Hey guys!
God has given me many ideas as a team leader and world racer. Things that I believe aid to more accurately understanding Him, His world and our LIFE on it. Things I love to share just at the possibility of unpacking the real relatable God to some one.
Back in ‘Nam, I couldn’t shake this idea that their is so much LIFE bursting in nearly everything we experience, EVEN and SPECIFICALLY in those things NOT labeled ‘CHRISTIAN’ or ‘RELIGIOUS’. This spurred from Thailand, when our contact Pi Emmi encourage us to go out there and be with the Hindu and Buddhist people. “Don’t worry about accidentally exposing yourself to other religions, just reclaim the LIFE and GOSPEL of Jesus in each situation. Be ‘same-same, but different.'” she said.
So let me propose this idea. God created LIFE, so let’s celebrate that LIFE anywhere and everywhere it’s displayed. Please, let’s stop being legalistic. It is obvious that ‘life’ is inside Christianity, even though sometimes we act like it’s not, but let’s expand and celebrate it in this world too. After all, the world is the Lord’s and everything in it (1 Corinthians 10:25-26). I believe that there is so much life and worship for God in the secular world, even if it was put there subconsciously by the unaware.
It’s hidden, let’s go find it.
Just like I believe God shows himself through nature, I believe he gives us this life to enjoii himself too. These little threads of LIFE are weaved into everyday secular life. Our work, our school, all of our friends, our music, our movies and our outings. But sometimes we are so quick to shun these things because they are not explicitly Christian.
(Please note: I’m Not saying you HAVE to do these, or if you are not comfortable with these that it makes you legalistic, I’m just trying to get our minds outside the box a little, so we can greater know this ‘outside-the-box’ God.)
What am I talking about specifically? Let’s throw out some examples.
Drinking alcohol in many or any forms is looked at as wrong, but there is so much LIFE in it when done responsibly. Having a beer with my buddies, a mike’s lemonade with my mom or wine with my significant other are some cool moments of life. Some of the best conversations, bonding and just plain fun. Again I’m NOT taking about getting wasted, unless it’s chocolate or ice cream wasted.
Movies and Music. There’s good stuff and questionable stuff. And sometimes there’s good stuff in the questionable stuff. Take “BRAVEHEART” or “Lord of the Rings” – lots of violence among other things, but hidden in these blockbuster films are SOLID allegories to Jesus. Even movies that don’t have allegories, like Dumb and Dumber, sometimes I just like to laugh, A LOT. Is it dumb yes, does it make me closer to Jesus…Yes :). Because for me laughing makes me closer to Jesus. Don’t over think it. Same with music – The Beatles, Bob Marley, Mumford and Sons, The Black Eyed Peas and Jack Johnson among many others drop song after song that we can enjoy, and celebrate God with.
It’s hidden, look for the life in it.
We are often quick to say, “Well, you can do all that without drinking, music or movies. So how can they be good? Especially if it could lead to sin. Why chance it? Is fun worth sin?”
Let me ask this, is FEAR of sin worth sacrificing fun and life? Worth dulling this abundant life Christ died for, to be culturally or religiously less offensive? Worth being so scared to do wrong that we miss out on so much right? No I don’t fear sin, I’ve got a big God who has defeated it. Drinking, secular music and movies don’t chain me. They were put here for me to discern and use responsibly for my enjoyment and celebration of life. The more I enjoy life, the more I enjoy God, because he MADE life, all of it :).
I’m NOT saying flirt with sin, to see how far you can go in grey areas. I’m not saying be foolish and go out and rent a lot of trashy movies that are gunna make u trip and fall, download trashy music that puts your mind in a bad place or see how many beers you can drink while still successfully sharing the gospel. That’s stupid ha.
It’s also wrong to exercise our freedom to the extent of making others fall. Don’t do that. Read 1 Corinthians 10, Paul paints a great picture of this balance with eating questionable foods of that day. It’s just as true then as now that sometimes the answer to whether or not you should do something is NO.
All I AM saying is there IS life to be had, worship for God to be given that is HIDDEN behind secular titles.
So back to Vietnam. I did this worship session experiment with my team. We went to the beach and worshipped God to an ALL SECULAR playlist. It was awesome, so fun and so God glorifying. I dubbed the playlist ‘Hidden Worship’, for the hidden gems of life God gives us. I still listen to it often.
It has circulated through some of the squad and many have wanted the list of songs. So I thought I would post it as a blog for all to enjoii.
Here it is, In order…
Hidden Worship:
1. Amazing Grace (bagpipes only)
2. Here Comes the Sun – The Beatles
3. Somewhere Over the Rainbow – Israel kamakawiwo’ole
4. One Day – Matisyahu
5. Something Beautiful – NeedtoBreathe
6. Say Hey, I Love You – Michael Franti
7. Life is a Highway – Tom Conchrine
8. O-bla-di-O-bla-da – The Beatles
9. Smile – Uncle Kracker
10. Good Life – One Republic
11. Where is the Love? – Black Eyed Peas
12. Live Like We’re dying – Kris Allen
13. Born to be Wild – Steppenwolfe
14. I Just Want to Live – Good Charlotte
15. A Little Love – Ziggy Marley
16. Hallelujah – Rufus Wainwright
17. Free – Jack Johnson
18. All Right Now – Free
19. One Love – Bob Marley
20. Take it Easy – Eagles
21. Stand by Me – Playing for the World to Change
22. Rock and Roll – Eric Hutchinson
23. Road to Zion – Damian Marley
24. How to Love – Lil Wayne
25. Sunshine – Matt White
26. Rhythm of Love – Plain White T’s
27. Space Cowboy – Steve Miller Band
28. I’m a Believer – The Monkees
29. What a Wonderful World – Rod Stewart
30. The Lion Sleeps Tonight – Beach Boys
31. Waving flag – K’Naan
32. Waka Waka (for Africa) – Shakira
33. Call Me Papa – Donavon Frankenreiter
34. Heaven – Los Lonely Boys
I really hope you enjoy worshipping our awesome God in the fullness of life this world has to offer 🙂
Jake
