I came across this poem earlier tonight. In moments of confusion it has helped out. I hope it ministers to you the way it is to me.


Rhythm to Worship
There's a rhythm to worship
As we pass around platitudes like communion wafers
Hoping that what we say is true
Hoping that what we say is true

There's a rhythm to worship
As we find the break in the ritual
As we find the door that takes us past false
And into the presence of God
For just a beat before life comes in again
And the person next to us begins to sing off key
Or the preacher loses his place

There's a rhythm to worship
As we move sine-like through connection and distraction
Seeing the face of God on the upbeat
And losing it again on the down

There's a rhythm to worship
A rhythm to sof words of praise
And loud shouts of preachers
A rhythm of exchange between the spiritual and mundane
Between God and what we want to eat next

There's a rhythm to worship
As we walk softly
Sing softly, and clap hands softly
As we hope for something more than ourselves
And conjure up in our hearts something that feels like God

Disregard the formula

Sometimes I forget what it means to be a child of God.
I trust Him with Salvation, but doubt him with my life.

I forget that He is my Dad when I stress of the little things in life. Only to look back at how he prepared me before the problem came around. Kinda like my earthly dad teaching me how to shoot a deer, except I didn't listen to God; thus I went to bed hungry.
I forget that He is the Calmer of my storms. Instead of recognizing Him walking toward me on raging waves, I think He is sometimes against me and I start my Mercury 125 and quickly head in the opposite direction; even though I am heading straight toward the rock cliffs.
I will utterly give up everything if God calls me to move somewhere, not a problem for me. But what I can't get past in this life of faith is the low branches, for they keep clipping my feet out from under me.

There is this passage in which Jesus feeds this multitude of people. It is an awesome miracle because Jesus used someone that wasn't even numbered in the census of people to feed everyone present. Then Jesus goes off by himself to spend time with his father. (He was going to do this earlier, but he made time for the selfish crowds.) His students went ahead of him to a specific destination that they had already discussed. On their way across the sea, a storm came and tossed the boat all around. Disciples scared for their lives and water throwing itself onto the boat, out steps this ghost figure or so thought the students. The figure happened to be Jesus. He said to them don't be afraid because I am here with you. They immediately recognized him and invited him onto the boat, only to defy Physics and travel at Lightspeed to reach their destination.

How we act in these moments in our lives greatly alters our perception of the destination. Many times we fail to learn the lessons that the Teacher wanted us learn in the first place.
At times we should disregard the formula and try stepping out when nothing is there to catch us.
Sometimes we should try living the way of the Kingdom---Upside-down and backwards.
All the times we should keep our eyes on the Captain, for when we are in trouble he will send his aircraft carriers, Apache helicopters, Air Force One, etc to our rescue. We just have to realize that he is own our side and be smart enough to accept the rescue.