[If you're reading this on facebook or email, click on 'view original post' to listen to the audio]
Sorry - couldn't resist. This is a very imaginative radio ad from the UK (that has a national faith, but like the USA most people consider religion irrelevant). I wonder what effect this will have.
I became a US Citizen on Friday! Although dual citizenship is not recognized by the USA (and most Western countries), they didn't take my UK passport away.
THANK YOU EVERYONE who helped me get to this point - it's been a very long and expensive journey doing everything by the book (over 7 years and almost $20,000), but well worth it. Special thanks to those who played a direct role: Mike, Rena, Gino, Barbara, Teresa, Judith, Gerald, Tracey, Ben, M&D, Jax Chapel folk, and of course... my dear wife Melissa - I'm so glad she puts up with so much 'me'.
Well, now on with the rest of our life together!
This photo was taken immediately after the ceremony in Newark.
I am so very very happy that Ted Van Natta was "promoted" yesterday morning and is, at last, at rest and at peace. He is with our Creator for eternity and probably making a few angels laugh with his jokes. He will be missed all over the world where he traveled so extensively, but there are plenty of others who will be testifying to his artful influence. Hey Ted, smile - you've reached your destination.
Back in June Melissa and I came across a non-denominational church in Florida that seems to have balanced the celebrity church thing. There is much debate about churches that are based on celebrity pastors & worship leaders, etc, and the recent lack of integrity so prominently displayed by a disappointing wealth-mongering couple in Texas.
In any event, in my experience, most traditional denominations have a Director of Music or leader of worship arts who simply ensures worship takes place. The modern trend of CCM (which is rapidly losing support behind the scenes, btw) employed by so many modern churches seems to favor the promotion of one individual who leads worship, prays, gives notices, and so forth. This causes two problems: 1. Generates a celebrity. 2. Causes rife and separation in the donating congregations. Why alienate half your church?
The Grace Family Church in FL does have a Worship Arts Pastor, Al Hurley. I have no idea who he is because he was not identified, nor could I guess that 'that guy up front' was him either - there was no 'guy up front'. What is apparent is that he is intent on and capable of inspiring inclusive worship. The congregation were singing throughout, there was a small band on stage with a horn section & percussion, and a show choir. The impressive part was all nine 'lead' singers spread across the front of the stage. Not one of them stole my focus.
For each of the four songs we sang at this service, a different lead singer invited the congregation to join them. In this video, it was the lady in pink, but see the chap at the back of the choir raising his hand? He stepped down to lead one of the songs, alongside the other lead singers. There was no celebrity, there was no yawning in the congregation, there was plenty of singing, dancing and hand clapping, and there was a true sense that worship was taking place.
WELL DONE Grace Family Church! This little servant applauds you!
