I walked into Pastor B’s office Sunday Morning and said, “So, I just want to confirm that you really do want me to sing the lyrics, are you going to be more that hot for me?, in church.”
He laughed at me and said without flinching, “Absolutely. It’s perfect.”
Even now I feel the need to explain the Biblical correlation (God wants us to be hot or cold…). There I feel better. I’m just glad I resisted the urge to stop in the middle of the song to explain it. Ok, anyway…
So, off I went to prepare. It went something like this….
- acid washed jeans, folded and tucked into two pairs of black and white layered slouchy socks
- two tank tops (one black and one white for the 80’s layered look)
- men’s white dress shirt - size XL, bound in the middle with an extra wide black belt
- a pony tail pulled up on top of my head with not one but two scrunchies
- LOTS of hairspray
- more hairspray
- huge loopy earrings, long black beads and bangles around my wrists.
- more hairspray
- lip gloss
- hairspray
- lip gloss
- Chuck Taylors (thanks, Jen!)
- more hairspray and lip gloss
He, he! It was amazing how everything just came back to me so naturally. I think my hair was actually excited to do it again. (it was famous back in the 80’s
) So, out I went to give Paula Abdul’s, Straight Up, my best shot. The only other tidbit you need to round out your mental visual experience is Tim McCoy (New Hanover Band Director, sound guy, drummer, keyboarder extraordinare) playing air keytar behind me.
OK - so, why?, you may ask, was I doing all this? We are in the middle of our Retro series at The ROCK talking about the foundational principals of our faith. Sunday’s topic was, commitment. That’s the short answer. The real answer comes in the form of a phone call that Pastor B received from one of our church members.
Her daughter was at work and heard Paula Abdul singing Straight Up on the radio. Now, she’s young and probably had heard that song for the first time at church on Sunday. So, she was trying to think where she had heard it before (man, that makes me feel old). By the time she remembered her boss was nearby enough to hear her say that she had heard it at church last Sunday. To which he said, You heard that song in church?*. (he, he) She went on to explain to him the reason why and found him impressed. That’s so cool, he said, I have been looking for a church like that!*
So, yeah.  We took a risk… we did it - - and God used it. It was not for shock value - it was so people who wouldn’t ordinarily get it - - could. And, that’s what it is all about. God is so awesome. And, I’m thankful there are no pictures or recordings that can be held against me in the future. I still fully expect to receive my first piece of, how dare you, mail over this whole experience. That will be a great day!
If you are still thinking God can’t do that. Go read this post from Jeff Kapusta around the corner at LifePoint Church.
*quote disclaimer: this story is now 4th generation - so these quotes are not verbatim…. but the spirit of the story is intact. Â
September 19, 2007
OK - so I officially feel like a dork - I couldn’t get past the silliness of this song to think that it could actually have an impact. This is a good lesson for me to learn how to trust our “outside the box” thoughts a little more…even if no one got anything out of it, we all have the wonderful memory of you and your hair. (it’s still famous)
September 20, 2007
Carolyn, You are my hero. God gives us creativity. All we have to do is be brave and discerning enough to use it. I realize it is the discerning part that is difficult here.
Pastor B, you are my hero too. It is so refreshing to have fun in church. To laugh, remember the 80’s and still get the message that God gave us everything and held back nothing. It is our privilege to be commited to Him.
I love my Rock church. I am so honored to serve with you. It thrills me at the end of the service to see people give themselves the One Who loves them unconditionally. People are getting it.
[...] afternoon, I got a call from a church member about the song. You can read all about it over on Carolyn’s blog. If you were in the service on Sunday, go comment on her post and tell her how amazing it [...]
Well…I felt old when I stood there singing all the words with you and realized it was only the people our age that knew the words or maybe it was when I realized I really did used to dress just like that, which made me laugh! Either way, it gave me a different perspective on that song. Way to go!
PS - Are you sure there aren’t any blackmail photos looming out there?
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