You Don't Have To Yell

It seems like whenever people get to talking about politics, they become more heated than they normally do about other things. Many Christians get more excited about these things than they do about talking about and living like Jesus. In a time of recycled and heartless music, there are few artists that portray the heart of a poet and of a servant. Chris Rice is one of these few. I thought I would share these lyrics with everyone, and when you start thinking about politics and opinions, remember who you serve.

You Don't Have To Yell
by Chris Rice

So-called reality
Right there on my TV
If that's how life's supposed to be, well
Somebody's lyin'
The camera's on and we can tell
To keep your fame you have to yell
'Cause tensions build, and products sell, and
We're all buyin'
I hope we're smarter than this

Everybody take a breath
Why are all your faces red
We're missin' all the words you said
You don't have to yell
Draw your lines and choose your side
‘Cause many things are worth the fight
But louder doesn't make you right
You don't have to yell, oh
You don't have to yell

I tuned in to hear the news
I don't want your point of view
If that's the best that you can do, then
Something's missin'
And experts on whatever side
You plug your ears, you scream your lines
You claim to have an open mind, but
Nobody's listenin'
Don't you think we're smarter than this?

Everybody take a breath
Why are all your faces red
We're missin' all the words you said
You don't have to yell
Draw your lines and choose your side
Many things are worth the fight
But louder doesn't make you right
You don't have to yell
You don't have to yell

Everybody take a breath
Why are all your faces red
We're missin' all the words you said
You don't have to yell
(If everyone will take the step
Back away and count to ten
Clear your mind and start again
We won’t have to yell)
Draw your lines and choose your side
Many things are worth the fight
But louder doesn't make you right
You don't have to yell
You don't have to yell

Copyright 2006 Clumsy Fly Music (ASCAP) (adm. By Word Music, LLC)

the opposite of faith...fear, not doubt

As I was planning some things for our Home Community tonight, I kept getting stuck on a particular passage in the Bible. We are reading through Mark together and will be asking questions about a story in Mark 9 where Jesus heals a boy possessed by an evil spirit. At one point, the boy's father says, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"

Since reading that, I've been thinking about faith all day. Somewhere along my thinking, I felt compelled to call my good friend Wilson (he always seems to make me ask more questions). He said, "The opposite of faith isn't doubt; it is fear. We always assume that it is so wrong to doubt or question God, but it's not. It's sad when our fear cripples our ability to believe."

You can see how that has only generated more questions. But, needless to say, it made me think a lot about Summit and the environment that is created every Wednesday. I like the fact that I can go to Summit honest about my doubts and questions. I enjoy the conversation and appreciate looking at things that are happening all around us in culture only to come away with more questions about God.

There are some lyrics written by singer/song-writer Chris Rice that say:
God if you're there, I hope you show it
And God if you're there, I need you to know that
I hope you don't mind me asking you questions
But I figure you're big enough
I figure you're big enough

Somehow, I gotta think that God's big enough to handle my questions and doubt

~Dwayne