Here is a simply beautiful message from C.J. Mahaney on the first few verses of Ephesians chapter one. The truth herein elicited worship as well as tearful humility from me more than once while I listened to it.
I hope you'll listen at your computer if you have time, or download it to your iPod or smart phone and savor it in the car or out on a walk. Just click on "listen" or "download audio" after the jump below:
C.J. Mahaney on sovereign grace and Ephesians 1.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Thursday, September 27, 2012
A Sure Thing
At that moment, as Goliath's gory mug was lifted up, fear, doubt and dread lifted from the Israelite camp and flew to the opposite hillside, sending the Philistine forces running in panic. An unlikely champion had shown his mettle in a decisive victory and his triumph was now the triumph of all Israel.
In the very same way, the unlikely hero Jesus of Nazareth dispatched once, for all, and forever the foes of death, hell and the grave when he surrendered himself to be lifted up on the cross, bloodied and (momentarily) defeated. The cross is our sign of sure and certain victory, and no fear or dread should ever become a stationary shadow over the life of a believer since the Shepherd King Jesus has secured our freedom. His bloodied figure is our reminder that death has died and the empty tomb our assurance that we will share in His resurrection.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
A Shining Moment From Sunday
So we're leading our people in a rousing rendition of "Blessed Assurance" last Sunday morning. It's about the second verse or so and I take a moment to gaze out at the congregation where I see one of our young ladies, a 14 year old youth group member, hands in the air, smile on her face, singing boldly through the chorus "THIS IS MY STORY! THIS IS MY SONG! PRAISING MY SAVIOR ALL THE DAY LONG!" I was already pretty joyful before I saw that, but that was just icing. One thing I've observed about our teenagers is that they don't care when a song was written, if it's full of Truth, it becomes a favorite.
Friday, September 21, 2012
How Poor Are You?
I read something this morning that put me in my place. As a preface, let me lay these facts on the table: I earn a very average salary as a pastor. My wife works two jobs. We are not moving up in the world, but we provide quite adequately for our family. A lot of folks around me have a lot more breathing room in their budgets than I have. But I'm an ungrateful fool if I ever start feeling sorry for myself or begin to pine for "more". Whatever that is.
Now, I do understand that my life isn't tied to this planet, and my worth certainly isn't. I know, believe me, I know, that God is faithful and keeps watch over me better than any sparrow could ever dream of being cared for. Yet still at times I actually believe I might be better off if I were...better off. Psh. That kind of thinking leaves no room for Christ-like compassion for the genuinely poor, not just the "poor me".
Below you'll find a simple, albeit somewhat lengthy list, describing what it means to be poor (at least in America):
Being Poor
September 3, 2005 By John Scalzi
Being poor is knowing exactly how much everything costs.
Being poor is getting angry at your kids for asking for all the crap they see on TV.
Being poor is having to keep buying $800 cars because they’re what you can afford, and then having the cars break down on you, because there’s not an $800 car in America that’s worth a damn.
Being poor is hoping the toothache goes away.
Being poor is knowing your kid goes to friends’ houses but never has friends over to yours.
Being poor is going to the restroom before you get in the school lunch line so your friends will be ahead of you and won’t hear you say “I get free lunch” when you get to the cashier.
Being poor is living next to the freeway.
Being poor is coming back to the car with your children in the back seat, clutching that box of Raisin Bran you just bought and trying to think of a way to make the kids understand that the box has to last.
Being poor is wondering if your well-off sibling is lying when he says he doesn’t mind when you ask for help.
Being poor is off-brand toys.
Being poor is a heater in only one room of the house.
Being poor is knowing you can’t leave $5 on the coffee table when your friends are around.
Being poor is hoping your kids don’t have a growth spurt.
Being poor is stealing meat from the store, frying it up before your mom gets home and then telling her she doesn’t have make dinner tonight because you’re not hungry anyway.
Being poor is Goodwill underwear.
Being poor is not enough space for everyone who lives with you.
Being poor is feeling the glued soles tear off your supermarket shoes when you run around the playground.
Being poor is your kid’s school being the one with the 15-year-old textbooks and no air conditioning.
Being poor is thinking $8 an hour is a really good deal.
Being poor is relying on people who don’t give a damn about you.
Being poor is an overnight shift under florescent lights.
Being poor is finding the letter your mom wrote to your dad, begging him for the child support.
Being poor is a bathtub you have to empty into the toilet.
Being poor is stopping the car to take a lamp from a stranger’s trash.
Being poor is making lunch for your kid when a cockroach skitters over the bread, and you looking over to see if your kid saw.
Being poor is believing a GED actually makes a goddamned difference.
Being poor is people angry at you just for walking around in the mall.
Being poor is not taking the job because you can’t find someone you trust to watch your kids.
