Randy Wray’s Blog

Apparently the word NLCSCAB does not mean the California Angels will Be the opponent of the winner of the NLCS! It appears I am a false prophet of baseball. I blame it on faulty reception. I know you will all join me in a moment of silence for Brother Steve.

(PLEASE CONTINUE READING AFTER AN APPROPRIATE MOMENT OF SILENCE)

Madison has a school friend whose dad is a minister of a church here in town. They have been praying for and discussing ways to do a better job in their worship assemblies. A few of us met with their worship team last night and enjoyed a refreshing time of encouragement and praise. I was personally uplifted by their gracious spirit and willingness to cross some lines to collaborate on this project. We are praying and planning on having two praise night outreach events - one at our place and one at their place - the first part of December.

For a variety of reasons we won’t ever merge. The two groups will never meet as one church in one building. And that’s okay. We can have our differences in practice and still be united by the blood of Christ. Through this project, a small step, we are taking a great leap towards the unity that Jesus desires for all believers.

Pretty quiet on the eastern front today. We’ve had quite a bit of drizzling rain the last few days. It is still overcast today so that rules out a fishing expedition. Though I did catch a cat yesterday on a white and red Shad dart. No, not a catfish - a literal cat.

Our psycho cat wandered into the basement and was batting around a Shad Dart (a gold hook with a weighted body painted red and white) Reese had tied to a stick. We heard this funny sound as she was running through the house. We have wood floors and we didn’t think the cat had suddenly discovered a love of tap dancing.

Scared as she was, she let me approach and I saw she had hooked herself on said fishing lure. The upside was she had run so much it had pushed the hook all the way through one of her claw pads. Thus, I was able to clip off the barb and slide the remaining shank out. Good thing I had completed that Time / Life series on Veterinary Medicine.

Those of you with cats realize the delicate nature of this procedure. She was mad, wanted to scratch and bite me but somehow was able to realize I was trying to help her.

Here is a picture of me executing the delicate procedure:

What can I say? It was the saintly thing to do!

I hereby decree today as NATIONAL PRAY FOR STEVE DAY!

Steve, we feel your pain. We feel your sorrow. We understand your anger.

Greg has rooted for the Braves - he understands your woe.

Cecil has rooted for the Marlins - he is no stranger to your angst.

Brady has rooted for the Swiss curling team - i’m not sure what “a man” like that would feel.

I have rooted for the Reds - I know what it’s like to be left standing in Schott.

We’re here for you buddy — let it all out — the pain, the hurt, the tears.

Just remember . . .

Psalm 1:5-6 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked will perish.

And all will be well.

I was driving in this morning wondering what it would be like if our “on the job” mistakes were the subject of the national media. What if talk shows, journalists, newscasts and other pundits replayed your every decision?

I’ll keep an eye on Steve’s blog today and let the rest of you know if it is safe to visit.

Some thoughts today from Think Like Jesus by George Barna:

We Americans live in the land of cheap grace; we gladly accept peace with God through Jesus’ death and resurrection, but we assume no responsibility for change because we argue that we did not agree to that requirement beforehand and would find alternative route to God’s palace anyway. So deep-rooted is our denial of reality — even among those of us who are blessed enough to know Jesus as a personal Savior — that we fail to recognize that His terrible death on that splintered wooden cross was not our gateway to Spiritual Easy Street.

If we are determined to live for God’s purposes and glory rather than our own we must experience personal brokenness over our history and inclination to sin. We must wholly abandon ourselves to God. In practical terms, that means giving up our agendas, our dreams, and our plans in order to listen for His quiet voice that leads us toward a very different and unworldly future.

It may not be a future of voluntary poverty like Mother Teresa or devotion to preaching the gospel ?° la Billy Graham. But that small voice that whispers so urgently to you in the clutter of the daily cacophony will lead you to transform every thought, word, and action in ways that would not otherwise be possible or plausible.

The outcome — greater godliness, more consistent holiness, ever-developing selflessness — is the result of someone who understands the ravages of sin, the burden of guilt, the freedom of God’s grace, the joy of peace with God, and the reformation of a renewed heart and mind.

Good stuff. Grace and peace be with you all, today.

The events which transpired last night, between the Angels and the evil empire, prove that God hears the prayers of a righteous Steve.

