The Sampling Of Beats and the Deceitfulness of Sin...

Call it nostalgia... call it a sickness... but I can remember the lyrics to just about every line of the 1990 song "Ice Ice Baby."

Although MTV was hugely popular among my peers, I grew up with my parent's record player pumping out sounds from bands like America ("Horse with No Name"), Kansas ("Dust in the Wind") and Three Dog Night's "Joy To The World")... with a little Chicago thrown in for good measure (Boom and Boom).

I had no idea that David Bowie and Queen had collaborated on a song called "Under Pressure" with its distinct bass line. Vanilla Ice (a.k.a. Robert Matthew Van Winkle) was roundly criticized, not for sampling the audio from "Under Pressure" (which was a fairly common practice) but for not giving credit for it until after the song became a #1 hit (Info on this and other copyright infringement cases in music).

But this really isn't about Vanilla Ice, or the music I grew up listening to in my living room... this is really about the deceitfulness of sin and lengths to which we will go to conceal it.

We are experts at convincing ourselves of things, whether true or not. In fact, I think we often find ourselves "convinced" of things that are not true and yet writhe in doubt over things in which we can and should have sincere confidence. This isn't something that just "happens" to us. We don't just drift into it and then wonder how we got there. We actually chose to go there.

Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says,
“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,
on the day of testing in the wilderness,
where your fathers put me to the test
and saw my works for forty years.
Therefore I was provoked with that generation,
and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart;
they have not known my ways.’
As I swore in my wrath,
‘They shall not enter my rest.’”
Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
(Hebrews 3:7-13 ESV)

In chapter 3 the writer of Hebrews is calling to those who would listen to learn from the pattern of God's people who, instead of turning to God in their rebellion, only hardened their hearts and became more lost. The writer of hebrews is referencing Psalm 95:7-11 which is referencing Exodus chapter 17 where the people grumbled and doubted that God was even with them even though God had miraculously parted the Red Sea for their escape from their pursuers in Egypt and even provided bread to fall from heaven to feed them in the wilderness. In Hebrews 3 God provides water from a rock to satisfy their thirst in spite of their grumbling and doubt.

What does this have to do with Vanilla Ice?

At the 1:42 mark of the video above, Mr. Van Winkle says, "it doesn't sound anything like 'Under Pressure.'" He has convinced himself (at least for the interview) that his version of that bass line is So distinct that you can't even compare it to the original.

This is a sample (pun intended) of what the writer of Hebrews is cautioning against in verse 13 above. "But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin." (emphasis mine)

Sin deceives. That is the nature of sin. It sets itself up against Truth and against God. It casts doubt to cover itself. Sin casts doubt on things that are true and should be believed and props up half-truths and falsehood in order to masquerade as virtuous and right.

If we follow Hebrews back into Exodus we read that God soon leads his people to the mountain and invites Moses up to bring the Law to God's people to help them and point them to righteousness. Yet, when Moses comes down they are bowing down to a golden idol they made with their own hands. It didn't take too long for doubt to creep in and convince them that melting down their jewelry to fashion a cow and bow down to it was a good idea.

"Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God." (Heb 3:12)

The reality is that it doesn't take long for unbelief to creep in and for us to begin thinking that something else is is better than what God has for us. And soon after that we may find ourselves not only believing what is untrue to proclaiming what is untrue to mask and cover up the unbelief.

The solution? Hebrews 4:14-16 RIGHTS our attention onto the Hope in which we CAN believe:


Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
(Hebrews 4:14-16 ESV)