Being poor is the police busting into the apartment right next to yours.
Being poor is not talking to that girl because she’ll probably just laugh at your clothes.
Being poor is hoping you’ll be invited for dinner.
Being poor is a sidewalk with lots of brown glass on it.
Being poor is people thinking they know something about you by the way you talk.
Being poor is needing that 35-cent raise.
Being poor is your kid’s teacher assuming you don’t have any books in your home.
Being poor is six dollars short on the utility bill and no way to close the gap.
Being poor is crying when you drop the mac and cheese on the floor.
Being poor is knowing you work as hard as anyone, anywhere.
Being poor is people surprised to discover you’re not actually stupid.
Being poor is people surprised to discover you’re not actually lazy.
Being poor is a six-hour wait in an emergency room with a sick child asleep on your lap.
Being poor is never buying anything someone else hasn’t bought first.
Being poor is picking the 10 cent ramen instead of the 12 cent ramen because that’s two extra packages for every dollar.
Being poor is having to live with choices you didn’t know you made when you were 14 years old.
Being poor is getting tired of people wanting you to be grateful.
Being poor is knowing you’re being judged.
Being poor is a box of crayons and a $1 coloring book from a community center Santa.
Being poor is checking the coin return slot of every soda machine you go by.
Being poor is deciding that it’s all right to base a relationship on shelter.
Being poor is knowing you really shouldn’t spend that buck on a Lotto ticket.
Being poor is hoping the register lady will spot you the dime.
Being poor is feeling helpless when your child makes the same mistakes you did, and won’t listen to you beg them against doing so.
Being poor is a cough that doesn’t go away.
Being poor is making sure you don’t spill on the couch, just in case you have to give it back before the lease is up.
Being poor is a $200 paycheck advance from a company that takes $250 when the paycheck comes in.
Being poor is four years of night classes for an Associates of Art degree.
Being poor is a lumpy futon bed.
Being poor is knowing where the shelter is.
Being poor is people who have never been poor wondering why you choose to be so.
Being poor is knowing how hard it is to stop being poor.
Being poor is seeing how few options you have.
Being poor is running in place.
Being poor is people wondering why you didn’t leave.
Now, I do understand that my life isn't tied to this planet, and my worth certainly isn't. I know, believe me, I know, that God is faithful and keeps watch over me better than any sparrow could ever dream of being cared for. Yet still at times I actually believe I might be better off if I were...better off. Psh. That kind of thinking leaves no room for Christ-like compassion for the genuinely poor, not just the "poor me".
Below you'll find a simple, albeit somewhat lengthy list, describing what it means to be poor (at least in America):
Being Poor
September 3, 2005 By John Scalzi
Being poor is knowing exactly how much everything costs.
Being poor is getting angry at your kids for asking for all the crap they see on TV.
Being poor is having to keep buying $800 cars because they’re what you can afford, and then having the cars break down on you, because there’s not an $800 car in America that’s worth a damn.
Being poor is hoping the toothache goes away.
Being poor is knowing your kid goes to friends’ houses but never has friends over to yours.
Being poor is going to the restroom before you get in the school lunch line so your friends will be ahead of you and won’t hear you say “I get free lunch” when you get to the cashier.
Being poor is living next to the freeway.
Being poor is coming back to the car with your children in the back seat, clutching that box of Raisin Bran you just bought and trying to think of a way to make the kids understand that the box has to last.
Being poor is wondering if your well-off sibling is lying when he says he doesn’t mind when you ask for help.
Being poor is off-brand toys.
Being poor is a heater in only one room of the house.
Being poor is knowing you can’t leave $5 on the coffee table when your friends are around.
Being poor is hoping your kids don’t have a growth spurt.
Being poor is stealing meat from the store, frying it up before your mom gets home and then telling her she doesn’t have make dinner tonight because you’re not hungry anyway.
Being poor is Goodwill underwear.
Being poor is not enough space for everyone who lives with you.
Being poor is feeling the glued soles tear off your supermarket shoes when you run around the playground.
Being poor is your kid’s school being the one with the 15-year-old textbooks and no air conditioning.
Being poor is thinking $8 an hour is a really good deal.
Being poor is relying on people who don’t give a damn about you.
Being poor is an overnight shift under florescent lights.
Being poor is finding the letter your mom wrote to your dad, begging him for the child support.
Being poor is a bathtub you have to empty into the toilet.
Being poor is stopping the car to take a lamp from a stranger’s trash.
Being poor is making lunch for your kid when a cockroach skitters over the bread, and you looking over to see if your kid saw.
Being poor is believing a GED actually makes a goddamned difference.
Being poor is people angry at you just for walking around in the mall.
Being poor is not taking the job because you can’t find someone you trust to watch your kids.
Being poor is the police busting into the apartment right next to yours.