My flight back from Nashville was aboard one of those smaller commuter jets. Have you been on this type of plane? There are two rows on the right (starboard) side and one row on the left (port) side. I’m “comfortably” seated in 11A on the left side. Prior to takeoff Husqvarna, our East German flight attendant, announces the captain has informed her there is not enough weight in the back of the plane and they need two passengers from the front rows to move to the back. That’s one of those announcements that causes you to reflect. I had done my part to add weight to the back of the plane having eaten at the Opryland Buffet that morning. Not to worry, two teenagers get up and agree to move to the back. I’m watching these brave lads move to the back and wondering how a combined weight of 180 pounds is going to make a difference. Don’t we need some “larger” passengers to move to the back?

It reminded me of a smaller plane I was on once where the captain stood at the door (which was in the back of the plane) looking at each passenger, guessing their approximate weight and directing them to a specific seat on the plane. No worries. He’d probably been well trained at the carnival.

Whenever I’m walking through an airport I’m always curious as to who I will see that I know from somewhere. It’s hard to describe as a game. Perhaps it better falls in the category of contest or amusing way to pass the time. It has happened. Walking through an airport in whatever city and there you find someone you know from somewhere. And it happened again yesterday.

Now, I realize the deck was somewhat stacked yesterday. Nashville only has one airport and people from the ZOE conference were bound to be in there all day long. Still, it was kind of fun. My friends (the Henderson family) were leaving before me so we went together and I accompanied them to their gate. There waiting was one of my college roomates. We had seen each other at the ZOE conference and enjoyed a generous time of catching up prior to his flight departing.

As I was leaving the gate I saw another person I knew from my days in youth ministry. We hugged talked briefly (as her plane was boarding) and discovered her husband was in D.C. working for Luis Palau at the D.C. Festival. I left there heading to my gate and found another person I had first met in my youth ministry days and we spent some time catching up. Stacked it was, but it was a record. Three airport contacts in one shot.

I arrived home in time to be picked up by some friends who graciously dropped me off on the mall in downtown D.C. (the grassy area in between all the attractions) to meet up with my family at the D.C. festival. Our friends graciously drove my luggage and dropped it off at home. Talk about curb to curb service. I got there just as Steven Curtis Chapman came on stage and began his set of music. Good timing. It was a good family reunion and a good cap to a musical weekend.

I imagine most people would be surprised to learn that I am not a “let’s try this because it’s different” kind of person. Like many, I’m comfortable with certain things a certain way. This invariably leads to ruts and we know how comforting a rut can be. We also know how stagnating a rut can be.

I’m willing to try new things and experience new things. If possible, I like to know the reason behind the new thing or new experience. A reason that does not cut it with me is “because we can.” There is major gulf between “because we can” and “because we should.” In my mind “because we can” is all about me, whereas “because we should” is more about our people.

In the realm of public worship I’ve been both on the receiving end and the distributing end of new and different things. I know there are have been times in my life as a worship leader where new things have been done simply to do something new. Again, that is not necessarily a bad thing. No one ever got out of a rut by talking about it or dreaming about it. You get out of rut by grabbing hold of the steering wheel and deliberately guiding the car in a different direction.

The conference has been a challenge to me in various ways. As a worship leader I believe it to be healthy to be asked to do things that are different. This helps me keep close tabs on my own feelings and emotions regarding things that are different so that I will not lose sight of the fears and struggles of others. I say fears because when all is said and done most of our objections fall in the realm of fear.

We’ve been programed to believe that change leads to strange fire which leads to death. Talk about something that needs to be changed “because we should”! Less talk about strange fire and more talk about perfect love would do us all some great good.

1 John 4:17-18 (NCV) This is how love is made perfect in us: that we can be without fear on the day God judges us, because in this world we are like him. Where God’s love is, there is no fear, because God’s perfect love drives out fear. It is punishment that makes a person fear, so love is not made perfect in the person who fears.

Last night I chose to attend a worship time that was different from my normal range of experience for a variety of reasons one of them revolving around a Mandolin and an Accordion. I went with a certain set of expectations which were completely met and was challenged beyond these expecations in other ways.

I chose to participate in prayer and reflection for Christians in countries whose governments are hostile towards Christ. I chose to participate in prayer and reflection for myself as one sent by God to be like Christ. I chose to receive a blessing, to be anointed with oil by a godly white haired saint. My eyes were filled with tears as she spoke words of God into my ear.

But what you need to know is that before participating in these different activities I sat in my chair for a long time wondering why. I wondered what the people I was with would think. I wondered what those who knew me in that room would think. But most of all, I wondered what God was thinking. There was no peel of thunder. There was no cloud. There was no voice. Only a decision to draw near. More than anything else I wanted them to see in my someone who was not afraid to draw near.

