It’s Only Rock and Roll, But I like It!

Well it is that time of year again. Time for our annual three-day pilgrimage to the land of the Texas Rangers, Six Flags, giant malls, too many restaurants, (So much food and so little time!) and loud Christian Rock music. We will be heading out this Friday morning, and I don’t know who is more exited, our youth pastors, our youth group or me!
Now I know that this is supposed to be an event for the “youth” but it is also one of my favorite COG sponsored events. There is something amazing about being in a room with four or five thousand Jesus worshipping teenagers. Every one should experience it at least once in their lifetime. There is also the extra added bonus of getting to hear some of the best Christian bands on the face of the earth.
In my younger, pre-Jesus days I spent a lot of my time attending various other “festivals” in and around the Dallas metroplex. Events like The Texas Jam, The Rock and Roll Superbowl and various other gatherings aimed at reaching that wild eyed, hormonally charged generation called teenagers. In those days I, like most other youths was searching for something to satisfy my wandering lonely soul.
I had the opportunity to see some of the biggest “Rock Gods” of my day. You might say that I worshipped at the altar of such greats as The Boss, ZZTop, AC/DC, Ozzy, Journey, Aerosmith, Rush, Foreigner, Santana…the list goes on and on. (As far as I know the COG did not sponsor any of these events.)
I even tried out some of the Country deities like Merle, Hank jr., Gary Stewart and Alabama. I am ashamed to admit that once I even stooped so low that I actually went and saw Christopher Cross live. (Yeah, I know I was one sick puppy.)
I saw some great “shows” but I never found what I was truly searching for.
For an old headbanger like me this weekend is a chance “rock on” and still retain at least a little bit of pastoral dignity. (Hey, I gotta do it for the kids.) For many teens this weekend will be a chance to find what they are looking for. Please pray for Winterfest.
On second thought, it really is much more than Rock and Roll and I absolutely………….LOVE IT!

Spiritual Yard Work

Recently, out of sheer necessity, I grudgingly participated in one of my least favorite activities, “yard work.” Raking leaves to be more specific.
Now I realize that there is actually a strange mutant species of humans that actually enjoy this arduous activity. They have their own little sub-culture that includes a network of supply stations called Home Depots. It is a sick and twisted world, of which, I am not a part of. Surprisingly, even though I detest this mandatory husband/king of my castle chore it seems that the Lord often chooses to use these times of severe testing to speak to my heart about “spiritual things”. Such was the case as I tackled the gargantuan pile of leaves that annually cover my front yard.
As I “joyfully” raked those leaves I pondered within my heart why these things must be. The Lord began to show me that the winds of time and the storms of life, can blow unsightly debris into our “yards.” Little by little, one leave at a time, “stuff,” can pile up in our “yards.” It is so easy for us to go about our daily routines and never even give our “yard” a passing thought. Then one day we stop and really take a good look at our “yard” and reality sets in. Our “yard” is a mess.
Now, it is not like we set out to have a messy “yard” but things just sort of happen and before you know it things have gotten out of hand. We put it off as long as we can but there comes a critical point where some “yard work” must be done.
The Lord showed me that if we don’t rake our “leaves”, eventually the “leaves” will kill the good grass beneath. The “dead leaves” will smother out the “new life” beneath that is waiting to spring forth if only given a chance. It is sad that so many people in our neighborhoods have potentially beautiful “yards” but they are not willing to remove the dead “leaves” that are destroying their own lawn. I had to get started!
Now raking leaves is hard work and as the sweat dripped from my furrowed brow I must admit the thoughts of shortcuts crossed my mind. “One match would surely do the trick”! Maybe I could simply blow them over into my neighbors yard and blame them for being a disgrace to the whole neighborhood. (After all the blame game seems to be the way to go these days). Perhaps I could simply procrastinate and refuse to deal with the whole mess until the next hurricane hits and blows all the leaves away for me. The only problem with waiting for the “big storm” to hit before dealing with your “leaves,” is that the “big storm” often blows your home away, too.
There was no easy way out. The work had to be done. It is my “yard” and it was up to me to deal with the situation.
Well it was a long day. Beside the curb sat twenty bulging sacks of dead leaves. I had never imagined my “yard” could have so many leaves. My back was aching and my muscles were sore, but it sure felt good to have a clean “yard.” It felt good to leave those sacked up dead leaves by the curb and walk away from them. They were out of my life for good! “Hallelujah!” Oh how my heart swelled with pride as I surveyed the great work of my freshly calloused hands. Then it happened. As I looked toward the heavens fully expecting a “this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased” or at the very least an Autumn colored rainbow, much to my chagrin, a leaf gently floated toward my trophy yard.
Oh well I guess as long as I live in “this old house” there will always be a little “yard work” left to do.

Lam 3:40
40 Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD. (NIV)

Proverbs 17:24 (MsgB)
The perceptive find wisdom in their own front yard;…..

I really hope you don’t think I wrote all this about “yard work.”