This week we return to the second part of our Believe series:  because of what we believe, what do we do?  The first practice:  worship!  It is the most important things we can do.  The great Christian theologian Augustine said, "Our souls find no rest until they rest in Thee."  Perhaps our country's dwindling worshipping communities and skyrocketing crime rate are proof of Augustine's words.  Humanity was LITERALLY made to be in union, in worship with God.

                Our texts this week speak about what happens when we are in worship - real worship with God; Miriam sings the earliest song of praise in the Bible, Daniel defies the corrupt law of the land by continuing to pray three times a day, as a result, God seals the mouths of the lions and the king becomes a believer, Paul and Silas pray and praise God in leg irons after being beaten AND released from their bonds don't try to escape.  Another witness to faith that garnered new converts. PHEW!!!  Proving that when God's people draw near in worship, with sincere hearts, the Holy Spirit brings revival through their worship.

                But our texts also warn us about what happens when our hearts are not focused on God, but on other things.  Isaiah warns, "The multitude of your sacrifices - what are they to me . . . Stop bringing meaningless offerings!"   Jesus' words mirror God's disgust at misguided worship, "You hypocrites!  You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people's faces" . . . "you blind guides" . . . "You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self- indulgence" . . . and perhaps the worst, "You are white washed tombs . . . on the inside you are full of hypocrisy."  OUCH!  God knows our hearts, knows when our worship is not focused on Him and will not tolerate it!  Spiritual deadness in worship is the underlying condition of our wrong focus.  God will not be present to us if we cannot bother to be present to God.

                God's solution to the reality of lukewarm  worship comes from Hebrews, "Since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus . . . let us draw near to God with sincere hearts and the full assurance this faith brings . . . Let us spur one another on toward love and good deeds, NOT giving up meeting together, as  some are in the habit of doing, but encourage each other . . . as you see the DAY approaching."  Lukewarm?  Hot?  Not sure?  Turn from the things that deflect your attention - Worship God!

Blessings, Rev. Ellen          

Our "Suds of Love" laundromat ministry with Fred L. Wilson and Woodrow Wilson Elementary School continues on Thursday, January 21^st.  We need volunteers to be at Harris Laundromat (1205 West C Street, Kannapolis) on that day from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM and 6:00 until 9:00 PM.  If you would be available, please contact Christel Josey (704-706-5752) or Chris Ferguson (704-680-2783).  If you can't volunteer on the 21^st, but would still like to help, we need donations of quarters and laundry detergent.  Thanks for your support!

Would you like to place flowers in the Bethpage church sanctuary for the Sunday morning worship service?  If you would like to commemorate a special occasion in this way, please sign up on the sheet in the hallway between the Sunday school office and the sanctuary AND call Kilby's Florist at 704-933-7955 with your order and any special instructions.  Make arrangements directly with Kilby's for payment.  Please remember to contact Donna in the church office at least a week before your reserved Sunday, to let her know how you would like your gift of flowers recognized in The Beth Page.  If you leave the flowers at the church or allow them to be distributed to our local retirement communities following the worship service, you will be bringing joy to many others AND your gift is tax deductible.

Christel Josey & Marsha Johnson