Semper Gumbi

Somewhere along the way the Army lost the ability to lock things in. That is, we make a plan and then plan on it changing prior to/ during execution. This is not necessarily a bad thing, it allows for adaptability and flexibility, and takes into account that the enemy/environment have a "vote". We came up with a new word, flexecute (this is a non-doctrinal term) and have been flexecuting all over the place ever since.

The thing is chapels have been in the flexecution game way longer. Walking in on Sunday, I know that the chaplain is going to tag me for something. That something could be collecting offering, jumping in the sound booth, or rocking out with the praise band with my awesome guitar shredding skills (dare to dream josh, dare to dream). We are so good at being flexible in getting stuff done, but what about how we do it?

Raised in a conservative church, going to the chapel on post when I first came in to the Army was culture shock. What do you mean they allow guitars in the sanctuary, Heresy! ... I overcame my hangup with praise music at Sunday morning worship (guitars at youth group was always cool with me) and can now rock out for the Lord anytime. I still tend to get hung up on stupid stuff though, we didn't say the Lord's Prayer, we served communion and it wasn't the first Sunday of the month, etc. Churches have the same problem, what do you mean you have an interpretive dance to a Bebo Norman song you would like to share? I think I'm starting to lose the parallel here, but you get the idea.

We look for scripted well planned worship services, where God can be reached through the song, prayer, song, message, song, and I'm out format (please don't let it last more than an hour too). I think mixing it up sometimes can be a good thing. God shows up in the flexecution, the alternative, not just the bulletin format. So next time youth Sunday rolls around and a kid with green hair does a "punk praise" rendition of your favorite hymn, embrace the flex.

ADD: The principle extends to how we live too. Jesus flexecuted his way all over Israel, he launched his disciples into the world with nothing and told them to spread the word. I think I do a poor job of applying that to my life. I always want a plan, to lock in the next step, and when I don't have that I get frustrated. When I do that I lose the ability to let God show his goodness in the uncertain times. I'm not saying don't plan things out or save for retirement, just know that God has a plan even when you don't, and that plan may require you to flexecute. It's all good.