Your First Minute in Heaven . . .

Allow me to interrupt my "Celebrating People of Disabilities" series to bring you an important revelation.  Many of us have wondered what it will be like to be in Heaven.  Have you ever pondered what your first minute will be like in Heaven? 

For me, I suddenly appear on God's throne!  I hear the voice of the Heavenly Father say "Rise Up!"   The Holy Spirit announces my name to all of the saints that have arrived ahead of me.  They are cheering!  The victorious Heavenly Host (God's army of angels) is present.  They are clapping!  The Lord Jesus, hugs me and says "Welcome".  The Holy Spirit nods Her approval.  I walk to the Heavenly Father and stand in His presence.  He also hugs me.  I am given my heavenly reward.  It is my permanent sign of salvation.  I am overjoyed.   I am in ecstasy.  I am in Heaven!

My view of Heaven was inspired by a minute in Emily Brown's life.  As a person of Cerebral Palsy, she was recently honored by Children's Miracle Network.  I believe that Heaven looks just like this...

This is the "Worship For All" blog.  It has a Heavenly ending.

Joey Gerardi - Celebrating People of Fragile X Syndrome

A few years ago I was absolutely, jaw-dropped, stunned when my son's doctor advised my wife and I that my son, with severe disabilities, needed a team of caregivers.  For over 30 years, we had tried so hard to avoid burdening family, friends and our community with any care for our son.  It turns out that to our family, to our friends and to our community, my son's care/burden is their blessing.

Meet Joey Gerardi.  He has Fragile X Syndrome.  Joey's parents are firm believers in Self Determination for Joey.  It is working!  He and his team of caregivers have a remarkable burden-free story to share with us all.

Joey's caregivers show amazing love toward Joey, don't they?  Each of his caregivers are joyfully connected with him.  We all have caregivers!  There is one who cares for us more than all of the others, however. 

I am reminded of how much the Lord Jesus wants to care for us and be connected with us!  You have heard it said by Jesus "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Place my yoke over your shoulders, and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble. Then you will find rest for yourselves."  Matthew 11:29  (GWT)

Just before saying this, Jesus had actually announced to the crowds of Galilee that "My Father has turned everything over to me."  Wow!  Really?  So what is the first thing Jesus tells the crowd after this omnipotent and omniscient announcement?  Jesus turns to them (and us) and assures us that, with all of the power of the universe, He wants to be our personal caregiver!

My hope is that you accept His care and share His care with those very special people, like Joey Gerardi.

This is the "Worship For All blog.  It has a heavenly ending.

Ryan Pittman - Celebrating People of Down Syndrome

Over 58,000 people have met Ryan Pittman on YouTube.  He shares the same message as Worship For All.  Please meet Ryan and hear his story, won't you?

Many are the emotions that Ryan shared with us during his testimony.  He was proud of his decision to be publicly baptised.  He laughed at the thought of his "fussing" with Mom or Dad.

To me, what really marked the power of Ryan's message was when he publicly announced that he was different.  "I have Down Syndrome," he said.  It hurt for him to admit who he is, didn't it?  What courage Ryan has been given.  What bravery it was to admit to who he was.  Ryan is the kind of man that God can use to further His Kingdom!   Lord knows, we need more men and women of God like Ryan, TODAY!

Are you brave enough to admit to who you are?

Through encounters with courageous people of disabilities like Ryan Pittman, I am also embolden.  I am Brad Phillips.  I am a repenting sinner turned worshipping saint by the power of Jesus Christ.  As Ryan said "We are all the same.  We all need God."

This is the "Worship For All" blog.  It has a heavenly ending.

Next UP:   "Joey Gerardi - Celebrating People of Fragile X Syndrome."

Loud Hands Project - Celebrating People of Autism

The Worship For All blog chronicles the impact of worship, fellowship and the Gospel of Jesus Christ on children of Intellectual Disabilities.   The worship services we lovingly design are unique, effective but all too rare! 

Unfortunately, worship services for people of Autism, Down syndrome, Bi-polar disorders, Fragile X syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Asperger syndrome and other disabilities are almost non-existent at the more than 330,000 churches in the United States! 

We are advocates for worship freedom.  Our passion is to promote caring, comfortable and relevant worship services for children of disabilities.  All people have a right to gather in worship services well-designed for their physical, mental and spiritual needs!  By striving to serve this special community and their families, there is an "edge" to what we do. 

Self Advocacy is important to us.   In our Worship For All chapel services we encourage our friends to interact with each other, with their care givers and with their Lord and Savior, Jesus, the Christ (who is present through the power of the Holy Spirit).   The songs, noises, words, body movements and "stims" (hand motions) of our friends are respected and welcome.  Not one of the triumphant stories in this blog would have occurred if we were not Self Advocates.

I invite you to meet a group of people who have a triumphant story to share with you!

Song and Video - The Loud Hands Project

This is the "Worship For All" blog.  It has a heavenly ending.

Next UP:  "Ryan Pittman - Celebrating People of Down Syndrome."

Go Tell it on a . . . . Walkie-Talkie?

Go Tell it on a Mountain Walkie-Talkie!

DAY ONE

The teenager was a little bit fearful.  I could see it in his eyes as the boy hesitated at the entrance to the chapel.  He started to back up.  This was his first time at the Saturday Worship-for-All service.  I don't blame him.  It's not easy to visit new places and meet new people especially if you are a person of Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Fragile X syndrome, Down syndrome, Asperger syndrome, Bi-Polar disorder or other intellectual disabilities.

I was losing him!  If I didn't act fast, my first time visitor would finalize and lock-in his decision to not participate in our chapel service.   I walked over near to him but not next to him.  I said "Hi, I'm Mr. Brad.  I'm so glad you are here today!  Don't be worried.  We sing songs in chapel.  We sing them quietly.  Would you like to hear one?"  I immediately started singing the "Hello" song to him.  To children with disabilities, this is a captivating and calming song.  The tune and the word gently connects with their souls in an amazing way.

