Just in case anybody was beginning to think that I have it all figured out and am looking down at people from my high horse, I want to make it clear that I fully admit to being part of the problem. My recent criticism of the American church is aimed at myself just as much as anybody.

We went to the Avenue today, and it was a wonderful time of both praise and teaching. One of the things I love about our new church is that the people there are not afraid to stand up during a praise song even before the P&W leader asks everybody to. We started out the praise time this morning with the offertory, where everybody sits for the passing of the offering plate. The song was David Crowders’ “O Praise Him”, and as soon as they started singing it, I knew it was going to very difficult to remain seated because it’s just not a song to be sung sitting down. And on this day, Beth and I had happened to sit on the 2nd row, center section of the sanctuary. For a Baptist church, that is VERY close. Nobody was on the front row, so I guess we were the closest people to the stage. So the plate went past us very quickly. And as we were singing the opening verse, and approaching the powerful chorus, “Chicken Little” me kind of cuts my eyes around to the side of me and behind me to see if anybody was going to stand up. Because of course I couldn’t be the first to stand up. Somebody might think I was weird or something. When I first looked, I didn’t see anybody, but then a couple seconds later, a lady stood up about 2/3’s of the way back. Still not quite brave enough to stand on my own, then a couple stood up a few rows in front of them. So I thought, ok, I can stand up now, as long as I’m not the first, or the 2nd. As I turned back around to face forward and began to stand, I noticed my wife on the other side of me was already standing. I guess she’s not as much of a scarity cat as I am. So basically, I’m very much part of the problem that has been frustrating me.

But once we got going, the praise time was awesome! I think it does help setting up front because there are fewer distractions up front. There’s nobody in front of us chatting with their friends or texting somebody on their cell phone. I don’t have to wonder if I’m singing too loud and the person in front of me wishes I would take it down a notch, because I’m not very musically gifted. We are just able to focus on the words of praise we are singing to God. The message was wonderful and very appropriate also. I’ll talk about that in my next entry.

Update: Stuck on 22 pounds - 3 more to go.