A blur ending in goosebumps... (Mon., Oct. 25)

Well, the 3rd Lausanne Congress is over... and I have not posted since the second day. But it was a fire-hydrant experience, a constant gush of activities and meetings (I actually missed a number of the main sessions and hope to watch them at the website) and I don’t know if any single person could keep up with Lindsay. He moved at a mad pace, often triple booked, until the day-off on Thursday, then slept for a good chunk of the afternoon. Friday through Sunday was still hectic, but he pared some things from his schedule. There was an amazing talk at the GBA track by an Anglican bishop from an area where there has been bloody persecution of Christians by a certain other religion’s followers. He talked about loving his neighbors even after terrible violence was visited on his church and family. But the highlight of the week for me was the closing worship service.
Now, I have to admit that after nine Urbana Conferences, two IFES World Assemblies, three PCUSA General Assemblies—and other conferences large and small beyond my ability to count—I have become a little jaded and consumer-oriented about and by big worship. But last night might have been the most electrifying worship time I have experienced. It was a perfect storm of worship: believers from all over the world, speaking many languages but praising God together, art, music, drama, Scripture, preaching, and Holy Communion... I had goosebumps. For three hours we sang, prayed, partook, and above all raised the name of Jesus high. It will be tough not to let the consumerism creep back in and compare future worship against this one. I’m hoping to instead to try and infect my worship with the joyful spirit of this one.