Being poor is not talking to that girl because she’ll probably just laugh at your clothes.
Being poor is hoping you’ll be invited for dinner.
Being poor is a sidewalk with lots of brown glass on it.
Being poor is people thinking they know something about you by the way you talk.
Being poor is needing that 35-cent raise.
Being poor is your kid’s teacher assuming you don’t have any books in your home.
Being poor is six dollars short on the utility bill and no way to close the gap.
Being poor is crying when you drop the mac and cheese on the floor.
Being poor is knowing you work as hard as anyone, anywhere.
Being poor is people surprised to discover you’re not actually stupid.
Being poor is people surprised to discover you’re not actually lazy.
Being poor is a six-hour wait in an emergency room with a sick child asleep on your lap.
Being poor is never buying anything someone else hasn’t bought first.
Being poor is picking the 10 cent ramen instead of the 12 cent ramen because that’s two extra packages for every dollar.
Being poor is having to live with choices you didn’t know you made when you were 14 years old.
Being poor is getting tired of people wanting you to be grateful.
Being poor is knowing you’re being judged.
Being poor is a box of crayons and a $1 coloring book from a community center Santa.
Being poor is checking the coin return slot of every soda machine you go by.
Being poor is deciding that it’s all right to base a relationship on shelter.
Being poor is knowing you really shouldn’t spend that buck on a Lotto ticket.
Being poor is hoping the register lady will spot you the dime.
Being poor is feeling helpless when your child makes the same mistakes you did, and won’t listen to you beg them against doing so.
Being poor is a cough that doesn’t go away.
Being poor is making sure you don’t spill on the couch, just in case you have to give it back before the lease is up.
Being poor is a $200 paycheck advance from a company that takes $250 when the paycheck comes in.
Being poor is four years of night classes for an Associates of Art degree.
Being poor is a lumpy futon bed.
Being poor is knowing where the shelter is.
Being poor is people who have never been poor wondering why you choose to be so.
Being poor is knowing how hard it is to stop being poor.
Being poor is seeing how few options you have.
Being poor is running in place.
Being poor is people wondering why you didn’t leave.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
The Apostle's Creed On An Anniversary
It's been 15 years since Rich Mullins beat the rest of us to glory. His music played no small role in my formation as a teen and a young adult. His lyrics still bring me to tears and the truth he taught in his songs remains a part of my spiritual musculature.
"Creed" is simply the Apostle's Creed set to music (ahhhh that hammer dulcimer) and the first half of the video below features scenes from my earthly home, Kansas: the Flint Hills, Lake El Dorado, windmills and barbed wire.
Favorite line: "I did not make it, no it is making me. It is the very truth of God, not the invention of any man."
"Creed" is simply the Apostle's Creed set to music (ahhhh that hammer dulcimer) and the first half of the video below features scenes from my earthly home, Kansas: the Flint Hills, Lake El Dorado, windmills and barbed wire.
Favorite line: "I did not make it, no it is making me. It is the very truth of God, not the invention of any man."
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
This Always Works!
What always works? God's calling, that's what. It is inescapable, true, and chock full of GRACE.
No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. ~ John 6:44
Charles Spurgeon taught it this way:
The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call. ~ Acts 2:39
No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. ~ John 6:44
Charles Spurgeon taught it this way:
It is said, especially, "Many are called, but few are chosen." Now that is not the effectual call which is intended by the apostle, when he said, "Whom he called, them he also justified." That is a general call which many men, yea, all men reject, unless there come after it the personal, particular call, which makes us Christians.
You will bear me witness that it was a personal call that brought you to the Saviour. It was some sermon which led you to feel that you were, no doubt, the person intended. The text, perhaps, was "Thou, God, seest me;" and the minister laid particular stress on the word "me," so that you thought God's eye was fixed upon you; and ere the sermon was concluded, you thought you saw God open the books to condemn you, and your heart whispered, "Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord." You might have been perched in the window, or stood packed in the aisle; but you had a solemn conviction that the sermon was preached to you, and not to other people. God does not call his people in shoals, but in units. "Jesus saith unto her, Mary; and she turned and said unto him, Rabboni, which is to say, Master." Jesus seeth Peter and John fishing by the lake, and he saith unto them, "Follow me." He seeth Matthew sitting at the table at the receipt of custom, and he saith unto him, "Arise, and follow me," and Matthew did so.
