…praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals (Psalm 150:5).

OK, oddest worship memory…

Many moons ago, I was part of a church that was rather…demonstrative in its worship.  It was commonplace to see people raising hands, dancing, calling out in various versions of prayer languages.  No snake handling, but up to that pretty much anything went.  I was a little, shall we say, conservative in my personal worship style, but I appreciated the freedom of my brothers and sisters and had no problems with their praise.

Until Flag Lady showed up.

You heard me.  

Flag

Lady

She had these pennants…shiny gold pennants.  They may have been silk, but I don’t know for sure.

I just know that they hurt.

You see, each of her two pennants was about three feet long and was attached to a twelve-inch stick.  Each tapered to a point, as pennants are wont to do.  She would dance up and down the aisle of the church, spinning and twirling and leaping and smacking folks in the head with these flags.

You think I’m joking

but I have scars. 

Have you ever seen an expert lion tamer in action?  Maybe an old Indiana Jones film?

Well then.

Beloved, praise him loud and long and with everything you’ve got.

Just, you know, try not to leave a welt.

Happy Thursday, Beloved