The worry on the boy's face lessened.  He stopped backing up.  His expert caregiver went to work and  helped him think through his decision.  He agreed to attend!  In the chapel, his face was still worried as we sang the "Hello" song.  By the song's end, however, he was timidly making the song's hand motions.  He was unsure, but he was with us!

DAY TWO

Just before the start of one of Sunday's chapel services, I saw my timid friend talking to another boy out side of the chapel entrance.  He was trying to coax his friend into attending the worship service.  That was so cool!  His friend wanted to stay in the lobby with his weekend caregiver.  The timid teenager walked into chapel.  Everyone looked content so I went in to start the Worship-for-All service.

We sang the "Hello" song and I said a prayer for everyone.  As we sang the next song, I looked over to my teenage friend.  I was  stunned to see him using a walkie-talkie!  After the song, I was told that he was broadcasting the service "live" to his friend who didn't want to come into chapel but had another walkie-talkie!  How cool is that?  We were at that part of the service where we read a prayer and say it together.  I asked the boy if he would say the prayer over the walkie-talkie so his friend outside could hear it.  He agreed and here is the prayer that he broadcast:

Now I wake from peaceful . . . . . REST.

To love this day and be my . . . . BEST.

            

 Guide me, Jesus, through the . . . DAY.

                        

 Help me as I work and  . . . . . . . . PLAY.

                                                        AMEN.

We sing "Go tell in on a mountain" after each children's chapel message.  I always suggest to the children that it is important to tell everyone we know about Jesus. The song variation we use is "Go tell it on a mountain that Jesus Christ is Lord!  In just two days my not-so-timid friend demonstrated that Jesus is Lord over friendships, Lord over worship services and Lord over the airwaves!  Let's go tell the world that Jesus Christ is Lord!

This is the Worship For All blog.  It has a heavenly ending.

Next Up:  "The Loud Hands Project - Celebrating People of Autism"

"My Mom is in Heaven!"

How the children respond to our special worship services intrigue me!  I am constantly looking around the chapel room to "read" their reactions.  Do you check with friends on Facebook or Twitter?  I check on my friends as soon as they walk (or wheel) in to the chapel room.  I look at their faces and watch their hand movements.  Is anyone in distress?  Does anyone have "worried hands"?  Is there a smile on someones face because they know it's time for chapel?  Do these wonderful children of Cerebral Palsy, Autism, Asperger syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, Down syndrome, Bi-polar disorders and other disabilities have any words to share with me? 

My passion and focus for 25 minutes is to do everything possible to enable children with these Intellectual Disabilities to enjoy worship, understand God's loving Word and be in meaningful fellowship.  We are quite an unusual gathering.  We are a special community, indeed.

I am graced.  I am honored.  I am so blessed to be able to lead my friends and their caregivers in the worship of our Heavenly Father through the knowledge of our Lord, Jesus Christ and the presence of the Holy Spirit.

These past two weeks have been busy ones as our worship services have expanded from one day a week to three!  I sincerely apologize for the gap in blog posts!  I know that there are many of you from around the world that are, like me, fascinated by the power of God through this ministry to disabled children.  I have many "empty tomb" moments (see January 19th post) to describe to you from the last two weeks.  

During one of the new Saturday chapel services, a teenage girl was the originator of an unexpected topic.  This was her first visit to the overnight respite care facility.  She must have felt very comfortable in our worship setting.  She shared something that had been bothering her for over two years!

"My mother passed away two years ago." she blurted out in between songs.  "Wow", I immediately thought.  This is the Holy Spirit working in our midst again!  I said to my young friend, "I'm glad you shared that with us.  At the end of chapel we are going to share a special blessing with you". 

She then posed this question:  "Will the blessing make me sad?  I feel sad when I think about my mom passing away."  (Passed away?  This wonderful girl did not know where her mother was!  Did she think that "passed away" meant "no longer exists"?)   I said to her that blessings are not sad.  Blessings give us joy.  Then I mentioned again that we will say a very special blessing for her near the end of the chapel service. 

In our "Worship For All" format, before we sing our last song, every person in the room receives a blessing.  Our blessing is said individually to each volunteer, caregiver and child.  All blessings are said while being firmly touched on the shoulder, knee or shoe.  Where the child is touched depends on their sensitivity to touch.

When it was my teenage friend's turn to receive her blessing I wanted to also give her some assurance about her mom.  I said the following to her:  "Don't be worried.  Your mom is in Heaven.  Jesus is with her.  She is happy.  She is worshipping God around God's throne!"  I wish I had also stated the obvious to her although she may have understood this better than me.    She and her mom were doing the same thing but in different places!  They were both worshipping God.  My young friend was worshipping God on Earth.  Her mom was worshipping Him in Heaven.

Did our chapel service help my friend put aside her worries?  Yes, I'm quite sure it did.  How do I know?  A few moments after the service ended this young girl surprised us all by asking if we could sing "Happy Birthday".  She left the room with a smile on her face!

This is the Worship For All blog.  It has a heavenly ending.


Next Up:   "Go tell it on a Mountain Walkie Talkie!"

Now We Worship Three days a Week!

Some good news was sent special delivery by HSPS to us this week!  (Holy Spirit Postal System)  A premier, innovative respite care facility in northern Virginia has expanded their Worship For All chapel services!  We are now all the more blessed to lead children of Intellectual Disabilities in praising our Great God at 3 worship services on Saturday, 3 on Sunday and 1 on Tuesday! 

As a quick note to first time Worship For All blog visitors, we bring a unique and effective ministry of worship to special needs children of Autism, Bi-polar disorders, Down syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Asperger syndrome and other severe disabilities.

Our full-impact worship services are 25 minutes long and have 4 components:  Song, Prayer, Message and (hands-on) Blessing.   The content is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  The well-tested methodology is one of compassion, respect and comfort.  Some of the techniques that we use have been developed over the course of 30 years.   We see incredible impact.  For the first time in their difficult lives, these children are being given the opportunity to worship!  We know that the Spirit of the Living God is in our midst as we worship together.   The amazing results are chronicled here!

