I love flash mobs!  For those of you who don’t know what I am talking about, the online Urban Dictionary defines it like this:   A flash mob is when a large group of people suddenly come together and perform some sort of action, which draws an audience very quickly. After they perform the stunt, the group of people quickly disperses.  You can view all kinds of flash mob events if you go to youtube.com and search under … well … flash mob!  For example, in the middle of a large busy European town square, a man is shown playing “Ode to Joy” on his cello.  One by one, other people appear from doorways and alleys and join him with other instruments until a whole orchestra is playing this Beethoven Symphony.  Passersby gather and delight in the sudden beautiful symphonic presentation.  Other flash mob performances I’ve seen include dancers taking over a train station floor to dance to “Do Re Mi”, a hundred or more voices joining in the middle of a shopping mall at Christmas to sing “The Hallelujah Chorus”, and just today, a school of middle-school students surprising their retiring principal with the whole school dancing and sharing a thank you message.

Almost every flash mob video I watch makes me cry.  Yeah I’m a sucker!  But I love the enthusiasm and energy of the performers as they passionately sing, dance, or play their instruments.  Then I will re-watch the video and observe the faces of the crowd that are drawn into the joy of the message being presented.  The crowd starts smiling and clicking photos on their phones and cameras.   People actually pause in the middle of their busy lives to turn and watch what is happening.  Children watch with bright eyes and jaws drop.  Many watchers try to join in, drawn in by the excitement and energy.

My church is getting close to the end of a building project.  Last night I got a glimpse of the large multi-purpose room or ‘fellowship center’ that is part of the new building.  The room is huge!  There is a stage on one end and the room is big enough to hold a worship service.  I got so excited standing in the middle of this beautiful huge room, imagining it full of fellow Christians.

We read in Matthew 18 verse 20 where Jesus says, “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”  Oh the flash mob possibilities!  Jesus came across many crowds during his walk on this earth.  Crowds followed him.  There were crowds in the temple, in the market place, along the path on Palm Sunday waving palms, and at his crucifixion.  Remember the story of Jesus feeding the crowds with five loaves and two fish?  Hundreds were fed with food left over.  I bet there was some joyful dancing happening there!

I pray our new church will house the crowds as people gather in God’s name.  I am giddy thinking of people gathering to worship or fellowship with enthusiasm, energy, and passion.  I hope people see the excitement and stop to watch.  I hope they feel drawn to join in.

Most flash mobs start with just one or two persons.  All it takes is one or two people to gather in Jesus’ name and you can have all the help you need to turn it into a flash mob for Him!  People need to stop and pause in the middle of their busy lives to turn towards their faith to see what’s happening … to join in that dance or song … to be part of something big.

It only takes a spark to get a fire going ….

just Laurel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXh7JR9oKVE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQLCZOG202k

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfcKvevod3k