Valerie Rae Hanneman
2 Samuel 6:14- 15(KJV) “David, ceremonially dressed in priest's linen, danced with great abandon before GOD. The whole country was with him as he accompanied the Chest of GOD with shouts and trumpet blasts.”
When my Fawn was a toddler, maybe about 4, she loved Domino’s pizza. One night her dad ordered Domino’s. Fawn was in the bathtub when the doorbell rang and the familiar cry “Domino’s” rang out. I looked over my shoulder then turned back to tell Fawn to hurry up, only she was gone! While my head was turned one way, she took off in the other. I jumped up, grabbed a towel and ran for the door. The sight that met my eyes was classic. My naked little cherub had her wet little body (without any strategically placed soap bubbles) wrapped around the leg of the pizza delivery man and she was chanting, “I love you, Dominos!” The expression on this young man’s face was both unique and indescribable. I grabbed up my daughter, wrapped her in the towel and hurried into the house. All to the chant of “I love Dominos, Mommy!” My Fawn loved her Dominos Pizza and she didn’t care who knew it.
If you were to ask me when I am the happiest, when my life feels the most right, when I am the most complete - I wouldn’t even have to think about it. It is when I am in services on Sonday morning, worshiping God. This is what I am created for. I am created to be in a living relationship with God. I am created to worship Him. On Sonday mornings I get to celebrate that relationship by worshiping with my eternal family. It don’t get any better than this!
I had a conversation with somebody that I know slightly a few weeks ago. She told me that I was an interesting person to watch as I sang in the choir. Now “interesting” is in itself a unique word because it can be complimentary or not. Did she mean interesting as in she liked it or did she mean interesting as in weird? She continued on,”You are so into the music. I wonder sometimes what’s going on in your head.” I answered, “I’m in the choir, but in my head I am standing in the Throne room of God. My Jesus is seated on the Throne, and His glory is so bright it is like looking into the sun. I’m singing to Him, my hands are raised to Him. He is all I see.” “Wow, I just sing the song” she said.
That is such a sad statement to me - I just sing the song. It makes me wonder, does she connect at all with God while she just sings the song? Or is it just part of her Christian duty? When I am up in choir on Sondays I try to connect with the people in the pews as well as with my Jesus. I want to share our worship experience. It amazes me the number of people who don’t seem to be connecting with anything. Now, please understand, I don’t think that you need to raise your arms, dance around in the aisle, or turn cartwheels towards the platform in order to connect with God. I have seen a number of people who connect very quietly. But as they stand in the Worship Center, there is a sparkle in their eyes, a happiness to the set of their face. Somebody who is wearing an expression that clearly says that they wish they were somewhere else, somebody who has a zombie-like glaze to their eyes - I wonder if they are experiencing the joy of fully connecting with our God. Maybe they are - but if they are - it must be a deep, underground connection cause ain’t nothing showing on the surface.
My worship experience continues on into the preaching of the Word. I know that God has chosen the message that is being delivered by His messenger and I am eager to hear it. I want what it is that God has to say to me. But I don’t think some of the people around me can hear God over their snoring.
I wonder how these seemingly disconnected people are at rock & roll concerts or at Fresno State Football games. Do they stare at Mick Jagger with zombie eyes? Do they greet a Bulldog touchdown with an expression that says “anywhere but here”? Don’t think so! I think their hands are in the air, I think they are singing with Mick at the top of their voices, I think they are jumping around, and if it is a winning touchdown - they just may be turning cartwheels.
I wonder why it is that the things of this earth, things that are soon to pass away, capture our excitement, but we cannot stay awake for the eternal things of God. Mick Jagger, football, the latest “hot” thing - what have they ever done for me beside take my money? But Jesus died for me. He rose from the dead for me. He had given me a life beyond anything I could have ever dreamed of. He calls me His own. He is coming back for me and He has promised me that I never ever have to leave Him.
That is what we should be excited about. That is what should show on our faces on Sonday. Monday through Saturday too. We shouldn’t care if the whole world knows how much we love our God.
I love watching Oakland Raiders football. Not for the football, they are not my team. (Go Cowboys!) I love it because the Raiders have the most extreme fans in the world. These fans love their team and they make sure that the world knows it. Their costumes take considerable preparation before they even get to the football game. Once they are there they are absolutely connected to their team. Every play is a gut-check. When the Raiders are doing well, their fans are excited. When a play goes badly, the fans flinch as if they are the ones in pain.
I wonder what would happen in our churches if we brought Oakland Raider fan enthusiasm into the pews. If before we ever got to the Worship Center we were already preparing to connect with God in a deep, rich way. If once we were in worship we took every song that was sung and every word that was preached and made it part of a connection to God that would run through our veins like fire for the rest of the week
That’s what I want. I want the world to know that the Raider fans got nothing on me when it comes to being excited about Who I love most - My God.
LORD Jesus, I want to be Your Oakland Raider fan of praise & worship. I want the world to know that You excite me more than anything it can offer. I want my connection to You to be evident in my praise on Sonday morning - and in my life the rest of the week.
Contact Valerie or sign up for the e-Ministry of FFBC at valerie@fresnofirst.org
Posted by Valerie at May 12, 2006 11:34 PM