A New Generation

I see a generation
Rising up to take their place
With selfless faith
With selfless faith
I see a near revival
Stirring as we pray and seek
We're on our knees
We're on our knees

From Hillsong United's "Hosanna"

I had the awesome priviledge of being a part of several life-changing experiences this year. The first one was a Christian Music Festival in PA in June. It was a 3-day, 70 000 people, camping, singing and worshipping experience. I was able to listen to 70 000 people sing "How Great is Our God" on the side of a mountain under a perfect night sky. People just had to raise their hands in thanks to God who created all of it. People were dancing to some amazing praise music. They had so much energy and joy in them that they just had to.

I was also able to attend a Hillsong United Conference in Toronto in September. It was 24 hours of straight worship. WOW. Once again, people were so inspired that they just had to clap with joy or raise their hands in praise. The worship was powerful and life-changing. The spirit of God was there and speaking directly to the hearts of those who were there.

God spoke to me during these times too. I had to raise my hands to my Creator. I had to get on my knees to let Him come in. I had to dance in praise. I had to clap with thanksgiving. The energy that the Spirit was infusing in the room (and on the side of the PA mountain) was contagious...it broke down my conservative walls. It taught me that worship is meant to be powerful. It's meant to be life-changing. It's meant to be a BIG display of thanks and praise to our Creator. The words we were singing were speaking directly to my heart. They were causing me to change my way of thinking. I was being healed while I was opening myself up completely to God. WOW. I never knew that I could experience all of this during church. Who knew that someone playing their INSTRUMENT in praise to the Lord could move me so deeply that I couldn't stop the tears from flowing??

You can't tell me that God wasn't there. You can't tell me the Spirit wasn't present with us as we danced and sang and cried and prayed. I love my Church family. We are doing some amazing things at our church and I am very happy there. I believe that the Spirit is present with us while we work with our neighbours. I have heard some life-changing, inspiring lessons from our preacher. But, I think that there is more. I think that worship needs to be life-changing. I think that people are looking for ways to express themselves before God and they are being dangerously shot down. In fact, I was accused of being divisive for saying that we should have one of our members play the flute during a Christmas service at our church. We are missing the boat if we think that this is acceptable. If we are singing the same off-key song Sunday after Sunday without any need for emotion. I've always been told that your faith can't based on emotions...but how can we express our faith without emotion?

So to those of you who are seeking change and going for it....more power to you. The bible certainly teaches us that our God is a God of freedom, not of rules and regulations...is that not why Christ came to abolish the old law?? Praise Him for that! Of course the scriptures need to be our guide..."whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to the Father through him!"

Dance away...