Crazy People Spotted in Church
February 4, 2009 § 4 Comments
If you knew anything about the couple in this picture you would think that they had snapped. However when you Google them they show up under ‘stability.’ He serves on the Missions Committee of our church. She is deeply involved in our ESL ministry (English as a Second Language). They travel to Asia and do amazing ministry there, welcoming internationals into their home and lives. To top it off, they sit near the front in worship every Sunday! Make no mistake about it – they are ‘church people.’
And yet, this is how they were dressed this past Sunday for worship – primed for the Super Bowl and displaying themselves as living declarations that they had obviously crossed over into the dark side of the National Football League. Outrageous!
I love crazy people in the church. Oh, don’t get me wrong – Dave and Julie are as solid as it gets. But they are free – and that’s what I love. There is a crazy freedom to the Gospel that enables us to dress wildly (even if as Pittsburg Steelers), to smile widely, to laugh uncontrollably and to pose shamelessly (well, you know what I mean…) – even in church.
With all the sorrows we witness and carry in this broken world there has to be time for laughter too. Solomon says as much when he calls us to ‘be happy’ when ‘times are good’ (Ecclesiastes 7:14). A few weeks ago Katherine and I heard a song on the radio – one I eventually downloaded (legally of course) simply because of its title: “What’s wrong (about feeling good)?”
If I were asked to add to the Beatitudes (which I haven’t been), mine might be, ‘Blessed are the lighthearted, for such is the laughter of the Kingdom.’ Though He didn’t actually say it, Jesus certainly lived this out, untamed and unleashed. We can too – with nothing to hide and everything to look forward to in the new heavens and the new earth, the Gospel sets our hearts free to live in the laughter and liberation of the Savior Himself.
Way to go Dave and Julie (not to be interpreted as an endorsement for the Pittsburg Steelers)!
peace.
unfinished1 
Mike,
I love this post. The last time Katherine was down here I had more fun with her than I think I ever had before, and I think it was largely because of all the laughing we did when she was here. Somehow in the midst of funerals plans for Jon’s mom and pain management for my mom, I was able to really laugh and experience real joy with her. It was definitely His doing! Since our visit, I have been listening to alot of Ginny Owens, a blind Chiristian singer/songwriter and she really touches on this in one her songs. I have included the lyrics.
FREE
Turnin’ molehills into mountains
Makin’ big deals out of small ones
Bearing gifts as if they’re burdens
This is how it’s been
Afraid of coming out of my shell
Too many things I can’t do too well
Afraid I’ll try real hard
And I’ll fail
This is how it’s been
Till the day You pounded on my heart’s door
And You shouted joyfully
You’re not a slave anymore!
CHORUS:
You’re free to dance
Forget about your two left feet
And you’re free to sing
Even joyful noise is music to Me
You’re free to love
‘Cause I’ve given you My love
And it’s made you free
I have set you free!
My mind finds hard to believe
That You became humanity and
Changed the course of history
Because You loved us so
And my heart cannot understand
How You accept me as I am
But You say You’ve always had a plan
And that’s all I need to know
So when I am consumed
With what the world will say
Then You’re singing to me, as You remove
my chains
Free from worry
Free from envy and denial
Free to live, free to give, free to smile
She also has some really profound things to say about community!
Take care,
Olivia
GO Dolphins!
Thanks for this, Olivia – you really completed the post with these great lyrics.
Go Raiders!
I am glad to see there are some fellow Steelers fans in the congregation! There are so many ways we can enter into each other’s lives – I’ve found that some of my greatest laughs are with people who’ve been with me through my greatest pain. Laughter somehow binds us to each other and it’s such a great way to connect.
Great post… and even better picture..
Go Steelers!