Worshiping...In Spirit and In Truth

Dry Bones

Dale Argot — Fri, 25 May 2012 22:40:19 +0000

Day of Pentecost (May 27, 2012)

Acts 2:1-21 or Ezekiel 37:1-14; Psalm 104:24-34, 35; Romans 8:22-27; John 15:26-27; 16:4-15

Ezekiel 37:1-14

New Living Translation (NLT)

37 The Lord took hold of me, and I was carried away by the Spirit of the Lord to a valley filled with bones. ²He led me all around among the bones that covered the valley floor. They were scattered everywhere across the ground and were completely dried out. ³Then he asked me, “Son of man, can these bones become living people again?”

“O Sovereign Lord,” I replied, “you alone know the answer to that.”

⁴Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to these bones and say, ‘Dry bones, listen to the word of the Lord! ⁵This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Look! I am going to put breath into you and make you live again! ⁶I will put flesh and muscles on you and cover you with skin. I will put breath into you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”

⁷So I spoke this message, just as he told me. Suddenly as I spoke, there was a rattling noise all across the valley. The bones of each body came together and attached themselves as complete skeletons. ⁸Then as I watched, muscles and flesh formed over the bones. Then skin formed to cover their bodies, but they still had no breath in them.

⁹Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to the winds, son of man. Speak a prophetic message and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, O breath, from the four winds! Breathe into these dead bodies so they may live again.’”

¹⁰So I spoke the message as he commanded me, and breath came into their bodies. They all came to life and stood up on their feet—a great army.

¹¹Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones represent the people of Israel. They are saying, ‘We have become old, dry bones—all hope is gone. Our nation is finished.’ ¹²Therefore, prophesy to them and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: O my people, I will open your graves of exile and cause you to rise again. Then I will bring you back to the land of Israel. ¹³When this happens, O my people, you will know that I am the Lord. ¹⁴I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live again and return home to your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken, and I have done what I said. Yes, the Lord has spoken!’”

What happens when the Holy Spirit fills the life of a believer? I think as we look at these words from Ezekiel, we learn how the Spirit moves and breathes and lives in the life of the believer. Only when the Spirit breathes in us, can we have the power to do what God has called us to do.

I once heard it said that there are two things the Holy Spirit empowers us to do:

Live the holy life (a life set apart)
Live a life of service.

As we gather for worship this Sunday, remember how the Holy Spirit came upon those early believers and they changed the world.

On This Day in History

Dale Argot — Thu, 24 May 2012 14:49:20 +0000

Today, May 24, 1738, John Wesley had his famous Aldersgate experience. Below is a clip from a 1954 movie dramatizing the event.

A Party of One

Dale Argot — Thu, 24 May 2012 11:00:16 +0000

The other day, Ron McClung, of Indianapolis, Indiana, wrote the following piece based on an excerpt from Filled Up, Poured Out: How God’s Spirit Can Revive Your Passion and Purpose by my good friend, Mark Wilson. I trust that it will shed some light and encourage you.

A Party of One

My wife and I walked into a restaurant the other day and the hostess said, “Party of two?” and I replied, “Yes, there are just the two of us.”

If I had been alone, I doubt if she would have asked, “Party of one?” because it’s hard to have a “party” by yourself, unless it’s a pity party – in which case you’re almost sure to be alone.

My friend, Mark Wilson, a pastor in northern Wisconsin, wrote a delightful book,Filled Up, Poured Out, in which he suggests four problems with pity parties:

1. There is no music.

If you’re feeling sorry for yourself, you are not simultaneously giving thanks for the things he has done for you. As Mark says, “Nobody brings a banjo or accordion” or any other instrument. In your head, you might hear the melancholy strains of a lonely violin or the spooky sound of a dirge played on an organ. But in all likelihood, there’s just no music at all.

2. There are no refreshments.

Think about it: there’s nothing really refreshing about a pity party. Instead we dish up a “stew of rehashed offenses and complaints.”

3. There are no guests.

If you send out invitations to your pity party, I can almost guarantee no one will come. It’s true that misery loves company, but I have seldom seen people stand in line to spend time intentionally with those who chronically feel sorry for themselves.

4. There is no hope.

This is the saddest of all. As long as we feel sorry for ourselves, we are consumed with our problems, not looking for a brighter future.

The apostle Paul could have thrown a pity party, because he face huge difficulties in life. He was beaten several times, shipwrecked, faced danger from bandits, and others. He often went without sleep and suffered both hunger and thirst. Yet he said, “For Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10 NIV).

He could have had a pity party. If anyone had reason to feel sorry for himself, it was Paul. Yet he learned to trust the Lord and believe that in Christ better things lay ahead. So trust in the Lord. In your weakness, he can make you strong.

Worship Is An Action

Dale Argot — Wed, 23 May 2012 11:00:21 +0000

Worship is an action wherein the testimony of God is heard and appropriated, the experience of the community is transformed, and the Godly presence is disclosed.

Regis Duffy

Grounded

Dale Argot — Tue, 22 May 2012 14:59:31 +0000

This picture pretty much describes me at the moment. At least that’s the way I felt last night and still do this morning. I went to the doctor yesterday. He was very pleased at my weight loss since the last time I was there. I went to see him because of a non-running related injury and in the process found out that I need to lay-off working out until I get it taken care of. Needless to say I’m a little disappointed that I won’t be able to get out and run for a few weeks. It seems I have worked so hard to get where I have gotten. But the good news is that I will be back at it in a few weeks and that my fitness level (even after a few week lay-off) when I resume will be better than it was 2-1/2 years ago. I don’t think I have to worry about running 14 and 15 minute miles. I will want to take it easy at the beginning though, which means slow, short, easy runs. The other good news is that it’s only temporary – I will just have to watch my calorie intake over the next few weeks, until I can resume running. So yes, today I feel like the little boy who can’t go out and play ball. Pressing on - even while sitting

An Ongoing Process

Dale Argot — Tue, 22 May 2012 14:03:33 +0000

“Daily confession and cleansing are the essence of walking in the Spirit! Do not be afraid of what God might show you. Do not be afraid God will ask you to do things you cannot do. He will give you the grace to make all the changes He requires. Above all, do not feel overwhelmed or discouraged no matter how much you have failed in the past. Spiritual formation is an ongoing process and God’s loving grace will cover you throughout the whole journey.”