When the Holy Ghost comes home to a man, God's arrow goes into his heart: it does not graze his helmet, or make some little mark upon his armour, but it penetrates between the joints of the harness, entering the marrow of the soul. Have you felt, dear friends, that personal call? Do you remember when a voice said, "Arise, he calleth thee." Can you look back to some time when you said, "My Lord, my God?" when you knew the Spirit was striving with you, and you said, Lord, I come to thee, for I know that thou callest me." I might call the whole of you throughout eternity, but if God call one, there will be more effect through his personal call of one than my general call of multitudes.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Insurance Doesn't Cover That
Reading through the news this morning this ad caught my attention (as many of them so annoyingly do) and I laughed. I'm so glad to know that not only will my life insurance provide for my family in the event of my demise, but it will also prevent that demise from sneaking up on me. WHEW!
"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'" ~ Luke 12:20
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
What "All Things" Are You Talking About?
"I can do all things through him who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13
This could possibly be one of the most misunderstood verses of Scripture. We've all seen this verse stamped on posters and images that depict people lifting weights at the gym or climbing a mountain or even hunting bear with a bow.
The problem is, Paul didn't write those words because the Holy Spirit inspired him to encourage human achievement. This statement is in fact the finishing thought for a section of Paul's letter to the Philippians in which he explains that he has learned to be content whether he's hungry or well fed, humiliated or living at ease. It's not a motivational speech to encourage you to achieve your full potential. That's just mamby-pamby milk toast Westernized insipid Christianity talk right there. No, this is a call to godly contentment. IOW, no matter what circumstances life throws at me, I can be OK with that through Christ.
So, through him who strengthens me, I can remain faithful and true when my bank account has an definite echo, when my children are wayward or when I'm disillusioned in my marriage. I can, because He does, grant me the endurance to actually be content no matter what my situation is because I know that He is sovereign.
This could possibly be one of the most misunderstood verses of Scripture. We've all seen this verse stamped on posters and images that depict people lifting weights at the gym or climbing a mountain or even hunting bear with a bow.
The problem is, Paul didn't write those words because the Holy Spirit inspired him to encourage human achievement. This statement is in fact the finishing thought for a section of Paul's letter to the Philippians in which he explains that he has learned to be content whether he's hungry or well fed, humiliated or living at ease. It's not a motivational speech to encourage you to achieve your full potential. That's just mamby-pamby milk toast Westernized insipid Christianity talk right there. No, this is a call to godly contentment. IOW, no matter what circumstances life throws at me, I can be OK with that through Christ.
Paul wasn't working his way up in a company or trying to finish a thesis by a deadline. His goal was to be obedient to God's call, and to do it with Christlike aplomb. That, he was sure, could be accomplished through Christ who was his strength.
So, through him who strengthens me, I can remain faithful and true when my bank account has an definite echo, when my children are wayward or when I'm disillusioned in my marriage. I can, because He does, grant me the endurance to actually be content no matter what my situation is because I know that He is sovereign.
Friday, September 7, 2012
The Puritans On Counseling
This morning I appreciated Justin Taylor's article about the Puritans and what they have to teach us about counseling. Some of the points offered are echoed in a book from Cruciform Press entitled Licensed To Kill: A Field Manual For Mortifying Sin. I'm working through this book right now with a class of teenagers at our church.
Two items in particular resonated with me and what I've been studying lately:
First, the Puritans "looked not just at behavior but at underlying root motives and desires. Man is a worshipper; all problems grow out of ‘sinful imagination’ or idol manufacturing."
Killing sin is not just about changing behavior, it is essentially and more critically about transforming the heart and its very desires.
Second,the Puritans "considered the essential spiritual remedy to be belief in the gospel, used in both repentance and the development of proper self-understanding."
The Gospel isn't just for "getting me saved", it is living and active and vital to my everyday growth, comfort, discipline, sanctification and perseverance.
Two items in particular resonated with me and what I've been studying lately:
First, the Puritans "looked not just at behavior but at underlying root motives and desires. Man is a worshipper; all problems grow out of ‘sinful imagination’ or idol manufacturing."
Killing sin is not just about changing behavior, it is essentially and more critically about transforming the heart and its very desires.
Second,the Puritans "considered the essential spiritual remedy to be belief in the gospel, used in both repentance and the development of proper self-understanding."
The Gospel isn't just for "getting me saved", it is living and active and vital to my everyday growth, comfort, discipline, sanctification and perseverance.
Madison Rising - Star Spangled Banner
I was planning on posting something else today, but then I saw this....(turn up the speakers and plug in your air guitar)
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
A Bill Nye Rebuttal
Have you seen this? It is Bill Nye's assertion that teaching children creationism is inappropriate. Even stupid. At least that's what I inferred from listening to him. When Nye had his PBS show on several years ago, I thought it was fantastic, and it was. Best produced science show for kids I've ever seen. However, I didn't realize just how energetic he was in his disdain for creationism. Too bad. So here is the video, followed up by two other very well educated people who have formed a response to Bill Nye. BTW, it is unfortunately not common knowledge that there are many, many PhD's, MD's and smarter-than-me's in every field of science who are Biblical creationists.
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