Sunday November 27, 2005

Sunday November 28, 2005 Zack slept in until 9:00 and then got up to get ready for church. I had thought that there was no high school worship because of Thanksgiving weekend so we had planned on him going to church with us. We haven’t worshiped together since October 9th, the day he was released form the hospital, so I was really looking forward to it. Of course the music wasn’t quite what he is used to in high school worship or the Vine but he still stood and sang with us. He wanted to know why the old people (that would be anyone over 21) didn’t raise their hands when they sang so that got me scanning the sanctuary for enthusiastic worshipers. I was able to point out a few but I don’t think he was impressed. He told me he was going to sing with his hands raised tonight at the Vine. He listened intently to the sermon and at one point handed me the Bible so I could look up the passages Bob Russell was referring to. He followed along and could keep up and I couldn’t help but wonder if God was making it easier for him to read because it was scripture. I even asked him if it was hard for him to read it and he said no. As we walked out of the sanctuary he told me that the sermon was really good and he got something out of it. I went to pick Kyle up from her Sunday school class and left Zack in the atrium visiting with friends. When I returned he was talking with several parents and many people approached me about the article in the Southeast Outlook newspaper. We headed home to meet my sister who was taking pictures of the kids for our Christmas card this year. We were trying for just the right shot that captured all our kids together again. Once through with pictures Zack headed to his room for a nap and reminded me that we were going to the Vine tonight. We ate a quick meal of leftovers and headed back to church. We arrived earlier than usual and Zack didn’t see any of his normal group of friends. We went to the sanctuary to get out seats and Zack headed closer to the front than we normally sit. I pointed out that when his friends arrived they would be sitting back further but he didn’t care, he wanted to be up close. It wasn’t long before we saw others that we knew who joined us and then the music began. Zack made up for any lack of enthusiasm in worship this morning. He sang, eyes closed, hand raised or clapping to the faster songs. He asked me if I thought anyone in the band might quit because he would like to join them. I reminded him that he didn’t know how to play any musical instrument but he didn’t seem to think that made a difference, he could just sing.
We ended the worship by singing Amazing Grace, which put me in tears as well as Brooke Willoughby’s Mom. Zack asked me why I was crying and I explained that he used to sing Amazing grace to everyone at Frazier Rehab. He smiled and really turned on the singing then. Brooke and her Mom came back to the house to roast marshmallows and drink hot chocolate on the deck. Several other kids stopped by to join us and it made for a perfect ending to a great day of worship. I feel so fortunate that there is a style of worship that appeals to teenagers. Most of the Vine service is spent on worship through contemporary music, the style is very different from Sunday morning. We can worship God in so many ways (through song, service, prayer) and all are pleasing in his sight. Each time I see Zack singing in church I am reminded of those times when he lay so perfectly still in ICU, unable to utter a sound, and I am filled with unspeakable joy. God has blessed us beyond measure and if Zack were to never recover more than he has at this moment we would be thankful. But we pray with confidence that He is not finished yet. God will continue to be glorified through Zack’s recovery so this road has just begun.
I will be speaking to students at Male High School this Thursday through the fellowship of Christian Athletes so pray that we can reach those teenagers who need to understand the power of prayer. Pray that those searching for answers will find a merciful God capable of handing all their concerns. As always, pray for Zack’s continued recovery for the Glory of God!