Pastoral Ponderings...

Welcome to the 'Pastor's Page' of the 

Oelwein Evangelical Free Church. 

Here you will find ramblings from the 

Church's pastor, Dan Driscoll.

I sometimes fear that some folks come to Church, go through all the motions, and yet go home feeling just as empty and unfulfilled as they did before they left for Church.

When I was a kid, I remember going through the motions on Sunday morning in our liturgical church and thinking, "Do other people get anything out of his? Because I'm sure not."

The Evangelical Free Church of Oelwein considers our Sunday morning worship service the most important service of the week. We invest more energy, time in preparation and concentration on that service than on other. We consider worship to be that important to our spiritual life.

I think some folks don't really ever worship. They participate in prayer, and they sing the songs, and they listen to the reading and preaching of the Word, but it is all just activity to them.

They never come to that "I/Thou" moment in their hearts, when they realize that God is, that He is present, and He loves them. Corporate praise that doesn't express personal praise is good, but it is incomplete. Corporate thanksgiving that doesn't include personal gratitude is good, but it is incomplete. Worship is more than Monday morning obedience - though it does include that. Worship, in its deepest sense is an adoration and glorification of God.

That's why the Lord's prayer starts off with "Our Father." It's not just a title, it's a name. It's not just a formal way to address God, it is a way to express the tender and loving and joyous relationship He has granted to us.

Paul talks about those who are led of the Spirit and who receive from the Spirit a sense of adoption and unconditional acceptance. These are led by the Spirit to cry out, "Abba, Father!" Abba has the idea of 'Daddy.' It is a term of intimacy and endearment. That's pretty close to the heart of worship.

The first phrases in the Lord's Prayer give a good model of adoration and worship. There is the corporate recognition of our Father, coupled with a recognition of His sovereign majesty. Then comes that great plea for His beauty and wonderful character to be reverenced as it ought to be. Close behind that is the expression of the great desire and anticipation of seeing His Kingdom in all its fullness. Then there is a dedication to His will, both in time and eternity.

A person can just repeat the words, like a rote exercise at school, or you can enter into the spirit of the prayer and engage your God in worship. When I was a kid in that liturgical pew, I didn't know the reality of God in my life. I couldn't worship, because I didn't know Who or how to worship. I had been a Christian several years before I discovered  the wonder of worship. 

Too many people just 'go through the motions' when it comes to worship. What a terrible waste of opportunity! This Sunday, as you prepare to go to the worship service of your Church, I hope that you will prepare yourself for a wonderful adventure - the adventure of meeting with and worshipping your Heavenly Father.

May the Lord bless you as you seek to follow Him.