Youthful Exuberance

This time of year is always exciting for the citizens of Dickinson county and specifically the ones who live in Abilene. The parade, fair, rodeo and everything else associated with the fair brings about a much anticipated excitement. I know people of all ages enjoy the fair, but you would be hard pressed to find anyone that enjoys the fair as much as the young children. They approach the fair with uninhibited enthusiasm and excitement. I had a first hand experience with the thrill that children have with the parade and fair.
I watched the parade with my family. We had managed to find a clearing on third street between Broadway and Spruce. When the parade turned the corner at Buckeye and Third, my daughter noticed the horses. She let out a little shriek of laughter. She then started to pat her knee, trying to get them to come to her. Throughout the rest of the parade, she had a huge smile on her face. She even figured out that if you wave at the people, they'll throw candy! She was having a great time. That all paled in comparison to when we attended the fair.
The first place we went to was the rabbit and chicken barn. She was in animal heaven. When she was able to pet the rabbits, she let out a shriek of excitement. She would laugh and reach out again to touch the rabbit. As we left the rabbits and chickens, she started blowing them kisses.
Every barn we went to, brought forth a shriek of excitement and joy. Whether we were visiting the horses, cows, pigs, sheep or goats, she was happy to be there.
What about church? Are you that excited when it comes to going to church? Are you that excited when it comes to worship? Are you that excited about Jesus? We are told that we must become like little children in order to enter into the kingdom of heaven, “And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3 NIV).
There is a specific word found in the Bible for that type of excitement. The word in Hebrew is Halal and it is generally translated as “Praise”, yet that does a disservice to the word. One part of the definition is, “foolishly clamoring, youthful exuberance.” It is where we get the English word “Hallelujah”. This can be described as the type of praise that David did when he danced before the ark. He was excited and was praising God for the return of the ark.
Somewhere along the way, we feel that church, worship, and praise should be low key. We enter a service very mellow and lower our emotions and feelings from there.
Christians need a worship attitude adjustment. We should be more excited over Jesus than we do over the Super Bowl. We should be more excited over church than we do the World Series. We should be more excited over worship than we do the Final Four. If you're not excited for Christ, the church or worship, how do you expect other to be. We need to become like children and let the youthful exuberance show.

Bursting Through the Gates

I grew up in a family of hunters. My grandfather hunted. My dad, uncles, brothers, and cousins were all hunters. Some still hunt today. Whatever hunting season is open, chance are great that I have family out participating in the hunt. I hunt on a daily basis. Every morning I hunt for my glasses. I hunt for my shoes. I hunt for … well, you get the picture.
One animal hunted on a regular basis was raccoon. They had to rely on their dogs to sniff them out and “tree them.” My grandfather had a kennel full of coon hounds. He raised and trained red tics, blue tics and any other colored tic imaginable. He had one standing rule: Always keep the gates closed.
Gates served a function in walls and pens. They allowed in what the gate wanted in, and allowed out what the gate wanted out. When the gate is closed, it keeps in what was inside and keeps out what is outside.
In ancient times, gates served a major function to the city. Many large cities were walled for defensive purposes, thus the gate was the only way into the town. The gates by which they were entered were the principal places for holding courts, transacting business, and deliberating on public matters. Thus, gates were also a place for gatherings.
In times of warfare, the gate became the heaviest fortified part of the wall. That is where the armies would gather before they exited the city to begin their conquest. As an opposing force, getting into the city through the gates was a virtual impossibility. Not only did they have to try to get through the waiting army, the gates had various defensive mechanisms and units guarding it.
Jesus spoke of certain gates attempting to stop or overcome His precious treasure, the church, when he stated, “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” (Matthew 16:18 NASB). The gates would not be able to overpower the church that Jesus builds. At the same time, these gates will not be able to keep Jesus out, “. . .a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out.” (Matthew 16:18c MSG) Jesus will build a church that can not be stopped.
Jesus promises to build the church. This promise is not given to mean that He will build it, and then leave. Nor should it be inferred that He has stopped building the church. As long as there are people on this earth, Jesus will continue to add to His church. Thus, continually building His church.
His church will burst through the gates. It will run with a purpose. It will continue to grow and spread. Will you sit idly by or will you burst through the gates with it?