Over the past few days I’ve been contemplating the element of mystery in our worship. God is far greater than we are able to comprehend. This incomprehensibility is a part of His essence, and true worship should acknowledge it.

Someone might say this is a hindrance to our worship. How can I worship what I don’t understand? But rather than a hindrance, mystery enhances our perception of God and evokes greater worship. We worship God because of the mystery, not in spite of it!

J. I. Packer writes,

“We should never forget that in any case theology is for doxology: the truest expression of trust in a great God will always be worship, and it will always be proper worship to praise God for being far greater than we can know.”

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True worship engages every part of our being – our mind, our bodies, and our will, but especially our heart. Stephen Charnock concerning the importance of engaging our heart in worship: No sincerity = No worship.

Without the heart it is no worship; it is a stage play; an acting a part without being that person really which is acted by us: a hypocrite, in the notion of the word, is a stage-player. We may as well say a man may believe with his body, as worship God only with his body . . . We may be truly said to worship God, though we want (lack) perfection; but we cannot be said to worship him, if we want (lack) sincerity.

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Whenever an act of evil takes place, it is in our human nature to try to categorize it. Some deny its existence. Others try to identify it by external appearance or influences. Some look for commonality of race, creed, education level or economic background.

The events in Boston this past week have demonstrated that evil takes many forms. We can’t always recognize it until it happens. Friends and acquaintances of the bombers repeatedly used words like “shocked,” “unexpected,” and “surreal.” There was “nothing that stood out” about them. If you look at their pictures, you see no indication of the atrocity they would commit. They could have been one of any number of young American men.

We can’t always identify evil because it is not always externally manifested. The Bible is clear that evil resides within, in the human heart. Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked:”

As Jesus explains in Mark 7:20-23 “That which comes out of the man, that defiles the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”

{Boston Marathon suspect, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev with unidentified friend}

In some of us that sin nature expresses itself in overt acts of evil. In others it is more deceptive, mingling well-disguised with self-righteousness. In all of us it is lurking beneath the surface, waiting for the right circumstances to expose itself.

This is contrary to popular thinking. Society says man is basically good and what will make him better comes from within. God says man is basically bad and what will help him must come from without.

This is the message of the gospel. It is God-centered. God planned redemption before it was needed, promised it through the Old Testament Scriptures, presented it in the person of Jesus Christ, and proclaims it to the world through His people. (Romans 1:1-7)

The Gospel is God’s antidote for the disease of sin. The “Good News” is that, through faith in Jesus Christ, God does to the evil within us what we could never do on our own.

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As the parent of a teenager (and another all-too-soon) I am on the lookout for resources that will equip me to be a better parent. As a pastor I look for those that I can recommend to the parents in our congregation. Passionate Parenting by Cary Schmidt is both.

There’s much for which to recommend this book, but here are four basic reasons I feel comfortable doing so:

1) It is focused on principles.

I’ve long been of the opinion that there are two kinds of books on parenting: Those that dictate EXACTLY how EVERY parent must raise EVERY child, and those that discuss basic principles that are diversely applicable in the unique situations each family will face.

This book is one of the latter. Each chapter shares a different characteristic of Passionate Parenting. While there is established Biblical teaching about raising children, each child and family is different. Passionate Parenting provides principles that will fit in each of these varied environments. This broadens is effectiveness and makes it a great tool for any family.

2) It has a positive perspective of the parent-child relationship.

There is no question that parenting a teen can be challenging, but Pastor Schmidt doesn’t assume that the relationship has to be adversarial. One of my favorite chapters, “The Laughing Parent” focuses on the importance of edifying humor and laughter in the life of a family. In fact, the entire book has a positive tone that emphasizes the blessing of children.

3) It includes practical insights and suggestions.

Each chapter has a practical aspect, but some chapters deal with issues relevant to modern parenting. “The Techno-Savvy Parent” (chapter 17) for example highlights issues specific to media and technology. The ever-increasing encroachment of media in the life of the modern family demands that parents be vigilant, educated, and strategic. The author shares a list of action-items to help even the most technologically-uninformed parent.

4) It has a pastoral tone.

This is not a book of sermons, but it does include the spiritual aspect of parenting. Its heart is to create a passion in each parent to foster a passion for God in their child. Chapters such as “The Repenting Parent,” “The Praying Parent,” and “The Shepherding Parent,” all address this important truth. The author’s pastoral heart shows clearly in this work. He cares about parents and teens.

I hesitate to recommend some books because, while good, their benefit is limited. These four points assure me that this is not a book that is helpful to a select few – I can heartily commend it for any parents who have or will have teenagers.

Passionate Parenting challenges parents, but is not a challenge to read. Very seldom do I enjoy “parenting” books, but I frequently found myself smiling through this one. It finds a singular balance between stomping your toes and touching your heart, between principle and practice, between ancient truths and modern issues. It is a book I have benefited from, and one which I will recommend to others.

This and other resources from Cary Schmidt are available at his website.

Passionate Parenting is also available in hardcover and Kindle editions at Amazon.

“And on the day called Sunday there is a meeting in one place of those who live in cities or the country, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read as long as time permits. When the reader has finished, the president in a discourse urges and invites [us] to the imitation of these noble things. Then we all stand up together and offer prayers. And, as said before, when we have finished the prayer, bread is brought, and wine and water, and the president similarly sends up prayers and thanksgivings to the best of his ability, and the congregation assents, saying the Amen; the distribution, and reception of the consecrated [elements] by each one, takes place and they are sent to the absent by the deacons. Those who prosper, and who so wish, contribute, each one as much as he chooses to. What is collected is deposited with the president, and he takes care of orphans and widows, and those who are in want on account of sickness or any other cause, and those who are in bonds, and the strangers who are sojourners among [us], and, briefly, he is the protector of all those in need. We all hold this common gathering on Sunday, since it is the first day, on which God transforming darkness and matter made the universe, and Jesus Christ our Saviour rose from the dead on the same day.”

Justin, the Martyr, First Apology, 67

Reading, exposition, and exhortation from Scripture, prayer, communion, generous care for one another . . . whenever I join in such common acts of worship I feel a sense of union and fellowship with believers throughout history who have engaged in the same acts for nearly two thousand years. The forms are as ancient as the church, but, when offered from a heart of worship, the spirit is as fresh as this Sunday.

1 Samuel 12.23

“God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you.”

Prayerlessness is a sin against God, others, and myself. Here are six reasons why:

1. It displays sinful self-reliance

Jesus said, “Without me you can do nothing.” To live without prayer is to say He’s wrong.

2. It doubts the promises of God

There are many of God’s promises that linked with prayer. Prayerlessness questions those assurances.

3. It disregards the needs of others

We are instructed throughout Scripture to pray for others. Failing in intercession ignores this command.

4. It distances me in my relationship to God

Prayer is the communication that builds my relationship with Him. Neglecting prayer is neglecting that relationship.

5. It disobeys clear commands of Scripture

God said pray. When we don’t, we disobey.

6. It denies the sufficiency of God in all things

We sometimes sing “He’s all I need.” Then we live as if He is not. We do not seek Him as our deepest satisfaction. This may be the greatest tragedy of not praying. We miss out on the blessedness of communion and delight in our Heavenly Father.

God forbid that we should sin by ceasing to pray.

What is the biggest challenge you face to praying as you should? How have you dealt with it?