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WOW! What a weekend. I am in Houston Texas and this weekend got to worship with several incredible bodies of believers.

Saturday night I went to Lakewood Church – everyone knows Joel Osteen. Incredible worship led by Israel Houghton. Energetic, caring atmosphere. Challenge brought by Arthur Blessit, the man who has carried a cross over 78,000 miles walking all over the world. Powerful teaching by Victoria Osteen. Uplifting message, as usual, from Psalm 23:6 by Joel. Refreshing.

Sunday morning at 8 a.m. I went to St. John’s United Methodist Church Downtown. This in an inner-city church with a primarily African American congregation. It is actually the church where Beyonce Knowles and Kelly Rowland of Destiny’s Child grew up. WOW! I love R&B and hip hop and rap so the music/worship time was right up my alley. The place was hoppin! The message by one of the staff pastor’s was a powerful message out of Isaiah 42-43. What a great vision to reach the downtrodden and forgotten flowed from this place. Pastor Rudy Rasmus has a passion for people.

Then I went across to Ecclesia, a church in the trendy area of town for an 11AM service. Ecclesia is in an area of town where there has, for as long as I have known been a large homosexual population and a lot of prostitution and other immoral activity. This Church is a “postmodern” church with more of a liturgical feel without the robes – recited prayers, communion each service, icons decorating the interior. Chris Seay, the pastor, has written several books dealing with the Emergent Church movement. Very into social justice. There was a guest speaker who had a great message about prayer. Very young, “hip” congregation.

Sunday night at 6:30 I went to Houston’s First Baptist Church. HFBC is a much more traditional church even though they did have a live band who were young and “hip” looking. The overall feel was still traditional. Pastor Gregg Matte preached a great message from 1 Thessalonians about spiritual authority. I was talking with some of the staff after the service and they told me that every service that day (3) they had people join the church. They are connecting with people.

All four of these experiences could be sliced and diced and in each one there were some extremely positive things and some negative things. Each church has strengths and weaknesses. Each church has things I agree theologically with and things I disagree theologically with. Each church has philosophies I love and philosophies I am not crazy about.

I heard the Word of God in each setting. I experienced the presence of God and the love of God in each place. I learned from each experience and feel that I walked away from each place better than when I walked in. I was changed in each place. All a part of God’s bringing me toward completion. And the diversity in culture and methods was a beautiful thing.

Thank You God for this opportunity to worship in places that are reaching a variety of people for Your Kingdom. And thank your for my home church where I belong and am called. The place where weekly I can plug in and connect with your children and reach out to our city and the world. Your bride is beautiful!