Category: Worship

“American Missionary”

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If you have been watching any of our posts on Facebook or Instagram, you will notice something very obvious about me in any of the pictures I appear in.

I don’t exactly blend in with the people here.

Babu says often that Freddie could pass as Indian – when I ask about me, he laughs… really hard. I stand a full head taller than the women here and most of the men as well. I am gray haired and very – very – white skinned. There is no hiding me. I haven’t seen another white skinned person in almost a month.

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The Church Among the Rubber Trees

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Today qualified as a “Whistle Stop Tour” of four churches here in Kerala. We were able to see their buildings (most often a home or rented building), meet the Pastor and his family, and a small number of each congregation. Due to the time of day, many of the believers of the churches were working. It is such a humbling experience to visit these churches. It really changes your perspective and your heart.

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A Living Sacrifice

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Romans 12 has been on my heart for a couple of months now, specifically verse 1. I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. I had the chance to share a message on this particular verse while we have been in India.

Do you come to Church to get something from God? Please do not misunderstand me. Church is a place of refuge, replenishment for our souls, a place of worshiping our Father in heaven. But are you just taking? Are you giving back, or serving in some capacity? I want you to think deeply about what I am asking. Do you come to God always trying to get something? And has it been a fruitful experience or are you frustrated with empty results?

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Worship

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Yesterday evening, after what seemed to be a long day, came to an end in worship. True worship in a sense is what we should be doing every moment of our day. Tonight it started with song, then the reading of scripture, and ended in prayer.

The songs were simple, no fancy instruments, just voices and clapping of hands. The voices were lifted in harmony, eyes closed lifting praise to a holy, righteous, true and living God. I did not understand the words but their faces reflected a love for our Father in heaven. Looking at them drove me to examine my own worship when I am singing. Am I doing it just out of ritual? Do I truly know the words if the PowerPoint goes down…?

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The Climax of Convention Sunday

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If I (John) could only come to India for one day on these visits, I would insist that it be convention Sunday. There is so much rich and glorious worship, fellowship, love and encouragement packed into one day. It is the sweetest exhaustion that we go to rest with tonight.

Baptism: I will never get over the weight and joy of the baptism celebrations here. To describe it in writing would not do the experience justice. I imagine that watching a video even leaves something missing. The totality of the experience heralds authentic submission, elated union, and corporate sanctification.

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