Excess or Adoration?

I once had a pastor who wanted to put a baby grand piano in the new Church that was being built.  Not that anyone in that Church played that well but he wanted it to be a symbol of lavish love for God.  An over the top external example of our internal adoration.  After all, he said, idolaters and false religions have beautiful temples and gardens for their gods, doesn't the One True God deserve even more?

Now, I have spent a few years teaching God's Word and on numerous occasions have attacked the materialism of the Church, especially the Church in America.  We have huge building budgets, huge screens, and huge debt in many of our churches and often times the outreach is pitiful.  I was once at a Church that spent 40,000 paving a parking lot and to my knowledge, nothing on feeding the hungry of the community.  I think many of our Churches reflect the selfishness and materialism of our culture at large.  Now, I know that there are Churches (like ours!) that have their priorities straight, so obviously I'm speaking generally. 

But I don't think I'm alone in this disgust for Churches that do little to help the poor and do so much to make pretty buildings with good entertainment.  I think I am part of a generation that has grown tired of nice buildings full of uncaring people.  We would rather have giving people with simple buildings. 

So my question is this- is there room for material signs of worship?  Think of the story of Mary anointing Jesus' feet with expensive perfume.  What is it her critics cried- shouldn't you have given that to the poor!  Oh, and that lone critic was Judas.  After all, the temple was quite lavish, wasn't it?  So, is there ever a time for spending money lavishly as a sign of adoration of Jesus?  We buy those we love expensive gifts, shouldn't we do the same for Jesus?

Please understand me correctly- I'm just asking the question, not offering the answer.  I don't even know what a lavish material sign of love would look like.  I know it wouldn't be a parking lot or nice chairs to make us more comfortable.  Maybe it is a heart matter for each individual.  Maybe for an artist its a lavish painting that glorifies Christ.  Maybe for a musician it just may be the baby grand piano that plays melodies pleasing to the Lord.  I think most of the modern critique of Churches is fair-I'm just trying to make sure I'm not in the company of Judas if someone really is worshipping God with a right heart. 

Lemons

Friends, let me give you some advice.

When life gives you lemons...

Rub them in the open wound of an enemy!

Busy and Blessed

Someone asked me today (well, several people actually) what it feels like to be a father of two now.  My reply to them was "busy and blessed."  The busy part is just kind of par for the course around here.  The blessing part though- that's what has really hit me over and over again this week.  I was studying Psalm 84 today and noticed the word blessings 3 times:

   "⁴How blessed are those who dwell in Your house!
         They are ever praising You. Selah.
    ⁵How blessed is the man whose strength is in You,
         In whose heart are the highways to Zion!
    ⁶Passing through the valley of Baca they make it a spring;
         The early rain also covers it with blessings."
The last one especially is wonderful.  Baca means something like "weeping" or "arid."  The picture is a shower of blessings in the midst of a dry journey.  How great is our God!

So, I decided to count my blessings.
Here are just a few:

Aiden wasn't born early.  In fact, he was born late!  What would his little life had been like had he been 2 pounds instead of 10?

Considering what they went through- Aiden and Stephanie are both doing remarkably well.  Stephanie is up and moving around and even cleaned a little today.

Our Church family and physical family have overwhelmed us with love.  Our Church family has brought meals not once but twice.  They have completely understood when we had to drop everything and drop it quickly.  Our family has taken off days to help when Steph was on bedrest. 

Holland has adjusted so well.  She had to move to her big girl bed quickly since Steph can't lift her for a few weeks and she has done awesome.  I couldn't be more proud of her attitude towards Aiden.

Aiden's is nursing well and growing like he should.

And the last one- do you notice where Aiden's arm is?  Not at his side but right beside his other one!  We have a follow up in June to check on it but his pediatrician said it is "remarkable" how well it is doing.  I am thankful everytime he moves it!