God help us believe more and more in Christ.

~~~~
**If you'd like a good (funny) lyrical analysis of "Ice Ice Baby" from Aaron Gray you can read it HERE.

Lent... what's that?

In the traditional Christian Calendar today marks the beginning of the season of Lent. Some friends in Acts29 (our church planting network) put together a devotional for use during this time called "Journey to the Cross". You can find it over at the Gospel Coalition Website. I am thankful for the resource, and I'd like to un-pack Lent a bit from my perspective.

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday (Today - Feb 13th) and continues for 40 days (not including Sundays) leading up to Easter. Traditionally this is a time for self-denial and penitence. Modern practice among many Roman Catholics, as well as mainline protestants (i.e. Lutheran or Methodist) often involves "giving something up" for Lent. 

As a kid, growing up in a Lutheran church we observed Lent but "giving something up" usually consisted of soda or chocolate among my peers and what followed was 6 weeks of complaining that sounded something like, "MAN... I WISH I COULD HAVE CHOCOLATE."

If there ever was a lesson in "missing the point"... that was it.

But what really IS Lent about? Should I even consider the practice of it? And, What, if anything, does it have to do with me?

Three main questions. Three responses.

What is Lent REALLY About?

The short answer: Jesus.

The longer answer: There is a fundamental difference in theological understanding and belief between traditional Roman Catholic belief and protestant belief when it comes to Justification and Righteousness in Christ. The Protestant Reformation came about and (the dis-unity continues) really on THIS point of Justification, or, HOW is one made righteous and RIGHT with God. Roman Catholics use a term called "Infused Grace" and it basically means, that Jesus' Life, Death, and Resurrection made righteousness possible for those who are In Christ, (Justified by Christ's merit) but is MADE right with God by their own personal justice and holiness. (Source: Catholic Encyclopedia)

Martin Luther took issue with that and, with all due respect to my friends and family who are Roman Catholic, I'm glad he did. Luther, and other reformers (like John Calvin) argued for what is called "Imputed" righteousness. Which basically means that the righteousness of Jesus is given to men from outside of themselves. It echoes the reformation doctrine of Justification by Grace through Faith Alone. It is an "alien" righteousness in that it does not come from within man but, comes from another source, namely the God-Man, Christ Jesus.

In Catholic Tradition, Lent then serves as a process by which the faithful can make themselves holy by beating their bodies (self-denial of certain foods, caffeine, etc) and thus fulfill their "part of the deal" by earning, in some way, the justification that is available to them because of Jesus. 

Paul has some very clear things to say to this understanding of ANY practice for the purpose of making oneself right in God's eyes:

Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.

If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations—“Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

(Colossians 2:16-23 ESV)

The practice of anything, to self-redeem is empty. Paul is very clear. However, in the very next Chapter (Colossians 3), Paul encourages the believers to putting off sin and putting on fruit that could only come from one filled with the Holy Spirit (kindness, compassion, etc.) so, work in our faith is important but our work, our labor comes from a position of "already righteous in Christ"and not from a postion of "I need to earn my righteousness by my work."

I do not view the possible practice of Lent in the way that a catholic would view and practice lent because I do not view justification and righteousness in that way and I don't view Jesus' Work in that way. I am a product of the reformation is that I believe the Bible is clear that ALL my righteousness comes only from Christ and that those who are in Christ are completely Justified and made righteous! That does not mean that transformation of life (desires, mind, attitudes, and actions) isn't important but rather comes from a renewed and redeemed heart.

Should I consider the practice of Lent?

In light of THIS understanding of Justification, (Here, Here, Here) I believe that we can use and, in fact, redeem this mere human tradition to lift up the greatness of Jesus' righteous-making work... NOT to seek to earn something, or justify ourselves, but to follow Paul's command in Colossians 3 to "put to death what is earthly in you" and seek to loosen the grip of the World that lingers far too long on our hearts, minds, wills, and desires. 

I'm hoping to set aside some time each day to ask the Holy Spirit for conviction for specific things in my heart that are still too often tied to this world as I move, day-by-day along the calendar, toward the celebration of Easter. Not to make me righteous, but to remind myself that Christ is righteous, that His promises for me are True and Trustworthy, and out of my position of accepted, righteous, co-heir with Christ I can pursue holiness by His Grace. 

What does this have to do with me (you)?

If you are hoping that this activity will do the work of changing your heart or removing your sin, you will be disappointed. Only the work of God, in Christ, by Grace, through Faith (belief) at work in your heart by the power of the Holy Spirit can bring about a transformed heart. Thankfully, God is really good at what He does. 

If you are planning on giving something up (chocolate, caffeine, movies, facebook, tv, etc.), GREAT. But don't miss the point by complaining that you just want your coffee back or "can't wait" until April so you can look at facebook again. Rather, offer up that time (or dependance on something) as an opportunity to see if there are things that are trying to master you and your heart and walk in repentance. Martin Luther said, "All of the Christian life is repentance" and he's right. But that doesn't mean that we can't focus some extra time on repentance as we look to the Cross and the coming celebration of Jesus' victory over sin, death, hell, and the grave!

I look at any opportunity for reflection and honest examination as a good opportunity. The devotional guide posted above might be a tool that will encourage you to carve out some extra time for just that. Not as a means of grace, but as a response to Grace. 

I hope you are encouraged because if you are IN Christ Jesus, you are already righteous.

I hope you are encouraged that your ability to LIVE as the Scriptures command, although impossible for you on your own, is possible because Christ is perfect. 

I hope you are encouraged as you are given grace to see the areas of your life that are still tied to earthly and temporal things and can celebrate the freedom of repentance and forgiveness in Jesus.

May Jesus continue to build his Church and purify his people (his Bride) as he makes her ready for the Wedding Feast that will have no end. 

Soli Deo Gloria!

Resources:

Lent Devotional (pdf) - "Journey to the Cross" 

"Stop Loving The World" - William Greenhill (Sermon turned to small book) 

"Counted Righteous In Christ" - John Piper (Free PDF e-book)

Pretty Much All of Romans but specifically Romans 6

The not-so-classic-classics: The Word of God Abides in you - John Piper

