I played in the future….

     So I got to help lead worship for special conference at our church this week.  It was for all of our church’s International Strategic Partners.  That is, all of the churches that partner with Northpoint in their philosophy of ministry, and are directly tied to our church.  Well, this conference was for all of the leaders at those churches all over the world.  These 80 pastors and church leaders came together for a week of learning and encouragement.  I love being a part of things like this because as I am leading worship, I think about all of the different stories of all the different people that are there.   Most of whom are complete islands in what they do.  No one else in their country, much less their city is on the same page that they are as far as trying to do relevant ministry.  So there was such a release from these pastors to worship and speak with like minded, and visioned people, language barrier excluded.

So I think it all came to a head for me when during our last worship session, when I look down at the table closest to the stage, and see a computer screen pointed right at us with a video chat up and running.  As I look closer, I see this pastors wife, and his 2 children clapping along with us in worship, of course with a slight delay, since they were in the Phillipines!!  It was quite late where they were, but he said that he wanted his family to be a part of what he was getting the chance to experience, so they stayed up for this “extra special event.”  Many thoughts flew through my little brain.  Like, how often I take our opportunities for corporate worship for granted.  The freedom we have to worship from a “state” perspective, and the freedom we have to worship from our “church” perspective.  The next thought I had was, “wow, it’s 9 AM here, and 12 PM there…… I just played in the future!”

~ by drummingideas on November 9, 2007.