THE FDIC and WORSHIP

Well two very different topics headline my blog today. First a note on the FDIC. Check out an article on Bloomberg.com about teh FDIC teetering on the verge of running out of funds. We better start waking up my friends. I know of people that grew up in the great depression that would "can" their money like greenbeans and bury it or hide it in the walls of their house because they didn't trust the banks with their money...could it be that we are indeed returning to a time when our money is at risk of disappearing if the bank goes belly-up and the FDIC isn't around to insure our money...

FROM THE ARTICLE..Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Chairman Sheila Bair said the deposit insurance fund could dry up amid a surge in bank failures, as she responded to an industry outcry against new fees approved by the agency. “Without these assessments, the deposit insurance fund could become insolvent this year,” Bair wrote in a March 2 letter to the industry.U.S. community banks plan to flood the FDIC with about 5,000 letters in protest of the fees, according to a trade group. “A large number” of bank failures may occur through 2010 because of “rapidly deteriorating economic conditions,” Bair said in the letter. “Without substantial amounts of additional assessment revenue in the near future, current projections indicate that the fund balance will approach zero or even become negative.”

That should make us think twice before making another deposit in the ol' savings account.

Now on to more things of eternal value...I want to pick up with Matt Redman's look into worship with his book "The Unquenchable Worshipper"

Chapter Three: The Undignified Worshipper.

They had seen him, only five days earlier, riding into Jerusalem hailed as the King of the Jews.

And now they were seeing him gasping.
Bleeding.
Mocked.
And dying.

This is not the way it was supposed to end. A coronation had turned into an execution. For his followers who could muster the strength to stay and watch the man in whom they had placed their faith, love and devotion hang from a cross, the pain of loss and the confusion at what had gone wrong must have been a potent combination.

He´s dying.
Our King. Our Answer. Our Redemption.

The One clothed in blinding Majesty on the Mount of Transfiguration, now having his clothes fought over by Roman guards.

The One who had commanded the sea to rest and demons to flee, now struggling to take each breath.

The One who summoned Lazarus from the tomb with a great shout, now silently teetering on the edge of death.

It makes no sense. God´s Son had stepped into time to become one of us. But surely not to be spat upon, laughed at, tortured and die.

Jesus chose to let go of the majesty, glory and power that were his in heaven. He chose to put on flesh and blood - flesh that could be torn apart and blood that could be spilled. But why?

For love (John 3:16).

Reckless, passionate, unreasonable love. And undignified worshippers live and love without reservation because they have received so lavish a love as this.

My pride? My finances? My name? No price is too steep. No treasure is too precious. No call is too much. Undignified worshippers see the unreserved and passionate love that Christ displayed on Calvary - a love that doesn´t make sense, but cost Him everything. And, standing in the light and safety of that love, they worship with an abandon that says there is nothing I have, nothing I know, and nothing that I am that I´m unwilling to part with for the Lord´s renown.

Scripture Review

Scripture is filled with the worship of the undignified. These men and women show a willingness to let go of their reputations, resources, and even their own lives to give honor to God. They have realized that life is full of blessings, but that none can compare to the matchless worth of God. Below are just a few examples of individuals who were able to cut themselves free from the cords that entangle and keep us from true undignified worship:

David responds to the goodness of God - 2 Samuel 6
The widow gives all that she has - Mark 12:41-44
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego risk their lives for the worship of God alone - Daniel 1-3
Peter and John refuse to stop preaching whatever the costs -
Acts 4:1-22

Thoughts for Reflection
1. In this chapter, we are encouraged to find a source and inspiration for undignified worship in the passionate love of God for us. Matt briefly highlighted the story of the Prodigal Son, where we see a picture of a Father willing to shed his status and pride for the love of seeing his son return home. This is the love of our Heavenly Father. Take a moment to reflect upon other instances in Scripture and in your own life in which the unconditional and passionate love of God is evident. How have you responded to the boundless overtures of his heart to yours? His love for us has been given without reservation. Can the same be said of your own love for Him?

2. Before we can become undignified in our worship, we must cut ourselves free from those things that keep us from ´dancing as David danced.´ Take a few moments to contemplate whether or not there is anything in your life that you may classify as ´too precious´ to give up to God. It may be fear of what others will think, fear of handing over finances to God, or it may be something different altogether. Is there a particular area in which God has been calling you to come clean with Him so that you can fully enter into an open and uninhibited worship of Him in your life?

3. In this chapter, we are reminded that the act of being undignified in our worship must come from and overflow of love and adoration for God. For lead worshippers this may mean not getting caught up in the ´performance´ aspect of being on stage in front of others. But those of us who don´t dare step behind a microphone or play a musical instrument can also fall prey to misguided motives. How many of us have given, spoken or served ´for God´ when it was really more about ourselves. Think and reflect on the motivation behind your own ´acts of worship´ and ask God to speak to your heart about this matter.