I don't know if you are like me but I have found that there are a few books and sermons that I keep coming back to that encourage me in fresh ways no matter how often I read or listen to them. Perhaps there are some things that these passages and the Word preached are zeroing in on my heart and are going to be areas where God will be working to sanctify me until I see Him face-to-face. Or perhaps they are just DANG good. 

Or both. 


In any case, I'm going to start with a few of those sermons to which I keep coming back and then move onto some excerpts of some books that have been influential to me.

Here is the first one. It is from Pastor John Piper entitled, "The Word of God Abides in you and you have overcome the Evil One" (might be the longest title ever). 


He's preaching from 1 John and it is good stuff...

I'd love to hear your thoughts...

Resurrection Sunday

Saturday, for Jesus disciples and friends, was aday of silence and dread. What did it all mean? Why was he gone. It was a waiting game that nobody wanted to play...

Then Sunday came...

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes.

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20 ESV)

Good Friday part 2 - Luke 23:1-49

(Luke 23:1-49 ESV)
Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate. And they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.” And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.” Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.” But they were urgent, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place.”
When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that he belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer. The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other.
Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. I will therefore punish and release him.”
But they all cried out together, “Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas”—a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” A third time he said to them, “Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him.” But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will.
And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”
One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun's light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things.


*Image 1 - Ecce Homo by Antonio Ciseri (1880)
*Images 2 & 3 - unknown

Good Friday part 1 - Luke 22

Luke 22 (ESV)
Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called the Passover. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put him to death, for they feared the people.
Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd.
Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat it.” They said to him, “Where will you have us prepare it?” He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters and tell the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ And he will show you a large upper room furnished; prepare it there.” And they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.
And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this.
A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.
“You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”
And he said to them, “When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.” He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about me has its fulfillment.” And they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” And he said to them, “It is enough.”
And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” And when those who were around him saw what would follow, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”
Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest's house, and Peter was following at a distance. And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.
Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking him as they beat him. They also blindfolded him and kept asking him, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” And they said many other things against him, blaspheming him.
When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes. And they led him away to their council, and they said, “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I ask you, you will not answer. But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.” Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips.”

*Image 1 - Unknown
*Image 2 - "The Taking of Christ" by Caravaggio (1602)

Maundy Thursday

Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”
(John 13:1-20 ESV)

*Image taken from The Jesus Storybook Bible pg. 289.
(amazon link)

Long time coming... a path still to walk... Are You Ready?

I'm not big on New Year's Resolutions. IF I were to have one it would be something like, "workout more" or "blog more consistently" ... but those types of things usually fail for most of us.

I think it is plain to see that this is an area of struggle in my life being that I'm writing a "resolutions" post and it is the 23rd of January...

Something like 46% of resolutions are still operating after 6 months... that's less than half. Now, that isn't to say that making goals is bad. In fact, from the same article I picked up the previous stat, I read that those who make goals regularly are 10 times more likely to achieve their goals over those who don't.

The problem isn't in the making of resolutions but in the motivations for doing so.

~~

JC Ryle (1816-1900) was an evangelical Anglican minister, and later Bishop of Liverpool (home of the Beatles for all my hippie friends).

He was a great lover of God's Word and a faithful follower of Jesus in the midst of great personal heartache.

He wrote a "tract" called "Are You Ready" as a preparation for the New Year. It has been a challenging read for me, one who is prone to disregard the making of traditional resolutions and try to write it off as if I am just being logical.

(I mean... 54% don't last... right?!)

While most of the public discourse surrounding the new year is focused on putting the difficulty of the previous year behind us and focusing on the hope of the year to come, Ryle doesn't do that. In fact he starts on the exact other side of the spectrum.

"It is a solemn thing to part company with the old year. It is a still more solemn thing to begin a new one. It is like entering a dark passage: we know not what we may meet before the end. All before us is uncertain: we know not what a day may bring forth, much less what may happen in a year. Reader, are you ready?"

Happy New Year! Ready for your "dark passage?" Ryle goes on to list the possibility of calamity in the coming year asking the reader:

Are you ready for sickness?

Are you ready for affliction?

Are you ready for bereavements?

Are you ready for death?

Are you ready for the second coming of Christ?

"O reader, these are solemn questions! They ought to make you examine yourself. They ought to make you think. It would be a terrible thing to be taken by surprise. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

But shall I leave you here? I will not do so. Shall I raise searchings of heart, and not set before you the way of life? I will not do so. Hear me for a few moments, while I try to show you the man that is ready."

He that is ready has a ready Saviour.

He that is ready has a ready heart.

He that is ready has a home ready for him in heaven.

Then he asks, "Reader, do you know anything of the things I have just spoken of?"