This is the Worship For All blog.  It has a heavenly ending.

Next Up:  "Heaven"

On Second Thought . . .

My friend with Bipolar disorder visited the worship service again.  I always look forward to his attendance and how he will interact with us. 

Bipolar disorder is a condition in which people go back and forth between periods of moodiness and depression.  The pre-depression mood can be either be a very good mood or one that is irritable. The "mood swings" between mania and depression can be very quick.  The cause of this disorder is unknown.

If you recall from a prior blog post on Jan 30th, this teenage boy perfectly understood the Worship For All message about "casting your burdens on the Lord" (Psalm 55:22).  He gladly and enthusiastically shook out his anger into Jesus' trash can. 

I have recently learned that one weekend Child Care Specialist reminds him of that children's sermon when anger wells up in him.  She says to him,  "Do you remember our lesson from Jill's House chapel?"  "You know, you can always throw your anger into Jesus' trash can."  Wow, our lessons in God's Word can also be used as a tool to help our young friends reset their emotions.

At this week's worship service, my friend did not want to participate in any part of the worship service.  As I announced the singing of the "Hello" song, my friend announced that he did not want to sing.  When I invited all to pray with me, he said "I am not praying today".  He placed his fingers in his ears and layed in a bean bag chair.  During the same children's sermon as last time, I asked him to throw his anger, his worry or his sin away.  He refused to participate. 

When it was time for the hands-on blessings my friend said "I don't need a blessing".  I asked him if he was "sure".  He said he was sure.  I stepped away and then stepped back.  I said "If you change your mind, let me know."  He said "I don't want a blessing".     

Everyone else accepted the hands-on blessing, even the seven children who were attending for the first time.  We sang the "Amen" song and I thanked everyone for attending our "Worship For All" service.  Almost all of the children and caregivers had left the chapel room when my friend said, "On second thought . . . I do want a blessing!  I do not want to go to Hell." 

"Well, okay then!" I said at this unexpected turn of events.  My spirit rejoiced to give him a hands-on blessing.  I asked the Lord to take away his worry and his sin and for him to be assured that he would not go "anywhere near to Hell".  The one child care specialist still in the room and I were amazed and very, very thankful!

Thank God for "second thoughts".    My faith says that the Holy Spirit helps us arrive at "second thoughts" when our first thoughts were not the best for us.  Sometimes, "second thoughts" may even be the difference between Heaven and Hell. 

This is the "Worship for all" blog.   It has a heavenly ending.

Why we all worship - Part 3

In Part 1 of "Why we all worship", it was posted that we exist to worship.  In Part 2, it was stated that all people are designed for worship including children with Intellectual Disabilities.  Today, my thought-to-share, is that our God calls all of us to worship, especially Special Needs children.

As Christians and worshippers of Jesus, we are the "ecclesia".  This greek word is used in the New Testament 115 times or so.  "Ecclesia" means the "called out" ones or the "summoned" ones.  This word is almost always translated as "church" but it is not the best word.  We tend to think of a church as a building.   "Ecclesia" is not a building.  We are often asked, "What church do you attend?" but "ecclesia" has nothing to do with real estate.  "Ecclesia" is a "who".   It is a people and a purpose!  God has called His believers out to be His special people.

How have we been "called out"?  Before Jesus was born, God called specific, historical men and women of great faith to speak for Him as patriarchs and matriarchs  (Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob and others).   Later, God used the leaders of Israel (Moses, David, Solomon and others) to guide the faithful .  When leaders were weak in their faith, or worshipped other gods, the One True God sent prophets to their nation.  Each prophet spoke to the people and restored their faithful worship.  (Deborah, Elijah, Ruth, Daniel, Ezekiel, Joel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Esther, John the Baptist and others.)

When Jesus was born, He was, and always has been, the Truth and the Light.  As God's Son, Jesus lived among us.  For over three years, although few understood, Jesus revealed God's Truth to those around Him.  When He died on the cross and rose again, He revealed all truth to His disciples for 40 days.  The disciples would become the early leaders of the "ecclesia" (special people).    When Jesus ascended back into heaven, God the Father, sent the Holy Spirit to be with all believers that we may continue to know His Truth.  The Holy Spirit is with us until Jesus returns to take the "ecclesia" with Him to a new heaven and a new earth.  (Rev. 21:1)

What have we been "called out" to do?  I love to hear Bible stories about how people were "called out" by Jesus.  He called Zacchaeus out of a tree to go visit Zacchaeus' home.  Salvation came to Zacchaeus and his family.  Jesus "called out" the woman at the well to be truthful.  Salvation came to her and many from her town.  Jesus, "called out" Lazarus from death and tomb.  Salvation came to the family of Lazarus and to the many Jews in the crowd who witnessed this miracle.

We are all called out to meet Jesus and worship Him!  My favorite "calling out" story is when Jesus calls for the disciples to bring small children to Him.  Ironically, Jesus and the area religious leaders were in a serious discussion about marriage and divorce.  The disciples were witnessig this as parents tried to bring their children to meet Jesus.  As often is the case with adults, the disciples wanted the children to stay out of the way.  Instead, Jesus called for the children to come to Him.  Our Savior is still calling them today, isn't He? 

"Then some little children were brought to him so that he might lay his hands on them and pray. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them.  Jesus, however, said, 'Let the little children come to me, and stop keeping them away, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to people like these.'"  Matthew 19:13-14 (ISV)

(I have been waiting for weeks to ask this question:)

Leaders of the "ecclesia" (the special people), are you providing children of Intellectual Disabilities with a place to comfortably fellowship, worship and hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

There are many disabled children in your community.  You may not see them, recognize them or even be looking for them.  They, and their families, need all three of those provisions mentioned in the question.  Won't you "call" them "out" of their homes to fellowship, worship and hear God's Word with you?  Grow the number of "ecclesia" where you worship.  Consider beginning this ministry today!  Let's discuss this.  

