February 20 – “Great Day. Great God”

 

 

We had a really great service yesterday at Seaside.  It was all about testimonies.  Started out by asking some silly, forced choice questions that everyone had to respond to by standing or sitting.  Things like: which do you prefer, chocolate decadence dessert or a poker party?  A long lunch with your significant other or splurging on a new suit?  Pretty much every man in the house chose the lunch.  Smart move, guys.  Then I asked what they might have been voted "most likely to …" in high school.  That sparked some good responses.  I offered some options: Most likely end up in jail.  Most likely to run for political office.  Mpost likely to run for political office and then end up in jail.  Next was a trip back in time as we remembered where we were when President Kennedy was shot, when the Columbine tragedy occurred, and when Hurricane Ike hit.  The last intro question had to do with who you would want for a neighbor out of list of famous TV neighbors.  Everyone wanted Mister Rogers.  One lady said Mr. Wilson from Dennis the Menace already was her neighbor.  The most popular response to that one, though, was Fred and Ethyl Mertz from I Love Lucy. 

 

After that sequence the comfort level was much higher among the folks.  We sang a song and worked through a visual Verse together.  Then we talked about what food would be the hardest to give up if you were to fast and where in nature you have gone to feel close to God.  It got a bit more difficult when we moved to how you would feel if you had a direct, face-to-face encounter with God, but the group did really well.  Then I asked what had happened in their life that God may be using top get their attention.  That shifted gears completely to the idea of giving a real testimony – sharing something that would en courage others in their walk with Jesus.  And following that up, we had a guest share her testimony about her personal struggles with bulimia and the death of her sister.  Dale did an amazing job.  The next few opportunities to share didn't take nearly as much "coaching." 

 

The result was some of the best singing by the congregation that we have had in a long time.  And how can you beat following all that up with dinner on the grounds?  Great day.  Great God.

 

Isaiah 65:17 says, "Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth.  The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind."

 

Father, thank you for showing up at Seaside yesterday.  You made our day.  Amen.