March 26 – “Awake …”

We had yet another pretty full house at Seaside yesterday.  It made for a great Palm Sunday celebration service.  I have to thank Nathan and April for letting me cut some of their palm branches to use for palm crosses as well as decorations around the room.  The greenery provided a real boost to the theme.  We had a time within the service where people could share things they are thankful for.  It was like popping the top of a coke can that had been first dropped on the floor and then shaken a time or two for good measure.  Several shared about personal ways God has touched their lives.  Many others share about how they had been blessed by God’s church that meets at Seaside.  Always encouraging to hear testimonies like that.  And it sounds like people are really looking forward to the Easter sunrise service on the beach next Sunday.  Exciting stuff.

After church we joined a group of Seasiders at Salsa’s for some lunch.  And after lunch we headed over to the movie theater to watch the new show “I Can Only Imagine.”  It’s like a biography of the guy who wrote the title song, which was his band’s (Mercy Me) breakout hit.  I had never heard the story behind the lyrics, so it was pretty fascinating historically.  It was also fun to recognize some of the characters and even some places.  Especially “Camp Glorieta.”  Their portrayal of the place looked nothing like the Glorieta camp we went to for so many years.  And the scene where there are massive fireworks going off at the camp would never have happened, since Camp Glorieta is in the midst of a National Forest.  But other than the inaccuracies that are always fun to pick apart, the movies was done well.  It was definitely geared at people who are already Christians.  Our folks seemed to really like it, and a few of the ladies left in tears.  Give it a look if you get a chance.

So … leading a high-energy Palm Sunday service followed by a Mexican food lunch followed by an afternoon in a dark movie theater.  Not exactly the recipe for this old boy to stay awake.  But I made it through.  Even had enough left when we got home to drive the truck over to Office Depot and pick up a couple of shelves for our neighbors.  So this staying awake on a Sunday afternoon … it can be done.  Next Sunday?  Probably not.  Whole other set of factors involved …

Psalms 40:10 says, “I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation.  I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly.”

Father, thank you for the story behind a remarkable song.  And thank you for the young man’s courage to share it.  Amen.