This is the "Worship for all" blog.  It has a heavenly ending.


Next Up:  "On second thought...." 

Why we all worship - Part 2

It almost goes without saying that we all have souls.  We are all created with an "inner spirit".  Some cultures call it an "atman" or a "ne'phesh".  It is the "who" in "Who are you?". 

Jeremiah 1:5 describes my history of consciousness best.  God told teenager Jeremiah that "before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart;"  (NIV)  Jeremiah went on to be a prophet.  I went on to be the parent of a severely disabled child with Autism. 

Children and adults with Intellectual Disabilities are challenged in their cognitive thought.  They are challenged in their physical movement.  They are challenged in their perception of their environment.  In spite of these difficulties, it is an exciting revelation of faith that tells us that their souls are not disabled in any way.  People of Autism, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Asperger Syndrome, Bipolar Disorder and Fragile X Syndrome are spiritually whole!  "Who they are" is untouched by their human frailty.

All people have been made to worship.  The book of Revelation tells us that the redeemed will gather around the throne of God to worship forever.  Our purpose is to worship Him.   We are all built for this function.  Revelation 5:13 "And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, 'To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever'."  (NASB)

This is the "Worship For All" blog.  It has a heavenly ending.

Next Up:  "Why we all Worship"  -  Part 3

Why we all worship.

Hint:  Cogito ergo adoremus Deum.

Why am I here?   Why do I exist?
Why are you here?  Why do you exist?
The answer may surprise you.   We are here to worship God.   That is it!


"Don't we exist to eat, grow and reproduce?"

                                                         No, you are thinking of an amoeba.


"Don't we exist to help the needy around the world?

                                                         No, you are thinking of Miss America.


Rene Descartes, seventeenth century blogger and philosopher, gave us this famous viewpoint on why we exist.  "I think therefore I am" (cogito ergo sum).   Descartes basically said "I know I exist now because I think."

As for me, a 2012 blogger and former college student on academic probation, "I think therefore I worship"  (Cogito ergo adoremus).  Basically, I am saying that I know I exist forever because I worship".

"Are you sure about that, Christian Bro?   When I read the Bible I don't see any stories about Jesus worshipping."

(Pause for thought)

You are right.   There are no stories of Jesus worshipping in the New Testament.   Jesus doesn't exist to worship God.   He exists to be worshipped.   He is the one true God and fulfills the Heavenly Father's Redemptive plan for us.   Go back to those Bible stories and use a wide angle lens.   Do you see the crowds of people around Jesus?   They are doing what we are meant to do.   They are worshipping Jesus.   They have just realized that He is the Messiah and they exist forever to worship Him.

The Heavenly Father has created us.   Jesus, the Christ, has redeemed us.  The Holy Spirit has awakened our souls.   "I think therefore I worship God"  (Cogito ergo adoremus Deum).


This is the "Worship For All" blog. It has a heavenly ending.

Next up:  "Why we all worship"  Part 2

"Be Mine!"

It is almost (St.) Valentine's Day!  I am reminded that God has sent all of us the best of valentines; the Bible!  In it, His Word tells us that He loves us!  The object used for this month's 12 children's sermons is a heart necklace (girls) or a heart medalion (boys).   All of the Bible can perhaps be summarized in these 4 words: God Says Be Mine.  That is what is written on the necklace/medallion for everyone to wear at this month's worship services.

This sermon object successfully met all five of our requirements.  Any chapel object for children of disabilities must be safe, simple, super low cost, small (to fit in to the Worship For All bible) and a summary of God's Word.

"They will be mine," says the LORD of Heaven's Armies. "On the day when I act in judgment, they will be my own special treasure. I will spare them as a father spares an obedient child. Malachi 3:17 (adapted from the New Living Translation)






This is the daily "Worship For All" blog.  It has a heavenly ending!

Next up:   "Why we all worship"  Part 1

Touch

Michelangelo visioned the power of touch as he depicted the Heavenly Father about to give life to the first person, Adam.  A few years ago, Dr. James Coan, a neuroscientist at the University of Virginia conducted a landmark study on the significant impact of touch.  Sixteen happily married women, in the presence of their husbands, were subjected to an uncomfortable, but mild, electric shock.  Dr. Coan noticed that there were physiological changes in the brains of the women when their husbands held their hands prior to the discomforting shock.  The areas of the brain that had become active during periods of fear, danger and threat were found to quickly subside at the touch of a loved one's hand.  This effect was also found to occur even at the touch of a stranger, although to a lesser degree.   With the touch of a hand, the women became more calm and had less anxiety.

Children with significant disabilities know fear, danger and threat all too well.  Young people of Autism, Asperger syndrome, Down syndrome, Fragile X, Cerebral Palsy, Bi-polar disorders and other disabilities are very often uncomfortable where ever they go.  They experience much anxiety as familiar surroundings become unfamiliar.   Loud sharp sounds are terrifying.  An unexpected change in the day's routine can cause extreme worry to the point of trauma.   Summer's heat is unbearable.  Blinking lights can cause seizures.  My son, Jesse, who has severe Autism, is always worrying that he is going to trip or stumble even in his own familiar home.  For many of these children, the outside world is an intimidating and worrisome place.

For this reason, every Worship For All service includes a "hands-on" blessing.  It is our version of integrative care.  Jesus specifically asked the disciples to allow parents to bring their children to him so that he might lay his hands on them and pray for them. (Matthew 19:13-14)  We, as well, want to provide comfort for all who join us to celebrate the Lord.  By name, each child is touched on the shoulder, knee or even their shoe.  Volunteers and the care giving professionals also receive a blessed touch!  The blessing is announced ahead of time so that the children can know what to expect.  Most blessings ask God to take away worry, fear or confusion.  We ask the Lord to help the child to be calm, happy and to have "fun this week".

