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

Worship Theology - Hosanna

"Hosanna" is a song I first heard sung by Christy Nockels. She was part of the duo Watermark with her husband Nathan and has been featured at Passion Conferences and recordings as a worship leader in her own right. She is a talented musician and gifted leader. Her husband is a music geek so that works for some great music production.

This song called “Hosanna” was actually written by Brooke Fraser who does a lot of work with Hillsong United and has some really good solo stuff out there too.

HERE is a version of the song on youtube as sung by Brooke Fraser and the Hillsong folks.

I’m not going to write up a breakdown on this one... I’d love to hear what you think as you pick apart the song:

Hosanna - by Brooke Fraser

Verse 1

I see the king of glory

Coming on the clouds with fire

The whole earth shakes

The whole earth shakes

Verse 2

I see his love and mercy

Washing over all our sin

The people sing

The people sing

[Chorus]

Hosanna

Hosanna

Hosanna in the highest [x2]

Verse 3

I see a generation

Rising up to take their place

With selfless faith

With selfless faith

Verse 4

I see a near revival

Stirring as we pray and seek

We're on our knees

We're on our knees

[Chorus]

Bridge

Heal my heart and make it clean

Open up my eyes to the things unseen

Show me how to love like you have loved me

Break my heart from what breaks yours

Everything I am for your kingdoms cause

As I go from nothing to

Eternity

[Chorus x2]

Ending

Hosanna in the highest

Soli Deo Gloria.

JP

Worship Theology - "The Love of Christ"

This post focuses on a re-worked hymn originally called, "The Love of Christ is Rich and Free" and the version that I have been listening to was done by Sandra McCracken, featuring husband, and fellow singer/songwriter Derek Webb. This song has been published by Indelible Grace which has been working to re-introduce hymns back into the vocabulary of the modern church. You can read more about Indelible Grace HERE.

You are able to listen to a slightly different version of the song in a clip HERE.

Here are the lyrics:

The Love of Christ Is Rich and Free

The love of Christ is rich and free;
Fixed on His own eternally;
Nor earth, nor hell, can it remove;
Long as He lives, His own He’ll love.

His loving heart engaged to be
Their everlasting Surety;
’Twas love that took their cause in hand,
And love maintains it to the end.

Chorus: Love cannot from its post withdraw;
Nor death, nor hell, nor sin, nor law,
Can turn the Surety’s heart away;
He’ll love His own to endless day.

Love has redeemed His sheep with blood;
And love will bring them safe to God;
Love calls them all from death to life;
And love will finish all their strife.

He loves through every changing scene,
Nor aught from Him can Zion wean;
Not all the wanderings of her heart
Can make His love for her depart.

(Repeat chorus)

At death, beyond the grave, He’ll love;
In endless bliss, His own shall prove
The blazing glory of that love
Which never could from them remove.

Tag: Which never could from them remove.

Words by William Gadsby

Music by Sandra McCracken

It is a great reminder of these great truths about God's love for us in Christ:

- It is stems from God and centers on God (1 John 4)

- Neither earth nor heaven can remove it from us (Romans 8:35-39)

- It is without end (1 Corinthians 13:8a)

- It anchors our surety and salvation in Christ for eternity (2 Thessalonians 2:16)

- It was love that took up our cause (our sin and the need for a savior) (John 3:16-17)

- It is love that will maintain our salvation until the end (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)

- It was poured out of Christ in His blood (Romans 5:6-11)

- It calls us from death to life and will, in the end, end all our striving (Revelation 21:4)

- It is faithful even when we are not faithful in return (2 Timothy 2:11-13)

- It CANNOT cease to be what it is (multiple)

Although the song arrangement might be a little less straightforward than some hymn tunes or even some simple praise choruses the lyrics are a great reminder of the powerful, un-movable, and faithful love of God for us in Christ Jesus. Give it a whirl.

