Psalm 99
Isaiah 6:5
And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!”
Not everyone who stays away from Church is unbelieving. Some people stay away because they realize they shouldn't stand too close to the Holy mountain of God Almighty. Going to Church makes them feel second rate and guilty.
The disciples were frankly terrified during the Transfiguration. The Glory of God was overwhelming to them. Moses and Elijah - to stand in their midst made them utter weak comments that they must have cringed over later.
Much easier to stay on the most traveled, well worn paths of the work a day world. A resume comes to you, someone knows someone and they are looking for work. A personal email/letter to you is accompanying the resume. Yes, the applicant has had a rough path. He has cheated his dying father. But he was young & his mother helped him. Sure, he was a run away during his father's dying, but he went to work for a relative for years. Years. And he did great work. The relative/boss cheated him. Then he stayed with the cheating employer for years. Sure, he has his way with women and ... women servants. And yes, he did put the women servants in harm's way when his dangerous brother came to call. Oh, yeah. He does have an angry, violent brother who terrifies him.
This man needs work. He has 12 sons and a daughter. He's a great father. Except he favors two of the children. One son, slightly more than the second. The kids are angry, but come on - the man needs work. One of his sons was killed in a wilderness trip. He is willing to leave his beloved promised land and relocate. He is the kind of man to wrestle with great difficulties. Look at the years of work record - this man is even willing to change his name if you promise him eternal loyalty and steadfast love.
So please, make Jacob your banner. He will make a great CEO.
Our God is might to save. And forgiving, seeing the intentions of the heart in difficult situations, forgiving the intentions of the heart in difficult matters.
If God had a name what would it be? I AM, ABBA, FATHER, DADDY
And would you call it to his face? Jacob was known to wrestle God
If you were faced with him in all his glory - Like Jacob
what would you ask if you had just one question? Bless me?!
Yeah, Yeah, God is great
Yeah, Yeah, God is good
Yeah Yeah yeah yeah yeah
What if God was one of us? This has been known to happen. With angels, star and shepherds
Just a slob like one of us - Like Jacob
Just a stranger on the bus - "I am a stranger, in a strange land"
Trying to make his way home - Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,
for you are with me
If God had a face
What would it look like? Early Christian art of Jesus, before the 5th century, looks like the Shroud of Turin - Jesus' face
And would you want to see it - Usually there is a crowd at the Shroud
If seeing meant that you would have to believe
In things like heaven and Jesus and the saints
and all the Prophets - So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Yeah Yeah God is great
Yeah Yeah God is good
Yeah Yeah yeah yeah yeah Yeah!
What if God was one of us? Jesus of Nazareth sending His Holy Spirit to dwell in who All who believe
Just a slob like one of us- He turns a desert into pools of water,
a parched land into springs of water.
And there he lets the hungry dwell
Just a stranger on the bus
Trying to make his way home
Just trying to make his way home
Back up to Heaven all alone - Nations shall dwell with Him!
Nobody callin' on the phone - As long as there are tests there will be prayer in school!
cept for the Pope maybe in Rome - Whenever 2 or more gather in His name....
Yeah Yeah God is great
Yeah Yeah God is good
Yeah Yeah yeah yeah