Preacher

I am preaching at my church a week from tomorrow and as usual I'm nervous. Its not like I have nothing to say. I just feel completely unworthy to say it most of the time.
Everytime I sit down to study and write out my thoughts, I'm reminded how much of an unfaithful servant and lover of Christ I am.
I know I am called to do this, but I feel so weighted down by my problems and my thoughts and other things. Who am I to be telling others how to run their race with God when I feel like I just stumble at the smallest hurdle? I feel like I identify with the Apostle Paul when we says that he's Paul, called to be an apostle, the least of the brethern.
But I do this because God has called me. I can't deny it. Like Jeremiah said, its like a fire shut up in my bones. Its what I was born to do.
I'm studying about the callings of God, and I'm seeing that we as Christians are not to let circumstances get in the way of fulfilling our ministry. Too many times we can feel we aren't qualified but God has already put his stamp of approval on us.
Right now I certainly feel as though I'm not qualified, but neither did Moses, Gideon, and many other great men.

instead of show

I found a song today that really is amazing.
It is by Jon Foreman, singer of Switchfoot.

It's really funny because Saturday Brandon & I had a discussion about church people and program minded churches. This song really kind of wraps it all up.
We have a friend who had a dream about people dying in a church parking lot and people stepping over them to go inside the church to paint the walls.
What do we go to church for? What are our motives? Do we care more about our rituals, traditions, programs, and our feel-good times than about people and actually going outside of our comfort zone & into the world?

Anyways, check this song out here.

I hate all your show and pretense
the hypocrisy of your praise
the hypocrisy of your festivals
I hate all your show

Away with your noisy worship
Away with your noisy hymns
I stop up my ears when your
singing ‘em
I hate all your show

Instead let there be a flood
of justice
An endless procession of righteous
living, living
Instead let there be a flood
of justice
Instead of a show

your eyes are closed when you’re praying
you sing right along with the band
you shine up your shoes for services
but there’s blood on your hands

you turned your back on the homeless
and the ones that don’t fit in your plans
quit playing religion games
there’s blood on your hands

Ah! let’s argue this out
if your sins are blood red
let’s argue this out
you’ll be white as the clouds
let’s argue this out
quit fooling around

give love to the ones who can’t love at all
give hope to the ones who got no hope at all
stand up for the ones who can’t stand up at all
instead of a show
I hate all your show