It is there where I think I found my problem... I don't ready myself in the Truth of God's Word... That I have a ready Savior in Christ Jesus!

That I have a renewed heart and mind, because of Christ, and that the Spirit is at work in remaking my heart every day!

That Christ has promised an dwelling eternal with himself as the light of the Great Eternal City forever!

Here is the reality...

All the the first list... the solemn list...

ALL of it will continue until Jesus returns and the wedding supper of the Lamb begins.

As will all my drift towards bad-habbits, proclivity to sin, and all the other behaviors for which we so readily make resolutions in order to modify...

I can be ready to face the trials & temptations of sickness, afflictions, bereavements, and death (because they will come). Not because I WILL myself to face them but because the Lord stands ready to save. Like Hezekiah we can say, "The Lord will surely save me." (Isaiah 38:20)

~~

Jonathan Edwards writes a fairly short preamble to his famous list of resolutions:

"Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God's help, I do humbly entreat him by his grace to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ's sake."

HE has to do this work in me. Not me doing my best and hope God makes up the rest.

~~

So... I don't think I will write out and post a list of resolutions... but, over the coming days and weeks, my time in prayer will follow this advice from Ryle:

"Reader, if you have reason to hope you are ready, I advise you to make sure. Walk more closely with God,-get nearer to Christ,-seek to exchange hope for assurance. Seek to feel the witness of the Spirit more closely and distinctly every year. Lay aside every weight, and the sin that so easily besets you. Press towards the mark more earnestly. Fight a better fight, and war a better warfare every year you live. Pray more,-read more,-mortify self more,-love the brethren more. Oh that you may endeavour so to grow in grace every year, that your last things may be far more than your first, and the end of your Christian course far better than the beginning!"

Re|Train - Disciple

I figured this blog would be a good place to give my re-cap of ReTrain as I move through the program and share what the Lord is teaching me through the process. It lets others in on the main ideas and highlights and keeps me accountable to actually do something with what I’m learning... so here goes.

This first leg of the course was titled “Disciple” and was taught by Pastor Bill Clem from Mars Hill Church in Seattle. Pastor Bill has taught this class the previous 2 years here at ReTrain and out of that has come a helpful BOOK with the same title as the course. In prep for the class I felt as if I wasn’t learning these new and revolutionary ideas but rather there was a stripping away of some of the secondary issues that surround what it means to be a disciple of Jesus and getting to the core idea that a disciple of Jesus is one who gets his identity from Jesus. This shaped the approach to the whole week. Pastor Bill masterfully shepherded the students (about 120 of us) through what it means to be a Disciple.

I was able to connect with a group of guys who will make up the corhort of which I am a part for the duration of ReTrain... the Wallingford Lead Pastor’s Cohort! Its a mix of guys from Mars Hill, a couple of Acts29 guys and a bunch of guys from different backgrounds all seeking to be equipped to serve the flock to which God has called them! They are a great group of guys and I am very much looking forward to getting to know them better as we wrestle through ReTrain over the course of the coming 10 months!

Big Take-Away...
As part of our time this month we were trained in “Gospel Coach”... a process developed to help church leaders to really shepherd the flock of God...

As part of that training we got some time to practice coaching and digging into each others lives. I worked with a guy named Brandon from my cohort who took his turn in “coaching” me. Brandon is a pastor of a church in Northwest Washington and we paired up for this exercise. He was gracious and direct and about 20 minutes into our practice, empowerd by the Holy Spirit, he landed a very well-placed left-hook on my pride:

“Perhaps your heart isn’t as inclined to Jesus as you think...”

You see as we were talking about things that I feel that I struggle with I wanted to talk about how I felt inconsistent in the different areas of my life that require discipline. If my discipline is moved or directed by anything other than a pure affection for Christ then it becomes a burden and then I am prone to justify myself and take the easy path or neglect that area needing discipline entirely.

In that moment I had the option to push back and say, “well... its not that bad.” or “I don’t know if I would say that...” but the reality was plain as day... as much as I do love Christ and desire to know Him and worship Him, my affection for him gets crowded out by my love for myself far too often.

It was a great picture of “iron sharpening iron” and my hope is that this would be normative for our cohort as we traverse this material through ReTrain.

I was blessed by my cohort and on top of that I am rooming with a great guy named Paul from Squamish, British Columbia (Eh?) and we are hosted by a GREAT family (Rick & Elizabeth James) who are expecting their first child in January and attend Mars Hill at Shoreline.

Please pray for Rick and Elizabeth as they prepare for baby & pray for my new friend Brandon, his family, and his church (Brier Church).

Overall... great, fun experience and very challenging to both my head and my heart... now to do my homework...

JP

We need the Gospel Every Day

Another reminder that the Gospel isn't something we hear and respond to once to get saved and them move away from it. We need it... I need it every day. Apparently Martin Luther needed it too...

"I myself have been preaching and cultivating [the Gospel of grace] through reading and writing for almost twenty years and still feel the old clinging dirt of wanting to deal so with God that I may contribute something so that He will give me His grace in exchange for my holiness." - Luther (Commentary on Galatians - as quoted by Scott Thomas in his book Gospel Coach.

Preach the Gospel to yourself.

"... we can say that the Gospel is just for non-Christians who don't know Jesus yet, and they need the Gospel. But for me, for us, those that are Christians, we need the Gospel every day." - Andrew Loewen [emphasis mine]

Worship Theology - "Absent from Flesh" (and a rant about christian music)

If you are around River City it might seem that we have some sort of fascination with Sojourn music. In fact... we do. Sojourn (Louisville, KY) has done a great job reviving some great hymn texts with really excellent music!

Tangent/Soap box: If you've spent any time with me you know that sometimes I can be a bit critical... and you may have heard that criticism leveled at the current crop of Christian music and worship songs out there. I think that we too often promote some (most) of the music on Christian radio as the next best song because the lyrics say something inspirational or mildly relating to Jesus or God or something close... when in reality it is not that great (either lyrically or musically) and comes across as a bad knock-off of the Top 40 Pop music we have to endure on the radio... My hope would be that we would, out of devotion to Christ because of His accomplished work on our behalf, strive to do everything (sing, write songs, mop floors, fulfill our callings) to God's glory and not because autotune on 20-something female singers with quasi-dance beats is IN now so we should sing about Jesus to those same dance beats and call it "good" music, art, whatever. It smacks of a worldly perspective on our lives as followers of Jesus instead of an eternal perspective (Col 3:1-4) ... and reminds me of a line from Norm MacDonald when he was once hosting SNL's Weekend Update,

