the quag and another thing i know

some more thoughts on church. specifically the weekly gathering of the Lord's people:
it should not be lame.
what do i mean by this descriptor? i mean exactly that.
lame.
as in slow, not fully functional, weak, lacking in usefulness, ineffectual.
also, i'd like "church" to be a place where...

• if i did not bring my Bible i would wish i had. (that was an extremely hard sentence to get the tenses straight in. and even know i'm doubting its dubious grammaticalness.) 
• that, and a pencil and paper to write on.
• the worship in song, prayer and teaching is a augmentation of what i've been doing by myself or with my family all week
• a time after which i can't wait to go home and get to know Jesus more in His book. because the gathering, the assembling of His people has stoked the fire of my adoration for the One who paid it all.

spare me the litany of societal woes repeatedly gathered by gallup. the psychology shrouded in biblical references. the pleadings for offerings via old testament eisegesis. the criticisms of neighboring churches and their questionable creeds on music.
spare me the lameness.
seriously. stop it.
however, it was rather refreshing to read in Psalms the sons of Korah (who, ironically, i just read about in 1 Chronicles) describe the gathering of God's people for the purpose of His praise:

"My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.

When can I go and meet with God?" 42:2

"These things I remember

as I pour out my soul:

how I used to go with the multitude,

leading the procession to the house of God,

with shouts of joy and thanksgiving

among the festive throng." 42:4

"Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me;

let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell.

Then I will go to the altar of God,

to God, my joy and delight,

I will praise you with the harp,

O God, my God." 43:3-4

and now i really i feel like i'm missing something.

oh and also i made a dress. (thanks mr. Fassett.)

the quag and a thing i know

there's a thing i know that sustains me through times of upheaval.
God loves loves loves His bride. hear that? He adores the church.
did He not give Himself up for her? Wayne Grudem writes, "So great is God's plan for the church that He has exalted Christ to a postion of highest authority for the sake of the church..." Whaaa??

wow. chew on that for a minute.
or month.
them that mess with those whom the Lord of the heavenly armies loves are fools. destined for the smite-age even. (smittage. smitage. whatev.) nuh-uh not i. (none of those three lines are sentences. i know.)
i once heard a professor tell a good story to illustrate this. he was an elder of a church. the church leadership was given clear direction by God to take a bold step of faith. all the elders were of one mind and excited to move forward. except one crotchedy old fart who'd been there forever and had hardened his heart. the other elders pled and conversed with this dude but he wouldn't budge. they then prayed that any hindrance to God's plan be removed.
the old man died the next day.
true story. they moved forward and saw God's sweeping hand bless their socks off.
i'm telling you, don't mess with His bride. it's not the road to simple living--simple in the how-not-to-get-rebuked-by-God-in-ways-more-creative-than-you-can-possibly-imagine sense of the word.