I went to Church

"...at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. "

I was not even suppose to go. I had been sick all week and feeling pretty awful. In fact I had just canceled a previous commitment. But it happened, someone came into the office and said hey, so and so, has some tickets to U2 if anyone wants them. Thinking to myself that this was probably a once in a lifetime opportunity for me I decided to go. I like U2 a great deal and have always wanted to go to a concert.

I do not want to be overly dramatic about what I experienced there but the only way that I can describe it is worship. I have always been impressed with U2s lyrics and their overt Christian symbolism and poetry and I have been very impressed with Bono's commitment to social justice and feeding the worlds hungry but I did not expect to experience what I did.

Reliant stadium was packed, which means there was probably on the order of 70,000 people there. Every single person focused on the stage and reacting to what was happening there. Every one singing these words about God and Heaven and Jesus and Justice and whether they were aware of it or not they were singing words of praise to the Glory of the creator and restorer of the universe(that every tongue would confess that Jesus is Lord). The roof was open and it felt as if the praises were rising up to the stars. At one point Bono began singing Amazing Grace. Every person in the building had their hands raised, singing in unison. Then he led into the song, "Where the streets have no name". I was on the verge of tears. I was no longer thinking about the stage or the concert but my face was lifted to the sky and I was thanking God for His mercy and my life and I was suddenly struck with fear.

If you have been reading this blog you will know that God has been doing some things in my heart and I am coming to see that I have missed it. I have been next to it all of my life but have somehow missed it. In some ways I have been like the Pharisee, seeking God's righteousness but missing it all together, wanting to show people my knowledge and my position, but never my heart. God has been showing me Jesus. A new Jesus who is actually the old Jesus, the real Jesus and reminding me that He is the example and that He is the King and that He was a servant. God is reminding me that for me, and the Church to bring him Glory, we must serve, Serve selflessly, love extravagantly, live out mercy and to bring about Justice. If we would just wake up and do this, Jesus would be honored. The world would see His greatness and begin to sing his praises in unison, singing Amazing grace, not from ignorance but changed hearts and saved souls. I want to be a part of a revolution. I want to see this world changed and I want my Jesus to be Glorified. The real Jesus, the Jesus that served people and fed them, and healed them, the King Jesus that washed His disciples feet and looked at every poor soul with mercy, Grace and the purest love.

God, may you be Glorified in all of the earth, may your kingdom come, may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. May I live my life to this end and not be afraid to pour myself out like a dink offering giving my whole life, all of me to show others how amazing you are and that because you are love and the essence of mercy you have come to restore all things.