Evan Doyle

I just wanted to drop in and let you guys know that I’m going to be in NYC for about 2 weeks!  I’m really excited about it, and I wanted to blog one last time before I went, so here goes:

Have you ever just looked at the world around you?  Yes, I know you see it all the time.  But I’m not talking just seeing it.  I’m talking really looking at it.  I did that tonight.  I was just making a short little trip, maybe 2 minutes away.  As I drove past our abundant corn and soybean fields here in Indiana, I saw the beauty in them for the first time in a long time.  Something was different about them.  They had a spectacular, enthralling allure.  Simple, green plants.

Over those little green plants stood a massive, fiery orange sun just setting below the horizon.  A veritable symphony of colors from magenta, to cyan, to a majestic yellow, and finally to a royal purple burst across the sky.  It was otherworldly.  It wasn’t that impressive, but it was beautiful.

On the way back home, I passed several people just cruising down the road.  Yet in them, I saw an even greater beauty.  It was the beauty of the very image of God created in them.  They weren’t exceptionally attractive people (especially the one old guy…eeew), but they were God’s people.  They had the visage of an omnipotent, omniscient Creator.

God gave us creation.  All of it.  He told us to appreciate it and take care of it.  God gave us creation for rest, and for our enjoyment.  The next time you’re just driving mindlessly into work thinking about all of the tasks you have to accomplish, just stop.  (Not literally, as that may cause a serious traffic flow issue.)  Stop your thinking and look at the world and the creation around you.  Look at it as if you’d never seen it before.  Find rest in it.  That’s why it’s there.  Don’t neglect it.

Don’t say I didn’t warn you.  I’m about to give you one of my church rants.  I’ll feel much better once I’m all done.

You’ve seen them: the dads with their arms crossed, the teenage guy with a girl to text, the grumpy old man.  All standing there during worship time at church doing nothing or even worse, distracting someone else.  They apparently have something better to think about or do than worship.  They’re “too cool” to do that.  The question I must present is, “Why?”

I kind of understand it.  We, as guys, don’t want people seeing us being “emotional”.  We think people might think we’re strange if we stand there with our eyes closed and hands raised up.  I get it.  But it’s not right.  God doesn’t hate emotion.  Jesus got angry–heck, He went on a wild rampage through a church building.  David, a guy known for being “after God’s own heart” and ruddy (that’s Bible-ese for “hot”), danced half-naked through the streets of his city because the presence of the Lord had returned.  If that isn’t emotion, I don’t know what is.

Look at the message of the cross.  The creator of the universe became a human.  He lived with us, in our fallen world, for 33 years.  He was falsely accused and brutally murdered.  But then the amazing thing happened.  He came back.  Not for Him, but for us.  We were sinners, and in His spectacular goodness He chose to give us a pathway out.  Then it’s up to us to accept it.  The crazy thing is that a lot of the guys that stand around and don’t take part in worship are the same guys that are really great at talking about a great Christian life.  I’ve even seen pastors do this.

Christ has done an amazing thing for us.  How can we keep from shouting, singing, and praising His name for what He’s done?  His love is beyond crazy- it’s extravagant.  Over-the-top. How can we just disregard that because “it’s not cool” or “I can’t sing”?  I don’t think you can.  I don’t think you should.  Guys, come on now.  Be willing to admit that God is the coolest thing imaginable- and anything that brings glory to Him is cool simply by association.  Worship your heart out this weekend.  Let it all go.  Bring Him glory.  Let me know what you think in the comments.