Joe The Plumber, Joe Sixpack and Joe Schmoe
- By Branon Dempsey
- Published October 16, 2008
Branon Dempsey
Branon Dempsey is the Editor-at-Large for PraiseCharts Live as well as the Director and Founder of Worship Team Training: a ministry for local church worship ministries. He has studied and been trained by members of Maranatha! Music and Integrity Music for worship ministry and composition. Branon lives in Cypress, Texas where he is also a Worship Leader/Songwriter and has been in ministry for over 16 years. Read more articles and blogs by Branon on PraiseCharts Live or visit him at www.worshipteamtraining.com. Check out the new sponsor Landing Page of Worship Team Training on PraiseCharts.
After watching the presidential candidate debate, I was struck by the enormity of our ever increasing family unit issues in our country. The economic state, health care and education are the top issues we face as a nation. We also see alarming issues in the Church in view of our congregations and their family units.
Recently, my wife and I decided to get back to the basics for our family. We enjoy watching TV during dinner, but we have realized that this environment drowns out daily discussions and quality face time. We have a set schedule every day, which includes daily exercise at the gym (as a family) before coming home. By the time dinner is over, and chores are done, we wonder where our time has gone. We are now back at the table. So how does this all affect our daily worship with God and worship in the Body?
As you may be aware the decline of church attendance and the incline of divorce/immoral rates are staggering. This is not coincidental, neither is this reality-parallel anything new. However, these findings are alarming as they do affect our outlook on God, relationships and community. As morality and the family unit shifts, so do we see the wakes in our churches and in our neighborhoods.
Maybe like you, I have seen more and more people disinterested in engaging in cooperate worship. People are not as open in discussions. People are far too busy and in a rush. Last but not least, we drive too fast and cut people off in the church parking lot. We are simply consumed by life’s responsibilities. I catch myself often when my time with God, family and/or friends ebbs away due to business. He then reminds me of what is truly important in what I value and prioritize. For example, in my relationship and engagement with my family, there is something strong and solid about coming together at the table. There is also a strongpoint of connection when I am active in my wife’s life from simple texting or facebooking to listening and asking questions about her day. There is a strongpoint of connection when we do things together as a family. We build community with one another. This is very much like our worship to God when we are engaged with Him in a sincere relationship.
In church worship, we all come from different home/time/family arrangements. I believe that our family unit shaping begins at home and needs to be encouraged by our local churches. Unfortunately, there are families who have experienced a shattering of relationships and may no longer be the unit they once were. This is sensitive to my heart, as my parents divorced when I was five. The family unit can be rekindled as our worship-relationship with God can be revitalized. It comes back to re-prioritizing our values, sincerity, relationships and responsibilities. You may have your own methods for resolve, but one thing is clear, all of our households are in need of community with God and with people.
We are living in the days of Joe the Plumber and Sixpack, but what about their families? It starts with us, our households and our communities to reclaim the significance of family rather than the focus on individualism.
Recently, my wife and I decided to get back to the basics for our family. We enjoy watching TV during dinner, but we have realized that this environment drowns out daily discussions and quality face time. We have a set schedule every day, which includes daily exercise at the gym (as a family) before coming home. By the time dinner is over, and chores are done, we wonder where our time has gone. We are now back at the table. So how does this all affect our daily worship with God and worship in the Body?
As you may be aware the decline of church attendance and the incline of divorce/immoral rates are staggering. This is not coincidental, neither is this reality-parallel anything new. However, these findings are alarming as they do affect our outlook on God, relationships and community. As morality and the family unit shifts, so do we see the wakes in our churches and in our neighborhoods.
Maybe like you, I have seen more and more people disinterested in engaging in cooperate worship. People are not as open in discussions. People are far too busy and in a rush. Last but not least, we drive too fast and cut people off in the church parking lot. We are simply consumed by life’s responsibilities. I catch myself often when my time with God, family and/or friends ebbs away due to business. He then reminds me of what is truly important in what I value and prioritize. For example, in my relationship and engagement with my family, there is something strong and solid about coming together at the table. There is also a strongpoint of connection when I am active in my wife’s life from simple texting or facebooking to listening and asking questions about her day. There is a strongpoint of connection when we do things together as a family. We build community with one another. This is very much like our worship to God when we are engaged with Him in a sincere relationship.
In church worship, we all come from different home/time/family arrangements. I believe that our family unit shaping begins at home and needs to be encouraged by our local churches. Unfortunately, there are families who have experienced a shattering of relationships and may no longer be the unit they once were. This is sensitive to my heart, as my parents divorced when I was five. The family unit can be rekindled as our worship-relationship with God can be revitalized. It comes back to re-prioritizing our values, sincerity, relationships and responsibilities. You may have your own methods for resolve, but one thing is clear, all of our households are in need of community with God and with people.
We are living in the days of Joe the Plumber and Sixpack, but what about their families? It starts with us, our households and our communities to reclaim the significance of family rather than the focus on individualism.
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