Worship Theology - "Lead Us Back"

Lead Us Back (Falling Down Upon Our Knees)

This is a modern-day hymn from our friends at Sojourn in Louisville, KY. You can listen to the tune HERE.

Here are the lyrics:

Lead Us Back (Falling Down Upon Our Knees)
by Bobby Gilles, Brooks Ritter - Copyright © 2006

Verse 1
Falling down upon our knees,
Sharing now in common shame,
We have sought security,
Not the cross that bears Your name.

Fences guard our hearts and homes --
Comfort sings a siren tune.
We're a valley of dry bones;
Lead us back to life in You.

Verse 2
Lord we fall upon our knees,
We have shunned the weak and poor,
Worshipped beauty, courted kings
And the things their gold affords,

Prayed for those we'd like to know --
Favor sings a siren tune.
We've become a talent show;
Lead us back to life in You.

Verse 3
You have caused the blind to see,
We have blinded him again
With our man-made laws and creeds,
Eager, ready to condemn.

Now we plead before Your throne --
Power sings a siren tune.
We've been throwing heavy stones;
Lead us back to life in You.

Ending
We're a valley of dry bones
Lead us back to life in You.

We've become a talent show
Lead us back to life in You.

We've been throwing heavy stones
Lead us back to life in You.

~~~~~~

It isn’t real flashy but it does take a simple hymn structure with the refrain at the end of each verse section and makes it musically compelling. Not always the easiest melody lines for congregational singing however there is some really good Biblical confession woven throughout.

This really works well as a corporate confessional song. Although it’s modern verbiage doesn’t have as many direct Biblical references (there are a few) the parallels are many and accomplish their seeming intended purpose.

The most prominent Biblical reference is from Ezekiel 37 and the valley of dry bones. The bones needed the Word of the Lord and his Life-giving breath to live again. Although the prophecy speaks of Israel, we too, can find ourselves dry and dead in our comforts, having forgotten the promise and power of the living God in our lives... and wither in our ‘life’ in God through Christ. Instead of seeking refuge in the shadow of the Almighty we instead build fences around our houses (and lives) in hopes of gaining some temporal security... at the expense of our Spiritual vitality and very lives.

Verse 2 is a reminder to ACTUALLY care for the widow and the orphan. To serve others and see others as more important than ourselves. (Matthew 25) And how often we seek personal gain and making the most for ourselves at the expense of others which should not be the mark of a disciple of Jesus. (Jeremiah 22:17 & 1 Timothy 3:8)

Verse 3 is, perhaps the strongest verse in my opinion. Upon hearing it I immediately recalled Jesus’ call to the Pharisees in Matthew 23. “WOE TO YOU... for you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness.”

Now, it could be challenged that we may be tempted here to be soft on sin “lets not cast stones” ... but I think the audience of the song must be noted. This is a song of confession. This is to guard the believer from becoming a pharisee by priding ourselves on our religious accomplishments while at the same time creating man-made hoops for people to jump through to receive our approval and the approval of God. (See Matthew 23:15)

Bottom line:
The language is modern and the tune is simple... but if more songs sang their confessions like this... and if more men and women lived lives that mirrored this repentance we may see a healthier Church, less burdened by the weight of sin and better vehicles of God’s grace... because we are reminded that we also are daily in need of grace... and daily in need of the Gospel preached to us!

Worship Theology - Rock of Ages

I am going to begin a new endeavor. I'm going to try to regularly post the lyrics of a song or hymn here in order to consider what we are singing week after week as God's people. I will endorse some songs and NOT endorse others. The whole point is to examine what we are singing and how it points us to Christ and reinforces good Biblical Theology!

I think as worshippers we far too rarely consider what we are singing more than weather or not we like the tune of the song or if we hear it on the radio.

I think as leaders we far too rarely consider what we are singing AND what we are teaching those who look to us for leadership... and how our songs fit (or sometimes don't) into a solid Biblical orthodox theology.

I'd love your interaction on the different songs and shoot me a message and let me know of songs you'd like to review on the blog!

So... that being said, we are going to start with the old hymn called "Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me" because as I opened my itunes and hit shuffle this morning a version of this song began to play and brought me to the edge of tears here at this bistro table with coffee cup in hand as I considered the weight of the words being sung.

Soli Deo Gloria.

