I’m going through this book reading phase – where I’m quenching my thirst for water knowledge. I recently finished this book: Unquenchable, by Robert Glennon.

This book covers everything from industrial uses of water, to farming’s use of water, to water conservation, to water closets (and yes, I mean the latrine).

The book uses clever anecdotes to tell the story of water use and misuse. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is concerned about the future of water.

My favorite chapter is “Shall We Drink Pee?” Here’s an excerpt from from page 167:

In 2008, an Associated Press national investigative team completed a 5-month inquiry that found pharmaceuticals “in the drinking water supplies of at least 41 million Americans,” including those living in Southern California, Northern New Jersey, Philadelphia, Detroit, and Louisville.

Rrrrrrrrrrr…. I would embed the video here, but WordPress doesn’t support Flash.  Here’s a quick link instead:

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-july-16-2009/robert-glennon

A description of the segment:  Robert Glennon believes Americans need a moral compass and a political will to prevent the water crisis from becoming a catastrophe.

Unquenchable author Robert Glennon appeared on The Daily Show on July 16 to discuss the water crisis with host Jon Stewart. The University of Arizona professor explained that Americans fail to realize “water is finite and exhaustible,” that it is not like air.

Even in our quest for cleaner energy, we are forgetting to factor water into the equation. Glennon said new energy sources, such as ethanol and solar, consume incredible amounts of water. He claimed the government is not taking water into consideration while tackling global warming.

Host Jon Stewart jokingly suggested we use the foot of water being added to our oceans annually (due to climate change) to ease the water shortage. All jokes aside, the desalination process requires much energy in itself and is expensive, according to Glennon. Furthermore, desalinization produces brine stream waste as a byproduct. With his signature wit, Stewart suggested opening a brine stream amusement park for kids.

The banter between Glennon and Stewart was informative and good for quite a few chuckles, but the water crisis deserves so much more media attention. The Daily Show claims to be a major news source for many Americans, for better or for worse. However, the crisis continues to be underreported in the mainstream media. This is unfortunate because, as Robert Glennon put is, “crisis is a time of opportunity.” The more people know about the global water crisis, the more opportunity we will have to make positive changes.

Source: http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-july-16-2009/robert-glennon

There are many different forms of worship in our world and interestingly enough, plenty of these forms can be found within one religion. Christianity probably has one of the widest spectrums of worship as it has progressed out of Bible times and into today’s culture, whereas many other religions never moved out of their scriptural time period. However, whether a church classifies their worship as traditional or modern, Pentecostal or Methodist, or any of the many other comparisons, their worship is still worship. Despite how many different forms of worship there are, there has been one form in general that has intrigued me like no other over the past couple years. This is the form of worship we recognize as charismatic.

Now when I use the term charismatic, I am referring to it as the form of worship that came out of the charismatic movement. The definition that the New Oxford American Dictionary gives for this movement, actually describes it quite well. It states that it is “a movement within some Christian churches that emphasizes gifts believed to be conferred by the Holy Spirit, such as speaking in tongues and healing of the sick.” But many Christians don’t believe in this kind of worship. Many of them have never even been exposed to it. I know this because I used to be one of them.

Darren Wilson, filmmaker of the documentary “Finger of God” made a statement in his movie that pretty much sums up my former belief of God. “Everyone, no matter who you or what you believe, has a kind of grid of understanding. Usually this grid is based on your experience or upbringing. My grid was pretty simple. God can do miracles if He wants to, but I never saw any, so, you know, they must be pretty rare. God was kind of like an invisible friend whose greatest hits happened a long time ago… There was one thing I pretty sure of. No matter what God did, He was very, very normal. And He always made perfect sense.”

One of the most fascinating things about the charismatic movement is that it takes that which many would consider strange, like Darren once did, and turns it into the new normal. And so perhaps the best part of the charismatic movement is that their unusual norm originates out of the Holy Spirit. Say what you will, but any Christian would have a hard time trying to imagine a truer form of worship or something more exciting than that. And I am not just talking about the Holy Spirit giving someone a sudden epiphany. I am talking about the Holy Spirit doing something tangible; something invisible doing something that appeals to our worldly senses.

One of the problems that we have within our churches today, is that we have strayed so far from the work of the Holy Spirit, that when He tries to do interfere with our nicely built worship programs we attempt to cast Him out as we would a demon. Sadly, many of us can’t tell the difference between the two despite the fact that the Holy Spirit is the one thing that separates Christians from the rest of humanity. And so I feel it essential that we learn how to become more charismatic in our worship. But how would we go about this?