"Kenny G announced today that he'll be releasing a new Christmas CD. Happy Birthday, Jesus. Hope you like crap!"

**(my appolgies to Kenny G... and my mom... because I think she owns that Kenny G. Christmas CD)

So... where was I? Oh yes... that is why I so MUCH enjoy what I'm hearing out of Sojourn, and a number of other folks who are incorporating rich Biblical theology with very compelling music (folks like Bifrost Arts, Indelible Grace, as well as a number of churches who are writing and arranging their own music... some of which can be found on NoiseTrade for download)!

Ok... on with the Song - Absent from Flesh

Written by Isaac Watts and revised/arranged By Jamie Barnes

Absent from flesh, O blissful thought

What joy this moment brings

Freed from the blame my sin has brought,

From pain and death and its sting.

Absent from flesh, O Glorious day!

In one triumphant stroke

My reckoning paid, my charges dropped

and the bonds 'round my hands are broke.

CHORUS:

I go where God and glory shine,

To one eternal day

This failing body I now resign,

For the angels point my way.

For the angels point my way.

Absent from flesh! then rise, my soul,

Where feet nor wings could climb,

Beyond the sky, where planets roll,

And beyond all keep of time.

CCLI Song #5918890 CCLI License #1888971 © Sojourn Community Church

I think this is a great song of celebration for what Christ has done in making us new creations IN Him! Now... Watts, as a hymn writer is poetic in his word choice and, in a few places, isn't the most clearly understood theologically. There are two areas where people have asked questions about this song and I'd like to address them.

1 - in all the language about being absent from flesh are we saying that the mortal/created world is bad and only the spirit/immaterial is good? Isn't that gnosticism?

2 - what the HECK does it mean that the angels are "pointing my way" to glory? Where does it say THAT in the Bible?

Good questions...

1 - Revised gnosticism?

One of gnosticism's main ideas is that the material world is bad and the way of salvation from the material is some from of esoteric or intuitive knowledge or understanding of self, god, or the universe. That is FALSE teaching... AND that is NOT what Paul is saying when he talks about denying the flesh (or, what Watts is referring to here in this hymn text). Romans 7 is a great reminder that our flesh, even as Christians, is at war with sin even while we are being sanctified by the Holy Spirit in Christ. Not only that Paul realizes that although God created everything (1 John 1:1-3) and that it was created good (Gen. 1), it is marred by sin (Romans 8:20-22) and that while God's creation is glorious and bears his marks it is only temporal now... and thus the present sufferings are not worth comparing to the Glory that will appear at the consummation of all things (Romans 8:18)! So we are then able to resign our mortal bodies and all their failings in hope of life NOW in Christ and the life to come in Glory! It is, I think, a very hopeful part of the song and encouraged me when I feel tired, broken, and weak.

2 - What about all this angel talk?

The Bible tells us some things about angels (they are God's servants - Luke 4:10, they are God's messengers - Luke 1:11-13; 26-33 & Luke 2:9-12, and they are worshippers and heralds - Rev. 5:11-14, Revelation 21 & 22). Now, we need to be carful to not attribute things to angels or our experience that aren't in the Scriptures as Truth without discernment... so, we are not building a theology that Angels literally stand and point to heaven in front of us. BUT, as we read in Revelation 21 & 22, John is being directed, by an angel to behold the glory that is the New Heavens and the New Earth and God unveiling His glory and making all things fully new! So, the use of poetic license to paint a picture of that final and glorious day is, I think, allowable and, in fact, aligns well with the picture of John's Revelation inspired by the Holy Spirit to be written into the Scriptures!

What this DOES mean is that perhaps it would helpful (and I should do this more often anyway) if I took a little more time to explain some of the songs we sing when we gather for corporate worship. If I take my responsibilities seriously... which I do... as a teacher of God's Word (even in song) then it is incumbent upon me to make sure I am truly helping those whom God has placed in my care hear and understand, by the power of the Holy Spirit, who it is that we are worshipping and, in this case, truly understand the glorious picture of the already/not yet... that as we wrestle against our flesh (and we should) we can also rest in God's finished work in Christ... already accomplished... not yet fully revealed... but it will be one day when Jesus returns in all His glory to claim those who belong to the Father! Good stuff.

JP

Love Lustres at Calvary - The Valley Of Vision

Christ was all anguish that I might be all joy,
cast off that I might be brought in,
trodden down as an enemy that I might be welcomed as a friend,
surrendered to hell's worst that I might attain heaven's best,
stripped that I might be clothed,
wounded that I might be healed,
athirst that I might drink,
tormented that I might be comforted,
made a shame that I might inherit glory,
entered darkness that I might have eternal light.
My Saviour wept that all tears might be wiped from my eyes,
groaned that I might have endless song,
endured all pain that I might have unfading health,
bore a thorny crown that I might have a glory-diadem,
bowed his head that I might uplift mine,
experienced reproach that I might receive welcome,
closed his eyes in death that I might gaze upon unclouded brightness,
expired that I might for ever live.
O Father, who spared not thine only Son that thou mightest spare me,
All this transfer thy love designed and accomplished;
Help me to adore thee by lips and life.

Puritan prayer, from The Valley Of Vision

Japan, God's Sovereignty, and Hope

Unless you've been under a rock this past weekend, it is likely that you've at least heard some report of the effects of a MASSIVE earthquake near the coast of Northern Japan that sent a violent and devastating Tsunami that battered the coast of Japan. Its effects were felt (albeit much less damaging) on the western coast of the United States hours later...

There is no doubting that this is a significant 'natural' disaster.

If you are like me, you've likely seen photos and video of some of the damage and have had to pick your jaw up off of the table...

Here is one of the more amazing videos I've seen:


Also - Here are some images from above - Before & After Photos

One of the most astonishing things I have read is that this particular earthquake (5th largest ever in terms of scale ratings if I'm not mistaken) said that it moved the coastline of Japan as much as 8 feet! ARTICLE