~~~~~~~~

Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me

Words: Agustus M. Toplady (1776)

Music: Toplady, Thomas Hastings, (1830)

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure;
Save from wrath and make me pure.

Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to the cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyes shall close in death,
[originally When my eye-strings break in death]
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.

I think verse 2 is what stood out to me most as I listened to this hymn. "Not the labor of my hands can fulfill thy law's demands; Could my zeal no respite know, could my tears forever flow, All for sin could not atone; Thou must save, and Thou alone."

ALL THIS - my law-fulfilling labor, my un-yielding zeal, flowing tears - ALL THIS for sin could not atone. Thou must save, and Thou alone. That is my rock... Jesus. "Nothing in my hand I bring, naked to the cross I cling." Now... the image of naked Jake my be, at first, off-putting, BUT the reality that ALL I, or any of us, can do is cling to the cross and embrace the crucified one. And I bring nothing of my own to pay for his mercy but my sorry and broken self offered rightly to the one who created me and is my redemption!

How RICH!

Ephesians 2:8-9

2 Timothy 1:8-9

Being pointed to the Gospel... that Jesus' finished and complete work on the cross saves us... is, in my opinion, the hallmark of a great song for worship. More than instrumentation, musicality, if it's "hip" or not... does it point to a clear Gospel? Does it have Gospel-intentionality?

Closing thought: Even the worst tune can be redeemed by Gospel-saturated lyrics.

An anemic Gospel... part 2

A.K.A. "The death of idolatry and the discipline of the Lord."

It is hard to talk about sin in a say that doesn’t immediately refer to something you do. Let’s do a little word association. I say a word and you say the first thing that comes to your mind. I say “sin” and you say what? Murder, malicious talk, porn, fornication (not that anyone uses that word anymore), hitting your brother?

Ok... so that is how my 3 year old understands sin... “Don’t push Ben.”
And although it is that simple it is not that simplistic... that is only half of it.

If we only see sin as the “bad stuff we do” then we only need a “gospel” that meets our surface needs (see my last post).

For every action described as “sin” in the scriptures there is a root which is far more sinister. And that root is idolatry.

On top of that... it’s no wonder we, so often, have no category for suffering, hardship, and discipline in our understanding of “God”... and it’s no wonder that I seek after the wisdom and maturity of a tested and seasoned man-of-God and yet desire not the testing nor the seasoning (or tenderizing as might be necessary for the “tough meat” that I may be).

As I mentioned in my earlier post, the past couple of years have been a journey of being humbled while learning what it means to put the flesh to death and much has that has happened under the radar in the deep recesses of my heart... slowly being exposed to more and more light.

A little background...

A few months ago Pastor Matt Chandler spoke at a training “Boot Camp” I attended in Louisville, KY. If you would like to listen to his teaching (and I would strongly encourage you carve out 47 minutes and buckle up) you can hear it HERE.

But one of the biggest challenges for me came from a text many of us have read a lot... and until then I had not fully understood.

Hebrews 11. This is often called the “faith” chapter. It speaks of the saints who “by faith” trusted God even though they couldn’t fully see the promise of God realized. It reads like a roll-call of epic heroes who did unbelievable things and serve as the "IT" guys of our faith history.


Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Rahab... "And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection." (Hebrews 11:32-35a)

The problem is... we too often stop reading right there... in the middle of verse 35. The anemic gospel points at that list and says, “See! This is all that God intends for you if you are really a Christian. You will always defeat sickness, and foreign enemies, and lions and always cheat death...” and we leave it at that.