For starters, our church leaders should spend some more time learning and being taught who the Holy Spirit is and how He interacts with us. As in any subject, the easiest way to learn is to be around those who already know very well and in this case can prove it by using the gifts of the Spirit. Our higher educational programs should spend more time growing their ministerial students in this area of faith. As future leaders in the church, it is important for them to understand their Leader when He calls to them, which despite how simple it sounds, can be quite complex at times. But hopefully, the more they learn, the clearer His voice will be, and the clearer His voice, the better they will lead. Not only will they be more efficient leaders, but when their congregation can see the Holy Spirit in their pastor, their respect for him or her will be much higher and they will be in turn be more willing to obey God’s word.

Another great reason to incorporate the charismatic movement into our churches was made in a lecture about denominationalism by Dr. Ken Brewer, professor at Spring Arbor University. He summed up his section on the charismatic by asking the questions “Aren’t you tired of going to church and not getting anything out of it? What if you woke up on Sunday knowing that you were actually going to experience God that day?” The answer for many Christians would obviously be, “Yes! Then I would have no problem going to church!”

Just imagine how exciting it would be to have God Himself intervening in our services! Today’s generation has been busy installing colored lights, video screens, and subwoofers into their sanctuaries to create a place where they can mimic an experience of a God whom many times they feel distant from. Not that I have a problem with using technology to create a worshipful atmosphere, but how much different would our services be if we weren’t simply mimicking it? What if it was actually a true experience of God? This idea would cause some people’s mouths to water while others would shake in their boots. I am sure that many would be doing both.

It is the experience of God that we die for every Sunday morning, and the lack of it that has caused many churches to be buried alongside their brothers and sisters who were much like them. But if we were to add even the slightest bit of taste of the Spirit to our services we could watch them flourish and bloom without the marketing strategies of a mychurch.com world. Christians don’t always know it anymore, but many of them actually come to church subliminally looking for God­, not the free coffee and donuts. That is why many of us often leave a service saying, “I didn’t really get anything out of that today,” because when you experience God you leave changed and deep down they know that.

So say that we were going to make our services a little more charismatic than they are. How would we go about doing that? Can we just change from a laid back seeker-friendly church to a hootin’ and hollerin’ Jesus frenzy? Maybe, but that would probably scare a lot of people away to another church where they could feel comfortable again. If a church was to become a little more charismatic it might be best to work on it over time so that people could get their feet wet before jumping in.

I recall a time at my comfortable church where a lady I had never seen before ran to the front of the sanctuary and started dancing and leaping and yelling her worship to God. The pastor eventually came over to her and said something, which caused her to stop. I was very unsure as to what had just happened. I was a bit scared and embarrassed of this lady, yet at the same time she left something to be desired. I imagine some looked upon her with disgust, while others might have shared thoughts similar to mine. Either way you looked at it, an intense form of worship had just briefly happened in our sanctuary and had now been banished from our church. But it just goes to show that for many, charismatic worship is a scary and odd thing and it needs time to grow on people.

Another way we could go about letting the charismatic into our churches, would be to run a separate event in our churches outside of Sunday morning services. Someone who understands charismatic worship would lead these events and the people who attend would come wanting to learn. This way the people who are at this particular service would be there because they want to. Then the gifts of the Holy Spirit would pour out of them and every Sunday morning there would be a group of people offering a whole new level of worship. Out of the outflow of their hearts others would be affected. The congregation of the church would look over at these worshippers that they know quite well and be amazed by what God is doing through them and in them.

And then there is another question. What about unbelievers who walk into the building? If charismatic worship can scare some Christians away from the Holy Spirit, then what on earth are unbelievers going to think? The apostle Paul had a pretty good answer to that question.

“So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy is for a sign, not to unbelievers but to those who believe. Therefore if the whole church assembles together and all speak in tongues, and ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all; the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you (1 Corinthians 14:22-25).”

The idea that Paul puts forth here is that if an unbeliever were to walk in on a charismatic service, some forms of worship would make him or her see Christianity as a religion full of crazy people. However, when the charismatic form of worship affects the unbeliever, he or she will have no choice but to believe and worship God. The Holy Spirit will have moved beyond the realm of Christianity and into the realm of the unbeliever.

Dennis Kinlaw, one of the great Methodist preachers of our time also addressed this question in his book “Preaching in the Spirit.” (This book costs a penny on Amazon. You should go pick yourself up a copy.) Throughout his book he addresses how we need to make room for the Spirit in our preaching, our lives, and our churches. In one particular section of the book he tells a story about an unbeliever who sensed “God’s presence in our corporate worship.”

