Denver 2005 (2)
I have to admit it. I love a wireless network. As I sit here and type this edition of my blog, I am sitting outside a hotel in downtown Denver. I searched for an open wireless network and low and behold found one. Technology is wonderful!
Today is the last full day here in Denver for the 51st General Council of the Assemblies of God. We fly out tomorrow. I must admit, I came here with an agenda. I wanted to see if the General Council was relevant. I wanted to buck the system any I could to see if this 90 odd year old organization was able to keep up with the times.
I was born into the Assemblies of God. My first pastor that I really remember was Dr. George Wood. He's now the General Secretary of the AG. My father's mother and father were home missionaries with the AG. My mother's father was head of the Men's Ministry for the AG in the home offices (also called Mecca) in Springfield, MO. They both went to Vanguard University where I eventually ended up. For most of my life, I went to an AG church. There was a small period in my youth when we didn't because my dad didn't like the AG church in the town we lived, in Morgan City, LA. The only other time that I didn't go to an AG was when I lived in North Carolina. I didn't really like any of the AG churches. They weren't relevant to me. They were a bit old fashion and I couldn't see myself amongst their midst. My wife and I ended up going to Faith and Victory Church which was very relevant to my needs and what I wanted in a church.
I can't say that I was always happy with the AG. I remember when I was a kid and went to a youth convention in Louisiana. For the first time in my life I heard music that was like the kind that I liked to listen. I saw people dancing to the Lord, beautifully choreographed to the worship music. They played songs that were new and had a feel, a groove. The next day, during the morning session, the leaders of the convention got up and appologized for what had taken place. They said that they were wrong in displaying such a sinful thing. They said that that wasn't what God liked. They said that what I liked, what I really enjoyed, what stirred my heart, what ministered to me was crap! I was so hurt. I was crushed. Apparently God only liked gospel music. Apparently God didn't care about me and my individuality and didn't like the way that I worshiped him. I guess the music they listened to in the Bible was Bill Gather music. Bummer.
I think I grew somewhat bitter about the church. I still went and I still loved God, but I don't think that I truly learned how to worship Him with all my heart. (Goodness, I still strugle with that!) It wasn't until we moved back to California and started going to a church called Faith Chapel. The music was different that what I had heard in Morgan City and I liked it. My youth pastor, Barry Young, encouraged me to find my voice in my music and gave me the opportunity to help lead worship and then to play rock-n-roll in the church! Wow! Again church became more relevant.
As I grew older and went off on my own, I discovered other churches, nondenominational ones, that were more expressive in their worship with God than what I had ever been used to. One of the greatest strengths of being Pentecostal is also its greatest weakness. That would be emotional side. Pentecostal people are emotional and music has a great effect on the emotions. As a worship leader I know this. I know that a soft ballad will stir the soul and a great groove with a 6/8 beat will get the heart pumping. The danger of this is that we can, if we are not careful, be manipulated into thinking/feeling that we are in the presence of God. Through trial and error I think that I've learned what is geniune and what is show. As a worship leader, I pray that it is the former and not the latter. This being said, I know that the AG is a slow progressor, and rightly so. I don't know of a time when they have jumped on the bandwagon of anything.
I have been to a couple of General Councils in my youth and really don't remember too much of what was going on. I remember Jimmy Swaggart preaching at one and I remember going to a youth event but really don't remember too much. Lately I have been to our Southern California District Council meetings. The preaching, the teaching, the reaching has been relevant. I really enjoy the councils as they provide a place to be ministered to and to learn from the various breakout sessions. So now I was going to go to the Big Daddy of councils and see what has changed in my denomination. I signed up to go the youth events, namely in part because I wanted to see what they were doing for the youth and whether I could take anything back with me to my youth. But the first night, Tuesday, I wanted to hear our leader, Tom Trask, speak. I wanted to hear what he had to say to the "People of the Spirit." I was impressed and ministered to by his words. His message was relevant. I didn't really enjoy the music, but that was me. It didn't mean that I couldn't worship, it was that it was traditional music for the older generation, which in reality, was the majority present.
I attended the business sessions and watched as the body debated the resolution concerning whether the AG should grant credintials to people who had a preconversion devorce. I watched as the body re-elected Trask with a 77% vote. I watched as the Holy Spirit moved in one of the business sessions and that, the ministery of the Holy Spirit, became the business. I attended the Youth Convention services on Wednesday and Thursday. I watched as Jeff Deyo led the 13,000 students in worship to the mighty Father. I heard our second in command Charles Crabtree preach on the Holy Spirit. This impressed me the most. Here was a man old enough to be these students grandfather and for some their great-grandfather and yet he was relevant. Thousand flooded the front to open their hearts to the Holy Spirit. (As I write this, my eyes are filled with tears of joy as I recall the event.) I watched as the Youth Leader for the Gulf Latino District, Michael Hernandez\, poured out his heart on Thursday. He was honest and relevant. He talked about the need of the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit in the deepest part of our hearts. Because each of us has a nation inside of us. A nation that is waiting to birthed because we determine to be used by God, to be His vessel, to bring others into the Love.
I have decided that this AG, this Church, has a hunger and a desire to be relevant in this day and age. After all, to be truly relevant, to be truly real, is to listen and do what God, the Father is directing.
So how does this relate to 4Girls4Me. I'll tell you. My relationship with my Heavenly Father is the most important thing in my life. It directs my vision. The church (not Church) that I belong to has direct impact into my personal life. I want to make sure that I raise my children, that I direct family into the best possible relationship with God. So why church when God is dealing directly with each one of us. Simply put: "Where two or three people meet together in my name, I am there with them." Matthew 18:20.
