Creative Worship

I meant to post this yesterday, but I did my taxes instead. :)

On Monday, instead of pulling out the guitars and the sheet music, a few of us were asked to do some presentations. The subject: Creative Worship. The time from 9-10 was still dedicated to worshipping, but we were encouraged to be creative about it. Singing songs is not the only way to worship God.

When people presented, there were so many good ideas, and different ways to worship; two of which made me homesick.

The first person to present showed a Youtube video of some cool math equations.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h60r2HPsiuM

The second person said they enjoyed going to the beach back home, and they showed a video of a peaceful beach.

Math & Beach?! I'm homesick for the first time since coming here!

Eventually it got to be my turn. I didn't feel like I had a ton of time to say everything I wanted to say, so I presented the short version of my creative worship to my classmates. Here's the long version.

Maybe it's just me, but I think that in order to properly worship God, you need to have a proper perspective on Him. So my creative worship is to appreciate how big God is, and how clever He is. I know you already have some ideas in your head about this, but let me share with you what's in my head.

Now, first question: When you think of God, does He blow your mind? If He doesn't, then I want to try and help you get there. Maybe you put Him in a box and carry Him around with you. (I do this from time to time.) Every once and a while, when you need something, you can let Him out, but then once you have what you need then it's back into the box with God.

Oh! And if you're a "good" Christian you'll even poke some holes in the box so that God can breathe. Maybe you'll even throw in some leaves and sticks so he can climb around on them. You wouldn't want God to be bored, would you? Instead of a cardboard box, you might even go to the fancy "Christian" box store and pick out a nice one. Nothing but the best for your God, right?

Haha, except God is not a pet frog. (Note to self: get a pet frog.) God is infinite! Okay, as a math major, I know a little bit about infinity. I've taken different classes that have studied infinity. Normally, when you think of infinity, you think of the numbers: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4... all the way up to infinity.

Did you know that there is also an infinite amount of numbers between 0 and 1? Don't believe me? Let's start naming them: .5, .55, .555, .5555... I could go on forever just adding 5's. Each would be a different number. There are actually more numbers between 0 and 1 then there are if you start at 0 and count upwards. If that doesn't sound rational, then you're right! (Math joke for the math nerds that understand irrational numbers. :) )

Let's take another look at the number line with this new fact in mind: 0, infinity, 1, infinity, 2, infinity, 3, infinity, 4... There is an infinite amount of numbers inbetween each of them.

Does this remind you of anything? What about when someone asks how an infinite God can live in a finite being? Zero to one is finite, and yet within that space exists infinity! Is your mind blown yet? Because I have more.

Draw a line. This is length. It goes infinitely in both directions. Draw another one perpendicular to that one. This is height. It also goes infinitely in both directions. Draw one more line for depth, and you've defined a three dimensional space. We exist in three dimensions, so it's easy for us to understand this.

There are three lines. Each of them is independent of the others. You can move along the length without moving up the height or down the depth. Likewise for the others. Each of them is also infinite. You can move along one line forever, even out into space. And yet, working together they create something so much more! Three dimensional space!

Does this remind you of anything? What about the Trinity? Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Each infinite. Each independent. Yet, working together they create something so much more! Three lines, one space! Three in one! How about now, am I blowing your mind yet? I have more. :)

Take a look at this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WF6V9RQFz8

Things as simple as a seashell, and a sunflower, and the wings of a dragonfly have complex mathematical concepts hidden within them! You think that happens by accident? Or do you see a bit of the Creator within the creation?

I have a couple more things I want to throw at you. :)

Starting with this two part video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkxieS-6WuA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySBaYMESb8o&feature=channel

God is not restrained by time. Yes? I have even heard someone say that God exists outside of time. Do you ever think about that? If time is the fourth dimension, does that mean that God exists in a dimension that's higher than the fourth dimension? That's what I think.

I'm in three dimensions. I exist outside of two dimensional objects. If I take a piece of paper, I can put two fingers in two different spots. According to that paper, I'm in two places at once. If God is omnipresent, then doesn't that make more sense if he's a higher dimensional being?

A teacher here at the DTS told us that "God is bigger than your imagination." That statement blew my mind. I wanted to stop him and explain to him the size of my imagination. I can imagine up to the 10th dimension! But I stopped myself, and started to process the truth of that statement. The Creator is bigger than the creation. If I make a sculpture, am I bigger than that sculpture's imagination? You bet I am! That sculpture doesn't even have an imagination! Likewise, God must be bigger than our imaginations! That means that God is bigger than 10 dimensional beings! Do you know how big that is??

Is there anything too hard for a God of that size? Are any of your problems or worries too tough for a God of that size to handle? Is there anything that a God of that size can't provide for you in your time of need?

First let God blow your mind, then worship Him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQYhWPFDa6Y