Our most memorable blessing occurred when one teenage boy with Cerebral Palsy asked if he could say the blessing for everyone.  This was unplanned.  It was not discussed ahead of time.  We were excited to say "Yes" to him!  After all, we do strive for participation at our Worship For All services.  To our amazement, the boy in his walker, went around the room, placed his hand on each of us and prayed wonderful blessings on us all! 


On March 19th, the Fox channel will air the new television sci-fi series "Touch".  Kiefer Sutherland plays Martin Bohm, a loving father to a 10 year old boy with Autism.  Martin's son, Jake, played by David Mazouz, has extraordinary command of numbers.  He also has the power to connect random numbers to dramatic future events.  Although mute, Jake is a conduit for how certain numbers are going to touch the lives of the characters in the show.

The first episode of "Touch" was enjoyable.  I look forward to watching the fantasy series.  The premise reminds us that we are all connected.  However, we are not connected by fate-powered numbers.  What connects us is that we have all been touched by God's love (as revealed by His son, Jesus) and all of us are built with the need to worship Him.

This is the daily Worship For All blog.  It has a heavenly ending.

Next up:  "Be Mine!"

The Worship Zone

You may have heard of Rod Serling's Twilight Zone.  The American television series from the '60's featured stories of suspense, science fiction and the psychological thriller.  The show always began with a narrator describing the "fifth" dimension where the story would soon take place.  That same introduction has been modified to best introduce today's "Worship For All" post:

"There is a fifth dimension beyond that which is known to all.  It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity.  It is the common ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition, between ability and disability. It lies in the pit of one's fears and above the summit of our knowledge. This is the dimension of worship. It is an area which we call The Worship Zone."

Meet my young friend with Bi-Polar disorder.  The worship service has started.  He's the teenager pointing his finger at one of the volunteers and sternly warning "Stop looking at me"!  He is visiting the respite care facility this weekend.  He does not know it yet, but he has just entered The Worship Zone!

Our teenage friend stops scolding his kind helper and turns to me.  "God doesn't like me," he said.   "He put a short in my CD player.  Now it doesn't work anymore.  God hates me".

"My friend," I replied, "let me tell you something very important.  God loves you very much!  We love you very much!" 

We continued with our gentle worship songs.  At this point, the boy closed his eyes and clenched his teeth while sitting in his beanbag chair.  He was in torment.  His face turned deep red as he fought against the voices and thoughts in his head.  Saying nothing, he remained like this for a few minutes.  My brave friend had willingly allowed us to worship without interruption!  By the time we reached the children's sermon, he was calm again.  There is comfort to be found in The Worship Zone

This teenager is always welcome at our Worship For All services.  "Isn't he too disruptive?" you ask.   On the contrary, we learned how effective our ministry can be from the boy with the Bi-polar Disorder!  We have seen the power of worship and God's Word at work with children of Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Fragile X, Down Syndrome, Asperger Syndrome, Bi-Polar Disorders and other Intellectual disabilities.

A few months ago one of our children's messages was from Psalm 55:22.   "Give your burdens to the Lord, and He will take care of you.  He will not permit the godly to slip and fall."  (New Living Translation)  Our objects were puffer balls with big bold faces on them.  One ball looked worried, one looked sick and one looked angry.   Before I revealed each object from the Worship For All bible, I asked if the children knew what worried, sickness and anger looked like.  I pulled each one out of the bible and asked if anyone wanted to hold one.  We passed them around the room.  The look and the texture of the puffer balls were irresistible.  The children were very interested.

Then a large plastic clothes hamper was brought in.  On it was written "Jesus' Trash Can".   I read our Bible verse and encouraged each child to choose a puffer ball and throw it in the trash.  "Let's give our worry to Jesus," I said.  He'll throw it away for us."

I walked around the room with the "Jesus' trash can".  To my surprise, all of the children were able to participate.  Some threw a puffer ball in the trash.  Some dropped it in if we carefully placed the trash can near their hand.  For some, we rolled the puffer ball down their arm or leg and let it roll into the "Jesus' trash can".

That brings us back to my teenage friend with the Bipolar Disorder.  He was sitting in his bean bag chair as I came near.  I held the trash can low for him to easily toss in one of the puffer balls.   He got on "all fours" and started vigorously shaking his head as if to say "no"  He looked as if he was going to crawl into the trash can.  I quickly said "No, don't crawl in.  You're supposed to throw it in the trash can."  He responded by saying, "I'm shaking my anger out.  There's a lot of anger in my head.  I'm giving Jesus all of my anger!"  (We let him take all of the time he wanted.)

My friend got it.  He understood the day's message in ways that I had not imagined!  We all were in The Worship Zone.  The teenage boy with Bi-polar Disorder led the way.


This is the Worship For All blog.   It has a heavenly ending.

Tomorrow:  "Touch"

Bloop Happens

This is Bloop!

This is what Bloop sounds like!

According to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Bloop is a sound.  It is an ultra-low frequency and extremely powerful sound.  Scientists say that it occurs underwater.   They believe that the noise once originated at 50⁰ S 100⁰ W which would place the sound in the ocean south and west of the tip of South America.  Oceanographers say that the sound could be heard from over 3,000 miles away.  The sound was only recorded once in 1997.  The source of the sound remains unknown.

"Heard from over 3,000 miles away"? 

"The source is unknown"? 

Dudes, I've been hearing Bloop many times a day for 31 years!  I started hearing it in the '80's.  My son, Jesse, is making those sounds!  He has autism.  Up here on land, it is a high pitched "aaahhhhHHHH!".   Silly scientists, the sound has been garbled because you are listening to it underwater! 

The sounds of autism and other disabilities are the Bloop of our lives.  Even if you're not associated with disabled people, I'm sure you have heard the short, powerful sound bursts at your local Target or Toys-R-Us.   You stop what you are doing to see the emergency.  You look for who is in distress.  It may be a meltdown or, in fact, you may be looking at extreme delight.  The sounds of Bloop can fool you.  More often than not, what you turn to see is a very happy, excited person with their very courageous mom or dad.  They have set sail into an ocean of stimuli.   That is the sound of Bloop.