~~~

By all accounts it is heartbreaking. As with most tragic situations many people wonder what they can/should do? How does one make sense of all of this? For the Christian... where does God come in here?

John Piper posted a prayer for Japan that rocked and resonated with my heart...

Deal tenderly now, Father, with this fragile people. Woo them. Win them. Save them.

And may the floods they so much dread make blessings break upon their head.

O let them not judge you with feeble sense, but trust you for your grace. And so behind this providence, soon find a smiling face.

A Prayer for Japan


I too have been asking a couple of questions:
1 - What should I do?
2 - What does this mean for me as a follower of Jesus?

To answer the first I think it is prudent for Amy (my wife) and I to consider how we might be able to make some room in our finances to give some funds to The Salvation Army or another organization that will put it to good use to meet the needs of those who find themselves homeless and broken and grieving. I think we (my wife & I) should also set aside some money for organizations like Churches Helping Churches (http://churcheshelpingchurches.com/) who stepped in to help the local church in Haiti meet the needs of the people around them in a time of disaster... and perhaps serve the local churches in Japan to help them to be a beacon of hope for the hopeless for the people of Northern Japan.

Those are some practical things that I can do from my cold but rather comfortable place here in Fargo, ND.

But what about the other question? In some ways... this one is deeper. Not more important that meeting the physical needs of those in distress BUT more significant in that it informs and directs our response to this need and every other need (both small and great) that comes our way.

I think Jesus gives us some insight in Luke 13. (Luke 13:1-5)

"There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, 'Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.'"

So what does this mean? The people were asking a question about the wrongness of what Pilate had done. Man's sin against man. Jesus' answer is something like, "do you think that they are in worse spiritual condition because this happened to them?"

Then Jesus goes on to reference natural disaster... "or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you..."

This terrible thing happened to them... a tower fell and crushed them... but were they killed because they were worse sinners? Of course not. Jesus' answer is no... and he continues... "but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."

All of these things point us to the truth that we all deserve to be overtaken by the flood... and crushed under the weight of sins tower topping on our heads. And yet, God's kindness is extended to us in Jesus... and we repent of our sin and call out for salvation. He is our hope.

