thrive community

I enjoy coming home after church on Sunday’s to relax and watch a little football. But today was another boring day with only the Broncos on TV. (Sorry, I am and forever will be a Cowboys fan ’till death do I part!’) As I flipped through other channels to find something better to watch, I stumbled upon a live concert venue. It was filmed in England in front of over 100,000 people with dozens of great bands taking the stage.

The band on stage was the Goo-Goo Dolls performing the song “Iris”. Even though it was the middle of the song, I was immediately drawn in by the open, power chords and the electric spirit of the crowd singing their hearts out. The people were not being entertained, they were having an experience.

Everyone was in the moment and totally engaged with the band. With a short pause after the final chorus, John Rzeznik, the lead singer launched back into the chorus. Singing only the first two words alone, the band and audience burst into life, taking the song on their own. With each line, John sang the first two words and held the mic out to the crowd for them to take it. And they did.

As John jumped off the stage and went into the crowd, he led them in the same rendition holding the mic directly over the people. They sang even louder than before. The camera panned across the mass of humanity giving it their all. They knew what to sing and knew where to go with it. John was leading it. The crowd was feeling it. And I was right there with them.

After the song ended the cameras transitioned to another band. I wasn’t the same as with the Goo Goo Dolls. I rewound the DVR and pulled a rerun of the half-song wonder. I still felt it the second time. I’m one who tries to see God in everything. This stirred me up on the inside so I rewound it four more times, increasing the volume with each viewing. I felt it every time.

I was engaged with something bigger than me. Thousands of hearts united in one moment. It was an experience where something primal happened. Worship happened. John Rzeznik may have not intended it, but he led me and the thousands of others in worship. It refreshed my belief in the power of song and in the power of unified souls who believe their lyrical confessions. It truly was a spiritual experience.

I am blessed to have the opportunity to play with some of the most incredible musicians in the world. They have an incredible ability to help me take a moment of worship to another level and it’s a privilege to go there with them. I know that our people feel it and love going there with us.

I am reminded that every human being is created in the image of God and was made for the worship of God. We can’t help but worship. Even if our direct object of worship is not the one true God, we are unconsciously drawn to worship. It can’t be helped. It’s our natural, created response.

I’m more motivated today in asking God to use me so that He can be the direct object of worship in the hearts and lives of those around me. It begins in me first. I’m looking forward to sharing more in the days ahead.