Dr Gregory R. Frizzell

Jesus Shall Reign

Dale Argot — Mon, 21 May 2012 19:28:12 +0000

Here is a great song that I would have loved to use during our Ascension Sunday service yesterday

Sunday Night Thoughts

Dale Argot — Mon, 21 May 2012 01:30:44 +0000

Post #3,147

Happy Blogging Anniversary

Today marks six years of blogging. Has it really been that long? I remember I started this blog in May of 2006 following the Homecoming events at Preston Wesleyan Church. It was a short post called Sunday Night Thoughts. I started it after some encouragement from a Wesleyan pastor friend of mine who was teaching at FLAME in Stroudsburg. Later that week I posted some pictures from that FLAME – that is sure interesting ?!?!

Over the last six years, I have covered quite a bit of ground. The focus of the blog has changed over the last six years. Earlier posts, concentrated on solo pastoring a small, rural church, while lately the posts are about worship at a medium sized church that is still rural and there is also quite a bit about running.

I love the forum that this humble little blog has allowed me over the past 6 years. So what was the weather like today? We have had some cool mornings of late and are recovering from the rain of last weekend. The grass grew like crazy. Today got quite warm. It has been very seasonable.

On the running front, things are going well. I had several quality runs this week – capped off by an 8.5 mile run at just over a 9:00/mile pace. I have a goal that I am closing in on and that is 9 – 9 minute miles. Hopefully I will eclipse that in the next several weeks.

Today was a busy day, but it was really good. It was good to have our full worship band back today. We even had flute – as Anna is back for the summer. I always enjoy listening to our congregation sing and today was no exception. I even played my bass on two songs this morning. That was special. There was a sweet Spirit in the service today as we explored the theme of Jesus’ ascension and his return for his church.

This evening we had our Global Ministry Team meeting. This is a wonderful group of like-minded individuals who have a heart for global ministry. I am excited about the plans that we have. One of the things that I have to work on is working on a Skype feed. Next month we are going to Skype on of our missions partners and I want to get the feed to the projector.

That’s about all I have for the night. It has been a good day and I am looking forward to what God has in store for this week. Seize the Day!

Sunday Set List

Dale Argot — Mon, 21 May 2012 00:37:40 +0000

Seventh Sunday of Easter
May 20, 2012

Welcome and Announcements

Call to Worship and Invocation

Acts 1:3-11

Songs of Worship

Days of Elijah

Soon and Very Soon

In Christ Alone

Worship Through Prayer

Songs of Worship

When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder

What A Day That Will Be

Worship Through Giving

Song of Worship

All the Earth Will Sing Your Praises

Worship Through God’s Word

Building A Love That Lasts

Building On A Strong Foundation

Ephesians 5:22-33

Song of Commitment

The Family Prayer Song

Benediction

Selecting a Successor

Dale Argot — Fri, 18 May 2012 11:00:54 +0000

Seventh Sunday of Easter
May 20, 2012

Acts 1:15-17, 21-26; Psalm 1; 1 John 5:9-13; John 17:6-19

¹⁵During this time, when about 120 believers were together in one place, Peter stood up and addressed them. ¹⁶“Brothers,” he said, “the Scriptures had to be fulfilled concerning Judas, who guided those who arrested Jesus. This was predicted long ago by the Holy Spirit, speaking through King David. ¹⁷Judas was one of us and shared in the ministry with us.”

²¹“So now we must choose a replacement for Judas from among the men who were with us the entire time we were traveling with the Lord Jesus— ²²from the time he was baptized by John until the day he was taken from us. Whoever is chosen will join us as a witness of Jesus’ resurrection.”

²³So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. ²⁴Then they all prayed, “O Lord, you know every heart. Show us which of these men you have chosen ²⁵as an apostle to replace Judas in this ministry, for he has deserted us and gone where he belongs.” ²⁶Then they cast lots, and Matthias was selected to become an apostle with the other eleven.

Today we have an account of how the disciples replaced Judas. They felt that they needed to replace him, since he killed himself following Jesus’ crucifixion. It’s here that we learn that there were more than just the twelve who followed Jesus and that there were more than the twelve who witnessed Jesus’ resurrection. It could have been that he was even there at the ascension of Jesus. As I read this, I mentioned to Pam and we came to the revelation that there were at least a few if not many unnamed disciples.

It probably never occurred to Barsabbas or Matthias that they would ever be selected as a replacement for one of the twelve. But in order to be selected, they had to be a follower of Jesus – to obey his teachings – they had to be part of the day to day crowd that followed Jesus. This speaks volumes to me today. So many times we get discouraged when we think we aren’t getting any recognition. So many are constantly looking for the next step – climbing the “church” or “corporate” ladder. Perhaps Jesus is just calling us to be faithful – to be the unnamed disciples – those who do the work in the background – without any recognition. There is coming a day when all of Christ’s disciples will be rewarded, but for now he calls us to be faithful to the task whether we are recognized or not.