It’s going to be different and look different for each of us on many levels. We have to keep in mind the reason for our experience with God is to draw near. The God who made all things invites us to draw near. His invitation comes with a great promise and a great challenge.

James 4:8-12 (NCV) Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you. Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother, or judges his brother, speaks against the law, and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge of it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?

The promise is being near to the heart of God. The challenge is getting there with humility and openness leaving behind a judgmental spirit or attitude. Whatever your “change tolerance” might be I urge you to draw near as often as you can. It’s worth the risk.

Hebrews 10:22 (NCV) let us come near to God with a sincere heart and a sure faith, because we have been made free from a guilty conscience, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.

I can remember thinking how much fun it would be to travel all the time. How exciting it would be to fly here for business or fly there for business. How thrilling it would be to travel the country as a speaker or consultant.

I’m usually gone a couple of times a year (away from my family) and I look forward to the trip (or the event) but I hate being away. It’s not the big stuff that I miss. It’s the small things.

I miss taking Reese to school, that chat we have along the way as we drive. I miss picking Madison up from school, that chat we have along the way as we drive. I miss having lunch with Beth, calling her every other hour to talk about stupid things. The things I usually call about are stupid.

The thing is I’ve only been gone a day and I’m already wishing I was not here. The conference is great, the music is great and the food is great. But I’m missing the backyard soccer game and the smiles and the faces.

They say having kids changes everything. I’m sure glad that it does.

Yesterday I attended a lunch time concert series sponsored by the Washington Bach Consort. The cantata (Es ist nichts Gesundes an meinem Leibe, BWV 25 - for those of you keeping score at home) featured an Organ prelude followed by a choral with symphony. I’ve attended these events in the past and look forward to attending in the future.

Here’s the thing. I attended yesterday and was, as much as possible, trying to put myself in the place of someone attending a religious service for the first time. The concert is hosted by a church in downtown D.C. It’s an Episcopal / Anglican church and is as you would expect somewhat high church. I was reminded of the statement architecture makes. The worship space says something about who you are trying to reach.

While not a traditional religious service, the theme of the concert was purely religious. The conductor even read from the Psalms of which this particular cantata had originated. The text of the Cantata (translated in English for the rest of the world who is not fluent in German) spoke of the troubles and trials of this flesh and the awaited, promised deliverance.

The Organ prelude was amazing - the organist used every limb available coaxing sound after sound from the pipes. For a moment I wished I was his Chiropractor. The orchestra is always top notch, very polished. The orchestra had the usual compliment of instruments included three grown up recorder players for yesterday’s cantata. I’m always amused by the folks who continue playing the recorder after elementary school. The singers were well trained, well rehearsed and the tenor solo stood up and without any music before him launched into a particularly Recitavo - or was it an Aria?

Perhaps the most dramatic thing about attending this type of religious expression is knowing when and how to respond as an audience member. There are breaks, lulls, pauses, throughout the 50 minute service. And everyone in attendance knows that you only clap at the end - and clap they did! The sanctuary was full of people - surely someone was there for the first time - and yet regardless of the pause not one person forcefully put their hands together until the very end. How did they know? It was not printed in the program. Were people told by someone who brought them or was that just one of those unwritten things that a certain crust of people are supposed to know?

Even when it was time to clap it started slowly (by those in the know) and increased in timber and tone as the rest of us joined in. I can imagine what would have happened if someone had started clapping midway through during one of the pauses? I’m just glad that poor slob wasn’t me!

For those of you who care about baseball it’s time to make the first round of picks:

Padres vs. Cardinals (I’m choosing the Cardinals)
Red Sox vs. White Sox (I’m choosing the Sox . . . the Red ones)
Yankees vs. Angels (How could I not choose the Angels?)
Astros vs. Braves (Sorry Greg and Josh, I’m going with the Astros)

For those of you who don’t care about baseball, repent. Can you believe I turned on ESPN over the weekend to discover they were televising a SCRABBLE match? Yes, the board game. Yes, a scrabble match. Now we know why they are pulling women’s softball from the Olympics - to make way for scrabble. There is something seriously wrong with this picture.

The board game federation is running amuck, unchallenged. Must be all that leverage and Monopoly money. Hey, if you can print your own you might as well spread it around.

Nothing like a lazy Saturday afternoon and watching a stimulating game of Chutes and Ladders on ESPN. How long before Parcheesi is an Olympic sport?