For the follower of Jesus, these things should cause us to repent and it screams to a broken world the kindness of God... that his mercy is extended... To quote Piper's prayer, "And may the floods they so much dread make blessings break upon their head."

Pray for Japan. Pray for the latent sin in your own heart to be rooted out as God has granted you and I a new day of life to trust in Him for our salvation...

That is where I find myself today... Soli Deo Gloria.

~~~

(p.s. I have found this sermon particularly helpful in working through the reality of God and His sovereignty in the midst of tragedy! Difficult but helpful. --Where Is God?--)

Gospel Fueled Worship - Tullian Tchividjian

“Our main problem in the Christian life is not that we don’t try hard enough to be good, but that we haven’t thought out the deep implications of the gospel and applied its powerful reality to all parts of our life. Real spiritual growth happens as we continually rediscover the gospel.

The same dynamic explains the primary purpose of corporate worship: to rediscover the mighty acts of God in Christ’s coming to do for us what we could never do for ourselves. We gather in worship to celebrate God’s grip on us, not our grip on God."

–Tullian Tchividjian, “Worship: It’s a Big Deal,” in Don’t Call It a Comeback: The Old Faith For a New Day, Ed. Kevin DeYoung (Wheaton: Crossway, 2011), 222-223.

You can read Pastor Tchividjian's whole blog post HERE.

The end of the year Quadfecta!

Do you have days where it seems like you read something and then it connects to something else... and if that were not coincidental enough a 3rd thing comes into your sphere and you ask yourself... "I wonder if there is a theme here?" Or perhaps, "Is there something that I should be learning in all of this...?" According to the little assessment tool "Strengths Finders" one of my Top 5 strengths is "connectedness" where I see how things are connected and work together. So... perhaps this has something to do with how my brain works. In any case, perhaps this may be helpful to someone else as you consider where God is leading into 2011...

Well... there are 4 things that seem to be connected here... A virtual Quadfecta!
Urban Dictionary (to which I will not link because of questionable material on the site) refers to a quadfecta as a Beer-pong shot that lands on the tops of 4 cups...

That is NOT what I mean here.

As I have been reflecting on the year 2010 and thinking about 2011 I recalled a message from Pastor Matt Chandler that I heard in September of 2009 that really challenged me. I think I even blogged about it in two parts PART 1 and PART 2 or if you want to listen to the message fresh from Chandler you can hear it HERE.

Much of it dealt with a Gospel-centered, Christ-exalting, humility-pursuing, non-self-glorifying approach to life and ministry and our need to be content that the Gospel is about Jesus and we are invited to play our part in His story.

So... Matt Chandler Sermon re-visited... Part 1.

This got me thinking about how there are principles to which we (church folks/pastors/leaders) subscribe for effective leadership, or casting vision, or building the kingdom often end up becoming twisted somehow.
Leadership principles without a Gospel core are just business... vision that loses sight of God's greater purposes of Gospel expansion in our neighborhoods and in the world and become small visions of our own glory pursuits... or striving for a kingdom with a small "k" in which we sit on our own little thrones...

Then... a couple of weeks ago one of the guys on our leadership team mentioned he was reading a book called Radical: Taking back your Faith from the American Dream by David Platt. At first hearing of the title I was dismissive. I assumed it was another book in the long list of folks who want to throw stones at the Church instead of helping her and serving her by being part of her and loving God and others from within her... but i was wrong. I started a little research and found that David Platt loves the Church and pleads with Christians to be careful not to see "the American Dream" of "the pursuit of happiness" as an end in and of itself... but rather the pursuit of Christ and a love for God and Love for others as paramount. So... the Holy Spirit continued his work of conviction in my heart and I just ordered the book. It should be here tomorrow.

Radical by David Platt... Part 2.

Some were passing through Fargo on their way back to Seminary after a Christmas break with family. A young man and his wife. It was great to be able to see them and get/give updates on life in the last year or two... but more importantly, as they got back in their car and I packed up my bag to head home for dinner my heart was encouraged and challenged. This couple was pursuing practical Gospel-ministry while in the midst of a rigorous academic schedule... in an environment (like many seminaries) where the pursuit of knowledge and the academic process are held in high regard... sometime too high.

They, like so many others are almost given permission to dis-engage from "mission" while they "fill up" on all they need to know for mission later... only many of them find their "muscles" for Gospel-mission have often atrophied... Now, I'm not taking a cheap shot at Seminaries or students. In fact, this very couple praised many mentors and professors for practicing the Truths they were teaching... which is highly commendable! The POINT is that the more I fill my mind/heart with the Truth of the Word and knowledge of the Gospel the more I SHOULD be moved to mission for the sake of that Gospel and in pursuit of its expansion! My heart was refreshed and challenged by our time with these friends. Thank you.

Gospel Word moves us toward Gospel Mission.
Conversation with friends... Part 3

And finally... the quad of the quadfecta.
I read this article by Kevin DeYoung called "The Glory of Plodding". He says that we are often not content faithfully plodding along carrying the vision of Gospel expansion because that is boring and we want to be revolutionaries. But what the world and the church need is faithful men and women... committed to the scriptures... committed to the Gospel of Jesus... committed to the Church... and committed to the world around them.

The Glory of Plodding... Part 4

So... what do:
1 - a 2009 Matt Chandler conference message
2 - a book I haven't read yet (did I mention it is coming tomorrow... so then I'll start)
3 - a visit with some friends
4 - an article from a PCA pastor (who has written some good books by the way)
all have in common?

My prayer as I think, read, listen, pray, & plan toward 2011...

God, thank you for your kindness. Would it lead me to greater repentance? Would you fix my gaze on you so that I would not turn aside to lesser things? Would you give me a bold and courageous vision for Gospel expansion in this city and in my own heart? Would you give me faith to pray and ask for you to do impossible things to bring yourself glory here in this city? God, would you help me to play my part well... love Jesus faithfully, pastor my family well, care for your people here at River City... for your name to be great...

Soli Deo Gloria

There is a Peace

Seeing as how I am the most inconsistent blogger I know, I might un-tag myself as a blogger and re-tag myself as someone who occasionally has a thought that he feels other people need to read...

In any case... I'm working on getting back at it with this whole blog thing. Specifically with putting up music for worship and working through the ins and outs of it for personal and corporate worship.

Today's track is from Sojourn Community Church in Louisville, KY. We sing a number of their songs at River City here in Fargo. We haven't done this one yet but I've been listening to and reflecting on this one over the past two days. Below you'll find the text to the song and a link to myspace so you can listen to it. (Sorry I had to link to myspace... yuk.) Then below that will be a link to iTunes where you can purchase & download the song or the whole album (highly recommended) and then some of my own thoughts on the song.

There Is A Peace - Charlie Richardson

Come, weary and tired, worn out from life
Step out of the shadows and walk into light
Come, sinner or saint, slave-man or free
Bring blessings and offerings, then you shall you see
Won’t you bring blessings and offerings, then you shall see

[Chorus]
There is a peace to settle your soul
There is a peace that is calling you home

You’ve been tempted and shaken, tested and failed
You’ve been so far from Jesus and too close to hell
Your vision’s been clouded by the world’s delight
But I tell you, you’re not of this world, so stand up and fight
He said you’re not of this world, so stand up and fight

There is a peace to settle your soul’
There is a peace that is calling you home
There is a peace, perfect and true
The Prince of Peace is calling for you

(c)2006

Listen HERE (click on "There is a Peace")
Buy HERE