“I have always been awed by the way an unbeliever may be sensitive to the Lord’s presence in a way that believers are not. I remember a young man who came into our service from a very pagan background… he said, “You know, there’s something about this church that I don’t understand, something I’ve never experienced before. I got trapped into coming. My wife made me come. But when I got in there something happened to me that I can’t explain; I felt something I’ve never felt before. Is that God?” Isn’t that fascinating? Some so-called Christian people sitting right next to him didn’t know that God was there. But he did. Dave didn’t know who God was; but he sensed God’s presence in the midst of worship.”

Despite how much more our churches need to be Spirit based, there is sometimes a line that we must draw. Earlier on in 1 Corinthians 14, Paul talks about speaking in tongues. While he encourages people to do so, he also discourages people from doing too much of it, especially if there isn’t an interpreter. If there is no one to interpret the tongue being spoken, there isn’t much of a reason for the whole church to hear it. It’s only edifying the person speaking it instead of the entire body.

This just goes to show that sometimes we can get a bit carried away in our worship depending on the form and situation of it. Although the mere thought of getting “carried away” with our worship seems nearly impossible, we do need to recognize it. It is essential that we recognize it. Worship leader and recording artist Matt Redman makes a note in his book “The Unquenchable Worshipper” to leaders who go a little too far in how they lead their worship. (58 cents on Amazon.)

“There’s nothing more exciting than a dynamic worship time where God breaks in with such freshness that no one really knows where we’re going next. The Holy Spirit will take us into the most wonderful depths of the throne room and, sometimes, He will take us there on a route we’ve never journeyed before. That’s not to say worship leaders always need to behave unpredictably. That would be stupid. If we did, everyone would soon become irritated and tired of trying to keep up. C. S. Lewis though that too many new and unpredictable moments in a worship service could end up leaving people focusing on the worship rather than actually worshipping or, if you like, fixing their eyes on the service instead of Jesus.”

As with any form of worship, it essential that we learn to balance. While the charismatic should influence our services in some way (whether it’s a small or big influence) we need to know how to balance it. It should edify the body and push our churches into deeper worship to God, not distract and take away from our worship. The balance can differ depending on what church you attend, the people who attend it, and where it is located. Everything affects our services and so giving all churches a strict formula as to how they should run their worship is quite a difficult thing to do. However, we are all aware of some of the essentials that should be incorporated into our services.

One of the big questions we need to ask ourselves is if a church without the Spirit is even a church to begin with. Bono, singer-songwriter of the band U2, stated this best when he said “Religion is what you’re left with when the Spirit leaves the building.” There are many churches that are living proof of this statement and unfortunately there are many more who are following a path towards religion and completely ignoring the Spirit.

There is still plenty about the Holy Spirit that I don’t understand myself and it is out of my desire to know that I feel we have a lot to work on in our churches when it comes this subject. Many churches are afraid to talk about Spirit and sometimes I wonder if many Christians even believe He exists. We need to raise up a new generation of believers who are capable of comprehending the Spirit and know how to let Him work through them.

We have searched high and low over the past several decades to find some way to experience God. And in our attempts to do so, we’ve incorporated ancient mysticism, modern technologies, and everything in between into our services. In the process we have completely missed a true comprehension of the very Spirit that separates us from the rest of the world. While I am sure some people would be quite wary of the Spirit and His power, I believe that the future holds believers who long for His norm to become their own. And seeing as how the Spirit tends to reveal Himself in charismatic ways, perhaps it’s time for us to give up on the fight to keep Him out and instead allow Him into our churches. Otherwise we’ll be no more than a religion.

Works Cited

Bono. Quote. Finger of God. Dir. Darren Wilson.

Brewer, Ken. “Denominationalism: Where is the Church Headed in the 21st Century?” Focus 2009. Spring Arbor University, Spring Arbor.

“Charismatic Movement.” New Oxford American Dictionary. Software Dictionary. Version 2.02 (51.4). Copyright 2005-2007 Apple Inc., All right reserved.

Finger of God. Dir. Darren Wilson. DVD. Wanderlust Productions.

Kinlaw, Dennis F. Preaching in the Spirit. New York: Evangel House, 1998.

New American Standard Bible (NASB). Anaheim: Foundation Publications, Inc., 1995.

Redman, Matt. The Unquenchable Worshipper Coming Back to the Heart of Worship (Worship Series). New York: Regal Books, 2001.

