Back to Basics

Last week I attended a church in Queens, New York since my mom’s friend goes there. We stayed at her place during our 4-day NYC visit. I was actually looking forward to going to Redeemer Church after reading “The Reason for God” by Timothy Keller. I think that plan didn’t push through because God wanted to show me something through this church.

The church doesn’t have a set, no flashing lights, projected gobos or moving heads. There was no video or ProPresenter for that matter. The slides were from Powerpoint.. 97. Using a gradient background *gasp* Their bulletin is printed in white bond paper, folded (manually) in three parts, most likely put together in MS Word. Attached with it is the church event calendar. Literally, a calendar designed with ClipArt images and 5 different fonts! There wasn’t a full band. Worship music is in the hymn book. Yup.. no Chris Tomlin here. But my gosh, the whole congregation was praising Him. And then I started hearing the still small Voice I’ve come to know.

That’s about the moment He humbled me. He showed me that technology that I’ve long been touting as vital, important and necessary are some of the things we can do away with. He made me realize that those are good tools but at the end of it all, He looks at the hearts of the people. He looks at sincere praise. And most of all, it is not that tools that make a worship or a church for that matter. It is the congregation who comes and gathers every Sunday to praise Him. And I felt Him smiling down upon his church and I know this church delights Him so.

Wow.. it’s nice to be humbled sometimes. God showed me that at the end of it all… He seeks for a heart of worship. It’s good to be reminded of the basics. That church actually gave me a great idea. I’m suggesting the calendar to our home church as soon as I get back. 😉