Ephesians 5:17-21

"Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God."
Ephesians 5:17-21


This is an interesting passage.  Earlier in this chapter it tells us to "walk as children of light" and this is part of telling us how to do that.  First of all... be understanding with God.  Seems like we always try to understand why our friends feel the way they do or why they do what they do... we try to accept it, understand it... even embrace it if it seems cool.  if it is a stranger, we usually dismiss it.  Unfortunately, we usually treat God like a stranger and not a friend.  We expect him to prove everything to us, and we don't try to understand where he is coming from, or why he does what he does.  Trying to understand the Lord will teach us more than trying to understand anything else.
Then be not drunk with wine.... and I assume other alcoholic beverages. :)  I like the implied analogy here between being drunk and being filled with the Spirit. :)  It's like something good that you can be addicted to. :)  You can totally overdose, be drunk out of your mind with the Spirit... and it is a *good* thing. :)  Excess of most addictions is pretty bad... but you can be FILLED completely with the Spirit, and it's all good... walking around in a spiritual stupor... :)  (okay, I’ll stop.) :)
Then, speaking and singing to yourself, which might continue the drunkenness analogy, but I said I would stop... :)  being so filled with the spirit that everything you do is spiritual... instead of humming the latest cool song from the radio, you are humming "God is cool, God is cool" ... and you might be a little off key, but hey... people understand, you get a little weird when you are drunk. :) (I can't stop, I need help...)
And giving thanks to God... "always, for all things" ... so, I guess if I put in some examples it wouldn't really help. :) So, maybe while we are mumbling and singing to ourselves, we should be saying "thanks, God, this is cool" a lot too. :)
And then... the whole submissive thing... I love it, seriously.  I know that "submit" is one of our least favorite words and everything, but just think... vulnerability and risk are the only way we get to know each other well... and being vulnerable with God is our natural state.  we try to fight against it... but then, when we are drunk with the spirit we lose some of those inhibitions. :)  We seriously can't learn anything, ever, unless we open ourselves up.  We need each other... not just as designated drivers :), but for support, affection, study partners in this huge test called life.  Sometimes when we can't break through the barriers to talk to God, we need to help each other stand, help to overcome the barriers.  We can be so powerful in this life, have so much influence... support other people, and then there are times that we need support ourselves.  if we can't submit to each other, show vulnerability and sincere need... then we'll never get that support when we need it.  And, seriously... don't you think God planned all of this?  It's like one of those bizarre parental games where they stick you in a room with your sister until you can get along... except the whole world is our room and we are all brothers and sisters. :)  we sit in the corner with our arms folded and pout... but why waste all that time?  break out the legos and play. :)