James H Charlesworth: Reading and Interpretation of Ode 13 ; May 23, 2010 Reflexion Spiritual Community
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Only today have I heard of The Odes. What little I heard stirred my seeking heart.
I came to my son’s house to use his computer to search for more. I found this site, and listened to James Charlesworth reading from Ode 13. This may be the meat for which my hungry soul searches. I am excited about what I have heard so far. My spirit is searching for more – more of Christ – more depth of relationship with Him – if He Is the Christ (and I know He is) then why do we sit in a church with other believers and play church – stoicly listening to a few words urging salvation and a few hymns sung without conviction and understanding and little excitement and joy and go home feeling silently “is that all there is?”. WHY? Why should I offer that to the lost soul seeking better when that is not it? I am a 63 yr.old who has been a believer, born-again disciple for 42 yrs. I’m a former minister’s wife. I love the church and His people – but sometimes don’t “like” them very much. I would like to bring the lost to church with me, but would be embarrassed by the shallowness they would encounter. I have journeyed in my faith as a So. Baptist, Christian Church (Disciple of Christ), and Church of God member, worshipped with Greek Orthodox, Catholics, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Methodists, Lutherans, Assembly of God, and various “others” all claiming Jesus – and found Him to be there, but many of the people often unaware of His presense. The church today has such a need to find the way to Worship Him, Adore Him, Serve Him, lead others to Him, be Restored, Revived, and Awakened! Where are those on fire and alive here in the West? I would be one of them. God Send the Rain!
You, dear sister, have so eloquently expressed the very cry of my heart. I, too, have found a shallowness when it comes to worship within the formal structure of “churchianity”. My soul longs for the depth of the Presence of true worship within the veil. I have experienced this kind of worship in times past, but find it disheartening that it somehow has disappeared from the so-called “worship services” in the churches of today. I am the same age as you and I was born-again and came into relationship with the True and living God 36 years ago. He changed my life from having a “form of religion” and introduced me to a life empowered by the Holy Spirit. I have never been the same. My heart and my soul long for the times I used to find in corporate worship, when His followers worshipped in Spirit and Truth. Now, it seems that the only places I can find the intimacy of worship is home, alone with Him. This music of the Odes Project has refreshed my soul. Oh, how well you have said what my heart also feels!