Today is the last full day here in Denver for the 51st General Council of the Assemblies of God. We fly out tomorrow. I must admit, I came here with an agenda. I wanted to see if the General Council was relevant. I wanted to buck the system any I could to see if this 90 odd year old organization was able to keep up with the times.
I was born into the Assemblies of God. My first pastor that I really remember was Dr. George Wood. He's now the General Secretary of the AG. My father's mother and father were home missionaries with the AG. My mother's father was head of the Men's Ministry for the AG in the home offices (also called Mecca) in Springfield, MO. They both went to Vanguard University where I eventually ended up. For most of my life, I went to an AG church. There was a small period in my youth when we didn't because my dad didn't like the AG church in the town we lived, in Morgan City, LA. The only other time that I didn't go to an AG was when I lived in North Carolina. I didn't really like any of the AG churches. They weren't relevant to me. They were a bit old fashion and I couldn't see myself amongst their midst. My wife and I ended up going to Faith and Victory Church which was very relevant to my needs and what I wanted in a church.
I can't say that I was always happy with the AG. I remember when I was a kid and went to a youth convention in Louisiana. For the first time in my life I heard music that was like the kind that I liked to listen. I saw people dancing to the Lord, beautifully choreographed to the worship music. They played songs that were new and had a feel, a groove. The next day, during the morning session, the leaders of the convention got up and appologized for what had taken place. They said that they were wrong in displaying such a sinful thing. They said that that wasn't what God liked. They said that what I liked, what I really enjoyed, what stirred my heart, what ministered to me was crap! I was so hurt. I was crushed. Apparently God only liked gospel music. Apparently God didn't care about me and my individuality and didn't like the way that I worshiped him. I guess the music they listened to in the Bible was Bill Gather music. Bummer.
I think I grew somewhat bitter about the church. I still went and I still loved God, but I don't think that I truly learned how to worship Him with all my heart. (Goodness, I still strugle with that!) It wasn't until we moved back to California and started going to a church called Faith Chapel. The music was different that what I had heard in Morgan City and I liked it. My youth pastor, Barry Young, encouraged me to find my voice in my music and gave me the opportunity to help lead worship and then to play rock-n-roll in the church! Wow! Again church became more relevant.
As I grew older and went off on my own, I discovered other churches, nondenominational ones, that were more expressive in their worship with God than what I had ever been used to. One of the greatest strengths of being Pentecostal is also its greatest weakness. That would be emotional side. Pentecostal people are emotional and music has a great effect on the emotions. As a worship leader I know this. I know that a soft ballad will stir the soul and a great groove with a 6/8 beat will get the heart pumping. The danger of this is that we can, if we are not careful, be manipulated into thinking/feeling that we are in the presence of God. Through trial and error I think that I've learned what is geniune and what is show. As a worship leader, I pray that it is the former and not the latter. This being said, I know that the AG is a slow progressor, and rightly so. I don't know of a time when they have jumped on the bandwagon of anything.
I have been to a couple of General Councils in my youth and really don't remember too much of what was going on. I remember Jimmy Swaggart preaching at one and I remember going to a youth event but really don't remember too much. Lately I have been to our Southern California District Council meetings. The preaching, the teaching, the reaching has been relevant. I really enjoy the councils as they provide a place to be ministered to and to learn from the various breakout sessions. So now I was going to go to the Big Daddy of councils and see what has changed in my denomination. I signed up to go the youth events, namely in part because I wanted to see what they were doing for the youth and whether I could take anything back with me to my youth. But the first night, Tuesday, I wanted to hear our leader, Tom Trask, speak. I wanted to hear what he had to say to the "People of the Spirit." I was impressed and ministered to by his words. His message was relevant. I didn't really enjoy the music, but that was me. It didn't mean that I couldn't worship, it was that it was traditional music for the older generation, which in reality, was the majority present.
I attended the business sessions and watched as the body debated the resolution concerning whether the AG should grant credintials to people who had a preconversion devorce. I watched as the body re-elected Trask with a 77% vote. I watched as the Holy Spirit moved in one of the business sessions and that, the ministery of the Holy Spirit, became the business. I attended the Youth Convention services on Wednesday and Thursday. I watched as Jeff Deyo led the 13,000 students in worship to the mighty Father. I heard our second in command Charles Crabtree preach on the Holy Spirit. This impressed me the most. Here was a man old enough to be these students grandfather and for some their great-grandfather and yet he was relevant. Thousand flooded the front to open their hearts to the Holy Spirit. (As I write this, my eyes are filled with tears of joy as I recall the event.) I watched as the Youth Leader for the Gulf Latino District, Michael Hernandez\, poured out his heart on Thursday. He was honest and relevant. He talked about the need of the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit in the deepest part of our hearts. Because each of us has a nation inside of us. A nation that is waiting to birthed because we determine to be used by God, to be His vessel, to bring others into the Love.
I have decided that this AG, this Church, has a hunger and a desire to be relevant in this day and age. After all, to be truly relevant, to be truly real, is to listen and do what God, the Father is directing.
So how does this relate to 4Girls4Me. I'll tell you. My relationship with my Heavenly Father is the most important thing in my life. It directs my vision. The church (not Church) that I belong to has direct impact into my personal life. I want to make sure that I raise my children, that I direct family into the best possible relationship with God. So why church when God is dealing directly with each one of us. Simply put: "Where two or three people meet together in my name, I am there with them." Matthew 18:20.
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