Christmas Celebrations - Part 4: Oklahoma Day 2

After all the air travel and excitement at Dry Gulch and after staying up for over 20 hours after only 4 hours of sleep on Saturday, we slept in on Sunday, but not TOO late because we needed to get to church 75 minutes early to get a seat.  The service we would be attending would be the seventh one for the weekend.  The church seats 2500, and the lines were long for every single service.  I stood amazed as we waited, thinking to myself, " Despite the push to remove God's name from the public sector, nothing will ever remove the hunger in the human soul for the only One who can truly satisfy the deepest longings of the heart."

When we stepped into the parking lot of the church, I noticed that my daughter had a gaping hole in the knee of her leggings.  Thankfully, we had plenty of time before the next service, so she changed out of them.  I told her just to throw them in the trashcan.  But she wailed, "No Mommy, I need them for my Christmas outfit.  Can't Nana sew up the hole?"

I promised to buy her a new pair after church while wondering how I raised a child to be so frugal.  She certainly believes Nana can fix anything!

While waiting, we took a few few family photos with our cell phones.  Here's one of our family before church.

The "service" was unlike anything I have ever attended, at least not at church.  It was loud like a rock concert with a phenomenal light display.  It included funny dramas, fabulous music, amazing choreography and a set like you could only expect to find in Hollywood. The pastor at the church believes the church should do everything BIG.  He is from Texas after all.  I figured that out about him the night before at Dry Gulch, which was also over the top.  The church brought in the Philadelphia string quartet.  Their music was simply amazing, but we could sort of tell through the dark room, smoke, and sophisticated spotlights that they were not playing traditional instruments but rather some form of electronic strings.  The bass and cello were lightweight enough for the musicians to move around with them.  It really was fantastic.

I felt conflicted during the service show.  I've always believed that church gatherings should be all about worshiping God, not entertaining the masses.  If people come seeking to be entertained instead of to worship and serve, then they will totally miss God's purpose for mankind.  Yet, this grandiose method has a way of drawing in the lost like no other.  After all the lavish entertainments which even included modified versions of Michael Jackson's secular song, Thriller, and the Sound of Music song, These are a Few of my Favorite Things, there was a time of heartfelt praise and worship.  And the true, Biblical account of Christ's birth and ministry was powerfully presented.  The life changing testimonies shared during the service were very moving.  God is clearly doing a powerful work at Church on the Move, so who am I to question the presentation?  As the apostle Paul said:

1 Corinthians 9:22
To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.

After the service, my mother-in-law prepared another fabulous meal for the entire family.  She cooked for everyone, not just us, but all the brothers and their families as well, every day we were there.  She is truly amazing!

That evening, we went out for a night of family bowling.  My husband and his brothers bowled a lot as kids.  I can count the total number of times I've been bowling with my fingers.  My husband set a personal best score at 208.  I haven't even reached triple digits yet.  At least I can now bowl with a 12 or 15 pound bowling ball without any pain or struggle.  I'll look for victories wherever I can find them!