Unfrickenbelievable...

I received an email last week from Cowboy Church. And an attachment concerning worship. Their concept? Using the Jewish Temple as a pattern, take a Gentile (outer court) song and use it first. Upbeat, not very spiritual and possibly secular. Then move slowly into the more worshipful areas. Excellent confirmation on what we'd already felt Biker Church should be doing.

I met with head honcho from Cowboy Church and discussed licensing. Found that we are (and have been) on very safe ground for what we're doing as long as we're in the building in a non-profit teaching environment (Church!). He tells me that when one of his guys visited, he was surprised to hear we were doing contemporary Christian music as our mainstay. He felt we should be rocking the place. This is the guy who has pioneered niche church in Va. So I'm listening to him confirm what I already felt!

So I walk into BCR last night and the crowd is thin. It's cold out and close to Christmas. It's all good- we're upbeat, happy, unified. Several of us go back to pray in a little room. We come out and people are streaming in. Great group- as big as we've been since we started.

I'm at the water fountain in the hallway when I hear it coming from the worship space. The guitars first, then the keyboards and drums. I'm smiling this dumb smile that I can't get off my face. My foot is tapping. "Jeremiah was a bullfrog (Duh Dup Dum), was a good friend of mine (Duh Dup Dum)..." And it's a rocking version. As I walk into the worship area, it transitions smoothly to "Joy to the World, the Lord has Come" and bridges back to Jeremiah. Amazing.

When it's over the crowd is clapping heartily, whistling and screaming "Yeah!" The next is "Angels We Have Heard on High." Again, rocking, yet keeping the same basic tune as the original. Again, applause. Then a very slow and worshipful "Mary Did You Know?"

The comments I got afterward were unbelievable. Our group ate it up. They rocked, worshiped and were drawn closer to Jesus. And I'm grateful. God moved in that place. And through all the chaos and heartache of having friends leave, I feel like God is doing what He desired all along. And that those leadership who left are going to find exactly where God wants to use them. They're good people. And I've loved co-laboring with them and appreciated their faithfulness. It's no loss to Kingdom when God transfers his children from one house to another.

And me? Dude, I can't friggin' wait for next week!