Living with Eternal Perspective by Rolland Baker

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 21:40:00 -0700

Let the River Flow!!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 11:38:00 -0700

If you are close to me at all, you know that I don't "go to church" for the purpose of hearing a sermon. It's always a bonus, but I am there for the corporate praise and worship. My heart's desire is to go deeper and deeper into His presence. There are times I am just lost in Him, worshiping, crying or just plain ready to collapse under His weighty presence, loving Him, basking in Him and

BAM...

it's done,

lights are (violently) flipped full on (in places where they dim them) and we are told to "go hug somebody" (aka... go make small talk).

REALLY?!

Truth be told, I am probably the worst person to make small talk and I have a huge aversion to it, but I really feel there is a batter way. I have even heard some through the years tell us to "keep the flow" while they meet and greet and I was thinking... how? Instead of feeling like I was just a bug splat on a windshield with such an abrupt transition, I'd love to just flow from that right into the teaching of the word (IF we absolutely HAVE to transition... I did tell you my favorite part of the whole meeting).

Aren't we making small talk before and after church? I don't feel that these couple of minutes allowed for "fellowship" after praise and worship are all that productive. For years, it was the time that you went to grab someone in which you needed to discuss church business or ask a quick question (Judy, I can't teach next Sunday, can you switch?... etc). Is this really "keeping the flow"? Is this really serving to allow the Holy Spirit to have His way to minister to us?

In the words of the old Darrell Evans song, "Let the River Flow".

A heart for pure and genuine

Living with Eternal Perspective by Rolland Baker

Let the River Flow!!