God made us each different, just like everybody else! We solve problems differently. We plan things differently. We interact with people differently. We create differently. Ned Herrmann characterized these patterns as rooted in the four quadrants of our brain in the Whole Brain Model.
This couldn’t be more evident than in a church worship service, even in Granbury. Some want to sit reverently and sing solemnly. Some want the service to be in good order, showing respect to God and each other. Some want to be openly joyous. How do we resolve those differences and worship together in the same service?
We use the word “emotion” to cover a lot of territory. In a worship service, the quiet ones may feel like the noisy ones should “calm down.” The noisy ones may feel like the quiet ones should show some emotion. How do we collectively deal with this verse?
“Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Serve the LORD with gladness; come before his presence with singing!” Psalm 100
All of us have “emotions.” Not all of us are “expressive.” These two terms of human behavior are different but often captured in the word “emotion.” Now, think about a worship service in those terms. I submit that all of us are “emotional,” just to varying degrees. All of us are “expressive,” to varying degrees also. In fact, some people may seldom express themselves openly, certainly when it comes to something so personal as worshipping God. I assure you that non-expressive people may be feeling as much emotion as someone who is over the top on being expressive about their worship.
So, what is the answer? Some would say that we should be tolerant of those that worship differently than I do. I submit that Christ wants us to support each other in love, not just tolerate another person’s style.
Can we go too far? Yes. Scripture describes a joy that coexists with reverence, awe, and order.
“Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling.” Psalm 2:11
“But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.” I Corinthians 14:40
God does not want us to worship in chaos. He created order in the world out of chaos according to Genesis.
It’s interesting to me that we teach, and actually encourage, our children to be joyous in Sunday school, but then want them to sit quietly and act reverently in worship services, and even more so when they grow into adults. I wonder what magic barrier the children cross between the back and front of the building that causes us to expect them to change their behavior toward God.
The ministers work diligently to design our worship services to glorify God and prepare us to be better disciples. Some people will be moved to show their joy in response to God by clapping their hands during singing (like children), or raising their hands, or saying Amen out loud. Don’t be timid in doing so, commit. Joy should be in response to God, not a performance, and certainly not done by design. It is too personal for that, for both you and God. Our role should be to act in response to God in our own way and love and support those that are more expressive or less expressive than us in worship. Worship should be genuine and come from your heart. It should also be done in order out of respect for God.
I’ve been told that I am not an expressive person. I am happy for you to be expressive, but it makes me uncomfortable if I am.
So, it is OK to clap, just don’t expect me to do it!
Mike Blevins
For the elders
For many years, the Granbury Church of Christ has participated in Leadership Training for Christ (LTC). This program is open to students from third to twelfth grade and focuses on developing essential skills in leadership, Bible knowledge, and Christian servanthood.
One available event is Bible Reading, which offers young people the opportunity to develop skills through the oral reading of Scripture. Over the next few weeks, several of our LTC students will be reading scripture on stage as part of their training.
Following a period of prayer and discussion last year, the eldership recognized the importance of encouraging children in their spiritual growth. As a result, the decision was made to allow both boys and girls to read scripture from the stage to meet their LTC requirements.
The Bible emphasizes the spiritual development of children in passages such as Proverbs 22:6, Psalm 127:3, and Matthew 19:14. As overseers of the Lord’s church, it is our charge to watch over the flock and to build one another up (1 Thessalonians 5:11). This includes the biblical principle of nurturing and guiding our children in their faith.
We ask that you please encourage our LTC students, parents, teachers, coaches, and supporters in both word and prayer.
Fidel Quesada
for the Elders
Many have asked questions about the loans we took for Renovate ’23, so let me provide some background and details.
Q1: How many loans do we have for Renovate ’23 and how much are they?
A1: We had two loans.
- Loan #1 – $3.95M – This is our primary or mortgage loan (Loan #1). Payments are amortized over 20 years with an interest rate of 4.5%, for the first five years. The interest rate is adjusted every 5 years with the first adjustment being in November 2027.
- Loan #2 – $796K – This was a one-year interest only loan with at a rate of 8.5%. This is the loan we paid off in July with Limitless.
Q2: Why did we take out the second loan?
A2: The shortest answer is that we were going to complete construction before all the pledges were received. At the time we took out Loan #2, we had over $500K in pledges not received yet. We didn’t need the money for any particular item. We just needed it to pay for the end of construction. As it turned out, many of the construction items left at the end were part of the Owner’s Scope, like parking lots, landscaping, audio visual equipment, auditorium seating, etc.
Q3: How much do we owe in loans now?
A3: Since we paid off Loan #2 at the end of July, we only have one loan left, the mortgage loan (Loan #1). As of September 1, 2025, we owe $3.765M on the mortgage. We have paid off $185k of the principal by normal monthly mortgage payments that works just like a home loan.
Q4: How much are our monthly payments?
A4: $25,560.10 per month. About $10k per month pays toward principal with the remaining $15k going to interest.
Q5: How can we help?
A5: First, and most important, pray for the Lord’s work in Granbury and our missions. Please continue your financial support through regular giving to the General Offering, the CSC, Missions and other ministries. In addition, as you are blessed, donate to the Building Fund to help us pay off the mortgage loan.
May the Lord bless you and the work of the Granbury Church of Christ. We praise Him and pray for his guidance.
The Elders
The elders recognize the challenge that we have in communicating with the congregation today. In times past, the elders said everything important from the pulpit. Those days are gone. Today, we ask ourselves, should we say it from the pulpit, via email, with social media or just do it in the Welcome Center as we talk to people.
In the spirit of better communication, the elders are starting a new series of articles called Let’s Talk. We will choose topics, with your input, and periodically share our thoughts and decisions with the congregation. Let’s Talk will normally be emailed to you through Realm, available in Realm Connect archives, on our website and linked in the Newsletter.
In addition, we will be starting another tool to improve communication called Ask the Elders. By clicking on the Ask the Elders link, you will be able to send an email to all of the elders at once. The elders will answer your question or contact you if you prefer to talk in person. We may include your question or topic in future Let’s Talk articles.
Let’s Talk!
The Elders
Here is the text with improved formatting for clarity and flow:
Great emphasis is placed upon the one hour on Sunday morning that we call our worship hour. Much of the importance attached to this hour of assembly as the Lord’s body is good. However, it is just one hour of the week. If the rest of the week is not lived worshipfully, then our liturgies on Sunday will be in vain.
Please read carefully: Isaiah 1:13, Isaiah 58, Amos 5:21, and 1 Corinthians 11:17. These passages clearly tell us that the acceptance of assembled worship depends upon living lives that adore, honor, glorify, praise, thank, and obey Jehovah our God as we serve others. This is reflected in how we live before others every day.
Such lives are a pleasant aroma to Him. Our Sunday morning worship is made authentic by how we treat others day to day. Without realizing it, worship becomes not just what we do, but who we are.
Many of the songs we sing have value only if they align with our thoughts and actions throughout the week. “We place You on the highest place, high above all else” clearly assumes we do this every waking hour, not just during the hour when we sing it together.
“What does God require but to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.” — Micah 6:8
“The worship God wants is this: caring for orphans and widows who need help and keeping yourself free from the world’s influence. This is the kind of worship God accepts as pure and good.” — James 1:27 (Easy-to-Read Version)
These verses state very simply what God expects of us. While it is not always easy, it is God who has decided what is or is not acceptable worship of Him.
What is worship?
Worship is a way of life.
Ike Sawyer