Comments for Glory to God for All Things

Comment on Why Does God Sing? by Donna Farley

Donna Farley — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 04:17:37 +0000

To think of God singing reminds me of that scene in The Magician’s Nephew where Aslan sings creation into being.

Many years, Father.

Comment on Why Does God Sing? by Margaret

Margaret — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:36:35 +0000

This is a wonderful way for you to celebrate your birthday, thank you!

Especially this was a blessing to me:
“The heart of worship is an exchange. It is an exchange where we offer to God all we are and all we have and receive in return Who He is and what He has. The exchange takes place as we sing to Him and He sings to us.”

May God grant you many years, Fr. Stephen!

Comment on Why Does God Sing? by William R. Work, MD

William R. Work, MD — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:33:18 +0000

Father bless! This is one of my most favorite podcasts that I come back to over and over again to listen to…and I literally have no idea why…

Comment on Why Does God Sing? by easton

easton — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:12:35 +0000

father, happy birthday! thank you for this wonderful post!

Comment on Talking Theology by George Patsourakos

George Patsourakos — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 02:11:11 +0000

If Cafe Worship is effective in inspiring Christians to worship Christ — especially those who do not enjoy going to church — then it is a good substitute for church.

I know several people who have not attended church for years, because they find church services to be boring. Some of these people will go to a wedding reception directly, having skipped the wedding church service. Others I know will skip the Sunday church service completely, and go directly to the church hall for coffee fellowship. These people feel no guilt or shame whatsoever for avoiding church services. I call this unwillingness or “fear” of attending church services “ecclesiaphobia.”

I believe that the Cafe Worship could be an effective means for these people to find Christ in their lives, since they do enjoy the social byproducts of the church, but not church services.

Comment on Talking Theology by Justin

Justin — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:02:49 +0000

I agree, if someone starts to foster a relationship with Christ at one of these “Cafe Worship” events than that is a good thing. It was a Gideons NT that reawakened my thirst for the peace that only Christ can give so you never know how God will help people come to Him. I’m glad I found your blog Father Stephen, it’s very enjoyable.

Comment on Talking Theology by fatherstephen

fatherstephen — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 20:33:48 +0000

Hilary If the sight of a fox can convert someone (in the words of Elder Paisios) then a cafe table can do the same – occasionally even a blogpost. No argument here.

Father Stephen+

Sent from my iTouch

Comment on Talking Theology by Marsha

Marsha — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 20:30:11 +0000

Hilary, I absolutely agree. If we had walked into a church that even pretended to take itself and what it believed seriously…..well, we wouldn’
t have walked in.

We first went to a church that had a large jazz band that also played commerically and the pastor wore a Hawaiian shirt and told jokes with a little moral for 15 minutes. Then we moved into another “contemporary worship” but one that had more “form”.

One must start somewhere, that’s for sure.

Comment on Talking Theology by MichaelPatrick

MichaelPatrick — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 20:01:54 +0000

hilary and Damaris, I agree with you both. Your insights resonate here.

Comment on Talking Theology by Damaris

Damaris — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 16:39:51 +0000

There are a lot of good religious things out there, including cafes, concerts, picnics, sports get-together, etc. — but they’re not church. So long as they aren’t offered as church, or fill up the time and space that should be for church, there is probably nothing wrong with them, and some of them may be helpful. But it might shock a lot of Americans today to be told that, although they are busy for an hour or two on Sunday mornings, at a big building, they have not been to church for years.