Indescribable

I went to the Indescribable Tour on Wednesday. It was amazing. Chris Tomlin and Matt Redman are true worship leaders - and intent on directing their audience's attention towards God. And Louie Giglio has a way with words, a way with passion. I left the "concert" so thankful for the God I serve, the God I seek, the God I strive to be like. And so thankful that this awesome God knows me intimately. It's mind-blowing. Wow!

"From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea,
Creation's revealing Your majesty.
From the colors of fall to the fragrance of spring,
Every creature unique in the song that it sings,
All exclaiming,

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by
name.
You are amazing God!
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly
proclaim,
You are amazing God!

Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go?
Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow?
Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light?
Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night?
None can fathom

Incomparable, unchangeable
You see the depths of my heart and You love me the same
You are amazing God!
You are amazing God!"

-- Chris Tomlin

Fall in Chicago

Some days are to be remembered. Not necessarily because something extraordinary happens, or because it's someone's birthday, or even because it has been really bad or something. Some days are just filled with little things that stirr the heart. And those days should be remembered.
Today was one of those days.
The weather was perfect. Cool, sunny, autmun-coloured.
I listened to a sermon on CD about God's centrality in our story, in the story of the world. It's not about us, it's about God. The speaker was so passionate, and so in love with God, I could feel my eyes welling up after about three minutes of listening to him. At one moment, he challenged the congregation to picture facing God. And to imagine Him saying two words to us: "well done". I realised I have a hard time believing He would say that to me...
I prayed with Marie, and listened to some of my favourite worship songs, singing along in worship.
I went to Church. When handing me the bread for communion, the pastor said "Thais, this is the body of Christ". Do you know how long it's been since I've heard someone say my name at communion? It is a detail, but it warmed my heart. I felt known. I love this church. The people, the way things are done, the way my heart is stirred.

Thanks God, for today.

A Motivating Read

So I finished Rob Bell's book, "Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith". What a great book. Great because it not only prvided for some good reading and thinking, but it kept pointing me to an INCREDIBLY AWESOME God. After I finished it, I just wanted to read the Bible. And I did!
Books like that are few and far between...
Rob Bell tackles most of what's been on my heart this past year. Cultural context and judaic tradition, the Kingdom of God, what it means that God is restoring Creation unto Himself, social justice, evangelism, salvation, definitions of church, the challenges of being a disciple, heaven and hell. It's all there.
I'm sad I finished it so fast. What am I going to read now?

I read this a couple of months ago on a youth specialties website, and just stumbled upon it again. Food for thought.

"Evangelical Christians are the least likely group of people willing to give financial support to a child orphaned as a result of AIDS, according to a recent survey of North Americans. Did you catch that? The least likely!
In other words: those not declaring their allegiance to Jesus Christ are more likely to live out the gospel with these orphans and widows.
I'm enraged by this. I'm embarrassed, saddened, and frustrated. And I point my finger at myself, since I've done nothing up to this point. But my emotions won't do a thing to help the 13 million children affected by HIV/AIDS.
13 million—that's how many kids have lost one or both parents, not including the millions more who are living in a home where their lives are drastically affected by this deadly disease.
Only action will help. James 1:27 says: "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
Let's show people that being a disciple of Jesus Christ isn't about just amassing knowledge for a future in heaven; real disciples aren't me-focused, living for their next contemporary worship fix or Christian t-shirt. Real disciples are action-oriented, aggressively leaning toward days of hope and a gospel of love." - Mark Ostreicher

Church was great. Ten minutes of silence around communion. No announcements. Corporate scripture reading out loud. People talked to me. Art - painting, pottery, multimedia. Prayer. A worship band that doesn't draw attention to itself. Thinkers. I can't wait to be part of this community.

I am reading Velvet Elvis, by Rob Bell. Good stuff.
I am listening to "A Collision", by the David Crowder Band. Amazing.