02/15/09

I’ve got an unquenchable feeling of uncertainty. I feel it when I fall asleep at night, I hope it will not wake up to it in the morning. I feel out of place with this feeling. Like I could use it to do something daring, something that the regular Phoenixx wouldn’t do. Maybe I’m just stressing myself out for no reason. Have you ever gotten the feeling where it feels like the skin over your ribcage is tightening? That happens to me when I’m hungry and occasionally when I’m stressing. I don’t understand myself fully. One day I’m, lighting the room with my smile, the next I’m sulking because I can’t find reason in ANYTHING. Some days I don’t know what I’m worried about. Though it could be everything. There is always something wrong with the picture you see. Whether it’s small or large, but the world is obviously an imperfect place.

Music is my cure for all of that. My medicine. My hate notes. My excitement. My everything. Music is there for me. If I’m happy I “head bang” to some Paramore, if I’m feeling angry I turn on My Chemical Romance’s first album (“I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love”) and blast “Our Lady of Sorrows” while screaming the lyrics. If I’m feeling whimsical and lighthearted I might fancy for some MGMT or Vampire Weekend. If I want to dance I’ll turn on the Gym Class Heroes. Feeling indie, maybe Radiohead, Straylight Run, or Lovedrug. Needing to relax I’ll play my Feist (“The Water” is my personal favorite). Anberlin just makes me want to take a minute and think about the lyrics then get back up and jump around. The Academy Is… is a good definition of pop punk. Punk but not to ranting instead, poppy, definitely something you could jump to. Maybe I should just turn on some music. Though it will only push back problems, but maybe that’s what I want.

“You gotta swim, and swim when it hurts.” — Jack’s Manequinn

“Can’t walk it off, can’t come clean.” — Lovedrug

“But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.” Psalm 33:18-19

God is faithful to those who love Him. We can see Him do the impossible for the people who love Him throughout the Bible. We would be right to say that the Bible is one great ‘Love story’ – the unquenchable love God has for His children. Look at the numerous wars that God fought for His people Israel. They had very few resources, their army was very small compared to their enemy’s armies. Yet God fought the battles for them.

We can also see how God saved Noah and his family even when the entire population of the earth was wiped out. Great was His love for Noah because he was faithful to Him. The prophets of God had to go through a lot of hardship – famine, persecution and great suffering but God brought each of them out of it. He even fed His prophet through ravens!

We are surrounded with news about some earthquake, cyclone or other calamity. In all these circumstances we may fear for our own lives too. But God’s Word says He delivered His own from death and kept them alive in famine. His Word is ever true… Keep holding on to Him and He will keep you safe from all harm. Trust in Him, He is the best source of security you will ever have.

Prayer:

“Dear Jesus, thank you for your assurance that you are with me always. I hold on to your promise. Help me to grow closer to you each day, Amen.”

“But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.” Psalm 33:18-19

God is faithful to those who love Him. We can see Him do the impossible for the people who love Him throughout the Bible. We would be right to say that the Bible is one great ‘Love story’ – the unquenchable love God has for His children. Look at the numerous wars that God fought for His people Israel. They had very few resources, their army was very small compared to their enemy’s armies. Yet God fought the battles for them.

We can also see how God saved Noah and his family even when the entire population of the earth was wiped out. Great was His love for Noah because he was faithful to Him. The prophets of God had to go through a lot of hardship – famine, persecution and great suffering but God brought each of them out of it. He even fed His prophet through ravens!

We are surrounded with news about some earthquake, cyclone or other calamity. In all these circumstances we may fear for our own lives too. But God’s Word says He delivered His own from death and kept them alive in famine. His Word is ever true… Keep holding on to Him and He will keep you safe from all harm. Trust in Him, He is the best source of security you will ever have.

Prayer:

“Dear Jesus, thank you for your assurance that you are with me always. I hold on to your promise. Help me to grow closer to you each day, Amen.”

“But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.” Psalm 33:18-19

God is faithful to those who love Him. We can see Him do the impossible for the people who love Him throughout the Bible. We would be right to say that the Bible is one great ‘Love story’ – the unquenchable love God has for His children. Look at the numerous wars that God fought for His people Israel. They had very few resources, their army was very small compared to their enemy’s armies. Yet God fought the battles for them.

We can also see how God saved Noah and his family even when the entire population of the earth was wiped out. Great was His love for Noah because he was faithful to Him. The prophets of God had to go through a lot of hardship – famine, persecution and great suffering but God brought each of them out of it. He even fed His prophet through ravens! 

We are surrounded with news about some earthquake, cyclone or other calamity. In all these circumstances we may fear for our own lives too. But God’s Word says He delivered His own from death and kept them alive in famine. His Word is ever true… Keep holding on to Him and He will keep you safe from all harm. Trust in Him, He is the best source of security you will ever have.