These sounds are also present during our "Worship For All" chapel services.  God loves Bloop!  Yes, Bloop is distracting.  However, these pings, dongs, yelps, groans and grunts are some of the sounds of our worship adventure.  Bloop was not really first heard in 1997.  It was first recorded thousands of years ago.  In the Bible, Psalm 100 describes Bloop as a joyful noise made by the Earth and all who inhabit the Earth:

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all you Earth. 
Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

Know that the LORD is God:
it is he that has made us, and not we ourselves;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise:
be thankful to him, and bless his name.

For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting;
and his truth endures to all generations.

(based on the American King James Version)



This is the "Worship For All" blog.  It has a heavenly ending.

Next up:  "The Worship Zone"


Worship Bloopers

I'm sure you have seen "America's Funniest Home Videos on the ABC network.  Crazy things can happen when the video cam is switched on.  The same goes for worship services with special needs children but without the video cams.  We expect bloopers to occur and many times they do.    Bloopers help us remember that the children are always listening.  They are very aware of what we are saying.  They don't always share their thoughts with us.  When they do, their sudden bursts of interaction are relished.  Here are a few that come to mind:

We had spent a few hours planning and transforming our chapel room so that it looked like a 1st century boat on the Sea of Galilee.  We were going to story one of Jesus' miracles where the disciples filled their nets and 2 boats with an amazing catch of fish.  The very first boy who came in to see the converted chapel enthusastically exclaimed "I want to walk the plank!".  "Hmmmm", I thought.  Maybe our Bible story was supposed to be about Jonah.  He kind of walked the plank, didn't he?

Some of the children of Intellectual Disabilities who attend our worship services have spectacular understandings of encyclopedias!  A few months back one teenage boy decided to help us worship by mentioning the exact distance between the earth and the moon.  As a worship leader for disabled children, I am always willing to meet the children where they are interacting.  I stopped what I was talking about and informed the young lad, on my left, that coincidentally, in two days an asteroid was going to pass safely between the earth and the moon.  To begin his calculations on the subject, he naturally asked for the exact time that this was going to happen.  Not having his power of recall, I replied   "Sometime around dinner time on Tuesday".  Meanwhile, to my right side, I noticed a small-sized girl of 8 or so raise her hand.  Meekly, and in a quiet voice, she said "I want to be an astronaut".   "Good for you!" I softly cheered as we moved on with our worship service.

In our worship services, sometimes the children praise their Lord with random thoughts aloud!. Bloopers are the verses to our new songs of worship.


I was first exposed to the power of worship creativity by Herb Brokering while I attended Lutheran Theological Seminary in Columbus, Ohio.  His non-traditional thinking welcomed me to seminary.  I thrived in his classes and we shared an ability to find God's truth in the most basic of objects.   He taught me the importance of communicating the Gospel of Jesus Christ in common words, even words like "Hello", "Welcome", "Don't be worried", "It's okay" and "I'm glad you are here".   These are the transformative and redemptive words for the disabled community.  (Thanks, Herb.)

Rev. Dr. Herbert Brokering (1926-2009) also wrote the words to the following song "Earth and All Stars".  Our special needs children are not able to sing like the children in this YouTube selection.  I suspect, however, that the noises and words of my co-worshippers still reach far into the heavens. 

This is the "Worship For All" blog.   It has a heavenly ending.

Tomorrow:  "Bloop Happens"

My "Empty Tomb" Moment

Mary had been worrying for three days.  She had something important to do and the task was bothering her.  Everything she needed for the trip was laid out.  Everything had been planned.  It was going to take all morning for her and others to finish their work.  She needed to be there early.  Mary Magdalene was going to Jesus' tomb to annoint his body for burial.

Mary arrived expecting to find Jesus' body.  Instead, she found an empty tomb.  The empty tomb confused her at first.  Nothing made sense.  Only after she met the risen Lord was she able to comprehend God's Plan.  Everything Jesus had said in the last three years was true.  Jesus was the Messiah.  Jesus is the one true God and Savior! 

The empty tomb moment for Mary was the same for the disciples. The empty tomb compelled the disciples to come out of hiding and boldly live for Christ.  Uncertainty, fear, doubt and confusion would no longer keep Jesus' followers from telling the world about the Savior and His salvation.  Paul had his empty tomb moment on the way to Emmaeus.  Your may have yours on the way to Walmart.

The "empty tomb" moment is when we recognize that a personal Savior is at work in our lives!  It is the Christian's "Ah Ha" moment when we connect the dots, see the trail and fully understand the story.  No disciple had enough faith or clarity of thought to write down the words of Jesus before the tomb became empty. Only after the disciples realized the full meaning of the empty tomb would they recollect the words of Jesus and share with us their stories of following Jesus.

My latest "empty tomb" moment occurred 4 days ago.  This past Sunday I again recognized the power of God at work in the "Worship for All" ministry.   Do you recall the story of the boy who yelled out "Voodoo" during one of our worship services?  (Refer to the January 12th blog post)  Believe it or not, this past Sunday, and six weeks after the "Voodoo" incident happened, the boy was still playing with the washcloth Jesus toy that he was given!  He had brought it from home to have with him during his weekend stay at the respite care facility.  

Now what sermon message have you heard on a Sunday that you are still carrying around with you six weeks later?   Here's a good Christian phrase that you never hear:  "I am agog!".  I am agog at the power of the Holy Spirit to which God amazes us again and again.  The tomb should be full, but now I understand why it is empty!

This is the daily "Worship For All" blog.  It has a heavenly ending.

Next up:  "Worship Bloopers"

Groundhog Day

(Most of this difficult-to-tell story is for folks who have never lived with a severely disabled child.  The ending, however, is for those who have...)

