happy. The reality is that it will never happen -- not fully anyway. Our identity and security can only truly be found in our life in Christ.
Matthew 16: 24-25 (NKJV): Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it."
Coming to Christ means we must give up our rights and expectations that others will make us happy. Rejection is one of the primary lessons of discipleship that must be dealt with if we are going to move on to maturity in Christ. This idea that we have a right to be treated a certain way, or a right to have someone else make us happy, leads to great disappointment and frustration.

2. Outbig 'em – This is a lesson that is one learns over a lifetime of experiencing rejection. My wife and I have a saying we go back to when someone says something stupid or attacks us: “Consider the source.” You don’t get in a verbal war with others or try to make them pay for the rejection or pain they have brought into your life. You do exactly the opposite.
Here are some of the most difficult words of Jesus:
Matthew 5:43-46 (NKJV): You have heard that it was said, "You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy." But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

3. Accept God’s Purpose -- Victory goes to those who accept God's purpose.
Ephesians 1:3-7 (NLT): How we praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we belong to Christ.
Long ago, even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.
His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the wonderful kindness he has poured out on us because we belong to his dearly loved Son. He is so rich in kindness that he purchased our freedom through the blood of his Son, and our sins are forgiven.

4. Seek to Excel in Love
1 John 3:13-16 (NLT): So don't be surprised, dear brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. If we love our Christian brothers and sisters, it proves that we have passed from death to eternal life. But a person who has no love is still dead. Anyone who hates another Christian is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don't have eternal life within them. We know what real love is because Christ gave up his life for us. And so we also ought to give up our lives for our Christian brothers and sisters.

CHRISTMAS TIME

This past Monday a number of local chuch pastors and their staff joined together at Faith Assembly of Orlando for a Christmas celebration. It was a great time of food, fun, and fellowship.
The pastors even got a little crazy as they put reindeer antlers on their heads and were made to form a Reindeer bell ringing choir. Justin Fennel was the MC for the night and really did a great job of making every one relax and take a break for a few moments this holiday season.

You can see from my new pic that we had a very special guest attend this party. His name is John Morgan, and he has gained national recognition for having a very familiar look. He was a hoot... and he tolerated a lot of picture-taking with the crowd. It was probably one of the warmest receptions he has had in a while.

Laura and I have been attending these functions for about seven years and have found this to be a fun tradition for us. It's one way we keep up with other ministries in the Central Florida community.

Traditions have gotten my attention lately. The word means "a set of practices or beliefs that are handed down from generation to another." It is a word rich in meaning, and a word that at times can get a bad rap.
One of the traditions in our home at Christmas is my Laura's "Church Windows" that she makes every year. It is a simple chocolate holiday treat that her mother and grandmother made -- and she is keeping the tradition going. She always makes enough to give to our neighbors. After putting them on a nice plate and wrapping them up, we go to our neighbors' homes and wish them a merry Christmas. It is a great tradition we have been doing our whole married life.

Another tradition from my side of the family is to read the Christmas story every year before we open presents. My father did it when I was growing up, I have been doing since my kids were born, and I am ready to pass it on to my son Austin.... It is a tradition -- something that our family and friends look forward to; something that adds richness and depth to lives, which times seem to whirl by with connecting points. Traditions can give hope, acting as an anchor connecting your past to your future. It is during these times that I have had many "Ah ha" experiences. Moments of tradition make your heart warm up, maybe even bring a tear to your eye as you remember people, places, and events from yesteryear.

This Christmas season take time to enjoy the traditions of your home. If your family hasn't developed any consistent traditions around this time of year, take the lead and start one. Give something your family can pass on to another generation.

Merry Christmas

SATURDAY NIGHT PRAYER

Tonight was one of those nights that is really hard to explain. Today on the City Church campus was packed with activity. The youth ministry is stepping up to the next level in Audio/Visual ministry. They are learning how to use the lights and the soundboard, and are practicing worship for hours. It was so awesome to see so many young people giving their all for God. I believe it is one of the reasons God chose to visit us tonight in such a powerful way.

The Saturday night prayer meeting began at the beginning of our ministry here in Orlando. At first we had prayer on a Friday night once a month. For the first several years of City Church's existence, the core team would fast the first Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of every month. We would finish by meeting in our home with a time of prayer, then go out to eat afterward. Some very intense spiritual times would take place.

Over the years we shifted to a Saturday night meeting in my office upstairs. I think we did this every week with a couple of the people who were living with us at the time. It was hard to keep the prayer meetings going because we didn't have our own facility. But as the Lord provided for us we started meeting with our leadership team every Saturday night.

Upon moving to Sanford we continued the prayer meeting, but the attendance was very sporatic at first. For quiet a while ten to fifteen people would attend. It slowly grew, and over the past couple of years the attendance has grown to a almost sixty on a weekly basis.

Tonight's prayer meeting was an incredible time of worship. The roar of prayer ascended, and we could feel the presence of God's spirit in a powerful way. It reminded me of times of revival in the past. From my reading of church history it seems to me that there has never been a true move of God that was not preceded by a time of deep intercession and prayer by God's people.

I am not sure what the long-term result will be, but I do know that we will reap what we sow. As City Church continues to press into God through prayer and times of worship, I believe that we will experience a visitation of the Spirit that could only be attributed to the prayers and cries of God's people.

Maybe you have not been to a Saturday night prayer meeting. You may feel as if you already have too much church in your life. I would say that this meeting is probably one of the most life-changing meetings you will ever be a part of. This hour of power will determine the success or failure of our impact in the city of Sanford and the surrounding communities. I really can't think of a more important thing you could do on a Saturday night than to seek God for one hour with His people.

Many Christians wonder why the church doesn't see the miracles like they did in the Bible. Could it be that we don't pray like the church in the Bible did? The early church was know for its intensity in prayer and its supernatural power.

Someone once said that "the American church prays for three minutes, preaches for one hour, and sees one person touched. The early church prayed for three hours, preached for three minutes, and saw thousands come into Kingdom."

If you are looking for more of God, and you want to experience His presence in a very real and tangible way, I invite you to join us at "The Hour of Power" on Saturday nights at 7:00 pm. You won't regret it. You will be part of what God is doing in the world today.

SOMETHING ABOUT THEM HYMNS

This past Tuesday in our staff meeting we had an unusual experience. After looking at the prayer requests and talking about some of the physical, financial, and spiritual needs we have in our group and church body, we began to worship the Lord. Somehow we started singing one of the old hymns -- and the river opened up. We sang hymn after hymn, and the tears began to flow. It was an awesome time with the Lord...one of those soul-cleansing times.

I began to think, Why does it seem that when one of the hymns that I sang in my childhood is sung I am stirred so deeply inside? Could it be the familiarity of the song? Could it be the nostaglia of days gone by? Could it be a special touch of God's Spirit upon the song? Could it just be the moment of time in which we were singing?

As I reflected back on the morning I had a strong sense that it was all of the above. Many of the hymns were written out of emotional times of deep need in the writers' lives. They emit, as the Greeks would say, "pathos, ethos and logos." The passion and emotion in which we sing these familiar songs enables us to connect with God on a deeper level.

Now don't get me wrong. I love the praise and worship of our generation. But something about this experience on Tuesday really got me thinking about what "good worship" really means. Good worship is connecting with God... and I connected with God this week in a very cool and unexpected way, and I loved it....

Get alone with God sometime this week and allow him to touch your emotions. He is the healer of your heart and He loves to hear you sing....