the fruit of pursuit
27 January 2005

i've had a great many experiences in the campus ministry within this last month. it's crazy, there's been this explosion of creativity that has begun to run rampant among the students. desire to worship God in new and fresh ways. desire to give back to God what He's given us. desire to lay a crown or two at His feet. Father, You've sparked something magnificent in Your children.

in all of that, i happened upon an article by matt redman on "the adventurous pursuit of creativity." he writes,

"creativity is essential when it comes to our congregational worship. firstly, it�s a sign of 'life'. a healthy church will be bursting with new songs, new sounds and new sights. they are explosions of the heart - souls so caught up in the glories of God, that they cannot help but respond in imaginative and artistic ways. creativity in its purest form is a reflex - a flash of inspiration coming forth from the artist who has glimpsed the splendour of the Divine. putting that into the context of a church worship service, creativity does not come from a desire to be musically clever, or do something new just because 'variety is the spice of life'. instead, it�s an imaginative and heartfelt response to the received revelation of God. as we see more and more of the goodness, greatness and majesty of God, we find ourselves imaginatively responding with creative expressions of joy, thanksgiving and reverence."

last night at the warehouse we sang a new song that really seemed to fit a need within that night. a group of us got together last week and just talked and wrote about how we face so many distractions in our lives that just create impediments in worship. our response: we're just sick and tired of being sick and tired. let us keep worshipping God, though we may have a hard time "pushing through the barrier." let us return to the Lord with hearts that thirst for joy.

what is keeping us back? should we allow chains of lethargy to bind us? no! will we allow forces of darkness to shut our mouths? no! must we invite the rocks to cry out instead? again, no!

it is amazing to see so many people being united in passionate worship of the King through their lives. new songs are being sung, God is up to something mysteriously awesome, and i am just sitting back and asking Him to sweep me away.

check it out - 01.20.07
vapor - 11.15.06
can't complain - 11.10.06
turn the page - 11.09.06
who invented the word "me-maw"? - 09.28.06

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