My son Jesse has severe autism.  Often he and I walk through the local grocery store to buy two of his favorite comfort foods:  a large tub of strawberry yogurt and a pie, any kind of pie.  That’s all we usually have time for.  That’s all of the time he wants to allow.  Then it is back into the safety of our van.  My hope is that we can reach home before he demands the pie in a fit of frustration. Jesse is not a patient person. It is so difficult to drive when there is an enraged person in the vehicle rapping his knuckles against his head, or worse, biting on his wrist.  

As we approach the store's check out area, there is a small girl sitting in the child seat of a grocery cart.  Jesse and I are several yards away but the 18 month old already sees us coming.  The young one isn’t looking at me.  She is staring at Jesse as if he were Frankenstein lumbering along.  The closer we get, the larger  the girl’s eyes grow.  Curiosity has turned into discomfort.  When we get close, the child looks to “mom” for help.  Now she is afraid.

None of the adults standing nearby are noticing.  Somehow, this very young child recognizes that something is very different about my son.  At one or two years of age, the child has an acute awareness of her environment and can discriminate between common and uncommon.  My son, unlike the small child, is quite unaware.  Jesse just wants to eat apple pie. I want to cry. 

Please understand that this shopping trip did not just take place in the last few days.  My son is 31 years old and this story has repeated itself several times each year throughout his life.  It has happened with me.  It has happened with my wife.  It always catches us off guard.  My wife and I react the same way each time.  We begin to grieve our loss all over again!  In this innocent, but cruel encounter, we are reminded that there was a death, of many kinds, in the family on December 23, 1980. 

The well-studied theory of grief by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross has 5 stages.  They are denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.  To those who are unfamiliar with people of disabilities, it would seem logical that there would be a limited amount of grief since the disabled person survived birth and is reasonably healthy. 

On the contrary, the grieving process of a parent of a special needs child is active and continuous.  It is much like the movie Groundhog Day where the character Phil Conners, played by Bill Murray, relives the same day over and over again without a change in the outcome. Parents of the disabled are challenged with re-experiencing their loss at every missed milestone of childhood development.  Sometimes, in a guilty jealousy, parents grieve their loss in the moment of another child's accomplishment.

Parents, grandparents and 24/7 caregivers of the disabled awaken to their version of February 2nd every morning.  Like Phil Conners, they may be asking:  "How do I possibly get through to February 3rd?"  In the movie, we watch Phil uproariously experience four of the five stages of grief.  We laugh at his denials.  We guffaw at his slapstick anger.  We giggle at his self-bargaining.   We chuckle at his antics of depression.  Phil breaks the cycle (some say after 10,000 groundhog days) when he finds love, accepts his day and chooses to help the people around him.  His redemptive story is complete. 

Most parents of special needs children, are not laughing at the movie in which we find ourselves starring. There is redemption for us, however!  Our redemptive story is complete when we accept the extraordinary gift we have been given.  The Heavenly Father has added a special needs person to our family.  Your child, my Jesse, has a complete soul and vibrant spirit TODAY!  He or she is spiritually WHOLE right now!   I believe that God has built special needs children in a way that they are ready to worship.  It does not matter what the disability they experience.  (Now do you see the reason behind the Worship For All Foundation?) 

The Heavenly Father sees no weakness, no speech problems, no developmental delays, no distant stares and no handicaps in these children.  Why?  Because He sees our children now as we will see them in heaven.  For all of eternity, our disabled children are COMPLETE and PERFECT in every way.  In heaven, there is no Groundhog Day and no one looks or walks like Frankenstein.
 
I think we need God's distinctive viewpoint to get through each day, don't you?  It takes faith to accomplish it.  Yes, it takes much faith.  I say go get more faith.  Go where?  Go wherever you can hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ and interact with His people. I am sure that is how, and that is where, faith is found.  

"Worship For All" is so important.  Children and families of Autism, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Asperger Syndrome, Bipolar Disorders, Fragile X and other disabilities need a place to worship and fellowship.  Won't you go prepare a place for them to receive faith at your church?  It is a matter of life and faith for all of us!  Contact the Worship For All Foundation. We can help your church get started today!


This is the daily "Worship for All" blog. It has a heavenly ending!


Next up:   "My 'Empty Tomb' Moment"

Freedom to Worship!

FREEDOM TO WORSHIP by Norman Rockwell - 1943

Why should you be an advocate of "Worship for All"?  That's a very easy question to answer.  Let me answer it with a number, a very BIG number:

16,100,000!

According the the U.S. Census Bureau, there are 16.1 million people in the U.S who have limitations in cognitive functioning or have a mental or emotional illness that interferes with their daily activities.  This number includes those with Alzheimer's disease and mental retardation.  (4 million are children ages 6 to 14.)

That is 16.1 million people that need to be lovingly integrated into our Christian community. A community that is directly responsible for all of our spiritual growth.  Might these 16.1 million disabled people enjoy the same worship experiences that have been described in these "Worship for All" posts over the past few days? 

My understanding of the book of Revelation is very clear.  It is a book of worship!  When God's Work is done and His Word is fulfilled, all believers will gather around the throne of the Heavenly Father to worship Him for all of eternity.  Am I right?  Should we not be promoting a welcoming and comfortable worship TODAY to the 16.1 million people as mentioned above?  What say you?

A second number is a small number but will still shock you:

50!

By the law of averages, if there are 16.1 million people who need daily help because of the limitations of their cognitive functioning or have mental /emotional illness.  If there are 320,000 churches in the U.S., then the potential for worship attendance at YOUR church this Sunday from this group of special needs people is at least 50!  

Next Sunday, please look around your church building.  Are there 50 disabled children and/or adults worshipping next to you?   No?   Let's be candid.  Can you find even 5 disabled children and/or adults in your midst?  No?  Is it possible . . .that there are none? 

If this is sadly so, then we need to talk.  Is your church missing God's target?  The Worship For All Foundation can help your church provide a reason and a method for it to grow in attendance and impact!  Here is how!