As Chandler says it, “...we’ve held up guys who have put armies to flight and we have held up guys who have shut the mouths of lions and said, ‘this is normative’.”

The reality is that there is another part to verse 35 and to the rest of the chapter:

"Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect." (Hebrews 11:35b-40)

You see... I want the life of Hebrews 11:32-35. That’s the ministry that I want. Because of the flesh that still wages war in my heart and rises up against Christ’s sanctifying work in me I desire putting armies to flight and shutting the mouths of lions... not for God’s name to be made greater but for my name to be made greater. Idolatry.

You see, the remedy for me is a full Gospel.

Hebrews 12 is a very familiar passage but has been shaking my self-righteousness to the core:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

I have a new desire of late... I just want to play my part well. I want to run the race set before me... looking to Jesus...

I want to be the kind of man who, like Chander says, “the man that loves Jesus Christ deeply, when he’s getting overrun... when he’s getting overrun by the army he’s able to say, ‘if this is my role in the furtherance of the Kingdom, Praise Your name.’”

You see... if we have an anemic gospel we will always see all hardship and suffering as anti-us and not-from God. Not that all hardship is because of sin or discipline... like God is waiting for us to sin to that he can punish us... but that is for another post... and another day

(If you want to read/listen some challenging thoughts on God's Sovereignty and Suffering check out HERE and HERE).

But if we have an anemic gospel we will NEVER see hardship and suffering in this life as tools for our sanctification and testing and we will NEVE be joyful in being counted worthy to suffer for his name sake... and many times... it might do us well to consider our current struggles in that light.

What is interesting is that Matt Chandler has become a reminder and a fresh dose of “full Gospel” in recent days as I have been tracking his ministry in the midst of cancer treatment. Just a few weeks after this conference, this past Thanksgiving, Matt was diagnosed with a brain tumor that was very aggressive. Much has been said about this whole situation but his response to the whole thing has been one more example for me of being the man who would play his part well for the furtherance of the Kingdom and for God’s glory.


There is a great article on Chandler HERE and you can read some updates from his church HERE.

All in all... I want to play my part well. I want to run my race faithfully. I’ll trust God for the rest.

Soli Deo Gloia.

Update...

“Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
Psalm 73:25-26

“Gabriel” is a name that means, “God is my strength” and we thought that it would be a fitting name for our little boy who wasn’t able to stay with us. We spent most of Sunday in the hospital just waiting. At 6pm Amy delivered and we were both caught by surprise despite the waiting. The doctor and nurse were amazed at how smooth the process was for Amy. Our nurse, Laura, said she had never seen anyone go through that process with so little discomfort and our doctor said that outside of a miracle heartbeat, this was the best possible way it could have gone. We were able to spend some time with just us and him and although we shed tears, we were assured, even then, that ultimately He does not belong to us. We were able to entrust Gabriel into the hands of our merciful God whose ways are not our ways.

We were able to come home that night and hug our kiddos and sleep in our own bed. Although tired, Amy is doing very well. Her physical health is one more in a long list of tangible mercies from God and answers to all of your prayers.

This all happened so fast... a week ago we were anticipating an ultrasound of a 20 week old baby and today we are walking through an odd mixture of mourning and joy.

I honestly cannot fully comprehend how we got to this point other than the pure grace of God. He has been our strength and our shield and is walking us through this time of mourning into healing. Thank you for your prayer.

Although there have been times of trying to figure out the “why” of all this, I think we can honestly say that our faith has been strengthened through it all. God has been our portion during this time and He will be on the other side of this as well.

A special thank you to our family at River City. Your kindness was much needed and your prayers have been heard during this whole process. Gabriel pointed us to the Glory of God in Christ Jesus and in 1 week preached the Gospel to me in a way I had not yet heard but needed to.

Thank you again.

Soli Deo Gloria,
Jake, Amy, Natalie, & Ben