~~~~~~

This a great call to response song. It sounds like Isaiah 55 or Jesus in Matthew 11... "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Jesus' call to the broken is clear and strong... you are broken and needy and I am a good shepherd who will welcome you into my fold! "Come sinner or saint, slave man or free..." Even in this call to "come to Jesus, the salvation is initiated by the one who saves... not the one being called. That is so important!

Even at the end of the first verse where the song says, "Bring blessings and offerings..." You might be thinking, "now wait a minute... I have to bring something? If I bring something to the table of salvation it isn't grace is it?"

If you brought something to your own salvation... yes... it wouldn't be free and it wouldn't be grace. However, it sounds a LOT like this from Malachi 3, "He [God's Christ] will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord."

HE purifies and thus makes the offerings pure. They are not righteous because of their offerings... their offerings are not righteous before they are offered... they are made pure by the righteous one receiving them!

So good. This one is a great song of reflection on the Gospel and could be good for communion or after the challenge of a well-preached sermon calling people to Jesus...

I really appreciate so much of the music that is coming out of Sojourn. I'd love your thoughts?

JP

Happy 8th Anniversary

8 years ago today I married my friend.

I made vows before God & our friends and family that I believed that day. 8 years later... I still mean them. In fact, I mean them more today because the promises made that day have been tested by trial and joy alike. They have been tempered by fire and strengthened in my heart and mind.

Here is what I said and meant 8 years ago today:

Amy, I Love You.

From this day forward

I promise to cherish you, and honor you,

As God makes me able.

I vow to love you and give myself to you

As Christ sacrificed

Himself for the Church.

I will pray for you and uphold you

before the Throne of Grace daily.

I give myself wholly to you alone,

and I will remain faithful to you

in all of life’s trials and joys.

Until the day we are parted in death

And go home to be with our Father.

I Love You.

Happy Anniversary Amy. Walking this journey with you at my side has been God's rich blessing to me. I Love you.

Back with a bang!

So... I haven't posted since April... sorry. With all the prep to move and then moving I think I packed my brain in a box... But I may have found it next to some picture frames wrapped in a pillow case.

In any case we'll get back to the Worship Theology posts, and posts/links about Church Planting... but for now... just this:

Enjoy!
JP