Are there 10 churches in your area?  Are the churches in your area not effectively reaching out to the special needs community?  Again, by the law of averages, perhaps there are 500 people of disabilities who would greatly benefit by participating in a comfortable, well-designed worship experience.  So where are these 500 disabled people and their 500 families?   The disabled person is at their home and has no reason to risk attendance at your church.  There is at least one family member with them.  They are unconnected.  Most likely, the entire family is disconnected.

Did you know, an impactful worship service need only be 25 minutes long!  It can be on any day of the week?  The fullness of God's Word is easily communicated to our friends of disability.  I've seen the smiles and the focus and the sense of belonging at nearly a hundred worship services in the last 10 months!  A "Worship for All" mindset can make an instant difference in the lives of many families in your community.  Allow me show you how!

This is the "Worship for All" blog.  It has a heavenly ending!

Next up:  "Groundhog Day"

"Voodoo!"

As you might understand and visualize, not every worship service for special needs children goes as planned.  The service is organized.  The songs are quiet.  The message is simple.  The kids, however, are lovingly random and quite complicated.  They have melt downs and outbursts.  We respect that possibility.  We prepare for it.

I was not prepared for the Voodoo event.  In my wildest dreams, I could not have seen this challenge coming, especially during one of our twelve Christmas chapel services last month.

First of all, just the word "voodoo" kind of scares me!  Second of all, I've never seen The Exorcist, Friday the 13th, or any movie that has the word "dead" in its title.  Third of all, the word "voodoo" really does scare me!

Maybe I should have worn my WWJD wristband when I entered the main care giving area that December morning.  I wanted to help with breakfast and meet that day's visiting children.  Chapel wasn't scheduled for a couple of hours.  As I entered the pod, I was immediately greeted by one of our young friends holding a paper with hand drawn stick figures on it.  He was visibly upset and held up the artwork for me to see.  "Voodoo!" he yelled out frantically.  "Voodoo!" he said again as if he was expecting an answer.  Caught totally by surprise, I had no response.  I was saved from my predicament by a Child Care Specialist who adeptly redirected him to breakfast.

Ninety minutes later it was time for chapel.  Our lesson object was the baby Jesus as an anti-anxiety toy that I thought up.  I am not kidding!  When my adult son, with severe Autism, has a meltdown, we often place a hand towel near his mouth so that, in his extreme frustration, he can bite the towel instead of himself  (or his parents.)

The idea popped into my mind one day (Thanks, Lord) that if I rolled up a tan washcloth, tied a string around it to make a head, it could look like a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes.   I added a happy face in permanent magic marker to complete the very first Baby Jesus anti-anxiety toy.  (I'm sure Hasbro and Mattel are dialing my cell as I write this.)

During one of the morning worship services, as I revealed the Baby Jesus washcloth, guess who yelled out the word "voodoo"?  It was that emotional boy.  This time I just said "No, it's the baby Jesus." and told the story of the Nativity.  I concluded the children's sermon by handing out a washcloth baby Jesus to each child for them to keep.  To my great relief, my young friend gladly accepted it.  Cool story?  Yes, and this story has a terrific conclusion!

The reason that the boy had been obsessing about "Voodoo" was that he had seen the Disney movie The Princess and the Frog the day before.  It is one of his favorite movies.  Unfortunately, the movie does not have much to offer the Christian community.  In fact, young viewers may tend to be steered off course with anti Christian themes. Here's a quote about the movie theme from HollywoodJesus.com

"I also want to mention that the spirituality in this film is pretty dark, even for a Disney film. The villain sings a song about his friends "from the other side" making it very plain this isn't just magic that's being used but the powers of hell and its minions. This is serious stuff, and the light-handed manner that it was often handled with made me a bit uncomfortable. One should never lightly toy with the spiritual world, especially the world of demons and their dark powers. Having a show-stopping Broadway-like song about dalliances with dark forces in an animated movie may make it seem like doing such things is really no big deal; not something I want my kids to pick-up on."        

I did not find out until weeks later that this boy took the washcloth Jesus back to his room and placed it next to his voodoo artwork.  At first he played with both objects.  As reported to me by one of the staff, this boy later in the day, was seen carrying around the washcloth Jesus while the voodoo artwork sat on the floor of his room.  (I guess I did not need that WWJD wristband after all.)

This is the "Worship for All" blog.  It has a heavenly ending!

Next up:  "Freedom to Worship!"

“If God gives you a tree that grows fruit, you know it is time to plant an orchard.”

Worshipping with children of intellectual disabilities, what an amazing experience!  How can the Lord be so exact in His blessings?  How can He be so complete in His effectiveness?  Here's how! 

Imagine a tall and active teenager walking, running and jumping, ALL DAY LONG.  No words come from his mouth, just high pitched “pings” and “dongs”.  His hands tell the world of this day’s fast-moving adventure in stiff gestures that only he can interpret.   What a wonderful young man! 

It is time for our chapel service.  (He bounces in.)  We sing the Hello Song quietly.  (He sits down?)  I say a prayer for the children’s families, the volunteers, the staff and the leadership. (He is sitting.)  We sing “This Little Light of Mine” softly using our own hand gestures.  I look over to him.  (He is still seated!)  He has a look of contriteness on his face!  What a rare expression in this day and age.  This worship experience is comfortable for him.  His soul is relaxing here. 

(Our calm teenage friend sat through two more songs, a children’s sermon and received a hands-on blessing!  The last I saw him he was gently walking down the hall with his child care specialist and a group of friends.  Did he start jumping and pinging an adventure again a little later?  I’m sure that he did.  But maybe now he has a new story to tell and a new place to rest.   

Worshipping with children of intellectual disabilities is an amazing experience!  The Lord is exact in His blessings.  He is complete in His effectiveness! 

Worship for All is a mindset and method of Christian worship designed for people of Autism, Asperger Syndrome, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy and other significant disabilities. As exampled in this post, Worship for All is a tree in one location that has been bearing fruit for almost a year.  It is time to plant an orchard.  Want to help?  Contact us today to learn how!

This is the “Worship For All” blog. It has a heavenly ending!

Next up:  "Voodoo!"