Prayer:

“Dear Jesus, thank you for your assurance that you are with me always. I hold on to your promise. Help me to grow closer to you each day, Amen.”

In the first video, [7.12.08: This video is no longer available on YouTube.] Faye arrives at Hong Kong airport. In the second, [7.12.08: This video is no longer available on YouTube.] she arrives at Hong Kong Coliseum for the Buddhist service. ADDED: Up until the third video below, we knew that Faye was mobbed by the press at the airport and at the entrance to the Coliseum. However, we didn’t realize how bad it was within the Coliseum until Stila 321’s video upload. Faye was literally surrounded by a horde of reporters with cameras and lights from the moment she entered. Her every move was closely followed and recorded. Even when she sat quietly in the audience, reporters were crowded around her with their cameras. In fact, from certain angles, we can’t even see Faye. All we see are the backs of the journalists swarming over her. Despite the serious and religious nature of Faye’s presence at the service, the thirst for information, photos, videos, and quotes from Faye is not only unquenchable but growing in leaps and bounds by the hour. It seems the more the Chinese people see of Faye, the thirstier they become for more and more. All of this media attention is an absolute boon to the fundraising efforts for the Sichuan earthquake victims, and I’m sure Faye understands this and is, thus, willing to suffer the constant onslaught. The bottom line is that no one — absolutely no one — is bigger than Faye Wong (王菲) in China. And as Maggie Q says, second place isn’t even close.

[7.12.08: This video is no longer available on YouTube.]

[7.12.08: This video is no longer available on YouTube.]

ADDED: The following video was uploaded to YouTube by Stila321 earlier today. It captures Faye in the Coliseum:

[7.12.08: This video is no longer available on YouTube.]

Currently Reading:  The best book in the world. (for those of you who can’t see, it’s The Unquenchable Worshipper by Matt Redman)

I came on this quote, and it stopped me, and I had to re-read it.

“Enter the UNQUENCHABLE worshipper. This world is full of fragile loves-love that abandons, love that fades, love that divorces, love that is self-seeking. But the UNQUENCHABLE worshipper is different. From a heart SO AMAZED by God and HIS wonders BURNS a LOVE that WILL NOT BE EXINGUISHED. It survives any situation, and lives through any circumstance. It will NOT allow itself to be QUENCHED, for that would HEAP INSULT on the LOVE it lives in responce to.”

Does that wreak anyone elses thoughts about worship?

I am currently reading a book called, “Ablaze for God”, authored by Wesley L. Duewel.  Only recently have I started reading it and I’m practically glued to it.

To tell you honestly, I’m not much of a book person.  Really.  I mean, I read a few stories compiled in “Chicken Soup for the Soul” and the like… but only to that extent.  I seem to have a pretty short attention span when it comes to novels and such.

That was then, I guess.  Because I’m actually starting to enjoy deep reading and reflecting after every few paragraphs.  I notice myself staring into a blank wall or into nothingness just letting the words sink in… letting my whole being absorb the teachings on each chapter.

I believe the Holy Spirit has somehow ignited my inner desire to learn more about God.  It’s as if I thirst and quench for more teachings… it’s like I thrive in discussions about the Lord.

This book is currently the topic of the next two weeks of our KG (Koinonia Group) gatherings.  And though we are only supposed to tackle certain chapters from it, it looks like I’ll be going through it from cover to cover.

I pray for more of this unquenchable desire to know more about the Lord.

(Note:  This particular entry can also be read on my spiritual blog)

I am currently reading a book called, “Ablaze for God”, authored by Wesley L. Duewel.  Only recently have I started reading it and I’m practically glued to it.

To tell you honestly, I’m not much of a book person.  Really.  I mean, I read a few stories compiled in “Chicken Soup for the Soul” and the like… but only to that extent.  I seem to have a pretty short attention span when it comes to novels and such.

That was then, I guess.  Because I’m actually starting to enjoy deep reading and reflecting after every few paragraphs.  I notice myself staring into a blank wall or into nothingness just letting the words sink in… letting my whole being absorb the teachings on each chapter.

I believe the Holy Spirit has somehow ignited my inner desire to learn more about God.  It’s as if I thirst and quench for more teachings… it’s like I thrive in discussions about the Lord.

This book is currently the topic of the next two weeks of our KG (Koinonia Group) gatherings.  And though we are only supposed to tackle certain chapters from it, it looks like I’ll be going through it from cover to cover.

I pray for more of this unquenchable desire to know more about the Lord.